Coven of the White Tree

Witches of Power and Perseverance

The white tree is said to be extinct, but the ways of those who follow the tree are far from gone. Whether the tree lives or not, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to the goddess and these teachings, finding the true nature of magic in the world.
— Unknown

Magic crackles around her as she weaves colorful threads into lengths of cloth, each inch imbued with the raw magic she harnesses. Eventually, this cloth will be turned into magical goods, ones that have charms of protection and other magics cast upon them to aid the user. When her weaving is done for the day, she will pick up her own wand, practicing her own skills and harnessing the raw natural magic that her kind have been able to pull from the earth. It seems a life of busy work, of manipulating magic and casting spells, but it is so much more than that. In the daylight, the Witch will join her sisters, working through the creations that they will trade with others. While most barely tolerate her kind, the magic items they create are strong and useful, sold to the outside world through the aid of the Fairy Kingdom. Most will never know that their wands were shaped by the hands of Witches, their magical cloth woven by the hands of old crones and young apprentices. From their sanctuary in the Fairy King's Wood, they can practice their magic and serve those who would rather forget they exist. The Coven of the White Tree is one of the three major Covens of the Tree. These women excel in the pursuit of knowledge regarding raw, natural magic that comes from the world and creating items with this magic. Those of the White Tree are the ones who seek power, but not for themselves. These women seek the power to improve their world, making it a safer place for the women who come after them. In the service of Libra, these Witches keep the myth of the White Tree alive but never stop moving forward.

Structure

The Covens of the Tree is not necessarily a formal organization, but instead is the name used to describe the variety of Witch covens that are found throughout Isekai and to name the religion that these women follow. Three major Witch covens make up the Covens of the Tree: the Coven of the Black Thorns, the Coven of the White Tree, and the Coven of the Yellow Rose. Each of these individual organizations under the Covens of the Tree will have its own Coven Leader, but the overarching coven has no leader, as it is believed that only Libra has the ability to lead all Witches in the world.

Covens

Covens are closed communities that teach Witches how to forge a connection with the natural world, long before it became civilized and settled. These are more than places of knowledge and enlightenment; they act as extended families that remain close to their members. Their daily pursuits can range from solemn and strict, like that of a monastery or center of religion, but they can also be vibrant and full of intensity, depending on how they decide to serve the goddess Libra. Covens are not commonplace, but the lesser covens of the Coven of the White Tree are more welcoming than some. These women are secretive, but will welcome outsiders who show potential when it comes to magic. Oftentimes, women are brought to the Coven of the White Tree by those of the Coven of the Yellow Rose because their abilities better match the heavy spellcasting of the tree.

Coven Leaders

A sacred rite of all Covens of the Tree is the passing of the Coven Leader. This passage is often rare, occurring upon the death of the previous leader, and is not something that is taken lightly in this culture. The oldest or most powerful of the Witches is rarely chosen. It is believed that only those who have been touched by Libra and have received her blessing can become the next Coven Leader. Lesser covens of the White Tree pass the mantle of Coven Leader as needed, as they welcome leaders of any race as long as they are blessed by Libra. The rituals for this passage are a closely guarded secret and rarely shared with outsiders, other than other Witches. These covens believe in sharing this moment with their sisters, but not those who have not chosen service to Libra.

Villages & Lands

The land is everything to us. Our magic, our strength, comes from the earth, so we must protect and cherish it like a loved one. Only those who share these ideals shall enter our spaces, but we will not turn away those willing to learn.
— Unknown

The Witches of the Coven of the White Tree are often scattered, but will gather in villages of around fifty or so women. They hide themselves from outsiders but often welcome their sisters from the other covens to join them in learning and research, or for celebration. One may accidentally stumble upon one of these villages while wandering the Fairy King's Wood, but these women attempt to hide their homes from prying eyes as much as possible.

Divine Origins

The Coven of the White Tree was the first of the covens to form, followed closely by both the Coven of the Black Thorns and the Coven of the Yellow Rose. This coven formed as the representation of the white tree that was granted to the Witches by the goddess Libra. It was believed it was these women's divine right to search for and utilize the raw natural power of the world to make a better place for all of humanity. Theirs was a search for power and strength, things that were heavily looked down upon, but they were to take this in stride and continue striving towards betterment. In the beginning, a large number of Witches joined the Coven of the White Tree, looking for the power to better themselves, but as the other covens formed and smaller branch covens appeared, more of the women chose other paths to better utilize their magic and skills. Only those with the most talent stayed with the Coven of the White Tree, delving deeper into answering all the unknowns about the magic they harnessed. This work became all the more important when the Persecution of the Witches began. The Coven of the White Tree swelled with new members as more Witches turned to this coven as the answer to aiding their tortured sisters. Their magic and what could be done with it were everything, and many turned away from defensive uses and potions to using raw power. After the apology of the Fairy King, these women returned to their roots, many leaving the Coven of the White Tree to return to their original covens.

Tenets of the White Tree

Strength for All. We have been tasked by the goddess to understand the raw magic of the world. We are not meant to be gatekeepers, but instead scholars who share our knowledge with those who have need of it. Brain Before Brawn. Our gifts are feared by those who do not understand them. It is up to us to remove that fear through our thoughts and words, long before we fall into the use of overpowering strength. Balance. We are the first of our sisters to organize, the first the world saw and recognized. We must keep the balance in all things, we must have the kindness of the Rose and the stewardship of the Thorns, but also the poise of the Tree. We are what our sisters and the world must see and love.

Strength for All, Beneath the Tree

Founding Date

190,000 IM

Type

Religious, Coven

Demonym

Witches

Leader Title

Coven Leader

Parent Organization

Covens of the Tree

Subsidiary Organizations

Lofted Tree Coven

Deities

Libra

Location

Fairy King's Wood

Related Ethnicities

Witch Culture

Culture of the Witches

The culture of Witches holds on to the lingering effects of persecution throughout the land of Isekai. These casters were only women, gathering in groups called covens, and practicing magic that often used their own life force to complete the spells. For these reasons, they faced nearly torturous persecution by other casters and those who were often afraid of the magic that the Witches could weave through harm or how they often turned harmful and dangerous things to be good and virtuous. Due to this, many witch covens were forced to the Fairy King's Wood and the protection of the word of Festival Snix. Here in the lands of the Fairies, the Witches are left to their magic, often serving in the Fairy King's court and throughout the woods as healers and other useful casters. Some dare travel into the Wandering Forest, using their connection to the lands of Isekai to turn the upside-down world of the Ancient Fey to the aid of others. During the Eldritch War, the Witches and their creations were needed to aid those across Isekai, but history often repeats itself, and their creations went unused by many.

Exodus of the Witches

Decades after the formation of the Covens of the Tree, the Witches were forced to leave the Fairy King's Wood and branded as allies of Morgoth the Arch-Demon. This led to millennia of systematic persecution by all races in Isekai. Many Witches either hid their magic or became hermits under the fear that any show of their type of magic or their ties to the goddess Libra could mean their death. Upon the ascent of Festival Snix to the throne of the Fairy King's Wood, an apology was issued by the Fairy King for the wrongs that were committed over the millennia. With his apology, the King welcomed the Covens of the Tree back to the Fairy King's Wood and offered his protection to those who returned. Thus began the mass exodus of the Witches throughout Isekai, returning to the Fairy King's Wood with the promise of safety and a homeland where they could practice their magic and their trades. For seven years, large groups of Witches of all races traveled to the wood, gaining gifts of land from the King, which became the homes of the various covens. New covens were formed, and the old ways of the Witches that had been lost during their persecution began to flourish in the safety of the Fairy King's Wood.

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Answering: "An organization rooted in controversial principles"

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