Ivies

The Ivies are an all-female group currently extant in the cty of Loros. Led by Thaumatologist Margyas Hasyan, the Ivies are a matriarchal splinter group from The Green Circle led by Garyod Somay in Ramoros.    

Foundation and history

  Hasyan founded the Ivies shortly after abandoning Somay's Green Circle and moving - reputedly in great haste - from Ramoros to Loros sx years ago. She had apparently been one of the initial members of the circle and had participated in a number of its rituals, notably serving as the symbolic victim of the mock sacrifice performed by Somay on multiple occasions. She is also known to have been romantically involved wth Somay, and widespread rumour has it that the couple conceived a child which she failed to carry to term. It is not clear what caused the rupture between the two lovers although versions of the story suggest it stems from her decision to terminate the pregnancy with abortogenic herbs she learned about in independent study f the magic of Dahan. This enraged Somay, it is said, not because of the loss of the baby but because Hasyan was conducting magical research independent of his emerging ritual tradition. Hasyan has never commented publically on the matter.   She has, however, firmly severed ties with the Green Circle, angrily dismissing it as a patriarchal ego trip for its founder. She founded the Ivies in direct competition to her previous organisation.  

Ethos

  Whereas Somay craves publicity for the Green Circle, Hasyan has been raher guarded about precisely what the Ivies believe. They are known to be a sect reviving the worship of Dahan, the pre-Wesmodian god of water and vegetable fertility, though with less reference to ideas (either accepted or contraversial) about the historical specifics of the original cult and more emphasis on establishing and celebrating continuties between the perceived ethos of that cult and present-day, mostly urban women. Hasyan has openly stated that membership of the group is very tightly veted, though she is rather less forcoming with explanations as to how and by who that approval process is conducted.   Membership of the Ivies, beyond Hasyan herself, is a closely-guarded secret. Hasyan has noted that it is a private affair, not for public knowledge, and maintains that for this reason all members of the group simply address each other as Ivy. All that is known about the membership of the group is what little Hasyan has put forth; she states that membership "can be counted on the fingers of both hands."  

Activities and rituals

  The Ivies conduct themselves with great circumspection compared to the Ramoran group from which they splintered. They constitute a study and discussion group rather than a ritual troupe - in thaumatological terms, a group dedicated to theory rather than practice. What is discussed at their meetings is as secret as the guest list, but it can be deduced from Hasyan's few public statements that the Ivies discuss the fertility magic attriuted to the clercs of Dahan - an exclusively male group - in terms of how it affects, or may be affected by, women. Given the confidentiality of the group's discussions, it has been theorised that the group is building to something - that they are engaged in some sort of collective research project dedicated to a specific practical end - though what that might be is anybody's guess.  

Criticism

  Garyod Somay has been fulsome in his criticism of the Ivies, dismssing them as a social club for underemployed society ladies and noting that a group composed entirely of women cannot practically essay the worship of a male deity or the magic he bestows upon his followers, who should be, or at least be led by, male clerics. He has also queried whether the group actually exists at all, noting Hasyan's unwillingness to name her members as evidence that she is a solo actor who merely pretends to have followers. Hasyan has responded by observing that notions such as "leaders" and "followers" are the sort of hierarchical ideas she sought to get away from when she left Somay's Green Circle, and that she desires, and has successfully recruited, several "colleagues".   Nevertheless the gender of the group does stand at odds with the patriarchal nature of the pre-Wesmodian worship of Dahan, leading some to sugggest that while Somay may be being rude he has a valid point. Qrovatan Medys, a thaumatologist noted for his archaeological approach to the worship of Dahan, disagees with this assessment. He notes a difference between the Green Circle, a group founded with the stated purpose of reconstructing and reviving the worship of Dahan, and the Ivies, a study group focused on discussing how ancient or magical ideas may shed light on contemporary society, and suggests that the latter group actually represents "the essence of modern thaumatology." He notes, however, that the Ivies appear to be operating without any fieldwork or first-hand exposure to either the worship of Dahan or its various post-Wesmodian echoes, and relying instead on literary and cultural notions of the cult, the accuracy of which his research has thrown into serious doubt. He has offered to share his insights personally with the group, or lead them on a tour of relevant archaological sites. Hasyan has politely rejected this offer and - slightly less politely - stated that Medys is entitled to his opinion.