Post by Medea on May 3, 2008 21:53:35 GMT
The last mistake that many travelers in Stygia make is to judge those they meet by simple appearance. This is as true of a seemingly simple traveler.. who may be a mighty Priest of Father Set.. or a small group of desert dwellers, hardened by life in their harsh homeland and more than a match for soft outlanders in hot armor.
The worst of these mistakes would be to impose upon the hospitality of one of Stygia's Witch clans.. A robber who steals from those in the Clan's domain can look forward to a quick capture and a slow death by the adepts of the clan and their servants. Often it is whispered by those fortunate enough to survive dealings with the clans that the Setites know nothing of torture next to these often beautiful and always deadly women.
The people who live in such domains typically fear their Sorcerous Mistresses. They rule their territories unchallenged; save for the Acolytes of Father Set, who often attempt to futilely purge these heretics to little effect. Only a truly united war of extermination by the Setites would have a noticeable effect, a commitment the true rulers of Stygia are loathe to risk, as such a move would leave the nation vulnerable to external enemies.
Of all the clans The Daughters of Hecate are perhaps not as old or as large as some of the others, they nonetheless embrace their heritage with a fierce passion that, coupled with their prodigious skill in the dark arts make them a match for any other single clan.
In accordance with the ancient traditions every child born to the clan must have their magical potential divined.
Girl children born to a Witch that display no magical potential will diminish the status of their mother in the clan, which may lead to such children being killed at birth. Those that are allowed to live will be trained in whatever area they show potential in. Often those with the skills to become do so will become scouts or assassins. The others are doomed to live as little more than peasants at best, slaves at worse.
Boy children born to a Witch that display no magical potential are considered normal, and if healthy they are always permitted to live. So that they can serve the clan as soldiers, warriors and father the next generations of witches.
Girl children who wield the dark arts are common among the witch clans, and the birth of one is always a cause for celebration. Twins are not unheard of though rare, and are a great source of pride. Magically inclined girls are almost never slain, as the witches of the clan are the source of their great power.
Conversely a boy child that shows magical prowess is slain outright, without exception. This is incredibly rare within a clan, and often the result of the few outsiders who are permitted to join the clan.
Outsiders who wish to join the clan are only permitted to join the clan after proving their loyalty and magical talents are as great as those of one of the Clan's adepts. They are regarded with suspicion by some, but those who risk almost certain death seeking out the clans are usually sincere in their oaths.
The clan hierarchy is made up of a council of Elder witches. Only those of the greatest magical power and political skill make it to this lofty goal. The greatest of the Elders is given the title of Queen, and has a greater say in the direction of the clan, though must give careful heed to her advisor's, as few single Sorceresses can stand against the power of many almost as great as she.
Beneath the Elders are witches of many ranks, from Apprentices to Adepts to Mistresses of the Arts. Any witch typically will be higher than a non witch, though the hierarchy is rarely so simple, when the slave or male you wish to punish is considered the property of an Equal or Greater witch. Additionally those that hold special titles, such as a respected male warrior and leader of his fellows, or the Mistress of the Assassin school are equal to all but an Elder.
As it might be expected the males of the clan are usually held above the 'useless' females who show a disappointing lack of talent in their mothers craft, as they fulfil their destiny and serve the clan as a man should, as a hunter and protector. Those women who serve as the clan's feared assassins are however an exception.
In the unusual event an unskilled girl gave birth to a witch, the girl is usually adopted as soon as her talent becomes manifest.
The worst of these mistakes would be to impose upon the hospitality of one of Stygia's Witch clans.. A robber who steals from those in the Clan's domain can look forward to a quick capture and a slow death by the adepts of the clan and their servants. Often it is whispered by those fortunate enough to survive dealings with the clans that the Setites know nothing of torture next to these often beautiful and always deadly women.
The people who live in such domains typically fear their Sorcerous Mistresses. They rule their territories unchallenged; save for the Acolytes of Father Set, who often attempt to futilely purge these heretics to little effect. Only a truly united war of extermination by the Setites would have a noticeable effect, a commitment the true rulers of Stygia are loathe to risk, as such a move would leave the nation vulnerable to external enemies.
Of all the clans The Daughters of Hecate are perhaps not as old or as large as some of the others, they nonetheless embrace their heritage with a fierce passion that, coupled with their prodigious skill in the dark arts make them a match for any other single clan.
In accordance with the ancient traditions every child born to the clan must have their magical potential divined.
Girl children born to a Witch that display no magical potential will diminish the status of their mother in the clan, which may lead to such children being killed at birth. Those that are allowed to live will be trained in whatever area they show potential in. Often those with the skills to become do so will become scouts or assassins. The others are doomed to live as little more than peasants at best, slaves at worse.
Boy children born to a Witch that display no magical potential are considered normal, and if healthy they are always permitted to live. So that they can serve the clan as soldiers, warriors and father the next generations of witches.
Girl children who wield the dark arts are common among the witch clans, and the birth of one is always a cause for celebration. Twins are not unheard of though rare, and are a great source of pride. Magically inclined girls are almost never slain, as the witches of the clan are the source of their great power.
Conversely a boy child that shows magical prowess is slain outright, without exception. This is incredibly rare within a clan, and often the result of the few outsiders who are permitted to join the clan.
Outsiders who wish to join the clan are only permitted to join the clan after proving their loyalty and magical talents are as great as those of one of the Clan's adepts. They are regarded with suspicion by some, but those who risk almost certain death seeking out the clans are usually sincere in their oaths.
The clan hierarchy is made up of a council of Elder witches. Only those of the greatest magical power and political skill make it to this lofty goal. The greatest of the Elders is given the title of Queen, and has a greater say in the direction of the clan, though must give careful heed to her advisor's, as few single Sorceresses can stand against the power of many almost as great as she.
Beneath the Elders are witches of many ranks, from Apprentices to Adepts to Mistresses of the Arts. Any witch typically will be higher than a non witch, though the hierarchy is rarely so simple, when the slave or male you wish to punish is considered the property of an Equal or Greater witch. Additionally those that hold special titles, such as a respected male warrior and leader of his fellows, or the Mistress of the Assassin school are equal to all but an Elder.
As it might be expected the males of the clan are usually held above the 'useless' females who show a disappointing lack of talent in their mothers craft, as they fulfil their destiny and serve the clan as a man should, as a hunter and protector. Those women who serve as the clan's feared assassins are however an exception.
In the unusual event an unskilled girl gave birth to a witch, the girl is usually adopted as soon as her talent becomes manifest.
