Boys & Monsters

All stories begin with a truth, and the truth of our story is this — magic is real. It is kind, it is cruel, and it is everywhere.This is the world of Boys & Monsters. Mind the claws.

A Verse Compendium.

This original verse is created by Dana for text-based roleplay on Dreamwidth. Any and all similarities to persons, living or dead, are unintentional. For questions not answered by this guide, send a PM to perching on Dreamwidth.

Worldbuild & History

A comprehensive outline of notable events and settings within the Boys & Monsters verse.

Magic and The Known World

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, adipiscing elit. Praesent vestibulum risus sit amet lectus condimentum, nibh ullamcorper magna.Look at the picture above. The planes intersect. Two shapes over one another form a new and different shape, and this shape is the design of the living, breathing world. In the shape where present magic and other magic are folded neatly together, you will find everything that is ordered — trees, people, civilizations, everything that you know to be "real".The shapes formed outside of this fold is where the monsters come from. They are born from excess magic, filtered out from the shape of the world and trapped there. And as with water poured into a cup already full, this magic overflows.This is how the monsters are born, and only those of similar magic may trap them. Trapped monsters are good for many things; stabilizing and strengthening magic are among these things. Once monsters have crossed from the fold, however, they cannot be returned. Once the monsters have crossed, they are bound to their tether and will stay there — or until all their magic is expended, at which point they will die.Whoever catches the monster becomes the tether. Whoever the monster catches, becomes a monster themselves.

The Conduct of The Magical Community

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, adipiscing elit. Praesent vestibulum risus sit amet lectus condimentum, nibh ullamcorper magna.Look at the picture above. The planes intersect. Two shapes over one another form a new and different shape, and this shape is the design of the living, breathing world. In the shape where present magic and other magic are folded neatly together, you will find everything that is ordered — trees, people, civilizations, everything that you know to be "real".The shapes formed outside of this fold is where the monsters come from. They are born from excess magic, filtered out from the shape of the world and trapped there. And as with water poured into a cup already full, this magic overflows.This is how the monsters are born, and only those of similar magic may trap them. Trapped monsters are good for many things; stabilizing and strengthening magic are among these things. Once monsters have crossed from the fold, however, they cannot be returned. Once the monsters have crossed, they are bound to their tether and will stay there — or until all their magic is expended, at which point they will die.Whoever catches the monster becomes the tether. Whoever the monster catches, becomes a monster themselves.

Humans, Monsters, Specters, & Witches

The known world is home to a wide range of beings, many of which fall under some overarching categories. Here are the common ones universally recognized within the magical community.

HumansWhile all witches are human, not all humans are witches—though every human being has the potential to learn magic, and is attuned to it in some way or form.
WitchesWitches are humans who are able to draw energy from the anima mundi and manipulate it for various purposes. This ability is called magic or magicking. Witch communities have their own hierarchical structures, and are self-governing.
CreaturesCreatures are beings that came into existence naturally through the anima mundi, reside firmly within the known world, and may or may not be sentient. Examples of creatures are the fey, mara, merfolk, phoenices, and dragons. (Giants have gone extinct, but traces of their lineage exist through inter-species mating.)
MonstersMonsters are beings that came into existence through some form of perversion of the anima mundi and reside firmly within the known world. Many monsters are sentient, but not all, such as golems and certain types of chimera. Large groups of monsters are humanoid, or formerly human, such as weres, vampires, and ghouls. As per the Tunis Accords, monsters are considered a protected species, and the practice of tethering monsters without their consent was subsequently outlawed.
Halfbreeds, halfbornsHalfbreeds and halfborns are non-human beings with magical abilities that came into existence through uncommon means, such as infection (as with transformed vampires and werewolves) or mating with another species. Specifically, halfbreeds are those who were born to a human parent (typically the mother) while halfborns are born through means other than live birth (e.g. ghouls nesting their eggs in corpses, the mara bringing forth offspring though the nightmares of the dying).
SpectersSpecters are beings that are either not of the known world, or reside primarily on other planes of existence. They may or may not be sentient, like certain types of angels and demons. Human ghosts (restless spirits of the deceased who do not or cannot move on) are also specters. Other types of specters are hellhounds or hellbeasts, heralds (angelic familiars), psychopomps, and skywalkers (sentient spirits that are not human, demonic, or divine).

The Magical Community

Most witches lead one of three general, distinguishable lifestyles: traditional, modern, and solitary.
The traditional witches have close-knit communities that integrate their magic privately throughout their daily lives. They manage two lives, essentially: the outward-facing "normal" non-magical lifestyle, and the covert magical one.
Modern communities often they work in professions where their magic assist them greatly, such as healing (doctors) and protection (priests and men in service). They practice their magic out in the open, but discreetly, masking their spells or abilities within plausible, non-magical reasoning.
Solitary communities do not interact with the non-magical, and live in communities that are shielded from the rest of the world. While they conduct business with the modern world whenever necessary, they limit their interactions to the magical communities as much as possible.

The Hierarchy of Witches

The lowest rank of a witch is the novice, which is a magical student or apprentice who has not fully developed their line, and/or has not been witnessed by the High Order.
A solitary witch is a witch without vows who has finished their education or apprenticeship and is practicing independently. Generally, a solitary witch is just a witch; they are sometimes called a hedge witch, though this term has fallen out of fashion due to negative associations in recent years.
A sworn witch or liege is a witch sworn into sacred vows with a known association but is not yet baptized or ordained into it (that is, given rank or title). They follow the governance of the association in exchange for communal privileges and protections. A witch sworn in servitude has restricted magic, is overseen by an ordained witch, and cannot participate or vote in assemblies. A witch sworn at liberty has no such restrictions, as they have consented to be governed.
A housemaster is a witch who retains their vows to a cabal or coven while administering or overseeing the laws of another cabal or coven. Housemasters are typically witches from a higher-ranked legacy from the one they presently serve.
An ordained witch is a witch who holds a rank or title within an association, and has authority to enforce laws of governance within their magical community.
A high witch or priest witch is the representative witch of an association, usually the head of the family of a witch clan, or the chosen leader of a coven. High witches may be invited to attend an assembly with the High Order, by request of their witch-queen or witch mother.
The kingmaker is the second-highest rank a witch can attain. They enforce the law of the witch-queen, mete out the punishments for magical crimes committed within their territory, and manage the overall affairs of their cabal. Functionally equal in power to the witch-queen but not in rank, the kingmaker becomes regent in the absence of the witch-queen, but cannot ascend unless otherwise named successor beforehand. The title is only styled when referring to a specific witch.
The highest rank a witch can reach through ordination is as witch-queen or witch mother. The witch-queen is the central high witch of a cabal, and governs over a magical territory. Witch-queens typically rule for a lifetime, and retain the title even after having stepped down. Witch queens, once witnessed, are given a seat in the High Order, but not within the Supreme Council.
A witch-queen who is asked to vacate their seat through ascension (a combination of tests and assembly voting) receives a permanent seat in the High Order until their death, and is referred by the title Supreme, Mother Supreme, or Witch Supreme (varies regionally). They are automatically belong to the Supreme Council, the branch within the High Order that determines and oversees the conduct of magic all over the world.

Crimes Against Witches

The magical community is not exempt from petty or terrible acts committed by their own.A witch who has been sentenced for punishment by their cabal or coven (petty and serious crimes) or by the High Order (grave or heinous crimes) is specifically known as a wight, and is either sworn in servitude*, bloodbound to a curse, or ultimately stripped of their magic.The Falconry are the executive body of the magical community's criminal justice system.

The Falconry
Falconers go through five tests to determine their justness and fairness: the shroud (knowledge of magic), the tell (moral forthrightness), the bite (imperviousness), the hand (magical ability), and the knife (core strength).
Potential falconers must pass muster on all five tests to qualify for the job, as the position is held by the witch for their lifetime.
It is uncommon for a falconer to retire (as they typically die on the job, regardless of age), but not unheard of. The process of retirement, however, involves changing a falconer's physical features and core alignment permanently, to protect their identity—something many witches find unbearable.
Falconers take on a vow to remain solitary, or otherwise unaffiliated. For this reason, falconers typically do not marry within the community, as magical marriages involves sacred vows.
Hunters, Cursers, and Wights
There are groups of people that hunt witches for any number of reasons.
Hunters are those who are completely human, and whose motivations for hunting range from hatred of the unknown, revenge (magical malpractice is unfortunately common, as with any profession), or bounty.
Cursers are witches who hunt fellow witches, and are considered the most vile of criminals within the community. Cursers are known to pervert the natural flow of magic through a witch, causing often irreparable damage to a witch's core.
Wights are witches who have been found guilty of a great crime against another witch, other witches, a coven or cabal, or the magical community in general. Their magic is bound either by the Falconry or by the High Order (depending on the severity of the crime). In extreme cases, their core is burned out of their body, removing all of their magical ability permanently.
Not all sworn witches are wights. The term "wight" refers strictly to criminal witches and is considered an insult when said in argument with another witch.

The Crawl: A Timeline of Events

Volume One

There is one truth known to this world, and it is this: magic is real.djlgertre

Volume Two

The rise of the John familyChaillou, French war

Volume Three

2015: The Crawl is defeated.

The Rules of Magic

"The magical power is in the inward or inner man. A certain proportion of the inner man longs for the external in all things. When the person is in the appropriate disposition, an appropriate connection between man and object can be attained."

The Governing Principles of Magic (The Nine Laws)

All magic is ruled by a set of principles that dictate the universal rules by which it works. These are the laws and rules of the magic that exists.

All magic is inherently possessed. (You have it.)
All magic can be lost. (You can lose it.)
All magic is dangerous. (It can hurt you.)
All magic can be corrupted or destroyed. (You can hurt it.)
All magic must be repaid. (Equal trade.)
All magic can be reversed. (Equal opportunity.)
All magic must be balanced. (For every thing created or destroyed by magic, something else is given or taken in its place.)
Life is not magic.
Death is not magic.

While the overarching laws of magic are known to educated witches, magic itself is greatly unpredictable, and self-governs whenever it can (third law).As such, all witches are encouraged to both continue learning their craft and adhere to the governing principles of magical practice. The seventh law (also known as the law of equivalence), is universally understood as the core of all magical practice.

The Witching Hours

Unlike the conventional clock, the witching hours are attuned to the magic user's body clock; the first hour is set at the hour of their birth, meaning that a witch born at 4:00 AM would have the 4:00-5:00 AM window as their first hour.The secret hour (also known as the thirteenth hour) is an exception, as it is not strictly limited to the empirical confines of what an hour constitutes as.The secret hour can stretch or contract depending on the magical capacity of a witch. Powerful and well-trained witches can stretch their secret hour to days or even weeks, before the hour ends and requires the witch to rest their animus.

The First Hour (The Waking Well): The alteration of the consciousness, transporting the mind from the mundane to the magical.
The Second Hour (The Prayer Well): The hour of communion with the divine, the dead, the undead, and the unholy.
The Third Hour (The Holy Well): The hour of consecration or desecration of objects and people, or the meditation and refuge from the mundane.
The Fourth Hour (The Earthly Well): The hour of elemental alignments.
The Fifth Hour (The Ether): The hour of transformation and creation.
The Sixth Hour (The Devil's Hour): The hour in which the barriers between evil forces and the known reality are at their weakest.
The Seventh Hour (The Spectral Pool): The hour in which spirits and souls are at their most tangible or physical to a witch.
The Eighth Hour (The Veil): The hour in which the bridge connecting different planes is at its strongest.
The Ninth Hour (The All-Seeing Eye): The ideal hour to take advantage of non-linear time, while allowing the magician to remain anchored in normal linear time. In the timeless reality, all things exist or have existed or will exist; this hour allows the witch to perform acts of scrying and divination with a much lowered risk of being "lost".
The Tenth Hour (The Turning Wheel): The hour in which life and death are joined together. The creative and destructive forces are given form as two joined circles.
The Eleventh Hour (The Temple): The hour in which magic is replenished or strengthened.
The Twelfth Hour (The Mind Well): The hour in which the physical vessel is at its strongest, and is ideal for healing. Possessions do not take hold or are at their weakest during this hour.
The Secret Hour (The Catalyst): The hour in which the known world's binding laws are set loose.

Systems of Magical Practice

There are at present three systems of practice regarding magic: the le Fay and the Wu Zhou systems of practice, both considered the foundations of traditional magic prior to the invasion of the Crawl; and the unified or Adlmuller system of magical practice, which arose post-Crawl and is slowly being taught in more modern institutions.

Le Fay System (Western Practice)
The le Fay system, named after the first known witch-queen Morgan le Fay, emphasizes the practical application of magic for the furtherance of humanity's wellbeing (fifth law).
According to the system, as long as magic is used with good intentions, it can be harnessed for mortal purposes without any repercussions.
It has branched into subsystems over the centuries, with the Allister school being most prominent in the North Americas and the Spenser school in Western Europe.
Wu Zhou System (Eastern Practice)
The Wu Zhou system, meanwhile, is attributed to the Zhou Dynasty than any one specific witch, and focuses on the unification and balance between all known planes of magic (seventh law).
The system is often considered the more fatalistic of the two main systems, as its followers believe that witches must respect magic's self-governance and not interfere with its existence unless necessary.
Though it has evolved over time to adapt to regional changes (it has been adopted by neighboring countries, particularly Japan and South Korea), the core teachings of the system remain prevalent today.
Adlmuller System (Unified Practice)
The Adlmuller system, or the unified system, arose in the aftermath of the Crawl's invasion into the known world. Founded by Lies Sophie Adlmuller (a Le Sororité alumni and present administrative principal at Barrett-Crowley Reformatory), the system is the first in modern history to have been developed by a union of various cabals and covens from the surviving magical communities.[¹]
The unified system streamlines existing structures regarding magical education and practice into a single system. The core philosophy of the unified system is that all magic must be regarded with caution and utmost respect (third law), a belief that gained widespread acceptance in the aftermath of the Crawl.
At present, only four academic institutions have fully adopted the unified system as their primary system of education: Colegio de Santo Tommaso d'Aquino (Italy), Seoul University for Special Sciences (South Korea), Mikigahara International University (Japan), and South Eglewood College (New Zealand).[²]

1. Officially named after Adlmuller's efforts against the Crawl, the unified system was finalized during the ratification of the Tunis Agreements, signed in Tunisia on February 7, 2015.2. Italy was the first to implement the unified system in September 2015, followed by South Korea and Japan in 2016, and New Zealand in 2018.

Identifying Planar Alignments

There are two established systems of identifying a witch's affinity—that is, the plane to which their innate magics are drawn to.Identifying a witch's affinity helps greatly in strengthening their core (the foundation of their magical ability) and elevate their skills to their limits.

Le Fay System of Identification

In traditional le Fay system, the 8 planes of the known world are the source from which all magic is drawn. Each plane represents a type of magic, with its own set of rules, and falls under one of two classes: the material class (present magic) and the spiritual class (other magic).

Material Classes (Present Magic)
HUMANE — The humane class possesses magic that can control anything that is humane and alive.
NATURAL — The natural class possesses magic that can control anything that natural and alive.
MECHANIC — The mechanic class possesses magic that can control anything that inherently material and/or man-made and does not possess life, or has possessed life previously.
UNNATURAL — The unnatural class possesses magic that can control anything that unnatural and alive.
Material classes may borrow magic from other material classes, without the host's permission.
Material classes may borrow magic from compatible spiritual classes, with the host's permission.
Material classes cannot borrow magic from dissonant classes, full stop.
Spiritual Classes (Other Magic)
SPECTRAL — The spectral class controls magic that affects those that cannot be seen, and are tied to the humane plane.
DEMONIC — The spectral class controls magic that affects those that cannot be seen, and are tied to destructive spirits.
HEAVENLY — The heavenly class controls magic that affects those that cannot be seen, and are tied to benevolent spirits.
NECROMANTIC — The necromantic class controls magic that affects those that cannot be seen, and are tied to all that has died or has been corrupted.
Spiritual classes may borrow magic from other spiritual classes, also without the host's permission.
Spiritual classes may borrow magic from compatible material classes, with the host's permission.
Spiritual classes cannot borrow magic from dissonant classes, full stop.
Relative classes may borrow magic from other relative classes, with the user's permission.
No witch may possess lines from both material and spiritual planes for extended periods of time. To do so will cost them their magic.
The further away from one class another class is, the less effective/powerful the borrowing (if you're borrowing from the same class color).
You can't borrow from a differently-colored class unless they're relative (on the immediate left or right) to your your class.
Light pink area is the shape of the ordered reality; darker pinks are the outliers, and where monsters are born.

1. Planar alignments (or planes) are identified liminal spaces from which magic

Unified System of Identification

The unified system of identifying planar alignments simplifies the le Fay system. While it retains the 2 classes of magic (material and spiritual), it narrows the 8 traditional planes down to only 6, and replaces the compatibilities and relatives with planar alignments.Unlike the le Fay system, which is rigid in its identification of secondary planes, planar alignments focus more on a witch's magical affinity to certain planes, and so is more flexible and accurate in identifying a witch's line.

Planar alignments identify the composition of a witch's magical core. The core is the foundation of a witch's magical ability, and has 3 parts: the center (principal), adjacent (ascending), and intersect (descending).
The center or principal plane is a witch's strongest affinity. Their magic flows naturally through this plane, and they are in tune with its ebb and flow with great ease, requiring little to no effort when casting.
The adjacent or ascending are planes with which a witch's center is most compatible and have a stable affinity with. The witch is constantly aware of these planes, requiring some to little effort in casting depending on the requirements of the spell. Most witches focus on one adjacent only, to conserve their magical energy.
The intersect or descending planes are the ones where a witch is most vulnerable, and with which they have the least affinity. Casting spells related to this plane requires great or immense effort, and can easily drain a witch of their magical energy.
Material planes: mortal, natural, monstral
Mortal:
Natural:
Monstral:
Spiritual planes: spectral, divine, demonic
Spectral:
Divine:
Demonic:

1. Planar alignments (or planes) are identified liminal spaces from which magic

1. Officially named after Adlmuller's efforts against the Crawl, the unified system was finalized during the ratification of the Tunis Accords, signed in Tunisia on February 7, 2015.

The Basics of Spellcasting

Spellcasting is one of the first lessons learned by young witches. Traditionally defined as the principle of ascribing elemental properties to a place in the worldly cycle (the principle from which the planar system would develop from), the magic circle has evolved to mean the hours of the day, with each hour opening a well of magic to its widest.Below are some of the common practices, spells, and tools used by many witches today.

Charms & Talismans.
The use of cursed or enchanted objects bears a long tradition in the magical community. Such objects are commonplace in magical households, but are considered improper to gift to non-magical households; the only exception to the rule are well-wishing gifts, or "blessings", and often with the unspoken rule of said enchantment lasting for a certain amount of time only. There are many forms that such objects may take; small items like jewellery are typical, but may also be in the form of silverware, smithy's tools, or weaponry.
It is generally preferred to enchant objects that are already imbued with magic, or has been touched by magic. Base materials such as precious stones and bone are also preferred. Metals are considered best for protective enchantments, or for curses. As metals are brought up from the earth, and all man is fed by the earth, any magic cast on metals will be difficult to undo once wielded; as like calls to like, the enchantment is echoed between object and wielder, strengthening the bind exponentially.
Sacred Geometry.
Sacred geometry is utilized within the magical communities, though not entirely because of the philosophy of divine design. Rather, sacred geometry is used and taught within the community as a means of harnessing and controlling an individual's magic. The Barrett-Crowley was built using such designs; the school's layout is set up to attract magical energies for the purposes of training and education.
This form of mathematics is also used to stabilize the flow of magic when borrowing from one's relative planes. Natural or unassisted borrowing can be unreliable; drawing symbols based on sacred geometry and using the designs as a platform for borrowing, summoning, or spellcasting, focuses the pull of one's magic. It ensures a measure of safety for the caster or summoner, in that they only call forth what they intend to, and nothing/no one else; for borrowing, it also provides an amount of stability, greatly lessening the risk of magical corruption.
Counter-Magics.
Counter-magics, or counters, are magics specifically designed to nullify or deaden another person's magical ability. This is considered bad practice, and is the main tool that cursers use against their fellows when hunting.
As the name suggests, counters are enchantments or casts that reverse the flow of magic. Magic flows outward of one's body; especially for the spiritual classes, it is the flow of such magic that dictates the strength of possessions, as their bodies generate magic that pulls the spectral, divine, demonic, and unnatural towards them. To reverse the flow of one's magic is to force the physical body to consume it. Excess magic can lead to corruption, or death; counters are essentially the pollution of the soul.

1. Officially named after Adlmuller's efforts against the Crawl, the unified system was finalized during the ratification of the Tunis Accords, signed in Tunisia on February 7, 2015.

Tethering & Vesselage

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What is Tethering?
Tethering or binding is the natural ability to attract, contain, and/or channel the innate magic of monsters. The most adept at tethering are witches with strong affinities towards material planes.
Tethering involves an anchor (the witch) and a tether (the monster). While uncommon, witches can have more than one tether at any given time, though it is often ill-advised.
Prior to the Crawl, a tether was often bound against its will and abused to its natural death. Post-Crawl, the autonomy of monsters was recognized, and witches must gain consent from a monster to tether them.
The most commonly recognized type of tethering is transformation, through which a witch manifests some or all physical traits of the being they are tethered to. Other types are channeling (utilizing a tether's own magic or knowledge), threading (telepathic bonds between witch and tether), and consumption (draining a tether as a secondary source of magic, outlawed[¹]).
What is Vesselage?
Vesselage is the natural ability to attract, contain, and/or channel the innate magic of specters. The most adept at vesselage are witches with strong affinities towards spiritual planes.
The most commonly recognized type of vesselage is possession, whether by demonic, divine, or spiritual forces. Other types of vesselage are infestation (multiple possessions by several specters), channeling (utilizing a specter's own abilities or knowledge while possessed), and entrapment (trapping a specter within the body against its will).

1. Consumption was outlawed as part of the multi-species agreements of the Tunis Agreements, ratified in Tunisia on February 7, 2015.

Known Persons of Interest

Marco Lorenzo Buono di Laurentiis (Marco Laurentis)
Basics: 27 years old, demon hunter
Legacy: di Lorenzo (seat)
Planar Core: demonic center, natural adjacent
Education: Barrett-Crowley Reformatory (graduated)
Expanded Profile @ ~occupied
Ashley Madison John
Basics: 24 years old, half-ghoul
Legacy: Burbank (liege to House John)
Planar Core: monstral center, demonic adjacent
Education: None
Expanded Profile @ ~anguishes
Kwon Minwoo | 권민우
Basics: 25 years old, witch doctor
Legacy: Seoul coven (Gangnam district), 1st generation
Planar Core: mortal center, natural adjacent
Education: Seoul University for Applied Special Sciences
Expanded Profile @ ~tissues
Na Hwiyoung | 나휘영
Basics: 25 years old, Seoul PD Computer Crimes Tech
Legacy: Seoul coven (Gangnam district), affiliated
Planar Core: monstral center, demonic adjacent
Education: Seoul National University
Expanded Profile @ ~bandwidth
Marina Lorenzina Buono di Laurentiis (Marina Laurentis)
Basics: 27 years old, witch doctor
Legacy: di Lorenzo (seat)
Planar Core: angelic center, spiritual adjacent
Education: St. Thomas Aquinas University (graduated)
Expanded Profile @ ~stitches
Emilia John XIV
Basics: 36 years old, housemaster
Legacy: Burbank (House John, married into House Spenser)
Planar Core: mortal center, demonic adjacent
Education: Le Sororité
Expanded Profile @ ~coin
Kwon Minah | 권민아
Basics: 24 years old, curseworker
Legacy: Seoul coven (Gangnam district), 1st generation
Planar Core: mortal center, demonic adjacent
Education: Seoul University for Applied Special Sciences
Expanded Profile @ ~strains
Clarence Chaillou
Basics: 29 years old, high school teacher
Legacy: Chaillou (seat)
Planar Core: mortal center, natural adjacent
Education: Seoul National University
Expanded Profile @ ~bandwidth
Carlo Assalonne Franco di Laurentiis (Carlo Laurentis)
Marco and Nina's father, the high witch of the di Lorenzo cabal.
Yoo Jinjoo | 유진주
Hwiyoung's "girlfriend". An unaffiliated witch who lives with the Na brothers.
Maria Miguela Campanelli Buono (Maria Buono-Laurentis)
Marco and Nina's mother. Previously an unaffiliated witch, now matriarch to the di Lorenzo cabal.
Tristan Clarke
Marco's life partner (in crime).
Miguel Lorenzo Buono di Laurentiis (Miguel Laurentis)
Marco and Nina's older brother, an active-duty US Marine.
Nicola Santos
Close friend to Marco.
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Na Hwiseong
Hwiyoung's twin brother, currently studying nursing. Mortal core, natural adjacent.
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Historical Sites & Institutions

Known Schools & Apprenticeships

A witch's formal education is an integral part of their magical development. Because it defines their magical practice and introduces them to the magical community at large, choosing one's school or apprenticeship is one of the biggest decisions a witch makes in their natural life.Here are a few of the institutions and apprenticeships dedicated to magical education, and are formally recognized by the High Order.

Multilevel Education

Barrett-Crowley University (BCU)
Style: Formal education for witches, begins at 10 years old (6th grade onwards)
Established: Nov. 18, 1809 by Jeffrey Allister in Norfolk, England
Present Location: Bleakwood City, Alaska (USA)
Notable Persons: Lies Sophie Adlmuller (former principal), Adam Poole (current principal)
Full history here.
South Eglewood College (SEC)
Style: Formal education for witches (high school to college level)
Established: TBA
Present Location: Englewood, New Zealand
Notable Persons: TBA
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Mikigahara International College (三木ヶ原国際大学)
Style: Formal education for witches (high school to college level)
Established: TBA
Present Location: Mikigahara, Japan
Notable Persons: TBA
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The Wellesley Sisters Academy (WSA)
Style: Formal education for witches (high school to college level)
Established: August 2, 1937, by Bernadette and Josephine Wellesley
Present Location: Salem, New Hampshire (USA)
Notable Persons: TBA
Not to be confused with the Wellesley College, the WSA is an all girls school, operating publicly as a liberal arts college. The WSA is one of the smaller but more well-established magic schools in the United States.
Xing Tian Private School (刑天塾)
Style: Formal and higher education for witches
Founded: Undisclosed
Present Location: Macau
Notable Persons: TBA
Not much is known about the GPS, other than that it operates out of Macau. Other schools have attempted to contact the school, with little success.

Higher Education

Universidad de Santo Tommaso d'Aquino (St. Thomas Aquinas University)
Style: Higher education for witches who have completed formal education
Founded: Early 12th century in Sicily, Italy
Present Location: Madrid, Spain
Notable Persons: Tristan Clarke (alumnus), Marina Laurentis (alumna)
A co-ed university in Madrid, Spain. Though relatively small compared to the BCU and Le Sororité, the university is the foremost institution for magic users who wish to further specialize their magical abilities.
Publicly, the university works with the Vatican in training clergy to identify genuine cases of demonic or divine possession or infestation, translate ancient prophetic texts, and authenticate claims of divine manifestations.
Relocated from Italy to Spain due to a curse placed on the foundations of the original building structure.
Seoul University for Applied Special Sciences (서울특기대학교)
Style: Formal and higher education for witches
Established: TBA
Present Location: Gangnam, Seoul (KR)
Notable Persons: TBA
Considered the eccentric rival to the renowned SNU, the university (colloquially referred to as Special Sciences University or SSU) partners forward-thinking, non-magical sciences with magical theory, producing most of the magical community's tech-witches.

Primary & Secondary Education

The JoBurg Collective (JBC)
Style: Apprenticeship, starting at 13 years old or manifestation
Established: Acknowledged to have evolved from cultural witch practice
Present Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Notable Persons: TBA
Less of a physical institution so much as a network of private educators, the JoBurg Collective actively seeks out magic users to educate and train. The collective maintains a three-floor office building in Johannesburg as a de-facto headquarters and containment facility.
Uehara Memorial High School (植原記念の学園)
Style: Formal education for witches (6th grade to high school level)
Established: TBA
Present Location: Kanagawa, Japan
Notable Persons: TBA
Co-ed private high school in the Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. The school has a dormitory system similar to the BCU, but allows its students to live off-campus if they choose. The graduating rites at Uehara Memorial involves a hunt during the celebration of the new lunar year.
Le Sororité (Vernier Secondary School)
Style: Formal education for witches, begins at manifestation
Founded: Nov. 14, 1566, by Brigitte de Vernier
Present Location: Montpellier, France
Notable Persons: Lies Sophie Adlmuller (alumna), Clarence Chaillou (teacher)
An all girls school in southern France; the school is strictly invitation-only, but does not require tuition or fees. It is independently run, and is publicly known as a finishing school for young women to the non-magical population.

Historical Sites

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The Jonathan Corwin House
Legacy: Former home of Judge Jonathan Corwin, a proponent of the Salem Witch Trials
Location: Salem, Massachusetts
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The Merlin House
Legacy:
Location: TBA
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Associations & Communities

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The High Order of Witches of The Known Magical World (The High Order)
Headquarters: TBA
Known Supremes: Benedetta di Lorenzo[¹], Yi Wenmei[²], Caroline de Vernier [³]
The High Order of Witches, commonly referred to simply as the High Order, is the organization that oversees and maintains peace and security of magical communities in the known world.
Spenser Cabal (UK)
Witch-Queen: Imelda Spencer
Seat: TBA
Liege Covens/Clans: TBA
Headquarters: TBA
Specialty: TBA
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Chaillou Cabal (FR)
Witch-Queen: Clara de Vernier
Seat: de Vernier
Liege Covens/Clans: Chaillou, Adlmüller, Luppi
Headquarters: TBA
Specialty: TBA
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Horangi Cabal (KR)
Witch-Queen: Kwon Ara
Seat: Apgujeong Lee
Liege Covens/Clans: Undisclosed
Headquarters: Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam
Specialty: Healing & Transformation
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Hisaishi Coven (JP)
Witch-Queen: Mori Miyashi
Seat: TBA
Liege Covens/Clans: TBA
Headquarters: Osaka, Japan
Specialty: Transfiguration of inanimate objects
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The Falconry
Headquarters: TBA
Known Masters: Adam Poole (former)
The Falconry are the executive body of the magical community's criminal justice system.
Falconers go through five tests to determine their justness and fairness: the shroud (knowledge of magic), the tell (moral forthrightness), the bite (imperviousness), the hand (magical ability), and the knife (core strength).
Potential falconers must pass muster on all five tests to qualify for the job.
Burbank Cabal (US, UK)
Witch-Queen: Christine Verland
Seat: TBA
Liege Covens/Clans: John (US), Coleman (UK), Anderstrom (UK)
Headquarters: TBA
Specialty: TBA
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Suseonhwa Cabal (KR)
Witch-Queen: TBA
Seat: TBA
Liege Covens/Clans: TBA
Headquarters: TBA
Specialty: TBA
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Haebaragi Cabal (KR)
Witch-Queen: TBA
Seat: TBA
Liege Covens/Clans: TBA
Headquarters: TBA
Specialty: TBA
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Willoughs Coven (AU)
Witch-Queen: TBA
Seat: TBA
Headquarters: TBA
Specialty: TBA
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Lexicon & Other Notes

General Magic Terms

Magical TermDefinition and/or Common Usage
AffinityA plane of magic to which a witch is compatible with. In theory, all witches have affinities towards all planes, but have a specific plane to which they're most attuned to. It is uncommon for witches to have no affinity to a certain plane, but not unheard of.
AlignmentA witch's relationship with a plane of magic. Each relationship falls under one of three types: core (the plane they are the most attuned to), adjacent (planes they are attuned to but not as closely as their core), and intersect (planes they are least attuned to).
CoreThe magical plane to which a witch is most attuned, or have the strongest affinity with. It is fairly common for some witches to train or strengthen their non-core alignments, either for magical health or self-improvement.
Witness, witnessingThe ceremony of presenting a witch to the magical community at large upon reaching magical maturity. Widely considered a rite of passage among witches, and commonly practiced in most magical communities.
Turn, turningThe transformation of a human into a monster or other magical being. Commonly used to refer to weres, vampires, and ghouls, as well as other transformative monsters. Does not apply to halfbreeds, as their nature is considered innate and not perverted by magic.
Shift, shiftingThe transformation of a halfbreed or halfborn into one of their natures, whether human or other. While all halfs can shift, only halfborns are turned.

Witch Hierarchy

Witch RankDefinition
HousemasterA witch married into a coven or cabal who administers their common laws, while retaining legacy with a different coven or cabal. A common practice for witches whose originating legacies rank higher than the legacy they're administering for.
KingmakerThe recognized second of a witch-queen or witch mother, typically a spouse or partner. The title is only styled when addressing a specific witch.
LiegeA witch or group of witches affiliated to an association to which they are not yet ordained or baptized. All lieges are sworn witches, and may leave of their own free will.
Novice, novice witchA novice witch is a person with magic who has not received formal education but is aware of or practicing their magic. To wit, hedge witch is considered reductive by many communities, as they are often (but not all) novice witches who practice magic without formal training.
Sworn witchA witch who is affiliated with a recognized association. Sworn witches are either at liberty (of their own free will) or in servitude (involuntary).
Warlock (outdated)Asdjgsdu
WitchThe standard term for a person who practices magic, regardless of affiliation or stature. Other terms, such as mage, wizard, shaman, and so on, are typically based on personal preference or regional dialect. A person with magic is considered a full-fledged witch once they enter formal education.
Witch-Queen, Witch MotherAn ordained high witch who represents a group of associations, typically regional. Despite the gendered title, anyone can be ordained witch-queen so long as they are recognized by 3 or more clans or covens and witnessed by the High Order. The title is only styled when referring to a specific witch.

Witch Associations

Association by RankDefinition
CabalAn association of witches, familiars, and non-magical peers linked by affiliations, typically through intermarriage or geographical proximity. Cabals are ruled over by a witch-queen or witch mother, and comprises of a seat (the witch-queen's legacy) and various lieges.
ClanAn association of witches, familiars, and non-magical peers linked strictly by blood relations. Witches who marry into clans must either surrender their ties to their legacy, or choose to be housemaster.
CovenAn association of witches and their associates that are linked by geographical location. Covens typically require apprenticeships before being accepted or ordained
HouseAn patrilineal legacy (male line) of a witch.
LegacyAn association into which a witch is born, baptized, or ordained. Legacies differ from lieges in that they are formally recognized the High Order of Witches and given authority to enforce laws within their territories.

Terms of Witchy Endearments

Common TermDefinition of Relationship
Affiliate, AffiliationAn organized group of witches and non-magical persons, who share common laws among one another.
LiegeA witch or group of witches with sworn loyalty to a coven or cabal, typically of higher rank or power.
AnchorA witch's token used to contain one half of a binding spell with a creature or monster; or, the witch who is bound to a creature or monster.
TetherA token object used to contain one half of a binding spell with a witch; or, the creature or monster who is bound to a witch.
Sire, DamA monster who has turned a halfborn. As per the Tunis Agreements, turning a human, whether or not they are a witch, requires explicit consent from both parties.
GetA human who has been turned by a monster.
Maker, MasterAny witch who has given sentience to an inanimate object. Animation is strictly regulated within the magical community, due to the complicated nature of creating animus (essence of life) through magic.
Second, ThirdHistorical: the witch or witches who will relieve a challenger or challenged witch in a duel. Modern: the witch or witches who enforce common law within a coven or cabal. Not to be confused with falconers, who are commanded by the High Order.
ApprenticeA novice witch undergoing training with an older, more experienced witch. Only apprentices who complete their education with recognized witches may be witnessed by the High Order.
Sworn, ForswornA witch who has made sacred vows, either with a coven or cabal, or with another witch or group of witches. Consequently, a forsworn witch is a witch whose vows have been revoked or struck down by one or all participants of a sacred vow.

The History of the Barrett-Crowley

The Barrett-Crowley University, better known simply as the Barrett-Crowley, was founded in 1809 by Jeffrey Allister in Norfolk, England.Originally operating under the name of F. Barrett Memorial Hall to divert accusations of being a cult, it was conceptualized as a spiritual retreat and seminary for scholars of Francis Barrett's writings and philosophies on magic. The seminary became a refuge for magical families seeking to educate their children on the ways of magic.However, in the years 1909-1911, a man named Aleister Crowley rose to fame as a practitioner of magic, becoming the father to the self-proclaimed Thelemites.Drawing intense discrimination from non-magical peers due to the parallels between satanism and magical practice, the seminary relocated to Burgenland, Austria, where it restructured as an educational institution named J. Allister's School for Young Men.Their newfound peace would not last for very long. On July 28, 1914, Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated in broad daylight, precipitating the first World War.The downturn of various international economies led to the migration of several magical families abroad. The seminary-turned-school once again changed its function, this time as a refuge for those fleeing from the war.The school did not physically survive the war. The school was seized and turned into a public reformation center for wayward (non-magical) boys, reaching its peak residence during the prelude to the World War II, when a clerk had mistakenly registered the reformatory under the name Aleister Crowley in 1930.The Crowley Reformatory continued operation for 14 years until World War II, falling into the hands of Nazi occupying forces before being seized by American soldiers in 1944.As a matter of public record, it was repurposed into a makeshift hospital. American witches among the ranking military conspired to keep the school as a recuperation center for the Allied Forces, as it was uniquely protected from any attacks or bombings by magic.After the war, the reformatory and its surrounding properties were bought by Calpher Verland, the last surviving grandson of an alumni (a student during Jeffrey Allister's administration). He then proceeded to restore and improve the reformatory to its original purpose. Barrett's name was appended to the reformatory's name in honor of its original founder.Finally, in 1963, due to its increasing student population, the school relocated to Alaska, USA, under the name Barrett-Crowley Reformatory. The change in administration and location also lead to an expansion of its academics, including practical skills necessary to survive in both magical and non-magical worlds.In the aftermath of the Crawl's invasion, the reformatory was renamed once more to the Barrett-Crowley University, reclaiming its former locations in England and Austria as satellite campuses. The university is considered one of the most comprehensive magical schools currently in operation.

YearTimeline Event
1809The F. Barrett Memorial Hall is founded by Jeffrey Allister in Norfolk, England.
1912The institution relocates to Burgenland, Austria, under the name J. Allister's School for Young Men.
1912The school opens its doors for general admission of magical students from non-established families.
1924The school is seized and turned into a public reformation center for non-magical young men.
1930The school is mistakenly registered as the Crowley Reformatory.
1944American Allied Forces seize and occupy the school, utilizing it as a makeshift hospital for injured and wounded Allied soldiers.
1948The property and neighboring lots are auctioned to the public. Calpher Verland purchases the lots and rebuilds the structures.
1950The reconstruction of the school buildings are completed. The school resumes operations as an academic institution.
1963The school relocates to Alaska, USA, under the name Barrett-Crowley Reformatory School for Boys. The name is later shortened in the same year.
2012The Crawl, an all-consuming magical force, descends on the known world, suspending the school's operation.
2015The Crawl is defeated. The school resumes operation under the name Barrett-Crowley University, operating with limited staff.
Where does the school's funding come from?
Officially, the school is funded by alumni contributions and student tuition. As it's a non-profit institution, the school doesn't pay much by way of taxes. That being said, alumni contributions and tuition fees alone will not support a school of roughly 1,500 students plus staff and faculty.
The rest of the money comes from hosting, freelancing, and farming.
The BCU was originally established as a sanctuary for the magical community. Because if this, the foundations and structures of the BCU are spelled to protect from all manner of magical dangers. In modern times, the BCU provides safe lodging for monster hunters in exchange for a fee.
The BCU is considered one of the best places to heal from magical wounds because of the high amounts of magic that flows through it. Many of the campus buildings are also warded against outsiders, creating a magical quarantine area.
The school staff also performs magical tasks for a fee, such as spiritual mediation, exorcism, and detective work (in cooperation with non-magical law enforcement).
Tthe school's greenhouses are among of the largest collections of magical flora in the world, and the largest in North America. The school sells herbs, powders, and other flora to several businesses and clients all over the world (warding, sales tax, and customs fees not included). An online catalog of magical flora is available via the school's (other) website.