Deep in a foreboding crypt in the Bull Run Mountains, an ancient people gather around a cenotaph praying for answers. Strange events haunt the night, and they need answers. Have they offended the spirits or have the exiled people of Maryland brought the darkness to their doorstep.
Their Mother Soteria dons the death mask and sits upon the throne of the underworld. She calls out to the spirit of the everliving and the dead to aid her people as they have so often in the past.
The Trivian Way
The Trivian people followed the Rephaim throughout the millennia. Nothing has ever shaken their faith in the angelborn, not the violence or the persecution they have suffered at the hands of the immortal elders, other magical traditions, or the lost mortals who accused them of all manner of foul and loathsome deeds.
While they were not born from the sacrifice of the luminary Eleleth like the Rephaim, he is is ever present with them from the vision of him as their inner light is drawn forth at their confirmation to the enlightening dreams that have guided them through even the darkest times. They know the path they have been called to walk, and that it is not for everyone.
Even the most accomplished wizards, mages, and drymenn could not cope with the constant presence of the spirits in their lives. To hear the cries of the earth or the or the sorrow of the land on which the exiled wrecca live would break the heart and will of most people, but not the followers of the thrice blessed way. They know how to find the light in the shadows.
Ashborne
Few call Ashborne, Avalon, home that do not follow the Trivian Way. Nestled in the heart of the Millgrave Forest around Rathfold Falls, which the wrecca call Cunningham Falls, the town remains open to the wild, teaming with spirits of the everliving and the dead.
The town was woven into the veil by the fae Cloud Nightflower, who still lives there with his family. While he hasn't converted to the Trivian Way, he often attends services at the Shrine. Cloud helped the Mother Soteria of the community to make a deal with the local Naiads to enlarge the rive as it flowed through town, which has become known for its schools of knuckers and the vibrant communities of spirits.
When they consecrated the cenotaph, they called upon Saint Elwin Rathmore to guide and protect them. The Di Inferi agreed and roams the sacred halls ever vigilant and with tender care for the people.
Cloumarth's Arcane Academy for the Old Ways
One the outskirts of Ashborne is Cloumarth's Arcane Academy for the Old Ways, the only institute for higher education in the Trivian Arts within the borders of Avalon. Under the leadership of headmaster Joshua Hayes, the offers courses in summoning, evoking, mediumship, as well as advanced training for Confessors and Pardoners. Azariah Larsen and Issac Meyer, the current Confessor and Pardoner of Blackwood County are alumni.
When Joshua Hayes was invested with the duties of headmaster, he made it a priority to construct a transcendental fountain on campus to aid the students in their studies of the spirits ways, but has yet to gain approval from the Sith Thyrsa.
The Blackwood County Council
Dark Lady Ina Blackwood has concerns about a transcendental fountain in her jurisdiction, and has established a special committee to look into the issue. The problem with dealing with the Dark Gentry is they don't understand how much their sense of time differs from that of the mortals. Decades pass them by while the mortals live their entire lives.
All three of the Dark Lady's children live in the county and serve on the council.
Michael Blackwood focuses his efforts and energies on the Sith Thyrsa Academy of which he is both namesake and almoner.
Severina Blackwood serves as Seneschal of the county, but it most known for her balls and fetes. Even with her cold demeanor, she is well regarded by people, even the Trivians, with whom she and her youngest brother have a special affinity.
River Blackwood is the youngest, and for a member of the Dark Gentry, is incredibly young. Born in the 1970's, he is the rare dragon who is as old as or younger than most of the people he interacts with. He serves as the game master of the county.
Nightfall
Nightfall serves as the county seat of Blackwood County. From the halls of Nightfall Manor, the Blackwoods have held court since 1634. It is second only to Thebes near the wrecca capital of Washington DC in size and population in the county.
In the city center is an abstract sculpture of Dark Lady Ina Blackwood slaying her mother Nyx. The town takes its name from this pivotal event in history.
Life in Nightfall isn't much difference from life in Ashbourne, with the exception of the difference in the population.
Blackwood Abbey
The Blackwood Abbey School for Drycraft and Gramarye is in Rowich, a small village north of Ashbourne. Few people live in the village who are not connected to the school in some way. Dark Lord Michael Blackwood, the namesake and almoner of the school has done his best to ensure that every variety of Sith Thyrsa magic is taught at the school with the best teachers in all of Vinland. As a result, it draws applicants and students from all over the Aernadael Commonwealth.
The Salian Academy and County Headquarters
Under Michael's patronage, the counties Salian academy and Headquarters was relocated to Rowich in the 1780s.
The Salian Order maintain the peace in the county. Through their rites, patrols, and investigations, they keep order, especially on the borders with the wrecca communities. Colin Sherman is the current Master of the Shield. It is rumored that he earned his position on account of his relationship with Michael.
Secret Societies
Like every county in the Aernadael Commonwealth, Blackwood County is rife with secret societies, chantries, and covens. Some known to be operating in the county are:
The Blinded Angels
Founded in 1774, the Blinded Angels were born to combat the Dusk Order of the Crown during the American revolution. As with most wrecca wars and revolutions, the Commonwealth chose to remain neutral in the conflict because they didn't see how the issue affected them. The Dusk Order of the Crown was founded by Rhys Booth, a retainer and reputed ryukishi of Dark Lady Beatrice Clarke to fight for the loyalist cause.
Noel Shaw, the Confessor of Arkham County, started The Blinded Angels, teaching all the members the art of the Sword of Truth as a sign of their oath to truth.
Though it started as revolutionary organization, it developed over the years into a sodality dedicated to truth and welfare. Little is known about their current work, but their sign continues to appear around the county.
The Order of the Cut Elm
Originating in 1188, The Order of the Cut Elm is known as a clandestine diplomatic corp that works to ensure harmony among the Elders and between Aernadael and the wrecca.
The Preservers of Sunrise
The Preservers of the Sunrise are dedicated to finding a way to reverse the death curse of Nyx and freeing the Dark Gentry from their bonds to the night. They hare known primarily from their failed experiments which have wreaked havoc over the years.
The Rosy Night
The Hermetic Order of the Rosy Night were founded as a reaction to the Rosicrucian Hoax of the 1610's. Renown for their midnight balls secret fetes, their membership has remains secret ever since their founding, but there isn't a corner of Aernadael that hasn't played unwitting host to their brand of entertainments.
Secret Keepers
The Secret Keepers are one of the few groups that practice Heka in Aernadael. Their membership is often known, but the practices and purposes of the Order are unknown to outsiders. Over the years, Dark Lady Ina Blackwood has appointed several Intendants of the Hidden Lore from among their order. The seat has remained vacant for many years.
Every member of the Secret Keepers learns the arts of uncovering secrets and revealing truth.
The Shields of Nightfall
The Shields of Nightfall are a dangerous cult who believe that death curse of Nyx left a part of her spirit in each member of the Dark Gentry, and they seek to revive their fallen goddess. They have been responsible for several terrorist attacks over recent decades.
Uraeus Order
The Uraeus Order is a cult who believe their rites and practices can transform a mortal into an elder. On account of the inherent danger of their magic, their arts have been outlawed, which only forced the group underground.
Out of the Shadows
In recent years, more wrecca have found their way through the barriers and into the wilds of Blackwood county. This is especially true around Trivian settlements, leading some to claim that the Rephaim are violating the covenant and calling mortals through the veil to add to their numbers. Mother Soteria denies the claims but they persist regardless.
The Rephaim have never been treated with the same respect as the Dragons or Fae. As a result, they are not given the same respect. They believe it is because they claim to be human. Most humans view the Rephaim as a distinct race, neither human, nor Gentry or Fae. So the Rephaim keep to themselves, which only deepens the divisions.
Integration with the wider community has never been high on their agenda. They have always had to fend for themselves and nothing dies harder than bad habits.
Even though they maintain their own settlements, the popularity of vampire imagery that started with the Ryukishi has found its way into their homes. It might have something to do with the prevalence of blood magic in the old ways, but the young Rephaim and Trivian children have embraced it.
The old ones don't approve, but they remember the vampire and witch hunts their people escaped when they joined the covenant. Even they have to admit things are changing. Strange dream and dark prophecies abound, but when haven't they?
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