The Crimson Covenant

"May the Matron guide our bloodied hands"

The Crimson Covenant is the foremost guild of assassins shrouded in mystery and dark dealings which have been active across Iskara. While their business is most certainly not legal, their existence has mostly been tolerated or ignored, that is unless they target someone of renown. Whenever an individual with legal authority takes an interest in their affairs, the Covenant relies upon a combination of bribery, blackmail, coercion, murder, and espionage to maintain secrecy and discourage interference. While they operate across Iskara, the guild known as the Harakunrin has been a major rival in Ankar and the Ne'wale Isles. The Covenant is also notorious for their near fanatical worship of Maeve, goddess of blood.

Structure

Despite their illegal activity the Covenant follows a strict hierarchy and has several rules that must be abided by. These rules are known as the (Doctrines): members must never dishonor the matron of blood, Maeve, betray the Covenant, refuse or disobey an order from a superior, steal from a fellow member, betray a fellow member, or kill a Crimson Brother or Sister. To break one of these rules is to invoke the ire of Maeve and meet a much darker, and bloodier, fate than death. In extreme cases, when a sanctuary succumbs to treachery or heresy a purification may be ordered the Scarlet Will, the heads of the Covenant. It is believed that through such purifications the souls of the treacherous are offered to Maeve to appease her for such transgressions.
In contrast to the Harakunrin's more industrial approach to their similar work, the Covenant worship and revere Maeve. Through this worship they see their murders as enacting the will of a god and thus it is holy. As a result the Covenant is viewed as a fanatical cult that will execute their assignments with brutal finesse and reverence, while the Harakunrin is seen as the more pragmatic and business oriented guild.
Since its inception the Covenant has been led by Maeve's Corrupted agent, known within the guild as the Vicar. The Vicar is also in charge of the Disciples of Maeve, an extremely secretive cabal within the Covenant. Some stories suggest the first Vicar, known as the Bloodborn Daughter, made a pact with Maeve in the years after the Incursion allowing Maeve to steadily enact her will. The Bloodborn Daughter is also believed to have murdered hundreds in order to do and continues to live on as one of the earliest vampire lords.
The most infamous and effective way of contacting the Covenant is through a brutal ritual known as the Dark Letting. Through this profane ritual many suspect they can commune directly with the Matron of Blood and request the skills of her assassins. The ritual itself involves using the blood of the requester to paint a circle, on this circle the requester must place and light four candles, then they must drink a concoction of wine, crushed karoot, an extremely poisonous plant that when taken in small doses is said to induce a light hallucinogenic effect, leaves, and a drop of the requesters blood. Finally they must recite an ancient chant to request Maeve's ear, "May the Matron of Blood hear my dearest pleas, for the sins of mortality must be purified in your crimson light". If Maeve hears such pleas she will commune with the Vicar, who sends the order and information to the appropriate Keeper, who command their own sanctuary. The agent(s) known to be the best fit for the contract are then commanded to fulfill it.
Throughout the Covenant's history, they have been known to have an interesting relationship with some of the Solvithar, the Sun Elves, who form a unique subgroup within the Covenant known as the Erathari, or The Eclipse Born. These Sun Elves often referred to simply as the Eclipse, are Solvithar that were born during an eclipse. In Sun Elf culture those born during this celestial event are believed to be cursed and the Covenant will actively seek them out, as many have been abandoned by their families. Some of the Erathari are capable of utilizing shadow magics to a more potent degree than most and are thus highly sought after for these unique capabilities.

Culture

The Brothers and Sisters of the Covenant are typically devout to Maeve to a near fanatical degree, as many who are recruited were shunned and ostracized for their proclivities and thus build a strong bond with the guild that "saved" them. There are some among them that care little for the more sacred aspects of their organization and are simply in it for the thrill or they pay. Given the guild's preference for skill and obedience to the Doctrines over personality, there are those from all walks of life; from common beggars to those of noble birth.

Public Agenda

The guild seeks to honor Maeve and carry out her will in whatever means she demands. The reasons behind her contracts is a question very few would dare to ask.

Demography and Population

The order has hands in every continent on Iskara, though their influence can vary greatly from region to region, allowing them to recruit from across the known world. Thus they have members from every known race but given that most of their power is focused in Teldara, most of their members are Sareni, Solvithar, Lunvithar, Arikiri, Sylvithar, and Felvithar. The few sanctuaries outside Teldara have more members from their respective nations, i.e. Ankar sanctuaries tend to have more Ankari, Sarkosh, and Osteron members.

Territories

The Covenant holds most of its power and influence on the continent of Teldara, with at least one sanctuary in every nation or province. Their power however, begins to wane outside these regions. To the east, in the Ne'wale Isles and Ankar, the Covenant has a handful of sanctuaries dotting the hostile regions. The Harakunrin claim near complete control of these territories and have managed to withstand Covenant aggression for centuries. In Madura, a government sanctioned secret order maintains control and order and actively seek any Covenant sanctuaries.

Foreign Relations

As expected of a guild of a assassin's, the Covenant have few friends. However, their mastery of assassinations, stealth, blackmail, etc. has kept most from interfering in their affairs but there are the righteous few who have attempted to combat this order to varying success. There are a handful who have ties to the Covenant, affording the order vital information and resources.

Alternative Names

The Covenant

Deities

• Maeve

Location

Iskara