Bordevar and Greenweald Conflict
The Night of Silver Blood - 183AE
During the high point of power in the Greenweald Baronies, the role of Wealdsage was as widespread as any other notable profession. While they had no additional goodwill or status than they did know, they were far more connected to each other, owing to the various Wealdsage Covens present throughout the Baronies.
Depending on the size of the barony in question, there may be multiple covens, although no more than three (Vassertal reached this number in 182AE with the Earthblood, Black Mountain and Solem Scarcity Covens). These Covens would elect a leader from their number, often called a Sage-Superior. Above all of this was the Hochscoven, which brought together the Sage-Superiors from across the Weald to discuss matters relevant to all Wealdsages. They in turn could elect a single leader to represent Wealdsages in all things, sometimes called the Witchmaster.
During 183AE the Witchmaster was Klaus Krieger, a Wealdsage from Ritterswald, well known for his intensity and his short fuse. Kriger had risen to prominence in his willingness to disagree with the other guilds and to stand for Wealdsages in his home Barony which earned him the support of his colleagues if not his opponents. It was thought that Krieger would lead the Wealdsages to a point of coordinated importance. The social pariah status of Wealdsages was hardly up for debate, but their self imposed exile was perhaps more malleable.
However under Krieger’s short leadership (180 - 183AE) the more esoteric elements of the Hochscoven appeared to grow. From the outside, the greater coordination of the Wealdsages was allowing a greater communication of heretical and dangerous ideas. Houndspriests reported more and more that they were encountering Wealdsages bearing strange marks and mutations from their time in the Weald, found wandering the roads from coven to coven.
The Night of Silver Blood itself was August 27th, 183AE. Houndspriests from Chapter Anselma and Benedikt entered the Hochscoven Hall in Ulsterberg, Verlorenherz. They slew the Witchmaster, three of the other seven members of the Hochscoven and burned all their records. In separate assaults, Houndspriests from Chapters Kristov and Ottfried arrested and then executed two more of the Witch-Superiors in Ritterswald and Resinderholz respectively. Only Witch-Superior Konstantina Valentik of the Black Mountain Coven was able to escape, although she later disappeared in 184AE under mysterious circumstances.
Chapter-Kaptain Jaulin Vonferral of Chapter Anselma and Chapter-Kaptain Xavier Thrakt of Chapter Benedikt, alongside Chapter Master Sarina Drekov presented themselves before the Baronness of Verlorenherz with blood and smoke still clinging to their clothes. The Chapter Master explained that by the nature of a Wealdsages work, they could not elect a leader from experience and expect them to remain uncorrupted. A Wealdsage becomes more corrupted, more indebted to the Weald as their career continues. To elect the most experienced it simply creates the greatest circumstance of risk. From her perspective, The Witch Master was spreading corruption throughout the Covens and was facilitating an internal coup against the Church and people of the Baronies. Her hand was forced.
While the nature of the deliberations that followed are not public record, the results are. Since 183AE Wealdsage Covens were forbidden by law. Unless accompanied by a Houndspriest, Wealdsages were not permitted to gather in groups larger than four and the Covens were broken. The role of the Wealdsage in Greenweald society was hardly optional, and so Wealdsages continued to take apprentices, but they did so absent any larger organisation and under far harsher observation.
With the advent of The Concord the status of this ban has been brought into question. It is likely no longer legal and would need to be reconfirmed by The Concordian senate in some new, more understandable form. But the social stigma still exists very readily within the Weald. A Wealdsage to say that they are ‘Going to Coven’ would be tantamount to confessing to crime in the wrong circumstances.
As of the year 224, and by the works and words of former Barons Gilbert Schwarz and Valentin Voght, this ban has been legally lifted. Wealdsages are now legally permitted to gather in groups greater than four without an accompanying Houndspriest, and Covens may be formed again. These Covens, Guilds in much the same manner, function and form as Houndspriest Chapters, will be allowed once more within the Baronies. Though time will tell whether the people of the Weald, after so many decades, will truly accept them.