Darkling Covens
 | |
| Grand alliance | Order |
| Associated factions | Cities of Sigmar |
| Main grouping | Coven |
| Major characters | Drusa Kraeth |
| Races | Aelf |
| Mounts | Black Dragon |
| Archetypes | Darkling Sorceress |
Darkling Covens are normally led by a powerful aelf sorceress, occasionally a male wizard, many of whom fled to the Realm of Azyr.[1]
Contents
Origin
During the Age of Chaos the invading armies of Chaos destroyed many aelven empires in the Realm of Shadow and, to a lesser degree, Shyish[Note]. The powerful sorceresses and wizardqueens were driven back to the safety of Azyrheim. Upon arrival in the Eternal City of Azyrheim, these shadowy spellcasters remained apart from their fellow refugees. Insular by nature, they were unwilling to share their accumulated knowledge and expertise with the already established Eldritch Council or the Collegiate Arcane. Instead, they formed their own cults and hidden orders. Collectively, these would become known as the Darkling Covens.[1][2a]
Organization
Each Coven is ruled by a single sorceress with the aid of several underlings and major-domos. While these retinues of major-domos and generals take care of matters beneath their concern, Sorceresses have absolute power over their Covens. Darkling Covens can field entire regiments of dominated soldiers, ensorcelled aelves who will throw away their lives without hesitation to protect their mistress. The Black Guard, the elite bodyguards of the sorceresses are an exception and retains their free will. The Executioners are skull masked warriors that are not part of the Darkling Covens but fight alongside them for mysterious reasons.[2a]
Espionage
During their time in Azyr the Covens continued to practise their rituals of sorcery and enchantment but beneath layers of misdirection and illusion as not to attract the attention of Sigmar's Witch Hunters and Shadowblades. They seeded their influence into the workings of the Eternal City with human Freeguild soldiers, duardin clan chiefs and aelven rangers falling victim to bewitching spells of the Sorceresses. The Darkling Covens have developed some of the finest and most widespread spy networks in the Eight Realms with many secretly enacting the desires of the Covens, their mind shackled by dark enchantments.[2a]
Diplomacy
On occasion they will find common purpose with the armies of Azyrheim but always with a specific goal that benefits their quest for power. Some are also on good terms with the Order Serpentis as during the Age of Myth the Sorceresses aided the Order in the creation of the first Black Dragons and many sorceresses ride upon one of their black Dragons as they fight again in the Mortal Realms. Some Darkling Covens have also found common cause with the Idoneth Deepkin and even provide them with shipments of rich souls in exchange for promises of aid in the future.[1][2a]
Society
Many of the Sorceresses who lead the Covens once ruled over their own empires, before the coming of Chaos. They seek to re-attain the power and influence they once had by building up vast personal armies, surrounding themselves with loyal generals, and building extensive networks of agents and lackeys. [3a]
Only aelves are allowed to join their ranks.[3a]
Ambition marks everything that these secretive aelves do, from the lowliest warriors of the Black Guard to the most powerful of the sorceresses. When they set forth to provide aid or assistance to supposed allies, it is simply because doing so advances their own agendas.[3a]
Religion
Many of the Darkling Covens worship and venerate Malerion, the God of Shadows.[4]
Trivia
Note
The original Grand Alliance book mentions that the Sorceresses come from Ulgu and Shyish, but subsequent sources only mention Ulgu.
Sources
- 1: Grand Alliance of Order - Darkling Covens, pg 242-251
- 2: Battletome: Cities of Sigmar (2019)
- 2a: Darkling Covens, pg.38-39
- 3: Soulbound Core Rulebook
- 3a: Chapter Eight: The Mortal Realms, Organizations and Factions
- 4: White Dwarf July 2019
