The coven system was a system instituted on the Boiling Isles by Emperor Belos for categorizing magic into specific types. There were nine main covens with hundreds of other covens beneath them. The educational system trained young witches along scholastic tracks that prepared them for membership in their chosen coven.
To the general public, the purpose of the covens' introduction was on The Titan's command, who communicated through Belos, and to protect the witches and demons from the "danger" of wild magic. However, these claims were later revealed to be nothing more than an intricate series of lies concocted by Belos, whose true identity was a human witch hunter from the Human Realm named Phillip Wittebane, to earn the trust of the Boiling Isles, which paved the way for his plot of genocide of all magickind. A coven is made up of witches that specialize in a specific form of magical abilities.[1] A coven membership is mandatory, and failure to join a coven is a high order criminal offense, potentially resulting in petrification.[2] Those who leave a coven (even by involuntary separation) will receive the same sentence. It is known that people who fail to join a coven have reportedly gone missing. It is also possible for a witch to be bound forcibly to a coven without their consent.
Young witches are encouraged to study under one of the main nine magic tracks in preparation for coven membership, and annually held "coventions" allow them to explore the various covens before making their choice. There are more than nine covens in total, and if one of the main nine is not to one's liking, there are more to choose from. Most witches join a coven when they graduate from school (usually around 17-18 years of age), though exceptionally talented witches can leave school and join a coven early. When a witch joins a coven, their arm is branded with the coven's sigil, and all of their magic is sealed off except the magic of their chosen coven.[1] While a witch will be unable to perform magic outside their specialty, they will still be able to perform general spells such as levitation magic, albeit with greater difficulty.[4] Some covens are more highly-regarded than others, and the highest-ranking coven in the Coven System is the Emperor's Coven, the only coven whose members are allowed to use all kinds of magic. Active membership in a coven is usually not required as long as witch is branded. The branding is permanent and can't be removed by means other than amputation or special tech.
The brands have a secondary effect. In addition to stopping a witch from performing magic outside their chosen coven, the brands can encase the witch in branch-like tendrils and place them in a form of stasis.[5] The brands also serve a function for the Day of Unity, acting as a means to drain magic from witches and transfer it into the nine coven heads After assuming the identity of the witch Belos, Philip Wittebane hatched a plan that would end with the destruction of all witches. One of the biggest parts of his plan was the implementation of sigils and brands that restrict the use of magic and serve as a means to drain said magic from them. To do this, he teamed up with a being called The Collector and in exchange for the teaching of the draining spell, Phillip would set The Collector free from his prison. However, Phillip had no intention of keeping his end of the bargain.
During the tail end of the Savage Ages, Phillip, under the guise of Belos, claimed that wild magic was dangerous and angered The Titan, destroying his own family in the process, and he publicly proposed the separation of magic into nine distinct covens based on the hues of the "healing light." To further boost his message, the future Emperor used fearmongering and orchestrated the destruction of cities, claiming it was the work of wild magic. Witches who listened to Belos were marked with coven brands, though the earliest known usage of the brands left the witches branded in an unconscious but still-living state. In the current day, the Coven System permeates every aspect of Boiling Isles culture, and the entire education system revolves around young witches joining one of the main nine covens. Any witches not in a coven are labelled as criminals and can be forced to join one against their will. While coven membership is mandated for adults, younger witches would usually not be branded until graduating high school. However, as the Day of Unity drew near, Belos started to push for younger witches to be forcibly branded. However, this approach was met with bitter resistance from the students and faculty of Hexside and could not be carried out successfully.
Emperor's Coven
While not considered one of the "main nine" covens, the Emperor's Coven is considered to be the most prestigious and highly ranked coven in the coven system and its members serve as law enforcement on behalf of the emperor's will. Membership of the Emperor's Coven is made up of some of the most talented witches on the isles, and unlike other covens, those inducted into the emperor's retain all their magic.
Color: Gold
Sigil: Winged sword and shield in a triangle
Leader: Emperor Belos
Abomination Coven
The Abomination Coven focuses on the creation and utilization of purple ooze golems known as abominations. Witches in the Abomination Coven can create, summon, and control abominations to do their bidding, and more powerful witches can even use abomination matter to create constructs or even assume an abomination-based form. According to Willow Park, the abomination track has been noted for opening more opportunities for a witch's future.[9]
Color: Orchid
Sigil: Abomination face
Leader: Darius Deamonne
The Bard Coven focuses on manipulating the world around them using soundwaves. Bards can use sound to create a variety of effects, such as inducing sleepiness, taking control of witches listening to their music, creating small-scale storms, creating concussive or slashing shockwaves, and even changing the chemistry of liquids. However, some bard spells can be countered by wearing ear coverings. Though bards typically use musical instruments, it is also possible to use bard magic through whistling. As musicians, bard witches have been known to make public performances, making it a difficult, but not impossible track for those with stage fright.[5] Prejudice against bards has been noted due to incredulity that bard magic can be strong and useful compared to the other covens.[6]
Color: Red
Sigil: Lyre
Leader: Raine Whispers
Former Leader: Scooter Crane (retired)
The Beast Keeping Coven focuses on the taming and control of the various beasts on the Boiling Isles. Beast keepers are able to command the various creatures on the Isles, summon beasts, and grant themselves bestial traits.[5]
Color: Orange
Sigil: Hatching egg
Leader: Eberwolf
The Construction Coven focuses on creating earth-based constructs and various construction projects on the Isles. Construction Coven witches can create tools, pillars statues and other structures using earth. Additionally, they are allowed to use magic adhesive stickers bearing their sigils known as power glyphs to boost their strength and magic.[1]
Color: Brown
Sigil: Cracked fist
Leader: Mason
The Healing Coven specializes in dealing with medicine and healthcare. Healers can treat a variety of injuries and ailments and appear to use healing glyphs to deal with long-term injuries. Witches in the coven can also create shields and projectiles and use them at their own will.
Color: Blue
Sigil: Bandaged hand
Leader: Hettie Cutburn
The Illusion Coven specializes in deception and showmanship to trick the senses of other witches.[1] Illusionists can create clones and alter their appearances, and powerful illusionists like Gus can even cast somewhat tangible illusions over a large area. Illusion magic is the only magic that cannot be enhanced by Galdorstones; consequentially, illusionists are often tasked with guarding them. Prejudice against illusionists has been noted due to their spells lacking a true physical effect.[10]
Color: Light blue
Sigil: Mirror
Leader: Adrian Graye Vernworth
The Oracle Coven focuses on fortune-telling, spirits, and various mind-based magics. Oracles can use their magic to tell the future, look into distant locations, and use their crystal balls for various purposes, such as telepathic communication, launching a blast of dark purple fire, sinking into a mobile shadow on the ground, summoning spirit entities of either fire or shadow, or creating large psychic energy constructs like a giant hand or a giant energy dome. Crystal balls can come in various sizes; some can even be small enough to be the charm on a necklace. An oracle's magic can be disabled by breaking their method of control, such as their crystal ball.[11]
Color: Purple
Sigil: Eye
Leader: Osran
The Plant Coven specializes in the various flora on the Boiling Isles. Plant Coven witches can command the flora around them as well as manipulate vines and accelerate plant growth. They can also make flowers bloom and unleash poisonous plants.
Color: Green
Sigil: Flower
Leader: Terra Snapdragon
The Potions Coven focuses on brewing various potions. Potions Coven witches are able to brew a variety of potions with different effects, ranging from fog brews, explosive potions, elixirs that can keep curses at bay, and even brews that can bring inanimate objects to life. Unlike the other tracks, potion witches do not need magic to brew potions, as shown when Lilith made a scrying potion and when Eda made a batch of explosive potions, both after the Owl Beast's curse rendered their magic unusable; however, having magic does aid in collecting ingredients from dangerous creatures, and some potions may require a magic source to activate.
Color: Yellow
Sigil: Potion bottle
Leader: Vitimir