#fivepoints;world

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LOCATIONS IN FIVE POINTS | Grove & Valley Mortuary “Caring for your loved one in death as a reflection of their life”. Grove and Valley Mortuary is a full service mortuary located north of town. Mrs. Ealing is the sole proprietor and lead mortician. Her temperament suits her path, as Mrs. Ealing has always preferred the company of the dead over the living. It had been assumed her son Severin would one day take over the business. However, much to his relief, his recent responsibilities within the Circle of Nightfall has reduced the amount of time he can assist his mother with the business.

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LOCATIONS IN FIVE POINTS | NOX LIVERY Located on the eastern side of the valley, Nox Livery is the oldest -- and largest -- place to buy a horse, board a horse, breed a horse, or train one. Their red barn is symbolic through all three covens for excellence and a keen eye for husbandry, and their land is marked by a series of black fences. There are no farmhouses nearby, and the family does not live on site.

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Magical Disciplines

What spells are your character particularly skilled at? There are ten areas, or disciplines, that the witches and warlocks of Five Points can specialize in:

Common to all three Covens:

Rituals - Magic cast in a group, usually linked to cycles in the natural world (e.g., seasons, phases of the moon), that tends to be more powerful than the usual spell as a result

Talismans - Magic cast and contained within portable personal items, also known as amulets; includes the study of which talismans go with the correct energy

Incantations - The study of the words used for spells and charms; the masters/mistresses hand down the book of incantations through generations for each Coven

Herbalism - Magic harnessing the power found in natural flora and fauna; can be used either by burning certain ingredients or by boiling them down into potions

The following are disciplines specific to each Coven:

Church of Dark:

Runes - Magic cast via carving symbols or words in particular languages, that can be activated, deactivated or recharged; most often used in wards

Fascination - The ability to take possession of and overpower a living creature’s spirit, done by either a look or glance through the eyes; includes trance work, hypnosis and compulsion

Circle of Nightfall:

Familiar - Magic related to the bond a witch or warlock has with her or his Familiar, such as being able to sense things via the Familiar’s senses, or cast spells in tandem with the Familiar; requires strong mental discipline

Psychic - The ability to use perception to identify information hidden from the normal senses, including: astral travel, telepathy, telempathy, clairvoyance, clairaudience, telekinesis, teleportation

Community of Unholy Saints:

Necromancy - Magic related to death or the dead, including but not limited to seeing and consulting spirits, calling upon the magic of ancestors, and, in extreme cases, the raising of the dead (but the cost of this is very high)

Divination - Magic related to the seeking of knowledge about past, present, or future events; usually done via a medium such as tarot, tea leaves, runes and talismans (see above), or potions that would lead to trances

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LOCATIONS IN FIVE POINTS | The Academy Initially built in 1659, The Academy has grown from a single-room building to an expansive stonework hall. The facade has changed over the years, from damage or expansion, and is now a patchwork of Greco-Roman, Gothic, and Federalist styles. Inside its famous maplewood doors, the three crests of the covens are emblazoned in the marble floor in a webwork of unity. The Academy is the only place where the covens are mandated to work together.

How does it work? The Academy is located just south of the main town area, in a secluded outcropping of mountain rock. It is the sole effort of the three covens to work together, and has existed in the valley as long as they have. Its facade is a mixture of architectural styles, stemming from a few disasters (there was a bout of fires in the 1860s), and the need to expand.

There is one Academy in the valley, and all of-age warlocks and witches attend it for four days each week – most typically after their initiation at 16. The fifth and sixth days are given to coven-specific practice. Graduation from the Academy is granted after four years of study, two years of apprenticeship to learn a trade, and the successful passing of a Trial set forth by the coven elders.

Most witches and warlocks graduate at age 22. The war has halted this study for four years, however, which means that if your character is between 18 and 22, they have not completed their studies.

Who attends? Every of-age witch and warlock in the valley attends, after their initiation. Most begin their studies at age 16 and graduate at 22, though some put off their initiation for a few years, and graduate later. Most students are expected to live at the Academy during their studies, though it is not unheard of for students to live at home during that time.

The Academy is a full-time school, and students are in class from 8:30am until 4:30pm, with additional study beginning at 6:30pm and lasting until 9 for the upper years.

Who are the teachers? Masters and Mistresses of a discipline (Talismans, Ritual, Runes, and the like) all teach at the Academy in varying capacities.

What do they study? The Academy is for strictly magical education, as students are a bit older when they enroll, and should have mastered other mundane subjects before their careers at the Academy begin. Years 1 & 2 | A broad foundation of magic All students study the basics of each discipline, even if it is one outside of their Coven. They begin to take aptitude tests and be sorted according to their ability, live in multi-person dormitories, and learn the history of magic.

Years 3 & 4 | Advanced studies As a student matriculates into advanced study, they may choose two to three subjects to focus upon. This leads to smaller groups, and more face time with the Master or Mistress of that discipline. These studies may be pursued in subjects native or outside of their Coven.

Years 5 & 6 | Specialization In their final years at the Academy, students select one subject to focus on, and begin to learn alongside a Master or Mistress as a student apprentice. This subject must be one native to their Coven (i.e. an Unholy Saint cannot study Familiar at this level, nor can a Nightfall member study Runes). As they prepare for graduation from the Academy, students are tested across all fields of magic to ensure competency and -- ideally -- excellence.

What happens after graduation? You’re a witch! Or a warlock! Yay, you. After successfully passing their exams, a witch or warlock is granted full abilities to use their magic as they see fit. Most leave the Academy and do not return, instead investing in their family’s business, or working in the valley. Some stay on with their Master or Mistress as an apprentice, working in their discipline outside of the Academy. Some go on to serve their coven exclusively, as a Council Member, a Maiden, and the like.

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THE TOWN IN FIVE POINTS left to right, by row. 01. Parlour House, an upscale restaurant above the The Porter Cafe. It’s exceedingly small, only seating six tables, and serves largely a Circle of Nightfall clientele. 02. The Porter Cafe. Located on the corner of Main and Elm Street, the Porter Cafe offers light fare until sundown, when it turns into the liveliest spot along Main Street -- which is not saying very much. 03. O’Connor Apothecary. Run by the O’Connor family for generations, the Apothecary is one of three in Five Points. They sell to the Church of Unholy Saints primarily, and the other covens with restrictions. Run by Levi O’Connor. 04. Meece’s Diner. Marking the westernmost corner of the town center, Meece’s Diner was built in the 1950s to serve farmers on their way in and out of town. Today, they offer up your typical diner fare. The vending machine at the front of the diner still works, selling rabbits feet, cursed apple cores, and other trinkets. 05. The Bakehouse. Located at 14 Bakers Street, The Bakehouse a homestead of the Sharpe family. Primarily catering to Church of Dark members, The Bakehouse has a restaurant on the main floor, and an expansive cellar below, for only the most discerning of buyers. 06. Dawes Draperies. Known for their fine needlework, the Dawes family has been a staple in the valley ever since 1836 -- which the sign above the door proudly proclaims. Buy ready-made clothing here, or bolts of fabric to do it yourself. Just don’t try on the hats; it’s rumored that they can read your thoughts. 07. Woods Books. A no-nonsense building, a few storefronts down on Elm Street, Woods Books sells manuscripts, fiction, atlases, and almanacs. Need something in particular? Tempest Wood is here for just that. 08. Post Office. Located in the center of town, at the corner of Orchard and Main Street, the post office is the place to send and receive parcels, or check your family’s lock box (pictured) in the Vault, two levels below. 09. Greengardens. At the southernmost edge of the town lies Greengardens. Run by members of the Church of Unholy Saints, Greengardens supplies greenery both magical and mortal. Seeds for planting sit alongside dormant pots of hemlock, so be careful what you buy. 10. Osgood General Goods. In the center of town rests Osgood General Goods, directly at the corner of Orchard and Main. Bringing goods in from the surrounding mortal towns, Osgood General Goods sells everything from records (and record players) to farm equipment. They offer an expansive catalogue of goods available by mail order.

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LOCATIONS AND ITEMS OF NOTE IN THE FIVE POINTS VALLEY 01. in addition to fire, intermittent electricity, and candlelight, some warlocks and witches can harness the power of electricity in crystal balls. this is especially prevalent in the Circle of Nightfall. 02. bordered by snow-capped mountains on all sides, the Valley is protected by natural -- and magical -- barriers. 03. while the valley’s boundaries only span roughly 100 miles, there are outposts to the north and south where smaller, fringe communities of magical people live. they are not commonly accepted into covens, and are regarded with suspicion. 04. the woods in the valley are deep, filled with tall evergreen trees. 05. winter comes early in the valley, and often overstays its welcome. fires are not uncommon to see dotting the valley if you chance to climb up into the foothills on a winter’s night. 06. the first coven, and the oldest, the Church of Dark’s cathedral towers over the farms surrounding it, a masterwork of stone and gothic architecture. one wonders how they got the supplies... 07. the entrance to the Community of Unholy Saints is marked by a blood-red door. 08. when spring does come, the valley is awash in green. several cold-water streams come down from the mountains, running in a river that carries through the valley. 09. flora and fauna abound in the valley, if you know where to look. 10. in contrast to its predecessor, the Circle of Nightfall meets in a stark, black building far to the west of the valley.

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the world & magic.

where are we?

Good question. Five Points is located along hundreds of square miles at the foothills of a small mountain range, spanning up the coast of New England, into Canada. There is a protective barrier, warding off humans from venturing into the valley and foothills, though it is only 50 miles or so out of the valley to reach the small, cold-water, coastal towns that they inhabit. It is safe to assume that your character has interacted with humans, but it is forbidden to have a relationship with them, or bring them into the valley.

Nearby towns may be visited to get supplies, purchase goods, or monitor the outside world. The nearest ones are Hampstead, Williamstown, and Covedale.

The valley itself has a handful of small businesses, much like any town in rural America. Want to learn more? Check out the fivepoints;world tag.

how does magic work?

Magic in Five Points is tied to bloodline, which is why the covens have spent centuries hiding in plain sight. Their magic isn’t by blood alone, though: their power comes from their soul, and as such, souls are the most powerful thing in Five Points. Upon birth, each new child is warded by their elders to protect their soul, to guard against possession, and to ensure long life. The war has broken down some of those barriers, and possessions have occurred in recent history. This is an affront  to their way of life, and a critical problem.

There is an element of learning to it. While raw magic resides in every magical soul, the ability to harness and deploy it is something that must be taught. Children are enrolled in an Academy after they have taken their Initiation Rites, where they learn the basics of alchemy, charms, curses, ritual, natural magic, and spells. Each Coven offers further study on the areas in which they excel, but these secrets are tightly guarded by coven.

Using magic always comes at an equal or greater price. For smaller spells, hexes, and the like, a witch may simply feel fatigued, or darken their aura. At the opposite end of the spectrum, larger spells, heavier magic, darker rituals may require more energy than one witch alone can manage -- or even a blood sacrifice.

Magic is cast using latin, and calling upon the forces of nature.

For example, a warlock may call upon the North Wind to bring an early winter to his rival’s doorstep, or a witch may ask Hecate for a blessing, to aid and guard her work.

the academy.

There is one Academy in the valley, and all of-age warlocks and witches attend it for four days each week -- most typically after their initiation at 16. The fifth and sixth days are given to coven-specific practice. Graduation from the Academy is granted after four years of study, two years of apprenticeship to learn a trade, and the successful passing of a Trial set forth by the coven elders. 

Most witches and warlocks graduate at age 22. The war has halted this study for four years, however, which means that if your character is between 18 and 22, they have not completed their studies.

the war.

All able-bodied witches and warlocks above the age of eighteen were eligible to be drafted into the war -- and by the end, that meant nearly all of them. War was fought throughout the valley, with small camps of soldiers spreading far and wide. Soldiers were scattered in groups of 6-12, and have spent the last several years fighting in small skirmishes and large battles.

These may have been fought with spellwork, incantations, rituals, or hand-to-hand combat as the situation merited it. Some are more adept than others with daggers, though wards and hexes made gunpowder a poor choice.

occupations.

This is not a town RP and as such, there are no school soccer teams or coffee shops. Occupations are handed down by family, and treated as a learned trade. They may include:

Healers (those versed in medicinal magic) 

Farmers (those able to make plants grow and feed the valley)

Merchants (those who are booksellers and the like)

Morticians (those who look after the dead and prepare for last rites)

Artists (those who make and sell goods; different from merchants in that they create their wares) 

Potionmakers (those who deal in potions exclusively)

Teachers (those who work at the Academy)

etc! This is not a comprehensive list. If you have an idea, let us know!