The Nightsisters of Dathomir Guide

[Telperiën Ar-Pharazon]

The Nightsisters of Dathomir: Coven Myrkengodi

Inspiration: Old Norse / Paganism

||Writers Note: These are not the Nightsisters of the Clone Wars/Rebels TV Show but a reimagining of the EU nightsisters||

 

“...To become fear you must first overcome yours.” 

- High Priestess Kaiseng, Dathomir 148 ABY

 

With most of the older clans of the Nightsisters and witches murdered by the Black Sun in the cleansing of Dathomir, the clanless remnants of the witches labelled as nightsisters from their affinity for the darkside have once again come out of hiding. Realizing the failings of the old clans, they have abandoned the clan structure and replaced it with ‘leadership through strength.’ They are led by the strongest and most able in the force. They seek to control their home planet Dathomir, manipulating the currents of the force on the planet to bend it to their will. Though they once existed in only shadows and nightmares of the population of Dathomir, now they prey openly upon the weaker willed, descending in the dead of night to murder and kidnap the daughters of the clans of unaligned witches, to grow their numbers. The clan of Myrkengodi has grown large enough to send its most daring sisters into the galaxy.

 

Bending nature to their will through profane works of magik, spells, and totems, the nightsisters can only touch and use the force through such things. This is their handicap. They cannot easily touch the force otherwise. They are a perversion of the force and though some Nightsisters have mastered the art of the ‘silent spell cast’, most nightsisters, cannot perform powerful spells without the assistance of chants, totems, or the tracing of runes and symbols. They use these items as focal points in which they can touch and manipulate the force. Some may consider the Nightsisters or witches weak for these handicaps, but they are a proud people because of it. They thrive in the dark of night and in the wilderness where they control Rancors and other beasts.  

 

Unlike past iterations of the Witches of Dathomir, the nightsisters of Coven Myrkengodi have deliberate limits on their abilities. They are a matriarchal society, in which the quest for power is paramount, and men are slaves. 

 

Leadership Structure: 

 

High Priestess:

The thirteenth member of a coven of priestesses and the most powerful witch within the nightsisters. She has the final say on raids and is answerable to only the coven of priestesses. She may only be challenged for her position by a member of the Coven of priestesses. 

 

Priestess:

The 12 most powerful force wielders of the nightsisters of dathomir, they advise the high priestess and are strong and respected leaders. A witch may only join the Coven through challenging a Priestess to a ‘Trial of Magik’. (See Below for Trial of Magik) 

 

Witch:

A force user within the group of nightsisters, considered above lowly warriors without innate force ability, and above men with force abilities who are called shamens. 

 

Acolyte:

A young woman/child who is manifesting her powers. She will be under the guide of a Witch who will train her to 

 

Shamen:

A male user of the force. Though the Nightsisters discriminate against men, those that show talent in the force are elevated above the slave ranks. They are taught and instructed in the arts of magik but cannot join the leadership ranks of the coven. 

 

Non force using ranks:

 

Warrior:

A non force using member of the nightsisters, very competent in the use of weapons, though they normally shun the use of blasters and modern technology. Preferring to use more traditional weapons that compliment their raiding/stealth mentality. Such as knives, bows, spears, and garrotes.  

Slave:

A man within the Nightsister ranks, or a woman who has not shown proficiency in warrioring, martial skill, or force use. 

 

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The ‘Trial of Magik’ 

A duel to the death between nightsisters to achieve a higher rank in which they only use the power of the force and no physical weapons. It is done under the supervision of the coven.

 

The 'Trial of Fear’

A defining test that is used to bring an acolyte into the witch ranks. The girl is sent into a cave system, fed psychedelic drugs and sealed in for 72 hours. There she must confront every fear that her mind may produce while navigating total darkness.

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Force Powers

 

Examples of Force Powers using Circles of Magik:

Using runes and symbols spread on the ground with paint, nightsisters concentrate their power.

 

Illusion :  (This is an Assassin Trait)

|Required: Blood| 

Using the blood of a captured or willing victim, the nightsister can assume their form and likeness. 

 

Vampyrism :  (This is a Sorcerer Trait)

|Required: Open Wound| 

Drawing the very essence of a living being, the Nightsister draws the force from a person dragging both life and restoration from them. This is a corrupted form of healing and while it may heal the Sister, it will often kill or permanently scar the captive or slave. It will not staunch a mortal wound.  

 

Storm : (This is a Sorcerer Trait)

|Required: A coven or High Priestess| 

Drawing on the force, the Sister(s) summon an electrical storm which can disrupt electronics and small starships. This is often used as a defensive measure in the mountaintops of Dathomir. 

 

Animal Submission : (This is a Sorcerer Trait)

|Required: An predator| 

Utilizing the hunter mentality taught to nightsisters from an early age, the nightsister can force a predator to submit to their will. Though mainly used on Rancors, this can extend to any predatory animal. 

 

Examples of Force Powers using Totems:

A totem is an object that the Nightsister concentrates and accesses the force through. This may be a crystal around their neck, or an object like a Voodoo doll. Each one is unique. 

 

Mind Reading (This is an Assassin Trait)

|Required: A subject| 

Through the use of torture mixed with mental application, many nightsisters are able to prize away information from unwilling subjects.

 

Elemental Manipulation (This is a Sorcerer Trait)

The bread and butter of nightsister powers. Simple tricks of telekinesis that may be easy for a Jedi are exhaustive for the nightsister, examples of elemental manipulation would be, producing a heavy, concealing fog in order to trap or confuse their prey into an ambush. Throwing up a barrier of mud/rock, or to harden mud into stone. 

 

Examples of Force Powers using Runes:

The nightsisters maintain an ancient runic alphabet that represents their words of power, using certain runes and imbuing them with the force to assist their armour. 

 

Imbue (This is a Warrior Trait)

Added to an object of protection and meditated on for many hours, a nightsister can assist herself in protection from elements with runes carved or painted onto armour or shields. These are not durable, and should they exceed the protection afforded them, the rune may break or be destroyed. 

 

Examples of Force Powers using Blood Magic 

Some of the most forbidden magik of the nightsisters. 

 

Tracking (This is an Assassin Trait)

A nightsister, using her own blood makes a runic mark on the slave, enemy, unsuspecting victim. This trail of blood cannot be easily washed off and allows the nightsister to track the marked person through the force. 

 

Projection (This is an Assassin Trait)

Marking her arrows with her blood, a nightsister can accurately control and guide them to their target. 

 

Playing a Nightsister of Coven Myrkengodi 

 

Mykenheimr - Set in the high mountains of Dathomir, the entire range is covered in a ward of protection established by the Coven. It is patrolled daily by witches and warriors and is heavily steeped in the darkside. Unlike their sisters along the plains and rivers, these Nightsisters do not live in huts of straw and mud, but instead in houses of carved stone, or in elaborately carved cave houses. Knowing of the fate of many of their sisters, their houses and tunnels are protected from orbital bombardment by the high mountain ranges themselves. 

 

Becoming a nightsister of Coven Myrkengodi is an experience of confronting fears on every level. Witches of Dathomir are naturally afraid of technology and see it as an infringement on their culture and way of life. A nightsister is not expected to embrace technology with open arms, but instead confront that fear, familiarize herself with it, and if necessary use it to assist her sisters. They embrace and use older weapons such as bows and Spears alongside lightsabres. Their entire culture is a predatory one, and they look on those weaker then them with disdain, and those more powerful with distrust.