Nok Majka

Not much is known of the Nok Majka, at least not much that can be verified as true. Rumors abound concerning this secretive group of female magic users, but very few of these rumors are confirmed by evidence. What is known is that they all trace their ancestry back to the first witch of Jord, Amieriss the Nightweaver. While they do not pray to Amieriss she is in many ways like a deity to their culture.

They reside in eastern Velha, ruling the Zolkaadi region through a marriage to the Arclord there, and they are said to also control the Daelzahd region from behind the scenes.

A strong family tie unites them all, and it is said that they only take the greatest of their daughters to continue the line. This means that there are actually few true Nok Majka at any given time. That does not stop racial prejudice from including any and all members of this ethnic minority though. Any daughter of a Nok Majka is treated as a Nok Majka by the common Velhanni. A common word used for them outside of Velha is Nightwitch, and this is said both with fear and vehement hatred by some.

There are three main groups, or covens, within the Nok Majka:
 * Order of the Violet Star: The rulers of Zolkaadi belong to this coven. They are a secretive and selective group. They are only estimated to have a dozen or so witches within their inner circle at any given time. They dress in purple and black robes and heavily decorate themselves in jewelry.
 * Moonlight Flower Sisters: A group of powerful seers and oracles. They are said to be the true rulers of Daelzahd, hiding themselves out of sight behind a puppet government (though many say that those are just conspiracies propogated by the coven itself). Nothing is known about how the sisters of the Moonlight Flower dress or look as they are usually not seen by those they meet with. Often they will be represented by spectral versions of animals or monstrous creatures.
 * The Embernight Coven: The members of the Embernight Coven are considered to be the most direct of the Nok Majka. Generally when a town that didn't pay taxes is stricken with plague or a lord that slighted a Nightwitch is found transformed into a squealing hog it is the Embernight that are blamed. Their sisters are often seen riding through the dark woods of eastern Velha on smoldering horses, leaving a trail of green and purple flame behind them. The Embernight are what Velhanni parents warn their children of when they are misbehaving.