The Circle of Ash
What burns may yet illuminate
The Circle of Ash
Keepers of the Forbidden • The Hidden Covenant • Torchbearers
A scattered covenant of psionics, witches, and mystics who share lore and protection. Not a formal organization but a web of covens and mentors stretching across the frontier. They believe psionics are not a curse but a torch—proof that humanity can stand equal to gods. Where the Redeemers see damnation, the Circle sees evolution. Where others fear the Current, they study it.
Symbol & Colors
Symbol: A ring of charcoal smudges enclosing a single flickering ember,
always depicted just before it dies
Colors: Soot-black and ember-orange
Motto: "What burns may yet illuminate" / "Even ash can kindle"
Philosophy & Doctrine
Core Belief: Psionics represent humanity's next evolutionary step, not its damnation. The Current is a natural force—dangerous but not evil. Those who can channel it are torchbearers for a species struggling to survive in a hostile universe. Power demands understanding, not persecution.
The Circle's Tenets
- Power Is Not Sin: The Current exists whether humans touch it or not; using it is choice, not crime
- Knowledge Preserves: Ancient wisdom must be guarded against ignorance and fear
- Unity Through Secrecy: Psionics survive by protecting each other in shadow
- The Teacher's Obligation: Those who master the Current must teach control to those who don't
- Evolution Through Fire: Humanity's future includes psionics, or humanity has no future
- Resistance Is Survival: Stand against persecution, but choose battles carefully
The Ash Philosophy
We say: humanity has always feared what it doesn't understand. Fire burned our ancestors until they learned to control it. Lightning struck them dead until they learned its patterns. The Current is no different—raw power waiting to be understood, shaped, mastered.
Yes, it costs. Yes, it burns. So does fire. So does steel. So does every tool that lifted us from beasts to builders. The question isn't whether the Current is dangerous—it is. The question is whether we'll let fear destroy those who could light the way forward.
We are the Circle because we protect the flame. We are Ash because we've been burned. We are the survivors of every witch-hunt, every purge, every fearful mob. And we will not be extinguished.
Even ash can kindle."
Organizational Structure
The Web, Not the Pyramid
Unlike other factions, the Circle has no single leader, no central authority, no formal hierarchy. It operates as a network of covens, mentors, and safe houses. Information flows through trusted connections, not official channels. This makes them resilient—cut one strand and the web remains—but also fractious.
The Elders
Respected teachers and lorekeepers, not rulers. They earn authority through knowledge and survival, not appointment. Current recognized Elders include:
- Elder Rhun: Wandering lorekeeper, bears a thousand charms, knows a hundred rituals
- Elder Sable: Keeper of pre-human artifact vault in unknown location
- Elder Kael: Battle-psion advocate, believes in open war against persecution
- Elder Miriam: Healer-philosopher, teaches control and restraint
Regional Covens
Small groups (5-15 members) scattered across settlements. Each operates independently but shares knowledge through the network. Functions include:
- Teaching: Train young psionics in control and safety
- Protection: Hide fugitive psionics from Redeemers
- Healing: Provide psionic medical services (discreetly)
- Research: Study ley lines, artifacts, psionic theory
- Politics: Influence local government in Circle's favor
The Independent Practitioners
Psionics who work alone but maintain Circle connections. Clara Vey is prime example— technically a member, but operates on her own terms. They use Circle resources (knowledge, safe houses, warning networks) but don't attend gatherings or follow directives. The Circle tolerates this because forcing loyalty contradicts their philosophy.
The Sympathizers
Non-psionic supporters—family members, friends, those who reject persecution on principle. They provide cover, supplies, and intelligence. Some are motivated by love, others by ideology, a few by profit. Most valuable: sheriffs, doctors, and merchants who can hide psionics in plain sight.
How the Circle Operates
Protection Protocols
- Safe Houses: Hidden locations where fugitive psionics can shelter
- Identity Papers: Forged documents to move psionics to safer territories
- Warning Network: Rapid communication about Redeemer movements
- Escape Routes: Pre-planned paths out of danger zones
- Legal Defense: Lawyers (often secretly Circle) who defend accused psionics
- Memory Alteration: Mindweavers who erase witnesses' recollections (controversial)
Education & Training
- Control Techniques: How to use power without Veil Bleed
- Suppression Methods: Hiding psionic signature from detection
- Theory Classes: Understanding the Current and Veil scientifically
- History Lessons: Learning from past persecution and resistance
- Ethical Guidelines: When to use power, when to refrain
- Self-Care: Managing the psychological cost of abilities
Political Manipulation
- Infiltration: Place Circle members in government positions
- Blackmail: Use Mindweavers to gather compromising information
- Bribes: Pay officials to look the other way
- Propaganda: Counter Redeemer rhetoric with sympathetic stories
- Legal Reform: Push for anti-persecution laws (rarely succeeds)
The Ash Mark
Circle members carry small bags of ash, wear it mixed with oil on their throats, or mark doorframes with ash symbols. This identifies safe havens to other psionics while remaining meaningless to outsiders. The mark changes monthly based on lunar phases—only current members know the pattern.
Gatherings
Once per season, covens send representatives to regional gatherings. These happen in remote locations—abandoned mines, deep caves, desert canyons. They share knowledge, coordinate responses to threats, and debate philosophy. Locations are never used twice. Attendance is voluntary, which means controversial topics often lack consensus.
The Circle's Internal Conflicts
The Circle claims unity but is deeply fractured. Without central authority, every major decision becomes a debate, every crisis exposes philosophical rifts.
Healers vs. Warriors
The Healers (led by Elder Miriam): Believe the Circle should focus on protection, education, and proving psionics can benefit society. Use power for healing, agriculture, construction. Avoid violence. Clara Vey leans this direction.
The Warriors (led by Elder Kael): Argue that persecution will never end until psionics fight back openly. Advocate forming a psionic army, striking Redeemer camps, assassinating persecutors. "They burn us regardless—might as well make them fear the flames."
This divide grows wider with every Redeemer purge. Some former Healers are becoming Warriors. The question is whether the Circle will fragment into two organizations or erupt into civil war.
Isolationists vs. Integrationists
Isolationists: Believe psionics should withdraw from normal society entirely, form hidden communities where they can live openly. "Let them have their frontier. We'll build our own."
Integrationists: Insist psionics must remain part of society, prove their value, change minds through positive example. "Running proves we're afraid. Afraid means guilty."
Ethical Debates
Ongoing arguments about acceptable use of power:
- Memory Alteration: Is it ethical to erase witnesses' memories? What about altering them to plant false evidence?
- Mind Control: Can Mindweavers force officials to pass pro-psionic laws? Where's the line?
- Preemptive Strikes: Is killing potential persecutors justified before they act?
- Using Hollowborn: Should the Circle weaponize Hollow Men as the Redeemers do?
- Cooperation with Factions: Work with Consortium? Dust Vultures? Anyone who'll protect psionics?
The Power Corruption Problem
Some Circle members abuse their positions—using mind control for personal gain, exploiting sympathizers, hoarding knowledge for advantage. Without formal authority, there's no clear way to police members. Covens self-regulate, but standards vary. This undermines the Circle's moral authority and proves Redeemer propaganda right.
Notable Figures
Elder Rhun
The Wandering Lorekeeper • Bearer of a Thousand Charms
Appearance: Age unknown—could be sixty, could be two hundred. Some say he's kept alive by the very forces that should have killed him. Wears layers of charms, talismans, and protective symbols—each one earned, gifted, or taken from significant moments. His voice sounds like wind through dried leaves.
Role: Travels between covens teaching ancient rituals, psionic disciplines, and survival techniques. Serves as living library of Circle knowledge. Neutral in factional debates—offers wisdom to both Healers and Warriors without choosing sides.
Abilities: Master of protective rituals and wards. Can sense ley-line fluctuations, predict storms, read auras with uncanny accuracy. Not particularly powerful offensively but nearly impossible to kill—his defenses are legendary.
Duncan Connection: Has approached Duncan three times with recruitment offers. Each time Duncan refuses, and each time Rhun responds: "The torch will find you when you're ready to carry it. Or when it burns you." Their relationship is respectful but distant—Duncan won't join, Rhun won't stop asking.
Clara Vey
The Witch of Rustwater • Half In, Half Out
Position: Technically a Circle member but maintains fierce independence. Uses their resources (knowledge, warning networks, safe houses) but attends few gatherings and follows no directives. Represents the tension between collective security and individual freedom.
Philosophy: Leans toward the Healer faction—believes psionics should prove their value through service. Treats psionic-related conditions, studies Veil Bleed prevention, teaches control to young psionics. But she's also pragmatic—won't hesitate to hex an enemy threatening her patients.
Relationship with Circle: They want her more involved. She wants them to respect her boundaries. This creates useful tension—she's simultaneously insider (trusted with secrets) and outsider (not bound by consensus). Serves as bridge between Circle and independents like Duncan.
Elder Kael
The Battle-Psion • Advocate of Open War
Background: Former Ironbrand psion who witnessed his entire unit massacred by Redeemers during a truce negotiation. Barely escaped. Joined the Circle, rapidly rose to Elder status through sheer power and conviction.
Philosophy: "They'll never stop hunting us. The only peace comes through victory. We have power—let's use it." Advocates forming a psionic army, striking first, establishing a psionic-controlled territory where persecution is impossible.
Methods: Trains battle-psions in combat techniques. Coordinates strikes against Redeemer camps (unauthorized by Circle consensus). Stockpiles psionic weapons and artifacts. Recruiting grows as persecution intensifies. Elder Miriam considers him dangerous; Elder Rhun considers him inevitable.
Elder Miriam
The Healer-Philosopher • Voice of Restraint
Philosophy: "We prove them wrong by being better. Every psionic who saves a life, heals a wound, helps a community—that's a seed planted against hate." Believes demonstrating value will eventually change minds, reduce persecution.
Reality Check: Increasingly struggling with her philosophy as persecution intensifies. How many must die proving their worth? How long until societies accept psionics? She doesn't have answers, just faith that violence begets more violence.
Methods: Runs secret psionic hospitals, trains healers, documents successful cases where psionics helped communities. Trying to build evidence that power can be positive. But evidence doesn't matter to those who've decided on faith.
Elder Sable
Keeper of Secrets • The Hidden Hand
Mystery: No one knows Sable's location, appearance, or even gender. Communicates only through intermediaries and coded messages. Guards the Circle's vault of pre-human artifacts—objects too dangerous for general knowledge but too valuable to destroy.
Function: Lends artifacts to Circle members for specific missions, then demands their return. Failure to return means becoming Sable's enemy, which apparently is fatal. Several attempted thieves simply disappeared. The vault's location remains the Circle's best-kept secret.
Relationship with Duncan Maddox
The Circle sees Duncan as potential asset and cautionary tale. His raw power makes him valuable, but his independence and visible Veil Bleed make him example of everything they're trying to prevent.
The Recruitment Attempts
Elder Rhun has approached Duncan three times with increasingly generous offers:
- First Offer: "Join us. Learn control. Live longer." Duncan declined—doesn't want to be part of any organization.
- Second Offer: "We can teach you techniques to reduce the cost. Slow the Veil Bleed. Maybe even reverse some damage." Duncan was tempted but still refused—doesn't trust promises.
- Third Offer: "Then let us study you. Your abilities are unique. Understanding them could save others." Duncan almost agreed but Clara talked him out of it—"They'll pick you apart trying to replicate what you do."
The Divergent Views
Elder Rhun's Perspective: "Maddox is a torch burning too bright. He'll consume himself if we don't teach him control. But he could illuminate so much if only he'd let us help."
Elder Kael's Perspective: "He's wasted on mercenary work. With training, he could lead our army, break the Redeemers' spine. He's exactly what we need—powerful, experienced, feared."
Elder Miriam's Perspective: "He represents everything dangerous about untrained power. Yes, he saves lives. He also takes them freely. We should help him or stop him, not recruit him."
Clara's Perspective: "Leave him alone. He's surviving his own way. Forcing him into your philosophies will just get him killed faster."
In-World Reputation
What Psionics Say
- "They saved my daughter when Redeemers came. Gave us papers, got us to safety. I owe them everything."
- "They talk about freedom but try to control how you use your power. Just another leash."
- "Without the Circle, I'd be dead or Hollow. They taught me control, gave me purpose."
- "They're too divided to be effective. Half want peace, half want war. Nothing gets done."
What Non-Psionic Settlers Say
- "My wife's in the Circle. She's a good woman, heals folks for free. Not all witches are evil."
- "They're a conspiracy. Secret meetings, coded symbols, manipulating our leaders. Can't trust 'em."
- "I'd rather have them than the Redeemers. At least they don't burn children."
- "They claim to want peace but I've heard stories about what their Mindweavers do to enemies."
What Other Factions Say
- Consortium: "Useful for supernatural problems. Controllable through economic pressure. Keep them dependent."
- Redeemers: "Organized corruption. They spread evil through teaching others to sin. Worse than individual witches."
- Dust Vultures: "They protect psionic refugees. We respect that. Also, some join us after fleeing persecution."
- Ironbrands: "Professional courtesy—we don't hunt them unless contracted. Some of our best are ex-Circle."
Current Operations
The Lathrop Archive
Building a secret library in the caves beneath Lathrop, documenting every psionic technique, ritual, and theory. If persecution continues, this archive will preserve knowledge for future generations. Problem: Stroud suspects its existence and is planning his Lathrop cleansing partially to destroy it.
The Underground Railroad
Network of safe houses moving persecuted psionics from Redeemer territory to freer regions. Sophisticated operation involving forged papers, memory alteration, and sympathetic officials. Successfully relocated over 200 psionics. Redeemers are systematically hunting for the network's nodes.
The Kael Conspiracy
Elder Kael is secretly stockpiling weapons, training battle-psions, and planning a coordinated strike against multiple Redeemer camps simultaneously. Other Elders don't know the full extent. If he succeeds, it could break Redeemer power—or provoke total war against all psionics. If he fails, it proves Elder Miriam's fears about violence escalating persecution.
The Corruption Scandal
Several Circle members caught using mind control for personal profit—forcing merchants to lower prices, coercing officials into favoritism, blackmailing rivals. This validates Redeemer propaganda about psionic corruption. Circle is debating how to handle it—public punishment (proves they police themselves) or quiet exile (avoids giving ammunition to enemies).
The Core Dilemma
The Circle of Ash stands at a crossroads.
They can remain hidden, protecting their own, hoping persecution eventually fades.
They can fight openly, risking everything to force acceptance through power.
They can prove their worth through service, gambling that actions speak louder than fear.
Each path has advocates. None guarantee survival.
And the longer they debate, the more psionics burn.
Unity through secrecy was their founding principle.
But secrecy breeds suspicion. Unity requires consensus.
And consensus is impossible when the question is: fight, flight, or coexistence?
They are the torch in the darkness.
But torches burn out.
And the darkness is patient.