Dawnhart Coven

Dawnhart Coven
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Dawnhart Wardens.jpg}}|150px]]
History
Founded on	Innistrad
Active	Before and after the Mending
Status	Active
Membership
Notable members	Katilda, Enkira, Saryth (ex-member)
Races	Humans
Associated Colors

The Dawnhart Coven is a group of human witches and warlocks from Innistrad, dedicated to nature and community.

Background

Before the coming of Avacyn, the old magic of the coven was a source of protection from the threats in the dark. After the Archangel's death, the coven emerged once more, becoming the last hope of humanity against the encroaching darkness of the Eternal night. The coven's leader is Katilda. The core of the coven consists of perhaps two dozen people, with most of their members being from small towns around the Natterknolls. Some women, some men, some seeming to eschew such labels. They are clad in elaborate headdresses with skulls and smear mud on their faces.

The coven has an enclave near the Celestus in the Kessig Ulvenwald. Branches and hides fashioned into tents, decorated with crescents and spheres. Floating candles, candleguides, lend the place an eerie light, as do the strange scarecrows throughout.

The witches of the Dawnhart Coven seem to derive their power from the god Ghrin-Danu, in contrast to witches like Saryth have made pacts with the more dangerous Coiled One.

History

Midnight Hunt

Believing the Eldrazi captured within the moon to be the source of the day's shortening, the Dawnhart coven decided to organize a Harvesttide festival, something not seen in centuries. The witches and warlocks believed that the festival's magic could undo what's wrong with the moon and make things right. The slowly began to attract many cathars, rangers and ordinary citizens to strengthen their force. From all walks of life, people came. From the nearby foothills of Kessig, from the storied spires and murky moors of Gavony, from the ports and tunnels of Nephalia, from the sunless streets and twisted towers of Stensia. When the festival started beneath the never-turning arms of the ancient Celestus, they marched their effigies, their candles, their baskets of short-lived flowers and fruits.

However, Tovolar's howlpack disturbed the festival. In human form, hundreds of werewolves attacked the magical barrier put up around the festival. Brimming with power from their disrupted ritual, the Dawnhart witches lashed out at the intruders. Other intruders were a horde of devils The withches received help from a group of planeswalkers known as the the Gatewatch. Knowing that they would be overpowered when it became night, Teferi slowed the sunset. While Adeline organized the defense with Chandra Nalaar, Kaya delivered the Moonsilver Key to Katilda. Meanwhile, Arlinn Kord came face to face with Tovolar who once again tried to persuade her to join the Wild Hunt. When the night finally fell, Arlinn changed form.

Arlinn and Tovolar fought and both got severe wounds. Arlinn's wolf pack joined Tovolar, except for Patience who stayed apart. During the fight, the alpha kept seducing the planeswalker into abandoning the humans and joining the pack. Arlinn feigned surrender, but then overpowered the unsuspecting Tovolar with a deathgrip in his chest. Crushed by her final betrayal, Tovolar surrendered and retreated with the rest of the pack. The survivors of the Harvesttide Massacre stayed behind.

Arlinn and her group managed to retrieve the Key but upon returning to Celestus, Tovolar began his attack on the Harvesttide festival. Kaya's intangibility let her run through the attack to bring the Key to Katilda, letting the witches begin the ritual. After the battle with Tovolar, Arlinn went to the center of Celestus and offered her blood while Katilda offered her soul for the ritual. But Olivia Voldaren appeared and interrupted the ritual once again, using Katilda as a hostage for the Key. After Olivia obtained the Key she launched Katilda towards the ground, then left with the Key. Arlinn jumped in front of Katilda to cushion the impact, but was unable to save the witch. This left the ritual unfinished, and the Eternal Night a fact.

After Katilda's spirit was able to restore day to Innistrad and reenter her body, the coven became a respected force on the plane. Accepted into Innistradi society, Dawnhart witches work alongside cathars to perform their rituals.

In-game references

Associated cards:

• Candlegrove Witch
• Dawnhart Disciple
• Dawnhart Geist
• Dawnhart Mentor
• Dawnhart Rejuvenator
• Dawnhart Wardens
• Katilda, Dawnhart Martyr
• Katilda, Dawnhart Prime
• Sungold Barrage
• Sungold Sentinel

Referred to:

• Ardent Elementalist
• Change of Fortune
• Evolving Wilds (Midnight Hunt)
• Evolving Wilds (Crimson Vow)
• Laid to Rest
• Leinore, Autumn Sovereign
• Might of the Old Ways
• Rural Recruit
• Sheltering Boughs
• Witch Enchanter
• Witch-Blessed Meadow