The Sorginak

The sorginak (singular: sorgina, male: sorgin) are Basque folk witches descended from (and some still serving as) the priestesses of Mari. An unGifted sorgina can live a quiet existence in a Basque settlement, dispensing wisdom and minor magical assistance to those who know of her abilities (mainly women). The Gifted sorginak live on the fringes of settlements as reclusive outcasts. Some are trained as folk witches (Hedge Magic, page 31). Others are trained Hermetically, and with greater power and the negative effects of the Gift, they tend to bully their weaker sisters while vying with each other for dominance.

An uncertain number of Gifted sorginak reside in the Tribunal. About nine sorginak live either in or near Bayonne in the county of Labourd, and one, Rebecca, with the Praeco in Mimizan. They are trained as folk witches. Others are spread between the county of Béarn, near Pau, the county of Soule and several villages in the Pyrenees. In 1220, there are at least 61 un-

A magus, seeking a pagan wife, might try to steal the golden comb of a lamia. Laminak are forbidden to tread on sacred ground, making the fae an excellent choice for a wizard living in a covenant set far from civilization and one likely to produce a faerie-blooded heir. She may resent the theft, however, and conspire to escape along with any of her children

The many sorginak do not attend Tribunal, and most are recognized as eremites within the Tribunal. A Tytalus or Trianoma seeking to break the larger covenants' political chokehold might attempt to seek out and befriend the sorginak, explaining the value of a united front at Tribunal gatherings.

Gifted sorginak spread between 13 covens located in the western Provençal Tribunal and the northwest corner of Iberia. Most possess only two or three Supernatural Abilities of little significance. They communicate frequently, trading information, favors, apprentices, and vis to each other in a very tightly knit network of hedge magi. Only the Gifted sorginak (who have all taken the Oath) are considered members of the Order of Hermes, and most Gifted and unGifted sorginak defer to Dama in Mimizan. Three Gifted and Hermetically trained sorginak do not participate in Dama's cult of personality, each living alone but forming their own distinct faction from the other covens. Otherwise, all sorginak prefer to meet only with members of their tradition, finding little in common with most Hermetic magi.

Sorginak gather together in meetings called "akelarre," where the folk witches venerate their goddess, cast rituals, air grievances, and discuss current events. Akelarre are held in caves and stone circles on mountain clearings. These meetings, held on Friday nights, once drew many more women to participate in ecstatic ceremonies, but these witches still meet more frequently and in larger covens than others of their ilk from different lands. Far more of their peers live over the Pyrenees in northern Iberia, and periodically there are great conclaves of sorginak in the Zugarramurdi cave. Despite their pagan roots, not all sorginak are heathens. Many unGifted sorginak dwelling amongst Christian Basques either converted or formed a dual system of belief. Without The Gift, they cannot learn the full range of Preferred Abilities of a sorgina, but disdain many as unclean or unnatural magic.

The power, presence and influence of the sorginak has faded since Charlemagne marched south. Many Basque women participated then, either as witches or as acolytes assisting in ceremonies. Gifted witches commanded a combination of respect and fear, and unGifted witches participated in many Initiations under their guidance. Three factors combined to weaken their power: the introduction of Christianity, attacks by other hedge wizards, and the rise of the Order of Hermes.

Christianity's arrival coincided with a growing dissatisfaction by the Basques concerning the pagan religion and its dark magic. Many sorginak were considered unclean or suspected of heinous sins. Communities shunned and ostracized sorginak, only tolerating those who quietly practiced beneficial magic, and then only if they did not suffer the negative effects of The Gift. Invading barbarians and Moors forced the sorginak to defend their magic auras and vis resources from Suevi sorcerers, Visigoth artificers, Moorish Sahirs, and others, suffering many casualties.

Battered and weakened, the sorginak

easily came under the dominance of Hermetic magi. Magi apprenticed many male Basques with The Gift, whom the sorginak generally rejected. Primus Apromor of Flambeau was Basque, and House Flambeau and Tytalus absorbed others. These men became full Hermetic magi, completely severed from sorginak traditions. The Diedne, however, assimilated sorginak magic into their own traditions and accepted female and male sorginak within their House. This generated some discord and other sorginak often banned Diedne sorginak from akelarre.

The unGifted, Initiated folk witches remained beneath the notice of most magi, and the more powerful held the Order in suspicion because of their Diedne rivals. A few sorginak eventually joined House Ex Miscellanea, but not until 955. Their tradition suffered a weak start, resented by their hedge sisters and cautious to create a perceived distance from the Diedne. During the Schism War, several Ex Miscellanea sorginak defected to other Houses such as Tytalus and Merinita in order to prove their loyalty. Others hid, regaining the trust of their non-Hermetic sisters by sharing (but not teaching) their Parma Magica and protecting them through the conflict from opportunists looking to settle grudges or claim sources of vis.

The Order of Hermes has accepted a few sorginak into House Ex Miscellanea over the years, but almost without exception they are Gifted rather than Initiated. Gifted sorginak in the Order tend to follow the Folk Witch tradition, rather than use standard Hermetic Arts. The Order has some influence in most covens, if only through intimidation, but a few remain reclusive and several Gifted sorginak shun the Order, living unaffiliated. Any covenant in Basque Country will have some sort of interaction with a sorginak coven, perhaps cordially neutral, but usually some sort of alliance or enmity (as per the Hedge Tradition Boon or Hook).

Akelarre is the Basque term for the sabbat of the sorginak, but also refers to the location where these meetings take place.

The sorginak meet more frequently than most other folk witch traditions, gathering at least one Friday a month for most covens and every Friday for the most active ones. A special akelarre is held a few times periodically throughout the year, drawing sorginak from multiple covens to a single location for a sort of Grand Sabbat. UnGifted and very pious sorginak try to avoid these meetings, but they are often bullied by their Gifted pagan sisters in animal form, and pressured into making periodic appearances. Mundane women are sometimes harassed into attendance, both for the appearance of swelled numbers and to assist in ceremonies.