The Fate Witches, or Streghe (STRAY-guh, singular Strega), are a powerful yet tragically oppressed group of women in Vodacce, a land where the ability to manipulate Fate has made them both indispensable and imprisoned. These women wield Sorte, a rare form of Sorcery that allows them to perceive and control the strands of Fate that connect all living beings. However, despite their immense power, the Streghe are bound by social, cultural, and political structures that confine them to lives of servitude and subjugation.
Streghe in Vodacce Society[]
In Vodacce, the influence of Sorte is deeply ingrained in everyday life. Men rely on the power of their wives, daughters, and mothers to gain an upper hand in business, politics, and war. It is said in Vodacce that a man has not fallen, but rather he has been pulled, as the reach of Sorte is believed to influence every major event and decision. Yet, for all their power, the Streghe themselves cannot use Sorte for personal gain, and they are all but defenseless against its effects on their own lives.
Vodacce noblewomen born with the gift of Sorte are typically cloistered, barely educated, and kept under strict control by their fathers and later, their husbands. These women are taught to use their powers to manipulate fate on behalf of their families, but they are denied the autonomy that might allow them to wield this power for themselves. Streghe cannot read or write, and their primary education revolves around learning to use Sorte under the watchful eyes of the men who control their lives. Marriage arrangements are often made shortly after a girl is identified as a Strega, ensuring that her power is immediately tied to a man's ambitions.
The Power and Limits of Sorte[]
The magic of the Streghe is both a blessing and curse. A Strega can see the threads of Fate that bind individuals and events, using her knowledge to manipulate those connections for blessings, curses, and other effects. This power, however, comes at a cost. Whenever a Strega uses her magic, she incurs Lashes - a price that Fate demands for meddling with destiny. These Lashes grow in number the more the Strega manipulates Fate, and they result in personal misfortune if not properly paid. The more Lashes a Strega accumulates, the stronger her magic becomes, but it also increases the danger she faces as Fate seeks its due.
Despite the incredible ability to control others' destinies, a Strega is unable to use her power to benefit herself. This means that she remains vulnerable to the same forces she controls, leading to a life of isolation and dependence on the men who govern her actions.
Training and Education[]
A young Strega is typically identified by a distinctive birthmark known as il bacio de destino, or "the Kiss of Fate", which often appears as a red, heart-shaped mark on her cheek or neck. This mark signals her potential to wield Sorte, and noble families celebrate its appearance with lavish feasts, as it guarantees her place within Vodacce's powerful network of Fate Witches.
A Strega's education begins at a young age, as soon as she's identified as having the gift of Sorte. Her training involves learning to see and interpret the threads of fate using the Sorte Deck, a tool of divination. Through this, she begins to understand the intricate web of Fate and how to manipulate it. However, her education is strictly limited; she is denied literacy and intellectual growth beyond the basic knowledge required to serve her family's interests.
Women with the gift of Sorte are isolated within their homes and kept from the outside world until they are married. Even after marriage, though, they remain cloistered, as their husbands fear the repercussions of allowing their wives to gain too much independence. And outside the home, the remain isolated; a Strega's veil serves as both a symbol of her power and a tool of control, preventing her from meeting the eyes of other men who might fear her influence.
Survival And Resistance[]
Despite their confinement, many Streghe have learned to thrive within Vodacce's rigid structure, navigating the dangerous political and social waters with their powers. Some Streghe even form alliances with the courtesans, other women, or secret societies like Sophia's Daughters to smuggle women out of Vodacce and offer them a chance at freedom.
In rare cases, Streghe have left Vodacce and gained new freedoms. These women, such as Morella Alouse Giacinni in Montaigne or Domenica Vespucci in the Sarmatian Commonwealth, have experienced life beyond the strict boundaries imposed by Vodacce society. Their influence, though subtle, has opened the door for future possibilities of liberation for other Streghe.
The Tragedy of the Streghe[]
For centuries, the Streghe have lived under the control of the Vodacce Merchant Princes, whose power depends on the subjugation of these powerful women. The Princes ensure that all Streghe remain under strict societal control, and any deviation from their roles as subservient wives or daughters is met with swift punishment. Despite their immense power over Fate, the Streghe are trapped in a system that views them as tools rather than individuals.
Yet for all their suffering, the Streghe are not without hope. As more women escape Vodacce or seek secret ways to express their power, the possibility of change looms on the horizon. For now, however, the Streghe continue to play their dangerous game, manipulating the threads of fate while bound by the threads of their own destiny.