Preface
In celebration of Conclave Arcana's release, the introduction of Black Foils & the long-awaited arrival of items—crafted exclusively by players on land— Midnight Potions, I wanted to put together a short narrative that gives a bit of life & lore to this new addition.
This is the story of the potion peddlers of the Wild Northeast, as I imagine it.
Hope you enjoy the tale.
The Moonshade Covenant of Sonn & Kithden
Traveling Apothecaries of the Wild Northeast
The Wandering Folk of Praetoria
In the wind-raked wilds of northeastern Praetoria—where the forests breathe mist & the stars hang like watching eyes—there dwells a nomadic people known as the Moonshade Covenant. Rootless by tradition & shrouded in quiet mystery, they roam the frostbitten prefectures of Sonn & Kithden, living as traveling apothecaries, lorekeepers & stewards of forgotten cures.
Their appearance is distinct—layered in earthtones & wrapped in furs, their packs clinking with jars, bones, herbs & ancient tools of the trade. To some, they’re healers. To others, ghosts.
But all know them by one thing: their potions.
The Midnight Potion
Their most prized creation is the Midnight Potion—a jet-black elixir distilled from rare herbs that only grow under moonlight, thunderstruck branches & rootmilk collected during eclipses.
Those who consume it are said to become attuned to the world’s hidden rhythms, unlocking a temporary burst of uncanny luck & subtle fortune; deals go smoother, paths become clearer, draws fall in your favor & danger sidesteps you.
The effects don’t last long—but for those who’ve experienced them, they don’t have to.
Luck, even briefly held, can change a lifetime.
Carriers of Ancient Craft
The Moonshaders carry their entire craft on their backs. They are known for traveling light but prepared—jars bound in twine, powders in horn-carved tins, dried herbs sewn into their cloaks for warmth & warding.
Children in the Covenant apprentice before they’ve lost all their milk teeth. By the time they’ve grown, they can identify 300 plants by scent alone.
Their language of alchemy is passed in whispers, gestures & burnt incense—not books.
They trade little in coin. Their economy is knowledge, rarity & trust.
Legends and Lore
They are respected but rarely understood. Outsiders call them names like:
-
the Ash-Handed
-
the Grays
-
the Ones with No Shadow
Some say they once served royal courts. Others say they come from a city that once slept beneath the northern ice.
The Moonshaders offer no corrections. They do not stay long. They do not ask for praise. They do not ask for permission.
They appear at crossroads & tavern outskirts. At harvest fairs & battlefield edges.
Always where needed.
Always when least expected.
A Trade in Possibility
Their Midnight Potion isn’t sold—it’s exchanged. Sometimes for rare roots. Sometimes for stories. Sometimes for a future favor.
They do not trade in gold.
They trade in possibility.
And if you’re lucky— they’ll trade you a vial of midnight.
Final Notes
This story is just one thread spun from the world of Praetoria — imagined in celebration of the incredible depth this game continues to build.
To those testing, crafting, collecting & dreaming: here’s to more tales, to more cards & to more midnight.
See you in the wilds, Praetoria.
