The Coven

There can be little doubt that the power of Kidou remains the greatest threat a defecting Shinigami might bring to the world. For the forces of magic have the potential to wreak havoc not merely on the environment, but also the very foundation upon which the planes depend. Magic can halt time, tear open the fabric between worlds, undo death and even bring the dead back as thralls of a mighty magician. Imagine then a whole organization of individuals capable to warp the rules of reality through magic, the damage such an organization could wreak borders on total annihilation. Most officials of the Gotei 13 are therefore relieved to hear that there's no such organization in existence. Unfortunately, that is a lie on the part of the Kidou Corps and the Central 46.

Because one such organization does indeed exist, a secret society made up of immoral sorcerers and insane dabblers of dark magics. It goes by the name of "The Coven". Although many would question the wisdom of keeping such an organization a secret, the decision was made with a heavy heart for a good reason. Well knowing of Soul Societies obligations, The Coven responds harshly to any attempts to divine their location or oppose them. Each such attempt has lead to a great loss of human life, often to earthquakes, hurricanes and other seemingly natural disasters which they unleash on the world as a warning to Soul Society.

Indeed, it's not uncommon for them to threaten Soul Society with the prospect of a zombie apocalypse, should they not be left at peace. In the end, the officials had to accept their place, and conclude that leaving The Coven alone is far safer than pursuing it. In light of this, The Coven has over the centuries prospered to a far greater degree than most enemies of Soul Society, recruiting defecting Shinigami into their ranks and teaching them the wonders of magic. But they don't limit themselves to merely those, and recruit any soul who'd seek to join the cause, even human magicians. In this manner, The Coven has grown into a secret magocratic society. And in their self-made paradise they explore magic of all forms.

While the Corps strive to research and categorize spells for the betterment of Soul Society as a whole, the Coven is a separate organization composed of defectees, traitors and other outcasts of Seireitei. Although the desire to further the reach of magic not unlike their former colleagues, they do so for inherrently selfish reasons, believing themselves superiour to mortals and Shinigami alike, especially those who lack an aptitude for Kidou.

Overview
The Coven is lead by a mysterious figure simply called "The Masked Man" a spellcaster whose fearsome power is believed to rival that of Hiroya Ginkarei himself. A belief strengthened by the fact that he used his mastery over the magical arts to forge a small demiplane, which now serves as The Coven's premier headquarters. This demiplane contains a massive castle-city where members of the organization are known to reside. This castle-city is simply referred to by the organization as Our Home".

Being a magocracy, each individual ascends in the ranks based on their skill within the field of magic. The weaker ones possess little power, but are nontheless afforded the honor of full citizens, but those who possess no magical aptitude whatsoever are treated as cattle and their lives are utterly dominated by the mages of The Coven. Aside from the Masked Man, who commands the greatest amount of magical power in the organization, there is a strictly defined hierarchy.

Second to the Masked Man's authority are the five Archmages, each of whom can reasonably claim to be among the greatest in their field. After them come the Sorcerers, who are formidable practitioners of their craft to be sure, but cannot truly hold a candle to the Archmages. After that are the regular Mages, and at the very bottom are the Adepts, who are the lowest caste aside from the Mageless. The Mageless are associates and servants of the organization who lack any magical talent or aptitude whatsoever, but whom have been indoctrinated in The Coven's belief of magical supremacy.

Goal
Currently, following the death of Yhwach, the members have taken to attempt to collect as many of the Soul Fragments as possible. Their ultimate goal being to reassemble them, and create a Soul King who'd follow their whims and support their desire for magocracy; a civilization where ones knowledge and ability in magic deterines ones place in society.

Far from simply being interested in a Magocracy, the members of the organization believe with an overwhelming zeal that borders on religous doctrine that magic is a sign of supremacy and that the world shall surely cease to be unless they come to power.

To Convert others to this belief, their agents often infiltrate the Rukon districts and perform miracles for the poor residents therein. These miracles and wonders range from simple displays of their powers, to assistance in childbirth, healing, driving back attacking Hollows and improving their living conditions with their magic. All in the effort of making them believe that they are in fact better off with a magocratic leadership.

Worldview
Most members of the Coven have little love of humans, viewing them as little more than means to maintain balance. As they view them as fundamentally inferior beings, they've no trouble justifiyng conducting horrific experiments on unfortunate civilians that manage to stumble into their hands. Remarking that were it not for the magic of Shinigami, these creatures would not have a future - so the least they can do is lend their bodies for research.

But they hold no love for Hollows, in fact, The Coven views them as sickly creatures in need of a purging, and to this end one of their secondary goals is to cause the complete annihilation of Hueco Mundo. While they currently possess the means, they're not foolish, and wouldn't do such a thing unless they felt it absolutely neccessary - or alternatively, if they found a way to do so without threatening the integrity of the planes themselves.

But residents of Hueco Mundo and other planes as well, should be warned that The Coven possesses three Kidou Cannons, and among those three, one is constantly pointing in the direction of the Hollow's Homeplane.

Leader
The Masked Man: A mysterious figure known by no name, and always fully clad in black robes that leave not even an inch of skin exposed. His distinguishing feature is the golden mask he's always wearing, and beneath it, his eyes glow a bright blue. To most of the lesser members of the Order, The Masked Man is a God, descended from the heavenly planes in order to usher them into a new era. Indeed, most might be forgiven for mistaking him as such, but despite the wonders he's capable of, The Masked Man is but a lone Kido Grandmaster.