A History Lesson

[Sarah Wenham]

DANVERS - PARRY - SIMS - GARWIN - PUTNAM

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Their Legacy To This Covenant Remains Conscripted In Silence...
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- Danvers -

• Industrialist Theodore Danvers, 'Whose uncanny ability to prestidigitate riches', is credited with building Ipswich into the bastion of wealth it remains today.
  
  
• Theodore's daughter, Eleanor Spenser, founded the Spenser Academy to provide shelter to the gifted children of New England.
  
  
• A nationally recognized landmark, the Danvers colony house was a Mecca for faith healing throughout the 19^th century.
  
  
• With a reputation for judiciousness and an uncanny family gift for compelling oratory, 10 Danvers have been appointed to sit on the Massachusetts Supreme Court.

- Parry -

• Among the notable is Peleg Parry, first of the Ipswich Colony to join the American Revolutionary cause.
  
  
• It is said that Peleg "miraculously" caused a British war fleet to run aground in Boston Harbor, saving the city.
  
  
• After years exploring the Amazon, Percival Parry was hired by Theodore Roosevelt to scout the initial route for the Panama Canal. He was the only survivor of the doomed expedition.
  
  
• Barely months out of Spenser, Percival’s son Prentice gained fame as the most notorious escape artist of the depression. His daring deeds and affairs left Houdini himself in awe.
  

- Sims -

• A monument in Ipswich celebrates 12 Sims members of the Massachusetts Cavalry regiment who perished in the Battle of New Orleans.
  
  
• Strident abolitionists, the Sims first provided passage and employ to the Creole Twoberry Clan when they made their way north.
  
  
• Butler Sims served as the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and led the fight for Women's Suffrage, before falling to the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918.
  
  
• Noted surfer Clark Sims disappeared in Borneo in 1972 while searching for the perfect wave. It is reported he was the last person to be devoured by cannibals in the 20^th century.
  

- Garwin -

• Orville Hutchins Garwin became a curiosity of the Old West in 1872, when the New England schoolboy felled an entire herd of buffalo with a single revolver.
  
  
• Randolph Garwin earned the Navy Cross during World War II for his counter intelligence work in disabling the secret Nazi Geist-Gruppe.
  
  
• It is rumored the Garwins hide a vast treasure of tokens and talismans plundered from their enemies over the centuries.
  
  
• In 1960 Bernard Garwin became the first person to earn a lifetime ban in Las Vegas. In one night he beat the Arabesque Casino for a then record of 12 million dollars.
  

- Putnam -

(The records of the Putnams have been dashed from the history, but a few remnants remain.)[/center]

• ? Putnam is credited ?ring the colony by besting the Duke of ?ich in games of chance ?us ceding all his land to the Covenant.
  
  
• ?'s son John was the first banished from the Ipswich Colony for evil deeds and treachery. After fleeing to Salem, John's diabolical deeds ? his burning at the stake.
  
  
• To this very day the unforgivable sins of John Putnam, ?wn as The Woods Hole Warlock, continue to ? of Ca?
  
  
• In the ? a series of youth murders at Camp Iwanahee went unsolved as superstitious residents ?m on P? ?hirsty.
  

_{© of www.jointhecovenant.com}

[Sarah Wenham]

Timeline

• 1665
  Five families - The Putnams, Danvers, Parrys, Sims and Garwins - flee religious persecution in England.
  
  
• 1666
  The families, known as the Covenant, arrive in Massachusetts Bay and establish the Ipswich Colony.
  
  
• 1692
  January - With outside families arriving at "the colony of miracles" by the dozens, Covenant member John Putnam makes a play for power -- looking to enforce his and the Covenant families' superiority over the others.
  
  March - Ipswich resident Agnes Goodwin "Goody" Pope accuses John Putnam of being an incubus appearing at her window at night to enchant her with black magic.
  
  Presided over by Cotton Mather, the neighboring town of Salem begins its Witchcraft Trials.
  
  December - John Putnam is seized and suffers as the last person hanged as a witch in Salem. The Putnam bloodline ends, only four families of the Covenant survive.
  
  
• 1693
  Hagen Pope is born to Jacob Pope's widow, Agnes Goodwin "Goody" Pope.
  
  
• 1725
  The Book of Damnation, cataloguing the magical history of New England is inscribed. It disappears soon afterwards, never to be seen in public again.
  
  
• 1773
  Sons of Ipswich form a militia during the Revolutionary War and are responsible for some of the most legendary defeats of the British Army. Along with members of affiliate Masonic lodges, they served as delegates to the first Continental Congress.
  
  
• 1800s
  During the New England industrial revolution, Ipswich rises to further prominence and becomes a center of trade and manufacturing. The families of the Covenant attain great wealth.
  
  
• 1831
  Spenser Academy is established. Its purpose is to educate the children of the Massachusetts elite.
  
  
• 1850
  Spenser Academy serves as a terminal for runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. It is run by Ebeneezer Gorman Twoberry, an escapee from a New Orleans plantation, known for his secret voodooistic beliefs.
  
  
• 1920
  Chronicles of Paganism is published in Boston. The author dies of the pox.
  
  
• 1942
  During World War II - as young Spenser graduates - the Sons of Ipswich join with Aleistar Crowley's "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn" to from a secret regiment to combat various supernatural Nazi threats.
  
  
• 1962
  James L. Danvers III, the future father of Caleb Danvers, is born.
  
  In that same year, future classmates Wayne Parry, Glen Sims and Joseph Garwin are born.
  
  
• 1981
  James L. Danvers III and classmates graduate from Spenser Academy. At various times that year James, Wayne, Glen & Joseph secretly ascend at age 18.
  
  
• 1988
  The next generation of the Sons of Ipswich - Caleb Danvers, Pogue Parry, Tyler Sims and Reid Garwin - are born.
  
  
• 1995
  The Wood's Hole Warlock, thought to be the spirit of John Putnam, is rumored to appear. It is blamed for the mysterious deaths of several local young people.
  
  
• 2001
  Not long after discovering powers at age 13, the current Sons of Ipswich (Caleb, Pogue, Tyler and Reid) meet at Camp Iwanahee. Their Covenant is revealed by Gorman Twoberry, who gives the boys first lessons in the black arts.
  
  
• 2002
  The Sons of Ipswich reunite as Spenser Academy classmates.
  
  
• 2005
  Wood's Hole Warlock reappears, scaring away all the residents of the town neighboring Camp Iwanahee. The Sons of Ipswich banish him forever.
  
  
• 2006
  Senior Year at Spenser Academy begins for the Sons of Ipswich.
  

_{© of www.jointhecovenant.com}

[Sarah Wenham]

The Characters

Caleb Danvers - The captain of Spenser Academy's winning swim team and de facto leader of "The Sons of Ipswich," Caleb is extremely competitive and expects nothing but the best from himself. The results are clear: a star student and two-time state freestyle champion, his future is paved by his intelligence, hard work, and uncompromising will to win. However, Caleb bears a heavy burden. While he would like nothing more than to have a normal life and live in the dorms like the rest of his friends, the legacy of the Danvers family weighs heavily. Living at home, on his family's large private estate, Caleb looks after his mother, Evelyn, while hiding a dark secret that he is reluctant for others to see. Caleb has seen the dark side of his burgeoning abilities up close and their effects are terrifying. Now, as his 18th birthday approaches, Caleb will soon "ascend" and his access to power beyond imagination will be more seductive than ever.

Chase Collins - The mysterious new kid at school, Chase Collins quickly ingratiates himself to Caleb and his friends. An orphan, Chase comes across as a nice young man who has weathered his tragedies in stride. He has already attended several schools, and is the sole heir to a large family trust. Disarmingly charming and chivalrous, Chase seems more mature than most of the other kids at Spenser - and for some reason it seems to belie something sinister.

From his new perch on the periphery of the social scene, he watches every move with unblinking eyes. Supremely confident, Chase boldly moves in on Pogue's girlfriend Kate, while challenging Caleb for dominance in the pool. Although generally admirable, when a challenge arises Chase has the ability to disarm any opponent with his gift for biting commentary. While he's done an admirable job ingratiating himself to the other students at Spenser - making a good first impression - nobody can explain why Chase Collins makes everyone so nervous.

Sarah Wenham - The new girl at Spenser, Sarah has transferred schools in hopes of getting into Harvard. Studious and feisty, Sarah is determined to make the most of her scholarship. After a lifetime in Boston's public schools, she was at first nervous about fitting into the elite boarding school. Fortunately, she quickly realizes these worries are misguided, as many of Spenser's male students have taken notice. But those who think Sarah is just a pretty face, or an overachieving bookworm, will be surprised to discover she also has a wicked sense of humor. A first-class flirt, she's even gotten super-serious Caleb Danvers to laugh, and more than once. And while it initially seems a dream come true, for Sarah Wenham life at Spenser is about to reveal it also contains quite a few nightmares.

Pogue Parry - Rude, rowdy and ready for anything, Pogue Parry is the life of any party. As the only son of one of Ipswich's most prominent families, much is expected of him at Spenser. However, he's not the best student, making up for his lack of academic interest in other ways - he's an adrenalin junkie who loves living on the edge. Pogue spends most of his free time racing his beloved motorcycle in ways that would cause even the most reckless daredevil to take pause. In fact, he world like nothing better than to hop on his bike and take a long ride into the unknown. Unfortunately for Pogue, there are suddenly some new and decidedly deadly obstacles to overcome if his dream of freedom is ever to become reality. Fortunately, Pogue is an uncompromising friend, no matter how tough the situation is.

Reid Garwin - Devious and mischievous, Reid Garwin is the wild card of the group. A brazen wiseass and relentless practical joker, Reid is always looking to stir up trouble. While he has little luck with the ladies, it doesn't stop him from trying. He is a hothead who likes to push people's buttons - and if his antics lead to a fight, all the better. Unlike the rest of the group, Reid enjoys using his powers, perhaps a little too much. Secretive and headstrong, he often "uses" whenever he thinks others aren't watching. Although he can be reckless, Reid is extremely loyal to his friends. Reid's constant sidekick is Tyler Sims, who he likes to boss around since Tyler is the only one who actually takes his threats seriously.

Kate Tunney - Kate Tunney enjoys flaunting her status as the most privileged of Spenser's elite student body. An unabashed daddy's girl, this Park Avenue princess has traveled the world in high style. With a taste for the best of everything, some have questioned her ability to be stratified with life despite her financial reach and family's reputation. So it comes as no surprise when she tests her longtime relationship with Pogue in order to flirt with the new cute boy in school, Chase. While she is extremely prissy and easily grossed out, it doesn't stop her from "slumming it" and having a good time wherever she goes. She relishes the role of social tour guide and has taken her new roommate, Sarah, under her wing.

Tyler Sims - The youngest and quietest of the Sons of Ipswich, Tyler can be socially awkward at times and has an unfortunate tendency to state the obvious. No one is more aware of his shortcomings then Tyler himself. This self-consciousness causes him to try harder to impress the other boys, and act uncomfortably anxious around girls. Tyler is extremely proud of his brand new truck, which he shows off at every opportunity. A peacemaker, who is uncomfortable with tension, he will go to any length to preserve the sanctity of the group. Now, as new and unseen adversaries menace the Sons of Ipswich, the question increasingly becomes: how far will Tyler go to protect The Covenant, and will he finally go too far?

Evelyn Danvers - Mysteriously sad yet unrelenting in her steadfast commitment to her family, Evelyn is the mother of Caleb Danvers.

_{© of www.jointhecovenant.com}

[Sarah Wenham]

No one really knows how The Power came to be.
Not even the Book of Damnation recorded its beginning.
But those who mastered it have always been hunted.

In the middle of the 17th Century, many escaped the brutal Witch-hunting in England and France by coming to America.

As the brutal persecution of those with The Power spread throughout Massachusetts, the families of Ipswich formed a Covenant of silence.

And for 300 years, it has kept them safe.

Until now.

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