Origin
Monica Hausley grew up on the outskirts of Chicago, surrounded by sprawling fields and dense forests that whispered secrets to those who listened. From a young age, she felt a profound connection to nature, sensing the pulse of life in every leaf and the flow of energy in the wind. Her family lived a simple life, and though varying in faith beliefs they cherished the traditions of their ancestors, who believed in the energy of the earth and the spirits that dwelled within it.
Monica’s mother, a skilled herbalist, taught her about the healing properties of plants and the importance of living in harmony with nature. Under her mother’s guidance, Monica learned to brew potions and salves, using the natural world to heal and protect. Her affinity for nature and the elements grew stronger with each passing year, and she began to tap into powers that had been dormant within her.
Monica’s abilities manifested fully when she turned sixteen. While walking through the forest near her home, she stumbled upon a circle of ancient oaks. The air was thick with magic, and as she stepped into the circle, she felt an overwhelming surge of energy coursing through her. Her senses heightened, and she could feel the earth’s heartbeat and the whispers of the spirits around her.
This experience awakened her latent powers, marking the beginning of her journey as a hedge witch. She discovered she could manipulate the communicate with nature and tap into the earth’s energy to cast spells and perform rituals. Monica embraced her newfound abilities, dedicating herself to protecting the natural world and maintaining the balance between the mundane and magical realms.
As Monica honed her skills, she became aware of the disturbances in the supernatural world. Her attunement to nature made her sensitive to imbalances and dark forces. One day, while tending to her garden, Monica received a vision—an image of a ring of dead trees surrounding a dark, swirling vortex. The vision filled her with dread, as it signified an impending threat to the natural order.
Determined to understand the vision’s meaning, Monica sought out others who shared her concern for the supernatural balance. Her search led her to Chicago’s underground occult community, where she met Bernadette Kedlsy, an expert in ancient texts and rituals. Their shared passion for learning and study of the mystical world forged a strong bond between them.
Monica and Bernadette’s friendship deepened as they worked together to study text and explore the mystical energies flowing through the city. During one of their research sessions, the met a Rochelle Rharus, a seer, born with her powers who added a powerful dynamic to their group. The women realized that their combined abilities and shared love of the craft made them a great fit. They decided to form the Lighthouse Coven, a group dedicated to the study of the craft.
Soon there were whispers in the supernatural community that vampires were launching an uprising in the city. While this was unseen by most, those in the know where afraid as several high profile members of the supernatural and religious communities were attacked. With the city in peril, anyone with mystical abilites were asked to join in the fight against the vampires before they bought attention to the supernatural world and there would be bloodshed on bothside. The coven faced a critical decision: remain neutral or take on the responsibility of policing the supernatural. While there wasn’t much they could do, they worked with other witches, religious people and even supernatural creatures to cast spells, pray or do whatever they could with their abilities to aid in forcing the vampires out of the city, then creating a ward pact against them. While their assistance was small, it was the coven’s first time helping to protect the city against a supernatural threat, but wasn’t something they chose to do consistently.
Major Story Arcs
Monica Hausley’s first appearance in Darc! issue one, is marked by her presence at a pivotal meeting of the Lighthouse Coven. As Bernadette presents the writings of Niana, a witch that passed recently, revealing an influx of succubi becoming corporeal in the city, feeding off the desires and energies of unsuspecting victims. The discovery alarmed her enough the brought their findings to the coven. Rochelle, the acting high priestess of their coven, chose to investigate further, but made no plan to move on any findings.
Meanwhile Bernadette took Monica into the woods, to a ring of dead trees expressing her concern about them, suggesting some release of dark energy opening the door to potential chaos and the spread of said chaos. She also questioned their coven’s abilities to keep the supernatural in check, given their limited powers, and voiced her fears to Monica about their fear of their coven’s inadequacy.
Powers and Abilities
Monica Hausley’s powers are deeply rooted in her connection to nature and her knowledge of herbology. As a hedge witch, she has the ability to communicate with the earth, drawing upon their natural energies to enhance her magic. Monica excels in creating powerful potions and remedies, using her extensive understanding of herbs and natural ingredients to heal wounds and ailments. She can also harness the elemental energy to create low level magic blast and protective barriers. Her affinity for nature allows her to sense disturbances in the natural world, giving her insight into supernatural events. Monica’s powers are a unique blend of traditional witchcraft and natural magic, making her a formidable force in maintaining the balance between the supernatural and the human world.Poweron1!