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Jan. 9th, 2024 09:59 pm| Family from the area of Melgaço, Portugal as well as Arbo, Galiza, neighboring populations separated by the Minho river. The Neivas are a matriarchy that has survived for centuries. Originally a coven of meigas, a name synonymous with witches, they would eventually consider themselves related by blood. They adopted the known family name to honor Nabia, a goddess worshiped in the Iberian Peninsula. Themes related to Nabia: valleys, forests and hills, fertility, health and abundance. It was believed by many that the Neiva meigas were soulless creatures with a human appearance, capable of shape-shifting into different animals. Those who knew better went to them for alternative medicine and magic favors, but they also knew that there was a price to pay for their help — which was oftentimes as high as their souls, or even their lives. As history progressed and catholicism spread, magic and Catholicism began to blend together throughout the country; to some it was just superstition; to the Neivas, it was evolution, same as any science or language had changed within and outside of the family. This did not spare those like them from persecution and ostracization, though it was, for the most part, simply a different flavor of the petty vindictiveness that affected any other town. The Neivas aren't clear on when the term Condemned Recipes («Receitas Malditas») was first used for the knowledge they'd discovered, accrued and developed — save for the fact that they'd organize them like any other recipe book, and occasionally disguised the performance of rituals, creation of potions and corresponding materials as ingredients from any regular household. The idaea infirmary moth was attributed to the family, often been used as their symbol or signature through simple drawings or elaborate illustrations. Contrary to other witches, the Neivas have bred Castro Laboreiro dogs. Some parts of the family have maintained this tradition and turned it into a renowned business in current day Portugal. The modernization of Europe reached Portugal, inevitably touching even the very edges of its borders; while the Neivas would always raise their children to be meigas, they would not remain immune forever. Some simply spread out to neighboring places in the north of Portugal and south of Galiza. Now history has turned into mythology; power and influence have turned into rumors, and what was a reality for many people's ancestors was explained away as fiction. — Beatriz Neiva — Perpétua's bisavó (great-grandmother). Known as an exposta for having been left at the doorstep of the Neivas in the middle of the night. Many doubted that the Neivas never figured out who abandoned the child that they adopted into their family; if they did, the parent was either spared or killed, though others would say that Beatriz had actually been used as the trading coin for a magic favor. Luzia Neiva — Perpétua's avó (grandmother). Moved with her husband Casimiro to Lisbon, where Perpétua's mother would be born. Was considered extremely superstitious by all of their new neighbors. Cecília Neiva — Perpétua's mother. Despite being born in Lisbon, Cecília was given the same education as her mother and everyone before her, and would oftentimes use subtler forms of magic in her daily life. — Just like her mother, Perpétua was born and raised in Lisbon, and just like her ancestors, educated to be a meiga. Though she was extremely influenced by what she was taught, being so far from her extended family meant she had significantly less contact with their traditions, and as she grew into her highschool years, lost interest almost completely. Part of her shunned that side of her identity, even though she'd occasionally sneak in a couple of ventures into magic. Only when she really needed it, guys. Sometimes she messed it up. Like how she decided she wanted platinum blonde hair, her mother refused to take her to a hairdresser to look "crazy", she decided that fine, she'd just use magic to do it herself, and — well, thanks magic, now she's a supernatural platinum blonde for life. She grows up to be a corporate normie. She travels a lot, mostly around Europe and North America. She hates going back to Melgaço, even on special occasions. Especially on special occasions. |
