After deposing the king and cowing the nobility, the Ruling Coven launched a surprise war on the elven kingdom of Aerelen. This forced the Covenate to unite against a common enemy. However, Aerelen had many fey mages who were able to resist the magical assassination tactics that the witches had used so effectively against the monarchy and nobles they overthrew.
Forced to rely on a more traditional military approach, the Ruling Coven cycled through a number of commanders before settling on the ruthless and surprisingly-capable battlefield leadership of Violet Thornhallow. In time, a victory and the conquest of a few long-coveted borderlands was secured, along with thousands of elven prisoners. The elven women proved lucrative to sell as slaves across the Covenate. And now, whenever the Ruling Coven plan a campaign, Violet takes charge. While seated as a putative 'equal' among the Ruling Coven of Etelel's elder witches, Violet is one of the most accomplished political and military leaders in decades and may be the real power behind the Covenate.
Over the last twenty years, the Ruling Coven has waged several wars against Aerelen. Each war they seize more contested borderlands, raze more elven settlements, seize more slaves, and bleed down both the elven army and their own nobles' mustered forces, ensuring that no one abroad or at home is strong enough to challenge their rule.