A guide for FreeForm’s “Motherland: Fort Salem” featuring who plays who, character descriptions, and other noteworthy information.
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A guide for FreeForm’s Motherland: Fort Salem featuring who plays who, character descriptions, and other noteworthy information.
Please Note: This content contains pertinent spoilers, descriptions are updated as new information is presented, images changed as better ones are captured, and this is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, guest star, or reoccurring role.
General Information About Motherland: Fort Salem
| Network | |
| FreeForm | |
| Creator(s) | Eliot Laurence |
| First Aired | 3/18/2020 |
| Hashtag | #Motherland |
Groups & Organizations
- Spree (S1): A terrorist group that thinks conscription into the military is akin to slavery and their goal is to dismantle the global military-industrial complex by any means necessary. Even if that means killing fellow witches or those without magic.
- YouTube: The Spree began their attacks 20 to 25 years ago. For reference, General Adler has run her army for over 300 years.
- 1.6: Usually doesn’t attack witches.
- 1.7: Has a base in Middlebury, Vermont at Baylord Auto Plant.
- Humble Beginnings (2.6): The first Spree attack was in 1997, 2 years after the massacre of the Esterbrook Witches
- Founder (2.6) Nicte founded the Spree
- Military High Council (S1): The decision-makers behind who will go on to war college.
- Camarilla (S1): Witch hunters that General Adler believed she handled 200 years ago but they have since returned.
- 1.10: Began around the time of Henry the 8th and Phillip the 2nd
- Do bastardized magic, using vocal chords from witches, to do magic
- 1.10: Began around the time of Henry the 8th and Phillip the 2nd
- Exarch (2.4): The leadership of the Camarilla
- Not Our Daughters (2.4): The movement the Camarilla come up with in order to counter General Adler trying to conscript girls and women who didn’t know they were witches
- Witch Plague (2.7): A deadly plague-like organism that only feeds on witches, kills them, then seeks a new one to maintain itself. Though it should be noted, the only real way to kill it is by fire, not starving it.
- The Hague (S1): The international tribunal for witches, similar to the UN.
- Witches of Esterbrook (2.4): Rebellious witches who committed suicide, allegedly, as a statement against conscription
- The Imperative (After The Storm 2.3): An organization tasked with maintaining the various powerful witch bloodlines
- Council of the Great River (3.4): The leaders of the Cession
Notable Locations
- Circe Barracks (S1): Where the show’s story begins and the unit comprising of Raelle, Tally, and Abigail get trained.
- Citydrop (S1): A training facility, somewhere near Boston, MA where training exercises are held which are supposed to mirror real combat situations.
- Saint Domonique (2.4): A prison camp that sounds similar to Guantanamo.
- The Matrilineal Verification Center (After The Storm: 2.4): Where you are tested, using scry stones, to see if you are a witch.
- The Cession (1.1/ After The Storm 2.6): An area ruled by indigenous tribes along the Mississippi River, by the Chippewa, amongst others
- Language(s) (3.3): Ojibwe is one of the languages of the Great River people
- Languages and Nations (3.5): The Cession is comprised of the Salish, Shoshone, Lakota, Ojibwe, Cherokee, Muscogee, and Navajo
- Warding Circle (2.7): A space where outside magic shouldn’t be able to get in, that Adler uses to protect herself after a Spree attack
Terms To Know
- Conscription Day (1.1): The day when girls are asked to give their oath to the military.
- Salem Accord (s1): The document which allowed for peace between witches and mortals in the Americas.
- S2E1: It was signed on February 19th, 1692.
- Biddies (1.3): The women who keep General Adler alive by sacrificing their youth and magic and according to the after-show, they only last 5 to 6 years.
- 1.10: When a person becomes a biddie, they take on 45 years
- 2020 Comic-Con Panel: The bond Biddies have with Adler is a psychic bond that will allow Tally into Adler’s memories.
- 2.1: The process of becoming a biddy can be undone, but with side effects
- 2.1 Aftershow: Each biddie holds part of Addler’s age
- 2.6 Aftershow: The US Government was actually who pushed for Adler to stay alive and created the biddie system by working with the confederate tripes to create the magical tech that allowed for Biddieship.
- Usually, there are 7 women who are biddies at any time
- Origin (3.4): 400 years ago, The Marshall taught Alder how to do Biddie magic
- Salva (1.1): A drug used for combat drops
- Beltane (s1): A celebration of life, joy, and sexuality that occurs that includes a ceremony known as the “Reel” which partners up witches with who they are compatible with and shall spend the evening with. Mind you, not always to have sex, but that is often what happens.
- Codices (s1): A book the men use during Beltane to help them woo girls.
- Wind Shear (s1): A defense spell which acts as an impact-absorbing shield.
- Fosterlings (s1): The name given to children who lost their mothers to war.
- Tarim Witches (1.3): Witches who, alongside having no desire to fight or be militarized, have songs that haven’t been heard in generations.
- Focus (2.6): Their main focus is Earth magic, but have other works like in (2.7) we learn they can create Blood Compasses to find kin and people in general.
- Puppeting (1.9): An illegal act in which a witch can take over someone’s person and force them to say or do what they please.
- Coven (2.2): In war college, your group in known as a coven, and each coven is named after a war goddess.
- Mothertongue (s1): The root of all languages that has become rarely used beyond the Tarim, High Atlantics, and The Hague, but is taught the same way Latin is.
- Proper Name (2.2): Is Méníshè
- Creation (3.1): It was created by six sisters approximately 136,455 years ago
- Outcross (2.3): Terminology used for witches who had children with civilians aka non-witches.
- Farspeech (2.4): The method in which witches communicate, similar to using a walkie-talkie
- Samhain (2.5): A sacred night for witches, which happens to be the same night as Halloween, that includes the Defending of the Heath ritual, at Fort Salem, where, if you protect the burning flames from a regiment which tries to put them out, you can speak to a dead witch.
- After The Storm (2.5): It is actually rare for the Defending of the Heath ritual to be accomplished, but if it is done, the dead have to show up when called upon.
- Rite of Proxy (2.9): A call to replace another witch in a fight to the death which cannot be refused
- Fetch (3.2): An alternative name for a spy in the witch military
- Pontifex (3.7): a Camarilla historian and keeper of secrets
Other Noteworthy Information
Magic Types
- 1.1: Necromancer, Healer, Shapeshifters, Wind Magic, Mind Manipulation
- 1.3: In India, rather than use their voice, as American witches do, they use gestures.
- 1.4: We learn healing magic often connects the healer and wounded to the point of creating a permanent connection. One that can lead to the healer absorbing past memories.
- 1.7: Christo-Pagan: A type of magic that is looked down upon compared to “Canon” magic, which is what General Adler’s army used. From what it seems, Christo-Pagan magic might be a bit more common where Raelle is from.
- Off-Canon Magic (2.2): Magic used to control and manipulate people and is generally considered illegal, or a dark art to use
- Sympathetic Work (2.6): A form of off-canon magic which allows you to use a medium witch to cast a violent remote spell on another.
1.1
- On every girl, there is a mark which proves they are a witch and, after having sex, usually it is shiny.
- We’re told the draft for that year was one of the smallest in history
- Promotions and performance are based on the unit, rather than the strengths of an individual.
1.2
- It usually takes 9 months to train a squad for war.
1.4
- Sexuality isn’t something necessarily cared about amongst witches but, if you have functioning reproductive organs, you are expected to contribute to the cause.
- One of the reasons why the Swythe and Bellweather family have beef is over the battle of Juarez and the question of, between Madeline Swythe and Jem Bellweather, who was the true heroine of the battle.
1.5
- Witch weddings last only 5 years and the main intention is to take a man off the market and have children with a single witch.
- There are breastplates, as we see the Spree wear, which can undo a witch’s ability to use their magic.
1.7
- It appears one of the main tasks of the men, beyond procreation, is building and modifying weapons.
1.8
- Their history timeline is different from our world.
Mycelium
The fungus-like being that colonizers and bonds with Raelle at the end of season 1, and protects and strengthens her in season 2.
- Age (After The Storm: 2.3): Is an ancient Earth-based sentience that Izadora has studied for decades
- Reason For Existence (After The Storm 2.9): Is a receptacle for witches souls after being murdered unjustly
- Witch Movement (3.8): As Alder shows, the Mycelium allows for speedy movement for those whose souls are part of it. However, they cannot travel through a glacier as the Mycelium can’t penetrate through it
Bellweather Tradition
Tree of Life (2.6): In the Bellweather family, a tree is planted at the gravesite of family members
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Raelle (Taylor Hickson)
From the Chippewa Cession, near the Carolina’s, Raelle’s family are a notable line of healers, and she is no different. But, unlike her peers, she finds no honor in serving as a witch. Especially after her mother died in action.
Additional Information About The Character
- Introduced In: Season 1 Episode 1 “Say The Words” [Series Premiere]
- 1: It is revealed her mom died under the leadership of Abigail’s mother during a firefight in Liberia.
- 1: Was well known back home due to her healing locals, even though most witches aren’t supposed to practice magic, in that capacity, until they get to basic training.
Quotes From The Character
Abigail Bellweather (Ashley Nicole Williams)
Character Description (Introduced In: Season 1 Episode 1 “Say The Words” [Series Premiere])
Abigail comes from a long line of witches, including some of those who fought alongside General Adler when she first began a witch army. And it is because of that legacy she takes training and the possibility of prestige seriously.
Additional Information About The Character
- 1: Her specialty is manipulation
- 1: Abigail’s family stretched from Maryland to New York.
- 1: Her mother, Petra, is a commanding officer
- Family Origins (3.10): Sarah traces the Bellweathers all the way back to Ghana
Quotes From The Character
Doubt can’t be a factor if we’re going to succeed.
— Abigail (2.7)
Tally (Jessica Sutton)
Character Description (Introduced In: Season 1 Episode 1 “Say The Words” [Series Premiere])
A young woman who grew up in a matrifocal compound, near Sacramento, California, whose mom lost 4 sisters, so neither her mother nor her were required to join the military. Yet, with ideas of traveling, and really buying into the military’s sales pitch, Tally is gung-ho on all she can do.
Additional Information About The Character
- Seeing Sound (2.2): Potentially a development from being a former biddy, Tally can now see sound
Quotes From The Character
What good is sight when there’s nothing to look forward to?
— Tally (3.8)
Scylla Ramshorn (Amalia Holm)
Character Description (Introduced In: Season 1 Episode 1 “Say The Words” [Series Premiere])
Scylla is a necromancer who also happens to be an undercover member of the Spree. Now, as for what she plans to do at Circe Barracks? Well, one of the first things she seems to be doing is recruiting, and Raelle might be the first one she convinces to join the Spree.
Additional Information About The Character
-
1.2: Comes from a family of draft dodgers
Quotes From The Character
General Sarah Alder (Lyne Renee)
Character Description (Introduced In: Season 1 Episode 1 “Say The Words” [Series Premiere])
A witch who is over 327 years old, and is the founder of the American army ran by and filled with witches. To many, she is a controversial figure, but also a respected one.
Additional Information About The Character
-
1.2: Before summoning a storm and handing the fate of witches to mortals, General Adler lost her sister.
-
It is said the song she released, which summoned the storm, caused her to be infertile.
-
-
Resume (2.9): Has been in over 81 wars, has overseen the change of 28 Heads of Intelligence and has taken part in battles where 130,000 people have died.
Quotes From The Character
Bryon (Bennett Taylor)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 4 “Hail Beltane”
Brief Description
Bryon is someone who befriends Raelle during the Beltane for, as someone who is also queer, he recognizes how awkward the whole experience is. Yet, the dance which proceeds the ceremony, the Reel, probably matches them together not due to them being of the opposite sex or sexuality, but since they truly understand one another. Leading to Bryon perhaps being one of the first real friends Raelle makes since conscription. At least without some sort of physical force being involved.
Additional Information About Bryon
Quotes
Mikaela (Veronika Hadrava)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 4 “Hail Beltane”
Brief Description
All we know about Mikaela, upon introduction, is that she is a member of the Spree. Now, what is her specific role, is she Scylla’s handler? This isn’t known. However, she clearly is part of the plan to hit the Bellweather clan.
Additional Information About Mikaela
Quotes
Petra
Played By Catherine Lough Haggquist
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 4 “Hail Beltane”
Brief Description
Abigail’s mother, the head of the Bellweather family, as well as the Head of Intelligence for General Adler’s army, Petra is beholden by the family name and expects the world of Abigail. Thus making it so Abigail and she have a relationship more focused on legacy than love.
Additional Information About Petra
Quotes
President Kelly Wade (Sheryl Lee Ralph)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 2 “My Witches”
Brief Description
The 45th president of the United States who asserts her authority in episode 2 as the Spree threat starts to increase its number of casualties during an election year.
Additional Information About President Wade
- Political Career (3.2): Is a former senator
- Grandchildren (3.4): She has four grandkids
Quotes
Libba Swythe (Sarah Yarkin)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 2 “My Witches”
Brief Description
Libba belongs to a rival family of Abigail’s and is her rival. One who does have the capability of being friends with her, but with generations of bad blood placed into her and Abigail’s minds, it would take a life or death situation to bring them together.
Additional Information About Libba
Quotes
Glory (Annie Jacob)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 2 “My Witches”
Brief Description
One of Tally’s friends, her best friend to be exact, from back home who questions why did she join the military?
Additional Information About Glory
Quotes
Anacostia (Demetria McKinney)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 2 “My Witches”
Brief Description
The drill sergaent for Abigail’s graduating class who has close ties to General Adler.
Additional Information About Anacostia
-
1.2: Is a fosterling
Quotes
Lt. Helen Graves (Camille Hollett-French)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 2 “My Witches”
Brief Description
Someone who presents themselves as a sophomore in war college, with a specialty in necromancy, but is likely another Spree disguise of Scylla.
Update
1.8: Is an actual person and hasn’t done guard duty, when she supposedly met Raelle, in years.
Additional Information About Lt. Helen Graves
Quotes
Witchfather (Nick Tarabay)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 3 “A Biddy’s Life”
Brief Description
General Adler’s lover who isn’t necessarily her male counterpart, but is in charge of training the male witches.
Additional Information About Witchfather
-
1.3: While his age isn’t mentioned, he seems familiar with Abigail’s mother, Petra, when she was Abigail’s age.
Quotes
Porter (David Lennon)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 3 “A Biddy’s Life”
Brief Description
Scylla’s ex-boyfriend whose family were also dodgers, and together, their families were on the run from the government for years. Information that Porter finds strange Raelle doesn’t know, and by forcing Scylla to reveal something personal before she was ready, Porter pays the consequence.
Additional Information About Porter
Quotes
Gerit (Kai Bradbury)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 3 “A Biddy’s Life”
Brief Description
Tally’s love interest and the one she hones in on during the Beltane.
Additional Information About Gerit
Quotes
General Sharma (Chelsea Gill)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 3 “A Biddy’s Life”
Brief Description
One of General Adler’s biggest critiques, and likely the one who would be the first to volunteer to challenge General Adler for her position within the Hague.
Additional Information About General Sharma
Quotes
Dean Coral (Maria Marlow)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 5 “Bellweather Season”
Brief Description
The dean of war college that Abigail is tasked with impressing in episode 5, alongside her unit.
Additional Information About Dean Coral
Quotes
Charvel (Bernadette Beck)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 5 “Bellweather Season”
Brief Description
Abigail’s cousin who is getting married.
Additional Information About Charvel
Quotes
Bridey (Naiah Cummins)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 6 “Up Is Down”
Brief Description
Abigail’s bodyguard after the incident in episode 5.
Additional Information About Bridey
-
1.6: The reason she wears an eye patch is that she refused healing after losing a member of her unit.
Quotes
Adil (Tony Giroux)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 6 “Up Is Down”
Brief Description
A Tarim witch brought to Fort Salem as his sister, Khalida, recovers.
Additional Information About Adil
-
Abilities (2.7): Alongside showing his established work to become invisible, his Earthwork allows him to topple buildings, sense their structure, disintegrate walls, and break a person’s bones
Quotes
Khalida (Kylee Brown)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 6 “Up Is Down”
Brief Description
Adil’s younger sister who, due to her sickness, leads to them both ending up in Fort Salem.
Additional Information About Khalida
- 1.7 (After Show): Her power is on a High Priestess level.
Quotes
Willa (Diana Pavlovska)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 10
Brief Description
Raelle’s mother, who we were led to believe died in a mission led by Petra Bellweather but, in reality, she is a Spree member. If not a Spree in a leadership position.
Additional Information About Willa
- Is well known for her healing powers.
Quotes
Edwin (Hrothgar Mathews)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 10
Brief Description
Raelle’s mortal father who raised her in her mother’s absence.
Additional Information About Edwin
Quotes
Vice President Blanton Silver (Victor Webster)
The vice president of the United States who has just learned his wife, and daughter, are witches.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 1
Quotes & Gifs
Penelope Silver (Mellany Barros)
VP Silver’s daughter who recently learned she is a witch.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 1
Quotes & Gifs
Izadora (Emilie Leclerc)
One of General Adler’s top researchers at Fort Salem.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 2
Quotes & Gifs
M (Ess Hodlmoser)
M is one of the Coven Leaders in War College, specifically the Sekhmet, that presides over the Bellweather Unit.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 2
- The Forged Path (3.4): M talks to Tally that there was one time they didn’t know whether to go down the path of weapons building with the men or go into basic training
Quotes & Gifs
Bonnie (Emma Pedersen)
A member of the non-violent wing of the Camarilla, who is just happy to see other women participating in the protests against the Spree and witches, in general.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 2
Quotes & Gifs
Shane (Juan Riedinger)
Bonnie’s husband who is a more active member of the Camarilla, and partakes in what leads to more violent incidents.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 2
Quotes & Gifs
Major Magda Verger (Patricia Drake)
The “Off-Canon Work” professor who teaches students not how to do off-canon spells, but to identify and destroy them.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 2
Quotes & Gifs
Channon Grafton (Nikolai Witschl)
The Mothertongue instructor.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 2
Quotes & Gifs
Nicte Batan (Arlen Aguayo-Stewart & Kandyse McClure)
A soldier who has previously worked with General Adler and whose Off-Canon magic was seen as useful, until she started to disagree with General Adler on how it should be used.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 2
- Family Life (3.4): Her mother dodged/ abandoned her when she was 5 and she was raised by her grandmother
Quotes & Gifs
The Imperatrix (Marci T. House)
A matchmaker like no other, The Imperatrix’s main focus is strengthening bloodlines and the overall magic of witch kind, with very little care about love or feelings.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 3
- Chain of Command (2.3): Is perhaps one of the few adults who walk amongst Fort Salem who don’t answer to General Adler
Quotes & Gifs
Jack Orsatti (Thomas Nicholson)
An operative of the Camarilla and Shane’s main point of contact.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 3
Quotes & Gifs
Valda Esterbrook (Wonser De-Gbon)
The leader of the Esterbrook witches who were massacred by General Adler using Nicte’s off-canon magic.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 5
Quotes & Gifs
Quinn (Sandra Ferens)
Quinn was Willa’s best friend, Raelle’s babysitter, and like Willa and Raelle, she is a talented healer known within the Christo-Pagan community.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 6
Quotes & Gifs
Anton (Daniel Bacon), Claude (Kwesi Ameyaw), and Fermin (Anthony Santiago)
These three men are Abigail’s fathers, with it not being made clear who is her biological dad.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 6
- It’s The Norm (2.6): Most High Atlantic kids have three fathers
Quotes & Gifs
Minerva (Liza Huget)
Minerva is the current matriarch of the Bellweather family, as well as Petra’s mother.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 6
Quotes & Gifs
Alban Hearst (Bob Frazer)
One of the prominent figures of the Camarilla.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2, Episode 7
Quotes & Gifs
[…] faith is confidence in what we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see.
— Alban (3.2)
Sterling Woodlot (Luc Roderique)
A member of VP Silver’s security detail who has an established connection with Anacostia.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 9
Kara (Emilie Ullerup)
A major finance of the modern-day Camarilla, who uses her nice but simple persona to be unsuspecting.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 1 “Homo Cantus”
- Siblings (3.4): She is Alban’s sister
Quotes
Pauline Marten (Michelle Thrush)
A member of the Council of the Great River, a territory in the Cession, who comes to visit President Wade after a witch incident in their territory.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 3 “Oh Elayne…”
Quotes
The Marshall (Michael Horse)
The leader of the Cession’s security force, The Marshall, finds himself tasked with hunting the Bellweather Unit when they enter Cession land.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 4 “Happy Yule!”
- Biddy Origins (3.4): It’s thanks to The Marshall that Alder learned how to create Biddies to lengthen her mortality
- 3.9: We learn the Marshall uses biddies to stay alive
Quotes
Noodin (Sarah Dawn Pledge)
Noodin is one of the stewards of the First Song.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 4 “Happy Yule!”
Quotes
Colonel Jarrett (Aaron Douglas)
Colonel Jarrett is assigned by Silver to be the civilian monitor of General Petra.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 4 “Happy Yule!”
Quotes
Thelma Bearkiller (Olivia Lucas)
Thelma is the representative for the Cherokee people on the Council of the Great River, who is vehemently against the Bellweather Unit’s drama becoming a problem for the Council.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 5 “Cession in Session”
Quotes & Gifs
Mathilda “Milly” Longhorse (Quelemia Sparrow)
Milly is the representative of the Lakota on the Council of the Great River, who is the most sympathetic of the council towards what the Bellweather Unit is going through.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 5 “Cession in Session”
Quotes & Gifs
May (Jillin Fargey)
May is Tally’s mom, who lives in Sacramento, California.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 6 “Book Club”
Quotes & Gifs
Santos (Paul Moniz de Sa)
Santos is someone who claims to be former Camarilla, but with a collection of witch memorabilia, while not an active member of enemy forces, he still holds and benefits from the pain. Of which, Alder finds some of his stuff to be fraudulent.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 7 “She Returns”
Quotes & Gifs
Guadalupe “Lupe” Cortez (Lina Lecompte)
Lupe is a cadet at Fort Salem who has the excitement Tally had when she first started.
Additional Information
- Introduced In: Season 3/ Episode 7 “She Returns”
Quotes & Gifs
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