A promise for a better Equestria- the Apotheosis.
The Apotheosis operated between 1863-1865, recruiting to its numbers creatures from all across Equestria. Those within the group follow the ideology of Golden Virtue, which can be summed up as follows.
The ponies currently in power are those who either cause suffering, or turn a blind eye to those in need. One should always lend a hoof to ponies where they can, and use what power they do have to benefit those without.
This world is a place where the innocent are trampled upon, exploited, and killed. Currently, it is the immoral who thrive in Equestria. Peaceful means have failed- those who prey on others must be removed from this world by force.
Most ponies cannot be trusted to take care of themselves, or others. They require guidance.
Sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good.
The Apotheosis holds a strong distaste for dark magic, with the only exception being the crown. Due to its nature, the artifact is kept under heavy lock and key, and is sealed tight unless required for use. The enchantment's ability to bend wills came as the perfect solution on how to deal with those who weren't suited to live in the Apotheosis' new world.
After Golden Virtue fled the school with the crown in 1863, he escaped to parts unknown with former student Calliah.-Founded by Golden Virtue sometime around 1863 upon obtaining the crown. Though the crown worked well to boost his own abilities, but the enchantment was incomplete- and more importantly, unstable.
The crown had developed into an estore- a type of magical creature of partial sentience that grows from great wells of unsealed magic. A powerful tool in the right hooves- and a danger if left unattended. Virtue had figured as much, given that the crown had managed to project a shadowy alicorn form when feeding off the magic of the students of 1863.
Virtue searched for the missing piece to finish the crown, and as he traveled he aided ponies along the way- eventually beginning to recruit a band of followers who believed in his cause. At first, these were highly motivated, skilled ponies and creatures who Virtue was quite selective about, but as the group became more desperate and given their tendency to take in ponies in need- the numbers grew quickly from a tightly organized adventuring group to mass cult of personality.
Followers were provided with robes that allowed them passage past any illusions or shields the crown cast (and at the same time, made them easier targets should any turn traitor).
Members
Virtue | Constelo | Callie | Calliah
Helios | Luxor | Greengrass | Nympha (Nyx) | Vala | Atsu | Akil | PumpkinPie | Athenus | Vallor | Circe | Celene Novo | Scarlet Hues | Lenus | Nympha (Nyx) | Aqua Aura | Nebu | Sarutobi | Giada | Aster Evergloam | Felicity | Entity Glydan| Sunlight Nova | Silk Lace| Lia | Tigerlily | Adelaide | Kamilah | Eliza Brook | Starset Shade | Malchus | Petal Spells | Akiyoshi | Spectral Silk | Fragaria Fizzle | Antonius | Aradia | Ceridia | Florence | Secret
Jewel Telestic | Tenshi Amada
(Various other cannon-fodder members)
Thankfully, Virtue tended to avoid use of the crown, save for times where he deemed it truly necessary. At first, its abilities were used to keep in check criminals, murderers, and those who sought to harm others. They would have theirs wills taken from them, and would be forced to help serve the Apotheosis as their debt- paying back good into the world that they'd taken so much from.
Eventually, Virtue resorted to using the crown on those with lesser offenses; it was a way to deal with ponies who opposed him without having to resort to murder. Less messy, and less troubling on Virtue's psyche if he could keep them alive.
Enthralled
Deenee (Traitor, Murderer) | Percy (Slaveowner)| Obsidian (Dark Magic) | Ulfric (Tyrant, Murder, Slaveowner) | Xenamus (Blood Magic, Murder) | Lumina Lavender (Unstable, Untrustworthy) | Poison Joke (Murder, Fraud) | Blackstone (Opposition, Murder, Dark Magic) | Maris Stella (Opposition) | Blackwater (Opposition) | Goldrush (Opposition) | Corinthian (Opposition) | Thanatos Gaia (Opposition)
(Various other criminals)
Virtue believed that once he obtained the second piece of the crown and achieved his goal of a better Equestria, he'd be able to free the thralls who were innocent- or at least thats what he'd like to believe in order to justify using such magic on others who'd committed no sin save for standing in the way.
While Virtue originally believed that the gem-piece that fit to the crown would have been located from the sands of Saddle Arabia which the crown was originally retrieved, upon reaching said tomb it was found that he was incorrect- the crown had actually been delivered whole to Requiem island, and was only separated into two pieces later by the family. With further research, he was able to pinpoint the location of the gems' site, but also learned that a key-piece broken into 5 bits was needed to access the gem. With Somber Requiem, things were never quite easy. Though he loathed the idea, Virtue had to return to Feverfew, and the school in order to complete his plan, and complete the crown.
Students thankfully were able to put a stop to the crown, the Apotheosis, and Virtue.
Now that Virtue's in police custody, most of the Apotheosis has scattered without his guidance. Some who survived the attack on Feverfew and the castle seek to continue the philosophy that attracted them to Virtue in the first place- the principle of helping others and stamping out dark magic, where others instead turn to seeking revenge. One can only wait to see what becomes of the remnants of the Apotheosis- though one things for certain; without the power of the crown, there's little chance it will ever rise to the same level of power.