Covenant
I WILL EAT YOUR SIN.GOD WILL FORGIVE ME.
I WILL EAT YOUR SIN AND TAKE YOUR PENANCE.
GOD WILL FORGIVE ME.
WHY DIDN’T YOU GO TO CHURCH WITH ME MISHA?
I WILL EAT YOUR SIN AND YOU WILL BE WITH GOD NOW.
Overview
Year Founded: 2019
Status: Unknown
The Covenant are a mysterious group of violent religious fanatics. While they are most well known for terrorizing the streets of Chernogorsk, they have been known to appear at random across the country. The Covenant are often referred to as "the Bagheads" due to their peculiar choice of headwear. Little is known about the inner workings of the group, who are either unable or unwilling to speak to the few people that encounter them and live to tell the tale. Surrounded Bagheads do not even speak when presented with threats of death, even when they're followed through.
The majority of information available to the people of South Zagoria about the Covenant comes from a mixture of speculation, survivor accounts, and found footage, and some limited amounts of communication through gestures and the written word.
Due to their apparent anonymity, many would-be bandits and groups have attempted to impersonate the Covenant in an effort to hide their true identities and to redirect blame onto others. The "imposters" have encountered the real Covenant on the streets of Chernogorsk in the past, leading to many violent confrontations.
Alignment
Members of the Covenant are incredibly unpredictable. They are most well known for attacking without warning or conversation, particularly in Chernogorsk (and especially near the "Well of Sorrow" and the eastern Church). The motivation for their attacks are mostly unknown, although, survivors abducted by the Covenant have claimed that group forcibly converted them to some form of religion, demanding that they consume human flesh to complete the ritual.
Despite their violent appearances, members of the Covenant have been found hidden in densely populated and well guarded areas, seemingly observing people for extensive periods of time. At times, the group has had limited communication with various groups and settlements.
Most would describe the group as some form of Chaotic Evil but others might claim they are Lawful Evil, and their laws are simply unknown to the rest of South Zagoria.
Appearance
Earning the nickname of "the Bagheads" for their choice of headwear, the Covenant are exclusively seen wearing burlap sack masks. The general condition of their clothing tends to be very poor. Physically, most members are visibly malnourished and smell like raw sewerage. They tend to fight with poorly maintained weapons and seem to lack the ability to procure high quality weapons. Bagheads are occasionally seen wielding high quality military gear, most often covered in the blood of their former owners. Bagheads often laugh uncontrollably, seeming to be afflicted with Kuru due to long-term cannibalism.
Origins
Very little is known about the Covenant's origins. Some have theorized that the city of Chernogorsk was their home prior to the apocalypse. The group's heightened violence in the city has been pointed to as evidence, with some theorizing that they are defending, rather than hunting. Survivors of Covenant abductions have reported being taken to a small church on the far eastern side of the city, where they witnessed Bagheads bowing at the altar in silent prayer. It has been suggested that this is some sort of holy site for the group, further lending to theories about their origin.
Images of a Russian Orthodox cross frequently appear in Covenant footage, and cryptic messages written by the group frequently reference biblical verses. Many survivors of Covenant abductions describe the group partaking in religious rituals. It is believed that the group is united by some sort of fanatical religious belief.
Territory
The Well of Sorrow
Eastern Chernogorsk Church
Goals and Values
The full extent of what drives the Covenant isn't known, however, it is clear from their actions that:
- they view outsiders with hatred and view them as "sinners", and
- they aim to clear the world of these sinners, either through conversion or murder.
Unlike most people of South Zagora, the Covenant appear to be tolerant of cannibalism. The distinctive cannibal laugh has often given away the location of a Baghead lurking in the darkness.
History
Relationships
Olix - The mayor of Olixtown is one of the few people that the Covenant can be described as being "friendly" to. They repeatedly visited the aging man, often bringing gifts, attempting to convince him to wear a burlap mask. On several occasions Olix was seen entertaining the Covenant's advances, and he is one of the few people in Chernogrosk that the violent fanatics do not seem to target. The full nature of Olix's relationship with the Covenant is not fully understood.
Cult of Papa - When captured Bagheads have been questioned about any possible connection to the Cult, they have immediately become violently enraged, and at times, even vomiting immediately on the spot in what is assumed to be disgust.
Dark as Midnight - On several occasions, Covenant scouts have been found in Gorka, observing the resident cannibals before eventually making themselves known, or being discovered. On some of these occasions, the two groups have traded weaponry and ammunition, with the Bagheads communicating through gestures and by writing on pieces of paper. In other instances, Bagheads have attempted to attack DAMN after being discovered.
The Dugout - On several occasions, the Covenant have appeared at the Dugout. One Covenant scout brought the Dugout to the Church of the Covenant [1], restrained one of their members, and executed them in front of both Lewis and Audi. Encounters between the two have generally been violent ever since.
The Vigil - The Covenant has long been one of the many constant threats facing the people of Bor.
In DUG Media
| Title | URL(s) | Synopsis |
|---|---|---|
| The Meek Shall Inherit | YouTube | Compilation of various Covenant interactions, 2021 DayZ Underground Award Winner (Media) |
| Semper Vigilis | YouTube | A Baghead's perspective as he stalks members of the Vigil in Bor before being discovered (and recognized) by Vigil Tony |
| Survivor Account #591 | A mysterious out-of-character story, hinting at the Covenant's pre-apocalypse origins | |
| Survivor Account #102 | /r/DayzUnderground | An out-of-character journal, hinting at the Covenant's pre-apocalypse origins and motives |
| Open Wide, O Earth | YouTube | Found footage documenting a group of Bagheads slaughtering people on the streets of Chernogorsk |
| Close the door | YouTube | A member of the Dugout discovers a Baghead hidden in a shed in Guglovo |
| Bagheads and Primitive Society | /r/DayzUnderground | A survivor documents an encounter with a Baghead |
| Video cassette #1 | YouTube | Found footage of various Covenant murders, spliced between pre-apocalypse soviet footage |
| Video cassette #2 | YouTube | Found footage of various Covenant activities including extensive observation, spliced between pre-apocalypse soviet footage |
| Short Story: The Bagheads and Dad | /r/DayzUnderground] | A short out-of-character story from the perspective of some sort of Covenant leadership. |
| True Calling | /r/DayzUnderground | A short story written from the perspective of one of the Covenant |
| Adventures of Brokk and Finn - Chapter 9: Shamans of Steam | /r/DayzUnderground | Members of the Black Sheep describe their adventures on the streets of Chernogrosk, aware of the Bagheads stalking them in the shadows. |
| Assuming the Covenant | YouTube | Found footage of a pair of Covenant pilgrims in Chernogorsk documenting a spree of serial killings with a camera. |
| The Well of Sorrow | YouTube | The Covenant defend a holy site from sinners. |
| The Pilgrim | YouTube | A Covenant scout stalks Dark as Midnight in the heart of Gorka unseen |
| An Offering | YouTube | A Baghead observes the sinners in Gorka before offering himself as a sacrifice to the cause. |
| The Covenant | YouTube | People are oblivious to the Covenant watching them, for 15 minutes straight. |