Witch, Racial Traditions

Presented here are various player character races and some select monster races that use the witch class.

Liber Mysterium
The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks

By Timothy S. Brannan and The Netbook of Witches and Warlocks Team

These racial points of view act like Traditions. Typically they are unique to each race and there is little crossover. The exceptions of course are the -human- Traditions, which any witch may join. In each case a “preferred Tradition” is listed for each racial viewpoint. This describes how the racial Tradition best corresponds to a human one.

• Dwarf
• Elf
• Fey

Goblinoids

Goblins, hobgoblins even bugbears may choose to take up witchcraft. Typically such races opt for the Shaman class, but some may advance as Bogelbos, or goblinoid witches. More information can also be found in half-orcs.

Gnomes

Gnomes are a lighthearted race in which magic flows freely. They are of quick wit, have engaging minds, and are masters of whatever craft they choose.

Witchcraft is no exception. Gnomes and witches have a history that dates back almost as long as that of the elves. The first witches referred to the Gnomes as “earth spirits,” and believed them to be some sort of Earth Elemental due to the gnome’s innate magic. Over the years the two groups have become more knowledgeable of each other, but there are still not many gnomish witches about. Witchcraft is a serious business to most Gnomes, communing with spirits and working as the living instrument of the Gods or Goddesses seems a bit too confining to most Gnomes.

Within a gnome community a witch will find a rare acceptance that she is not privileged to in other communities. This may give way to the constant barrage of questions that a gnome witch is forced to endure – not the questions of an inquisitor, but that of a very intelligent and keenly curious population. The witch, whether gnome or otherwise, is naturally assumed to be the expert on a range of topics including the occult, the healing properties of herbs, the magical influences of the moon, sun and stars, the nature of magic, the properties of the astral realms, the magical properties of any number of mundane household items, and so on. Generally the happiest person in gnome communities to see the witch is the
local cleric! If for no other reason he knows that he won’t be the center of the communities endless queries while the witch is about.

Preferred Traditions: Gnome witches may opt for any tradition that is located next to them. There are gnome solitaries as well as gnome Classical, Craft and Eclectic witches. But most often the gnomish heart is most welcome in the Venefica tradition.

Preferred Covens: Gnomes may also join any covens that will have them. Gnomes have also been known to found within the covens of Xothia and Kuruni witches as well.

Racial Perks: The nature of magic comes easily to Gnomes. As such there is usually no prejudice of any kind against gnomish witches in gnomish communities. While they may sometimes be talked about in secret as not being “scientific” or even “magical” enough, it never rises above the gossip that Gnomes have for everyone else.

Racial Drawbacks: None

Racial Archetype, Good Walker: The gnome often prefers to company of home to that of adventuring life. But for some, the urge is too great and off they go. The gnomish witch is then known as a Good Walker in their own language, although they are also known as “Benandanti” in some human tongues. As their name implies the Good Walkers are of good alignment, with chaotic and neutral good being the most common. Why she travels is as different as each gnome that picks up a walking stick (the Benandanti’s ritual tool). Some seek knowledge, others seek purpose and more still just started walking and never came back.

Good Walkers are usually welcome in any coven, and many human witches consider it a good omen and an honor if a Good Walker joins them, if even for a short period of time. A Good Walker will only join with a coven for a small time by gnome terms, generally 4d6 months. While with that coven the Good Walker is considered a member of that coven for all game play affects until they move on.

Good Walkers have an equal chance of being male or female and generally honor the same gods as other Gnomes, except the usually have their own belief system regarding these gods. In fact each gnome in a coven could have a different system of belief. Most Gnomes do not see this as a contradiction.

Hags

The relationship between witches and hags is a long complicated one that neither side will divulge much information. Witches for the most part despise hags because they believe that hags are responsible for sullying their name. Hags despise witches for no better reason than they despise everything. But they share a particular haltered for good witches.

Part of this animosity comes from both groups’ relationship to the Goddess Holda. Holda is a Teutonic Goddess of Magic, Witches and Hags. Both hags and Teutonic witches worship her as their own patron. Teutonic Classical witches know her as Frau Holt, an older woman who rides a giant goose.

Hags may advance as far as they like as witches and gain spells accordingly. GM’s may alter the spells that Hags are listed to have in favor of unique witch spells. Sections that state hags cast as sorcerers may be changed to casting as witches. Hag-Witches do not have traditions or covens per se. While hags do gather in Coveys and witches gather in Covens, there is no reason to believe that the two are related, except semantically. A covey of three hags is a full witch-hag coven. All hags follow a tradition that is very similar to Teutonic Classical and Malefic.

Of course Hags are highly intelligent and magical beings, and if it is to their advantage to form an alliance with a witch, then she will do so. It is important to remember that all hags are evil and loathe all of humanity and ultimately work to humanity’s destruction. No good aligned witch would ever be associated with a hag. This is especially true for good aligned Classical Witches and Crones. The Makava, or Wood Hag, is most often accused of confusing the populace into think that hags are a type of witch and vice versa. Witch is the favored class of all hags.

Half-Elf

Often an outsider in their own communities, the half-elf witch is either more so, or they have found a new community that accepts them for what they are, and not for what they are not. Half-elves will follow whatever standards their community follows. So a half-elf raised in elven communities may become kuruni. And those in human lands may do anything they choose.

Half-Orc

Half-orcs are survivors. With nearly everything going against them they become what they need to survive and even flourish in lands that would defeat the most able. The Half-orc witch is something rare and terrible to behold. Orcs generally have the tendency to become shamans, and humans gravitate more towards priests if religious and wizards if interested in magic. It is possible that the witch serves the half-orc elegantly. Despite obvious differences, the witch and the half-orcs have a shared culture. Both groups are considered in-between two larger groups, both are outsiders even among their own people, and both know the sting of open hatred and prejudice.

The half-orc witch is not a shrinking violet who does not wish to be known for what they are, they believe themselves to be the physical manifestations of their patrons and they will use spell or fist to accomplish their goals.

Preferred Traditions: These witches tend to be Eclectic or Classical depending on training and their location. Female half-orcs have even been taken up by Amazon Traditionalists.

Preferred Covens: Half-orc witches tend to be solitaries. Part of their upbringing has taught them not to trust others, especially those that are as or more powerful than themselves. Plus the general racial prejudice against half-orcs prevents them from joining even the most open minded of covens.

Racial Perks: Very few. High strength is useful in the half-orcs life, but lends very little to their roll as witches.

Racial Drawbacks: The penalty against Charisma and Intelligence is not too detrimental, as it will not affect spellcasting. It is still not a good situation since many of the witch’s skills are based on Intelligence and Charisma.

Racial Archetype, Bogglebos: The witches among the half-orcs are often referred to as Bogglebos, a term that is also used to describe witch doctors, shamans and other types of animistic spellcasters among the goblinoids. The special thing about the typical Bogglebo is that in addition to her levels in witch, she may also have levels in shaman and sometimes barbarian or fighter. Bogglebos worship half-orc versions of human or orcish gods as their patrons. Bogglebos have equal chances to be male or female. They tend to be chaotic, but gravitate towards evil if encountered with orcs. Bogglebos also have a tradition that is similar to that of Voodoo, with the use of fetishes and charms. The ritual tool of the Bogglebo is the sacrificial knife. Unlike the Athame, this knife is sharp and maybe used for mundane needs.

Halflings

Adventuring Halflings are known to be full of wanderlust and a desire to see the world. None adventuring ones prefer the simple comforts of home, hearth and family. The halfling witch then is the self styled guardian of both halves of the halfling heart. The halfling witch is rarely an adventurer, but has been know to have accompanied adventurers in the past. Halfling witches see themselves as the hands of their Mother Goddess. Allow the clerics to be Her eyes and voice; the halfling witch has work to do! This does cause some friction between the two set’s worshippers, but rarely among the populace. Halfling witches are most like their human cousins. More females pick up witchcraft, which they just call “the Craft,” than do males, but there has not been the history of persecution among the halfling witches as with the humans. Halfling witches tend to be open and honest not only about their Craft, but many of their other opinions as well. While this makes them appear to be crass at times, it has also given rise to a popular saying among halfling youth, “If you want an Answer, ask a cleric. If you want the Truth, ask
a witch!”.

Preferred Traditions: These witches tend to be Classical or Craft of the Wise depending on training and their location. Halfling versions of these traditions do not differ significantly from the human ones.

Preferred Covens: Halflings tend to have loose knit covens that may extend across miles of halfling territory. When the need arises, the coven may gather, as if by magic, to a predetermined spot.

Racial Perks: The adaptability of the halfling race has allowed their witches to exist along side their clerics for untold years.

Racial Drawbacks: none.

Racial Archetype, Herb Women: Halfling Herb Women fill many roles in the halfling community. First she is a center of Wisdom and understanding folkways. In some respects she acts as an informal teacher outside of the halfling home. She is a healer, often a seller of herbs, remedies
and minor magic. She may perform marriages (handfastings) and most importantly she is also the community’s mid-wife. Few, except the most knowledgeable clerics can match her Wisdom in the ways of bringing the young into the world. As mentioned previously, halfling witches are very similar to human ones, except there is no history of prosecution for the Herb Women. So nearly all Herb Women display the sign of their trade openly for all to see–a broom propped outside of their door. Each morning the herb woman will rise and sweep her back stoop or porch to signify that she is open. She will then place the broom outside of the door and leave the door open. This is a welcome invitation for the community who may stop by to buy her wares or even to gossip. It is believed that if the broom falls as someone walks in then that person is either special or under a curse. Since the herb woman’s shop is often her kitchen she can very well be fixing dinner all day while chatting with customers. When the witch closes her store she places the broom across the door as a lock. The ritual tool for the halfling witch is of course the Besom, or witch’s broom.

Herb women get along very well with most human witches of all sorts, Kuruni and of course Good Walkers. They are typically any non-evil alignment, but individuals have their own choices.

Humanoids

The humanoids such as orcs, goblins, kobolds, and others generally do not become witches. The role of the witch is usually served by the tribal shaman/cleric. The worship and gods of the orcs and goblins has been well detailed in various sources. Humanoids and Goblinoids that do become witches use the entry for half-orc above.

Humans

Humans are the default race and all assumptions are based on human ones.