Post by Dandylana on May 30, 2014 17:55:44 GMT -6
{ WITCHES } |
Witches appear to be normal humans, but they have some abilities that both humans and Pluses do not. They can draw on the power of the natural world as well as the powers of consenting magical beings such as demons, angels, deities, spirits, or fae to cause changes. On occasion they practice in groups called covens, but they are just as frequently found independently.
Back when the mists first drifted over lakes and leaves budded on the trees, the first witches learned that they could feel the energy surrounding them. In the winds whistling over great, craggy cliffs, the waves crashing on the shore, the stars and the stones and the spiders, there was energy. With practice, they could call on and manipulate the energy to do their bidding. But their own bodies were weak and tiny compared to the vast infinity of the world and the knowledge of the early witches was nearly lost as they aged rapidly. In the centuries to come, witches learned to use their bodies not as power sources but as conduits, to direct the energy; this kept the problem of rapid aging at bay. They wrote spells and information in massive books to pass down to their children and their children's children. It comes at a cost, however - despite their affinity for the natural, or perhaps because of it, they have been ostracized, burned at the stake or drowned for their witchcraft. As a result, they tend to be secretive about their skills and abilities.
If a witch wishes, and if they have the right ingredients or "calling cards" for the conjuring, they can call on another, stronger magical entity to help with their spellwork. The most common things to call upon are: DEITIES The most powerful magical entities, as well as the most willing to help, as witches most often will call upon the deities they worship. They do not need to be "conjured", per say, merely invoked through either prayer or ritual. Deities can hear their followers calling them from anywhere in the world and may deign to bless, curse, or ignore the efforts of the follower in question as they choose. They might even choose to make an actual appearance for the witch. Deities will often ask for favors in return for their help. ANGELS Angels have different levels of power, dependent completely on the angel that has been called. Archangels, for example, will be more powerful than your run-of-the-mill angel. Even the most powerful of angels is weaker than the weakest of deities. Angels tend to be helpful only towards witches that practice an Abrahamic faith (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, etc.), with very few, very rare exceptions. They may be conjured or invoked, as they can hear prayers just as deities can. DEMONS Demons are sometimes helpful, sometimes harmful, and on the some power scale as angels. More often than not, you have to make a deal with a demon in order to garner any sort of favor from them. Not to worry, though; the deal doesn't always involve your soul. Sometimes a demon just wants a place to stay for a year or a century or two, which is a small price to pay, really, to get your partner's pesky ex out of the picture. But the larger the spell, the higher the price. Demons can only be reached through a proper conjuring, and not all of them are going to be happy to be pulled into some witch's living room without forewarning. Anyone conjuring them should ready to appease them with some sort of offering. FAERIES The most powerful of the fae (Titania, Oberon, and Mab, namely) are on par with the weaker deities, though the weaker sorts (such as elves) are on the same level as any newbie witch would be, so won't be much help at all. Faeries are more tricky to deal with than demons, as they tend to be less honest, despite their inability to lie outright. Unseelie fae are the worst offenders, so it is in a witch's best interest to try their hardest to call upon a Seelie fae. Faeries, like demons, must be conjured, and should be appeased with offerings upon conjuration. SPIRITS Spirits can be malicious, neutral, or benevolent, dependent on their circumstances and, if they were once human, the circumstances of their death. They are the weakest sort of entity a witch can conjure, and because of this, the easiest. Spirits are everywhere, even in people's homes, and more often than not will help you out, if you agree to help them with something in return. Out of all the things a witch can call upon, spirits are the most honest and the least likely to swindle, and the more friendly ones will often come back of their own accord to see if anything else needs doing. Any witch trying to conjure or call on an entity must bare in mind that said entity might not work for them the way they would like, and could even end up putting them in a worse position than they one they started off in. Demons and Fae in particular are fond of becoming "Literal Genies", whereas deities might take certain words or phrasings as slights. Any promises or oaths a witch makes to an entity must be upheld to a T, as magical beings don't take those things lightly. |