So back at the end of September, I guess we had, and missed, another end of the world. Yup. I was reading that September 25, 2022, was supposed to be the Rapture. There were a bunch of videos on TikTok and YouTube that frankly I can't be bothered to link to it. Suffice it to say nothing happened.
But it does give me the excuse to post this picture from Spire Christian Comics.
I know. I am a juvenile.
BUT. In the process of looking for that image, I found this one from the same comic.
Black magic? Witchcraft? Demon contact? Sorcery?
Someone has been reading my letters to Santa again!
And she is such a groovy cool looking 70s witch too. I learned that the artist, Al Hartley, had done "Betty and Veronica" comics and some softcore comics prior to being born again.
This is supposed to be the Whore of Babylon, a character from Revelations. I get that she is supposed to be largely symbolic and not a real person, but sometimes it reads like she is.
From Revelations Chapter 17.
- And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
- And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
- And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
I don't pretend to know what all this is supposed to mean. But the imagery is fascinating like most of what is happening in Revelations.
Of course, I am going to use her as a witch. Come on? 70s occult propaganda? That's my Appendix N!
Who is Babylon?
That art above is plenty to get me going. Given her role in Revelations, I am going to have to say she is a Witch Queen naturally. But what kind? In my mind, each Witch Queen is head of a large coven and/or Tradition. She is not a Mara Witch, I have plenty of those. Nor is she a Pagan. And she is most certainly NOT a Pumpkin Spice Witch! No, she has a calling and it is not any of these. It could be close to the Classical Witch, but still not exactly right. No I think she is the Queen of a completely different tradition.
Daughters of Eros
Her tradition is something I have been mulling over for a couple of years now. In my recent reviews of the Love Witch, The Pantheon and Pagan Faiths, Sisters of Rapture, Jeremy Reaban's Beguiler and Enchanter, I have some more ideas of what a new tradition, The Daughters of Eros, could be.
Note I have nothing I am going to publish in a book yet OR even if there is any need/desire/want for such a book.
Babylon
23rd Level Witch, Daughters of Eros Tradition
| Strength: |
11 (0) |
|
Saving Throws (base) |
|
| Dexterity: |
16 (+2) |
|
Death Ray, Poison |
5 |
| Constitution: |
13 (+1) |
|
Magic Wands |
6 |
| Intelligence: |
14 (+1) |
|
Paralysis, Polymorph or Turn to Stone |
5 |
| Wisdom: |
17 (+2) |
|
Dragon Breath |
5 |
| Charisma: |
19 (+3) |
|
Rods, Staffs, Spells |
7 |
Hit Points: 55 (10d4+13)+10
Alignment: Chaotic (evil)
AC: 1 (Ring of Protection, Garter of Defence)
THAC0: 12
Occult Powers (Daughter of Eros Tradition)
Familiar: Familiar spirit (comes in the shape of a cupid cherub or an
incubus)
7th level:
13th level: Devil's Tongue
19th level: Curse
Spells
Cantrips (6): Analyze Fertility, Clean, Daze, Message, Object Reading, Warm
First (7+3): Bewitch I, Block the Seed, Burning Hands, Charm Person, Command, Drowsy, Increase Sex Appeal, Sleep, Soothe, Twisting the Heartstrings I
Second (6+2): Alter Self, Bewitch II, Ecstasy, Enthrall, Fever, Hold Person, Rose Garden, Twisting the Heartstrings II
Third (6+2): Astral Sense, Bestow Curse, Betwitch III, Continual Fire, Fly, Mind Rash, Tongues, Witch Wail
Fourth (5+2): Bewitch IV, Elemental Armor, Emotion, Moonlit Way, Neutralize Poison, Spiritual Dagger, Drawing Down the Moon (Ritual)
Fifth (5): Anti-Magic Candle, Bewitch V, Bull of Heaven, Dream, Song of Discord
Sixth (4): Bewitch VI, Heroes' Feast, Mass Suggestion, Wall of Roses
Seventh (4): Bewitch VII, Breath of the Goddess, Peace Aura, Serpent Garden
Eighth (4): Astral Projection, Bewitch VIII, Greater Mislead, Mind Blank
--
Named for the city she was born in (Βαβυλών), Babylon is a near-immortal witch. Some say she is the daughter of Lilith, some say she is the bastard child conceived when the demon Astaroth forced himself onto his mother Astarte, but the majority claim she is the youngest child of
Eros and Psyche. She is beautiful like her mother, grandmother (Venus), and older sister,
Hedone* (also known as
Volupta) but was jealous of all three.
(*Followers of Hedone are known as Hedonists and are also part of the Daughters of Eros Tradition. Though they tend to be more good and neutral in alignment.)
Whatever her origin she is the patroness of whores and debauched witchcraft. She has allied herself with the forces of evil and will stand as their herald of the end times. She also represents the corrupting nature of civilization.
Babylon is the quintessential "lover, not a fighter" though she also has no problem charming, compelling, or wiping someone's mind to be her lover. She has an entire cadre of former adventurers that had been on a quest to kill her that are now her mindless slaves.
She shares many attributes with Nocticula and the two try to avoid each other when possible. There is an ongoing rivalry between the two. If Babylon hears that Nocticula is having a Midsummer's Eve party with 1,000 guests, then she will try to increase her own party to 1,100 or more.
She will act as a witch priestess, but to what Patron she will not divulge. All witches are welcome in her court.
Babylon in War of the Witch Queens
Babylon is not likely to change what she is doing during the War of the Witch Queens. Indeed she will remark on how neutral she is and will try to avoid the whole thing. In truth, she is trying to figure out who has done the deed and will figure out if she needs to ally with them or betray them.
The 1979 Campaign
Come on! You know she needs to be in this! She is too groovy not to be.
Babylon in NIGHT SHIFT
As a nearly immortal witch, Babylon will still be active in the worlds of NIGHT SHIFT. Now she would be living in LA, New York, Paris, or some other large metropolitan city. She will be involved in all sort of illicit dealings but most especially drugs and human trafficking. On the surface, she runs an "Adult Entertainment Empire" called simply enough, Babylon.
RPG Blog Carnival
This is my entry to this month's RPG Blog Carnival hosted by Campaign Mastery.
This month's theme is "Art-spiration." This is my entry for the Al Hartley art of Babylon above. I am likely to have more since this is such a fun topic.
