Character Creation Challenge: Day 4, Áine nic Elatha

Photo by T Leish

Today I want to revisit Áine nic Elatha from the 2021 challenge. She is my "Rules Check" of a witch priestess. Yesterday, I gave you all Branwen (Witch Priestess) and Eira (Wicce). Áine began life as a magic-user, but has switched over to cleric as a "Rules as Written" cleric. 

She is, essentially, a moon witch or a priestess of the Old Faith. Her concept aligns with a cleric. Instead of worshiping the Goddess of the Moon, she worships the Moon cycles themselves, the natural rhythm waxing and waning, full and dark. What I would do is limit her spells to ones witches would use.

Now there is the issue that she has levels of the Magic-user class. This may be how her magic came about. Áine began as a Dragon #43 witch, but this would be her moving from Moldvay Basic to Advanced D&D. 

Turning Undead

One of the cleric's defining features is their ability to turn undead. How do I factor this into the powers of a witch? Something my Witch Priestess and Wicce (at present) can't do. Throughout my development of the witch class I have gone back and forth on whether or not a witch should be able to turn undead, or command them. Over the last 20 years or so I have been in the camp that they should not. Undead turning is one of the things that make the cleric special. Hell, it was why I first played a cleric to be honest; I wanted to play a vampire hunter. I have allowed witches to take a "Turn Undead" spell.

Áine, who is a cleric mechanically speaking, can turn undead. But I dress it up in occult practice, not divine ones. So she does not hold up a holy symbol and ask for a benediction from her god. She lights a candle and rings a small bell. 

I like this. For her. But as I have played this character off and on over the last couple of years I don't think it is a power I want for the Wicce (cleric subclass) or the Witch Priestess (witch advanced class). 

Áine nic Elatha
Human 1st level Magic-user/4th level Cleric
Neutral Good

Secondary Skill: Astrologer

S: 10
I: 14
W: 17
D: 11
C: 12
Ch: 11

Paralysis/Poison: 9
Petrify/Polymorph: 12
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 13
Breath Weapon: 15
Spells: 14

AC: 10 (no armor)
HP: 20
THAC0: 18

Weapon
Staff 1d6

Spells (Cleric)
First level: Cure Light Wounds, Detect Evil, Light, Purify Food & Drink, Remove Fear, Sanctuary 
Second: Augury, Detect Charm, Hold Person, Resist fire

Spells (Magic-user)
First level: Sleep

Turn Undead.

Theme Song: Bell, Book and Candle

In addition to filling the role of a priestess of the old faith, Áine daughter of Elatha, does all the horoscopes for the coven or party. There is no real mechanical benefit here, but if characters act in concordance with their horoscopes then I'd grant them 10 xp or something like that.