Character Creation Challenge: Day 26, Sagarassi Witch Queen of the Sea Witch Tradition

Today, I want to talk more about the Witch Queen Advanced Class. This updates my previous version. 

Tea with the Witch Queens by Brian Brinlee
L-R Sagarassi, Iggwilv, The Simbul, Larina, Feiya

WITCH QUEEN / WITCH KING

Advanced Class for Witches

When a Witch has reached the height of mortal power, there yet remains one step further upon the Path, the ascension to the mantle of the Witch Queen (or Witch King). This being is the supreme vessel of a Patron’s will, the living nexus of a Tradition’s power, and the spiritual sovereign of all witches within her realm. Like the Hierophant Druid of the Old Faith, she is both pontiff and prophet, counselor and conduit, a figure whose very presence can bend the ley and alter the seasons' turning.

Whether crowned by fate, prophecy, deed, or divine lineage, this witch has ascended beyond the coven to become a legendary figure. 

Only one Witch Queen (or King) may reign for each Tradition at any given time, making them as rare as they are powerful.

Requirements

To become a Witch Queen (or Witch King), a character must:

• Be a Witch (including Archwitch and Witch Priestess) of at least 18th level, but no more than 22th level. 
• Possess Charisma 17 or higher. Additionally, the witch needs to have an Intelligence or Wisdom of 15 or higher.
• Be a member in good standing of a coven
• Have been chosen through omen, divine sign, or a coven-wide rite as the next Queen or King

Restrictions

• Only one Witch Queen or King may exist per Tradition at a time (GM’s discretion)
• To become a Witch Queen or King, the previous sovereign must abandon or relinquish their rulership.  This is often upon the death of the previous sovereign, but not required. 
• Occult Powers are gained differently (see below).

Spellcasting

• The Witch Queen gains access to limited ninth-level spells.
• Spell casting progression ends in favor of powers and ninth-level spells.
• May forego the use of Material Components. 

Level	Title	XP	hp	Powers
20	Witch*	1,640,000 - 1,759,999	10d4+10
1	Spring Court Witch	0 - 199,999	+2	Ninth-level spell*
2	Summer Court Witch	200,000 - 399,999	+3	Awesome Presence
3	Autumn Court Witch	400,000 - 599,999	+4	Ninth-level spell
4	Winter Court Witch	600,000 - 799,999	+5	Occult Eminence
5	Baroness of Witches	800,000 - 999,999	+6	Ninth-level spell
6	Countess of Witches	1,000,000 - 1,199,999	+7	A Thousand Faces
7	Marquise of Witches	1,200,000 - 1,399,999	+8	Ninth-level spell
8	Duches of Witches	1,400,000 - 1,599,999	+9	Timeless Body
9	Princess of Witches	1,600,000 - 1,799,999	+10	Ninth-level spell
10	Queen of Witches	1,800,000 - 1,999,999	+11	Mantle of Sovereignty

Witch Queen Abilities

Ninth-level Spells: The Witch Queen gains a ninth-level spell at alternate levels. These spells are drawn from the Witch Queen Spell list.

Awesome Presence: Witches perceive the Witch Queen as a radiant beacon of power. Allies within 60 feet receive +1 to morale checks and saving throws vs. fear; enemies must save vs. spells or suffer -1 to morale. All witches instinctively recognize her status and will defer unless magically compelled otherwise.

Occult Eminence: The Witch Queen gains one chosen Occult Power of her Tradition.

A Thousand Faces: The Witch Queen may alter her appearance at will, as per the disguise self spell, though the effect is real, not illusory. This change does not affect clothing or equipment and may be maintained indefinitely.

Timeless Body: The Witch Queen ceases to age. She gains immunity to magical aging and no longer suffers ability penalties due to age. Natural bonuses to Intelligence and Wisdom still accrue. Her lifespan is extended to 120 years, and she will still die of old age unless further extended by other magical means. 

Mantle of Sovereignty: The Witch Queen may perform a rite, calling upon her Tradition’s power. Effects may include summoning a spirit host, causing omens to appear across the land, or sealing a region against extra-planar intrusion for 1d4 days.

Rulership and Influence

The Witch Queen or King is not merely a title, but a mantle of magical authority. All witches of her Tradition know of her. At the GM’s discretion, she may gain the right to command covens, invoke her Patron’s will across vast distances, or declare magical edicts that affect ley lines or seasonal flows. Along with this power and influence comes the wisdom and responsibility of how to use such power. 

Experience Progression and Saving Throws

Continues to use the Witch class tables for all attack and saving throw purposes.

Multi-Class and Dual-Class Use

Only single-classed Witches may become Witch Queens (Archwitches and Witch-Priestess are considered single-class witches). The transformation requires undivided devotion to the Patron and Tradition. Other characters may assist or serve such a queen, but may never claim her title.

The Witch Queen is both symbol and sovereign, oracle and enforcer. Her path is not taken lightly, for once crowned, her soul is forever marked by the gaze of the gods.

Witch Queen Spell list

Ninth Level Spells

• Bind Soul
• Command the Coven
• Eternal Curse
• Foresight
• Imprisonment
• Mass Polymorph
• Power Word Kill
• Raise the Barrow-Lord
• Rewrite the Name
• Seal the Gate
• Shapechange
• Sovereign Geas
• Time Stop

--

Sagarassi, The Sea Witch

My next Witch Queen is from the world of Krynn, home to the Dragonlance Saga.

Not much is known about Sagarassi.  So little, in fact, it has taken me a while to collect this information. But here is what I have pieced together. The best (ok only) primary source for my information is the AD&D 2nd Edition product Otherlands. The rest comes from the Dragonlance Fandom wiki. 

She was a Silvanesti Elf, but was changed into a sea creature by the Sea Goddess Zeboim, whom she worships.  Both Sagarassi and Zeboim are known as the "Sea Witch." Sagarassi also serves Takhisis, the mother of Zebiom. 

She is not fond of humans. Nor is she fond of her own sister, Daydra Stonecipher.  This relationship parallels that between Zebiom and her twin brother, Nuitari, the god of Evil Magic in Kyrnn. It is not much of a stretch of the imagination that Zebiom would want her magic-using disciple to go against the established rules of magic. Especially since Nuitari is regarded as Lawful Evil and Zebiom is Chaotic Evil. 

We know she is old. She waged a war undersea around 1320 PC (Prior to the Cataclysm), the Dragonlance books take place in 348 AC, making her over 1670 years old. Good thing she is an elf. 

She lives in an underwater tower called Khegar, also known as the Death Tower. It is in the seas near Taladas.

Sagarassi, Witch Queen of the Sea Witch Tradition
26th level Elf Witch, Neutral Evil
Tradition: Sea Witch

Secondary Skill: Alchemist

S: 13
I: 20
W: 18
D: 15
C: 17
Ch: 20

Paralysis/Poison: 3
Petrify/Polymorph: 3  
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 4
Breath Weapon: 6
Spells: 5

AC: 1 (ring AC 1)
HP: 75
THAC0: 10

Weapon
Narwhal horn +3 1d4/1d3

Familiar: Demonic eel

Occult Powers
1st level: Familiar (Demonic eel)
7th level: Speak to plants/animals
13th level: Goddess Blessing
19th level: Control Weather

Witch Queen Powers
Awesome Presence, Occult Eminece (Shape Change), A Thousand Faces, Ninth Level Spells (3)

Spells
Cantrips: Alarm Ward, Arcane Mark, Chill, Daze, Message
First level: Bad Luck, Cause Fear, Charm Person, Darkness, Endure Elements, Far Sight,  Moonstone, Minor Fighting Prowess 
Second level: Agony, Alter Self, Discord, Enthrall, Evil Eye, Hold Person, Mind Obscure, Suggestion
Third level: Bestow Curse, Dispel Magic, Feral Spirit, Lifeblood, Toad Mind, Tongues, Witch Wail
Fourth level: Analyze Magic, Animal Growth, Arcane Eye, Charm Monster, Phantom Lacerations, Polymorph
Fifth level: Death Curse, Dreadful Bloodletting, Greater Command, Waves of Fatigue
Sixth level: Anti-magic Shell, Break the Spirit, Mass Agony, Mass Suggestion
Seventh level: Death Aura, Greater Blindness, Wave of Mutilation
Eighth level: Damming Stare, Destroy Life, Pit
Ninth level: Imprisonment, Power Word Kill, Time Stop

Theme Song: Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Soul Cages

I am not sure where I am going level cap elves, but I am going to make an exception here like I did with Elvyra.

Sagarassi is one main Witch Queens I still use in my games. She has been great.

Character Creation Challenge: Day 25, Elvyra Witch Queen of the Faerie Tradition

 I admit, no discussion of AD&D and Witch Queens is complete without Witch Queen Elvyra from Quests of the Ancients. I already featured Sarana from the same game a while back so I figure I should also do Elvyra.

I'll present my revised rules for Witch Queens tomorrow, but today's test is what a Witch Priestess, turned Witch Queen, would look like. Elvyra is the high priestess of her coven and the queen of her tradition. 

Elvyra

25th level Elf Witch Priestess 20/Witch Queen 5, Neutral Good
Tradition: Faerie

Secondary Skill: Astrology

S: 12
I: 18
W: 18
D: 18
C: 14
Ch: 18

Paralysis/Poison: 5
Petrify/Polymorph: 5 
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 6
Breath Weapon: 8
Spells: 7

AC: 1 (Bracers of Defense)
HP: 55
THAC0: 12

Weapon
Unicorn horn Dagger +3 1d4/1d3
Staff of the Witch Queen

Familiar: White Dragon Tiger

Occult Powers
1st level: Familiar
7th level: Speak to Plants/Animals

Witch Priestess Powers:
Blessing of the Grove, Nature’s Wrath, Invoke the Ancients

Witch Queen Powers:
Awesome Presence, Occult Eminece, Ninth Level Spells (3)

Spells
Cantrips: Alarm Ward, Daze, Detect Curse, Object Reading, Warm
First level: Bewitch I, Cause Fear, Command, Faerie Fire, Far Sight, Minor Fighting Prowess, Sleep, Spirit Dart
Second level: Alter Self, Biting Blade, Blast Shield, Chant, Enthrall, Evil Eye, Hold Person, Phantasmal Spirit
Third level: Astral Sense, Bestow Curse, Continual Fire, Feral Spirit, Fly, Improved Faerie Fire
Fourth level: Air Walk, Betwitch IV, Neutralize Poison, Spiritual Dagger, Withering Touch
Fifth level: Blade Dance, Dream, Primal Scream, Song of Discord
Sixth level: Control Weather, Find the Path, Moonbow, True Seeing
Seventh level: Breath of the Goddess, Etherealness, Serpent Garden
Eighth level: Astral Projection, Mystic Barrier, Wail of the Banshee
Ninth level: Meteor Storm, Prismatic Sphere, Time Stop

Theme Song: Sisters of the Moon

I like how she compares to her Basic Witch version. Not the same to be sure, but very close as you would expect Basic and Advanced to be.  

I am not 100% sure where elves get a limit cap on witch levels. I am inclined not to give them one, or if I do still allow them to take levels of witch queen past that.

I also like these new changes to my Witch Queen Advanced class. 

Character Creation Challenge: Day 24, Elena the Fair Witch Queen of the Daughters of Baba Yaga

We are getting to the part of the Challenge where my high-level characters come out, and in this case, that means Witch Queens! Since it is the weekend, I am not going to detail what a Witch Queen is in the context of AD&D and Occult D&D, but I'll do so on Monday. So, for today, I have one of the most misunderstood Witch Queens. Elena the Fair.

Elena the Fair, Witch Queen of Summer, Daughter of Baba Yaga

Among the daughters of Baba Yaga, Elena the Fair is the most misunderstood. Tales name her "the beautiful one," "the gentle sister," or "the bride who never was," and from these epithets, many assume she is merely ornamental, a soft contrast to her dread mother and her infamous sister. This is a grave error.

Elena is not gentle because she is weak. She is gentle because she understands the terrible cost of power.

In the oldest Russian tales, Elena appears as a radiant princess, bound by enchantment, wagered in impossible trials, or held captive by sorcerers, dragons, or deathless kings. Yet in every telling, she survives not through brute magic, but through patience, kindness, clever bargains, and the quiet certainty that summer always returns. These stories are not disguises. They are masks worn by a Witch Queen who learned early that overt rulership invites hunters, heroes, and gods alike.

Where her sister Natasha, later known as Iggwilv, turned away from Baba Yaga in hunger for mastery, Elena remained.

Not out of fear. Out of love.

Elena is the Witch Queen of Summer, but she does not sit upon a court of marble or command a realm bound by banners and borders. Her dominion is seasonal, wandering, and alive.

Summer, as Elena embodies it, is not conquest or fire alone. It is growth that must one day wither. It is beauty that exists because it cannot last. Elena does not demand fealty. Those who serve her often do not realize they have done so until years later, when they look back and recognize the invisible hand that guided them safely home.

Elena and Natasha

If Natasha is Baba Yaga’s ambition, Elena is her memory.

The sisters represent a fork in the witch’s road. Natasha sought dominion over demons, kings, and gods. Elena sought harmony with cycles older than all three.

Elena does not hate her sister. She mourns her.

In some legends, Elena foresaw what Natasha would become and tried to stop her. In others, she stepped aside, knowing that fate cannot be unmade, only endured. What remains constant is this: Elena never joined Iggwilv’s wars, nor did she oppose her openly. Summer does not challenge winter head-on. It waits.

There are whispers that Elena alone can still speak to Natasha without drawing blades or binding circles, though such meetings are rare and leave scars on the land.

In darker places still it is whispered something even rarer. Natasha, who is Iggwilv, who is Zybilna, also wishes she could reconcile with her sister, but fears that someone as good as Elena could never forgive her over what she has done.

Elena the Fair
24th level Human Witch (Witch 20/ Witch Queen 4), Lawful Good
Tradition: Daughters of Baba Yaga

Secondary Skill: Herbalist

S: 11
I: 16
W: 10
D: 17
C: 17
Ch: 18

Paralysis/Poison: 5
Petrify/Polymorph: 5  
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 6
Breath Weapon: 8
Spells: 7

AC: 1 (Ring of Protection, Garter of Defence, Dex)
HP: 77
THAC0: 12

Weapon
Dagger +1 1d4/1d3

Familiar: Mouse, "Myshi"

Occult Powers
1st level: Familiar
7th level: Kitchen Witchery
13th level: Detect Bloodline
19th level: Boon (instead of Curse)

Witch Queen Powers
Awesome Presence, Occult Eminece, Ninth Level Spells (2)

Spells
Cantrips: Alarm Ward, Detect Curse, Object Reading, Warm
First: Bewitch I, Burning Hands, Command, Drowsy, Faerie Fire, Far Sight, Sleep, Handfasting (Ritual)
Second: Alter Self, Blast Shield, Ecstasy, Enthrall, Fever, Hold Person, Phantasmal Spirit, Rose Garden
Third: Astral Sense, Bestow Curse, Continual Fire, Feral Spirit, Fly, Imbue Witch Ball (Ritual)
Fourth: Air Walk, Elemental Armor, Grandmother's Shawl, Moonlit Way, Neutralize Poison, Spiritual Dagger
Fifth: Anti-Magic Candle, Dream, Primal Scream, Song of Discord
Sixth: Control Weather, Find the Path, Heroes' Feast, True Seeing
Seventh:  Ball of Sunshine, Breath of the Goddess, Etherealness, Serpent Garden
Eighth: Astral Projection, Greater Mislead, Mystic Barrier 
Ninth: Imprisonment, Time Stop

Theme Song: The Mystic’s Dream

As the Queen of Summer, one of Elena's duties is to guard the gates of the Summerlands.  This is the afterlife of the Witches, and where their spirits go for rest prior to being reincarnated to their next life.

She is also the Protector of Midsummer and sees to it that all witches are protected on the night of Midsummer's Eve. Elena has both the smallest and largest courts. Small in that there is no formal court that she holds, but also the largest since all witches pay her at least some homage.

Character Creation Challenge: Day 23, Celeste & Cassandra

 Celeste and Cassandra are a duo of witches I have been playing around with for a few years. They are witches, yes, but something else as well.  Like some of the witches here, I have featured them in a previous challenge, in this case, back in 2021, along with Aviva's younger brother, Áedán Aamadu.

At the time I knew they were going to be witches of sorts, but I was using the language of D&D 5th edition (2014). So, Celeste Holmes was a Human Wizard (Sage) and Cassandra Killian was a Human Sorcerer (Divine Soul). Of the two, Celeste was a regular character of mine for a while, even getting a Holmes (her namesake) Basic version at one point. She was my occult scholar character whose background was purely learned. That is to say, in AD&D terms, she was a magic-user and not a witch. For me then, she makes for a perfect Magus.

Cassandra was a bit more difficult. In my mind, she was a character whose religion was science. She approached math with the same reverence that a cleric approaches a holy text. I tried her out as a Divine Soul Sorcerer, and that worked, to a degree, but it was never the right fit. I tried other things, including various mystic classes, including the one from Dungeoneer #16 by Jon Mattson. That one was one of the closest ones, but still not exactly what I had in mind for her. I have been playing her as a Wicce for a little bit. I am not 100% happy with that either, really, but it is the closest I have come. I think I need to make my own mystic class someday.

Both casters are part of the West Haven coven. For reasons that make sense in my games, Celeste, Cassandra, and Katrina have all worked together often. I would call them all friends to be honest. Mechanically, I see them as three aspects of different sorts of witchcraft. So Katrina "sees" the Magus and Wicce as being part of the larger collection of what is "Witchcraft" in the game. And by that I do mean, *I* see them as being part of the larger set of Witchcraft.

Together, Celeste Holmes and Cassandra Killian represent two different approaches to understanding the world: the Magus who believes truth can be rendered repeatable, and the Wicce who believes truth must be approached with devotion. Both are witches in the cultural sense, but neither practices witchcraft in the same way, nor in the same way as say Katrina or Larina.

I gave both cantrips based on Intelligence and Wisdom, respectively. I'm not sure whether there are differences in cantrips by class (like in D&D 5e) or if there are just a bunch of basic cantrips that teach the basics of spellcasting. Still thinking about that one.

Celeste Holmes
23rd level Human Magus, Chaotic Good

Secondary Skill: Scribe

S: 12
I: 19
W: 15
D: 13
C: 16
Ch: 16

Paralysis/Poison: 8
Petrify/Polymorph: 5  
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 3
Breath Weapon: 7
Spells: 4

AC: 1 (Bracers AC 1)
HP: 76
THAC0: 11

Weapon
Dagger +1 1d4/1d3

Powers
Occult Literacy, Esoteric Focus (athamé), Shared Ritual Craft (2nd Level), Ritual Theory, Ley Line Sense, True Name Hypothesis

Spells
Cantrips: Spark*, Clean, Warm, Lift, Freshen
First level: Read Magic*, Charm Person, Hold Portal, Protection from Evil, Shocking Grasp, Wizard Mark
Second level: Audible Glammer, Bind, ESP, Levitate, Flaming Sphere 
Third level: Lightning Bolt, Haste, Hold Person, Tongues, Fly
Fourth level: Confusion, Charm Monster, Fire Trap, Magic Mirror, Remove Curse, 
Fifth level: Conjure Elemental, Dolor, Contact Other Plane, Magic Jar, Telekensis
Sixth level: Chain Lightning, Enchant an Item, Legend Lore, Repulsion, Spiritwrack
Seventh level: Banishment, Cacodemon, Forcage, Power Word Stun, Simularcum
Eighth level: Antipathy/Sympathy, Binding, Mass Charm, Otto's Irresistible Dance, Trap the Soul

Theme Song: Walking on Sunshine (She is one of my most upbeat characters)

So who is Celeste? She is magus, so she sees magic as a science more or less, a high science, mabey akin to religion but not a religion. Celeste is deeply uneasy around magic that cannot be diagrammed, reproduced, or verified, a discomfort that often puts her at odds with mystics and visionary witches. She gets along with Cassandra due to shared experiences and a shared past. They are actually quite good for each other. 

Cassandra Killian
23rd level Human Wicce, Chaotic Good

Secondary Skill: Scribe

S: 11
I: 16
W: 18 
D: 10
C: 15
Ch: 17

Paralysis/Poison: 2
Petrify/Polymorph: 3  
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 4
Breath Weapon: 6
Spells: 5

AC: 1 (Bracers AC 1)
HP: 74
THAC0: 8

Weapon
Dagger +1 1d4/1d3

Powers
Moon-Blessed Magicks, Shared Ritual Craft (2nd Level), Sacred Circle (3rd Level), Blessed Be, Coven Bond. 

Spells
Cantrips: Flare*, Spark, Open, Clean, Warm
First level: Bless, Chill Touch, Command, Cure Light Wounds, Detect Evil, Faerie Fire, Glamour, Invisibility to Undead, Light, Purify Food & Drink, Remove Fear
Second level: Augury, Barkskin, Burning Gaze, Calm Emotions, Chant, Cure Moderate Wounds, Levitate, Resist Fire, Slow Poison, Speak with Animals, Spiritual Weapon
Third level: Astral Sense, Create Food and Water, Cure Disease, Dispel Magic, Locate Object, Meld into Stone, Prayer, Protection from Fire, Remove Curse, Scry
Fourth level: Analyze Magic, Cure Serious Wounds, Divination, Divine Power, Lower Water, Neutralize Poison, Protection from Evil 10' Radius, Remove Curse, Speak with Plants, Spell Immunity
Fifth level: Anti-magic Shell, Commune with Nature, Cure Critical Wounds, Dispel Evil, Flame Strike, Magic Jar, Plane Shift, Quest, Wall of Fire
Sixth level: Aerial Servant, Forbiddance, Find the Path, Heal, Speak with Monsters, Weather Summoning, Word of Recall
Seventh level: Astral Spell, Holy Word, Regenerate

Theme Song: Shadows of the Night

Cassandra Killian approaches magic, math, and religion as one and the same. For her, it is devotion. An equation is a benediction. Mathematical proofs are a homily.  

Cassandra does not know a lot about her family, save that somewhere in the past, she is a relative of the great mage Killian Mazior. 

Magus vs. Archwitch and Wicce vs. Witch Priestess

Both the Magus and Archwitch are combined occult and arcane spellcasters. The Wicce and Witch Priestess are spellcasters that tap into divine and occult forces. But how do they differ?

The Archwitch and the Witch Priestess must begin as witches. At 8th level (now, was 7th) a witch takes on new training to better serve their needs or the needs of their covens. 

The Magus is a subclass of the Magic-user. It is, in my mind, what the "witch" was going to be as "promised" by Holmes Basic. For this reason (among many) Celeste is my iconic Magus. Maybe even more so, Esmé. Celeste helped me define the Magus, and Esmé helped me show that the Magus is a viable class. The magus gains some witch spells, the archwitch gets some magic-user spells. I have to make sure these lists are not identical. 

Likewise, the Wicce is a subclass of Cleric. It blends ideas of cleric, witch, druid, and, with Cassandra's input, the mystic. Both are divine-influenced spellcasters. This lets me go and use a bunch of ideas I have had about "divine" witchcraft. Again, the wicce gets some witch spells and maybe even a couple of druid spells. The witch priestess also gets some cleric spells. Like the magus/archwitch above, I want to make sure that these two classes do not outshine the cleric as the group's healer. One thing I think is important is the cleric be the only one to turn undead even if a case can be made for the wicce. 

Honestly, given this, I should come up with a Divine-Arcane class, the Theurge. Magic as religion. Sounds like a problem for another day.

Character Creation Challenge: Day 22, Katrina

Photo by Tayla Walsh,
Photoshopped by me

 It is no understatement that I have thousands of characters lying around in my game room. Between mine, the ones I have inherited, and my kids, there are folders, binders, and boxes full. Katrina is one of the many, many witches I have lying around here. 

Katrina started with a very simple, now-familiar premise: "What would Larina look like if she were evil?" She morphed a bit, as my witches often do, based on what I am reading or watching at the time. This witch didn't even have a name (though I think I was partial to "Eve" from the band "Eve's Plum") until the series "Sleepy Hollow" came on and I saw Katia Winter's "Katrina Crane." I always liked Katia Winter, and she had a very "Larina" look about her. As the character embraced more evil in the show, likewise my version of her in my games.

MY Katrina is not 100% evil. She is xenophobic and thinks the world would be a better place if it were run by witches. If that means subgating or wiping out all non-witches, well then so be it. This began to happen around the time Vin Diesel's "I want to put my D&D character on the big screen," The Last Witch Hunter came out. 

Over the years, she has evolved, but one thing has remained constant: her rivalry with my witch, Larina. Katrina simply thinks she can do a better job in West Haven than Larina does. She certainly has ideas. 

Larina is the witch who believes in balance, Katrina is the witch who believes in order through supremacy. Katrina has little patience for chaotic witches, hedge-practitioners, or lone crones who refuse oversight. Katrina believes that unregulated magic is as dangerous as unregulated power.

Katrina does not see herself as evil. She sees herself as honest. In her worldview, witches are objectively superior. They see the deeper patterns, feel the older currents, and shoulder the burden of knowledge that others cannot or will not. To Katrina, allowing non-witches to govern, vote, preach, or shape destiny is not immoral because it is cruel. It is immoral because it is inefficient. 

Larina believes power must be tempered by restraint. Katrina believes restraint is a luxury the world can no longer afford. 

Katrina’s xenophobia is not born of fear. It is born of disappointment. She has watched councils dither, towns rot, and mortals make the same mistakes generation after generation. Where Larina sees people worth protecting, Katrina sees patterns that should have been corrected centuries ago.

Katrina does not burn villages or summon demons for spectacle. She prefers infrastructure. She corrupts systems quietly. Katrina is the witch who asks: "Why do we still pretend restraint protects us?"

Katrina
22nd level Human Witch, Lawful Neutral (Evil)

Secondary Skill: Alchemist

S: 11
I: 16
W: 14 
D: 12
C: 12 
Ch: 17

Paralysis/Poison: 5
Petrify/Polymorph: 5  
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 6
Breath Weapon: 8
Spells: 7

AC:  1 (Bracers AC 1)
HP: 63
THAC0: 14

Weapon
Dagger +1 1d4/1d3

Familiar: Raven

Occult Powers
1st level: Familiar
7th level: Temporary Magic
13th level: Permanent Magic
19th level: Witch's Blessing

Spells
Cantrips: Sound, Sobriety, Clean
First level: Command, Comprehend Languages, Chill Touch, Glamour, Detect Spirits, Hecate's Spiritual Dog, Hold Winds, Minor Curse, Sour Stomach
Second level: Agony, Detect Thoughts, Delay Poison, ESP, Evil Eye, Ghost Touch, Nausea, Suggestion
Third level: Bestow Curse, Mind Rash, Dispel Magic, Fly, Lifeblood, Scry, Locate Thief
Fourth level: Air Walk, Analyze Magic, Intangible Cloak of Shadows, Remove Curse, Withering Touch
Fifth level: Blade Resistance, Death Curse, Dreadful Bloodletting, Feeblemind,
Sixth level: Greater Scrying, Control Weather, Restore Youth (Healing), Eye Bite
Seventh level: Call the Restless Soul, Serpent Garden, Widdershins Dance
Eighth level: Destroy Life, Clone (Manikin) (Ritual), Trap the Soul

Theme Song: I Want it All (Eve's Plum)

Katrina has the spell "Clone" to reflect the idea that she was once considered an "evil clone" of Larina, much as Madelyne Pryor (Goblin Queen) is a clone of Jean Grey (Marvel Girl/Phoenix) in the Marvel comics X-Men. So Clone (Manikin) is an 8th-level witch ritual open only to High Witches. 

Katrina’s rivalry with Larina works best when framed as a policy and philosophical disagreement rather than a personal vendetta. She does not want Larina dead. She wants Larina to be proven wrong.

In Katrina’s mind, West Haven under Larina is a missed opportunity. A place of incredible power is being wasted on compromise, secrecy, and sentimental mercy. Katrina believes that if she were in charge, West Haven would be:

• A true witch-city
• A sanctuary for magical bloodlines
• A quiet empire hidden in plain sight

Larina governs West Haven by trust. Katrina would govern by control. 

I toyed with the idea of making them long-lost sisters or half-sisters, but that felt way too clichéd to me. So their common physical traits are red hair and blue eyes, but they are not related by blood. 

So she began as "evil Larina," but she has matured into something more dangerous: a plausible alternative. She is not wrong in the abstract. She is wrong in the particulars. 

If Larina is the witch who guards the crossroads, Katrina is the witch who wants to pave them.

Really. She is just so much fun.

Character Creation Challenge: Day 21, Aviva Aamadu

 Today's character is another child of my two OSE characters, Asabalom and Maryah. Aviva is the oldest and named after a witch they both knew. Aviva's current quest is to find the witch she was named after. The first Aviva is bit of a legend in my games, more "cautionary tale" than actual character. She was another "good witch" who slipped into demonology and diabolical magic. In truth she only exsists as a name in a history I wrote about the Warduchess. This Aviva is good, and she is seeking out the other Aviva to discover what went wrong. She has been travelling the world ever since.

Woman Stock photos by Adam Zubek-Nizol - Vecteezy

She began life as the daughter of a druid (Asabalom) and a ranger (Maryah), and her magic is very much "Green Witch"-style, but as she progressed, she became more distinct from both a Green Witch and Pagan witchcraft. 

Looking for her namesake has taken a while. Mostly because I am not 100% sure who the first Aviva actually is myself! But until then, this Aviva will keep looking for her.

Aviva Aamadu
21st level Human Witch, Neutral Good

Secondary Skill: Herbalist

S: 10
I: 15
W: 17
D: 12
C: 12
Ch: 17

Paralysis/Poison: 5
Petrify/Polymorph: 5
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 6
Breath Weapon: 8
Spells: 7

AC: 6 (leather armor +3)
HP: 46
THAC0: 12

Weapon
Dagger +3 1d4/1d3

Familiar: Hawk "N'dege"

Occult Powers
1st level: Familiar
7th level: Speak to Plants & Animals
13th level: Pass without Trace
19th level: Immunity of the Fae

Spells
Cantrips: Spark, Chill, Mend
First level: Call Spirits of the Land, Cure Light Wounds, Glamour, Elf Arrow, Message, Sharp Ear, Witch's Watchman, Night Vision
Second level: Animal Messenger, Chameleon, Aqualung, Clear Eyes, Fumble, Raven Spy, Ward of Harm, Evil Eye
Third level: Fly, Hold Person, Ash Storm, Dance of Frog, Nondetection, Spit Venom
Fourth level: Confusion, Charm Monster, Dispel Magic, Moonstruck, Witch Laugh
Fifth level:  Hold Monster, Witch Jar, Call the Swarm, Teleport
Sixth level: Eye Bite, Horror, Claws of the Eldest Crone, Wall of Thorns
Seventh level: Breath of the Goddess, Dreadful Sleep, Creeping Doom
Eighth level: Frightful Aspect, Storm of Vengenance, Storm Bolts

Theme Song: Edge of Midnight (it's a younger witch singing a song with an older witch, like my two Avivas.)

I love the ideas of both of my Avivas and want to do more with them. I just need to figure out who the older Aviva was and what her importance was to Asabalom and Maryah. Enough to name their oldest child after her. AND what happened to the first Aviva?

This Aviva is (unknown to her) on the same journey that Phygor was on in my deep history. So right now, she is in line to become one of my more powerful witches. Not intentionally, but her own personal journey is taking her there all the same. For this I have been taking powers and spells for her from all my books.

Honestly. I find that more interesting than how many orcs she has killed or dungeons she has explored.

Character Creation Challenge: Day 20, Saileach and Teamhair

 Yesterday, I posted one of my archwitches, Feiya, based on the Pathfinder Iconic. Today, I want to compare and contrast an archwitch and a witch priestess, my two advanced classes. And who better than my favorite witch couple, Saileach and Teamhair?

Who are Saileach and Teamhair? Well they are, in a nutshell, my D&D versions of Willow and Tara, my two favorite characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Or more to the point, my two favorite WitchCraft RPG characters of the same name and general background. Saileach and Teamhair are rough Irish Gaelic versions of their names. Much as my WitchCraft RPG versions have evolved and changed from their root, so have Saileach and Teamhair evolved from my WitchCraft RPG versions.

I used these characters back in the 3e days and they were a lot of fun. They are not exactly Willow and Tara anymore than Bodhmal and Liath aren't. In my games, witches cannot be raised from the dead or resurrected. They can, and often do, get reincarnated. So Bodhmal and Liath are early Iron Age versions, Saileach and Teanhair are mediveal/D&D versions and then Willow and Tara are modern day. Yes, I also have Victorian Age ones in William and Tamara, but here they are incarnated as brother and sister, exploring a sibling bond rather than a romantic one. This often happens in lore about reincarnation. 
(Note: Because there is confusion in some other places. I don't believe in reincarnation any more than I believe in dragons or pixies. This is all for a game. I am, and remain, a staunch atheist.)

So who are these two? Well, in D&D 3e, they began life as a would-be wizard sent to a convent (Saileach/Willow) and a druid wild woman (Teamhair/Tara). This is many years later now and they are proper witches, but each also pursues witchcraft from their own lens. So the path of the archwitch for Saileach and the path of the witch priestess for Teamhair.

As with Branwen and Eria they are members of the Daughters of the Flame Coven. One might even call them THE members since a lot of the Daughters of the Flame evolved because of the characters of Saileach, Teamhair, Bodhmal, and Liath. These versions of Saileach and Teamhair would be in charge of the coven with Teamhair acting as High Priestess. 

Archwitch vs Witch Priestess

The archwitch and the witch priestess are both "Advanced Classes."  They are like the Hierophant Druid and the Thief-Acrobat of the Unearthed Arcana and the Wizards of High Sorcery from the Dragonlance Adventures hardcover. 

I am still debating the powers these classes should have. Originally, I thought the archwitch would stop gaining occult powers in favor of other powers and 9th-level spell casting. The witch priestess does not have 9th-level spell options from the cleric. I want these two advanced classes to be roughly equal in power. 

I think 9th level spells should be the domain of the Witch Queen. Makes sense. Both archewitch and witch priestess should get spells from the Arcane and Divine lists, respectively.

But I am still torn on the Occult Powers question. I think I'll try these two with the spells, but no occult powers past level 7; they can take a level 7 occult power according to their tradition. Both still get cantrips and bonus spells for high charisma. 

Saileach
20th level Human Archwitch, Lawful Neutral

Secondary Skill: Scribe

S: 10
I: 18
W: 15
D: 11 
C: 12
Ch: 18

Paralysis/Poison: 7
Petrify/Polymorph: 7  
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 8
Breath Weapon: 10
Spells: 9

AC: 1 (Bracers AC 1)
HP: 42
THAC0: 14

Weapon
Dagger +2, Undead slaying 1d4/1d3

Familiar: Wolf ("Cosantóir")

Occult Powers
1st level: Familiar
Archwitch Powers: Mastery of the Veil (gained at level 7), Arcane Communion (gained at level 9), Unbound by Circles (gained at level 11). 

Spells
Cantrips: Arcane Mark (Scribe), Daze, Clean, Palm, Spark
First level: Bad Luck, Blindness, Charm Person, Dowse, Far Sight, Read Languages, Light, Magic Missile*
Second level: Agony, Burning Gaze, Enthrall, Evil Eye, Identify, Levitate, Spell Missile, Produce Flame
Third level: Lightning Bolt*, Bestow Curse, Dispel Magic, Life Blood, Lethe's Curse, Toad Mind
Fourth level: Analyze Magic, Elemental Armor, Intangible Cloak of Shadows, Mirror Talk, Phantom Lacerations, Etheral Projection
Fifth level: Baleful Polymorph, Dreadful Bloodletting, Greater Command, Telekinesis
Sixth level: Anti-Magic Shell, Etheral Banishment, True Seeing, Legend Lore (Ritual)
Seventh level: Ball of Sunshine, Etheralness, Foresight
Eighth level: Astral Projection, Wail of the Banshee, Trap the Soul

Theme Song: On Your Shore

Full details below.

Teamhair
20th level Human Witch Priestess, Neutral Good

Secondary Skill: Intiate

S: 11
I: 16
W: 18
D: 12
C: 15
Ch: 18

Paralysis/Poison: 7
Petrify/Polymorph: 7 
Rod, Staff, or Wand: 8
Breath Weapon: 10
Spells: 9

AC: 1 (Bracers AC 1)
HP: 63
THAC0: 14

Weapon
Staff +2 (Striking) 1d6 + 1d6 per charge

Familiar: Cat ("Iontach")

Occult Powers
1st level: Familiar
Witch Priestess Powers: Healing Hands (gained at level 7), Invoke the Ancients (gained at level 9), Blessing of the Grove (gained at level 11). 

Spells
Cantrips: Spark, Flare, Cure Minor Wounds*, Open, Detect Poison
First level: Cure Light Wounds*, Bless Growth, Charm Person, Fey Sight, Light, Moon's Heart, Speak with Animals, Vertigo
Second level: Bewitch II, Candle of the Wise, Enthrall, Evil Eye, Hold Person, Locate Object, Magic Circle Against Spirits, Suggestion
Third level: Astral Sense, Dispel Magic, House Spirit, Magic Circle Against Undead, Speak with the Dead*
Fourth level: Cure Serious Wounds*, Cleanse, Undead Destruction, Drawing Down the Moon (Ritual), Divine Power, Spiritual Dagger
Fifth level:  Flame Strike*, Calm Weather, Dream, Telekinesis
Sixth level: Heal* True Seeing, Anchoring Rite, Refuge (Ritual)
Seventh level: Fire Storm*, Breath of the Goddess, Binding Ritual (Ritual)
Eighth level: Mystic Barrier, Wail of the Banshee, Protection of the Goddess (Ritual)

Theme Song: Exile

I dropped their level 13 and above Occult Powers in favor of their new class-based powers. I like the idea of dropping the occult powers in favor of 7th-, 9th-, and 11th-level powers. Saves the occult powers to be unique to the witch class proper. 

For spells, I originally opted for the Archwitch and Witch Priestess to take spells above 5th level, but now I think they should take any spells they have access to. So that is something I will change. I do need to better define which spells, Arcane and Divine, these classes have access to.  So far, the spells marked with an asterisk* are the spells for their chosen advanced classes, except for the * marked cantrips, and those come from their secondary skills.

There are also some spells here that are a direct result of my original playtests of these two characters: Lethe's Curse, Ball of Sunshine, Protection of the Goddess, and Anchoring Rite. 

Because Saileach and Teamhair are very much part of a coven, I gave them both Ritual spells.  They also have a few spells to fight undead to honor their source material. Also, the Daughters of the Flame abhor the undead. That goes back to a time before I was "the witch guy" and was "the vampire guy."

It should also not be a surprise that their theme songs come from Enya, and from the same album, no less. Though I have not found a good way to represent the Anamchara quality for them. Well, not yet.