Post by Matt on Feb 15, 2013 19:49:02 GMT -6
Witches
Witch lore is older than feudalism and there are many different kinds of witches that are suggested from the folklore. Much of what I’ve been using as the basis for witches in this story is drawn from stories, myths and documentation collected from the middle ages, fairytales, common Celtic beliefs, ancient theories of magick, the malleus maleficium, modern paganism and druidic writing and a few other resources.
What is Magick?
Crowley defined Magick as “the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will”. He goes on to elaborate on this, in one postulate, and twenty eight theorems. His first clarification on the matter is that of a postulate, in which he states “ANY required change may be effected by the application of the proper kind and degree of Force in the proper manner, through the proper medium to the proper object”. He goes on further to state: Magick is the Science of understanding oneself and one's conditions. It is the Art of applying that understanding in action.
This is more or less true when it comes to the USE of Magick. However, Magick itself is an energy that stems from the Universe.
At the heart of all Magick is the Wild Magick – the magick that exists in all things, the underlying magical forces at work in the universe. They are quite literally alive. They are completely amoral. In fact, at best, they are whimsical, in a way that would normally be completely harmless because they just want to play. In some instances it can manifest but mostly it carries around the world through leylines and pools in places of power such as Stone Henge where the leylines cross. Casting a spell with this kind of magic is often extremely dangerous. You have either have to convince magic to do what you want it to, subdue it in a battle of wills, or accept that you are basically tilting the metaphorical pinball machine of reality.
What is a Witch?
A witch is any man, woman or child that can use their Will to perform supernatural feats. The ability to channel Will is a gift given by Nature and all magicks come back to Nature through the blood and Will of a witch.
How to become a Witch?
A witch is born not bred as the possibility for magick use is part of their blood.
The blood magicks that are necessary for magick use are non-dominant so most witch/non-witch relationships will not result in the birth of a witch child. However, the genetics may remain dormant and be triggered in later generations.
The most common way to become a witch is to be born to a legacy of witches. Legacies usually grow out of coven relationships where two witches from the same coven are bonded. Keeping power within covens can create family trees of witches. However, doing so also has a history of making witches vulnerable to hunters and limiting affinities.
This does not mean that all witches are come from a long line of witches. To be the seventh son of a seventh son is a potent mix that can result in the birth of a witch. Similarly, the seventh daughter of a seventh daughter. In families where there are three same-sex siblings, if your parent has ever been exposed to wild magicks, it is possible for all three to inherit magick after the death of their parent.
Famous Witches: Baba Yaga, Mother Shipton, Mary Laveau, Tamsin Blight etc.
So what kind of Magick do Witches have?
All witches have Blood Magick – this is literally the magick they are born with in their blood. When you spill witch blood their blood has a very slight tang of ozone to it – this is the scent of magick. Blood magick is therefore the most basic kind of magick. It can take many different forms but in all cases it allows the witch to cast spells that manifest Will with the blessing of Nature. Using Magick is a bit like a muscle and you can exercise it to become stronger (to an extent). By abiding by the Rituals of Magick, most of the costs simply come in the form of physical or mental fatigue.
The stronger the witches blood magick the more likely that witch is to have affinity magicks.
THE AFFINITIES:
The Four Elements are the most common and most witches with an affinity will have one of these. More powerful witches may also have a second affinity of the rarer kind:
Rarer Affinities are only manifested in very strong Blood witches and usually necessitate that the witch also pledge themselves to the Wild Magick through Ritual.
Earth – This is the most common affinity as almost all witches have at least some skill with herbs, remedies and basic potions. However, true Earth Affinities take this to a different level. Those with an Earth Affinity will usually be very good at potions, able to make balms, salves, tinctures and medicines that can heal almost anything. These same potions can become harmful: poisons, acids etc. The strongest Earth Affinities will find that they can call upon the Earth to aid them – for example they can become part of an area of land (through consciousness) and ask it to defend you and others like you from harm. This is likely part of how New Orleans and Santa Fe are able to defend themselves against hunters. It is related to the Body.
Air – Often overlooked but more dangerous than often believed, the Air Affinity is the most playful of the elements and is tricky to control though the magick itself is kin to the Wild and thus fiercely loyal and will try to manifest even when the witch isn’t using their magick. It is one of the hardest to control and thusly only usually manifested by stronger witches. Besides usually giving the user some power over the air - wind, storm etc., few are able to use the wind to travel themselves. Furthermore, the wind has natural relations to communication and manipulation as much of its magick, when Willed, is able to move without others noticing its touch. For example, it can be used to make someone see clearly. It is related to the Mind/Soul.
Fire – Fire Affinities are often very hard to control though once they are mastered they are some of the strongest magicks. Fire affinity witches have a natural connection to fire and can often manipulate or create flames. Some can also heat objects with a touch, fuse/solder at whim, create explosions etc. Few will find that they are capable of great feats of magick using heat, fire and kinetic energy. When at great strength it can augment emotions. It is related to Emotions.
Water – This affinity has two main manifestations as a source of healing or a source of destruction, only strong holders will be able to balance the two. They often have strengths in scrying and divination. They are able to manipulate water to lesser/greater degrees depending on the power of the witch, including turning water to ice/steam, creating ‘purifying’ tonics that rid the body of toxins and speed up healing, turn air thick with water to make it difficult to breathe etc. It is related to the Heart.
Spirit – This can manifest in several ways, most commonly as Diviners. However, it also can become psychic-like Mentalism in the strongest Spirit Affinity holders. It is tricky to become a good Mentalist because it requires constant practise, meditation and close adherence to ritual. It can also include Empath magicks.
Death – Also known as Necromancy. This is the rarest affinity and it is a great honour to develop the affinity of Death. It is a means of communicating with the dead and once a witch has completely accepted their affinity, something that comes with great sacrifice, a witch can also summon the spirits of the dead. Necromancers are destined for great sacrifice if they wish to be great practitioners. Many become corrupted as those sacrifices are so difficult and entail such pains (for example, being able to see all others and your own death but being unable to act upon it or tell anyone about what you have witnessed).
Life – This usually manifests as Healing.
Sun – Sun affinities are often blessed with clarity of thought. They are also the closest to Illusionists as their strength is in dazzling and confusing those that oppose them. Most Sun magick is playful and thus hard to use in the making of charms or amulets and it also means that it can be useful in creating emotions of happiness, contentment etc. Strong Sun Affinities can ‘travel by sunlight’, essentially a means of travelling very fast through the magick. Always means that the user’s power is strongest during the daylight hours when the sun is shining.
Moon – Strong Moon Affinities will allow their barers to ‘travel by moonlight’, just as the sun can ‘travel by sunlight’. Its main properties tend towards wisdom, as the moon gifts its witch with insights into the minds and actions of others without psychic abilities. It also has a great draw and can manipulate some magicks, particularly water and earth energy spells due to their mutual relationships. This affinity is often linked to Divination and astronomy/astrology, the ability to read the stars. The user’s power waxes and wanes with the moon.
Metal – Usually manifests as Alchemy or Transmutation. Effectively a variety of Ritual Magick, but it is limited to creating magical substances rather than the direct application of power/energy by force of will. Differs from other Ritual Magicks in that it often employs only the magick inherent in the materials used, rather than magick from the "caster"; practitioners of alchemy usually have exceptionally strong Blood Magicks and are well-versed in Ritual Lore. Most advanced Transmutational and Alchemical Magick requires a sacrifice of equal value to work. This is a feature of alchemical, theurgic or wild magic systems, where the books must be balanced for every magical effect performed. It is also the easiest Affinity to become corrupted.
Animal – Almost as rare as Death Affinities. The Animal Affinity is usually possessed by tribal covens and were once much more commonplace than they are now. This can manifest as the ability to communicate with animals or to have a spirit animal that can be called upon in times of need. In the strongest and rarest of cases (only in documentation) a leader or a tribe might be able to turn into the spirit animal.
What about Dark and Light Magick? Are they Involved?
YES. Dark and Light magick are the embodied extremes of The Wild Magick. All witches will usually be closer to one of these if they have affinities. Those with just Blood Magick, may pledge themselves to one or the other as a means of augmenting their minimal power.
Dark Magick is the Wildest of Wild magick and it bears a personality. Playful albeit destructive, it does not necessarily mean ill. It is feral energies and they like to make bets. It is much more vindictive and passionate than Light Magick but it is also freer – less constrained by ritual.
Light Magick is the most controlled and calm elements of Wild Magick and likewise has a personality. More serious and calm, the nature of Light magick means that it is full of a sense of purity and restoration. It flourishes within those of strong ritual and spell magick.
NB. More will come on this delicate terminology.
How can witches USE these Affinities though?
Ritual is the basis of all Magicks. The most basic are Rituals of Thanks and Praise which usually include the laying of the five ‘basic’ elements in the pentagram and a dedication of self – this can be the spilling of blood, the offering of a symbol or totem self or a return of power (giving back some blood magick/affinity magick into the Earth).
Spells are used for small things but hark back to Ritual. So to light a fire one would have to have a spell for fire but that spell would be a particular referent of a Fire Ritual. If a witch has an affinity, it is their duty to perform the necessary Rituals otherwise, the spells they use will drawn entirely upon their own energy and/or eventually destroy them. Spells are not necessarily particular, universal words – they can be poems that the caster uses as a Will-Wielder, a rune or an important gesture combined with a sound.
No non-ritual magick is non-verbal.
Wands, staffs and other helpful tools such as the anathema can be used but are not required.
You mention costs: so what limitations are there?
There are lots of limitations to magick.
1. The Main Rules:
a. You cannot Will something to Not Exist (though you can Will death).
b. You cannot Revive the Dead.
c. The balance is maintained by Freewill, the mid-point between Dark (Feral) and Light (Control).
2. The stronger your personal blood magick the stronger you are likely to be as a witch and the more likely you are to have affinities. BUT it is highly unlikely that you can use magick of more than two affinities as many are oppositional.
3. If you fail to use Ritual – to give thanks and respect to Nature, you are likely to become weakened more quickly and increasingly feel the backlash of your spells.
4. Black Magicks (not Dark) are the use of magick for evil intent and can include anything from deliberately using magick to harm another living, sentient creature to the manipulation of ritual/natural magicks for personal gain, strength or power. The Repercussions are sometimes talked of in the Rule of Three. However, the Rule of Three has never been proven. What is certain is that the more Black Magick you use, the less human you become.
5. Tainted Blood Magick or using the Blood Magick of another witch/human as sacrifice in ritual is the worst kind of Black Magick and is considered Irredeemable. Using the blood of another, unless willingly given (without duress or hesitation), taints Ritual and tarnishes the soul of the caster.
6. Some magicks do not affect Arcanes.
a. Most Natural Magicks as well as Light Magicks will not hinder Fae as their own nature is part of them. Wild Magicks, Dark Magicks and Blood Magicks can be used against them but a greater amount of power is necessary.
b. No Blood Magick will impact upon a full Vampire due to their lack of blood. However, this is why magick charms and spelled trinkets cannot be used to help Vampire hide their appearance as it would require Blood Magick to alter body perceptions. Hexbags carried on the person of a full-vampire will run low faster than if carried by a human hunter.
i. NB. Sun affinity charms will work for Vampires and can be bought to give them daywalker status (Sun affinity charms are some of the most difficult to create).
c. Lycans are almost impervious to Moon and Dark magicks but are vulnerable to many of the other affinities. Blood magick will hinder them but a greater amount of power needs to be behind them.
7. Magick takes control of the Will, it is a science and an art. Where too much or too little emotion is felt, Magick can become erratic or Wild.
8. A witch bitten by a Lycan or Vampire and infected cannot take their powers with them. In most cases, the witch will die. However, their Blood Magicks will fight the infection much better than Mundanes and thus they are less likely to be successfully infected.
Point 6 really focuses on the Arcanes... Does that mean that non-Witches use Magick?
It depends on the Magick.
Ritual Magick can be used for religious occasions (as in Pagan festivals and Druid worship) as well as for Summoning, Scrying, Binding, Banishing and much more. It is one of the most potent forms of Magick because it directly calls upon the Wild Magicks. You are more likely to be successful if you are a witch because you can actually control the Wild Magick by appeal to your Blood and/or Affinities but there is nothing to stop basic rituals from being used by non-witches. Similarly, charms can be used by non-witches if created by a witch with that intention. So the wife of a witch could be given a protective amulet to help them ward off vampires or to escape a situation fast – it would need to be Willed into the amulet that it could be used by those other than witch blood but most spells are designed to accommodate such shifts in Will.
Arithmancy and runic magick are similar – where they are best used by Witches, they can also be used by non-witches to limited effect and rarely with success. However, if there is no success there is also no failure or aftermath.
No Vampire, Lycan or Fae can use Witch Magick – each for different reasons. Vampires lack blood and thus the basis of all Witch Magick. Werewolves already have an addition to their blood, that of the Lycan Virus and this destroys Blood Magick. Fae have their own power but could not use Witch Magick because of the iron in the blood.
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