Dolmenwood Factions #10: The Hag

25 Aug, 2024

Powerful but confined to a small region, the Hag is a unique character full of potential. Let's explore how she plans to expand her influence and break free from her confinement!

Goals

The Hag's goals are restricted by her magical bondage, confining her to her swampy domain until the curse is broken. Her best chance at freedom lies in an alliance with the Nag-Lord, who is currently the only one both capable and willing to help. She distrusts the Drune, fearing they will bind her to their will¹, and older Witches benefit from her confinement, making them unlikely to assist².

I've adjusted her goals so that she can still expand her influence without breaking the curse entirely. The geas only limits her to her swamp, but if the swamp grows, so does her domain. However, forming an alliance with the Nag-Lord remains her top priority and the fastest path to achieving her objectives.

Due to her secretive nature, she does not openly reveal her plans, so there is no Landmark goal for her.

• 🙈 Release From Her Bondage: Break the curse placed on her by the Queen of Blackbirds.
  • Form an alliance with the Nag-Lord.
  • Aid the Nag-Lord against the mortals.
  • Plead for her release from the curse.

• 🙈 Expand Her Swampy Dominion: To stretch her legs and prey on more mortals.
  • Divert the Hameth River’s flow in Hag’s Addle.
  • Use charmed witches to spread swamp vegetation south.
  • Flood Dreg to expand the swamp further.

• 🙊 Corrupt the Fairy Realm of Absynthe: Revenge served cold and rotten.
  • Divert tainted waters from Lake Longmere into the Fairy Gate.
  • Send an Atacorn to Fairy.
  • Cause chaos in her sister’s realm, the Queen of Blackbirds.

Resources

The Hag's reputation is known across Dolmenwood. Many stories tell of desperate souls seeking her aid, paying steep prices, and returning with their wishes granted—but they never speak of what they sacrificed.

• Ancient Fairy Magic³: Available to those willing to pay the price.
  • Charm mortals and bend them to her will.
  • Perform complex tasks effortlessly.
  • A valuable bargaining chip for the desperate.

• Magical Hut⁴: Appears to have a will of its own.
  • Moves throughout the swamp at will.
  • Almost impossible to find by chance.
  • Provides a direct route into Absynthe.

• Hag’s Addle⁵: Her power is concentrated here.
  • Always holds the advantage in her swamp.
  • Her fearsome reputation keeps most intruders away.
  • Controls a critical stretch of the Hameth River.

Actions

Until the Hag secures the Nag-Lord’s favor, her main focus is expanding her swamp, with Dreg as her primary target.

• 📔 Contact the Nag-Lord:
  • 🕵️ The Hag (DCB p82)
  • 📝 Visit the Atacorn Ignormwm⁶ to establish initial contact.
  • 📝 Negotiate terms for mutual benefit.
  • 📝 Form a lasting alliance.

• 📔 Recruit naive young witches:
  • 🕵️ Brithra Wormwood
  • 📝 Spread rumors of the Hag’s helpfulness.
  • 📝 Offer aid to young witches in need.
  • 📝 Subtly sway their minds with the Hag’s influence.

• 📔 Alter terrain in Hag’s Addle:
  • 🕵️ The Hag (DCB p82) and Gleambeam
  • 📝 Identify natural high points in the riverbed.
  • 📝 Construct diversion weirs across the swamp.
  • 📝 Create foul water pools, ready to release into the river when needed.

Further Thoughts

The plan to flood Dreg involves altering the terrain inside the swamp—drying riverbeds, forming stagnant pools, and diverting water. These activities may attract attention, either from player characters or Father Jymes Horsely⁷, who could attempt to raise the alarm, though without help, his warnings are likely go unheard.

Witches manipulating the land south of the swamp could also be discovered, but they work discreetly, so detection is less likely.

Once the terrain is ready, all that’s needed is bad weather and heavy rain. The flood will seem like a natural disaster, expanding the swamp and granting the Hag new territory to explore. If unopposed, she will prey on the unwary while maintaining a low profile.

As for the Nag-Lord, the Hag is eager to form an alliance. She can provide safe passage for its Crookhorns through Hag’s Addle, aiding its campaign against the Human Nobility⁸. Additionally, she could help divert tainted waters from Lake Longmere⁹ into her sister’s domain¹⁰ or allow passage for an Atacorn through the Fairy Door. Meanwhile, Ignormwm is planning an attack on Lankshorn¹¹, though the Hag shows little interest in aiding this side plot.

Potential Alliances

The Hag has few allies because she trusts no one, and few trust her. However, there are a couple of potential alliances that could benefit her:

• The Nag-Lord: Their goals align, and the godling could help free her from the curse. This alliance would benefit both sides.
• The Cold Prince: If the Cold Prince returns, he might release her from the curse in exchange for help against the mortals.

Example

The Hag is making significant progress and is close to sealing an alliance with the Nag-Lord. This alliance will benefit both factions, enabling the Nag-Lord to expand their forces deeper into human-controlled territories. For the Hag, it brings her closer to breaking the curse. Her other missions, focused on flooding Dreg, are also progressing steadily. Once the alliance is secured, she may shift her focus to aiding the Nag-Lord while reducing her efforts to expand her domain.

Conclusion

The Hag is a compelling character—confined by a curse but wielding great power. At some point, players may seek her help to resolve urgent issues, making her an intriguing character to introduce into the campaign. They might even end up aiding in breaking her curse, knowingly or unknowingly.

The potential for a natural disaster that reshapes Dolmenwood is fascinating. What if Dreg floods, is rebuilt, and the Hag gains freedom to roam? What if settlements fall one by one to disasters and other factions' actions? The dangers in Dolmenwood could escalate dramatically.

That’s all for now. Next time, by request, we’ll look at the Pluritine Church!

References

#dolmenwood #faction turns #legwork