Dolmenwood Factions #15: The Witches

14 Oct, 2024

Secretive and deeply devoted to preserving the ancient ways of the Wood Gods, the Witches operate in the shadows. Their ultimate mission is to restore Dolmenwood's natural balance and protect it from corrupting forces and those seeking to exploit its magic and resources.

Goals

Myths and falsehoods have long shrouded the Witches, allowing them to remain unnoticed by most. While common folk dismiss them as folklore, they quietly blend into everyday life, ensuring their agenda can be pursued without interference or exposure.

They occasionally rely on outside help or unknowingly involve others in their plans¹. A primary goal is recovering the Mirrors of Embala, a task that would reconnect the High Coven with Embala², potentially growing their numbers. The search for the Hoaghryn, although downplayed by the High Coven, is passionately followed by lower-ranking witches³. If awakened, the Hoaghryn would strengthen the Witches against threats like the Pluritine Church and the Nag-Lord.

• 🙈 Maintain the Secrecy of the Craft. What Witches? They are just tales and hearsay!
  • Infiltrate the Pluritine Church's ranks to misdirect inquisitors.
  • Ward off sacred meeting places from prying eyes.
  • Ensure misinformation about witchcraft spreads.

• 🙈 Recover the Mirrors of Embala. Awaken the long-lost Gwyrigon.
  • Access secret libraries to find clues about mirrors' locations.
  • Retrace the steps of the Aubrathon⁴.
  • Find one of the missing mirrors.

• 🙊 Locate the Hoaghryn. An ancient prophecy only some witches believe.
  • Verify the various rumors surrounding the Hoaghryn prophecy.
  • Identify potential candidates and offer protection.
  • Learn the ritual to awaken the Hoaghryn.

Resources

Hiding in plain sight is one of their greatest strengths⁵. Their network of eyes and ears spans nearly every corner of Dolmenwood, though the Church, the Drune, and the Nag-Lord remain significant blind spots. What they cannot directly observe, they often divine through occult rituals and scrying. Their connection to the Gwyrigons, coupled with centuries of preserved knowledge, grants them power few even know exists.

• Eyes and Ears Everywhere. A witch is never truly far away.
  • Embedded in all levels circles, from common folk to nobility.
  • Enchanted familiars and animals act as spies⁶.
  • Divination rituals reveal hidden knowledge.

• Spiritually Bound to Ancient Wood Gods⁷. The Gwyrigons empower them.
  • Extended lifespans⁸ and supernatural abilities.
  • Their powers are tied to the Gwyrigons' elements.
  • Deep spiritual ties to the forest.

• Ancient Occult Knowledge⁹. Centuries of hidden wisdom.
  • Expertise in charms, curses, and rituals.
  • Mastery of herbalism and fungi for remedies or poisons.
  • Ability to concoct potions and brews.

Actions

Reliance on an extensive infiltration network is key to achieving their objectives. Expanding this network is essential for uncovering secrets like the location of the Mirrors of Embala and the Hoaghryn prophecy. Accessing places like the Church's libraries¹⁰, the Drune Lodge¹¹, or Chateau Mauvesse¹² carries great risk but is crucial. Successfully infiltrating the Church would provide leverage over their adversaries.

Another important goal is halting the Nag-Lord's influence¹³. The Witches fear his power could corrupt the Gwyrigons and endanger Dolmenwood. Rescuing their sisters, turned into Harridans¹⁴ after getting captured by Crookhorns, is a personal mission for many covens, further fueling their opposition to the Nag-Lord.

• 📔 Infiltrate the Church's Ranks.
  • 🕵️ Lispeth Emberton
  • 📝 Convince Duchess Ophelia¹⁵ to assist Lispeth in joining the church.
  • 📝 Complete initiation and training undetected.
  • 📝 Secure a strategic position within the Church for future missions.

• 📔 Attempt to Poison Baron Fragglehorn.
  • 🕵️ Marla Dogoode
  • 📝 Brew a powerful poison capable of incapacitating the Baron.
  • 📝 Convince or charm one of his wives to assist.
  • 📝 Administer the poison discreetly.

• 📔 Uncover More Clues about the Hoaghryn Prophecy.
  • 🕵️ Myrkle Snidehorn
  • 📝 Allow a witch dedidacted to the prophecy access to Witch Queen's Palace¹⁶.
  • 📝 Study ancient texts and lore hidden in the palace library.
  • 📝 Discover a clue regarding the Hoaghryn's whereabouts.

Further Thoughts

Remaining hidden from the Church is one of the Witches' greatest challenges. Even with a successful infiltration, they may need to resort to more extreme measures, such as gathering blackmail on high-ranking Church officials, like Sanctus Primus¹⁷. This tactic could provide valuable leverage but is risky and could easily backfire.

The Witches may eventually need to confront the Drune. While their relationship is currently neutral, the Drune's patriarchal structure presents challenges to any formal alliance. Nevertheless, the Drune hold critical knowledge, particularly about the Aubrathon, that may prove vital to the Witches' goals. Collaborating with sympathetic Drunewives or Braithmaids, or infiltrating their ranks, may be the only way to access this information¹⁸.

Dealing with the Nag-Lord's growing influence is crucial. His power threatens to corrupt the Gwyrigons, something the Witches cannot allow. Poisoning Baron Fragglehorn is one approach, but undermining Crookhorn movements and sharing intelligence with other factions like House Brackenwold and House Harrowmoor is equally important.

The Hoaghryn

The prophecy of the Hoaghryn divides the Witches. Lower-ranking members believe fervently in it, while the High Priestesses are more skeptical. This internal tension could lead to future conflicts within the covens.

The Hoaghryn is believed to be a child of immense power, but defining its nature remains essential. It could be an immortal being, such as a fairy, or a mortal born once every thousand years. To awaken fully, the child may need to commune with all the Gwyrigons, including Embala of the Husk. Recovering the Mirrors of Embala could be critical to unlocking the Hoaghryn's full potential.

Where the child is hidden is the central mystery. Some say the Nag-Lord captured the child to devour it¹⁹, while others claim it was taken to Gladding-Gloam and forgotten by Lord Gladhand²⁰. The child could be found in the Baths of Astralon, employed by the Hag Thorn-Rosy²¹, or in the Goblin King's collection at Goblinhold²². The Drune may have already discovered the child and imprisoned it deep within their lodge. Another theory suggests the Cold Prince trapped the child in Frigia before his exile²³.

Wherever the Hoaghryn is, finding the child will require immense effort and may lead the Witches into direct conflict with other factions.

Possible Locations of the Hoaghryn

Potential Alliances

The Witches have several potential allies, though each alliance presents its own challenges:

• The Drune: An alliance is possible but would require sharing key secrets, especially concerning the Aubrathon. The Drune's secretive, patriarchal nature complicates this, though mutual benefits could lead to a fragile partnership.
• House Harrowmoor: Lady Haeroth's connection to House Harrowmoor²⁴ makes this alliance likely, but it will require careful nurturing. Convincing House Harrowmoor that the Witches serve their long-term goals is crucial.
• Ygraine Mordlin: A potential partnership could form with Ygraine, based on mutual interest in the occult²⁵. Either party must take the initiative to explore collaboration.
• Other Noble Houses: The Witches' integration into Dolmenwood's society opens the door for alliances with noble houses like House Brackenwold, House Guillefer²⁶, and possibly House Hogwarsh. Their subtle influence could sway these houses into collaboration if their interests align.

Example

Their progress has been moderate, but failing to infiltrate the Church is slowing down efforts to recover the Mirrors of Embala. Without access to Church resources, this goal will be hard to accomplish. Shifting focus to dealing with the Drune may provide a more viable path forward.

On the plus side, the players in my campaign have already encountered the Witches and are also searching for the Mirror stolen by the Aubrathon. Additionally, they've eliminated Captain Snarkscorn, another target for impeding the Nag-Lord's influence, potentially giving the Witches an advantage moving forward.

Conclusion

The Witches are one of the most enigmatic factions in Dolmenwood. Though often vilified, much of their dark reputation stems from deliberate misinformation or propaganda spread by rival factions. In reality, the Witches are deeply committed to restoring the ancient ways of the Wood Gods and maintaining balance in Dolmenwood.

Watching their rise in power could prove fascinating, as they work to reestablish the influence of the Wood Gods and resist the corruption threatening the forest. Their success may be crucial in returning Dolmenwood to its natural, untamed state.

That concludes our look at the Witches! Next, we'll finish the Dolmenwood factions series with Ygraine Mordlin.

References

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