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Witches

Powers ♦ Relations with other species ♦ Roles
Witches are human beings born with the ability to perform magic. Unlike fae, this magic does not come naturally. Spells are written down and must be learned and performed in order to be cast. Some witches specialize in particular areas or types of magic e.g. mediums.

Casting magic is draining for a witch, so they have a variety of methods to support them. They can make use of the elements of nature to boost their power. A witch's power is heightened during the full moon, for example. They may use a magical item such as a wand to channel their power, or items representing the elements (fire, water, earth, air), or a willing living person.

Blood is often a potent ingredient for a witch's spell, especially for spells that relate to the person whose blood is being used. For example, if a witch wanted to track down a missing person, they could use a personal item belonging to that person or the blood of a close family member in order to establish a connection.

Finally, the best way for a witch to increase his or her power is to work with other witches. This is why witches tend to form covens. More powerful spells cannot be performed by a single witch alone, but can be performed by a group of witches working in tandem. Three, five, seven and twelve are considered magical numbers and increase the potency of a coven's magic.

Familiars
Witches are able to obtain the services of a familiar through a ritual that creates a bond between the two. Familiars are usually fae that take animal form, but they can also be shapeshifters or werewolves. A familiar makes an oath to serve their witch, providing either magical aid or brute strength. In return, the witch provides magical protection and enhances their familiar's powers.

Familiars had fallen out of fashion due to their association with dark magic, but as of April 2017, having a familiar is very much encouraged by Circle Daybreak.

• The familiar agrees to serve, but they are not magically bound to do so. However, it is possible for the witch to add a few extra clauses to compel obedience.
• Witches can summon their familiars by saying their name. The familiar will hear their name being called, and will instinctively know where to find their witch.
• Witch and familiar will each be able to sense when the other dies.
• Familiars may be able to sense when their witch needs help, for example if they are in great emotional or physical pain.
• Witches can choose to release a familiar from their service at any time.

Nb. Familiars are different from fae being magically forced into serving a witch, in that both parties must consent to take part in the ritual. That said, many fae still consider familiars to be another form of enslavement, whether or not the fae in question originally agreed to it.

Powers
Strength: 1 | Magic: 2-6

There are three basic types of magic a witch can perform: 1) casting spells, 2) making potions, 3) creating magical items. A potion once made can be used by anyone. Some magical items require a witch to activate them; others are designed to be used by anyone. Spell effects are usually temporary unless bound with an object, so witches often create talismans to anchor their spells.

See the Magical Items & Spells list for more information on the magic that witches can perform.

Strengths
• Can cast spells (these must be learned).
• Can create potions.
• Can create talismans, amulets, charms and other items with magical effects, including cursed objects.
• Can bind spells using an object in order to make the effect permanent; the object must be destroyed in order to break the spell.
• Can sense magical power or potential in others.
• Sensitive to ghostly activity; often the first to sense a ghost's presence.
• Can sense nearby magic and enchanted objects. May or may not recognize the particular spell depending on their training.
• Can summon and trap magical entities or ghosts through the use of a pentacle.
• Can command or make a deal with a fae once summoned.
• Can communicate with or banish ghosts once summoned.
• Can obtain the services of a familiar.
• Can protect themselves from adverse magic through the use of a pentacle. (It is advised to perform more difficult spells only within the safety of a pentacle.)

All witches have the above powers. Witches can also gain the following additional abilities:

• Can recognize all supernatural types.
• Can see visions of the future.
• Can see ghosts everywhere, whether they are manifested or invisible.
• Can resist all mind control and magical influence.
• Can sense emotions.

Weaknesses
• Spell-casting drains their energy. A particularly taxing spell can cause physical symptoms including nose-bleeds, nausea, fainting, etc. Attempting to cast a spell beyond the witch's abilities can even result in death. Witches who use too much magic often look tired or ill.
• Many spells require significant preparation to perform.
• Most powerful spells cannot be performed by one witch alone, but must be cast by a group working together.

Relations with other species
Fae: Fae and witches have a peculiar and often hostile relationship. Witches seeking more power often find themselves drawn to the magic of the fae, summoning them to perform tasks that witches themselves cannot do. However, all witches are warned of the dangers of summoning fae, as they are tricky creatures and will turn upon their masters if they can. Making a deal with a powerful fae is a risky venture.
Ghosts: Witches are capable of communing with the dead, and can use their magic to summon or banish them. They are sensitive to ghostly activity, but this is often unpredictable: a witch may feel a presence but be unable to see it, for example, until s/he actively chooses to commune with that person through the use of a pentacle. Communing with a malicious ghost may result in the witch being possessed, which is never pleasant. Some witches commune with their ancestors or draw on their power from beyond. However, any more active dealings with ghosts are best left to witches who specialize in that area i.e. mediums. Mediums who are good at their job can help a ghost to pass on and rest in peace.
Humans: Witches are the main driving force behind keeping the supernatural world a secret from humans. They often use their magic to cover up events that risk the supernatural world being exposed. Historically witches faced persecution from humans, hence their desire for secrecy. Nowadays fewer people take witchcraft seriously, so they are able to practice their craft without causing anxiety or suspicion. Despite this, witches are still discouraged from mentioning witchcraft to their human friends.
Meta Humans: Can be a real pain to witches who are attempting to regulate supernatural society, as the powers of meta humans are unpredictable and can cause many problems. Witches may therefore resort to binding their powers or even eliminating someone altogether if they are considered a menace to society. Usually though, they help meta humans when they can and try to work together for the good of all. Some of the less community-spirited witches will make use of their powers for their own ends.
Shapeshifters: Shapeshifters are treated much the same as meta humans by witches: they have a power that must be regulated for the good of society, or exploited by those with fewer scruples. There is some snobbery: witches consider themselves higher up in the hierarchy than shapeshifters and many wouldn't approve of romantic liaisons with them. They tend to get on well as long as shapeshifters know their place. This is also why witches like "rogue" shapeshifters even less than they like rogue witches.
Vampires: There's a lot of bad blood between witches and vampires, in a very literal sense. As predators, vampires are the natural enemies of witches – especially those who want to help and protect humans – but they are also too powerful to engage in all-out war. Consequently, witches do attempt to come to an arrangement with vampires where possible. Vampires are officially forbidden from harming witches, although this rule is often broken. They are also expected to regulate themselves; witches will overlook the occasional murder as long as the vampires don't run amok. Witches can be turned into vampires, in which case they lose all their magic.
Werewolves: Witches can create potions to help regulate and subdue werewolves on a full moon, which makes them highly valuable to werewolves who want their help. This doesn't mean that witches particularly like them: they are considered cursed creatures and often looked down upon. Werewolves are too strong to be ignored, however, and they can be valuable allies in fending off vampires. "Feral" wolf packs are those who spurn any help from witches, and are therefore considered outcasts and driven out into the country. Witches can be turned into werewolves, in which case they lose all their magic.
Witches: Witches almost always live together in covens and as such are among the most organized and community-driven of all the supernatural species. For this reason and because of their magical power, they are also the driving force behind regulating supernatural society, setting down the rules that all supernatural creatures are expected to obey. Witches will always look out for their own first, which means they aren't always entirely fair to other supernatural types. They are also plagued by internal divisions: covens of witches who pursue dark magic and seek to increase their power, and rogue witches who reject their rules. Despite this, it was the witches who created the Night Council that sets down laws for supernatural creatures.

Roles
Witches are a scattered but highly community-oriented people. A few witches do practise individually but most are members of covens, as the magical power of a coven far outstrips the abilities of any single witch. Covens in London are affiliated with Circle Daybreak.

Circle Daybreak is devoted to healing, medicine, keeping the peace and supporting the community. As of April 2017, the magical seals in their territories prevent fae from moving between the mortal realm and the Other Realm, but do not prevent witches from summoning fae themselves. Previously, the seal also prevented summoning magic. However, between April and June 2017, summoning magic was reclassified to no longer count as dark magic and witches were therefore encouraged to use it. The Night Council has since changed its stance, forcing Circle Daybreak to hide its use of summoning magic.

Though Circle Daybreak condemns dark magic, it also officially considers all witches to be part of the same community, regardless of affiliation, and maintains that this community should be protected. A Daybreak witch cannot in good conscience harm another witch. They will however put a stop to those who practise dark magic if it brings harm to other witches or otherwise jeopardizes innocent people.

A rival witch community, Circle Midnight, which openly practised dark magic, used to be active and have a political presence in London until September 2016 when the last Midnight territory was taken and the Circle's leader was exiled from the city. A few witches remain in hiding, but it no longer holds any political power.

Level 1
Witches of no ranking. They may be young and still learning their craft, or simply not interested in politics.

Level 2
At this level, a witch may take on an apprentice to pass on their wisdom. Others become teachers, joining schools of witchcraft in order to teach magic to a group. They are considered the more senior members of their coven.

Level 3
Coven Leader
Covens are affiliated with Circle Daybreak. The leader of the coven is usually the strongest or most experienced witch in the group. They lead rituals, protect and heal their coven members, and communicate with the High Priest or Priestess. Covens typically number between three and twelve witches. Three, five, seven and twelve are considered magical numbers, and the ideal size for a coven.

Level 4
High Priest and Priestess
The High Priest and/or Priestess run Circle Daybreak. They oversee all covens affiliated with the Circle, sharing best practice, protecting their witches, and ensuring that no coven steps out of line. There are over one hundred Circle Daybreak covens scattered around London.

Level 5
Mother, Maiden, Crone
The highest rank of witches, this powerful trio are considered to transcend all boundaries between Circles and covens. In practice, they usually come from Circle Daybreak, or witches who are generally considered "good". They provide spiritual guidance to all witches, and hold great power.

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