The Souls

* The Bear
* The Snake
* The Ox
* The Leech
* The Ram
* The Fish
* The Cat
* The Rat
* The Hog
* The Wolf
* The Stag
* The Hawk

The *Twelve Souls* are the main antagonist force of the game. They are all cruel, anthropomorphic animals whose evil deeds affect those around them. *The* *Goat* tasks the *Witch* to bring it their souls in exchange for awakening the *Sleeping* *Maiden*. While there are a total of twelve souls, the player is introduced to a set of four souls at a time.

> **Spoiler Warning!** The following reveals major plot points in the game. Read at your own discretion.
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### First Set:

* *The Bear*: An abusive, violent, and gluttonous captain who runs his *camp* through fear. Is known for becoming violent when his patience is tested. His soul is collected once the *Witch* brews a concoction that transforms him into a stuffed animal teddy bear.
* *The Leech*: A doctor who works at the *Sickhouse* on the *Swamp*. The *Witch* discovers that she is secretly giving her patients the plague so she can steal (and eventually drink) their blood. Her soul is collected once the *Witch* spikes her "wine" with Spirit Salts, transforming her into a dried-up, shriveled worm.
* *The Ox*: An arrogant farmer who works non-stop on his *farm*. The *Witch* learns that the *Ox* sacrificed his wife and child to the *Harvest Master* (the Scarecrow) as payment to ensure his crops are guaranteed to be successful. His soul is collected when the *Witch* destroys his enchanted crops by watering them with a *Withering Can.* In his desperation, he attempts to make another deal with the *Harvest Master* to bring the success of his crops back by offering all of himself without realizing the loophole in his statement. The *Harvest Master* accepts and in a Monkey's Paw type fashion, transforms the *Ox* into a seed as payment.
* *The Snake*: A manipulative carnival ringmaster that remains hidden away at the *Uncanny Fairground.* He is able to grant the wishes of many, but in return he uses a hypnotizing stare. This stare ensures that those who have made a pact with him are trapped at the *Fairground* forever brainwashed. His soul is collected when the *Witch* uses the Magic Mirror to reflect his own hypnotic eyes at himself. This action causes him to seal himself away in said mirror.

### Second Set:

* *The Ram*: A temperamental preacher who espouses conformity to his flock of sheep. He argues that colors are not needed in fabric or wool, and has his followers burn down the *Black Sheep*'s *Wool Shop* to punish the *Black Sheep* for producing colored yarn. His extreme methods also include having his missionaries parrot his teachings to the other sections of the world. His soul is collected when the *Witch* and *Black Sheep* craft Magic Yarn for his flock to wear, causing them to go in a frenzy-like state of adoration for colors. Shocked that his following has suddenly turned away from his teachings, the Ram attempts to get their attention by ringing his bell wildly. While flailing, he ends up smacking his own head, transforming him into the bell.
* *The Fish*: A traitorous first-mate who overthrew the previous *Captain* after hearing about the legend of the *Mermaid* and the *Conch* from him. He has the entire *Dock* scour for *Seashells* in an attempt to find the fabled *Conch* so that he can meet the *Mermaid* himself. His soul is collected when the *Serpent* expels the *Witch* and *Captain* out like a cannonball which then slams into the *Fish*'s ship, sinking the boat with the *Fish* inside. The *Fish's* soul stays trapped within his feathered hat, which the *Witch* picks up from the *Dock*.
* *The Cat*: A prankster who wants to be known a Machiavellian mastermind. She causes civil unrest in the marketplace by vandalizing different businesses, allowing wild accusations to spread. Her soul is collected when the Witch creates a *Feline Curio* which distracts the *Cat*, allowing the Unicorn to blast the lies out of her. Since she was nothing but lies, she disintegrates instead leaving only her boots behind.
* *The Rat*: A grave-robber who sees no issue disturbing the dead with help from his army of smaller rats. He hides away from the ghosts thanks to their nest being underneath an abandoned *Church*. His soul is collected when the *Witch* uses a spirit board to summon the *Banshee* into their safe haven, allowing her and other restless spirits to get their revenge by dragging them all to the underworld. In the end, his soul ends up trapped within a bundle of tangled rat tails.

### Final Set:

* *The Hawk*: A greedy land-baron and banker who tries to evict a couple from their *Mill* due to late payments. The *Witch* discovers that his real goal is to find the *Rumpling* and be paid his weight in gold. His soul is collected when the *Witch* hands him the *Alchemist's Stone* he sought, not knowing its curse. His body then transforms into a statue made of pure gold, and his soul remains tethered to a single golden feather
* *The Hog*: A trio of sisters who run the local pig farm and butcher shop. They take advantage of their workers and physically abuse them. The *Witch* discovers that their extreme abuse has lead them to feeding their overworked workers to the pigs on the farm. Their soul is collected when the *Witch* stuffs an effigy of a pig with three of their most treasured items. She then burns the effigy in a voodoo-like ritual which roasts the three sisters alive, providing nourishment for their workers.
* *The Stag*: An arrogant prince who wishes to be king. As his brother also shares a right to the throne, the *Stag* constantly demeans him as a way of proving his birthright. He actively sabotages the *Statue Plaque* in the *Hedge Maze* out of fear that his brother will use the *Crystal Flower* prophecy written on the plaque to attempt to steal the throne from him. His soul is collected when the *Witch* convinces *Buck* to get the *Crystal Flower* for the *Stag's* coronation. Since *Buck* is completely unaware of the prophecy, he unknowingly challenges the *Stag's* right to rule. The *Stag* follows his brother to the peak and loses his temper. In a fit of rage, he attempts to prove his birthright by grabbing one of the many false flowers and ends up being turned to crystal. His soul becomes tethered to a shard.
* *The Wolf*: A brash criminal and serial killer who aggressively goes for maidens. It is insinuated and eventually proven true that he invites these maidens to his home out in Dark Wood to eat them. His soul is collected when the *Witch* uses a puppet wearing the *Barmaid's* cape to lure the Wolf to the Huntsman who was lying in wait. He is then shot with a sliver bullet and dies, his soul tethered to one of his large fangs.

### **Trivia:**

* It seems as though each of the twelve souls corresponds to a sin from the "Seven Deadly Sins" or Dante's Alighieri's "Nine Circles of Hell".
	+ The Bear abuses his subordinates and has a wild temper. He likely represents anger/wrath.
	+ The Leech lies to her patients about healing them as she makes them ill. She likely represents fraud.
	+ The Ox betrays his family to improve his crops. He likely represents treachery.
	+ The Snake hypnotizes others into working for him. He likely represents sloth.
	+ The Ram has a flock of cult-like followers committed to prejudiced ideals. He likely represents heresy.
	+ The Fish is obsessed with meeting the mermaid to the point of committing murder, but presents himself as romantic. He likely represents lust.
	+ The Cat believes she is Machiavellian mastermind and causes chaos because she thinks she is clever enough to get away with it. She likely represents pride.
	+ The Rat lives in haunted graveyard and believes his actions are not inherently bad. He likely represents the ignorance of Limbo.
	+ The Hawk threatens his tenants with eviction to gain gold. He likely represents greed.
	+ The Hog sisters are extremely cruel and savage, and each have their own preferred weapons / torture devices. The likely represent violence.
	+ The Stag is overwhelmingly preoccupied with his brother's shared right to the throne. He likely represents envy.
	+ The Wolf hunts maidens to eat them and his unending hunger eventually undoes him. He likely represents gluttony.