Great Witches

Part of Culture of Juhnvechteya

The Great Witches are a select few female magicians scattered throughout Juhnvechteya. They are most commonly found throughout the north of the continent. Far more powerful than the common witch or wizard, the Great Witches are on-par with many minor deities and major demons in their magical abilities and influence over the world.

Great Witches practice their magic through many means. Most often is casting spells using ingredients gathered, which will summon an effect based on the ingredients are included. These vary from summoning monsters of immense size and strength, to simply filling a room with an aromatic scent. Otherwise, they may use potions to achieve their ends, such as creating potent medicines to cure diseases and wounds which would otherwise prove deadly to the afflicted. It seems as though all Great Witches have some implement used to travel, most often a flying broom, though other household items, and sometimes even the house itself, may be used for the same purpose, walking or soaring through the forests where they stay, isolated from the world.

Immortal mages, the only way to defeat them is with an entire army, with the aid of the Church of the Heavens, or more preferably both. While able to be killed by normal means, they will simply reincarnate in an infant's body without memory of their prior lives, and continue to practice magic as the skill returns to them. The only known way to permanently kill a Great Witch is through the intervention of a god, be it directly or through calling upon their power, such as in the Rite of Damnation, as practiced by the Order of Hope Reborn.

Witches often observe mortal affairs from the sidelines, or often may participate directly in them, be it politics or war. Often, over the course of a battle, a witch or two may be seen hovering above the field, observing the goings-n. Indeed, sometimes she may choose to interfere directly, releasing a creature onto the field to aid her faction of choice. Due to this, some commanders may choose to try to convince a witch to join their cause, or to stay neutral, often through promises, manipulation, or even through substantial sums of gold.

Witches do not merely cavort with humans, however. They often speak with and make dealings with various other creatures, from Kobolds to Trolls to dwarfs, and may have dealings with the fae, demons, and even gods, ranging from those of ancient, dwindled power to the host of Arkhas himself. Indeed, the Great Witches are among the few humans the Church of the Heavens may commune with. Often, the Church of the Earth and the Church of the Heavens take notice of the Great Witches, and may either seek to make Witches allies of the faith, or may seek to censure the Great Witches, for their actions often distract the people from Arkhas' true path and bring them to heresy.

Witches often live in islated regions, such as dense forests or atop high mountains, to avoid humans or to ensure those who visit them are worth their attention. Often these groves or hillsides become places where flora and fauna flourish, trees growing far larger and flowers blooming wherever there is room. As such, they are often surrounded by fae and other sprites of the woodlands. Indeed, the spirits of ancient, dead gods may come to reside near a Witch, for the isolation from the humans who turned their back upon them, and conversely, the company provided by one of such power.  They also often possess familiars, who may be either a demon or some other spirit or animal, who chose to serve the witch

The existence of the Great Witches is common knowledge where they reside, and while some humans may reject them in their entirety, others embrace the witch who lives near their community, and often come to them for aid. Witches may form relationships with those who frequently contact them, resulting in many villagers, couriers, churchmen and even nobles becoming acquainted a particular witch. The witches also know of the presence of each other, and often know those of their region by name. On occasion they will organize into groups, such as the Witch Guild in Stribrna Joraje.