John Hale

**John Hale** was a cradle witch from a particularly old and powerful but dark lineage from Europe. After an affair with the Countess Palatine Ingrid von Marburg, which resulted in the birth of his daughter Anne, John fled persecution in Europe by emigrating to the Massachusetts colony in the New World. Settling in Salem, he married an ordinary human woman and ingratiated himself in Puritan society. At a certain point, he removed his daughter's memories of witchcraft and magic. Eventually, he rose to the lofty position of magistrate.

In truth, however, John was working as a member of the Essex Hive to bring about the Grand Rite. He had poisoned George Sibley's first wife to ensure Mary Sibley would be in a position to lead the Hive in enacting the ritual, though he had significant doubts about Mary's ability. After the sabbath meant to consecrate the beginning of the Rite was interrupted, he was also tasked by Mary with finding out who had broken their circle at their sabbath. To that end, he sought out Petrus in the woods -- and learned that it had been Isaac Walton and another who had escaped Petrus' sight.

John, with the help of a servant of the Hive, attempted to force Isaac into telling him who had been with him. Isaac would not say, claiming he had been alone. Dissatisfied with the answer and hoping to push the Grand Rite further along, John and the servant set up a Vitae Cupido spell and sent Isaac to the Divining Rod, where Isaac would be apprehended and accused of witchcraft based on items planted in his pockets. Mary was furious at John's unilateral actins, and cast a spell on Anne to force him to accept her leadership. With his daughter ill and seemingly close to death, John begged her to lift the spell and promised to allow her to lead the Rite without question. Once Anne was recovering, he personally saw to Isaac's release.

As Mary lost control of Mercy Lewis, Hale spread doubt in her leadership while also moving to protect his daughter from magic -- giving her a necklace laced with valerian root. However, the biggest threat to him soon proved to be a suspicious John Alden. To resolve that matter, Hale held a soiree to welcome Alden to the board of selectmen. When this failed to ease the tension between them, Hale tried to convince him that he was merely trying to investigate the witches on his own in order to protect his daughter. Although Alden thought that might be true, he still accused Hale of being corrupt and warned that he would find proof.

The Elders of the Essex Hive came to agree that Alden was a threat and tasked Hale and Tituba with using necromancy to find out what secret William Hooke held that Alden was so ardent about keeping. Tituba learned the secret without Hale present, and informed him that it was merely a gambling debt. Although he did not believe her, Rose Browning convinced him that Tituba would use the truth to help secure the Grand Rite's success.

Shortly afterwards, Rose was killed. Mary presented her head to John Hale, and he was the first to acknowledge her as the new Samhain of the Essex Hive. Nevertheless, he and Mab continued to secretly keep contact with German witches who were working to prevent Increase Mather's arrival in Salem.

## Powers & Abilities

* Telekinesis - John Hale was able to move and manipulate objects with his mind.
* Teleportation - through the use of a Traveler's Mask, John Hale was able to move instantly from one location to another.
* Witchcraft- John Hale was skilled at casting spells and brewing potions.