Weather Witches
by Eric Grove-Stephensen
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Weather Witches are Hedge Magicians of the same ilk as Cunning-folk.
Their speciality is obviously Weather effects.
All Weather Witch Mystic Companions have the following Abilities:
- Folk Magic 4
- Weather Sense 3
- Craft Weather Charms 2
- Weather Magic 4
- Animal Ken (Birds only) 3
- Herbalism 3
Weather Witches have a minimum age of 20. They have age + 10 starting
experience points to spend on Abilities in addition to Speak Own
Language 5, and the above Abilities.
Weather Witches may use both Wild and Standard vis. They may use a
number of pawns equal to their Folk Magic score for any one act.
Weather Spells
Weather Witches can craft Weather spells whose effect and level are
equivalent to the Hermetic Art of Auram. To craft a spell the weather
witch must first determine the level of the desired effect in the
manner described on p103 of ArM4. The spells are bound by the same
limits as Hermetic magic.
Once the level is known the Weather Witch must try to successfully
cast it. To do this the Weather Witch must equal or exceed the level
of effect on a stress die + Int + Folk Magic + Weather Magic + Aura +
any appropriate bonuses for spell foci and her Talisman (see below).
Weather Witches may use Vis to increase the spell casting in the same
way that Hermetic magi do.
When casting the spell, the Weather Witch must spend 15 minutes in
uninterrupted concentration for every 5 levels of the spell. The caster
loses one Fatigue level if the spell fails, but two if it succeeds.
Enchantments
Weather Witches may perform several lab-like activities.
They may make Potions and Minor Potions in the same way that
cunning-folk do, using Int + Herbalism + Herbalism bonuses + Folk
Magic + Aura. They may make Longevity Potions using the same formula.
They may Craft Enchanted Devices in a similar fashion to Hermetic magi
except that the enchantment must be an Auram effect. The Weather
Witch's lab total for this purpose is Int + Craft Weather Charms +
Folk Magic + Form and Effects bonus + Aura. Weather Witches may create
Talismans in the same way that Hermetic magi do, using the same
formula as they do for other Enchanted Devices.
Familiars
Weather Witches may magically bond any bird as a familiar.
The process is similar to Hermetic magi bonding a familiar with the
following alterations.
The Weather Witch requires an Animal Ken score of 5+ to open the
enchantment, and requires a number of pawns equal to (12 + creature's
size). [Note - For this purpose only the maximum pawns of vis the
Weather Witch can use is equal to Folk Magic + Animal Ken].
Cord Strength - The Weather Witch totals his (Folk Magic + Animal
Ken) * 3 - the bird's magic resistance and size to gain the strength
of the bond.
All other processes are similar to those found on p95-100 in ArM4.
Magic Resistance
Weather Witches have a Magic Resistance equal to their Folk Magic +
Weather Magic + Animal Ken.