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:

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.