Message no. 1

From:	Gryffyn the Grey <K_SNOKE@******.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:	WITCHES *Cackle, cackle, giggle, giggle*
Date:	Mon, 4 Oct 1993 16:51:54 -0600

Okay On the subject of witches. If we are going along the formulae of those that
like to shove poor innocent little children into ovens, then all we need is
a
bad personality. On the other hand if we are dealing with those who attribute
their 'powers' to such cults as wiccanism, then they are much more along the
lines of a shamen. So we have, at least at the moment, 2 types of witches:

1) GRIMM'S FAIRYTALES VRSION: Possibly a warped version of an adept
and a shamen. If we pay any attention at all to Shakespeare's Macbeth, they are
often considered oracular. Tend to shun society, and smell as bad as a troll.
(No offence intended) These are the wise-women of turned by the change into
actually having a smidgon of power. I would suggest localizing it like an adept.
Either by limiting them to one or two catagories of spells or somesuch. This
is
not a combat mage type of adept. Yes they could probably summon spirits or
elementals (I'd do one or the other depending on their background. i.e. an
'oracular' witch might summon elementals whilst a 'wise-woman/herbalist' would
obviously deal more with spirits. However I don't think they'd be casting alot
of combat spells. They are more around to provide character.

on the other hand . . . .

2)EARTH, SEA, FIRE AND SKY: In other words, the modern witch. This
character would probably be more based off of the wiccan religion. A bit more
like a druid than a shaman, because they encorporate the worship of ALL nature
not just animals, the new witch would be a spell-toter. Modern wiccans lay claim
to majical rituals and 'spells' these witches/wiccans would use elementals,
rather than spirits, because the four elements are one of the primary focuses
for their religion. And make no mistake, this is a religion. Existing in covens
similarily to the druidic circles, these witches would specialize in 'group'
stuff. However they also would have a range of spells. Again combat oriented
spells would be discouraged. For example, I could see a wiccan/witch using mana
spells with no problem, but being unable to cast a firebolt. The reason for this
is that much of the wiccan religion is based on belief system, and using the
mind to create your 'power' chanting and dancing are all fun and games too. So
these little buggers would most likely be very happy in any city's underworld,
while Grimm's would be mostly country folk.

That's about it. Comments, criticisms, and cruel Thwaps as always
welcomed . . .

Gryffyn the Gray & Natto

"I am, therefore, I must not exist."