The Fen Witch Tradition

Jack:  "You don't really mean to eat me, do you Ma'am?"

Witch:  "Oh, indeed I do!"

Legend (film) 1986

As the scholars know, not every witch is a hag, nor every hag a witch. However, hags and witches may move in the same circles, and some witches blur the line between hag and witch. The fen witch is such a witch: a human witch with a fresh or salt water hag bloodline.

The following is a new Tradition for the Player's Companion Witch class.

Bonus Spells:  None.  (A fen witch does not receive any bonus spells.)

1st level:  From a young age, a fen witch knows she is not like the other little girls. She can present a fearful visage to frighten others into doing what she wants. She receives a +2 bonus on all reaction rolls when implicitly or explicitly threatening violence or dire consequences. The targets must be 5 HD or less, or the character and her allies must outnumber or grossly outrank the targets.

Enemies of a fen witch may be filled with fear and doubt by her unnerving presence. A fen witch may use bane once per 8 hours. Each use takes 1 round.

3rd level:  A fen witch may kill with a determined glare. She may use choking grip once per 8 hours. Each use takes 1 round.

5th level:  A fen witch may weaken those who oppose her. She may use bestow curse once per day. Each use takes 1 round.

7th level:  Immediately prior to advancing to 7th level, a fen witch must make a special saving throw versus Spells (the witch’s Wisdom bonus applies), modified by the Judge’s assessment of her behavior with respect to hag versus human. Hag-like behavior results in a negative modifier, humane behavior results in a positive modifier. Failure of this saving throw results in the fen witch immediately and permanently transforming into a sea hag. The sea hag appears in the Labyrinth Lord Advanced Edition Companion. Any further advancement must occur as detailed under Transformations in the Secrets chapter of the ACKS Rulebook. Success results in the fen witch advancing to 7th level normally. At the Judge’s discretion, a fen witch must make this special saving throw immediately prior to each subsequent level advancement.

A fen witch may transform those who oppose her. She may use polymorph other once per day. Each use takes 1 round.