#Lore24 – Entry #63 – Fantasy Month #3 – Witches of the Ways / Wayfare Witches
From the journal of Angeliqua “Goldeneyes” Cartacustos:
Perhaps today’s prompt indicates that soon we will travel? I can only hope; as much as I enjoy the archives, a trip out of these (perhaps overly) serene walls would not go amiss. At least not a long trip. And I suppose the peace here isn’t all bad. I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing the southern lands this time of year, for the chill from the north is felt a bit too often these days.
On to the topic at hand, less my fantasies overtake my more rational line of thought. The Wayfare Witches, or alternatively, the Witches of the Ways, are perhaps the largest and most widespread of the known covens on the face of Andyllion, known to be found throughout not only the Imperium Draconis but throughout known civilization and perhaps beyond into the wilds beyond. I suppose calling them a coven would be stretching things; some do tend to band together and practice secret rituals from time to time, but others seem to be following their ways without affiliation to a larger group. Even then, from what the records indicate, their organization is extremely loose and informal, and operates perhaps with some amount of divine or otherworldly guidance, perhaps at the behest of the gods of nature and travel.
The Witches are typically found outside of the largest cities, frequently operating the various travelers’ inns and rests along the roadways that connect civilized lands, or in the case of their seafaring sisters, within the safe ports located throughout the islands dotting the seas and oceans; rarely they will appear within large cities, but they are known to be found in even the most unexpected and inhospitable climes, such as the great swamps like the Muckenmyre or the icy Frigid Steppes. A wise traveler will seek shelter beneath the roof of a Wayfare Witch, assuming their intentions are honest and they can offer a proper payment. Payment varies with the individual or group, depending on the whims of the witch, but are usually reasonable and fair: coin or a modest piece of jewelry in the case of a traveling noble, or something as simple as sharing a story or song for those of less wealth. Some witches will accept favors to be repaid when able, and woe be to those who try to weasel out of the deal, or worse, try to harm a witch within their domain.
Generally seen as goodly and kind, offering shelter and aid (food, a hiding place, healing, etc.), especially to those fleeing conflict or those injured during their travels, the Witches of the Ways are not without their fangs. Like most who practice the craft, they are adept at curses, and if crossed, will not hesitate to lay one upon the offending individual or party. Their revenge is rarely, if ever, seen coming, and never immediately, and may be as simple as months of annoyances along the ways (imagine getting a pebble in one’s boot every day for a year), or as severe as outright ruin and calamity for the offenders in the cases of the most severe offenses; the disastrous campaign of Akakios Andriadis two centuries ago during the attempt to expand the Empire’s reach to the west saw his entire expeditionary force wiped out and reportedly consumed by the kobolds of the Flammesand Desert, supposedly after one of his subordinates assaulted a Witch’s apprentice and he refused to see them properly punished for the offense (said apprentice was a kerryn, and thus, the thought of punishing a soldier for such an act was deemed laughable), as the legends say. Actual evidence of this is lacking, however.
The inner workings of the order are mostly a mystery to those outside of it, for the Witches closely guard their rituals and practices. It is said that new members are brought in once a Witch finds a fitting apprentice, regardless of who or what they may be (they are a remarkably open-minded group, even within the Empire), spending many years learning before they either take over for an aging witch or go on to create their own Wayrest. They do have places of power in which they hold their most sacred rituals, though these are usually difficult if not impossible to find if one is not allowed to. Supposedly one can be invited into these places, or can seemingly stumble upon them during their explorations, but only if the local coven deems them worthy or if they can serve the witches in some way. Once the need has been met, the place of power cannot be found again, supposedly, without an additional invitation.