View source for Finding an Immortal Ally for a Woldian Witch

A guide for DMs seeking RP hooks for Woldian Blood Witches

'''Allied Power'''

Allying with an immortal Power is an incredible roleplay hook! DMs, don't let this moment pass unremarked! This is an immortal power making a personal pact with a mortal witch! The witch should not expect to get something for nothing.

At the least and easiest, let's say the witch wants to honor Alemi and take the Healing Domain. A simple but potent choice. But even in this simple case, the witch should have to physically enter a Temple of Alemi, find a high-ranking cleric, and declare his intention. If the witch is already a regular church-goer, no problem. If this is the first time the witch has entered a temple, the cleric will certainly demand an interview, references, and some kind of proof of the witch's devotion to Alemi. All this should be role-played. Maybe the cleric will require a simple quest -- "Go forth and heal the first five wounded creatures you meet! Then you can return and speak your vows."

Speaking of which, check out the Oathbound prestige class in the Black Cathedral (look under Ffloy or Pantheon). A great initiation rite is to include an Oathbound to witness a witch's oath. If the Patron ally's organization is lawful, the oath will be an honored one, spoken by hundreds who went before. If the organization is chaotic, they may require the witch to "Speak an oath as solemn as you know, as your devotion prompts your heart."

But all the foregoing is just one possibility. Another is that the witch seeking an ally must go to a sacred location alone, speak certain mystical words, and converse with the Power alone. This works best for minor powers without a priesthood or many followers.

Keep in mind that the alliance is not one way. The witch must swear to honor and serve the Power. Perhaps the witch will recieve a sign of the bargain, such as a magical tattoo.

Please do NOT get satanic or anything, but keep in mind that the real world inspiration for this idea is the concept that witches forge a pact with the devil in order to gain their powers. Do NOT fall into any hint of demonism, but do suggest that a pact with a Power -- specially an untraditional Power rather than an existing god -- is dangerous, exotic, serious, and a little scary. AND that if certain other people find out about it, the witch might be feared, looked down on, or even persecuted.

The witch write-up says, "Some ally with the gods; some with elemental princes, demon lords, the noble fey, nature, gods now dead, or other places, beings, or forces. This helps makes them outsiders, and they may be looked down on by the orthodoxy of traditional religion."

Witches -- at least some of them -- have a dark side, so do not ignore that.

'''Domain'''

Keep in mind that a witch's domain is the direct (and most obvious result) of the witch allying with an immortal Power. That Power could be a god, or it could be something else.

Keep the witch class rules in mind: "Note that the Campaign DM must approve the witch's choice of ally. As a result of this alliance, the witch chooses one clerical domain (that is related to his ally)."

Since the Campaign DM (Jerry) has to approve an allied Power, he also indirectly approves the granted Domain.

The easiest option is to ally with an existing Woldian god -- either a God of the Wold or a God of Testing. Then it is a simple matter of choosing one of the god's domains.