Editing Legends of the Vale (section)

== Witchfolk ==

The '''witchfolk''' are a persistent danger to the Vale, encompassing a number of creatures. They are said to be mortals who struck dark bargains with unspeakable forces, who cast forgotten, corrupting magicks,  or who were consumed by their own sins. Jealousy, greed, vengeance or simple hatred can all be the spark that leads someone to become a witchfolk.
[[File:HagCoven.png|center]]
There are two broad categories of witchfolk: the cunning, hideous '''hags,''' and the brutal, powerful '''trolls.''' Traditionally, hags are female while trolls are male, but this owes as much to cultural perceptions of gender roles as it does to anything concrete. Certainly, both male hags and female trolls exist. Each witchfolk is a unique individual; they are not a race and cannot reproduce normally. A witchfolk is someone who made the choice to become what they are today. 


[[File:WHTroll.png|right]] Many witchfolk possess magical powers and arcane protections, but these always come at a cost. Some, especially hags, form all-consuming obsessions or strange manias; trolls may devolve into a bestial state over time. Many witchfolk have a unique weakness, often related to their personal history or powers. Witchfolk will not die of old age, but they continue to change and evolve over time, becoming less and less what they once were and more and more outright monsters. The oldest of hags resemble nightmarish fiends, while the oldest of trolls are huge,  monstrous beings more like malicious animals than people.


'''Hags''' are characterized by extreme ugliness, appearing so by the standards of all the races. They possess hooked noses, glaring eyes, warts, wrinkles, unkempt hair, bony limbs, and crooked, clawlike fingernails. Despite their apparent age and frailty, hags are strong and tough. They are the most cunning and intelligent of the witchfolk, often possessing powerful magic and able to brew strange potions. Hags are schemers and plotters, weaving complex webs and never, ever forgetting a wrong done to them.

'''Trolls''' are large, bulky creatures with enormous noses and rough, stony or rubbery skin. Unlike hags, who often ape the conventions of civilized society, trolls are feral creatures who dwell in caves and dens. They are strong and tough, and capable of amazing feats of regeneration; and despite their size, trolls are stealthy and cunning. While they (usually) lack the high intelligence and magical power of their hag kindred, trolls are capable predators and should not be underestimated; their physical prowess is often more than enough to carry the day.


Curiously enough, despite their dangers, witchfolk are not always hated outcasts; some communities treat them as dangerous neighbors, to be watched warily but occasionally dealt with.  Hags tend to accumulate enormous amounts of knowledge and lore in their long lives, and for a community without a competent hedge-wizard, a hag may be a valuable source of magical power. Trolls are susceptible to both bribery and flattery and often take a possessive interest in a given community, protecting them from outside dangers even as the troll takes advantage of the community’s resources. The witchfolk are dangerous and malevolent, but are usually willing to bargain.