Abilities & Weaknesses
Witches
Witches have the potential to powerful, but they are not all powerful. They are a supernatural entity, and like all others, their ability to channel magic is countered by their weaknesses. They are human, they are mortal, and they are not long lived1.
Abilities
- Spellcasting - Witches possess the abilities to cast spells. See Spellcraft for more information.
- Stored spells - Casters can begin their spells ahead of time, saving the last words or gestures until the timing is right.2
- Identification - Witches can recognize sorcerers on sight. In addition, a witch can recognize another witch via physical contact. A handshake or brushing the arm of another witch will alert the witch to the other's connection to magic. The older and more experienced the witch, the more likely she can identify the other's strength.
Weaknesses
- Vocalization - Witches must cast their spells vocally, even if the words are a muttered whisper. A gagged witch is powerless.
- Visual and Tactile - Additionally, many spells require line of sight or touch (such as healing spells), and therefore being in the dark, or unable to reach the target prevents the witch from casting a spell and using her magic.
- Power Cap - Witches are born with all of the power that they will ever possess. They cannot gain or create more power. Some witches are quite weak and limited in their spellcasting abilities, while others are frighteningly strong. A "weak" witch may learn as many spells as she would like, but it will not increase her raw magical power.
Ironically, it is safer to be a "weak" witch as opposed to a strong one. A "weak" witch will not be able to cast particularly strong spells, and will collapse from exhaustion long before a "strong" witch will. On the opposite end of the spectrum, because of her raw strength, a stronger witch runs the risk of burning herself out and/or killing herself from channeling too much magic and performing too intricate and demanding of spells.
