Witches are humans who use supernatural powers to affect people or the environment. The practice of witch magic is called "witchcraft". Witchcraft is dated back in time, prior even to vampirism, and witches are essentially formidable psychics with the ability to communicate and manipulate spirits.
Characteristics
The magical powers are closely linked to the genetic makeup and bloodlines have always been studied and kept under discreet observation by the Order of the Talamasca. Some information on the origin of witchcraft are mentioned by Maharet in The Queen of the Damned. The twins had inherited magical powers from their mother, and she from her and so on. A large part of witchcraft is based on collaboration with disembodied spirits who are attracted by the witches and offer them their services. In this way, the so-called witches can work miracles, divination and incantations. The bloodline that comes from Mekare and Maharet also seems to pass from generation to generation physical attributes like red hair and green eyes. However, not all members of a family with the gene possess the powers of witchcraft. In the Mayfair family, for example, only a single witch every generation has full powers, while the remaining family members have a pale glimmer of second sight at most.
A witch is not necessarily a woman since even men can practice spells and supernatural powers. It is the case of Julien Mayfair, a powerful witch who lived in the 19th century.
Religious implications
Over the centuries the practice of witchcraft or magic has found favor, but more often obstruction by the revealed religions. While Christianity is known to have a negative view of magic, some syncretic religions such as Haitian Voodoo or Brazilian Candomblé are known to have a remarkable magical-religious apparatus. While some witches employ spirits and demons in their spells, witches who belong to the Catholic faith or vodouisan faith often pray the saints or the Loa (Voodoo gods) in their rituals, as done by Merrick Mayfair in the novel of the same name.
Powers & Abilities
- Conjuration: The act of calling, commanding, or summoning an element, object, person, or spirit already in existence.
- Precognition: The act of foreseeing future events and happenings.
- Spell Casting: The act of casting spells and performing rituals to affect the world around them.
- Spirit Communication: the ability to control and manipulating spirits and ghosts.
- Telekinesis: The act of controlling and manipulating the movements of objects and persons.