Witchcraft

In Balgrendia, witchcraft is a primal and potent force, weaving the raw energies of nature, the ancient powers of the earth, and the dark whispers of the Old Gods into a tapestry of arcane might. Witches serve as the intermediaries between the seen and unseen worlds, their practices deeply rooted in the traditions of The Old Faith. They are revered and feared in equal measure, for their knowledge of herbal lore, healing, divination, and curses places them at the fringes of society—guardians of a boundary most dare not cross. Most serve as Kamennazena or 'Grandmother' to local villages though some live more isolated lives, their exile either self imposed or due to some percieved transgression.
Witchcraft in Balgrendia is often a solitary practice, with witches dwelling at the edges of villages or deep within the foreboding expanse of the Deep Dark Woods. Their power is seen as a double-edged sword: capable of great protection and healing, yet also feared for the potential to curse and harm. The practice is deeply personal, passed down through generations or bestowed by the faeries themselves in exchanges that bind the witch to the capricious will of these ancient beings. While some witches align themselves with the benevolent aspects of nature, others are drawn into the darker paths, making pacts with Faeries or delving into the forbidden secrets left behind by The Great Fey. In a land where the veil between worlds is thin, witchcraft is the key to unlocking powers both wondrous and terrifying, a path walked by those willing to embrace the darkness to wield the light. Witches do not have an organised heirarchy, and are by and large fiercely individualistic , nevertheless most witches form covens usually of three but sometimes more or less. The covens come together at specific times of the year, or when necessity dictates.