Karli-Mae, Witch of the Wild Groves
Karli-Mae, Witch of the Wild Groves
“She is the rustle in the grass, the glare from the tree hollow, the curse behind the kindness.”
Basic Information
Title: Witch of the Wild Groves
Coven: The Wild Coven (Witches of the Wild)
Allegiances: Occasionally fights with the Verdant Trinity when the forest is under threat
Familiar: A sharp-eyed crow named Caw
Apparent Age: Early twenties
True Age: Unknown
Status: Alive and active in the Black Forest
Appearance
Karli-Mae appears as a young woman in her twenties, barefoot, wild-eyed, and cloaked in the scent of moss and river mist. Her tangled hair, often matted with leaves and feathers, hides its original color entirely—some say it changes with the seasons. Her most striking feature is her heterochromia iridum—one eye a cold, distant blue, the other a warm, earthy brown—said to reflect her dual nature: half spirit, half beast.
She wears garments made from fur, feathers, and the tanned hides of animals she has bonded with. Her skin bears faint markings—whether natural, magical, or scars from her forest trials is unknown.
Legends and Rumours
Karli-Mae is a creature of rumour as much as reality. The forest folk whisper of her in hushed tones by firelight, unsure whether to fear her or revere her.
- Some say she is the daughter of the ancient wild witch Baba Creega, inheriting the old magic that runs beneath bark and bone.
- Others claim she was a changeling, swapped by the Fey for a human child—but found too untameable even for them. They returned her to the woods, where she thrived like a weed among roses.
- One tale tells of a hunter who wounded a rabbit for sport. The next day, Karli-Mae was seen limping. The day after that, the man’s house collapsed in a “freak accident.” No one speaks his name anymore.
Habitat and Behavior
Karli-Mae lives deep in the Black Forest, in a hidden grove where the trees grow close and the air is thick with ancient power. She runs with the wolves, sleeps in tree hollows, and bathes in moonlit streams. Her voice is rarely heard by human ears—but it is known to calm enraged beasts or stir ancient spirits to wakefulness.
Locals leave offerings of food, herbs, or shiny trinkets at the forest edge, not out of worship, but respect—and perhaps a touch of fear.
Magic and Abilities
Karli-Mae is a master of Life and Earth magic, casting spells through instinct as much as intent. She does not chant incantations; she growls, whistles, or croaks like the animals she communes with. Her spells reflect her bond to the living wild:
- Sympathetic Magic: She shares a mystical link with animals and spirits of the forest. Harm done to them may reflect upon her… and revenge is never far behind.
- Shapeshifting: Though not fully confirmed, some say she can take on the form of a fox, crow, or even a bear in times of need.
- Hexcraft and Blessings: She can curse those who defile the land or bless those who ask with honesty and reverence.
Relationship with the Outside World
Karli-Mae avoids civilization. She does not crave companionship and barely tolerates conversation. Yet when the forest calls—when corruption creeps or axes bite too deep—she answers the call of the Verdant Trinity, fighting alongside witches, druids, and green mages as a tempest in leather and vine.
Among the Verdant Trinity, she is respected, though never fully embraced. Some see her as a wild card. Others say she is the forest given form.
Quote
"The trees told me what you did. They remember. And so do I.” - spoken to a poacher who vanished the next morning.
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