High Witches
Career
Qualifications
At birth or during their childhood, a child will be marked by the totem of the spirit that needs an attunement. They usually come to other souls after the former high witch deceased. Sometimes, the soul of the former Title Holder will make the next Holder someone they trained or that they think it deserves. While exceptions happens, the spirits tries to stay in the usual zones they were summoned, to keep a balance of power and territory. Once a child is marked, the Host of the Flux is capable to notice a shift in the arcane plane, and will dispatch a nearby witch to try and make sure the child can either be taken for education, or will leave some time to their family to prepare if they deem they are safe.
When the marked child reaches mature age for their race, they will be invited to pass a test of ascension. This is a strong test and is dangerous and demand high will and endurance to withold, and some witches are known to have died during it. If they managed to pass it, they will be granted the title of High Witch with the animal they were attuned to.
Contrary to what some may think, the naming of witches and High Witches in (location) is gender-neutral: Male High Witches, while a minority, are present.
Career Progression
High witches being a select club already, there is no real advancement with this position, except for being the Host of Flux, a role given to a High Witch voted by her peers every 20 years, this particular Witch takes residence in the Hailing Woods where she tends to the Wheel of Ages , main meeting landmark of the gathering. She also hosts the meetings and make sure order is preserved.
Payment & Reimbursement
There is no direct payment involved with being a High Witch, but some of them, depending on the region and perception of them by other humanoids, can work on-demand or regularly for some contractors. High Witches have sometimes been magical magistrates or counsellors for reigning individuals, but most prefer to remain detached from politics.
Other Benefits
High witches can demand assistance from any witch in their department as a form of unwritten rule. Most witches sees it as an opportunity to grow and an honor to receive a request from a High Witch. If the High Witch has made concrete assistance to nearby settlements, most of them will offer them food, components and commodities as a token of appreciation.
Perception
Purpose
High Witches maintain the balance of nearby geographies they were assigned to. Flora/Fauna conservation and control, study of unexpected mana flows, balance integrity and elimination of possible threats to Arcamunda, such as epidemics, undead infestation, or other corrupting events, are among their roles.
Social Status
After (event), while the (country) was annexed to (country), the reigning ones made the gathering of the witches illegal, put all the known High Witches on bounty and put a high price on anybody giving information about them, or possible candidates. If they can avoid it, they do not kill the witches as one dying would make another marked for her replacement. Thus, they prefer to imprison them in anti-magic prisons.
This made the gathering in the Wheel of Ages impossible. While they tried to change the location, they couldn't get a more secure space, and some were killed on their way to other countries by assassins. The gathering has been since no more, and most High Witches remain secluded near their usual locale, or plainly hiding elsewhere.
Type
Arcane
Demand
Close to impossible. However, High Witches intervene directly when grand disasters are happening are bound to, and are menacing the balance of the world.
Legality
The profession is outlawed in (location), and was directly affected by (event).
Famous in the Field
Related Locations
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