Grawch
Grawch is the honorific title given to a generally female, though not exclusively so, practitioner of various fields involving traditional medicinal remedies. They are more commonly known as Witches or the often derogatory term of Hags and are found in one form or another throughout the various Realms. They can be defined into two separate schools, the Lechydwr and the Gwenwynwr; the Healers and the Poisoners. Despite this, there is much overlap and either school can be used to help or harm others. They skilled in anatomy and study the freshly dead to better understand the inner workings of living beings. Some don't even wait for a test subject to die before conducting their research.
Lechydwr
In the chaos following the Cataclysm and the fall of civilisation when the Realms were plunged into the millennia long Dark Time those practitioners who knew how to harvest natural resources for use as medicine were vital. The Grawchs quickly grew in power and influence, their poultices and herbal concoctions saving many lives. Nowadays the Grawchs who offer their services as healers are revered by those communities who rely upon them. Thus, a veteran Grawch will often times be the centre of any community, particularly in the more rural and isolated regions. They will take on apprentices, valuing those who are perhaps outsiders or deemed troublesome. Often, the Lechwyd will use their influence to control their communities, holding sway over them by refusing aid or by using certain recipes to eliminate vocal opponents or sway the simple minded. So great is their knowledge and so intimate are they with the inner workings of the body that a Lechwyd can do great harm if wronged.
The Old Mother is an ancient Lechydwr who operates in the towering arcology of Bel'Zanar. She dwells in the lower-levels below ground and offers her services to those in need, often asking only for friendship and a promise that if a task is asked of the recipient, it must be done. Few dare refuse for the Old Mother is as skilled in bringing death as she is saving lives.
Gwenwynwr
In opposition to the seemingly benevolent healers, there are the feared Poisoners; masters of concoctions that bring death the Gwenwynwr are feared by the commonfolk and thus reside in out of the way places. They will favour the deep dark heart of ancient forests or the centre of vast marshlands. Some reside in caves at the top of foreboding mountains or in ruined structures of a bygone era. Wherever they call home, a Gwenwynwr will often by the most dangerous creature around. In spite of their reputation, or because of it, they are still highly sought after for their services. A Gwenwynwr is as skilled with medicine as the Lechydwr, yet it is their mastery of the supposed dark arts that make them so highly after. They are masters of poison making, able to create deadly toxins for a variety of purposes from natural ingredients gathered from about their territory. Those seeking to eliminate rivals will come to a Gwenwyn and pay for their services and more than one would be ruler has contracted a Poisoner's services.
Their skills make the Gwenwyn formidable enemies and they are usually well versed in survival owing to their harsh surroundings. The notorious Blue Hag of the Southern Broads of Caenar destroyed an entire tribe of Krallach, the savage warriors picked off one by one by the Hag's arsenal of poisons including poison darts, spore bombs and a gas that triggers a psychotic rage wherein the victim cannot tell friend from foe. The tribe had set up their base of operations in the Hag's territory and did not pay homage to her. Worse, they ravaged the area and despoiled it. That was enough for the Hag to get very inventive in her vengeance. The Krallach tribe was wiped out, their bodies sinking into the broads. Except for the heads. Those the Hag kept and decorated her territory with as a reminder for those who thought her an easy target.
The Blue Hag; despite her moniker, she is anything but Hag-like
MASTERS OF BEASTS
Both schools of Grawch share the ability to control wild beasts. This has often given rise to the belief that they use magic, though it is simply an understanding and affinity to nature that allows the Grawch to control animals so. They will often be found in the company of a formidable beast of some description whose presence is usually enough to deter those with ill intentions toward the Grawch. Some Grawch of either school will devote much of their time to becoming true beast masters, amassing menageries of great size.
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