Covenbane (Slayer Archetype)
Magic can be a source of great wonder, but also great malice and tragedy. Look no further than the foul magics of hags, their masculine skelm counterparts, and other wicked mystics for evidence of this.
Many do not survive such attentions, and those in their clutches may wish for death, especially if they are used for magical experimentation.
Some that do survive, however, gain a sort of sensitivity to magical auras, their old scars throbbing in the presence of magic, which proves a boon for those who seek to rid the world of such cruel magics and their practitioners. Some may be self-taught, while others might be recruited by goodly organizations and taught to hone their talents.
Regardless, these covenbane slayers are talented at punishing wicked spellcasters, particularly hags, witches, and other beings capable of forming covens.
Using their ability to sense beings capable of magic, these slayers are exceptionally capable of tracking and recognizing hags, spellcasters, and other magical beings, even when their true nature is disguised.
Able to sense the bonds between foes, they also prove capable of reading the behavior of an entire coven of hags or witches just by studying one, making them effective against all three at once. Later on, this extends to other mystical bonds as well.
Additionally, they also train to isolate and disrupt cooperation among spellcasters, making it much more difficult for them to work together.
Later on, they can use their senses to notice invisible foes as well, an fight effectively against them even if they cannot see them.
Strong against spellcasters and magical beings, this archetype can be a fun antithesis against a coven of hags, without changing it so much that it becomes unviable against other foes. If this appeals to you, I’d recommend a build focused on defense and offense against casters, such as disrupting their casting, as well as keeping out of their sensory range to avoid magical reprisal.
The most obvious character trait one can ascribe to these witch-hunters is their tendency to hate and fear not just evil magic, but most or even all magic. As antagonists they might seek to hunt down the party’s spellcasters under the assumption that they will inevitably use their powers for evil. As protagonists, they might let go of some of that hate as a way to achieve character growth, or they might not. Then again, they might be able to discern between benevolent magic and that which scarred them, even if they are never fully comfortable with it.
Once a devoted witch hunter, Liac went rogue when his latest target was revealed to be a young changeling girl. Now, he’ll do anything to protect her, but will the party accept a contract to capture him and the girl, or will they help him bring down the callous organization.
When people start disappearing near Hagfang Cave, many suspect that a new hag has taken residence in the cavern, drawn by the confluence of ley lines. However, in truth the culprit is a brutish buggane, a revelation that could cost the witch hunters delving within dearly unless warned in time.
Long has a hag coven tormented Shudana Rainforest, but while the grippli living nearby live in fear of them, the fact one of the coven’s members is a Graeae who’s predictions have saved them in the past, makes them hesitant to stand against them. However, as more and more of the frogfolk bear scars of the depredations of the sisters, it’s only a matter of time before one dares to stand against them.