The Case of the Wayward Witch Read online

  Dayturners:

  (Note: in compendia published prior to the Year of the Lotus, dayturners were listed in the Others section)

  Dayturners are vampires who feel the need to feed by daylight, and are incredibly sensitive to the dark. Feeding at night leaves them with serious indigestion (often resulting in hospitalisation). Additionally, venturing outside after sunset results in a rapidly spreading rash.

  In the Year of the Misfit, I am glad to say, dayturners are once again considered rare. However, until very recently, this virus was rampant. In the Year of the Lotus alone, three hundred new dayturners were registered.

  A cure was discovered a short time ago, and thus far it seems to be working magnificently. However, precautions must still be taken. It is advised that great care be taken during the turning process. When becoming a vampire, one must complete the process by drinking only from the vampire who has administered the original bite. Other precautions include: avoiding being bitten by a dayturner, and making sure to verify the origin of any blood that you may drink.

  Weredogs:

  (Note: in compendia published prior to the Year of the Lotus, weredogs were listed in the Others section)

  Like werewolves, the shifting of a human into a dog is controlled by the full moon, but instead of transforming into a supernatural version of Canis Lupus Lupus, they transform into any of the many breeds of Canis Lupus Familiaris. There is little known about the origin of the species. In the Year of the Cat (2010 AD), outspoken vampire politician Mildred Valentine claimed to have been sent evidence that the weredogs are descendants of werewolves, having come about as the result of long-ago trysts between werewolves and Canis Lupus Familiaris. Both werewolves and weredogs hotly deny this. However, neither side will agree to DNA testing. As for the evidence Mildred Valentine allegedly received? She has refused to produce it, stating that doing so would endanger her source.

  Familiars:

  Familiars are animals with limited magical capabilities. They usually reside with witches. A witch does not choose her familiar. The familiar chooses the witch. The most common familiar animals are cats, though other animals have been known. The most notable magical ability of a familiar is the ability to communicate in any language it chooses – thus, familiars may communicate freely with their witches. They have been known to converse with other supernatural beings, but only when they want to. Speaking with humans is rarer still for familiars, but not unheard of.

  The Unempowered:

  Not to be confused with the disempowered, the unempowered witch is, like the wizards, far too often overlooked. In fact, unempowered is a modern term, and will not be found in compendia earlier than the Year of the Cat (2010 AD). Before then, there was no word for these witches. Officially, they did not exist. In the compendia dating from the Year of the Cat to the Year of the Lizard (2010-2016 AD) you will find the unempowered under the listing: Others.

  In rare cases, a witch is empowered from the moment of conception, but most do not display any signs of power until a little later (five or six is the norm). The very latest that any witch has been known to come into their power is twenty-one. If they have not been empowered by then, they never will.

  Some unempowered witches study wizardry, in order to gain power by other means. In the Year of the Woodpecker, thirty percent of new enrolments at Wentforth’s College for Wizards were unempowered witches, thus continuing the upward trend.

  Like all supernaturals other than witches themselves, unempowered witches must wear special jewellery in order to access witch enclaves.

  Although recent changes in Magical Law have meant that unempowered witches now have equal rights, many unempowered still choose to live outside the witch enclaves.

  The Disempowered:

  A disempowered witch is a witch who has been stripped of all power, as a result of crimes committed. This can only occur by decree of the Wyrd Court – although Wayfarers are also entitled to temporarily disempower any witch suspected of a crime. The length of disempowerment depends on the crime in question. In serious cases, a witch may be disempowered for life.

  The Outsiders

  (Note: In compendia prior to this one, all chroniclers were banned from defining outsiders as Major Supernatural Beings)

  Outsiders are any supernaturals who live outside the witch-run enclaves. The most powerful of all known outsiders are the sióga, (also known as the fae, faeries, the Other Folk and the Good People). This chronicler cannot comment much on the nature of sióga power, but it is clear that it is beyond the comprehension or ability of the witch. Even the Púca, shapeshifters who live under the protection of the Queen of the Sióga, have been known to exhibit power far greater than ours.

  One unusual example of the Púca’s power can be seen in every chronicle ever written about them. The Púca have devised a so-far unbreakable spell, a spell which ensures that they always get a capital letter, despite the fact that their name is no more a proper noun than witch, human, or cat.

  The relationship between witches and faeries has been, on occasion, troubled. Despite that, the Queen of the Sióga has come to our aid many times, and this chronicler is grateful to finally have a Minister for Magical Law who sees the Queen and her people as our allies instead of our enemies.

  For almost a century, the sióga have protected many supernaturals within their realm – supernaturals who, like the sióga, have experienced a troubled relationship with witches. This includes the Púca, sprites, sirens, succubi, banshees, genies, unicorns and the yeti to name just a few …