The Mark Of A Witch

No matter how human they look, there is one unmistakable giveaway that each hexling carry upon their skin, if you know what you're looking for. The Witches Mark, a birthmark that appears somewhere upon their body, often by the hairline forcing them to wear their hair long in an attempt to conceal it. Wherever the mark appears, it's a sign they will always carry, whether they do so with pride, shame or indifference. Depending on subrace, which sort of hag their bloodline comes from, this mark looks different in shape and color.

The 13th Birthday

Something happens to the hexlings at their 13th birthday. Where up until now, they were highly unlikely to be discovered, this is the time when their inherited powers first make themselves visible, alongside some other eventual traits. It happens suddenly, for the most part. A hexling child may wake up to find that their bed is frozen over by frost, or scare themselves and their family as their voice suddenly boom loud and the earth begin to tremor when they raise their voice.

The teenage years of a hexlings are often chaotic as they grow into their powers and learn to live with the looks and whispers of people all around them.

Creating A Hexling

First, consider where your hexling grew up. Did they grow up in a small and reclusive village where everyone knows one another or in a city where people of different backgrounds mix together? What sort of region was it? Where there only humans or were there a mix of different races?

As a hexling, you were raised like a human. As such you are accustomed to their traditions for all things in life; names, religion, etc. You even look just like them, in all ways, any traits given by your heritage vague enough that it’s easily explained away. It is recommended that you read or ask your DM of the human race in the setting you’re playing in to get an idea of how and where they were raised.

Next, consider what your hexling’s family life was like, and how their transformation at their 13th birthday affected them and the people around them. Were there other hexlings in the family? Did they or their family know what they are, or were they completely unaware? Does your hexling know now, are they still under the belief they are just human? Remember that hexlings are rare enough that it wouldn’t be strange for one to live an entire life without knowing.

Finally, how did your hexlings nature affect them? Were they able to keep it under control, to melt into the crowd, or were they scrutinized for it? Forced into exile? Did they try to deny it or did they accept and lean into it? All these things will affect how your hexling acts around other people.

"WATCH YOUR BACK IF YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE the shortcut past the birches and the swamp," the older woman warned, rocking her chair slowly upon her porch.

"Why?" The young adventurer quirked his eyebrow as he looked up at her. Whatever could there be for him to look out for that he had not seen before? Anyone could tell from just looking at his worn leather armor, his bow and the short sword in his belt, that he was a seasoned ranger.

"There's a witch living there," the woman answered, stopping her rocking to look at him proper, "the daughter of the farmers who used to live upon the hill over there, she ran away into the woods when they tried to make her marry. Strange one, carried the witches mark on her face... Since then, men has gone missing passing those parts. Revenge for how they treated her, how they chased her."

The man straightened his back and snorted, patting the short sword hanging off his belt as a light smirk spread across his face.

"Oh please. I'm not scared of some crazed woman," he said, "maybe if I see her, we'll have a talk."

The old woman sighed as she watched him leave. Once out of sight, she brought up a small knife and added a mark in the wooden fence around the porch - ten lines now. She didn't doubt that her granddaughter would take care of this man too, like she had with any other that decided to treat her as anything less than human.

At least she warned him.

—Taima, Of Birches And Blood.

Green Hexling

Green hags, also known as swamp hags and river hags, use their magical powers to lure innocents into their traps. As a hexling with the ancestry of a green hag, you are naturally cunning and a born trickster.

Your witches mark is of greenish brown color and shaped like a ring.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Amphibious. Thanks to the amphibious nature of your hag ancestor, you can breathe under water as well as upon land. Despite this, after a life on land, you are not accustomed to the cold and water pressure of the depths.

Mimicry. You can mimic sounds you have heard, including voices. A creature that hears the sounds you make can tell they are imitations with a successful Wisdom (Insight) check opposed by your Charisma (Deception) check.

Witch Legacy. You know the Vicious Mockery cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Invisibility spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Misty Step spell once as a 2nd-level spell with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Annis Hexling

The Annis Hags are the most physically powerful hags, something that show in the hexlings derived from their influence. You are more hardy than most with a taller than average, often stocky build, and with hardened nails that act much like claws.

Your witches mark is of dark tone, often gray or almost black in color, and triangular in its shape.

Ability Score Increase. Your Strength or Constitution score increases by 1.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Witches Claws. Your nails have unnatural strength and can be used as natural weapons when making unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Witch Legacy. You know the Shillelagh cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Bark Skin spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Enlarge/Reduce spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Bheur Hexling

The Bheurs, also known as Winter Hags or Blue Hags live in the cold north where they live for the pleasure of bringing icy doom to as many people as they can. As a hexling with this ancestry, you are often cold to the touch, and favour cold weather, even enjoying being out without jacket in the dead of winter.

Your witches mark is light, usually pale, maybe tinted blue in color, and shaped like a diamond. It always feels unnaturally cold to the touch.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Of The North. You have resistance to cold damage. Additionally, you are naturally adapted to cold climates, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide.

Witch Legacy. You know the Ray of Frost cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Hold Person spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the Snilloc’s Snowball Swarm spell as a 2nd-level spell once with this trait and regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Hexling Traits Tables

Following is a number of tables that are meant to be used for inspiration when creating your own hexling character. Use as you wish, roll for fun, or make up your own traits entirely.