Witchcraft, also known as Wicca, is a modern pagan religious movement that emerged in the mid-20th century. One of the prominent figures in the development of modern witchcraft is Gerald Gardner. Born in 1884, Gardner is considered the founder of the modern witchcraft movement. Gardner was an English civil servant and amateur archaeologist who became interested in occultism and folklore. He claimed to have been initiated into a secret coven of witches in the New Forest region of England in the 1930s. Drawing upon his alleged experiences and knowledge, Gardner went on to write several books on witchcraft, including "Witchcraft Today," published in 1954.
Baldur's Gate 3 - Help the Hag Survivors Walkthrough
NOTE: not 100% sure here, but I believe you can only complete/start this mission by saving Mayrina during the sidequest "Save Mayrina" in Act 1.
Help the Hag Survivors is a sidequest in Baldur's Gate 3 that you can start in Act 3.
To actually start this quest you'll want to play through Act 3 until you're able to enter the Lower City. From the entrance (where the Basilisk Gate waypoint is) you'll want to go to the southern side of the little plaza and check the bulletin board to find a note called "Anti-Hag Support Group Poster". There are several of these all over the city but it's where I started the quest.
Visit Barren's Coop
Barren's Coop is located on the southern side of the Lower City. Fast travel to the "Heapside Strand" waypoint and simply go northeast to the little house with a green door.
There's a chest in here you can loot if you want, but what you really want is the Eviction Notice on the desk to your right as you enter.
It seems they kicked them out. Let's see where we can find them. Before we leave, check the table to find a Barely-Legible Letter. Go ahead and read it to find where we need to go. Old Garlow's.
Go to Old Garlow's Place
Old Garlow's is located directly west from the previously mentioned waypoint, across the canal (the large looking building).
Inside you can find the Hag's survivors. Watch the scene play out and pass either the Persuasion or the Intimidation check to have them to not attack you.
Cure Mayrina
It seems Mayrina was cursed and we'll need to help her out. For this go upstairs and the goat walking around is actually Mayrina. Poor thing. You can actually use "Speak to Animals" and talk to her, but what we'll need to do here is destroy the little voodoo doll. You can find it in the corner.
Use arrows or spells to deal with this thing. Just note that each time you attack it it'll teleport to another side of the room. Look for it and attack it until you destroy it. Do be very careful because as you do so Mayrina will take damage, very little but still be careful.
After destroying the doll we'll have a little scene and then a fight against one of the hag's puppets. This fight, for the most part, is easy. There's one thing you REALLY want to do (or at least try) and that's to put him to sleep/knock him down before his turn. The reason for this is that during his first turn he'll use Call of the Crustacean, a spell that summons 7 Armored Crabs.
These little crabs don't look that bad, but they're some of the worst enemies I've encountered. For starters they have extremely high defense so you'll be doing much less damage. Besides this, they also hit pretty hard. They don't use anything outside of their normal attacks, but these still hurt. Sadly they don't disappear by taking Jatlo out so you'll still have to kill them all.
I highly recommend you focus on one at a time to thin the numbers pretty quick, but if you have several crabs next to each other, use large AOE spells like Ice Storm or Fireball to do some decent damage. Do be careful because we have the survivors here as well. They do help us out in the fight but you don't want to accidentally attack them.
Speak to Mayrina
After defeating the enemies, talk to Mayrina and she'll tell you about the survivors and that they tracked an actual hag here in the city. There will be a lot of information exchanged here and you'll even receive a Staff of Interruption.
Afterwards, the quest will come to an end but you'll also have 2 new sidequests start. Note that although these are 2 separate sidequests, they are practically the same but we'll have them linked below.
Help the Hag Survivors
Help the Hag Survivors is a side quest in Baldur’s Gate 3 where players can help a group of hag survivors deal with a hex. Since it’s not entirely clear what you should do to help Mayrina, this walkthrough will guide you through the two most common solutions.
advertisementDrawing upon his alleged experiences and knowledge, Gardner went on to write several books on witchcraft, including "Witchcraft Today," published in 1954. In "Witchcraft Today," Gardner presented his theories and beliefs about witchcraft, drawing heavily from folklore, anthropology, and his own experiences. He argued that witchcraft was an ancient pre-Christian religion that had survived through secret covens and rituals.
How to Start Help the Hag Survivors
Loading PlayTo start this side quest, head to the Elfsong Tavern northwest of Basilisk Gate in the Lower City. Near the east entrance on the floor will be a poster for an Anti-Hag Support Group.
Interacting with it will inform you of a nearby building that hosts a support group for Hag Survivors, and add the quest to your journal.
Gardner also claimed that witches worshiped a horned fertility god and a triple moon goddess, emphasizing the importance of nature and the cycles of the moon in their rituals. Gardner's writings and teachings had a significant impact on the development of modern witchcraft, shaping its rituals, beliefs, and practices. His emphasis on the worship of nature, the use of magic, and the celebration of seasonal festivals became defining features of modern witchcraft traditions. Despite his influential role, Gardner's claims and the origins of his teachings have been subject to scrutiny and skepticism. Critics argue that Gardner's stories of ancient witchcraft were largely fabricated and that he drew heavily from other occult traditions and practices. Some suggest that Gardner's involvement in the secretive fraternity known as the OTO (Ordo Templi Orientis) may have influenced his ideas about witchcraft. Nevertheless, Gardner's contributions to the modern witchcraft movement cannot be denied. His writings and teachings laid the foundation for the resurgence of interest in witchcraft and the establishment of various witchcraft traditions and traditions. Today, witchcraft continues to evolve and adapt, with numerous traditions and sects existing worldwide. Many practitioners embrace the principles of environmentalism, feminism, and a reverence for nature. Witchcraft has gained increased visibility and acceptance in recent years, with numerous books, websites, and social media platforms dedicated to its exploration and practice. In conclusion, Gerald Gardner played a crucial role in shaping modern witchcraft and its beliefs and practices. While his claims and the origins of his teachings may be subject to debate, his writings and teachings have had a lasting influence on the witchcraft movement. Witchcraft, as it is practiced today, is a diverse and evolving religious movement that continues to attract followers worldwide..
Reviews for "Rediscovering Gerald Gardner: Reshaping the World of Modern Witchcraft"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Witchcraft Today" as I have always been interested in the topic. However, I found the book to be quite disappointing. The author, Gerald Gardner, seemed to ramble on about his personal experiences and beliefs without providing any real substance or information about witchcraft. This made it difficult for me to follow along and truly understand the concepts he was trying to convey. Overall, I felt like the book lacked structure and failed to deliver on its promise of providing a comprehensive exploration of witchcraft.
2. Samantha - 3/5 stars - While "Witchcraft Today" by Gerald Gardner had its moments, I was left feeling underwhelmed by the overall content. The author's writing style was confusing and convoluted, making it difficult to grasp the concepts he was attempting to explain. Additionally, I found that Gardner's personal biases often overshadowed the objective information he was trying to present. This made me question the accuracy and reliability of the information provided. Overall, I would recommend seeking out other resources if you are looking for a more in-depth and unbiased exploration of witchcraft.
3. Michael - 2.5/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Witchcraft Today" as I was interested in learning about the history and practice of witchcraft. However, I found the writing in this book to be quite dry and tedious to read. Gardner seemed to get lost in unnecessary details and tangents, making it difficult to follow along with his main points. Additionally, the book lacked a clear structure or organization, which made it even harder to navigate. Overall, I was disappointed and would not recommend this book for someone seeking a comprehensive and engaging introduction to witchcraft.