Wicca, a modern pagan witchcraft religion, incorporates beliefs and practices centered around nature, magic, and worship of various deities. While there is no centralized authority in Wicca, and individual practitioners may have their own unique pantheon, there are several gods and goddesses that commonly appear in Wiccan beliefs. One of the main deities in Wicca is the Horned God, often associated with nature, wilderness, and the masculine divine energy. He is often depicted as a hunter or a stag and is seen as the consort of the Goddess, representing the balance between male and female energies in the universe. The Goddess is another central figure in Wiccan beliefs, representing the feminine divine energy and embodying aspects of motherhood, fertility, and the cycles of life and death. She is often portrayed as a triple goddess: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone, symbolizing the different phases of a woman's life and the changing seasons.
Sure-Footed. The yikaria has advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws against being knocked prone.
2nd level 3 slots crown of madness, hold person, suggestion 3rd level 3 slots fear, feign death, vampiric touch 4th level 3 slots confusion, dimension door, polymorph 5th level 2 slots dominate person, dream 6th level 1 slot magic jar. This subclass for the sorcerer actually gets bonus hit dice to spend on that feature, and extra healing to make up for the damage, as a way of tying the sorcerer s default magic is in your bloodline theme to the specific blood magic theme.
She is often portrayed as a triple goddess: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone, symbolizing the different phases of a woman's life and the changing seasons. Many Wiccans also worship specific ancient gods and goddesses from various mythologies. These deities may be chosen based on personal connections and interests, and may vary from practitioner to practitioner.
D&D 5E Monster design: blood mage?
How would you stat up a blood mage as a monster? Either using original ideas, adapted player homebrew material*, or existing monster traits?
*Note that all the player homebrew material for "blood mage" characters I've found has been really fiddly – dealing with hit dice, sorcery points, expending hit points for effects – and I don't think something that fiddly is well suited to a monster. The less work on the DM when running encounters the better!
More specifically, the monster is a yakfolk blood mage, looking for a final CR around 7-9. I have Storm King's Thunder so I'm using the yakfolk stats there as a basis.
- It can manipulate others, similar to the suggestion and dominate person spells. ✓
- It can touch a creature's forehead and send them reeling away in confusion to either erupt in a bloody explosion (like the walking bomb spell of Dragon Age) or make them attack an ally (like the crown of madness D&D spell).
- It has an aura of superstition and terrible majesty around it that makes it hard for creatures to act against it (esp. hard to betray it), kinda like sanctuary against assassins, and it can use this aura to compel weak-minded creatures to speak the truth.
- It can warp creatures into monsters via rituals (e.g. one of these blood mages created the plague of marrashi), probably more of a plot point thing, but I'd like some reflection of that in the stats).
Here's the work-in-progress stat block I have presently.
Yikaria Blood Mage
Large humanoid, neutral evil
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 90 (12d10+24)
Speed 30 ft.
STR 16 (+3) DEX 10 (+0) CON 15 (+2) INT 18 (+4) WIS 15 (+2) CHA 14 (+2)
Saving Throws Int +7, Wis +5, Cha +5
Skills Arcana +7, Deception +5, Perception +5
Senses passive Perception 15
Languages Common, Giant, Primordial, Yikaria
Challenge 7? (2,900 XP)
Life Siphon. When the yikaria reduces a creature to 0 hit points, the creature suffers disadvantage on any death saving throws and the yikaria can use its reaction to cast a spell it has prepared.
Possession (recharges after a short or long rest). See Storm King's Thunder.
Spellcasting. The yikaria is a 12th level spellcaster. Its spellcasting ability is Intelligence (spell save DC 15, +7 to hit with spell attacks). It has the following wizard spells prepared:
Cantrips: light, friends, mage hand, prestidigitation
1st level (4 slots): detect magic, identify, sleep, ?
2nd level (3 slots): crown of madness, hold person, suggestion
3rd level (3 slots): fear, feign death, vampiric touch
4th level (3 slots): confusion, dimension door, polymorph
5th level (2 slots): dominate person, dream
6th level (1 slot): magic jar
Sure-Footed. The yikaria has advantage on Strength and Dexterity saving throws against being knocked prone.
Use Magic Device. The yikaria ignores all class, race, and other requirements on the use of magic items.
Multiattack. The yikaria makes two melee attacks.
Glaive. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 14 (2d10+3) slashing damage.
STR 16 (+3) DEX 10 (+0) CON 15 (+2) INT 18 (+4) WIS 15 (+2) CHA 14 (+2)
Some popular gods and goddesses in Wiccan beliefs include: - The Celtic goddess Brigid, associated with poetry, healing, and prophecy. - The Greek goddess Artemis, known as the protectress of women, wildlife, and the hunt. - The Egyptian god Osiris, associated with death, rebirth, and the afterlife. - The Norse goddess Freya, known for her association with love, beauty, and magic. - The Hindu goddess Kali, symbolizing destruction, transformation, and female power. These deities are seen as interconnected forces of nature and embody different aspects of the divine energy. Wiccans may call upon these gods and goddesses for guidance, protection, or assistance in their magical workings and spiritual practices. Overall, the gods and goddesses in Wiccan beliefs play a central role in the religious and magical practices of Wiccans. They are seen as powerful beings who can guide and inspire individuals on their spiritual journey, and provide a connection to the divine energies of the universe..
Reviews for "The Triple Goddess: Understanding the Three Phases of the Divine Feminine in Wicca"
1. Jane - 2 stars
I found "What gods and goddesses play a role in Wiccan beliefs" to be quite disappointing. The book barely scratched the surface of the topic and provided insufficient information. It only covered the major deities in Wiccan beliefs, leaving out the lesser-known ones that are equally important to understand the religion fully. Additionally, the book lacked depth in its explanations and failed to provide any historical context or cultural significance of the deities. Overall, I was unimpressed and believe there are much better resources available on the subject.
2. Mark - 1 star
"What gods and goddesses play a role in Wiccan beliefs" was a complete waste of time and money. The book provided no new information or insights into the topic. It felt like a regurgitation of basic facts that can be easily found with a quick internet search. The author failed to go beyond the surface-level descriptions of the deities and their roles in Wiccan practices. Furthermore, the book lacked organization and clarity, making it difficult to follow along. I do not recommend this book to anyone seeking an in-depth understanding of the subject.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I was hoping "What gods and goddesses play a role in Wiccan beliefs" would be a comprehensive guide to the deities in Wiccan practices, but I was left disappointed. The book provided only a brief overview of each deity without delving into their mythology or symbolism. It felt more like a list of names rather than an exploration of their significance. Additionally, the writing style was dry and lacked engagement, making it a struggle to stay interested throughout the book. I would recommend looking for alternatives that offer a more detailed and comprehensive examination of Wiccan deities.