Page 59 - Volo's Guide to Monsters

claim to have invented the concept or at least named it.
try to def eat her or drive her off.
to their own uses, although some among the oldest hags
community would see the hag's presence as a threat and
learned of this planar-based superstition and adapted it
that it attracts occasional visitors, but not so close that a
multiples of three. It is possible that plane-traveling hags
tals, the home must be near enough to a populated area
of the realms and layers of the multiverse are configured in
ancient power. In order to facilitate bargaining with mor-
Long ago, planar travelers came to recognize that many
a ring of fallen standing stones that still resonate with
spells requires the same words chanted three times.
site related to death such as a burial ground, and within
turns upon its source threefold, and the casting of many
the ambient energy augments certain kinds of magic, a
three members, they believe that good or evil magic re-
both realms. Other popular choices are a place where
embrace the Rule of Three, as it is called: a coven has
easy for them to interact and bargain with creatures of
things. Strange things. Hags and purveyors of witchcraft
They say that things come in threes. Good things. Bad
the mortal world and the Feywild are thin, making it
Many hags settle in places where the barriers between
THE RULE OF THREE
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Spellcasting trait, usually focusing on a theme related to
inside the hulls of wrecked or abandoned ships.
have different spells available for use with their Shared
convenient for them, sea hags often establish their lairs
bend its magic to a more directed purpose, the members
tavern or a gingerbread house. Because such places are
wilderness. In such a case, because the coven strives to
soleum, and that of a gluttonous one might look like a
delivery of baleful prophecies, or to corrupt a pristine
home might be crafted to look like a coffin or a mau-
defeat a champion of good, to serve as oracles for the
outlook of its primary inhabitant- a murderous hag's
Some covens gather for a specific purpose, such as to
with magically warded skulls. Often, a lair reflects the
ALTERNATIVE COVEN SPELLS
rounded by a fence the hag builds out of posts capped
able only by a steep mountain path, or it might be sur-
to pass on rare magic to the hag's daughter.
lair is well defended from intrusion. It might be reach-
seventh-born child of a seventh-born is said to be a way
Whether naturally or by manufactured means, the
additional, unusual abilities; similarly, devouring the
entrance that resembles a skull.
consumes twins or triplets, her offspring might have
such as a dead tree, a ruined tower, or a menacing cave
Some hags cite ancient lore that suggests that if a hag
in some way, often incorporating some aspect of decay,
to create a coven made up entirely of her offspring.
tation of her basic nature. It is ugly, eerie, or unnerving
do this to form a coven with two of her daughters, or
No matter what form it takes, a hag's home is a manifes-
her multiple offspring of about the same age. She might
HAG LAIRS
this process twice or more in short succession, giving
Rarer still, but not unheard of, is for a hag to repeat
6th level (1 slot): true seeing
rence is rare.
5th level (2 slots): geas, legend lore
for humanity and the rest of the world, such an occur-
4th level (3 slots): arcane eye, locate creature
entering the thirteenth year of their lives. Fortunately
3rd level (3 slots): clairvoyance, dispel magic, nondetection
man infants, birthing daughters who turn into hags on
2nd level (3 slots): augury, detect thoughts
Hags make more hags by snatching and devouring hu-
1st level (4 slots): bane, bless
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY
tive to a coven:
things out of the norm could make these spells attrac-
manoid settlement.
Prophecy. The power to affect the future or perceive
makes an ideal spy and infiltrator in and around a hu-
are served. For instance, a human member of a coven
6th level (1 slot): wall of thorns
mortal, but a pair of hags might agree to it if their needs
5th level (2 slots): insect plague, tree stride
4th level (3 slots): dominate beast, grasping vine
rangement is potentially a dangerous proposition for the
3rd level (3 slots): call lightning, plant growth
a coven or allowed to compete for a vacancy. This ar-
2nd level (3 slots):J/aming sphere, moonbeam, spike growth
wizard of a deeply evil nature might be invited to join
1st level (4 slots): entangle, speak with animals
An unusually gifted mortal sorcerer, warlock, or
attempt to outdo one another.
following group of spells:
plaguest curses, and other disasters as the applicants
environment and the creatures in it by mastering the
but later on the surrounding region is wracked with
Nature. Hags might seek to exert control over their
6th level (l slot): circle of death
5th level (2 slots): contagion, raise dead
4th level (3 slots): blight, death ward
3rd level (3 slots): animate dead, revivify, speak with dead
2nd level (3 slots): gentle repose, ray of enfeeblement
1st level (4 slots):false life, inflict wounds
ate spell list would be:
-Volo
with death and the ability to manipulate it, an appropri-
The tl'ick lies in P,ettin~ truth out of her.
Death. For a coven whose members are obsessed
Want to know a dark secret? Aak a ha,.
lists are given below.
that purpose. Three examples of themed hag coven spell