The+River+witches

//This is part of the Hangover city, Liverpool, uk setting//

=The River Witches=

The Selkie are Hexen-seals with the power to change into the form of seals using magical pelts or cloaks. The Selkie appear in legends all over the North sea. They can be ‘captured’ by mortals who find their cloaks and hide them. Traditionally the captured Selkie became wives and mothers of the fishermen, although in some case they can be persuaded to grant wishes in exchange for the return of the cloak. Many of these women have also displayed some limited magical ability, always revolving around the sea, and it has been noted its strength seems to depend on the state of the tide in the area of water they are inhabiting. Commonly referred to as Sea or River witches. Selkie witches can create new cloaks from the skins of a seal living in the waters they command and gift it to to any woman they deem worthy (usually their own children). Once worn the cloak becomes bound to her and makes her one of them. When a Selkie dies the skin rots away. Only daughters are born to Selkie. Although captured ‘human’ selkie can have children of either sex. Traditionally fathers were sailors the Selkie tempted overboard. Although in modern ports there are a more reliable source of human males willing to mate now a days and “drowning the mate when he has done his bit” has gone out of fashion. Liverpool has a small community of Selkie living in the mouth of the river, around the docks and out in Morecambe Bay. They are always referred to as ‘the river witches’ as the term Selkie has unfortunate connotations amongst the Irish catholic community. They have a love hate relationship going with the Mages Council, who consider their magic to be something of a joke. They are lead by Shannon. Of all the factions they are the most politically active in the mortal community, engaging in local ‘women’s issues’ and running a number of safe houses across the city for women and their children escaping domestic violence - something they can relate to after centuries of being “kidnapped and used for breeding by violent men” - which is their spin on the legends. They have close ties with the Dingle Mothers support group, a mortal collective who share many of their aim.

Selkie Template
Selkie skin - cost −2 and includes Item of Power [+1 item bonus](YS page 167) Beast Change [–1] (YS page 174) Echoes of the Beast [–1] (YS page 163) Human Form [+1] (YS page 176) Aquatic [-1] Immune to cold [-1] Channeling - weather [-2] Ritual - Marimancy [-2] Magic relating to the sea
 * Musts**
 * Optionals**

Locations important to the River Witches.

 * The Dingle
 * Bootle and Kirkdale
 * Hilbre and the mudflats