Witches

Witches (Homo Magnus) are a species featured heavily in the series. There are two types of witches known as Cradle Witch and the other known as a Hedge Witch.

Characteristics
Much like the other shifters of the series, witches and warlocks also have alternative form that they take upon during current ceremonies or during extremely important situations. When witches show there true full form it resembles a corpse with gray hair and sharp teeth. All witches have pointed ears. Interestingly, Witches find the decayed look sexy. For a Warlock there face resembling a corpse with blazing red eyes. This is why there are called "The Two-Faced Ones".

When in human form they can change there eyes inhuman colors to show there otherworldly nature. For example Jocelyn and Jianna's eyes turn electric purple

Witches have a sixth sense: they can "smell" and identify magic using their noses. They also have the ability to harness seductive powers on others who are within their immediate proximity. Witches have been shown to have the ability to fuse human cartilage together   and put someone into a comatose state with a gas that they breathe.

Additionally, there is a difference between Witches blood and Warlock blood, as Witches blood contains special properties that Warlock blood does not. For instance, Witches blood is specifically required to open the Potion Recipe Book, and only Witches blood works when performing blood magic, such as using Witches blood as a way to access mirror portals.

Reproduction
Reproduction is very weird for witches majority of witches cannot have many children managing to have up to the three children but will most likely died giving birth to the third child, so many witches mostly have two children. Also two out of five Warlocks are infertile, thus forcing many witches to find suitable breeding mates in other males many Witches will marry Warlock, but with the consent of there partners find fertile males to have sex and conceive a child and raise the child without the three party.

Only rare cases of witches having many children beyond the three is most prevalent in the case of Jianna Reed as she has had six children with two different partners. This is mostly due to the genetics of her biological father who is a Lycan who are known for having many children.

Also during pregnancy Witches must consume cow ovaries to stay healthy.

Behavior
Witches are extremely protective and loyal to their families. They keep each other's secrets, protect one another, and watch each other's backs. Several have even been willing to die rather than give up one of their own. Most Witches have a matriarchal system.

When dealing with Witches, it is important to not get on their bad side, as they seldom forgive and are capable of exacting their revenge in multiple ways that never end well for their offender(s). Warlock tend to be even more sadistic than Witches and will even terrorize their own kind if they feel it will help them reach their goals.

Since most males are born sterile, females must reproduce with other men in order to continue the species. It is something that female aren't happy about either, but they do so anyway out of duty in order to prolong their bloodlines. Because of this, the males are left to raise a child that is not their own, something that many males are not satisfied about. That can result in what the males claim to be a tradition where the males kill whoever the female sleep with. It is less frequent now, but some Witches consider this tradition to be more about revenge and letting out their frustrations than about what must be done for the sake of their species. They practice arranged marriages to ensure the continuation of their species.

But if a Witch or Warlock come to truly love the person they are with complete devoted is given to there partner and are very loyal. Males are extremely caring and protective of their mates, especially if their mate is pregnant. Attempting to harm a mate is one of the only ways to elicit a violent response from them.

Witches also have a particular affinity for cats, often using them as vectors for spells or potions that they conjure, or simply as companions.

Baptism
The baptism occurs at seven weeks old and will usually occur at a blessed river depending on which coven is has considered blessed and must be wearing the family christening gown which is supposed to be either blue or white, or possibly a combination of both.

The mother along with the godparents, baby, and High Priestess of the Coven are present in the water to blessed the child and at this time are allowed to reveal the full name of said child to members other then the family. "'We are gathered here to bless this child, whether magically gifted or not the child will be welcomed and loved by the coven and most importantly be protected. And as we gather to bless this child, let us as well give a moment of silence for our brothers and sisters who could be here by the great darkness or by simply life come let us have a moment of silence. Now, we continue like the great hero Achilles who's mother baptized him in the River Styx we too will bless this child held by his mother, loved by his father, and welcomed by his sisters. Now, Mother hold your child as the water embrace him granting him protection. Now brother and sisters gather hands and let us repeat these sacred words to bless his child ' Pax ingredientibus sanitatem decedentium. Pax matres ergo pax familias. Antiqua patre matres atque defendat puerum istum puerum et da ei vires. ''""- An excerpt from Oscar Reed-Marlow's baptism"

Kanathos
Kanathos is a several day event held before the wedding based on the real life Kanathos mentioned in Greek Mythology. Brides who are about to be married must arrive on waxing moon, full moon and waning moon before the wedding to purify the body, mind, and heart of the intended bride to her grown. This is symbolic to purify the bride of her previous lovers to be dedicated to her marriage and a symbol of honesty towards her intended. "' For the Hera Pais, we embrace the beautiful of youth were you dance upon a field of lilies you bring the spring and bless this young Maiden. For the Hera Teleia we embrace your blooming womb were you nurse your panthers and peacocks you bring the summer and bless this future Mother. For the Hera Khera, we embrace the coldness of your gaze withered and beaten holding desperately onto your throne and spector we ask you most forgot of the Queen to bless this future Crone. ""O’ Hera, O’ Hera, O’ Hera you great women subjugated and abused we send you our love and devotion so please O’ great Hera most kind and blindly loving bless this union of matrimony until death do they part '""- The prayer for Kanathos honoring the Goddess Hera"During the ceremony they gave thanks to the Ancient Greek Goddess Hera in which they call upon her aspects of the Hera Pais the maiden, Hera Teleia the mother, and Hera Khera the crone.

Funerals
For a Witches funeral it must always on a full moon. A combination of Old Norse, Egyptian, African, and Gospel influences onto the current funeral rights that are practiced in the North Hemisphere.

The body of the deceased must be bathed in salts and essential oils for a week, but before the first bath all liquids such as blood must be drained from the body. After the first bath, the member of the family must remove the lungs, heart, brains, liver, intestines and stomach. The second bath of salts and oils for another two weeks. The body is them wrapped in bandages colored in red, blue, yellow, green, black, white and pink. Sometime before the second bath and the wrapping, a funeral pyre must be build near the closest mountain peak.

The funeral services include;
 * Before the full moon, the family of the deceased throw a three day event known as the Festival of Remembrance where they allow people who aren't in the Coven to come and celebrate the life of the deceased.
 * All the guests must wear flowing black outfits and no shoes.
 * Must bring things such as food, flowers, books, objects for the person may need in the afterlife such as weapons or things relating to a hobby.
 * Singing songs.
 * Light the funeral pyre.
 * Drinking a potion made from the liquids of the dearly deceased,
 * Dancing naked around the pyre after drinking the potion along with a feast of the removed body parts causing a drug-like state.
 * A large orgy as the pyre turned into a bonfire.

Celebrations
There are two festivals to celebrate when young witches and warlocks are considered adults called Liberalia and Nemoralia each celebrated during the summer and winter season opposite to one another. Liberalia is were the community celebrates when boys of ten are finally allowed to take off there bulla in which they place there locket on a altar dedicate it to the there ancestors who have been protecting them from evil spirits. They also wear more masculine clothes instead of the more feminine clothes that all children wear during gathering before the age of ten. Their mother's then keep the bulla in case. Boys also wear wreaths of ivy and eat homemade cakes of honey and oil. Where as Nemoralia celebrated during the winter of which is a three day celebration in which they have bare knuckle boxing, wear saffron robes, other athletic contests, and are choose by there patron deity. If a young witchling is picked by several they must go on a quest for example when Jianna was being chosen by five different deities so she was send on a quest by herself for a week to find the Northern Nest of Dragons in which she gained her familiar and helped protect the nest from poachers.

Floralia also known as the Games of Flora, the Spring Equinox, Easter and or Ostara's Day held in honor of the goddess Flora and other nature gods and spirits. It lasts for six days in which they play several games such as a bare knuckle boxing, gladiator contests (mock now stop doing the real around the 18th century), and a bunch of other games. They also do nude dancing (which is optional), perform stage plays passed down by the generations in the community, and some circus performing such as one year there was a tight rope walking elephant named Olive.

Winter Solstice in which witch families come together. The Winter Solstice is when the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest form, so many witches light the Yule log to keep bad spirits from the home they are dwelling in during the holiday. Summer Solstice is were the whole community comes together during the Midsummer where they wear colorful loose clothing, eat food, dance, and a pageant to be crown (*&*). On the eve of the Summer Solstice a ritual takes place of walking barefoot at midnight on live-coal made of the remnants of the main bonfire, which is a traditional part of the party. It's believed that if the one who walks is strong in faith, they shall not be hurt. This holiday is connected to water, fertility, and autopurification. The girls, for example, would float their flower garlands on the water of rivers and tell their fortunes from their movement. Lads and girls would jump over the flames of bonfires. Nude bathing is likewise practiced. It is also said that, if a girl puts flowers under her pillow that night, she will dream of her future husband.

Samhain also known as Halloween, Day of the Dead, All Saints' Day, and All Souls Day held on October 31. In which children wear costumes and trick or treat, and the adults go to graveyards to tend to the graves of family members and bring them items and food. At home before the celebration they craft family altars for past family and have it up until after the Winter Solstice.

St. Lugh's Day is held on August 1, in which the covens throw a fair, they offer the first fruit of the new year to a holy well, throw athletic contests and is a common day for couples to become engaged and married. In some covens they will sacrifice bull and perform a ritual dance-play in which Lugh? seizes the harvest for mankind and defeats the powers of blight.

St. Brigid's Day is held on February 1, is held in honor of the goddess Brigid. On St Brigid's Day, Brigid's crosses were made and a doll-like figure of Brigid (a 'Brídeóg') would be paraded from house-to-house by girls, sometimes accompanied by 'strawboys'. Brigid was said to visit one's home at during this day. To receive her blessings, people would make a bed for Brigid and leave her food and drink, and items of clothing would be left outside for her to bless. Brigid was also invoked to protect homes and livestock. Special feasts were had, holy wells were visited, and it was a time for divination (specifically weather divination). Many use traditional songs and rites from sources such as The Silver Bough and The Carmina Gadelica. It also a day held for initiations for Contact Witches to became apart of the coven.

Colors
For each celebration, baptism, wedding, etc; there are different colors that symbolize different things in there culture. For example, it is bad luck to wear white for a wedding as it is seen as a symbol of death and wearing something associate with death at a wedding is never a good sign. For guest in attendance must either wear light or dark blues (a symbol of stability and acceptance), bridesmaid's and groomsmen are supposed to wear variants of green (a symbol of protection, stability, and endurance), grooms most of the time wear black (a symbol of sophistication and sexuality) and brides must wear gowns either of red, gold or pink (each having there own meaning red symbolize all things intense and passionate, gold symbolize strength and prosperity and pink acceptance and love).

For funerals they must wear grey before the burning of the body and then are allowed to wear black (in this incidence this symbolize humility) after. For the baptism parent and child must wear blue and the guest in attendance wear yellow. And depending on the celebration you can wear what ever you like except white never wear white unless you either want to be beaten up by somebody or trick a bunch of people into thinking your a ghost.

Cradle Witch
A Cradle witch (or Natural witch) is any person who has obtained their power from biological development. Not much is known about these witches apart from the fact that they are known to have been born with a natural affinity to the supernatural energies that are found within the Universe. These witches appear to be a rare, and yet natural, occurrence in the world. Nevertheless, it appears that while some witches, such as Jianna Reed, are born from one or two supernatural bloodlines, it has been implied that some Cradle witches are born from entirely normal families, and are simply the first witches to evolve into their lineage.

Note: Cradle witches earned their name due to the fact that these witches are known to have been born with a natural connection to the supernatural forces of the Universe. Whilst all individuals have a connection to the Universe and can channel and utilize the supernatural forces that are found within the Cosmos, a Cradle witch can utilize these forces with much less difficulty than the average person.

Hedge Witch
A Hedge Witch (or Contact Witch) is any person who has obtained their power through the invocation of a Divine Spirit or Deity. These witches are known to have summoned one or more Gods and surrendered themselves to their influence and power. However, before someone can become a Contract witch, the individual must have at least a small sum of supernatural knowledge and power in order to perform the ritual, meaning that before someone can become a Contract witch, they must either be a Cradle witch or must first become at least knowledgeable in the basics of magic.

Note: Contract witches earned their name due to the fact that these witches are said to enter a contact with the Divine which usually instates that the witch can use their power however they choose, so long as it does not intentionally cause harm to another person or themselves. If the witch violates their contact and uses their power for sinister purposes, the God(s) can enlist the service of another witch to bind them of their powers and prevent them from doing any further damage.

Types of Magic

 * Conjuration: A form of magic that associates with summoning any form of creatures, items, spirits, demons, deities or elements.
 * Necromancy: A form of magic that associates with controlling, manipulating, and resurrecting the dead.
 * Herbalism: A form of magic that associates with the study of botany and use of plants intended for medicinal purposes.
 * Elementalism: A form of magic that associates with the elements of air, earth, fire, water. The capabilities may include moving, altering, and mixing existing elements and changing weather elements.
 * Kitchen Magick: A form of magick that associates food with supernatural or magical properties.
 * Blood Magic: A form of magic that associates with blood.
 * Sex Magic: A form of magic that associates with sex and arousal.
 * Vodou Hoodoo: A form of magic that associates with the Afro-American religion and the spirits. It has also been referred to as "Voodoo" and "Haitian Voodoo".
 * Thaumaturgy - A form of very old and powerful magic that allows the users the power of restoration, healing, life-force manipulation, fertility manipulation, and life creation.
 * Healing Magic: A form of magic that is devoted to improving the health of living creatures.

Tools

 * Bulla -
 * Limiters -
 * Gauntlets -
 * Staffs -

Weaknesses

 * Mortality - Despite their mystical attributes, witches are still human and share many of the same weaknesses as non-supernatural beings (e.g. age, blood loss, decapitation, disease, heart-failure, incineration, suffocation, snapped neck, etc.). However, it is known that especially skilled witches can overcome these weaknesses through powerful magic.
 * Overexertion - The excessive use of magic could lead to fatigue, unconsciousness, the depletion of one's reserves of power, and if taken to the extreme, death.
 * Iron - A hard and strong magnetic metal that is able to repress the supernatural power of a witch, supposedly rendering them powerless. However, some magic can still be practiced while cuffed to iron.
 * Disbelief: The act of denying or disbelieving in one's potential could cause a witch to inadvertently suppress their magical power.
 * Herbs: Ingestion of certain herbs can cause a witch to lose consciousness and prevent them from using magic for an undetermined amount of time. The Lobelia flower prevents concentration and, therefore, the practice of magic and can be used to temporarily weaken a witch.

Trivia

 * All witches are born with a distinct witches' mark such as an supernumerary nipple, an extra finger, or a birth mark.
 * Midnight is referred to as the 'witching hour'.
 * Witches can see perfectly in the dark.
 * The number of female witches is higher than their male counterparts in the series.
 * According to Judith, most witches are home-schooled until they have full control over there powers and then are allowed to attend human schools or schools founded by the coven.
 * Witches usually specialize in a certain aspect of magic. For example Jocelyn and Judith are specialized in Conjuring, Jillian is specialized in Herbalism, Jianna is specialized in Thaumaturgy, and Justine is specialized in Necromancy.
 * The witches prefer writting in Theban.
 * All witches in general are bisexual.