A Warlock is the hybrid offspring of a witch and a demon; created when the former sells their soul to the latter and seals the deal with intercourse. Warlocks share all the features and gifts of their Wiccan parent, but also inherit a substantial degree of demonic power and predispositions from their Infernal forebear - which only serve to amplify the warlock’s already impressive aptitude for magic as well as their connection to the forces of Hell.
Although warlocks do exercise free will and are capable of remorse and compassion, all are driven in some form - be it subtle or overt - to indulge in the more sinister elements of their deul natures; often forming covens of their own which center on shady activities or using their gifts to manipulate others to their advantage. This has made warlocks a truly unpredictable and often untrustworthy faction within the arcane world, with some of the most influential practitioners of black magic being of this race.
Physical Appearance[]
As they are born of one witch parent, warlocks look - and for all intents and purposes, are - perfectly human with the only exception being that their eyes will flash a vivid amber yellow when they call upon their powers. When warlocks unleash their full power, this amber flash will leave their eyes as a solid onyx black - a complete representation of their demonic ancestry. Beyond this feature, the only noteworthy facet of a warlock’s appearance is that their glamour; possessing a kind of innate attractiveness as a side effect of their Infernal heritage - making them both sexually alluring during their prime years while also disarming any suspicion or apprehension someone may feel in their presence.
Misconception[]
A few misunderstandings and preconceived notions of warlocks have come about due to their unique status in the occult world. The most prominent of which is the belief that warlocks are - in effect - the male counterparts of witches. This comes down to the fact that not only are warlocks born of witches, but witch covens tend to be predominantly matriarchal and composed largely of women while warlocks are the inverse. But in actuality, just like witchcraft, the term “warlock” is gender-neutral as there are more than a few sorceresses and enchantresses among this breed as there are in the Craft.
Additionally, the word itself stems from the Old English phrase wǣrloga meaning “traitor” or “monster” and is largely believed to be in reference to the nature of their conception as giving birth to a warlock is regarded as an affront to the Wiccan Rede while warlocks themselves tend to lean more towards the monstrous aspects of magic, resulting in the debut of some of history’s most notorious dark magicians.
Powers & Abilities[]
As a hybrid race, warlocks effectively possess the best of both of their parents’s attributes; the arcane knowledge of witches coupled with the raw strength of demons. Just like witches, they require study and discipline to hone the connection to the eldritch forces; but unlike witches, their demonic instincts allow them to call on the forces of chaos and darkness inherent within themselves to essentially fast-track their education and endow even the most basic of invocations with greater - albeit much more aggressive and occasionally unstable - power.
A unique facet of a warlock’s abilities is that the demonic side of their heritage remains virtually dormant until their thirteenth birthday; at which point they receive a “taste” of their true potential and their spells only grow more potent with each passing year. It’s only upon the stroke of midnight on their eighteenth birthday that the warlock “Ascends” fully into the darker side of their nature and their powers reach their prime.
Witch Powers[]
- Spell Casting - Like any witch, warlocks possess an innate connection to the forces of creation through their inborn link to the Earth itself; with all witches effectively serving as guardians of the Natural Order and “angels of Gaia.” Unsurprisingly, although they share Wiccan blood, warlocks are typically ignored by the spirits of nature due to their demonic ancestry; causing them to rely entirely on their Infernal strength to essentially coerce or even molest the natural forces into performing their miracles as they would for a witch. This causes even novice spellwork - including those with a benign purpose - to have a darker or corrupted edge to it; such as a flame spell which manifests itself as fiery spectres of horror or a healing spell which bestows nightmares even as it restores the body, just to name a couple of examples.
- Elemental Control - As mentioned above, warlocks possess the same affinity for communing with the four natural elements - earth, fire, wind, and water - as their witch forebears. The only caveat being that these elements take on a much more darker or chaotic undertone; such as a diseased wind which carries plague or water which can congeal into blood or even burn like acid if the spirits invoked are particularly displeased. Thunderstorms conjured by warlocks are the most destructive; with their lighting bolts manifesting as an unnatural yellow and causing green balefire to manifest wherever it strikes. Warlocks typically rely on elemental spells for offensive purposes for these very reasons.
Demon Powers[]
- Otherworldly Strength - Although not always evident, warlocks do possess the ability to call upon demonic levels of raw physical strength when needed; allowing them to cause severe trauma or even instant death to a mortal opponent. This strength typically manifests during times of severe duress; such as when in a blind rage or when terrified - with the warlock’s eyes turning solid black as an indication of its use much like with any other power. It’s only Ascended warlocks with disciplined mastery of their powers who can call upon it at will. A lone warlock in this state can easily challenge a vampire or shapechanger in combat; with the most powerful being able to challenge elders and alphas respectively and even potentially win. A warlock’s strength is proportionate to three factors: the potency of their demonic ancestry, the intensity of their emotions to heighten the strength, and the aforementioned mastery of their own gifts.
- Dreamwalking/Memory Manipulation - All warlocks are effectively incubi; able to invade the dreams of others in order to glean information - provided they have met that person enough to learn their full name and look into their eyes. Depending on the skill of the invader, this can be a subtle effect - able to exist unnoticed within the subconsciousness of another person - or they can make their presence known and even communicate with their host. More malignant warlocks also have the power to bestow nightmares and even erase memories from their target; with the most skilled being able to fabricate thoughts and make a person either forget a loved one entirely or make them fall in love with their attacker - with the latter being how most warlocks secure a their lovers and familiars. Warlocks can also use this power to communicate or “whisper” with one another discreetly, although they can’t influence each other’s thoughts as they can to a non-warlock.
- Levitation - Even without the use of magic, warlocks possess the ability to levitate high above the ground and even maneuver to a certain degree; effectively giving them a limited form of flight that lacks the altitude and speed of normal flying but nonetheless allowing them to cover short distances and also fall from great heights without suffering any injury. Levitation is typically a “late” ability that manifest only a few years prior to the warlock’s Ascension; making this ability a sign of both status and mastery within warlock covens. It’s not uncommon for warlocks to showcase this ability - even unintentionally - when they call on their full power; often using it as a tool of intimidation to impress onlookers. Interestingly, this ability also extends to the warlock’s clothing and anything around their feet; losing their sense of gravity and floating in the air with the wearer - the prevailing theory being that Hell itself is pushing the warlock upward from the Earth.
Weaknesses[]
Although partially demonic and endowed with substantial power, warlocks are still effectively human and thus will age and die like any other mortal creature.
- Hallowed Ground/Holy Objects - As they are partially demonic, lands and objects which have been sanctified by a divine power against the forces of chaos - such as demons - will burn a warlock’s flesh and effectively bar them from entry unto holy ground. Even looking upon the aforementioned blessed objects - such as a sanctified crucifix - is equivalent to looking directly at the sun for a human; blinding them. Warlocks themselves, as a caveat of their demonic ancestry, are likewise unable to be heard by these divinities as they cannot invoke prayer without their mouths literally burning from the effort - causing them to rely only on their innate powers for salvation.
