002 - Penumbra

Concept:

Witches are a very common archetype in videogames and other media - I felt as though a witch-inspired Conjure would be fitting, as it more than plausible that a simulant could Conjure a witch-based entity, based on the persona they adopt. I also felt that a witch Conjure would also play alongside the teddy bear Conjure concept well, as they fit into the trinity of ‘melee, mage, and ranger’ in a lot of video games. I currently don’t have an idea for a ranger, but since a mage is a very common archetype, it feels fitting here.

I have taken a bit of inspiration from my girlfriend and her mother here, as they both are into concepts such as astrology (they don’t take it seriously, I promise. They just think it’s cool), Wicca, and witchcraft. My girlfriend also loves the moon, which also has inspired me a bit.

Research:

There has not been a consistent definition of what a witch actually is throughout history. The definition seems to be society-dependant, with 15th century writers defining a witch as ‘a person who performed maleficium (harmful acts of sourcery), against others’. In medieval Europe, witch hunts did not seem to even consider the nature of the sorcery conducted, and thought witchery to be corrupt in any circumstance. Witches were thought to have communed with ‘evil beings’, and were thus persecuted for their ‘crimes’ through banishment, torture, or even execution. There would never be any actual evidence of witchcraft, since it does not exist, but even the slightest suspicion would be enough to punish an individual. Witchcraft typically falls into occultism, which is considered to be outside of organised religion, often encompassing phenomena involving ‘otherworldly agency, such as magic and mysticism’.

Witchcraft has become strongly associated with the dead, and communicating with the dead, across the globe

Witches in different cultures:

Translatable Qualities:

Since witches are most commonly associated with more ‘supportive’ qualities, such as healing, communicating with the dead, or their understanding of nature, I definitely feel like its fitting to include this in the Conjure’s gameplay somehow.

I imagine this Conjure having a strong ability to heal herself or her teammates, but also has a means of damaging foes, or would have two abilities that facilitate her teams.