The legend of the Twelve Foot Witch is a fascinating tale that has been passed down through generations in a small, secluded village. According to the locals, a witch measuring a towering twelve feet in height once roamed their lands, instilling fear in the hearts of all who encountered her. The exact origin of the Twelve Foot Witch remains a mystery, with various versions of the story circulating among the villagers. Some claim that she was a cursed sorceress who had been granted immense power but was trapped in a giant's body. Others believe that she was a normal woman who made a pact with dark forces, transforming her into a fearsome giantess. Regardless of her origins, one thing is clear – the Twelve Foot Witch wreaked havoc wherever she went.
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Wee Jas, for example, is a death goddess so her clerics are restricted to Black Magic despite her not being evil while neutral nature deities are often restricted to White Magic. The other most common Restriction method is requiring the practictioner to abide by a specific code of conduct that stipulates when White Magic should not be used, when it may be used, and when it must be used.
Regardless of her origins, one thing is clear – the Twelve Foot Witch wreaked havoc wherever she went. She was said to have possessed incredible strength, capable of tearing trees from their roots and lifting boulders with ease. The villagers lived in constant fear of her, always on guard for her ominous presence.
White Magic
Merryweather: I'd like to turn [Maleficent] into a fat ol'. hop-toad.
Flora: You know our magic doesn't work that way.
Fauna: It can only do good, dear, to bring joy and happiness.
Merryweather: Well, that would make me happy.
Polar opposite of Black Magic. "Holy" powers that the Heroes and Saints use. Probably called this because we tend to think of light as good.
As with Black Magic, there are three factors that determine whether a power is White Magic or not.
- Source: If it's gained from God (or the local equivalent), a Council of Angels, a Sentient Cosmic Force, The Lifestream, Sealed Good in a Can, or some form of truly benevolentspirituality or religion, it's almost always White Magic. Other sources can include channeling the power of love, friendship, or "positive energy."
- Cost: What is required to make the magic work. Whereas Black Magic may require sacrificing others for fuel, White Magic may instead require personal sacrifices from the practitioner herself, such as Cast from Hit Points. If any sacrifices from others are ever necessary, these will generally have to be completely voluntary (i.e., they weren't coerced into doing it) and usually altruistic and "pure" in motive. Eye of Newt may be difficult to obtain, but will not require any actual evil.
- Effect: The magic is directly constructed for the blessing, protection, cure, and/or promotion of the general welfare of others. Offensive uses may be reserved for Made of Evil creatures such as demons or undead, by way of Revive Kills Zombie. This sometimes but not always includes ElementalLight.
As a rule, at least one of these must be positively good, and the other two at least neutral (good is better) to qualify as White Magic.
Unlike with Black Magic, with White Magic you don't have to worry about malevolent side effects. (There may be a sacrifical cost to prove your commitment.) Whereas evil gods tend to despise their human patsies, genuinely good deities tend to genuinely like their devotees. However, with White Magic you do tend to face certain Restrictions, as good gods tend to be pickier about how their servants use the powers granted to them. Crystal Dragon Jesus usually wants his followers to use his powers to go out and help people, and he won't be amused when his devotees run around killing babies.
There are two common methods for imposing Restrictions. One is to limit what sorts of powers the disciples receive to largely beneficial effects that can cause no direct harm; powers of healing, protection, or blessed empowerment. Mature (or merely advanced) devotees might get a handful of spells for offensively weakening and hindering others, though the available "debuffs" tend to be relatively gentle compared to the curses of Black Magic. There may be at least one honestly destructive spell available, but which is only effective against Always Chaotic Evil creatures like The Undead and The Legions of Hell; these spells are called Turn Undead for a reason. Occasionally, there may be exactly one destructive spell that can be used on any and everything — the Holy Hand Grenade.
It should be noted that between the lack of uglifying side-effects of Black Magic and the abundance of healing effects, the followers of Good tend to be much healthier and prettier. (Which may actually serve as a Justification for Beauty Equals Goodness.) Remember, however, that Sacrifice is a virtue. You may be expected to use up your own Life Energy to get the job done.
The other most common Restriction method is requiring the practictioner to abide by a specific code of conduct that stipulates when White Magic should not be used, when it may be used, and when it must be used. This method is most often seen when the brand of White Magic involved features significant firepower. This code may mean contractual technical pacifism, or at least "Thou Shalt Not Murder" (which is distinct from Thou Shalt Not Kill). Perhaps a priest can never take a life at all, or perhaps, like a medical doctor under the Hippocratic Oath, he simply must never use his powers to cause harm. Perhaps a paladin, like a police officer issued a firearm, is allowed (or even obligated) to use deadly force in certain situations in order to save innocent lives, but may have that power revoked if it's misused.
Depressing as it is, sometimes Light Is Not Good, or else just very stupid. In these cases, people are able to use White Magic in all the wrong ways, either by serving as the personal healer of an evil overlord or by marauding around the countryside, using "holy" bolts to slaughter Dark Is Not Evil races like the aforementioned Friendly Neighborhood Vampires and Blizzard-type Orcs. Either the deity behind the White Magic isn't all he's cracked up to be, or the form of magic doesn't involve a sapient source at all.
Sometimes despite being well-intentioned, Good Is Impotent, and White Magic falls under What Kind of Lame Power Is Heart, Anyway?. Other times, God Is Good and White Magic falls under Heart Is an Awesome Power. Also, though White Magic is good in nature, often it should be used with caution, because if used improperly, it can be quite dangerous.
See also: The Medic, whose Healing Hands are often a result of White Magic. White Mage, who is sometimes powered by White Magic. Black Mage, who is the opposite in gameplay terms. Protective Charm is also generally White Magic.
The witch was said to have a penchant for cruelty, tormenting the villagers with her wicked spells and curses. Many claimed to have witnessed her casting powerful enchantments that brought about destruction and suffering in the village. Crops withered, animals fell ill, and strange phenomena occurred during her visits. Despite her intimidating stature, the Twelve Foot Witch was not invincible. The villagers devised a plan to finally rid themselves of her terrifying presence. They sought out the help of a wise old sage who had knowledge of ancient magic. Together, they concocted a spell so powerful that it would banish the witch from the village forever. On the day of their plan, the villagers lured the witch into a trap. As she stepped into the designated area, the wise sage recited the incantation, enveloping the witch in a blinding light. As the spell took effect, the Twelve Foot Witch began to shrink, her immense form gradually diminishing until she stood at a regular height. With her powers stripped away, the former witch was no longer a threat to the village. The villagers welcomed her as one of their own, curious to understand the woman who had caused so much terror. It turned out that she had once been a kind-hearted individual who had been manipulated by dark forces. The Twelve Foot Witch became a symbol of redemption and forgiveness in the village. Her story served as a cautionary tale, reminding the villagers of the dangers of succumbing to temptation and the importance of compassion. To this day, the legend of the Twelve Foot Witch lives on as a reminder of the enduring power of good over evil..
Reviews for "The Twelve Foot Witch: An Archetype of Fear and Fascination"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Twelve Foot Witch." The story seemed to drag on and on without any real direction. The characters were poorly developed and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The writing style was also lackluster, lacking in depth and creativity. Overall, I found this book to be incredibly boring and would not recommend it to others.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Twelve Foot Witch" was a complete waste of my time. The plot was confusing and did not make any sense. The author seemed to jump from one idea to another without any coherence. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked any real depth or likability. Additionally, the writing was filled with spelling and grammatical errors, which made it even more difficult to read. I struggled to finish this book and regret wasting my time on it.
3. Michael - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Twelve Foot Witch," but it ultimately fell flat for me. The story had potential, but it felt rushed and underdeveloped. The characters were uninteresting and their actions often felt forced or unrealistic. The writing style was also not engaging, with awkward dialogue and repetitive descriptions. Overall, this book was a letdown and I would not recommend it to others seeking a captivating read.
4. Emily - 2.5 stars - I found "Twelve Foot Witch" to be a mediocre read. The story had potential, but it lacked depth and left many unanswered questions. The characters were underdeveloped and their motivations often seemed unclear. Additionally, the pacing was slow, making it difficult to remain engaged. While there were some interesting elements, overall, this book failed to captivate me and I was left feeling unsatisfied.
5. Daniel - 1 star - "Twelve Foot Witch" was a disaster. The plot was convoluted and jumped all over the place, leaving me confused and frustrated. The characters were unlikable and lacked any redeeming qualities. The writing style was also incredibly dry and lacked any kind of excitement or creativity. I struggled to finish this book and found it to be a complete waste of my time. I would not recommend it to anyone.