Misericorde, Poor Jokla and Amalia

Witches - women of dark magic, omens of misfortune, bringers of death. What was once, perhaps, prudence and caution eventually gave way to suspicion, fear, and persecution. Magic, like any tool could bring both good and bad, but in some places, anything not understood was viewed as evil magic.

As paranoia grew in these small towns, so too did the criteria for “witches” - uncanny abilities, vast knowledge, unusual wisdom, marks, blemishes, beauty ... and any of those could be used as “evidence” to condemn a witch.

That’s how it was for Misi - betrayed and burned for her compassion. That’s how it was for Amalia - drowned and forsaken out of envy. That’s how it was for Joka - misunderstood and feared, none brave enough to find the truth.

Magic is a powerful tool for those brave enough to use it, but a sharp-edged sword to those who find themselves facing the wrath of a witch. Be careful - for beyond the beauty these three witches posses such blades lie in wait. Misi’s empathy - once a boon and now a bane. Amalia’s necromancy - a call of vengeance from beyond the grave. Jokla’s wisdom - knowledge of life and death at her whim and beck and call.

Tread carefully, for they watch you from the woods.

Misi cared too much.

She felt others’ pain as keenly as her own. Gentle, kind, and compassionate, the name Mercy fit her well. Be it through a twist of fate or inescapable ordinance, the bumps on her head gave her the extraordinary empathy - but the kindness and care was her own. Betrayed and called a witch, she was burned, abandoned, and that empathy became too much, too much anger, too much pain, and so ... she lashed out. Just as Misi had been burned, so too would she burn the world.

Jokla has been alone for too long.

She has grown wise and powerful in her solitude. Independent, cunning, yet sentimental, she has been an ever-present figure in the forest. She has been seen both as evil and as a savior, but she continues to be a steady, guiding hand to those who seek her out. The rumors have built and grown over years, twisting and shifting, making her out to be Jokla, a witch who governs life and death. And perhaps she might, to some, to young men who meet their ends in watery graves. Just as she has been alone to experience the years, so too does she impart her wisdom on those who find her.

Amalia loved too easily.

She only saw the good in the world. Innocent, loving, and generous, she was the darling of her town. She only wanted to do right by the townsfolk, to love and be loved in return. But greed took hold in her fiance’s heart, and her wedding gift was to be condemned as a witch and drowned. What might have been untrue became reality, and in her vengeance Amalia awakened to her power and reanimated herself. Just as Amalia had seen death, so too would she bring back those beyond the grave.

The hearth in Jokla’s home is warm. The fire is pleasant and kind, unlike the consuming blaze that ended Misi’s life. The water is clear and full of sweet-smelling herbs, unlike the dirty pond and ended Amalia’s life. Jokla’s home is theirs, as their hearts are hers.

The loneliness has come and gone, the wounds have healed ever so slowly, and they have found each other. It was only natural that it should take a long time before the three opened their hearts to each other - all forsaken, all betrayed, all despised.

It was all foreign to Misi and Amalia - young girls with bright futures and brighter smiles, their innocence shattered - learning to trust someone again. It was Jokla’s wisdom - her steadying, solid presence, the sense that she had been there forever and would be forever more - that wore down the barriers they had.

Jokla’s hearth is warm. There is a sweet-herb smell to the bath water, even as Misi complains and thrashes, and they know that there is magic full of care that wafts in the steam. The tea that Amalia brews flowers in the pot and its petals drift on the surface of the ruby drink, ready and waiting when the ordeal is over.

Jokla’s hearth is warm. It is their home, too, now.