Tricking the Wind Hag

From: Mikael Raaterova <amr_at_swipnet.se>
Date: Wed, 25 Mar 1998 10:10:13 +0100


If you liked my Far Point rituals in Questlines, you might like this one as well.

TRICKING THE WINDHAG The orlanthing of Far Point have a quaint tradition of hanging chimepipes in trees. The crafting of chimepipes is a highly respected tradition, and well-crafted, lavishly decorated chimepipes are a matter of pride for the stead. Some of the chimepipes have been around for ages, having been maintained, decorated and sometimes enchanted by several generations. Stealing or destroying the chimepipes of another stead is just cause for a bloodfeud.

Chimepipes are commonly made of bronze, bone or even hard wood, at least in the north where metal is scarce. The pipes are of different lengths with windholes through them. At least seven pipes should be hung up together to produce enough bell-like clanging and whistling noises. They should be quite heavy so a mild breeze won't get them clanging, even if it'll get them whistling. These chimes should be made of iron to be truly effective and blessed by Storm Voice.

The reason why otherwise sane Orlanthi would hang these noisy chimepipes near their steads is to trick the Wind Hag. She is a malevolent daughter of accursed Daga who steals the very breath of life from the unlucky. When the Wind Hag approaches the air grows still and stale (which you usually don't notice until it's too late) and she'll creep up on any breathing creature it can find, like children, animals, sleeping PCs, or a PC's prized kukling.

The tales say she's a hideous and toothless crone clad in a ragged robe (which billows around her as the life-breaths she has stolen strives to get the hell out of there). It is said that her feet never touch the ground, that she floats in the air because of the life-breaths kept within her robe.

Fortunately she can't see very good or isn't very smart, so she'll be fooled by and fascinated with the strangely musical 'breathing' of the chimepipes. She'll be so obsessed with sucking the breath out of the chimepipes (which will clang and whistle louder the harder she tries to steal their 'breath') she'll totally exhaust herself.

The Wind Hag is a folklorized Breathtaker of Baba Yagish nature, a traditional bogey man. Mothers tell their children 'don't stray too far, or the Wind Hag will get you'. Whether she is real or not is up to the GM; the orlanthings in Far Point believe she is very real and take precautions. And so travellers and hunting parties usually carry small chimepipes with them to hang them up when they set up camp for the night.

Powered by hypermail