War Water

Thunder rolls as the scent of rain fills the air. The sky kissed the earth soon thereafter, the light rain slowly growing to a downpour.   Olive stares out her cottage window, the rain leaving little multicolored trails for her eyes to follow as they obscure the view. She watches the mercurial color fade to more ordinary hues as she takes a cautious sip of her tea, freshly brewed and still piping hot.   She looks to the front door, held wide open by a wedge of wood. On the front porch of the cottage sits a bucket that gathers the rain, and it's almost full. She stands, leans against the doorway and admires the sight. The world looks so different when it rains, and it's good to open one's home to the world every now and again. It lets the bad air out. Rain always symbolized a cleansing of sorts, a moment of new beginnings.   She hears the sound of music over the storm, faint but every note still crisp and clear. Corey's practicing again and it only adds to the ambiance. A flash of lightning whites out the sky and olive smiles. She looks down at the bucket and nods. “It's time.”

Gruesome stuff, but valuable… powerful. War water, also known as mars or tar water, is both an ingredient used in many spells and rituals and also a bit of a spell in and of itself if you know how to use it. It's a bit of folk magic from before the fall, its use originating from several magical traditions.   War water is simple to make, but it takes time and patience. It all starts with a good storm. Storm water has power and acts as a base. The next ingredient is iron, or rather, rust. These two things alone, can make the simplest form of war water, but where's the fun in that? Most choose to make their own variant, some more creative than others. Once made, it takes weeks to mature into the final product.   What is it for? That depends. It's both offensive and defensive magic, a highly versatile concoction that can curse one's enemies and protect one's home. With enough intention, it can even signify a declaration of spiritual warfare.

Olive pulls out several small jars, each able to fit in the palm of her hand. She pulls several brown paper bags out of the cardboard box.   Each bag contained an ingredient, and she adds a little of each to the jars. The first contained dried tobacco leaves for domination and protection. She adds pine needles and rose thorns, both protective but equally offensive and capable of returning any wayward curse right where it came from. Then came the most important part, the iron.   Olive pulls several nails from the cardboard box and gently drops them into the jars. She then uses the rubber tubing to siphon the water from the bucket and into a funnel. The water passes through a coffee filter and fills each small jar. The water starts turning red in minutes.   Olive places the newest batch in an empty container as the rain slowly lets up outside. She then pulls out the last batch she made, a personal stash kept in a large corked bottle. The water looks deep red, almost black in color. It looks disgusting.   She walks outside, uncorked the bottle and begins slowly anointing the perimeter of her cottage. She spreads it along the foundation and along every threshold. Her anxiety fades by the time she's done. If anyone means her harm, all they have to do is try.

As an ingredient, war water can add a powerful layer of protection and reversal to any ritual or spell. It can send hexes and curses back to their source and even cause general misfortune to those who mean you harm.   It can be used in one's basic protective routine, lining the home with the substance to ward and protect the space. This is merely a passive use of the substance, however. War Water can also be used offensively.   One can throw or merely drop a glass jar of war water and, upon breaking, the substance creates a bit of a trap for those who mean you harm. Should an enemy make contact or cross over a boundary laced with war water, they will be marked with misfortune for some time if they don't know how to counter it. The effect is immediate and it can take weeks to remove.

Dread Romantic is routinely anointed with war water to protect it and those within from any and all negative influence from outside. It is one of the few things the organization refuses to sell to just anyone for obvious reasons. It's time consuming to make and every batch is unique, a variation on the recipe based on what ingredients are on hand.   There are numerous variations to the recipe that also depend on the tradition being used and what is desired by the spell-worker. For example, graveyard dirt is a great base to add for grounding and further protection. Needles and thorns can double down on the defensiveness of war water, a symbolic way of wounding any who would seek to harm you and get too close.   If one really wants to ramp up the negative effects, they can add wasp nests, toxic, poisonous substances like belladonna or dead spiders. In fact, using glass containers can be just as impactful. When the glass shatters after being thrown, it becomes yet another component of the war water and adds more intention; more power to the substance.

Olive nestles back into her chair, the music still drifting on the wind as the storm comes to a gentle end.   She hears a knock at her door and jumps at the sound. She turns and sees Toby standing in the doorway. “Shit, Toby.”   Toby smiles. “Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.”   “You're fine.” Olive notes Toby's necklace, bones laced together on a silver chain wrapped around her neck. She notices Toby's black dress and cocked her head. “Going somewhere?”   Toby shrugs. “No, why?”   “I'm still getting used to being outdressed.” Olive stands and begins the process of making another mug of tea.   “Is Corey okay?” Toby asks.   “My brother hasn't been okay for a long time.” Olive laughs but Toby's expression remains stern and cold. “He's had it rough the last few weeks too.”   Toby nods and sighs. “Is he always like this?”   Olive shrugs. “Only when his ex is involved.”