Hags

In the shadowed corners of Khorvaire, where the ancient primal magic still churns and the lines between civilization and the wild blur, there are whispers of creatures truly vile – the hags. Not merely monstrous women, these are embodiments of malice, ancient spirits twisted into forms that mock the very notion of beauty or kindness. From the green hags haunting the fetid bogs of the Shadow Marches, luring travelers with mimicry and deceit, to the hideous sea hags whose paralyzing gazes turn sailors to stone amidst the stormy coasts of Q'barra, each type is a unique brand of horror. More formidable still are the hulking annis hags, whose iron strength and gnashing teeth can tear a man limb from limb, often found in desolate mountain passes or the deeper, foreboding forests of the Eldeen Reaches. And then there are the chilling tales of night hags, creatures of pure nightmare that transcend the physical, preying upon the very dreams and souls of mortals, sometimes crossing between planes or dealing in insidious pacts from the darkest corners of Khyber’s influence. But the true terror lies in their unholy communion: when three hags, even of disparate types, gather to form a coven, their combined will and malevolent magic can warp reality itself. Their rituals are said to twist the innocent, corrupt the land, and conjure horrors that defy the very light of the Silver Flame. These are not mere beasts to be slain; they are ancient, cunning evils, and encountering one, let alone a coven, is often a prelude to a fate worse than death.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A Comprehensive Study of Hags: Morphology, Anatomy, and Aberrant Physiology

Abridged Report, By Dr. Alistair Finch, Xenobiology Division, Morgrave University, Sharn – Not for Public Dissemination

Date: 9 Olarune, 949 YK

Subject: Matronae Malefica (Commonly known as Hags)

 
Introduction: The Twisted Mirror

The creatures known as hags represent one of the most chilling and perplexing aberrations within the natural world of Eberron. While often superficially resembling humanoids, their true forms are a grotesque mockery, a vile parody of mortal beauty twisted into an image of malicious intent. This report compiles observations from various encounters and limited, perilous dissection, aiming to illuminate the fundamental anatomy and variant morphologies of these insidious beings, drawing upon both common Eberron encounters and comparative ethological data. Our understanding is limited by the inherent danger of close study and the hags' propensity for illusion and deception, but certain truths are undeniable.

Hags are not, strictly speaking, a single species, but rather a family of distinct, though related, monstrous humanoids united by their inherent malevolence, ancient lineage, and unique methods of propagation. They are found across Khorvaire – lurking in the murky swamps of Q'barra, the ancient forests of the Eldeen Reaches, the desolate peaks of the Ironroot Mountains, and even the corrupted wastes of the Mournland. Their presence is often tied to sites of ancient magic, primal wildness, or deep spiritual corruption.

General Morphology & Shared Aberrations

While sub-types vary widely, common physiological themes pervade all known hag varieties:

  • Skeletal Structure: Hags possess a bone structure denser and more robust than most humanoids of comparable size. This contributes to their surprising physical resilience and often brutish strength. Their spines frequently exhibit abnormal curvature or calcifications, resulting in hunched postures or strangely rigid movements. Joints can be gnarled, and digits often end in vestigial or fully developed claws.
  • Musculature: Muscle tissue is unnaturally corded and efficient, capable of feats of strength far exceeding their apparent frame. This is particularly evident in the upper limbs and jaw, suggesting a predatory adaptation.
  • Integumentary System (Skin & Hair): Hag skin is almost universally repulsive, textured and colored in ways that defy natural mammalian norms. It can be leathery, scaled, warty, or appear perpetually desiccated. Coloration varies from sickly greens and grays to mottled browns and deep blues. Hair, if present, is coarse, sparse, often matted, and may resemble fibrous plant material, algae, or even tangled wire. It is rarely clean or pleasant to the touch.
  • Sensory Organs:
    • Eyes: Hag eyes are typically unsettling – often large, unnervingly bright, or possessing peculiar irises (e.g., slitted pupils, solid black orbs). Vision appears to be keen, particularly in low light. Some variants exhibit infra-red or even magical sight.
    • Ears: Ranging from small and almost vestigial to large and bat-like, hag ears are highly sensitive to sound, suggesting an auditory advantage in the wilds they inhabit.
    • Nose/Smell: While often misshapen (flattened, hooked, or barely present), their sense of smell is remarkably acute, allowing them to track prey or detect the presence of emotions like fear.
  • Dentition: Hags possess sharpened, often discolored teeth, suitable for tearing and gnawing. Some have exaggerated canines or even multiple rows of teeth, revealing their predatory nature.
  • Internal Anatomy: Limited invasive studies suggest that hag internal organs are often shifted or redundant, hinting at a resilience to injury. Their circulatory systems are highly efficient, allowing for rapid healing of non-magical wounds. There is evidence of a unique, almost ethereal organ, possibly located near the sternum or heart, which appears to be a focal point for their innate magical abilities and the nexus through which their coven magic is channeled. While not a physical organ in the traditional sense, it registers as an area of intense arcane resonance.
Unique Physiological Adaptations & Reproduction
  • Coven Physiology: The most remarkable and terrifying aspect of hag biology is their capacity to form covens. While not a singular physical organ, the proximity of three or more hags instigates an arcane resonance. This resonance appears to create an etheric nexus between them, allowing for a shared magical pool and the casting of more potent, collective spells. This nexus might manifest subtly in an increased electrical charge around them, a chilling of the air, or a distortion in localized magical fields. It is a testament to their intertwined malevolence, a shared consciousness of evil that transcends individual physical form.
  • Disturbing Longevity: Hags possess abnormally long lifespans, often outliving several generations of humanoids. This extended existence allows them to accumulate vast arcane knowledge and foster long-term, insidious plots. The rate of cellular degradation in hags appears significantly slower than in other humanoids, granting them a resilience against natural decay.
Implications for Understanding and Countermeasures

The study of hag anatomy, while grim, offers crucial insights. Their dense bone and muscle structures explain their surprising durability. Their unique sensory organs allow them to operate effectively in the environments they favor. Understanding their varied morphology helps in identification and preparation.

Most critically, grasping the concept of the "etheric nexus" of a coven underscores the imperative of isolating or eliminating hags individually, if possible. Engaging a full coven is to face a magically amplified threat that transcends the sum of its parts. Furthermore, awareness of their propagation method – the insidious creation of hagspawn – highlights the importance of protecting the vulnerable, for the greatest danger may not be the monster in the swamp, but the seemingly innocent child in the village.

While much remains unknown about the deepest physiological secrets of hags, particularly their true origins and the exact nature of their internal arcane structures, continuous study and vigilance are paramount in protecting the civilized races of Eberron from these ancient, abhorrent, and eternally malevolent creatures.

Unique Physiological Adaptations & Reproduction

Coven Physiology: The most remarkable and terrifying aspect of hag biology is their capacity to form covens. While not a singular physical organ, the proximity of three or more hags instigates an arcane resonance. This resonance appears to create an etheric nexus between them, allowing for a shared magical pool and the casting of more potent, collective spells. This nexus might manifest subtly in an increased electrical charge around them, a chilling of the air, or a distortion in localized magical fields. It is a testament to their intertwined malevolence, a shared consciousness of evil that transcends individual physical form.

Disturbing Longevity: Hags possess abnormally long lifespans, often outliving several generations of humanoids. This extended existence allows them to accumulate vast arcane knowledge and foster long-term, insidious plots. The rate of cellular degradation in hags appears significantly slower than in other humanoids, granting them a resilience against natural decay.

 
Implications for Understanding and Countermeasures

The study of hag anatomy, while grim, offers crucial insights. Their dense bone and muscle structures explain their surprising durability. Their unique sensory organs allow them to operate effectively in the environments they favor. Understanding their varied morphology helps in identification and preparation.

Most critically, grasping the concept of the "etheric nexus" of a coven underscores the imperative of isolating or eliminating hags individually, if possible. Engaging a full coven is to face a magically amplified threat that transcends the sum of its parts. Furthermore, awareness of their propagation method – the insidious creation of hagspawn – highlights the importance of protecting the vulnerable, for the greatest danger may not be the monster in the swamp, but the seemingly innocent child in the village.

While much remains unknown about the deepest physiological secrets of hags, particularly their true origins and the exact nature of their internal arcane structures, continuous study and vigilance are paramount in protecting the civilized races of Eberron from these ancient, abhorrent, and eternally malevolent creatures.

Genetics and Reproduction

The Serpent's Brood: A Study of Hag Procreation and the True Changelings of Eberron

By Professor Verran, Arcane Collegium, Sharn
 

It is with a grim heart and a deep sense of urgency that I present this treatise. The insidious nature of hags, those ancient and malevolent crones, is well-documented within the annals of the Arcane Collegium. Their covens, their dark magic, and their manipulation of mortals are a constant threat to the civilized lands of Khorvaire. However, there remains a critical misunderstanding, perhaps even a deliberate obfuscation, regarding their most terrifying and profound means of propagation: the creation of what I propose we unequivocally call the True Changelings.

It is imperative that we dispel a dangerous misunderstanding currently prevalent throughout our continent. The shapeshifting folk, known widely as "Changelings" and recognized by the Twelve for their diplomatic, mercantile, and often enigmatic roles, are a distinct and ancient race. To prevent further confusion and to accurately categorize the horrors I describe, I will herein refer to the established shapeshifting race as Lokumites. The term Changelings will, from this point forward, be reserved exclusively for the abominable offspring of hags.

 
The Unnatural Birth: A Ritual of Corruption

Unlike most sentient beings, hags do not propagate through conventional union, though dark pacts and monstrous liaisons are not unheard of. Their primary method of continuing their foul lineage is far more insidious: the devouring of a stolen child.

Whether a Green Hag snatching an infant from an isolated farmstead, an Annis Hag seizing a robust youth from a bandit camp, or even a vile Night Hag spiriting away a slumbering child from a city nursery, the process is horrifyingly consistent. The hag does not, as some common fables suggest, merely consume the child. Instead, through a macabre ritual, the essence, the very life-force, of the stolen child is absorbed and twisted within the hag's foul body. It is a process of unholy gestation, not of flesh and blood, but of spirit and corruption.

After a period mirroring a conventional pregnancy, the hag then "gives birth" to a new creature. This is the Changeling. This abominable progeny is not truly born, but rather manifested as a warped reflection of the stolen life. It is often exchanged for the original child, leaving the true child's parents unknowingly raising a monstrous changeling in their stead. Such vile acts are whispered to be more common in the wilder reaches: the deep swamps of the Shadow Marches, the desolate peaks of the Demon Wastes, or the twisted wilderness of the Mournland where traditional horrors thrive.

 
The True Changelings: A Mask of Innocence

These hag-spawned Changelings are, at first glance, tragically indistinguishable from natural-born children of the race they mimic. A human hag might birth a Changeling appearing human, an elven hag one appearing elven, and so forth. This initial normalcy is the cruellest part of the deception, allowing them to infiltrate families, communities, and even the established structures of society.

However, subtle signs often manifest even in youth. A chilling glint in the eye, a peculiar lack of empathy, an unnatural cruelty towards animals or weaker children, or an unsettling fascination with the morbid and grotesque. They possess an innate cunning, a talent for deception that far outstrips their apparent age, and a remarkable ability to blend seamlessly into their surroundings while observing with detached malevolence.

The true horror, however, reveals itself with the onset of puberty. As the Changeling approaches maturity, the hag's corrupt essence within them begins to assert itself fully. A grotesque metamorphosis takes place:

  • Skin thickens and toughens, often developing a pallor, an unhealthy hue, or even a warty texture.
  • Fingernails and toenails lengthen and harden, becoming claw-like.
  • Teeth become sharper, more pointed, sometimes even growing into small fangs.
  • Sensory organs distort: eyes might become more piercing, ears might flatten or subtly point.
  • Most terrifyingly, their minds twist further, shedding any lingering vestiges of normal human morality or compassion, embracing fully the malice instilled by their monstrous progenitor.

At the culmination of this process, the Changeling, whether male or female, transforms into a full-fledged hag of the same type as its parent. A Green Hag’s spawn becomes a Green Hag, an Annis Hag’s spawn becomes an Annis Hag, and so on. They are doomed to become the very monstrous creature that spawned them, destined to perpetuate the cycle of horror.

 
Distinction from the Lokumites: A Vital Clarification

This brings us to a gravely important clarity: the distinction between these hag-spawned Changelings and the race commonly known as "Changelings" across Khorvaire – whom I prefer to call Lokumites to prevent further confusion, tracing their lineage to the ancient Halfling word for "mask-folk."

  • Lokumites are a distinct, naturally-occurring race, born with their shapeshifting abilities. They have their own cultures, families, and place in society. Their shifting is a natural biological function, not a magical curse or a grotesque metamorphosis. They are as varied in their dispositions as any human, elf, or dwarf.
  • Changelings (hag-spawned) are a horrific perversion, initially appearing as an innocent child before their inevitable, monstrous apotheosis. Their shapeshifting, if they possess any before full transformation, is subtle and unconscious, a result of their nascent hag nature, not a controlled ability. They are inherently tied to the dark magic of their hag-parent.

To mistake a Lokumite child, or even an adult, for a hag's hidden spawn is a grave injustice and a dangerous oversight. Such misidentification can lead to persecution of innocent Lokumites, diverting attention from the true threat lurking in our midst.

 
Prevalence in Eberron

The most prominent concentration of hags and, by extension, their Changelings, is undoubtedly within Droaam. Under the enigmatic rule of the Daughters of Sora Kell – powerful hags themselves – these creatures are likely raised within covens, trained in their dark arts, and strategically deployed. One shudders to think of the true number of these disguised monsters within Droaam's borders, or their potential use by the Daughters.

Beyond Droaam, hidden covens of hags are known to exist in the deepest, most isolated parts of the Shadow Marches, the blighted regions of the Demon Wastes, and the twisted wildernesses left behind by the Last War, such as the northern fringes of the Mournland. It is in these places that the most common instances of stolen children and the subsequent birthing of Changelings likely occur.

Lone Changelings, unaware of their true nature or tragically misled, might also find their way into civilized lands, living among Lokumites or other races. The very existence of Lokumites provides a convenient cover for these nascent horrors, making detection agonizingly difficult.

 
Conclusion

The threat of hags is not merely their direct magical might or their schemes, but their very means of continuation. The True Changelings, those unwitting or unwitting agents of their monstrous kind, represent an insidious rot at the heart of our world.

Scholars, templars of the Silver Flame, and the common folk alike must be educated on this critical distinction. Vigilance is paramount, not against an entire race, but against the subtle signs of true corruption. The true face of the hag's brood is a twisted reflection of innocence, patiently awaiting the moment to shed its skin and unleash its innate horror upon the unsuspecting world. We must learn to recognize the Serpent's Brood, lest they multiply unseen in our very homes.

Ecology and Habitats

While all hags share a common strain of depravity, their methods and domains differ wildly:
The Terrestrial Tormentors
  • Annis Hags: These brutish crones are creatures of raw, devastating strength. With skin like worn stone and a hunger for bone, they thrive in rugged, desolate terrain. One might find an Annis hag's lair nestled in the jagged peaks of the Ironroot Mountains, the desolate Demon Wastes, or the scarred badlands bordering the Mournland. Their preferred hunting grounds are isolated passes or rocky valleys where travelers are few and far between, allowing them to ambush and crush their victims at leisure. Their stony hides make them blend seamlessly with their surroundings, true predators of the craggy wilderness.
  • Ash Hags: Born of scorching lands or enduring fiery magic, the touch of an Ash Hag withers all living things, leaving dust and despair. Their habitat is intrinsically linked to destruction and heat. They are frequently encountered amidst the smoldering ruins of the Mournland, particularly in areas still scarred by magical flame, or within the volcanic regions of Q'barra. Some scholars suggest their presence amplifies the lingering corruption in such places, drawing power from the residual despair and magical desolation.
  • Blood Hags: Gruesome practitioners of dark rites, these hags thrive on gore and suffering, using spilled vital fluids to empower their insidious magic and heal their own forms. Their ecology is tied directly to death and bloodshed. One might discover a Blood Hag's lair in vast, forgotten crypts beneath ancient cities, within the macabre aftermath of a battlefield, or deep within the tainted groves of the Shadow Marches where dark druidic practices may have once occurred. They are known to establish grisly shrines where they conduct their horrific rituals, often near sources of fresh blood.
  • Green Hags: Masters of illusion and deception, these hags are the quintessential denizens of the wild, verdant places. They lurk in the deepest, most treacherous swamps and ancient forests, luring victims to their doom with false promises and mimicry. The Shadow Marches, the ancient Eldeen Reaches (particularly its more untamed northern and western borders), and the damp, hidden groves within Aundair or Breland are their prime hunting grounds. They manipulate the very flora of their territory, crafting walls of thorns or shifting paths to disorient the unwary, transforming natural beauty into a deadly trap.
  • Winter Hags: Icy enchantresses, these hags bring blizzards and frost, their bitter touch freezing hearts and hopes. Their desolate, snow-laden domains are found in Khorvaire's harshest temperate climes and arctic reaches. The northernmost peaks of the Blackcaps, the unforgiving expanse of the Frostfell, or perhaps even areas of the Talenta Plains during harsh, prolonged winters, are where these crones wield their chilling power. They often make their lairs in ice caves or ancient, snow-buried ruins, using the biting cold as their most potent weapon.
 
The Ethereal and Esoteric Predation
  • Dreamthief Hags: These whispering phantoms are perhaps the most insidious, for they invade the slumbering mind, preying upon memories and sanity itself. While not bound by a physical habitat in the traditional sense – they operate primarily on the ethereal and dream planes – their physical lairs are often found in secluded, forgotten corners of the world, near populated areas. An old, abandoned manor on the outskirts of Sharn, a forgotten wing of a monastic library in Karrnath, or a dusty, seldom-visited attic in a large inn could house a Dreamthief Hag, allowing them easy access to sleeping minds.
  • Dusk Hags: As the wretched progeny of Night Hags, Dusk Hags stalk twilight, draining vitality and invoking profound despair. They are creatures of fading light and encroaching shadow. Their habitats are typically ancient, overgrown graveyards, forests at the very edge of civilization, or shadowed valleys where the sun rarely penetrates. They thrive in places where hope dwindles and shadows lengthen, such as decaying manors within Thrane's less vigilant borders, or the deeper, gloomier sections of the Twilight Demesne in the Eldeen Reaches.
  • Mute Hags: Enforced silence is the terrifying domain of these hags. They conjure zones of absolute quiet, stifling sound and voice before striking with unseen, merciless force. Their ecological niche is one defined by the absence of something fundamental. They often make their lairs in deep, forgotten caves, ancient ruins far from any sound of civilization, or perhaps even in sections of the Mournland where the air itself seems to deaden all noise. Their presence creates an unnatural, profound stillness, a preternatural quiet that precedes their deadly attacks.
  • Night Hags: The most infamous of their kind, Night Hags are truly extraplanar terrors. They invade dreams across the planes, stealing souls and sowing eternal nightmares. While their true ecology transcends Eberron's physical geography, they often possess physical lairs within the material plane – often ancient, shadow-touched holdings in desolate locales like the Demon Wastes or deeper within the Shadow Marches. These lairs serve as anchors, allowing them to project their essence into the slumbering minds of mortals across the multiverse, acting as grotesque psychopomps.
 
The Aquatic and Tempestuous Terrors
  • Moon Hags: Driven by the maddening lunar cycles, these crones inspire lunacy and manipulate the very tides. Their habitat is inextricably linked to the sea and the sky. They frequently dwell in desolate coastal reaches, craggy islands off Stormreach or Karrnath, or within hidden sea caves where the moonlight can directly illuminate their rituals. They are known to lure ships to rocky destructions or incite madness in coastal communities during the full moon, their power waxing and waning with the celestial body.
  • Sea Hags: With truly repulsive visages that instill paralyzing fear, Sea Hags haunt coastlines and deep waters, demoralizing foes before dragging them to icy, watery graves. Their preferred habitats are cold ocean currents, submerged caves along the coasts of Khorvaire, particularly in the Lhazaar Principalities or Q'barra, and ship graveyards. They are predators of the liminal space between land and sea, often claiming sunken vessels as their territory and luring sailors to their doom with illusions or their terrifying gaze.
  • Storm Hags: Wielders of tempestuous might, these hags command lightning and howling winds, bringing ruin to ships and settlements along tempest-battered shores. Their ecology is tied directly to the most violent aspects of nature. One might find a Storm Hag's lair on a desolate, storm-swept island off the coast of Aundair, among the treacherous peaks of the Kraken Bay coastline, or even high in the Ironroot Mountains where thunderheads gather. They are drawn to manifest zones linked to Lamannia or Syrania during periods of intense weather, amplifying the natural fury of the elements.

The study of hags is not for the faint of heart, but it is vital. Their presence speaks to the wild, untamed corners of Eberron, the places where civilization's light has yet to fully penetrate, or where ancient evils still fester. Understanding their ecological preferences and predatory habits is the first step in combating these pervasive and malignant forces, ensuring that their dark influence does not spread unchecked across Khorvaire.

Behaviour

For centuries, common folklore has painted hags as monstrous crones lurking in the shadows, figures of gruesome physical horror. While their outward appearance is certainly unsettling, to focus solely on their ghastly forms is to miss the true, insidious threat they pose. Hags are not merely brutish beasts; they are beings of profound and ancient malice, their psychological landscape a labyrinth of twisted desires, cruel artistry, and an incomprehensible patience that defies mortal understanding.

This disquisition seeks to illuminate the core behaviors and psychological principles that define the hag, specifically within the varied tapestry of Khorvaire and beyond.

 
The Twisted Heart: Core Psychology

At the root of every hag's existence lies a profound and artisanal malevolence. Unlike the chaotic destruction of a rampaging troll or the straightforward hunger of an owlbear, a hag's evil is deliberate, calculated, and often exquisitely cruel. They do not merely inflict suffering; they craft it, savor it, and refine it.

  • Covetousness & Spiritual Larceny: Hags crave. Not merely gold, or land, or power in the mortal sense, but intangibles. They desire beauty they cannot possess, joy they cannot feel, love they cannot inspire, and innocence they wish to defile. Their pacts are not simply transactions; they are acts of spiritual theft. They seek to acquire pieces of a soul, fragments of a dream, the very essence of a person's identity. A hag might offer untold riches, but the price will be a child's first laugh, a lover's memory, or the very color of one's dreams. They hoard these stolen essences like miserly dragons, each a testament to their cunning.
  • The Art of Corruption: A hag rarely resorts to direct violence if subtle corruption serves her ends. They are master manipulators, weaving webs of deceit and temptation. They do not usually bludgeon innocence but slowly erode it, whispering doubts, offering false solutions, and encouraging the worst impulses of their victims. The greater the fall from grace, the more exquisite the hag finds the experience. A paladin broken, a prophet turned cynic, a loving spouse twisted to hatred – these are their masterpieces.
  • Patience Beyond Mortal Ken: A hag measures time not in seasons, but in centuries. They can plant a seed of discord in one generation and harvest the suffering fruits three generations later. This allows for intricate, long-term schemes that mortal minds struggle to comprehend. A deal struck today might not reveal its true, bitter cost for decades, allowing the hag to observe the unfolding tragedy with detached amusement.
  • Envy & Scorn: They hold a deep, guttural contempt for mortal fragility, their fleeting lives, and especially for their capacity for genuine goodness or love. Yet, paradoxically, they envy these very qualities. This envy fuels their desire to corrupt and destroy, driven by a bitter recognition of their own inability to truly experience such things.
  • The Narrative Hunger (Thelanis Connection): A key insight into hag psychology, especially within Eberron, lies in their connection to Thelanis, the Faerie Court. Hags are creatures of story, and they crave dramatic, tragic, and often ironic narratives. They don't just want to do evil; they want to be the architect of a memorable, horrifying tale. Betrayal, irony, poetic injustice – these resonate deeply within their twisted fey hearts. They will often orchestrate events to achieve a particularly satisfying "ending" for their victims.
 
Behavioral Patterns & Modus Operandi

Hags employ a diverse arsenal of behaviors to achieve their twisted aims:

  • Disguise and Deception: Almost universally, hags possess the ability to alter their appearance. They often present themselves as benevolent grandmothers, wise hermits, alluring, if unsettling, figures, or even helpless victims. This allows them to infiltrate communities, gain trust, and observe their prey intimately before striking.
  • Lair as Self-Reflection: A hag's lair is often a grotesque reflection of her inner mind. A Sea Hag might dwell in a sunken ruin choked with the bones of sailors, while a Green Hag might inhabit a swampy hovel adorned with macabre charms and stolen trinkets. These places are steeped in dark magic and psychological manipulation, designed to disorient and terrify.
  • Wicked Allure of Knowledge: Hags often present themselves as purveyors of forbidden knowledge or powerful magic. They promise secrets of wealth, power, love, or revenge, always with a hidden price. They collect secrets and use them as leverage, delighting in the manipulation of those who seek an easy path.
  • Coven Dynamics: While fiercely individualistic and prone to infighting, hags understand the power of the coven. Three hags working in concert unleash a surge of magical power and psychological synergy. Within a coven, their individual pathologies become amplified, their schemes more intricate, and their cruelty more profound. However, even within a coven, a hag's inherent paranoia and self-interest remain, often leading to power struggles and betrayals.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

I. The Sharpened Mundane: A Predatory Awareness

Even their baseline, "mundane" senses are far from ordinary. Hags exist at the very edge of civilization, often dwelling in places of ancient power, deep forests, lightless caverns, or the murky depths of the Shadow Marches. To survive and thrive in such environments, their physical senses are honed to a predatory edge.

  • Sight: All hag types possess exceptional darkvision, allowing them to see perfectly in the deepest gloom, a common trait among creatures of the monstrous wilderness. Green Hags, in particular, are rumored to possess a keen, almost preternatural ability to discern movement and hidden pathways within their sylvan domains, able to spot even the most camouflaged quarry or the tell-tale shimmer of an illusion. Annis Hags, with their brutal physicality, often exhibit a chilling focus, able to track the faintest trail of blood or disturbed earth with uncanny precision.
  • Hearing: Their hearing is exceptionally acute, capable of distinguishing the subtle creak of a distant branch or the shallow breathing of a hidden intruder. This, combined with their superior sight, makes ambushes and quiet surveillance almost impossible to evade when in their presence.
  • Smell & Taste: These senses are often linked to their more grotesque aspects. Green Hags are said to be able to "smell" fear or despair, drawn to the emotional distress of mortals. Annis Hags, with their love of suffering, are rumored to detect the scent of fresh blood, injury, or profound misery over considerable distances. Night Hags, though often associated with the Ethereal, are believed to possess a chilling ability to discern the "taste" of a vulnerable soul, a spiritual flavor they seek to consume. These aren't just biological functions; they are filters for raw emotion and spiritual states.
 
II. Beyond Flesh: Extrasensory Prowess

It is in the realm of the extrasensory that hags truly transcend mortal understanding, blurring the lines between magic, psionics, and inherent monstrous nature.

  • Empathic Resonance & Mind-Sensing: This is perhaps their most insidious ability. Hags, particularly the Night Hags and the more manipulative Green Hags, possess an innate capacity to perceive emotions, desires, and even surface thoughts. This isn't brute psionic force like a kalashtar's telepathy, but a subtle, intuitive understanding of another's inner landscape. They can sense a mortal's greatest weakness, their deepest regrets, or their most burning ambition. This allows them to craft their manipulations with surgical precision, whispering exactly what needs to be heard, or creating illusions that exploit the victim's deepest fears. It is an understanding of the soul, rather than just the mind, though the exact mechanism remains horrifyingly obscure.
  • The Hag’s Eye & Remote Viewing: A staple of hag covens, the creation and use of "Hag's Eyes" are a prime example of their shared extrasensory network. By plucking out an eye and transforming it into a magical orb, they can scry upon any location for as long as the eye remains intact. This collective surveillance network allows the Daughters of Sora Kell to gather intelligence across Droaam and beyond, monitoring potential threats, observing their allies, and ensuring their dictates are followed. An operative might believe they are acting in secret, only for Sora Katra or Sora Teraza to have been "watching" through a seemingly innocuous gem embedded in a crone's staff miles away.
  • Divination and Portents: Hags possess a natural affinity for weaving and unweaving the strands of fate. They can intuit omens, read signs in the natural world (or the ethereal for Night Hags), and cast powerful divination spells. This doesn't mean they are omniscient, but they often have a disquieting sense of impending events, allowing them to prepare, manipulate circumstances, or simply disappear before danger arrives. This is how they avoid many direct confrontations that would be suicidal for lesser creatures.
  • Magic Sense: Living in a world suffused with arcane energies, hags are innately attuned to magic. They can often sense the presence of powerful enchantments, locate magical artifacts, or discern the nature of spellcraft used against them. This allows them to navigate magical traps, unravel wards, or identify the magical strengths and weaknesses of their adversaries.
  • Planar Awareness: Night Hags, with their fiendish origins and ties to Mabar (the Endless Night), exhibit a chilling awareness of the Ethereal Plane. They can slip between the material and ethereal realms with ease, becoming unseen observers or launching terrifying, intangible attacks. Green Hags, with their closer ties to the fey and the natural world, are often attuned to Lamannia (the Twilight Forest) or even Thelanis (the Faerie Court), sensing planar overlays or the presence of powerful fey creatures. This multi-planar perception gives them a distinct advantage in a world where planar boundaries occasionally thin.
 
III. The Coven's Collective Gaze: A Unified Consciousness

Perhaps the most potent aspect of hag perception lies in the coven. When three hags of any type gather, they form a coven, which grants them shared spellcasting abilities, but crucially, also a shared sensory network. Within a range of approximately one mile, the thoughts, sensory input, and emotional states of the coven members are shared. This means that if Sora Teraza sees a particular threat in the Eldeen Reaches, Sora Maenya in Droaam City and Sora Katra in the depths of Graywall may instantly know it, perceiving it as if through their own eyes.

This collective awareness allows for unparalleled coordination, intelligence gathering, and predictive capabilities. It's not merely relaying information; it's a merging of consciousness. A threat detected by one hag is immediately known to all three. This makes ambushing them as a group incredibly difficult, and it allows them to formulate complex, multi-pronged strategies with chilling efficiency. The Daughters of Sora Kell, as a grand coven, embody this power. Their individual perceptions are amplified and unified, providing a frighteningly comprehensive understanding of their realm and the forces acting upon it.

 
Conclusion: Understanding the Unseen Threat

To understand the Daughters of Sora Kell, and hags in general, is to move beyond viewing them as mere monstrous spellcasters. They are beings of profound and unsettling perception, their senses extending far beyond the mundane into the very fabric of magic, emotion, and existence itself. They do not merely react to the world; they feel it, anticipate it, and manipulate it with an insidious grace born of their unique sensory capabilities.

When dealing with a hag, never assume your secrets are safe, your intentions hidden, or your presence unperceived. For even when you believe you are alone, the hag's gaze, whether physical or extrasensory, may already be upon you, charting the weaknesses of your spirit and preparing the threads for your inevitable demise.

Civilization and Culture

History

The Foundation of Droaam

Over the years, the hags moved from creatures of history to creatures of legend. Even with the advent of the Last War, the communities in western part of Khorvaire spoke of fearsome creatures that haunted the nightmares of children. Especially noted were a trio of hags known collectively as the Daughters of Sora Kell. Whispers spoke of Sora Katra, a green hag that had haunted the Shadow Marches for generations; of Sora Maenya, the gruesome annis hag that hunted within the Eldeen Reaches; and of Sora Teraza, an enigmatic dusk hag that explored the ancient ruins within the Demon Wastes.

However, in the year 987 YK, the three hags went from legends to headlines. Over the years leading up to 987, Breland had faced more and more monstrous incursions on their western border. With the Last War in full swing, and with Breland facing multiple front lines with Aundair, Thrane, and Cyre, Brelish forces could not spend the resources protecting their citizens in the west. In early 987 YK, King Boranel of Breland evacuated the remaining settlements west of the Graywall Mountains was the land was considered off limits.

Shortly afterwards, the Daughters of Sora Kell came forward as a unified force, and announced the formation of a new nation: the monstrous nation of Droaam. Droaam would be a haven for all the creatures feared and shunned by the common races of Eberron. The Daughters called a summit at the Great Crag, and the representatives of a wide variety of races came forward: gnolls, harpies, medusas, minotaurs, ogres, and orcs. Sora Katra established the basic system of tribute that passes for government in Droaam, and the great forces of monsters bended their knees to these three rulers.

However, the other races were less accepting. At the end of the Last War, the great nations of Khorvaire gathered to sign the Treaty of Thronehold. The nation of Droaam, however, was not invited, and its sovereignty was denied. Whatever the case, the Daughters of Sora Kell continued to stabilize their new nation, and have even entered into negotiations with House Tharashk to supply them monstrous troops. Many of the remaining hags not affiliated with the Demon Wastes have traveled to Droaam and joined the forces of the Daughters.

Historical Figures

  • The most famous hags are the Daughters of Sora Kell: Sora Katra (a green hag), Sora Maenya (an annis hag), and Sora Teraza (a dusk hag). As their name implies, they are the children of Sora Kell (a night hag). Their father(s) is unknown, though is presumed to be a fiend, since all three hags are half-fiends.
  • Jabra is a night hag and said to be a distant cousin of Sora Kell. She runs an alchemy shop in the city of Graywall in Droaam.
  • Kyrale is the head of the night hags of the Demon Wastes. She serves as an ambassador to the other powers within the Wastes.
  • Vraria is a night hag that rules the small thorp of Rotting Blade, an entire village of humans, orcs, and kobolds all there to do her bidding.
Scientific Name
Genus Malefica
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations

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