Hedge Magic
Hedge Magic is the practice of using flora with magical properties to create and cast spells. Like all magical phenomenon magical flora receives its magical essence due to its growth and presence near to existing leylines. Some magical plants have fey influence and may have originated in Shadow.
For ages plants have been used as spell components and in the making of potions, and even as spell focuses. Formal students of the arcane understand these methods of employing plants. A different, separate, discipline of using the magical properties of plants is called Hedge Magic. This discipline uses the knowledge of the magical properties of plants to directly cast spells, manifesting the magical essence in the plant as arcane effects.
The masters of this form of magic are typically called hedgecrafters. Many are druids. Some are witches (hags). Others are simply Olde Wise Women or woodsmen, or gardeners, who know a little about this plant or that.
Manifestation
In Hedge Magic, each plant can manifest a different magical effect. These effects are called worts. Magical plants can be either fresh or dried. Fresh plants produce the most powerful effects, while dried plants can only be used to produce minor worts. The plant is always consumed in the process, whether the spell succeeds or not.
There are there types of worts. Minor Worts, Ceremonial Worts and Cultivated Worts.
Minor Worts
Minor worts are produce single-use effects similar to a spell scroll or a potion. That always require a somatic component such as crushing, cutting or consuming the plant. Any creature can cast a minor wort provided they are using the appropriate plant the correct way.
Ceremonial Wort
Ceremonial worts are rituals, similar to spells and they produce effects similar to spells. They require preparation and knowledge. Ceremonial worts have level requirements which are always given in the plant description.
Cultivation Worts
Cultivation worts require downtime, resources and commitment to the cultivation of the required plants over a long period. That makes them rare to witness and difficult to create. Most creatures capable of performing such worts have long term commitment to the cultivation of the plants involved and motivation to spend the time.
Spell Save DC
The saving throw for a wort that calls for one is equal to 8 + the caster's Proficiency Bonus + their Intelligence or Wisdom Modifier (their choice). If they are a regular arcane or divine caster and their spell save DC is higher, use that.
Feat
Accessing the potent Ceremonial and Cultivation worts requires the Hedgecraft Feat.
