His Dark Materials
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His Dark Materials

The witch was a humanoid being with magical abilities. They inhabited multiple worlds.

Biology[]

Witches were humanoid beings but distinct from humans biologically and culturally. Like humans, witches had dæmons, which always settled in the form of birds. Witches aged much more slowly than humans, and were known to live for more than a thousand years. In Lyra's world, only female witches existed. In this world, witches bore the children of human men, who were witches if female and human if male.[1] There were other worlds in which there were male witches and witches didn't live longer than humans, but were still able to fly.[2]

Witches were able to feel cold, but it did not cause them harm. They were also able to feel tingling and silky sensations on their skin when exposed to starlight and moonlight respectively.[1]

Abilities[]

Flight[]

Serafina & Kaisa

Serafina Pekkala flies with her branch of cloud-pine.

Witches were capable of using branches of cloud-pine to fly.

Invisibility[]

While true invisibility was impossible, witches were able to enter a fiercely-held modest state of mind which allowed them to go unnoticed. With the correct degree of intensity, a witch would be able to pass through a crowded room or walk beside a single person unnoticed.[3]

Weather control[]

Witches were able to control the weather to a degree. Serafina Pekkala and her clan were able to summon winds to speed Lee Scoresby's balloon on its way.

Healing[]

Witches were capable of performing healing magic. However, this type of spell proved ineffective against the wounds caused to Will Parry by Æsahættr.

Culture[]

Society[]

Witch lands map

A map of the witch lands drawn by John Parry.

Witches did not have possessions, and their only means of exchange was mutual aid.[1]

Witches divided themselves into communities known as clans. Each clan had its own territory with definite but irregular borders which varied from season to season based on the growth of plants and the migration of animals.[4]

Clans formed alliances and enmities with each other. There was an ancient rivalry between the Tikshozero clan and the Micokojärvi clan.[4]

Known clans[]

Dæmons[]

Witches took part in a coming-of-age ritual, wherein they travelled to a barren land in the North where their dæmons could not go, much like the land of the dead. The completion of this ritual allowed them to separate from their dæmons over long distances.[5]

Religion[]

Witches were known to worship at least one deity. Yambe-Akka was the witches' goddess of the dead.[1] Witches did not believe in the notion of a spirit.[6]

Notable witches[]

Battle on the Plain

Witches and angels at the Battle on the Plain

Appearances[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Northern Lights, Chapter 18
  2. The Subtle Knife, Chapter 13
  3. The Subtle Knife, Chapter 2
  4. 4.0 4.1 The Subtle Knife, appendix
  5. The Amber Spyglass, Chapter 36
  6. Northern Lights, Appendix
Witches
Witch clans Lake Enara clanKeitele clanLake Ladoga clanLake Lubana clanMicokojärvi clanNania clanOnega clanTaymyr clanTikshozero clanLake Umolese clanLake Visha clan
Clan queens Ieva KaskuJulia OjalandJuta KamainenKatya SirkkaPaula PyhäjärowReina MitiRuta SkadiSara LeiroSerafina PekkalaTanja LentanaTilda Vasara
Other witches Lena FeldtMedeaSerafina Pekkala's motherYelena PazhetsTortured witchUnidentified witch
Consuls Martin Lanselius
Important Yambe-AkkaCloud-pineHolding spell
Species
Humanoid AngelsDæmonsDeathsGallivespiansGhostsHumansMermaidsWitchesZombi
Other Cliff-ghastsHarpiesMulefaNight-ghastsPanserbjørneSpectresWill-o’-the-wykes
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