WITCHDOCTOR
evil in nature, and must declare allegiance to either the race of demons or the race of devils in order to acquire magical ability (see the necromancer profession for details concerning the pacts which must be made at levels 1,5,7,9, and 13). In some regions, they are called witch-men or witch-women.
Though witchdoctors are practitioners of Low Magic, their abilities in this area are quite limited. They are unable to cast any of the restricted spells from this field except those which pertain to Image Magic. Neither are witchdoctors able to obtain the services of a Power Animal, consequently rendering them unable to bind spirit forms to their physical selves.
Witchdoctors can, however, bind spirit forms to any type of inanimate object (such as a spear, staff, stone, etc.). Only one spirit may be bound to any given object, each such device counting as a magic item. At the witchdoctor’s behest, a bound spirit may be called forth to service but once, after which it will be free to depart the material plane. Chance of success is determined by rolling a d20 on the spirit binding table (located in the appendix at the end of this book) at a penalty of -1.
Perhaps the most fearsome use of this form of spirit binding is the creation of a juju, a shrunken head imbued with the spirit of a deceased spell caster. Considered by witchdoctors to be the most potent of malefic charms, these horrid fetishes take two weeks to create; the skull being removed, the head shrunk, and the eyes and lips sewn shut to prevent the escape of the spirit. Once completed, the juju awaits only the binding of an appropriate spirit. Any spirit bound to a juju will be imprisoned forever, or until it is granted its release. While imprisoned in the juju, the spirit must answer truthfully any question put to it by its owner. Should the owner of a juju foolishly ask the spirit more than three questions in a given month, the fetish will lose its power, and the spirit will be freed. Any spirit freed from such confinement will not rest until it has wreaked vengeance upon the witchdoctor who imprisoned it and all who ever owned the juju.
Like shamans, witchdoctors are able to see into the spirit realm (range: 20 ft. radius), and detect spirit, astral or ethereal presences at will. Note that it is not possible to see into the spirit realm and the prime material plane simultaneously.
- Minimum Attributes: INT: 12 WILL: 12 PER: 12
- Alignment: Any Evil Alignment
- Combat Capabilities: Untrained
- Special Abilities: Limited Spirit Binding, See Into Spirit Realm
- Dual-Classed
SKILLS
Level 1
- Any 2 Weapons
- Spell Casting
- Read Magic (100%)
- Herb Lore
Level 3
- Toxic Powders
- Woodcraft
Level 5
- Venoms and Poisons
Level 7
- Magical Mixtures
Level 9
- Runes
Level 10
- Minor Magic Items
Level 11
- Rods, Staves and Wands
Level 12
- Greater Magic Items
Level 13
- Magical Weapons and Armor
