The High Witches of Tirisfal

The High Witches of Tirisfal are a line of secretive and shadowy sorceresses that go back many hundreds of years.

Much of their history is shrouded in mystery. However, this much is known: the first High Witch was a human woman nicknamed Black Alyss, who is believed to have resided in northern Tirisfal Glades. Local records about her life is sketchy, but what has been recorded suggests that Alyss was a local wise-woman and midwife who exhibited an extraordinary talent for the black arts.

The best known legend about Alyss was that when she approached middle age, she took a lover and apprentice; an un-named male warlock who, the story goes, was promising but arrogant. After a few years of learning Alyss' magic secrets, the warlock decided after a night's drinking that he didn't need his mentor anymore. The couple fought and the young man struck the witch across the cheek.

Alyss was reputatedly so angry at the young man that she flew into a terrifying rage. The pair battled, culminating in Alyss ripping off her apprentice's arm just as he was casting a powerful spell that should have killed her.

The man's power was broken and he spent the rest of his life as a one-armed, insane cripple.