Epic Origin: The Crone's Progeny (HB)

The Crone's Progeny Of all the tales whispered in Zamanora, none cause more dread than those of Baba Yaga, the Bone Mother, the First Witch, the Crone with Countless Names. At her mere mention, villagers spit to ward off ill luck or call upon the gods to drive her shadow away. To most, she is the eternal hag, capricious and cruel, whose name graces every tale of misfortune. Yet of all her terrors, one tale is stranger, softer, and far more human: the tale of her only child.

Made, not Born: It is said that Yaga is as ancient as Zamanora itself, possessing abilities that cannot ever be fully comprehended. Yet at that peak of magical prowess, she stood utterly alone. Her gifts and burdens unshared, she would witness isolation eat away at her soul, her lingering humanity. A witch, especially the greatest Witch of all, must have a coven. Lacking equals then, she devised another way to fulfil that hope: she would fashion a child. Thus she turned not to womb but cauldron, bringing to bear the secrets of creation that she beheld at the world's first dawn. So was conceived the pinnacle of alchemy, the Progeny; a living, breathing homunculus graced with the capacity for thought and emotion, able to grow and dream, love and hate, like any other person. Endowed with potential but free of control, this being was created to evolve into the Crone's match in power and cunning, but also as a tether to her own mortal nature. Alas, no growth can be achieved without experience. So the child must be sent into the world, to live among its kind. No mark betrays the Progeny's nature and they grow like any other, a person among the people. Only, fate seems to subtly bend around them. The strange clings to them, knowledge and challenge always drifts their way. Even so, danger seems to avert its gaze, and when calamity strikes some hidden hand intercedes; that of Baba Yaga herself. Unseen but never absent, she yearns for her creation's experience to broaden, for it to grow into a worthy member of her Coven. At the same time, she also fusses over its safety, never daring to reveal herself, lest her daunting presence harm the Progeny's acceptance by their peers. So she cares from afar, always tampering with the experiment, rarely pausing to wonder what unbidden emotions might be guiding her actions.

The Progeny's Dilemma: Baba Yaga's Progeny will eventually face a haunting crossroads, a moment of terrible clarity when they discover the truth of their origin. Faced with this haunting reality, the Progeny might rebel against Yaga, rejecting their creator and the unspoken expectation placed upon them. They may seek a life in opposition to her legacy, treating her as the Crone, monster of legend, even attempting to hunt her down. However, one might approach such a revelation not as a puppet that can finally see its strings, but as a child finding connection to a parent. They might do as the First Witch hopes, returning to the embrace of their Mother to become her Coven. Perhaps such a child, tempered by the touch of community that its mother never felt, could change the Witch's frigid perspective. The acceptance of her creation by the society that threw her out, or even a simple act of love, reciprocated to an attentive parent, may stoke the flame of Baba Yaga's withered humanity. Or perhaps such miracles only occur in fairy tales.

A background lists three of your character's ability scores. Increase one by 2 and another one by 1, or increase all three by 1. None of these increases can raise a score above 20.

Epic Origin Feats are reserved solely for Epic Origins. You gain the following benefits.

Homunculus. When you walk within 15 feet of an area where a spell was cast within the last 24 hours, you can sense its school of magic. If multiple spells were cast, you sense the school of magic of the most powerful spell.

Forbidden Cradle. Your exposure to the ancient magics of the Crone has altered your being. Your Veilmark Score increases by 25.

Conduit of the Arcane. As a Reaction to a creature casting a spell that deals damage or restores Hit Points within 60 feet of you that you can see, you can partially absorb its magic. When you do so, reduce its dice rolled by a number of dice equal to your Proficiency Bonus. Then, you roll these dice instead and gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to the amount rolled. You may use this feat a number of times per day equal to half your Proficiency Bonus.

Each background gives a character proficiency with one tool—either a specific tool or one chosen from the Artisan's Tools category.

Choose A or B: (A) Explorer's Pack, 1 Alchemist's Supplies, 1 Dagger, 5 Candles, 1 set of Traveler's Clothes, 8 GP or (B) 50 GP