In a study of ancient literature, one can find humans, or ones who once were or have become human, who have beyond ordinary knowledge. Some of these folk are called by the misnomer of witches by common folk; others are called by other names. The ancients had much knowledge and used it wisely for the benefit of mankind. Man became jealous and attempted by many ways and means to destroy the ancients and gain their knowledge for themselves.
A few managed to escape the onslaught in one way or another. Some of them became aligned with evil, and they were burned at the stake, tortured, went underground, or were destroyed. Some it is said drank human blood; others dealt in evil and powerful charms and magics. Some of them aligned themselves with good and were called white witches. They used magic and charms for the benefit of others. They were quickly exhausted and disillusioned, and sought places of solitude in this world and the next.
There were in the world powerful books too. The Tome of the Virtues and the Tome of the Dark Paths existed to keep the world in balance. These were created by the ancients to keep order in a world where chaos threatened to destroy the very core of it. Yet, as time passed, the wardings upon the books faded and two came to destroy them.
Because the world was in balance, neither of the books could be destroyed, only dismantled. The Tome of the Virtues was scattered by the hand of Mal'Dain, who it is said would one day, through his seed, cause a rift in the very world itself. A paladin of the Legion of the Noble Sphere named Aeric took the second. He cast the pieces in the book into stone, and hid them away from the evil of the world who one day might try to reassemble the book. It is said that once one of the books was assembled, the balance of the world would sway toward that side, good or evil.
One alone came to choose neither good nor evil. She came to be called the witch of the forest, because like nature, she was neither good nor evil. It is said that to maintain her fragile balance, she must maintain a soul slave, or a soul partner. Bound to her by the soul, he cannot deny her anything or lie to her. It is the only way she can be sure not to be betrayed. These slaves, or partners if you will, are all too mortal. It is said she has had many such in the years she has lived, and without one she would surely die.
Her enemies are many, and the danger is great, but it is said that men, long ago, would gladly serve her. One wonders why.
It is said, too, that for every good act she performs, an evil must be done, and so balance maintained. Each thing must have its price.
Finding one of the books would change the very balance of the universe and sway it to one side or the other. Yet, what would happen if this "witch of the forest" were swayed… the last force of balance from among the ancients?
And if the bond of the soul affects the man, does it not also affect the woman? Surely such a strong bond would allow one to have great influence over the other, but perhaps the witch has never thought of that, or perhaps she chooses only weak or good men. There is no way to tell this, of course.
It is said she takes her name from the ancients of other worlds - Morrigana for the legend of the Morrigan, an ancient goddess of the Celt who had great power, and Aife, of the same peoples. It is most odd that both of these names are associated with ambivalent creatures, and both female as well. Who is to say that what is evil to others is not always so.
It is said that of all the ancients, only Morrigana can still be found in this world, though there are rumors of the dark witches, and perhaps they are more than just rumors. It is said, too, in the old legends that one day one of the white witches shall return, when the balance becomes unhinged, and the world turns to light once more. This is, of course, pure speculation and myth.
Quests
Tome of the Virtues
Twilight Dreams
