The Cailleach, Hag of Winter (Might 70)
A spirit know to the celts and still remembered in the tribunals of Britain and Ireland. She is an embodiment of winter, though has some ties to the earth and mountains as well. She is a (somewhat disinterested) patron of the weather-witches of Loch Leaglean (these can be represented as Tempestariae, see Houses of Hermes: Societates), who are sometimes known as Cailleachan (‘Old Women’, ‘Hags’) and was the patron of a lost Pictish tradition which now survives only as the Cailleach Magic virtue of the Gruagachan.
There is some debate about her in theurgical circles with some claiming she is an aspect of the more familiar Boreas while other suggest she is linked to Ge – though a protogonos such as Ge would usually never be so active in the world. Others still propose she is a cosomkrator, overseer of the transition between summer and winter. No explanation is definitive and as a daimon she does not fit neatly into hermetic classifications. The Gruagachan tend to emphasise her earth-like aspect while the weather-witches and Roman Magi tend to view her more as an embodiment of winter weather and seasonal transition.
The mountain of Ben Nevis is sacred to her and invocations made there at midwinter are especially likely to be looked on favourably. Some theorists have suggested she is in fact a Genus Loci of the mountain who has somehow freed herself from the confines of her locus. She is also linked to Ben Cruachan, also in Scotland.
She is of interest to theurgists, though few are capable of invoking her, for several reasons. Firstly, she has great power over the landscape and weather. Secondly, she has great power over magic itself – it is whispered in theurgical circles that she may have been connected to the magic of the Diedne. Lastly, she is rumoured to know the way to the fabled fountain of youth, or perhaps to be a guardian of it.
She appears as a huge old woman dressed in clothes that are black at midsummer but become more white through the year until they are sparkling white at midwinter. Her skin is pallid blue, like someone who has died of cold, she has bone white hair, and she has only one baleful eye.
Characteristics: Int +3, Per +3, Pre +9, Com 0, Str +4, Sta +2, Dex -5, Quik -5
Personality Traits: Easily Angered +4, Irritable +3
Abilities: Craft: Stonecarving 8, Mountain Lore 10, Animal Handling 7, Hunt 8, Survival 14, Magic Lore 8, Magic Theory (Spontaneous Magic) 16
Powers:
Hag of Hags, 10 points
The Cailleach can impart knowledge of how to use spontaneous magic in a more powerful way. When invoked as part of an initiation into Cailleach Magic for Gruagachan, or Deidne Magic for Hermetic Magi, she can grant a bonus of +10 to the initiation script.
Molder of Magic, variable points (Init -5)
The Cailleach can replicate any Muto Vim effect at a cost of 1 might per magnitude. This power may use the Harnessed and Tethered magic effects from Mutantum magic.
Carver of Mountains, Queen of Winter, variable points (Init -5)
The Cailleach can replicate any effect relating to Mountains or Weather at a cost of 1 might per magnitude.
Mother of the Gods, variable points (Init -5)
The Cailleach can reveal the names of many lesser spirits of winter and earth to theurgists (any spirit of up to might 35 is appropriate).
The Well of Youth
Not a power per se, but a piece of knowledge. The Cailleach knows the location of the (or perhaps, a) fountain of youth in the magic realm. She is unlikely to give this information away freely and may have to be tricked into revealing it.
You can also read this post here: https://lexhermetica.wordpress.com/2019/11/08/the-cailleach-30-daimons-for-november-8/