That withered old crone may have your next adventure, may be a normal townsperson, or may just be a Hag, D&D’s wicked witch.
In real-world Earth folklore, Hags are effectively witches. Often depicted as evil, old, and magical, tales of Hags have been used to scare children into behaving for generations. And with multiple varieties and flavors of Hag, they can now scare adult D&D enthusiasts, as well.
Night Hag
The most hag-like and idealized of the Hags, Night Hags dwell in the lower planes, inducing nightmares and harvesting soul larvae. Even when compared to other Hags they are considered hideous and insidious, making them the worst of the worst and the true embodiment of a fairytale wicked witch. The Night Hag aims to corrupt every good thing they encounter and delight in corrupting ideals and breaking sacred bonds, all with the goal of inflicting maximum suffering. That said, being seen as dishonest isn’t good for Hag business, so they tend to keep their own promises and honor their own deals.
Annis
Annis hags are the largest and most physically imposing of the Hags, typically standing at least seven feet tall and looking like a tree and a mountain birthed a very old ogre. Sharp teeth, physical strength, and sharp nails that are literally made of iron all characterize Annis Hags as well as why any adventurer would be smart to keep as far away as possible. Unfortunately, they are some of the most conceited of the Hags as well as taking delight in destruction and domination, so if a battle with an Annis Hag is in your party’s future, they will more than likely find you.
Green Hag
There’s a good chance that if you’re picturing the typical D&D Hag, you’re picturing the Green Hag. They live near rivers and swamps, they look like withered old crones, they’re known to magically camouflaged their appearance, and they are the most common of the Hags to encounter. When not disguised they can typically be recognized by the green tinge their skin has, but in D&D that may also not be terribly surprising unless the Hag also happens to be offering you an apple or actively killing someone in front of you for a spell component.
Bheur
Wicked witches of all things icy and cold, Bheurs are said to bring the season’s cold with them. Their blue-white appearance makes them look like living corpses of someone who froze to death, while they actually posses a great deal of knowledge regarding survival skills and control over the cold. Unsurprisingly they are vunerable to fire-based attacks, but you may not know that a Bheur’s powers are kneecapped significantly when they are without their staffs.
Have you encountered a Hag in any of your D&D adventures? Which kind did your party have to face? Do you prefer the Hags of 5E, or is your favorite from one of the previous editions? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Adventuring!
Source: Bell of Lost Souls
