Communicating with a Witch's Patron

[Munkibowl]

There doesn't seem to be anything in the book outlining how the patron communicates with the witch. I originally assumed that it was through the familiar, but the familiar isn't capable of verbal communication until level 5. For now my GM has ruled that the patron communicates through the familiar, who passes on the info to me in a non verbal form(not telepathy), such as pointing to something, leading me somewhere or guiding me through emotion with the empathic link. Is there any official explanation on the nature of the communication?

[Kalyth]

Munkibowl wrote:

There doesn't seem to be anything in the book outlining how the patron communicates with the witch. I originally assumed that it was through the familiar, but the familiar isn't capable of verbal communication until level 5. For now my GM has ruled that the patron communicates through the familiar, who passes on the info to me in a non verbal form(not telepathy), such as pointing to something, leading me somewhere or guiding me through emotion with the empathic link. Is there any official explanation on the nature of the communication?

There really isnt even an official explanation of Patrons period. Let alone if they even communicate with their witches. Basically all that is covered is that Witches receive their ability to learn and use magic through some connection to a patron and the familiar is a representation or servant of that patron. Pretty much that's all they give us.

[Ambrus]

I believe that there's no indication that a witch's patron has any ability, need or desire to communicate with either the witch or familiar directly, ever. Theirs seems to be some sort of mysterious and undefined relationship; if it could even be termed as such. Perhaps the granting of magic to a mortal fulfils the patron's goals; making further communication unnecessary. If the GM decides that, for whatever reason, the witch's patron entity wishes to communicate with her, then it's up to him to determine how or when such communication would take place.

[Kalyth]

Ambrus wrote:

I believe that there's no indication that a witch's patron has any ability, need or desire to communicate with either the witch or familiar directly, ever. Theirs seems to be some sort of mysterious and undefined relationship; if it could even be termed as such. Perhaps the granting of magic to a mortal fulfils the patron's goals; making further communication unnecessary. If the GM decides that, for whatever reason, the witch's patron entity wishes to communicate with her, then it's up to him to determine how or when such communication would take place.

Also I am of the opinion that the witches "Patron" doesnt really have to be an entity. It could be a concept or belief system or a collection of entities/deities/spirits.

I am currently playing a witch who is based around being a tribal shaman. Her "patron" is just the complete collection of ancestrial and nature spirits as a whole. Casting Controll weather is a petition to the storm spirits for help, ect...

Her Familiar is just a nature spirit taken flesh.
Her Ward Hex is a simple request for an ancestor spirit to protect someoneone.

She would cast Transformation by actually channeling the spirit of a great warrior of her tribe, to gain strenght in combat.

I kind of like the open endedness of the Patron concept. It really gives you the freedom to get creative with a character.

[Munkibowl]

I guess it's important not to get too bogged down in the details - I don't see how a familiar could teach me a new spell with a verbal component when we can't communicate but I suppose stuff like that can just be handwaved. Also, I liked the idea of following the patron's whims or being assigned tasks that the character doesn't understand but further the patron's goals in some way, so I was hoping for some kind of communication.

[Kalyth]

Munkibowl wrote:

I guess it's important not to get too bogged down in the details - I don't see how a familiar could teach me a new spell with a verbal component when we can't communicate but I suppose stuff like that can just be handwaved. Also, I liked the idea of following the patron's whims or being assigned tasks that the character doesn't understand but further the patron's goals in some way, so I was hoping for some kind of communication.

The understanding could be imparted mystically. They gaze into each others eyes and symbols and concepts flood the witches mind. A barrage of chaotic imagery that slowly stills and forms a complex spell formula that the witch then instictively knows how to complete and release.

I really like that they didnt define patrons specifically and left them vague. Just felt the need to add that again.

Choose your own Fluff is great!!!

[Moriarty]

I would have the patron communicate through signs or portents or other mystical and unusual ways. Maybe the witch throws bones every morning to understand her patron's will. Maybe the witch has odd dreams one night and wakes up knowing what the patron wants of her. Spooky and myserious signs would seem to fit most witch characters.

[Echo Vining]

Kalyth wrote:

Choose your own Fluff is great!!!

This is how I approach every part of every RPG I play.

[Starglim]

Summoning a herald, servant or avatar of the patron might be a suitable addition, maybe as a grand hex. Otherwise, I agree with earlier posters that the patron remains nebulous and the witch communicates mostly with the familiar.

[Nebulous_Mistress]

Starglim wrote:

Summoning a herald, servant or avatar of the patron might be a suitable addition, maybe as a grand hex. Otherwise, I agree with earlier posters that the patron remains nebulous and the witch communicates mostly with the familiar.

The best patron is the nebulous patron.