How would a witch mess with someone?
I'm running the RoW AP and the PCs are known to some of the witches, but the witches don't know their current location. I was very surprised to find that nightmare is not on the witch spell list. So, how do the witches mess with the good guys?
They would start with a Scrying just to learn more about them and watch them.
They would prepare a strategy against the group.
Not sure what Hexes and How many witches there is. Can you fill us in on the witches? The level would help a lot.
With the Coven Hex (and either a Hag or the Collar of the Unbound) they can gain access to Coven Spells; and you can always add Nightmare to the list as per its recommendation.
Dominate Person lasts for DAYS so you can easily enslave a series of people to scout out for them and act as eyes and infiltrators; and most importantly steal hair and such for Scrying/Hexing Doll purposes.
Cursed Items are always great because players will use ANYTHING!
More information would be great!
Ganji Dolls
Using the ideas above, have them craft a ganji doll of one of the party members. This could really mess with the party, letting the witch use touch range spells against the PC from any distance.
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I 'm not totally opposed to bumping her up a level, but I want to focus on stuff she can do herself. I don't want to involved arbitrarily stronger NPCs that then won't be involved in the direct engagement.
Her hexes are cauldron, flight, frostfoot, frozen carcass, and slumber.
The PCs are in Irrisen presently. I want the PCs to feel the presence of the witches a bit more, without actually having to fight another one yet.
RoW Spoiler
Just to put it out there, the last encounter before entering the Hut needs to be bumped up a bit (IMO). Her fighting alone with just the Ice Golem (going off of memory) leaves them at a serious disadvantage; though 5th level spells might be pushing it. Obviously you know your group better; but make use of Emberchill to counter obvious Fireballs. Keep her in the air, and abuse her Frostfoot to keep out of danger if she gets ground-locked otherwise she goes Splat really quickly as she has little in terms of defense (due to being a Witch).
In answer to your question, if you want their presence to be more felt, perhaps play up the fact that this is a land that has been crushed underneath the heels of the witches. Make people very unlikely to help them, keep them scared, and spy on them using Mirrors.
Make Mirrors obvious and apparent, players may create their own paranoia and suspicion. The eyes of the city would be full of those who have sworn fealty to the Winter Witches; and they can easily provide help and information to them. Also, who needs Scrying when you have scared commoners who will sell out strangers for safety and food? Play up cursed people in the Town as a sort of Leper or example that the Witches have made. Imagine losing half your actions (Bestow Curse) for the rest of your life; how would that feel knowing that 50% of your life freezes up before your eyes?
In terms of nasty things for her to do, you can always use Deadman's Contingency as a dying curse. Set up Symbol Spells throughout the Woods; she wouldn't just rely on whatever natural defenses are set up and the Antilife shell.
We took an unnatural approach to our White Throne situation so I may be misremembering but maybe I can come up with more Witchy ideas.
I was very surprised to find that nightmare is not on the witch spell list. So, how do the witches mess with the good guys?
Yeah, no nightmare seems absurd for the witch. One of those (many) arbitrary removals from the Wiz/Sorc list which does not make sense at all.
If your witches are high enough level (13+) Vision of Doom is available on the witch list (go figure?). This is a particularly pernicious variation on nightmare and may be ideal for your purposes.