#hexenhammer

Allgemeine Fragen an die Hexe oder den Hexer.

hexenhammer is a real witchcraft treatise written in 1486. it’s original title is “malleus maleficarum”, which roughly translates into “hammer of witches”.

Full Title: Malleus Maleficarum

Alternate Titles: Hexenhammer, Hammer of Witches

Author(s):  Heinrich Kramer (possibly Jacob Sprenger)

Language: Latin

Year Written: 1486

Year Published: 1487

Hexenhammer elevates sorcery to the criminal status of heresy and recommends that secular courts prosecute it as such. It further suggests torture to effectively obtain confessions and the death penalty as the only certain remedy against the evils of witchcraft. At the time of it’s publication, heretics were frequently punished to be burned alive at the stake, and Hexenhammer encouraged the same treatment for witches. The book has had a strong influence on culture for many centuries.

Jacob Sprenger’s name was added as an author beginning in 1519, thirty-three years after the book’s first publication and twenty-four years after Sprenger’s death, but the veracity of this later addition has been questioned by many historians for various reasons. Kramer wrote Hexenhammer following his expulsion from Innsbruck by the local bishop, due to charges of illegal behavior against Kramer himself, and because of his obsession with the sexual habits of one of the accused, Helena Scheuberin, which led to the tribunal members to suspend the trial.

The book was later used by royal courts during the renaissance, and contributed to the increasingly brutal prosecutions during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

MAIN CONTENTS OF HEXENHAMMER

Justification

Papal Bull 

Approbation by professors of theology at the University of Cologne

Table of Contents

The Main Texts (divided into three parts)

Justification: In this part, it is briefly explained that prevalence of sorcery is a method of Satan’s final assault and motivated the authors to write Hexenhammer.

“Lucifer attacks through these heresies at that time in particular, when the evening of the world declines towards its setting and the evil of men swells up, since he knows in great anger, as John bares witness in the Book of Apocalypse, that he has little time remaining. Hence, he has also caused a certain unusual heretical perversity to grow up in the land of the Lord- a heresy, I say, of sorceresses, since it is to be designated by the particular sex over which he is known to have power [women].”

Papal Bull: Copies of Hexenhammer contain a reproduction of a papal bull known as Summis Desiderantes Affectibus that is addressed to Heinrich Institoris and Jacob Sprenger. According to it, Pope Innocent VIII acknowledges that sorceresses are real and harmful through their involvement in the acts of Satan.

According to the date on the document, the papal bull had been issued in 1484, two years before Hexenhammer was finished. Therefore, it is not an endorsement of a specific final text of Hexenhammer. Instead, its inclusion implicitly legitimizes the handbook by providing general confirmation of the reality of witchcraft and full authority to Sprenger and Institoris in their teachings and proceedings.

Approbation: This part of Hexenhammer is titled “The Approbation of the Following Treatise and the Signatures Thereunto of the Doctors of the Illustrious University of Cologne Follows in the Form of a Public Document” and contains the unanimous approval of Hexenhammer by all the doctors of the theological faculty of the University of Cologne with inclusion of confirmatory testimony by present witnesses.

Text of approbation mentions that during proceedings Institoris had a letter from the newly crowned king of the Romans, Maximillian, which is summarized in the approbation: “[Maximillion I] takes these inquisitors under his complete protection, ordering and commanding each and every subject of the Roman Empire to render all favor and assistance to these inquisitors and otherwise to act in the manner that is more fully contained and included in the letter.”

The approbation consists of a preamble and is followed by a resolution in two parts, which I will not be listing here due to length and general irrelevance.

Main Text: Hexenhammer asserts that three elements are necessary for witchcraft: the evil intentions of the witch, the help of the devil, and the permission of God. The treatise is divided into three sections. the first section is aimed at clergy and tries to refute critics who deny the reality of witchcraft, thereby hindering its prosecution.

The second section describes the actual forms of witchcraft and its remedies. The third section is to assist judges confronting and combating witchcraft, and to aid the inquisitors by removing the burden from them. 

According to Kramer, this concept of sorcery is characterized by the conviction that those guilty engage in six activities:

A pact entered into the devil (and concomitant apostasy from Christianity).

Sexual relations with the devil.

Aerial flight, usually for the purpose of attending:

An assembly presided over by Satan himself (at which initiates entered into the pact, and incest and promiscuous sex were engaged in by the attendees).

The practice of maleficent magic.

The slaughter of babies.

BACK TO YUPPIE PSYCHO: WAS SINTRA RIGHT?

In Yuppie Psycho, Sintra lists a few things Hexenhammer supposedly says, but some of what she says is only half-true, or do not appear in Hexenhammer at all.

1. Witches can only be female.

Though the book uses both “succubi” and “incubi” to refer to witches, it is explicitly stated that only women are capable of becoming witches. I am certain this is rooted in misogyny, but it’s what the book says.

2. Witches ride on broomsticks.

This claim is true, but is lacking in a few details: witches specifically use broomsticks that they have anointed to the limbs of children they have killed. It is also mentioned that witches can use chairs (also anointed to the limbs of dead children) instead of broomsticks. This was probably removed due to how graphic it is, and because our witch in-game is child-like. 

3. In order to become a witch, a woman must drink the devil’s blood.

Hexenhammer never mentions the drinking of the devil’s blood; it does state that the devil “loves blood and the pouring of blood”. The usage of blood is required for certain spells and rituals but typically comes from babies or some animal. This may be a reference to the Devil’s Blood cocktail.

4. Witches can only be killed by fire or the Athame Dagger.

Once again, this is true, but Kramer believes witches can also be killed by drowning. Drowning and burning were common witch execution methods.

5.  Witches often make their lairs in places that have a deep connection to their lives.

6.  Witches have familiars.

This is not stated by Sintra, but is present in-game. The book describes witches turning men into crows, but does not mention familiars. This was most likely incorporated from popular media, which stems from Pierre Riffard’s ideals and books on familiar spirits.

let it be said that this is not a criticism against the creators of yuppie psycho, and rather me pointing out the differences for fun. i consider the real hexenhammer and the in-game hexenhammer to be two different books, and therefore, i believe they have different information in them. in the yuppie psycho universe, what sintra says is more accurate than the information in the real life book!

BURNING WITCHES - Open Your Mind (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)

BURNING WITCHES | BAND RELEASE FIRST SINGLE 'EXECUTED', TAKEN FROM THE FORTHCOMING ALBUM HEXENHAMMER

BURNING WITCHES are not only the hottest export from the Alpine Republic, the five piece from Switzerland are also one of the most thrilling newcomers in old school heavy metal spanning the last few years. Having recently announced their new album Hexenhammer, which will be released on November 9th, today the band present the first single off their new offering.

Watch and listen to 'Executed' over on YouTube: youtu.be/840vcVzth-0

The band commented: "We are very proud to show you our first lyric & performance video for the song EXECUTED. It is a very powerful & speedy track that tells the story of the 'Last Witch' Anna Göldi from Switzerland and her harrowing life. A tragic and true story that fits into our HEXENHAMMER album theme!”

The new album is now available for pre-order on a variety of different formats:

All formats:  nuclearblast.com/bw-hexenhammer

Limited Digipack CD:  nblast.de/BurningWitchesCD Limited Edition Double Gatefold Black Vinyl:  nblast.de/BurningWitchesVinyl Limited Edition Double Gatefold Red Vinyl:  nblast.de/BurningWitchesNBShop Limited Edition Double Gatefold Blue Vinyl + poster:  nblast.de/BurningWitchesNBShop Digital album:  nblast.de/BWHexenhammerIT

Hexenhammer was produced in the Little Creek Studio by the same team as its predecessor: V.O. Pulver (PRO-PAIN, DESTRUCTION, NERVOSA, PÄNZER) and DESTRUCTION legend Schmier, who also helped and advised as a close friend of the band. The result is a truly brilliant heavy metal album.

BURNING WITCHES live dates: 01.09. A Satteins - Hard N' Heavy Metal Storm Tour 2018 w/ GONOREAS 05.10. E Madrid - Boveda 06.10. E Vitoria-Gasteiz - Urban Rock Concept 07.10. E Barcelona - Sala Bóveda 08.10. E Valencia - Paberse Club 09.10. E Puertollano (Ciudad Real) - Krater Rock City 10.10. E Zaragoza - Carpa Rock Interpeñas 14. - 21.10. E Mallorca - Full Metal Holiday Album Release Show: 09.11. CH  Brugg - Salzhaus  The Tour Of The Living Dead w/ GRAVE DIGGER - presented by Rock Hard (D) 11.01. D Hanover - MusikZentrum 12.01. D Andernach - JUZ Live Club 13.01. CH Pratteln - Z7 14.01. D Munich - Backstage 15.01. D Aschaffenburg - Colos-Saal 16.01. D Saarbrücken - Garage 17.01. D Bochum - Zeche 18.01. D Glauchau - Alte Spinnerei 19.01. D Neuruppin - Kulturhaus 20.01. NL Rotterdam - Baroeg 22.01. D Hamburg - Martkhalle 23.01. D Berlin - Lido 24.01. D Bamberg - Live-Club 25.01. D Regensburg-Obertraubling - Airport-Eventhall 26.01. D Memmingen - Kaminwerk 27.01. D Ludwigsburg - Rockfabrik 28.01. F Paris - Petit Bain 29.01. UK London - Camden Underworld 30.01. B Vosselaar - Biebob 31.01. F TBA 01.02. E Bilbao - Santana 27 02.02. E Madrid - Sala Mon Live 03.02. E Barcelona - Razzmatazz 2 BURNING WITCHES are: Seraina | vocals Romana | guitars Sonia| guitars Jay | bass Lala | drums

Easily one of my favorite concepts in fiction is that of power with a price, particularly dark power that tempts the wielder into overextending and being consumed by it.

Few archetypes reflect this more than the hexenhammer (Named for a manual used by real-world inquisitors and witch hunters), a holy mystic who has embraced in part the dark powers of witchcraft and black magic to better fight against the foes that use them. However, doing so weighs heavily on their mind, and strains their relationship with the divine force that grants them their more contemporary power.

It’s a common trope, the notion that divine power stands at odds with primal magics makes a lot of sense given the history of their real-world inspiration, so this archetype, as much as I really, really like it, only really works in parts of your setting where the local religion rejects witchcraft, either because of the dubious nature of the patrons that grant it, actual pacts with evil beings, or the faithful rejecting all mystic power that they do not control. Regardless, these mystics blend the power of two sources together.

 Though not possessing of a true evil eye, these inquisitors do study the technique to develop a withering stare of their own, imposing all sorts of unluck with a particularly unnerving stare.

Being torn between two sources of power has unfortunate consequences, for using their witchcraft abilities, which will be detailed below, causes a minor affront to their deity, preventing them from using certain inquisitor powers until they supplicate their god.

Their keen knowledge of such arts does, however, give them a cunning understanding of how to resist various sinister spells, from curses to hexes to necromancy and so on. However, wielding those dark powers themselves does deprive them of the focus to maintain that defense.

The first dark magic they learn is in the form of harmful hexes, those that cause drowsiness, misfortune, or blight crops, but later on, they can learn to cause pain, nightmares, or retributive harm to others.

A particularly blasphemous act these inquisitors can perform is using the divine power granted by their diety to refuel the energy of their hexes, but doing so locks them out of their divine powers for much longer than normal.

Finally, these dabblers also learn the secrets of witch magic, picking up a small selection of witch spells to wield, though doing so does sap their divine abilities as normal.

Interested in a debuffing inquisitor that comes with its own free built-in internal conflict? This may be the archetype for you. Check through the witch spell list for some useful spells that suit the build you are going for. The best part, I feel, however, is that there are no specific mechanics tied to a corruption, of changing alignment or the like tied to the class itself, so all of that is roleplay based. If your build focuses on switching to witch hexes and abilities and rarely going back, the progression from that point could easily be roleplayed as a fall into black magic. Alternately, one might use those powers sparingly when they can help it, keeping the struggle alive in their hearts and minds.

 It’s also interesting to think of how they learned these powers in the first place. Perhaps they were brought up in a household of witchcraft, then adopted by the church and taught those powers they had grown up with were evil? Or maybe they are devotees to a sect focusing on witchcraft above all else, both investigating and destroying it, and spent their time learning both light and dark magic do contend with such spells?

  Riding atop massive baluchitherium and other megafauna, the cyclopes of Deghron Hills have been teaching their secrets of witchcraft and oracular power to their smaller neighbors. Ever sense the Tu’Athar Crusade, however, the cities and settlements erected to serve as waypoints for the crusaders now call for aid in “wiping out the one-eyed devils and their black magic”. Their call has been answered by a pair older priests with piercing gazes and humorless demeanors.

 Raised in the swamp, but adopted by the church that burned down her village for heresy, Jinuri was a duitiful disciple of the Blinding Light despite being an undine in a human-centric religion. However, recently she has been having visions of a watery undine woman, calling to her, guiding her towards the water-witchcraft of her heritage.

A oneshot from Harta 2016-11. Artist debut.

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