Hansel Witchhunter

Once upon a time, a young boy named Hansel lived near the Bilebog with his woodsman father Bertel, and his older sister Gretel. The children’s mother died when they were infants, so Bertel raised them on his own, teaching them survival techniques, how to cut wood, and not to venture too far into the bog, a terrible morass of decaying matter and foul vapors. When Hansel and Gretel were in their early teens, Bertel sent the siblings out to gather herbs for a stew. Hansel was a rambunctious boy, always trying to impress his older sister. He cajoled her into competing with him to find the most plants and through his eagerness, they became lost deep into the Bilebog. Night fell, and the children grew fearful. To their relief, they spotted the light of a hearth in the distance, and found a small, charming cabin with the smell of baked dough wafting from its windows. It seemed clean, tidy, and inviting, so they approached to ask for directions. They were met by a smiling, beautiful woman wearing bright clothes and flowers who ushered them in. She said her name was Nell, and that she lived alone in the bog to be close to the plants and herbs she used to make delicious foods and curative potions, gesturing to her harvesting sickles hanging from the wall. Gretel wondered why they had never heard of her, or seen her in town selling her goods, but Hansel paid it no heed. Nell offered the children tea and gingerbread and fresh toast with honey, which Hansel accepted and Gretel refused, citing modest politeness to hide her suspicion. Nell insisted they rest and stay the night, since it would be too dangerous to return home in the dark. Hansel was tired and footsore, and begged Gretel to accede, but she declined each of Nell’s offers. With each refusal, Nell became agitated, but calmed each time. When Gretel finally insisted that she tell them the way out, and that they would leave at once, Nell exploded with rage, spitting and swearing, and broke her facade. She transformed into a hideous, four-armed hag, licking her leathery lips and sharp pointed teeth. The monster snatched them both up by the legs and held them at arm’s length upside-down. As Gretel struggled, Nell stuffed Hansel into her oven. The flames scorched him terribly. Meanwhile, Gretel bit Nell’s fingers and the hag released her with a wail of pain. After falling to the ground, Gretel lunged toward the oven and pulled Hansel free of it. The witch’s illusions only broke for Hansel after this, and he saw that he had not been in an oven, but in a smoldering bonfire. Nell’s cottage was made not of wood and stone but of bones, mud, and thorny vines. Furious, Hansel picked up a flaming chunk of kindling and hurled it in Nell’s face and as the witch screeched and flailed, the children ran for their lives. After half an hour of panicked flight, they noticed a trail of shiny pebbles amid the mud glinting in the moonlight. This was an old trick Bertel had taught them for leaving tracks in unfamiliar lands. They followed it and discovered Bertel looking for them frantically by torchlight. He embraced them with tremendous relief alongside some hearty scolding, and was heartbroken to see Hansel’s disfiguring burns. Bertel saw their exhaustion and terror, and believed his children’s tale. They soon fled the Bilebog, finding new woodland to work in the Land of Rebirth. Hansel’s pride forbade him to simply hide from Nell, and he and Gretel trained with sticks in place of swords and practiced grappling and striking. Gretel heard that the Sacred Order maintained a force of witch-hunters called the Purifiers, and suggested they join their ranks to get revenge on Nell and her ilk. Hansel eagerly agreed but out of duty to their aging father, they stayed by his side until his death. Bertel’s last act was to pass his woodsman’s ax to Hansel, and grant the two his blessing and encouragement to hunt down that vile harridan. Hansel had grown into a strong and capable, if troubled, moody, and untrusting, man. His pride had been scarred along with his face in the ordeal with Nell, and he wanted nothing more than to destroy her and avenge her evil deeds. The Sacred Order saw this fire within him, and trained him in purgation of the supernatural. Before he could confront Nell, he had to prove himself, and prove himself he did – becoming known as Hansel Witchhunter for putting so many to the torch. His ultimate foe has eluded him so far, but he feels deep in his soul that it will not be long before they have their final confrontation.