Witch-hunting in Your Nation

[Vallermoore]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches? Witchcraft counts as white magic (legal unless cast on someone against their will) gray magic (legal unless cast on someone against their will) and black magic (punished with prison, or in murder cases, death.) Most of our magic users are sapient unicorn ponies or changelings, but a few humans know magic too.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches?


Witchcraft is magic use for either good or evil.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others? Positively-as long as they didn't cast evil magic or stir up trouble.

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law?


Magical murder has always been punishable by death, and necromancy or serious curses earn a long prison term. Lynching has been rare and when it has happened the targets have nearly always been black human magic users.

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially?
Yes for murder-one sapient pony was shot by the police after teleporting a number of hearts outside their bodies, killing a police officer as one of his victims.

[Evergar]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches? Evergar, as a Teutonic Pagan society, has usually referred to witchcraft as an occultic or religious practice, and witches as either benevolent or malevolent seeresses, female pseudodoctors, fortune-tellers, even spiritual mediums in certain cases.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches? Yes, always.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others? (N/A)

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law? While witchcraft and witches were not exactly mainstream amongst the broader Heathen community, persecutions remained seldom a thing that happened.

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially? Yes, sometimes. They may be part of ritual-sacrifices, killed in feudal disputes, or murdered unlawfully for no apparent reason.

[Nyelu]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches?
Witchcraft is basically to most Nyeluan tribes, manipulating reality (rather physically, or psychologically) for certain purposes, and it’s considered magic. In the case of witchcraft, it focuses more on black magic, which is in Nyeluan cultures, the occultic, deep magic.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches? No

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others? people go to them for mental and spiritual healing, to get knowledge, etc. they’re looked up to in Nyelu.

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law? Nah Nyeluan tribes didn’t kill them, but many do persecute them. There are exceptions, as the Devinnian tribes, as well as the Moon people tribe don’t persecute witches.

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially? no

[TURTLESHROOM II]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches?

TurtleShroomian law defines sorcery as any invocation of magically supernatural power outside of the framework of a religion's canon (see shamanism, below), regardless of intent.

According to both TurtleShroomian law and custom, all magic comes from the spiritual realm, where demons, angels, and individual Christians engage in spiritual warfare for their souls against temptation. Ergo, all sorcery comes from demonic occultism. TurtleShroom rejects the "magic is like electricity" argument, in which magic is "black" or "white" depending on the user. In the TurtleShroomian criminal justice system, all witches are prosecuted equally. TS law defines all sorcery as "black magic". A witch is a female creature engaging in sorcery, and a warlock is a male of the same.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches?

Yes, to this day.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wise men, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others?

Shamanism has existed in TurtleShroom for as long as the non-human population has been documented in what is now TS. Mysticism existed and continues to exist to some degree in many Christian denominations, but shamanism is most practiced by Tengriism and Drook Paganism. Tengriism in particular has shamans as clergy and the entire religion is connected to this invocation and trance-like interaction with what they see as the divine.

Shamanism, mysticism, and even some forms of Kaballah are lawful, as is invocation of spirits within the framework of an organized religion that is not in service to Satan. All witches and warlocks, by definition, are in service to Satan, and while it is spiritually accurate to say the same of pagans, the virtues of the religions and the beliefs therein limit it solely to worship and communion with what they see as their gods. TurtleShroomian law and precedent have, for centuries, been finely crafted and interpreted to differentiate sorcery from mysticism.

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law?

The punishment in TurtleShroom for sorcery is eighty years in prison, not capital punishment. If sorcery is used to kill, capital punishment is on the table for the murder, not the witchcraft.

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially?

See above. Sorcery is and remains a crime in TurtleShroom punishable by eighty years in prison. Sorcery requires evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, which requires a lot of theological study, evidence gathering, and witnesses. This makes sorcery convictions take years to prosecute; if the witch becomes aware of an investigation, she will often try to escape to Menelmacar before her arrest.

Lynch mobs, which famously exist in TurtleShroom and usually target sexual predators, have been known to apprehend alleged sorcerers trying to flee the country as fugitives. This is discouraged by the state because of the principle of a right to a fair trial; sorcery is a complex crime to prosecute and takes time. When it comes to witchcraft, TurtleShroomers forget this more than they should.

[Saaro]

There was a sect of English colonists in what is now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that purged magic users, they escaped England to be free from what they considered unicorn supremacy in the Harmonist religion and they also massacred some of the indigenous population as well. These colonists sided with Roundheads, some of whom were also in the cult of Pure Harmony. Many other rogue colonists soon found that the English crown and British crown after 1707 soon kept their colonies closer at watch. This was a witch purge rather than a hunt,

This resulted in a new colonial governor guaranteeing freedom of magic and many colonies adopted similar policies since.

Our nation has many witches, and the cities of Boston and Philadelphia both have some of the largest covens of Harmonist witches this side of the Atlantic, only ones coming close are the Brujeria de Mexico-Tenochtitlan. There are many kinds of covens and sects here, as we are one of the most religiously diverse countries.

We have Hexe, Strege, Druids, Wizards, Sages, Shamans, Warlocks, and Oracles alike.

[Narland]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches?
The definition of witchcraft (in the Commonwealth of Narland) developed differently. There is the traditional definition of harmful spiritual interaction for evil (force or fraud) purposes, as listed in the Hebrew and Christian Scripture. As science developed the legal code came to define Criminal Witchcraft as using mental cruelty (e.g., verbal abuse) to dominate others; and/or chemical, biological, and radiological methods to effect harmful means. Brainwashing, mind control, drugging people, deliberate poisoning, and using neutron bombs on people are all considered the illegal use of witchcraft. The punishment for unlawful witchcraft varies according to the level of harm done to the life, liberty, and property of others, but those given over to it wholly, (All those participating in drug cults such as Charles Manson and did his bidding would have met the death penalty following the murder of Sharon Tate).

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches?
It has always been a cultural and religious concept for evil. In this universe the Salem Witch trials occurred as they did irl history with the theologians protesting against it. Unlike irl, the public servants who pushed for the trials were executed for their malfeasance. Witchcraft was never romanticized and given a revisionist history in this timeline. Witchery and warlocking (oath-breaking) are still defined as harmful practice and in the Commonwealth legal code.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others?
Narland society relies on theologians (exorcists), psychiatrists, and engineers to determine to what extent the interactions are of the world, of the flesh, or of the devil. The insane and delusional (who are an imminent danger to themselves and others) are sent to sanitariums and mental institutions. Those who are harmless to others are let be. Shamans of indigenous tribes are sent to medical school. Those who are amenable to Christ and his teachings are encouraged to exercise their spiritual gifts. Those who practice fakery and fraud are fined and/or jailed according to the harm done. The nature of spiritual practice is open legally, unless one is using unscientific claims to make a profit of off the gullibility of others. To most Narlandren, Spiritism and Spiritualism as practiced elsewhere is seen as superstition of the feeble minded. Witchrafts warlocks, necromancers, and diviners are evil by definition. Mystics and magicians are seen as "neutral" in Narlandish media Sorcerers, shamans, and wizards can be either good or evil depending on context and time period.

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law?
Deliberate witchcraft has always been a part of the criminal element of society and distrusted. Those who use witchery (poisoning, mental abuse, chemical, radiological, or bacterial means to cause harm) have since the founding of the Commonwealth of Narland Accords in 1821 been subject to the same due process as any other criminal.

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially?
Brian NMN Thorsen, a disgruntled former franchise owner was executed by hanging last fall for witchery by deliberately contaminating the salad bar with e-coli at a Joke-in-the-Hat Hamburger Restaurant that resulted in the death of 3 people, and the hospitalization of 12 others.

[Nyte]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches?
Within the Interstellar Empire witchcraft is defined as the practice of questionable and esoteric arts that are commonly associated with the Daemonic and Eldritch... Witches, and similar such practitioners are defined as anathema.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches?
Yes. Within the Interstellar Empire, such things are associated with Daemonic and Eldritch Horrors. This is especially true in "modern" times.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others?
N/A

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law?
Such matters go well beyond distrust... Witchcraft, and similar practitioners of such questionable arts are considered anathema to the Nyteborne, and their extermination falls under the umbrella of the Nyteborne's current crusade against the Daemonic and Eldritch.

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially?
Yes. Witches and other practitioners of such arts are considered to be anathema within the Interstellar Empire, and under the current interpretation of the law, their murder is not only legal (it's not even considered to be murder), but a culturally accepted norm.

[Deacarsia]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches? Deacarsia is an extremely religious society, and as such witchcraft and witches are viewed in an extremely negative light.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches? Yea.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others?

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law? Witchcraft was and remains a capital crime in Deacarsia.

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially? Yea, witchcraft was and remains a capital crime in Deacarsia.

[Rango Mango]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches? A witch is anyone who uses magic and worships the wrong god. Signs of witchcraft include the ability to emit light using 'electricity', having remote knowledge through 'telecommunicating' and being a female who knows how to read.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches? Yes


If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law? Yes, witchcraft remains illegal to this day

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially? Yes, this continues to this day and frequently foreign tourists are arrested and killed for practicing witchcraft.

[Neo-Western East Korea]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches?
All witches are forced to serve in the military, as the Great Leader sees them as a valuable asset
At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches?
There has never ben a religious concept, but culturally they have always been drafted into pseudo military groups
If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others?

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law?
There was some social distrust, but most of the pursuing came from soldiers looking for more recruits
Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially?
They are still drafted, which can be seen as a form of very indirect murder, but no active killings persist or ever happened

[Matriarchal Rule]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches? Using unallowed spiritual powers to change the fabric of the Empire

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches? Yes

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others? N/A

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law? Death can be brought by law or mob (who would not face charges)

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially? Yes it is. Legally or extra-judicially are acceptable from government members

[Aknuliv]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches?

Witchcraft that also called as sorcery or magic, usually related with magic spells and magical potions. Meanwhile, witches is a someone that practice in witchcraft, is a women. While the men one is called wizard. Witches and wizards has a spell book or magical wand/staff as their main stuff.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches?

Witchcraft/wizarding and witches/wizard is still exist in Aknuliv until today. They are already exist since Early Era of Aknuliv. It could say that witchcraft/wizarding is something common in Aknuliv. Even in Aknuliv, witchcraft/wizarding already be an extracurricular subject since elementary to high school. In colleges of Aknuliv, witchcraft be the one of the most popular majors with various specializations in it, such as ; Potion Specialization, White Arts Specializations, Black Arts Specialization, etc.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others?

-

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law?

The Aknulivian society are still believe that witchcraft exist until today, and most of the practitioners is a citizen of Aknuliv that quiet friendly with another citizen. So the answer is NO. We not pursuit or kill witches/wizards in Aknuliv unless they are a bad guy (do some crimes)

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially?

Aknulivian never kill (execute) or punish witches/wizard unless proved that they committing crime

[Aionios Rhomania]

Witches do not exist, any loon who suggest such is speaking heresy. Only God has the ability to have any physical affect on the world, and the devils powers are limited as mere temptations in the mind and in ones spirit. To suggest that covens of witches conspire with dark powers to cast plagues and curses upon the common folk suggest that the devil has physical powers, which is abjectly false. Those who hunt accused "witches" are at best killing devil worshipers, who have no real ability to harm someone in the mortal realm. At worst, which is more likely these unsanctioned brigands are killing innocent people and should thus be captured less they slay any random old women or kill anyone's cat.

[The Imagination Animals]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches? Witchcraft and witches are defined in Crossoverian dictionary as “a type of magic used by women usually involving fantastical actions”. Witches are “female magic users”.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches? Yes. It was omnipresent during the time of the Mandingo kings in Crossoveria pre-1954.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others? Witchcraft is used, but there are, and still are, priests and witch doctors.

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law? Yes, after the Crossoverian Revolution. Marie BonAztire, the Supreme Leader at the time, was a Hefflist and made her country a theocratic dictatorship based on her religion. Hefflism doesn’t consider witchcraft a sin, but BonAztire ensued a distrust in the use of magic in Crossoveria within the public. Witches were subject to killings by law, and magic became heavily unpopular during the early years of BonAztire’s leadership

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially? No. Magic is allowed as long as it’s not dark magic.

[Grussland]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches?
Witchcraft and witches/wizards are defined in the typical medieval sense, as in it's some kind of (usually dark) art of magic and spells and making deals with the devil. While some lore speaks of good witches and wizards, it usually held a negative connotation.

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches?
Yes, though prevalent in ancient folklore, the cultural and religious concepts reached their peak in the middle ages while slowly dying down after the renaissance through to the industrial revolution.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others?
These were separate concepts.

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law?
It used to be, yes - being accused of witchcraft was a capitol offense with a multitude of barbaric trials usually ending in a burning at the stake. Occasionally, mobs would take justice into their own hands and engage in extra-judicial killings (also usually burning at the stake... peasants were not a very creative bunch)

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially?
Certainly not. Thankfully, science and reason took the reigns during the late enlightenment and early industrial revolution, leaving witchcraft and the related lore to the realm of fairy tales.

[Lemlar]

Regardless of historical prevalence, as all nations have typically heard of witches even if none existed within them, how does your society and cultural trend define witchcraft and witches? We quickly had them debunked therefore they quietly faded out of our history

At any point in your nation's history has there existed a cultural or religious concept of witchcraft and witches? We did until some folks saw through the witchery and saw them for the frauds they were.

If not, with what regard did or do your people view those perceived to have been otherwise spiritually enhanced, such as wisefolk, witch-doctors, shamans, priests, or others?

If so, was witchcraft subject to social distrust and the alleged practitioners of witchcraft subject to a pursuit and killing, either by mob or by law? None were killed simply shunned to the point where the individual gave up their lifestyle and returned to society

Do the killings of alleged witches continue into the present day, however this is defined by your nation's canon, either legally or extra-judicially? N/A

[Nolo gap]

"witch hunting", like "christian hunting" or "buddhist hunting"
simply and basically this is a fundamental violation of freedom of religion,
which is itself held to be a sacred freedom and right.