I’ve commented on Talaraska’s blog (check it out, it has great content!) that I’m not a big fan of hags in D&D. I’ve suggested that he takes an interesting unique monster that he’d created as a main villain instead of his pick of a green hag. I’m sorry, I know, I can be annoying that way.

But why the hate on hags?

It’s got to do with thematics… huh, I think? Part of it is their « just another monster » treatment, just like there’s medusas in the monster manual instead of you know, the Medusa and her sisters Euryale and Shteno, the three gorgons of greek mythology. But also, and more annoying to me, is… what the heck is a hag?!

The Merriam-Webster dictionnary’s definition:

1: an ugly, slatternly, or evil-looking old woman

archaic 2:

a: a female demon

b: an evil or frightening spirit : hobgoblin

3: Witch

Now, in D&D hags are definitely ugly, have witch-related powers but are certainly not mortal, human-like witches, they’re creatures. If you take the 5e lore (the pain!) their origins lie in the Fey Wyld, a different plane of existence. So if we go with this, a hag is not exactly an « evil spirit » but not that far either. Of course, saying that a creature exists because it comes from somewhere else is the absolute laziest approach possible to lore in my not so humble opinion but hey, to each its own I guess.

Here’s a matter of personal taste but I myself prefer something more in the vein of « Fantasy Ecology » or Gygaxian Naturalism » if you like.

So in an effort of not being entirely negative I’ve searched far and wide (not) for an example of a hag that I actually do like and I’ve come up with the one in the Darkest Dungeon videogame (the original one, I’m always late to the party).

Here’s her bio from the game as explained by the Narrator/Ancestor:

I had collected many rare and elusive volumes on ancient herbal properties and was set to enjoy several weeks immersed in comfortable study. My work was interrupted, however, by a singularly striking young woman who insisted on repeated calls to the house. Her knowledge of horticulturalism and its role in various arcane practices impressed me greatly. My licentious impulse gave way to a genuine professional respect, and together, we began to plant, harvest, and brew. As time wore on, her wild policy of self-experimentation grew intolerable. She quaffed all manner of strange fungi, herbs, and concoctions, intent on gaining some insight into the horror we both knew to be growing beneath us. The change in her was appalling, and no longer able to stomach it, I sent her to live in the weald, where her wildness would be welcomed.

I think her backstory is great. Okay to be honest I’m sold on her mainly because I find her fight actions immensely funny. Here’s how it goes, as a Boss she has four:

Into the Pot! sends one member of the party into her cauldron to be boiled. That’s her main threat.

(pro tip: it’s not worth it to lose actions on the cauldron but be prepared to heal the boiled character when he gets out of it at 0 hp)

Meat Tenderizer, which she does with an actual meat hammer, a simple damage attack on everybody.

Season to Perfection (my favorite), where she throws seasoning at the party which debuffs and also (of course) causes stress. Because, y’know, receiving salt&pepper on you so you’ll taste better while you fight can be a bit traumatizing.

Taste the Stew, where she tastes the content of her cauldron, that is, one of your guys being turned into a stew before your very eyes… It heals the Hag a little and causes more stress to your team for good measure.

Wicked!

That’s it, a hag after my own heart!