Dungeons and dragons and history: part 3, the Warlock

Introduction

We will in this chapter go back to our series of examining the relationship between Dungeons and Dragons character classes and their ties to real life cultures, myths and practises. This time will we be examining the warlock, an individual that has willingly or unwillingly stricken a deal with a powerful entity, and made a grand sacrifice in order to gain otherworldly powers and abilities. Note that due to the authors currently limited scope on magical traditions, will I limit myself to study the warlock out of a western perspective since this is where my current expertise lies. I hope to one day return to this topic and expand upon it once my knowledge base has increased.

The warlocks of D&D

The warlock in the players handbook is described as an individual driven by their thirst for knowlage and power, it is in this search that the individual has met and made the pact with their patron. This arrangement tend to look more like a business deal then a spiritual connection like that find between the cleric and their deity. As the warlock is so deeply rooted in, and identified by their otherworldly patron, is it pertinent to examine both of them individually before looking at them as a whole. (Wizards of the Coast 2014)

The patron

To begin explaining what a patron is, it is useful to discuss what a patron is NOT. The patron is decidedly not a god, tough some deities are in fact rivalling gods in the terms of might and influence. The individuals are powerful creatures, apparitions or constructs that exists beyond or between the mortal realms. These can be everything from grand rulers of otherworldly plains, such as the Kings and queens of the fay wild, to ancient creatures that lurks beyond the fabric of time and space, and are so alien, that their touts and motivations are completely incomprehensible to mortals. (Wizards of the Coast 2014)

The servant

The warlock themselves, are as mentioned before an individual searching for ancient lore and power. This search has lead them to the discovery of their patron, be it by accident, exploring an ancient ruin, or by deliberately searching trough ancient texts and tomes. Regardless how they found their patron, are they now able to call upon their master for enhanced powers and otherworldly abilities. Just like Wizards are Warlocks described as students of the arcane arts, but unlike their more bookish cousins, does the Warlock take a more direct approach to research, and are as a result more capable fighters and explorers. The players handbook explains that the warlocks thirst for knowlage can not be sated by simple research alone, and that the demands of their patron often forces them to take up the life of an adventurer. (Wizards of the Coast 2014)

The pact

The most defining feature of the of the Warlock archetype. This relationship, as with most things in D&D is highly malleable and customisable. The pact may take several different forms, form the ritual practice of god and worshipper, not unlike that of the paladins or clerics, or it can be a completely practical business deal. The patron might give out their blessings freely and generously, to only do so begrudgingly and to very few select individuals. The patron might be loving of their servant, indifferent, maleficent, or in the case of some of the more strange and ancient beings, not even aware of the warlocks existence. (Wizards of the Coast 2014)

The warlocks in European myth

The most common use in a everyday context of the warlock, is that of the “male witch”. This definition is found in many dictionaries, including the Oxford dictionary and the National Encyclopedia. In this segment I wish to try and contextualize and problematize this seemingly very simple and straight forward explanation.

Witches and warlocks

The concept of the warlock is, much like the witch, sometimes used interchangeably with the term, sorcerer and sorceress. These individuals are said to gain their power from concerting with other creatures and forces. In the terms of a European and western context, and more specificity a unchristian context, these forces was the forces of the devil. These individuals was seen as partitioners of low forms of magic, the magic of evoking dark and evil spirits. This would be set in context to the Magus or the wizard, that uses High magic. This magic is further discussed in my chapter on wizards (found Here (see The wizard)). (Wilson, D.K. 2018)

Light and dark magic

This distinction has been given many names and definitions as the ideas of magic and witchcraft evolved. It has been known as dark and light magic, as well as high and low magic, and finally the left-handed vs the right handed path. The right handed path representing the use of divine forces or the “light” while the left handed path represents the use of various forms of of malignant or evil spirits, demons and devils in particular. Note that magic and occultism is a highly varied and diverse series of practices, and that this text represents a gross oversimplification of several ancient and complicated practices. (Lévi 2017)

Modern Wicca and pop-culture

In the modern interpretation of the Wicca religion is the warlock often seen as negative connotation, as a traitor or once that shall not be trusted. Tough some variations may be found, is the word warlock not used for male practitioner of the Wicca faith, as can often be found in their pop cultural representations. (Wilson, D.K. 2018)

In pop culture is the warlock often seen as a male user of “dark and evil magic”, or in some cases, as a male version of the witch. This image of the evil spell caster is one that can be found in many horror films and novels.

Conclusions

It is simple to see where the authors of dungeons and dragons might have found their inspiration for this class. I do not believe that the authors of Dungeons and dragons must necessarily know the occult and mythical origins of the Warlock, I would rather argue that the concept of the Warlock, just as many of the other classes we will discuss in this series, has such a clear image in the common western collective subconscious, that many of the tropes have survive more or less intact.

With this said, is it interesting to see just how close the concept of the Warlock of dungeons and dragons comes to that of Lévi and his contemporaries. Theses similarities becomes even more apparent when compared to the Wizard. The wizard and warlock dichotomy falls rather neatly, but not exactly in line with the dichotomy between left handed, and right handed magic. As I mentioned before is this text a rather large simplification of a large series of traditions, one that the reader can read more about in the works listed below.

Sources

The Doctrine and Ritual of High Magic: A New Translation Lévi, Eliphas (2017)

Wizards of the Coast (2014). Dungeons & dragons Player’s handbook. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast LLC.

The Wilson, D.K. (2018). A magical world: superstition and science from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment. (First Pegasus books hard-cover edition.) New York, NY: Pegasus Books, Ltd.