Granny Weatherwax
Weatherwax, Esmeralda
("Granny Weatherwax"). In the opinion of many, not least herself, the greatest
witch on the Discworld. Granny Weatherwax is the daughter of Violet Weatherwax, and was
initially trained in witchcraft by Nanny Gripes, and subsequently other witches who taught
her all they knew, after which she taught herself and was a remarkably apt pupil. Witches
rarely acknowledge anything so definite or binding as a law but it is generally accepted
that, although witch skills tend to run in families, a witch should be trained by someone
who is not a relative and witchcraft certainly should not be passed from mother to
daughter. She is nominally the village witch of BAD ASS in the kingdom of LANCRE, although
for practical purposes she regards the whole kingdom - and, indeed, anywhere else she
happens to be - as her rightful domain. She lives in the woods outside the village in a
traditional, much-repaired witch's cottage, with beehives and a patch of what might be
medicinal plants called the Herbs (the patch is very thick, tends to move when there is no
wind, and passers-by swear that the small flowers it occasionally produces turn to watch
them). She owns a broomstick, originally borrowed from an urban witch called Hilta
GOATFOUNDER but technically not the same one because it has been entirely replaced over
the years by spare parts. Despite the best efforts of dwarf engineers everywhere, it
cannot be started without a considerable amount of running up and down with it in gear.
Granny Weatherwax's personal history is obscure, a fact which clearly suits her. It is
known that she remained at home when her elder sister, Lily, left Lancre in dubious
circumstances, and there is some suggestion of cruelty in the family. She nursed her
mother until she died. Beyond that, the picture is of a formidable character with every
attribute for the classical "bad witch" - a quick temper, a competitive, selfish
and ambitious nature, a sharp tongue, an unshakeable conviction of her own mortal probity,
and some considerable mental and occult powers. But, in fact, Granny Weatherwax's
practical history puts her on the "good" side of the ledger, in the same way
that a cold shower and brisk run are good - they might sting a bit at the time but you'll
feel all the better for it later.