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| title = The Mare-Night
| card =
| quote = We call upon the Mare, who [nep complete later pls]dominates / who exsanguinates / who lurks the Wood| origin = NowhereFrom-Blood| titles = Mare-Wielding-BowCrownslayer, Arrow-MareArrowsong, Hunter-'s Moon| names = i'm too lazy for this but i'll eventually add 4 edgy names*Mabel, The Starspeech {{Aspect|Lantern}} {{Aspect|Knock}} *Alastor, The Blight-Father {{Aspect|Knock}} {{Aspect|Winter}} *Valerius, Scourge Promised {{Aspect|Edge}} {{Aspect|Forge}} *Tristan, The Saint Missing {{Aspect|Grail}} {{Aspect|Winter}} *Justine, Saturnian {{Aspect|Edge}} {{Aspect|Winter}} | aspects = {{Aspect|Edge}} {{Aspect|Moth}} {{Aspect|Winter}}| owners = [[user:Nephilim|Иephilim]]
}}
== Appearance ==
The Mare has taken on many different appearances , with few universal characteristics among them. Mostly horse-like. Her appearance inside the Mansus, however, is -mostly- consistent, only changing in small aspects depending on her mood. ===Base/body===*She is, usually an eight-legged(Sometimes six, rarely four.) centaur, of heavy, noble drafter build. *Her tail is a long, swirly unicorn tail with fur all over the underside. *Her human half is skinny and fragile-looking, and has four arms, and two of them hold her bow, which is adorned by elvish designs and Quetzal feathers. *Her skin is dark brown as fertile mud, with freckles and spots in silver, bronze and moss. Her claws are long, thin and straight, sharp like Alastor's needles. *Despite looking mostly feminine, she either manifests as both (physical) sexes at once, or none. *Her coat is spotted and dappled as her skin, and her fur grey as steel. Said fur is short and smooth, and doesn't stick out much around her hooves.*The Mare's hair is colourful as half-tarnished copper. Messy, somewhat wavy, and grows all the way from her scalp to her upper back, like a mane. It is usually adorned with a variety of flowers.*Her '''entire body''' has an uniform colour scheme only in shades of brown, grey, muted blues and equally muted greens.*She has long, elfin ears which droop to the sides, usually pierced with bone jewelry. Don't ask whose bones are those, though. Too many people to mention. *Her antlers, resembling those of a moose, are permanently tangled in vines and ropes.*Her third eye, usually covered by the half-transparent amethyst centerpiece of her mask, is known to be topaz-yellow. *A few say they have seen her true eyes, and claim her irises are the colour of oak-wood. But there's no way to verify, as anybody who removes her mask in a dream ends their journey then and there. *Only a bit of her face can be seen, when she tips her mask upwards to reveal her beastly, sharp teeth. Her mouth extends all the way to her ears, and she has been known to unhinge her jaw to devour her prey. *She is also occasionally depicted as having a halo made of daggers and knives and blood-stained, unopened letters. These are actually her Longs and Names' personal weapons, sacrificed to her upon their ascension. ===Clothing/Outfits===Nobody has ever truly seen her face behind the mask. Those who claim to have invariably lost their sanity, becoming hideous beasts driven by bloodlust. Her mask is covered in gems- Moonstones, moss agates and catseye. Engraved with markings of flowers and moths. She doesn't like people touching it.===Other Appearances===Outside the Mansus- in mythological depictions and the early dreams of her future worshippers, her appearance is extremely varying- And usually lacking in a lot of aspects. She tends to keep her centaurine or equine shape, and her physical gender-ambiguity, but everything else varies. She has been everything from a humanoid hunter to a literal war-mount of the Gods in old myths.
== Principles ==
The Mare is, as previously mentioned, an incarnation of murder born from the crimes of Man. Despite her (usually) approachable personality, she is still an extremely violent Hour of delightful sacrifice.
She is the Hour of '''Murder, Hunting and Unexpected Endings'''. She is also, by extension, unofficially treated as an Hour of war.
== Worship ==
The Mare's worshippers are a particularly secretive bunch. Understandable, since she demands plenty of love and sacrifice in ways that only few can convey. She calls for blood quite often.
Perception of her varies,and is often decided by cult rank.
The new cultists aren't told much, and usually see her as an one-dimensional, bloodthirsty deity, but that is not the case- Most higher-ups will argue that, anyway, as they have likely seen her friendlier side since they have proven themselves. They prefer to see her as a kind and loving (yet strict and occasionally irrational), guardian.
She is also known for her many ascension trials- She personally judges her every follower, testing them individually on their strengths and weaknesses, weeding out the fragile and unworthy.
=== Cults ===
Worshipping the Mare-Night is often done within assassin groups that double as cults, as well as hunting groups, and the occasional lone serial killer and lone forest person on their own.
Due to their secretive nature, there might be anywhere from 3 to 100 standing cults of the Mare, but only somebody initiated in those circles and sufficiently high-ranking could tell you the exact number. (and that information most certainly has a steep price.) But for now, there are three major "Semi-open" groups that relatively plenty of men and women who know of the Secret Arts know about:
*1:Society Of The Blessed Arrows: {{Aspect|Moth}} A small group of forest cultists who subsist on what the chaos of nature grants them every day,and do some shady business on the side. They generally refer to the Mare as an "It", and see her as an animal.
*2:The Nightmare Company {{Aspect|Edge}} A secretive squad which has aided many politically motivated murderers in the past. They are thought to be gone, and they are not- They're just known to have some unusual demands for their deeds nowadays. They generally refer to the Mare as a "He".
*3:Kelpie's Mane Society {{Aspect|Edge}} A massive society spanning many linked cults (and Long), with their original HQ in Ireland. The true extent of their influence is not known, but it is said that they hold, at least, the near-entirety of the British Isles. In contrast to most smaller Mare-Cults, the Kelpie's Mane is mostly integrated by artists, nobles and the rich. They are considered rebels among the Mare's worshippers due to their decision to remain integrated in society even after their "transformation" has taken hold. They generally refer to the Mare as a "She".
=== Mark ===
# '''Temptation: XThe Hunt''': I've seen something, walking the Wood. A silhouette through the trees. I heard the howls of those which lurk in the shadows, and the final screams of those less fortunate than I. I know there's something there for me. # '''Dedication: XThe Hunt''': Most humans would refuse, yet the beast within desires. # '''Ascension: XThe Predator''': First I must learn to walk unseen, as a tiger stalks in the undergrowth. I can't help but notice how my skin hardly fits me anymore. # '''Ascension: XThe Predator''': I hear her calls for sacrifice as i do the cries of a newborn or the footsteps of a stranger. They're irresistible. I am growing restless. # '''Ascension: XThe Predator''': Every passing day i feel more and more like a wild animal. I wander in the depths of the night, patrolling this corner of the world that is mine. I cannot smile in public anymore. # '''Ascension: XThe Predator''':The mirror fears my silhouette. The dark corners of the city whisper my name in hushed tones with trembling lips. I've come to know i cannot live among people anymore - But i no longer desire the company of my prey.
=== Servants ===
The Mare uses her servants as personal bodyguards, and agents. Most of her deeds aren't done by her hand. All but one are her most prized men, ones who excel at the arts of breaking bodies and minds.
=== Names ====== Names =Valerius, Scourge Promised ===='''1<div style="text-align: Donovan, The Warlord''' center; margin- An once-mortal, now under the servitude of the Mare. A cunning strategist who seeds discord and conflict among his targets, selectively antagonizing and seducing the men and women he needs to his cause, and witnesses it evolve into large-scale murderplotting as he simply stands there and takes his pay with not a stain of blood in his uniform. bottom: 20px;">{{AspectElementDescription|image = |title = Valerius |description = 'Challenge me!'|aspect0 = Follower|aspect1 = Summoned|aspect2 = Tutor|aspect3 = Devourer|quantity3 = 12|aspect4 = Edge}} {{Aspect|quantity4 = 12|aspect5 = Forge|quantity5 = 12|Knockfansus = 3}}</div>
<div style="margin-top: 20px; text-align: center">{{RecipeDescription|verb = Work|title = Summon a wrathful Name of the Hunter'''2:Tanata, s Moon|start_description = The Vigilante''' Scourge Promised is a double- An once-mortaledged sword to summon, but if i want to run the risk, now under i could call him to me with the servitude promise of the Marea challenge, and a little reminder of his master... A justiciera who commits to dark deeds in silence in |description = The Champion before me stands tall, with the dead body of night, when a man and the Hunterhead of a war-Moon shines brightesthorse. She takes only during times of necessityHe could tear me apart, with ease, if he desired. Her own necessity applies as well, of courseThe armored steed under him stares at me with a distant gaze. {{Aspect|aspect0 = Ritual|aspect1 = Moth|quantity1 = 5|aspect2 = Edge}} {{Aspect|quantity2 = 10|aspect3 = Knock|quantity3 = 2|Winterfansus = 3}}</div>
== Locations ==
=== What They Hide ===
'''''Do you really trust a goddess of murder in a crime scene?'''''
== Relationships ==
[[Category:Hours (Vol. III)]]
