The Mare-Night
The Mare-Night is an Edge - Moth - Winter Hour created by Nephilim. The Mare presides over acts of slaughter and violence by the hand of Man and Beast- timeless act of murder. An artificial form of ending. She is considered a patron of assassins, hunters and mercenaries. She is known to be kind yet merciless.
| The Mare-Night | |
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| "We call upon the Mare, who dominates / who exsanguinates / who lurks the Wood" | |
| Origin | From-Blood |
| Titles | Crownslayer, Arrowsong, Hunter's Moon |
| Names |
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| Aspects |
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| Date of arrival | {{{arrival}}} |
| Owner(s) | Иephilim |
Contents
History
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 hoof-steps never make a noise (unless she wants them to), even with her imposing weight.
- 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
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: 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 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 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: The 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: The Hunt: Most humans would refuse, yet the beast within desires.
- Ascension: The 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: The 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: The 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: The 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
Valerius, Scourge Promised
Justine, Saturnian
Alastor, The Blight-Father
4:Vladimir, The Flagellant - An once-mortal, now under the servitude of the Mare. A particularly sadistic executioner of the old times, with a particular penchant for cannibalism and starvation. Deeply religious, he would starve heretics by feeding them only their own flesh and blood- And would feast on his own skin when he dared to stray from his path. Inquestionably insane, questionably effective. But the Mare holds his leash with pride anyway. 
12 7
He is described as a very pale, famished, almost-white young man with an empty amber stare of madness, covered in self-inflicted scars. There's not a hair on his body aside from his eyebrows and hair (which is long, straight and red). He has remarkably long fangs. He rides on a freakishly tall, famished Arabian stallion, whose bones can be seen through the skin. Its hair is white and patchy, and its eyes share the same maddening empty stare of its rider.
5:Mabel, The Fox - An once-mortal, now under the servitude of the Mare. A so-called "Assassin" who has never had to kill a soul. Instead, her silver tongue conquers the mind of all those who stand in her way, and find no more appealing choice than to follow her into enlightenment, vanishing, "dead" into her servitude. Those who fall into her traps are never heard from again, surrendering their lives as cultists. Of course, she could shatter your psyche if she wanted. She just prefers to have you in on her cause. 
12 
9
She is described as a strikingly beautiful pale young woman, with short, curly black-grey ombre "dyed" hair and piercing yellow eyes. She always dresses exclusively in shades of grey. Some say they have seen a glimpse of a bushy tail under her pencil-skirt. She rides on a white qilin with cloven hooves and gemstone-scales, adorned with exotic feathers on its bridle and many banners embroidered with symbols of the Mare.
...Yes, they do have detachable heads. All of them.
Long
Long of the Mare are, essentially, Edge-aspected apex predators. They are given many animal characteristics, varying by their personality, but these traits are universal:
- Some form of venom (Delivery system varies - from different kinds of snake fangs to little spurs on their hands.)
- Something to assist them while fighting head-on. (Claws, spikes, armour, etc, even stuff like the ability to give electric shocks)
- Some form of extra sense. (Ability to sense body heat, to see in the dark, to see through hearing, etc)
- Some form of threat display, just to be scary. (Markings that can be made to glow, a cobra-like hood, eyes that change colours, etc)
However, the Mare-Longs' most notable ability is their adaptability. If they spend too long around the sea, they might grow gills or fins. If they live in the mountains, they might grow wings or gliders. If they spend too much time in the woods, they'll find claws or a tail growing on them. This even applies to the city - Even if most of them prefer to live in natural places, those who stay in the city are stealthy - their traits become easily concealable and their instincts repressed (To an extent, that is).
Notable Servants
Eoghan Clawsong [Tiger + Snake] is an Irish painter who lives as a stealth-Long in the city. He is known for being extremely eccentric and doing somewhat occult art, though he's flown under the radar of the Bureau for some time now. Most of his beast traits aren't very visible, and he generally keeps his animal habits at home - but sometimes he slips, too. He is a member of a secretive, wide-reaching Mare cult known as the "Kelpie's Mane", and works as one of their recruiters. His tests are particularly merciless.
Locations
The Fansus
The Histories
Items
Tools
Ingredients
Influences
Books
Rites
About the Wassail
How They Feel
Who They Blame
What They Hide
Do you really trust a goddess of murder in a crime scene?