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| title = The Mare-Night
| card =
| quote = We call upon the Mare, who slaughters exterminates our foes by the hand of Man...
| origin = Nowhere
| titles = Assassin-Queen, Arrow-Mare, Hunter-Moon
*Vladimir, The Flagellant {{Aspect|Grail}} {{Aspect|Moth}}
*Tanata, The Vigilante {{Aspect|Edge}} {{Aspect|Winter}}
| aspects = {{Aspect|Edge}} {{Aspect|Moth}} {{Aspect|Winter}}
| owners = Nephilim
}}
== History ==
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.
She is an eight-legged centaur, of noble drafter build. Her tail is a centipede, which sometimes holds a mind of its own. Her human side has four arms, and two of them hold her bow. Her skin is grey as the steel of her knife, 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 genders sexes at once, or none. Her hoof-steps never make a noise, even with her imposing weight and muscle. Her coat is spotted as her skin, especially around her back legs.
Nobody has ever seen her face. Some traits are visible- Her long, elfin ears which droop to the sides, her mane, colourful as withered copper,which grows from her head to her lower back. Her antlers, resembling those of a moose, permanently tangled in vines and ropes, and her third eye, which is a shard of faintly glowing amethyst and is quite sensitive. 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 teeth. She is also occasionally depicted as having a halo made of cutting implements and blood-stained, unopened letters.
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.
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 a patron , as previously mentioned, an incarnation of assassins murder born of Nowhere from the crimes of Man. Despite her (usually) friendly and huntersbubbly personality, she is still an extremely violent Hour of delightful sacrifice, appeased by violence and death of the innocent.
== 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, while wearing the cozy scarves She knitted for them in their time of ascension. 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 ===
=== Mark ===
# '''Temptation: The Hunt''': I have seen the signs through my dreams. Daggers, beasts, horses and dark alleyways...
# '''Dedication: The Hunt''': She has acknowledged me as one of her own! Imust get ready, for i don've seen her in my dreams..t know what will come.# '''Ascension: The Walk''': The forest beyond is cold and unforgiving. But she has hidden something here for me- Yet i must take it without her eyes on me. If i fail, her claws will be upon me. I must learn the art of Stealth.# '''Ascension: The Call''': The Mare demands sacrifice. She demands the blood and flesh of what - or who - i love the most. And i must not shed a single tear in the process. I must learn the art of Slaughter.# '''Ascension: The Thirst''': The heartbeats of wonderful prey sing to my heightened senses. I cannot go in public anymore. Not with these hands, Not with these eyes. I must learn the art of Self-Restraint.# '''Ascension: XThe Predator''':The mirror fears my silhouette. The dark corners of the city whisper my name in hushed tones with trembling lips. She looks to me with hope, and a beastly smile. Now, i must learn the art of Sewing- her last, most innocent gift to me. Soon, we ride into the sunset.
=== Servants ===
The Mare uses her servants as personal bodyguards. Assassin-Queen as she is, most of her deeds aren't done by her. All but one (which is W.I.P.) are her most prized men, ones who excel at the arts of breaking bodies and minds. And yet, she babies them and knits them scarves...
===== Names =====
'''1: Donovan, The Warlord''' - 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. {{Aspect|Edge}} {{Aspect|Knock}}
=== What They Hide ===
'''''Why in the world Only a fool would you ever trust the testimony of the two-faced, literal incarnation of murder and extermination?.'''''
== Relationships ==
[[Category:Hours (Vol. III)]]