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War Witch Mariposa

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"While the practice of the occult is banned by the Church of the Duo, it is not against church law to educate on those who do practice it. Understandably, very few attempt to do so out of fear of prejudice against their work, or fear of their subjects. It is not that I have neither of these fears, but I believe it's important to face them, to know them, so that they may be eventually overcome.

I had the privilege to accompany a few members of the Silver Order as they visited the Morrayhill Coven. The two members I followed were tracking a werebeast that had killed five in the last few months. Personal effects left at the beast's last hideout suggested a kindred connection to Morrayhill Coven. While the Coven vehemently denies involvement with those who transform in monsters, the common man sees no difference between a witch and a monster. The again, the Silver Order was tainted by the blood of monsters, and directly employed by the church. The same common man would call this a necessary evil. Master Ghietner of the Silver Order, whom himself had werebeast blood, was denied entry the the witch's village at the gates. Men who were not of the coven's direct family were not allowed in. Ghietner's young ward, Tasia, was the one who'd have to question the coven leaders, and I was allowed to follow her and observe.

Tasia had only been with the Silver Order for a few months, having nearly lost her life to the deep lurker that struck town central in the night this past summer. Her blood had become tainted, and Master Ghienter was there to offer the Order's mysterious "cure". She, however looked regal, as the Order often does. Clean coat and boots, well-kempt hair under a tricorn hat. Tasia was practically a noble among the coven. Children ran about in rags, and sweaty men worked the small amount of farmland. Dark, ceremonial robes were worn by the witches themselves, along with their fearful masks. They never explained to me the reason for the masks, but any woman past the age of 16 wore one. We passed into a training ground as Tasia led wordlessly. Here, the younger members of the coven and their husbands trained in the sword. The Morrayhill Coven was perhaps unique in their dedication to martial prowess as well as the occult. They were led by the witch Tasia had been seeking out, the War Witch Mariposa.

Mariposa was an unnerving sight. She has wearing half-plate, even though she was effectively only training. She silently signaled her students to take a break when we approached, and regarded me from behind her toothy mask before turning properly to Tasia. Mariposa's brother was the werebeast the Order had been seeking out. She treated the situation as though her brother had died very long ago, and that it was simply his shadow wandering the farmland outside of the city now. She was not surprised at the visit, though she was surprised her brother was still active. There was a coldness in the woman's voice when she insisted she join the Order's hunt."

- excerpt from the journal of Professor Jandelle Lanwright, Supernatural Studies Head at the University

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Burksaurus's avatar
Mariposa is a beautiful looking warrior. But I love the story in the description giving out some lore on her