Mara, the Sea Maiden is a spirit helper or spirit of Benevolence.
Overview[]
As treacherous as the seas can be, there is mercy there, as well. In the arms of this spirit, who rescues sailors from drowning, a fearful Explorator may find comfort. Once, it is said, she was a maiden betrothed to a brave sailor. When a storm-witch brewed up a tempest, Mara ran out to save her beloved. She dove in, but courage was no match for the storm. Death could not still her passion, though; even now, she rescues sailors, in hopes of finding her lost lover. Other tales claim Mara was a mermaid who fell in love with a Christian seaman; when he drowned, she vowed to save all worthy men in honor of her love. Touched, the Lord made her immortal so that she could honor that promise.
Ghost or mermaid, Mara is a wave of compassion on the vast and pitiless seas. A drowning sailor might feel soft hands about his neck. Salty kisses breather air into the sailor's lungs, and a beautiful woman drags him to the surface and leaves him safe on a nearby shore. Despite her resemblance to the deadly mermaids and sirens of lore, Mara is not a seductive killer. Although she boasts a beautiful singing voice, she's quite virginal. A sailor may desire her, but her affections are spiritual, not carnal.
Although Mara has been known to save mortals as well as magi, Explorator Daedaleans intrigue her. The spirit seems drawn to the strange new ships and brace deeds of these pioneers; when she saves them, she often asks questions about their methods and philosophies. Sometimes she engages them in debate: Is it wise to map the whole world? Aren't some mysteries better left unsolved? Are there limits to what man should know, and where might those limits be? Surprisingly, she's quite astute, and knows a good bit about mortal affairs, Mara is more than just a helping hand; for sailors of the Forge and Sail guild, she provides a conscience, as well. In gratitude, many shipwrights have immortalized her on the prows of their vessels, or worked her image into shipboard carvings.
Kind as she is, Mara has an angry side. If an Explorator prefers dark Arts, or comes to plunder the virgin seas, Mara sometimes calls down storms upon his ship. If a greedy or faithless sailor falls overboard, he might find himself dragged down into the darkness rather than hauled back to the light. If the Sea Maiden meets an especially lecherous or selfish Explorator, she might decide the world is better off without him. Withdrawing her hands, she lets him sink or summons sharks to the kill. Mara is a spirit of hope and redemption, but she does not suffer fools at all.
An incarnated Umbrood, the Sea Maiden swims in that place where flesh and spirit are nearly one. The deep oceans have very low Gauntlet ratings, and Mara moves easily between worlds. In game terms, she's effectively a material being, but can shrug off her mortal form if threatened or attacked. Any man who tries to hold her will find himself with a handful of sea water as a prize and an angry water-spirit as an enemy.
Stats[]
Willpower: 5, Rage: 5, Gnosis: 8, Power: 45
Charms: Airt Sense, Cleanse the Blight, Create Wind, Element Sense (water), Flood, Healing, Materialize, Meld (water), Re-form, Soul Reading, Water-Breathing, Waves
Materialized Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 6, health levels 7
Abilities: Alertness 3, Diving 5, Empathy 5, Logic 4, Singing 3, Animal Ken (sea creatures) 5, Seamanship 3, Animal Speech (sea creatures) 5, Beast Lore (same) 5, Culture 3, Enigmas 3, Linguistics 5, Politics 3, Science (navigation) 3, Weather-Eye 5
Rewards: Courage, Fortitude and Hope; punishes Avarice, Vanity and those who would despoil the seas.
References[]
- MTSC: The Sorcerers Crusade Companion, p. 157-158