Bio

Description

Mara is surprisingly short for a deva at only 4’10" with almost childlike features and a slender build. Runic patterns of dark gray, which actually spell out obscenities in the ancient Supernal script, cover her lighter gray skin, and her dark hair is haphazardly cut short. Her golden pupiless irises offer the only hint of color, but turn black when she is sufficiently provoked.

While adventuring through potentially hostile territory she wears a white surcoat with black trim over polished chainmail, with matching boots, gloves and mantle. Her movement is ponderous and labored in this gear, however, revealing that she obviously wouldn’t have the strength or resilience for heavy armor if it weren’t for her professional training. At first opportunity she usually transforms her impostor’s armor to something suitable for the occasion, normally a padded aketon for downtime or traveling and a chiton or robe in civilized areas.

Background

Although probably as old as Koar itself, being a deva, Mara can only remember her disincarnate period within confinement, her immaterial form unable to even mark the passage of time on the walls. And the barest glimpse of events leading to it, as a loyal servant willing to do anything for Theundine, even if it got her hands dirty, and committed to rooting out and destroying enemies of the faith. For her zeal she was held accountable for means she was convinced were justified by the ends. Her pleas as a loyal servant fell on deaf ears as she was found deserving of punishment and sealed away.

Somewhere in the Compact of Paet…

The angel quietly stepped into Oubliette of Penitence. The moderate wind that circulated the the room, the combined result of the souls trapped within attempting to wail, suddenly fell silent.

“Mara’daeva, Bringer of Light, come forth.”

A small disincarnate form manifested before him, curled up in ball and staring with cold black eyes.

“Tzadkiel, You’ve moved up in the world.”

“There is… a disturbance on the outside. Mortals who seek to throw down the order of the cosmos and assume themselves in the place of the gods.”

“How do they plan on doing that? Tying together a spear long enough they hope to pierce the heavens?”

“Funny, but no. There are considerable factors sealed within Koar that make it a possibility. Lord Theundine is dispatching his agents far and thin, but it is not enough. he has decided to offer you a probationary release.”

“I don’t suppose he’s just cutting your duties as warden so you can go?”

Tzadkiel’s hand phased slightly immaterial and sprung out, and was able to grab the spirit by the neck and lift it up.

“If it were up to me you would remain here at least another 10,000 years. Make no mistake, your accommodations here have been nothing compared to what you would face beyond the seal, what would claim you, what you would become. You can think of this world and the seal around it as a net that protects you from your just desserts. Rather than see that net come down, will you not protect it? Do you accept?”

“I… accept.”

Tzadkiel loosened his grip, and retightened it over her temples.

“You will be granted a vestige of your former power, however your rebirth will once again leave most of your own past sealed to you. All you need to know is that the first people you see will be your charges, your enemy is the Athar, and this may be your one and only attempt to redeem yourself. Lord Theundine has actually left me to oversee the reincarnation of your new form. You will find I have developed a sense of humor myself.”

Before Mara’s first allies:

The skies overhead, once sunny, went overcast within moments. As the clouds swirled in a circle, a ray of light pierced through the center, illuminating a nearby patch of earth. The light grew to blinding intensity, and at its peak a roar of thunder crashed, pierced by a high pitched shriek.
As the light subsided a feminine humanoid form was lying face down, naked in the dirt. After a moment she stirred and started getting up, when the light suddenly struck the same point a second time. Once again she was face down, twitching, this time underneath a small pile of gear.