The Marquis d'Macabre
From Changeling Venue
Every Changeling's experience of the Marquis (or Marquessa) has been different. Some swear It is female, others experienced only a male Keeper, and a few saw It as both, flipping gender as It suited Itself.
The defining aspect of the Marquis is It's affinity for holidays. Like most True Fae the Marquis is fascinated and mystified by humanity, and channels these feelings into a study of human holidays. The Marquis cannot understand human customs - why do small children go begging for candy? Why must the presents be opened on Christmas morning? What's the point of a jack-o-lantern or Christmas tree?
The Marquis kidnapped small children and used them as actors in his eternal holiday pageants. However, his lack of comprehension of humanity extends to the care of children. And so he kidnapped adults to serve the various roles he would need to keep his eternal pageantry going.
Among the Lost who served a Durance under the Marquis are:
Black Tara - Kidnapped at the advent of Halloween, Black Tara was selected because she was a daycare worker and the Marquis needed a nanny. Since she need to be appropriately terrifying, Tara was transformed into a Beast - a Spider woman. Eight arms to cradle you with, eight eyes to see you with, and a poison to inflict when you've been naughty.
Jack Lantern - Just what it sounds like, the Marquis gave Jack to the children to carve and decorate as they saw fit - just like a real jack-o-lantern. When the Marquis decided It was tired of Halloween and was transitioning to Christmas, Jack decided to risk escape rather than serve another 20 years as the Christmas tree.
Nigel - It's a good thing none of the returned Lost can remember what Nigel did to them. A Muse who was the Marquis' golden boy, Nigel was responsible for making each Changeling the best they could be. Encouraged to submit to their Durance, to become the epitome of their kith and seeming, he was a wicked professor who's no doubt in for an uncomfortable time if the rest of his motley ever remembers what he did to them.
Raggedy Ann -Update Ann has recently Died to her own Fetch Ann had the longest Durance of all of them, being kidnapped during Easter and used to sew costumes, her skills as a seamstress were invaluable when they shifted to Halloween and Ann sewed ingenious costumes. When christmas time came around, Ann could not handle making all new elf costumes, and finally ran away. The Durance has left it's mark on Ann, as she is the least human of all of them, resembling a rag doll more than a person. Many times when the Marquis would use Ann's creations for something they were not ment for, they would rip and tear. When this happened the Marquis got mad, and would sew Ann's eyes shut, forcing her to continue to work blinded. Ann is still searching for Raggedy Andy.
Mr Toymaker - Once a famed (and slightly controversial) artisan in Venice, Mr. Toymaker was kidnapped to make Halloween props for the Marquis. Though he loved and exclled at his intial role, he did not transition into Christmas very well. The idea of spending countless years performing demeaning tasks as one of Santa's elves (after spending three decades fulfilling the role of "Grand Architect of Tricks") took a strong toll on this Wizened's psyche and eventually resulted in a full mental breakdown. Today this twisted, clockowrk monster lurks in the catacombs beneath the Runnels Psychiatric Institute, feeding off of the glamour of the insane and acting as mad foreman in a factory that actually aims for its creations to contain lead paint, sharp edges, and moving parts that can be swallowed by small children.
