The Watcher In The Woods

From Changeling Venue

The woods can be a dangerous place. In the darkness of night, the shadows can come alive with the howling of wind or the creaking of tree limbs. Even during the day, it can equally cause one to accelerate their strides along a forest path, upon hearing the rustling of leaves or the snapping of a twig. The same can be said of the ‘concrete jungle’. Darkened alleys and parks of the city can inspire similar fears at night. In the daylight hours, one can just as easily find themselves lost in the labyrinth of metropolitan streets and avenues. One can walk either path – be it rural or urban – with the same sense of unease and dread. From every shadow, there is something that watches you. Around every corner and in every alley lurks something unseen. Yet, whenever you glance around yourself, you find nothing there. Still, that feeling remains and your pace quickens … feeling that something or someone is there, just watching your every move and waiting for the right moment to strike.

Myths and legends and children’s tales often speak of journeys through such “woods”. Stories of children lost or abandoned among the trees. Still others tell of individuals’ sojourns into unfamiliar places. Fables of uncharted islands and of fantastical realms beyond this plane have existed throughout time. The commonalities of these stories appear in various cultures, in a myriad of versions. Yet the tales that end with success are those in which the protagonist prevails by escaping his captured servitude through cunning, strength of spirit and sheer determination. Ironically, it is usually those same traits that allow the antagonist of these tales to ensnare their victims in the first place.

From Theseus and Medusa to Jason and Circe, from the seductive, deceptive Fox Maidens of Korea and Japan to the wise-cracking Baubo in Greek Eleusisian myth … these are the tales of the seductive trickster. Stories of such wily women are rare and not widely recorded. Knowing so little about these fabled women should be even more unsettling than those of their more publicized male counterparts. After all, the fear of that which we do not know is far more frightening than that which we have some warning or knowledge about.

1 LABRYS - THE WATCHER IN THE WOODS
2 THE HOUSE OF THE DOUBLE AXE
3 THE WATCHMEN
4 ALLIES & RIVAL GENTRY
5 PRISONERS & OTHER CAPTIVES
6 OOC INFORMATION

[edit]

LABRYS - THE WATCHER IN THE WOODS

The entity who calls herself Labrys has been known and feared among the Lost for countless years. It is thought that she has existed for ages, possibly giving credence to tales of seductresses and female trickster throughout a variety of cultures. Time, however, tends to erode such information. Yet, she remains a being whose existence is reflected in various myths and tales told around a campfire. Her reputed exploits upon the mortal plane have become rumors whispered in the night and urban legends.

Beyond the Hedge, the stories say that Labrys was once a vassal of the Overlord known as the Twilight King. But as all things come to pass, the Twilight King overstepped her/himself and was collectively cast out by the peerage. With this Overlord banished from the Lands of Arcadia into the mortal world, she and many others swarmed in and claimed the spoils in the lands of the Others. Now, she plays the Great Games of the True Fae and is a cruel mistress to many, holding vassalage in the odd politics that the Gentry so greatly relish.

Labrys is the consummate hunter and is Lady of "The House of the Double Axe". Her name and that of the House are renowned for the procurement and training of Lost who have become exemplarily hounds and gladiators under her command. Keeping a very well-stocked preserve in the deepest corner of the Arcadian woods, the finest of these captives are the ones that she keeps for herself. However, she does contract out the services of her elite force of hounds to track and hunt down those who choose to run, returning them to their masters … either dead or alive. Other captives, she trains and trades off to the other Gentry for gladiatorial competitions or other estate purposes.

As a shape-shifter and master illusionist, she often utilizes his own personal abilities and skills to assume various predatory animal forms to lure her prey through the Hedge and into capture. Traditionally, she appears whenever a person acts with recklessness toward self-preservation or burns with vigilant determination. Generally, such occasions are often situations that she has orchestrated herself, with an eye on her targeted prey.

Most often, she appears in the form of a stylized "Warrior Maiden of the Wild Woods". (Very few have seen her true form.) She specializes in all forms of the hunt, including those of seduction and mental games. She entertains herself by hunting in her preserve and the surrounding labyrinth of woods, later to return to her 'rustic' estate where she often hosts hunting parties for other Gentry.

Yet, even now, she is well aware that there is a being of vast power who is traverses the Hedge and claims it as her/his own domain. Many a mortal and changeling alike have become captives in the Hedge. Some have been sold into slavery as the entity barters with those allies of his/hers that remain among the landed True Fae. It is uncertain if any of these new victims have been added to Labrys’s own elite forces as a bartered trade. Does she still remain as ally to the deposed Twilight King? Certainly, only she knows for sure. Yet, she and her minions who traverse the Hedge do always seem to return to the lands of Arcadia unscathed and with captives in tow.

Appearance: The Watcher in the Woods is said to be a being of great exotic beauty. Though she wears a human face, her bearing and her concerns are most definitely non-human. Stylizing herself as an ideal seductive predator, her general appearance is that of a golden skinned woman with distinctive tribal markings along her arms and face. Her bearing is imposing and oft times regal. She exudes predatory grace, causing Lost in his presence to immediately feel an almost primal sensuality. Her hair is a flowing mane of what appears to be misty green-hued dreadlocks. Some who gaze upon her say that these tendrils appear to look like roots, while others see them as serpent tails. Her eyes are reptilian and vibrant green, and her gaze is mersmerizing if not hypnotic at times.

Characteristics: Labrys is quite simply a gamesman extraordinaire. As a predator of every manner of animal (humans, goblins, ect.), she entertains herself with hunting in her well stocked preserve and estate. She is a force of nature, raw power and sexuality. It is rare indeed that any stand against him. She treats defiance with amusement, considering the breaking of minds and the sapping of wills just another form of the hunt. After all, the only definative way to tame a wild stallion is to break its spirit and take command. Her anger takes on a terrifying and primal nature, whereby she has leveled entire sections of her preserve when provoked to rage. Generally, however, she likes to play the part of 'social hunter', inviting other Gentry to lavish hunting parties and entertainments at her estate.

[edit]

THE HOUSE OF THE DOUBLE AXE

Labrys's domain lies in the deepest woods of Arcadia. The path leading to The House of The Double Axe disappears over the horizon into the distance and moves away from the "civilized" world of Fae and into the heart of the Wild Wood. While some often experienced this as traveling away from the Center toward the Perimeter, this is in actuality a return to the Center. When the seeker reaches The Watcher's Woods, the track ends and her/his pathways are found by other means (or by decree of Labrys's own will). After entering the woods, the seeker cannot be followed, nor can they follow another. Whatever pathways are discovered disappear in passing, and the woods are trackless once again, for each one's way is different … as Labrys deems.

At the center of the fantastical forests of this domain is "The House of the Double Axe" itself. The estate has a "rustic" feel to it. Arches and colossal stone walls comprise this central structure. It also houses various luxuries and appointments including a grand feasting hall and large baths. Yet, vines and roots protrude from the walls and crumbled masonry like hanging gardens. Great trees sprout from the uprooted floor to seemingly support vaulted ceilings. Autumn colored leaves obscure portions of the marble floors like they were the finest carpets laid there. Fisures leak waters which cascade into fragmented pools like fountains. Upon looking at the condition of the rustic estate, one can not be certain if it has simply eroded into ruin or if it is purposeful appointment in its decoration. In fact, as one views this property, you can never be certain as to where the exterior wilds end and the interior foliage begins.

Outside the center building is every conceivable stabling structure. Aeries, stables, kennels, training arenas and other menageries hold every type of predatory or prey animal. Yet the animals here are usually Lost, specifically obtained for the purpose of serving as either prey or hunting animal and trained for either estate service or bartering stock.

Encircling both the estate and its stable grounds is an elaborate labyrinth of exceedingly tall hedges and masonry walls. At seemingly random points within the maze, the passageway blindly deposits its travelers into areas that have been transformed into other terrains for Labrys's hunting pleasure. Round a corner and you can find yourself in a swamp, a desert, a tropical jungle or on the plains. Your only chance of continuing your journey is through it, in hopes of finding an exit back into the labrynth on the other side. Of course, the walls actually rotate and slide into a variety of alternative positons, whereby Labrys can either create an expansive entrance to the estate for her guests or an ever-changing maze to hold her captives. The choice, as is everything in his domain, is hers alone.

[edit]

THE WATCHMEN

Even among the Others, business is business. Labrys's elite hounds-for-hire are known as “The Watchmen” . She barters out their services to other Gentry for the retrieval or elimination of their runners. Only the best of her minions are placed amongst this elite hunting force.

Actaeon – The Stag. He was the commander of The Watchmen, answerable only to Labrys herself. He was killed during the Red Nettle Revolt. [Whereabouts: Deceased.]

Aethon – The Eagle. [Whereabouts: The House of the Double Axe.]

Asterius – The Bull. Originally, he was a gladiator in The Arena for The House of the Double Axe, before being moved to The Watchmen. He was named as commander of that force, following Actaeon’s demise. [Whereabouts: The House of the Double Axe.]

Chrysomallis – The Ram. He too was a gladiator in The Arena for The House of the Double Axe, before being moved to The Watchmen. He was killed during one of the Lost revolts. Rumor has it that he may have been a member of the Knights of the Black Order. The question remains ... by whose hand did he die? [Whereabouts: Deceased.]

Orion – The Wolf. He was originally intended to be a trained hound or gladiator for sale. Yet, his skills and abilities proved too valuable to let go. [Current whereabouts: Escaped.]

[edit]

ALLIES & RIVAL GENTRY

The Twilight King - The Sovereign of Fallen Stars. Former lover and ally of Labrys. Some of Labrys's hounds and gladiators may have been procured from and traded with The Twilight King. Banished True Fae. [Current whereabouts: The Hedge, which it claims as its domain and realm now.]