-Maribel-
GODDESS OF SHADOW AND SECRETS
Symbol: An image of a New Moon or a disc made of obsidian or any black material. Those who follow Maribel may also adorn the outer edge of their icons with a rim of silver as though the power of the Dark Moon has overtaken the Silver Moon. Within the borders of the Empire there have also been examples of insurgents that hide their icons behind a silver disk so that they may reveal their purpose to others while hiding under the guise of servitude to the Full Moon.
Place of Existence: Within the Realm of Nhearn and she is considered to occupy the dark of the New Moon, although there are ideologies that she is the moon and shares a duality with the deity Aurora who may occupy or is herself the Full Moon.
Signs: The rising of the New Moon or the waning phases of the moon. She also presents her signs in strange darkness, such as the dark at the end of halls, the dark within holes or wells, and the darkness of a moonless night. When one has a feeling of danger or dread it is said that this feeling comes from the night or deeper shadows when Maribel is listening.
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Maribel is worshipped by dedicated servants, thieves, assassins, and by many who desire to keep their actions and motivations secret. The Dark Goddess has followers throughout Nhearn, anywhere from remote places or hiding in plain sight. The Empire of Man often finds covens within the undergrounds of their cities or use the Imperial Inquisition to investigate solitary practitioners from populations of street urchins to houses of nobility. Within the dominion of the elves Maribel also offers alluring powers, even to those who hope for good outcomes. She has taken over several grove lands by offering her own forms of protection to the borders of the woods, at times taking the forest to hide the elven locations entirely. Within the deepest caverns of the dwarven kingdoms she has opportunity to take hold, seizing the darkness absolutely which leads to dwarven cults or even a heightened awareness to her presence to non-worshippers.
With her form often shrouded in darkness and the membership occurring from multitudes of locales and cultures, her image has taken on many iterations. She is often depicted as a demon or shadow figure, but some claim to have been visited by a beautiful seductress or succubus creature. In her halls of worship she has been crafted in many materials, but her depiction often has a humanoid form, flowing gowns and robes, and depending on the sect, there may be horns, wings, or demonic attributes adorning her figure.
In many ways Maribel acts as Annabel, the Goddess of Evil, attempting to disturb the forces of good by granting powers to wicked souls. The two gods together had at one point worked together, their combined powers bringing Nhearn to many near apocalypses throughout the Age of Woe. Maribel however, undermined the alliance of the evil powers and acted out her own plan to seize power for herself. This ultimately led to a conflict between Annabel and her servants, which resulted in Maribel taking the mantle of Betrayer. Among the forces of good and the forces of evil, Maribel and her servants, the Maribellan, are despised completely. The cult of the New Moon is hunted by the Auroran utmost, but even members of the cults of Annabel make attempts to destroy halls of Maribel.
While she is the enemy to all beings upon Nhearn and throughout the Realms, it has been well documented by the Imperial Inquisition that Maribel gifts her servants well. Most that request her assistance do so to harbor secrets, making ritual to request that their actions, purposes, plans, or deeds remain hidden from all others. While this seems to be a very effective ritual, often keeping the secreted knowledge even from Katrina, it does give more power to Maribel who can use the secrets to her advantage. Paladins of Maribel, warrior zealots devoted to the service of the New Moon, have been noted by the Auroran warriors as being incredibly powerful and dangerous, as though Maribel would rather arm her servants with terrible unchecked powers than guarding the undeserving from her boons of faith. The allure of her favor does bring many to her following, keeping her secret chambers of worship full and her solitary devotees returning for her attentions. The Auroran claim however, that her members trade their safety when working with Maribel, and that even those with unquestionable power from the New Moon can be removed in an instant by the dark goddess who keeps ultimate power for herself.
Throughout the histories of Nhearn, Maribel has been known to present herself upon the firmament more than any other god, preferring perhaps to take on matters of her concern by herself. Her continued presence and interaction with the world makes her dangerous, perhaps as dangerous as Anabel, but her purpose is little known even among the higher membership of her cult. She keeps her own motivations a secret, her powers over the shadows shrouding her ultimate goals in darkness and secret.