Maeve

"We are all born of the blood"

The Bloody Matron

Maeve is the Ventara whose spheres of influence are blood, vampirism, murder, and ritual sacrifice. While her primary goals are unknown, it is inferred that she takes great pleasure in the darker vices of mortals. Since her domains are generally taboo among Iskrans, her work is mostly done in the shadows hidden away from sight.
Maeve values patience, intelligence, and covertness. Regardless of what many may expect, Maeve is true to her word and is willing to wait centuries for the perfect moment to enact her plans. Despite her spheres, Maeve does not find amusement in the slow, painful aspects of her influence; preferring instead clean, calculated actions. This Ventara also has a penchant for blood magics an is considered the progenitor of this dark art. Through her use of blood magic Maeve is capable of many feats including, but nor limited to, blood manipulation, weaponization, and the ability to prolong mortal life.
Unlike most of her kin, Maeve is said to show some compassion to those that follow and worship her. She is said to be calm, calculated, and interested in the affairs of mortalkind. She is also known to despise rash, uncontrolled behavior viewing it as a potent weakness.
Religion and Culture
Maeve is among the few Ventara that is recognized across every province, albeit with some differences across every culture. Maeve holds the most importance in Teldara, where the Covenant primarily operates. Among the Teldaran races Maeve is seen as an agent of political strife considering the many assassinations committed by the Covenant.
To the Madurans Maeve is viewed as one of the few "good" Ventara. Through her, a strange reliance on assassins to resolve political disputes and prevent all out war has played an important role in maintaining the Maduran federation.
Across Ankar Maeve is less known as the Covenant's primary rival, the Harakunrin, have managed to keep the Covenant out for centuries. The Harakunrin is strictly a business and does not partake in the more religious nature of their counterpart.
Vampirism
Known as the Mother of Vampires, Maeve is the progenitor of this curse or blessing, depending on who one asks, and commands great admiration among the bloodlines. While the exact origin of vampirism is lost to time some records point to either an ancient blood ritual or the defilement of a young Sareni man during the Ruinous Age who would later become the first vampire. Over the centuries some of these bloodlines have splintered and began focusing on goals separate from their progenitor.
Worship
While worship outside of the Covenant and Disciples is rare, they aren't unheard of. The cults that worship Maeve commonly practice sacrifice to appease her. A core belief among these cultists is that the blood must flow. Some of the more devoted and seasoned cultists have been said to use blood magic.
Artifacts
The Siphoner's Blade
The Siphoner's Blade, also known as the Bloodletter, is the oldest known artifact of Maeve. Its enchantments are said to drain the blood of its victims with every strike, replenishing the vitality of its wielder.
Many legends surround the blade, buts it origins can be traced back to when Maeve tricked a Solvithar master smith into forging the blade before he passed away due to "natural" causes. After its completion Maeve enchanted the blade, increasing its power.
Throughout the centuries the blade has appeared across Iskara but in more recent years has solely been under the protection of the Disciples. The dagger is granted to the most efficient and loyal among the Disciples; a true champion of Maeve and her goals.
The Blood Font
The Blood Font is a strange blood red orb that is inscribed with powerful enchantments. It is said that the orb can grant its wielder access to unique blood spells, capable of manipulating and damaging the most fearsome of foes. Its exact origins are unknown but some speculate that Maeve created the orb herself and others suspect an ancient bloodmage crafted it under her demands.
Currently the Orb resides with the Harakunrin in Ankar, where it remains both a powerful tool and trophy to insult and antagonize the Covenant/Disciples.
Before its acquisition by the Harakunrin, the Orb was mainly granted to talented and devout bloodmages of Maeve who would make the most of its formidable spells and enchantments.
Realm
The Vermilion Meadows
The Vermilion Meadow, also known simply as the Meadow, is a plane within The Void created and ruled over by Maeve. The Meadow is one among a handful of planes that is well documented and relatively explored by scholars and adventurers alike. It is also said that the plane is rather tame, at least when compared to the other Ventara planes.
The Vermilion Meadow is a vast sea of vibrant red grass and flora, with rivers and waterfalls of flowing blood. The sky is a deep perpetual crimson with a lone "moon" as the sole source of natural light. Few constructs dot the plane and fewer individuals know what lie within. These constructs appear to be made of an unknown stone that starkly contrasts to the forest like surroundings. It is hypothesized these structures contain unknown knowledge pertaining to Maeve, her realm, and her spheres of influence or serve as conduits of powerful and ancient blood rituals.
Servants
Unlike her kin Maeve rarely makes use of her Ventyr and her realm is relatively unpopulated. As a result the few that endure her realm are of a particular prestige, even among other Ventyr. The most common Ventyr within the Meadow consist of the Venmora, Venvilai, Venkyn, and Daemons.
Among the Ventyr there are those only loyal to Maeve. Her primary servants are the Scarlet Priests, which sit at the top of the hierarchy. The Scarlet Priests are exclusively loyal to Maeve and serve several roles in Maeve's inner court. These priests are masters of blood magic and are considered to be the primary teachers of blood magic to mortals. Under the priests are the Sankyn. The Sankyn constitute the majority of those loyal to Maeve and serve as the primary foot-soldiers and protects of the Meadows. Generally the Sankyn are unable to use blood magic but there are a select few capable of such feats. At the bottom of the hierarchy are the Hunter Harvesters. These insectoids creatures serve as the trackers and blood harvesting drones under the direct command of veteran Sankyn. Rarely seen in Iskara, these creatures have been the source of many disturbing legends and nightmares alike.
Outside of the direct command of both Maeve and her personal Ventyr are the Blood Fiends. Blood fiends are Sankyn that have failed to satiate their need for blood or have disobeyed/failed an order from a superior and are thus starved to the point of insanity. These feral beasts stalk the darkest corners of the Meadow, attacking and consuming whatever may cross their path. Within the Meadows also lie the Blood Archaics, elemental creatures of varying capabilities. These beings are described as monstrous creatures with ever shifting bodies of crimson blood. They are masters of blood magic and are notoriously difficult to combat as their bodies shift and churn to every strike.

Divine Domains

Blood, Vampires, Murder, and Ritual Sacrifice

Mental characteristics

Personal history

The earliest records of Maeve date back to Ruinous Age shortly after the Incursion. Unlike some of her kin, Maeve crept into the shadows amidst the chaos whispering in the ears of those who would listen. Towards the end of the Ruinous Age it is speculated that the assassin's guild known as the Crimson Covenant was formed; what the vast majority of mortals don't know however, is the Covenant is secretly led by the Disciples of Maeve. The Disciples are an extremely effective and focused group, consisting of only the best the Covenant has to offer. The members of the Disciples are often consider fanatics, worshipping Maeve and serving as instruments of her will.

Divine Classification

Ventara

Religions

• The Crimson Covenant

Alignment

Lawful Evil

Species

Ventara

Realm

The Void

Honorary & Occupational Titles

The Matron of Blood, The Bloodweaver, The Blood Touched, The Mother of Vampires, The Matron, and The Lady of Sanguine

Eyes

Typically dark red

Hair

Long, raven black

Skin Tone/Pigmentation

Pale white

Aligned Organization

The Disciples

Other Affiliations

• The Crimson Covenant