Vette of the Month
Welcome to Vette of the Month! This is a feature which will be published monthly up until NordicFuzzCon 2015, coinciding with our theme Scandinavian Folklore: the Enchanted Forest.
Vette (plural: vetter) is an archaic Norwegian word which serves as catch-all term for supernatural beings. In these installments we will introduce you to a different creature (or vette) from Scandinavian folklore every month, as well as giving you an artist's interpretation of said creature. Our hope is that these installments will help familiarize our attendees with these fascinating but often dangerous beings, making travel through the forest less hazardous.
For the month of November, we give you:
MARE
Within the tales of old there is a type of demon known as mara. In common tongue it is known as a mare, and the name originates from Old Norse. Contrary to malevolent spirits that focus on mortals, the mara sustains itself by feeding on trees, animals, and people alike. As such, its cultural presence can not only be found in concepts such as a 'nightmare' but also in names, and places.
As a creature, the mare is a nocturnal and cautious hunter with an ability to change its shape. It uses the ability to avoid detection, and few are those that would react to a butterfly sitting in a tree, a maiden riding a horse, or a lover snuggled up next to a sleeping mate. A tree parasitized by a mare grows wicked, the branches tangled, the bark gnarled, and the leaves a faded gray. A ridden horse becomes exhausted, the hide sweaty and the lifespan cut short.
Attacks on mortals do not occur in the open, instead a mare prefers to stalk, and wait until its victim falls asleep. Once that happens the mare will take on a fitting shape, and approach with a subtle grace. With the touch of a gentle lover, the mare will ease itself on top of its victim's chest or back, and reach into the mortal's mind. Caught in its grip, the victim will face a nightmare of darkest night and writhing terror. Weighed down by paralyzing torment, the mare will begin to feed until satiated, and then leave with the same grace it used to approach.
A withered life-less husk, a damning mental scar, or a bad case of bed-head, the caress of a mare always leaves a mark.
