Mercier, the Masked Butterfly

An intoxicatingly beautiful Fae regent who enjoys seducing mortals and then destroying them. A popular figure of worship among the Sylvans who pay homage by lighting coloured candles in a seasonal festival of multi-coloured flame and fireworks. She is also regarded by many Sylvans as the mother of their race, as it’s believed she found their souls ranging and helped shape them into their current forms.

## Appearance

Mercier usually appears female, but will shift her gender depending on her current target of seduction. She is always breathtakingly beautiful by whatever cultural standards are for beauty, meaning that she changes appearance constantly. In all her guises she has piercing blue eyes that look out through a mask, though the appearance of the mask will also change with context. Her true appearance is still beautiful, but much more alien - her eyes are bright blue flames so fascinating that mortals who meet her gaze are completely unable to look away. Her mask is alive, a huge butterfly that wafts its wings in time with her moods. Her angular features are stunning, but also sharp enough to cut. From her back sprout an enormous pair of butterfly wings, the colours dazzling and constantly shifting in a dizzying array of patterns - it’s said if you look into them long enough you will either go mad or see visions of the future. Or both.

## Personality

Mercier is as old as the Selva and infinitely cunning. She always has a thousand intrigues on the go and she never does anything unless she believes it will benefit one of her plans. Her favourite way of engineering the outcomes she wants is through the seduction of mortals, and she especially enjoys targeting those who scorn the power of romance or who have erred against her in some small way. She is incredibly vengeful, finding slights in the smallest of actions and punishing them, sometimes years or decades after the fact. But she can also be utterly charming, and none but the most stalwart souls can refuse if she asks for a favour.

## Worship

As one of the most powerful of the current Fae regents, Mercier is usually surrounded by clouds of fawning admirers, all jockeying to catch her eye and enjoy her favour. She is a patron of witches and hedge magic practitioners, and is often called to aid in minor spells such as love potions or protection trinkets. In some places in the Selva she is worshipped as a goddess of love who helps young people find their perfect partner. But all who petition her should be aware - she will act however she needs to to get what she wants, but in her heart she has not a shred of sentiment or compassion.

She also holds a special position among the Sylvans, as she is considered the progenitor of the current form of their race. It is in her honour that Sylvans wear masks, although this is so ubiquitous and culturally ingrained that just wearing a mask doesn't indicate whether or not an individual Sylvan worships Mercier or not. All but the most isolated or secular Sylvan communities will celebrate the Mercian holiday of Lucerna Night at the end of the dry season, as well as having at least one communal Mercier shrine.

## Tenets

* First and foremost, protect yourself and trust only yourself
* Mortal allies are only as true as mortal hearts. Which is to say, do not count on them
* If you have a plan for every contingency, then you are always prepared
* All mortals wear masks with each other, never assume you have seen their true face
* Sometimes the right words in the right ear can get you further than a sword ever could
* Magic is a more dangerous tool than any fire. Use it, but never take it for granted
* Take sweet vengeance on those who have wronged you, and the number of people who carelessly wrong you will sharply decrease