The Egret

## Appearance

The Egret's most distinct feature is a leathery Venetian masquerade mask with a very long nose, much like a plague doctor mask. The mask appears to have been sewn onto his face. He is described as wearing a long black coat, ruffled shirt, and boots, almost as if he was dressed for the opera.

The Egret is often accompanied by Gladwell.

## Archetype

The Egret is an Occultist, and has been seen using Impossible Geometries, Void Tendrils, Machinations of the Timeless, and Mask of the Faceless.

## Background

Not much is known about the background of The Egret, perhaps not even by The Egret himself. In Contingency, he tells Rhett Bordeaux and Freya Benton that he had a name once, but has long forgotten what it is. In Judgment, he claims he learned Occultism by studying the library of Ambrose Keswick.

The Egret is obsessed with politeness and manners. He lives by an inscrutable code of conduct that he expects everyone else to abide by. This code does not prevent him from committing brutal acts of violence in his efforts to serve the Cult of Tammuz.

The Egret has a bitter rivalry with Pierce Keswick, who he finds impossibly rude. The Egret has a number of run-ins with Pierce, often ending in violence.

### OPSEC

The Egret first meets Pierce in the OPSEC arc, where The Egret waits in the back room of a run-down Los Angeles pawn shop. Pierce enters the shop after declining Gladwell's offer of Koji Miyazaki's pipe from his coat, which is clearly a powerful magical artifact. The Egret demands that Pierce tell him, "where Vermilion is." When Pierce refuses, The Egret is indignant. He and Gladwell use Impossible Geometries to leave the room. Pierce follows into the alternate space, and The Egret summons three of the shadowy hunters that had been stalking Pierce.

### Panopticon

After Pierce and Mitch find the location of Vermilion in Andrew Bernier's secret bunker, they are confronted by Gladwell, who threatens to kill them if they do not share the location. Gladwell tells them that The Egret is waiting near the cabin where Kiera Jackson, Abby, and Neveah Stephens are waiting, and will kill them all if Mitch and Pierce do not take his deal. Pierce attacks Gladwell, but he quickly disappears with the location of Vermilion. When Mitch and Pierce return to the cabin, they find Kiera and Niveah are safely hidden by a magic veil, but Abby has been brutally murdered by The Egret, who leaves a message to Pierce written in blood on the wall: "Politeness Pays."

### Vermilion

After Pierce secures the blessing of Tammuz and is returned to the main hall, The Egret challenges him to a duel according to the rules of primal dominance. Pierce teleports to take him by surprise with a knife attack, but The Egret reconstitutes himself with Machinations of the Timeless and attacks with Void Tendrils and Baleful Starlight. Pierce is quickly put on his back foot, and The Egret is about to finish him when the Dominant Female of the Cult of Tammuz, later revealed to be Tabitha Keswick, orders him to stop. The Egret is enraged but manages to put on a show of courtly manners.

### Judgment

Fought Pierce in a mental space he controlled and had prepared so all blood spilled would strengthen Darren Feldman. Had Stasya, Marcus Emerson, and Ashley Rhodes trapped in spheres. Threatens to kill them if Pierce breaks the rules.

 Pierce leaves The Egret with Stasya, who presumably kills him.

## Death

The Egret is presumed dead after being defeated by Pierce Keswick in a duel, then left to Stasya to take her revenge.

## Memorable Quotes

"I made the deal with Pierce Keswick, not whatever you are now." - Judgment Part I