Headless Horseman

* Biography
* Threat Assessment
* Trivia and Notes
* Gallery

Bertilak de Hautdesert, Black Horseman, Blemmyes, Bredbeddle, Crom Cruach, Crum Dubh, Dullahan, Dulachán, Durahan, Ewen of Glen Cainnir, Foul Rider, Gan Ceann, Green Knight, Headsman, Headless Hessian, Headless Rider, Headless Spectre, Hell's Coachman, Hollow's Headsman, Kabandha, War (Aliases)

### Relatives

Destruction (Father)
Xiwangmu (Mother)
Destiny and Dream (Uncles)
Death, Despair, and Delirium (Aunts)
Desire (Parent's Sibling)
Astghik, Manungal, Kebechet, Rose Walker, Rosacarnis, Drury Walker, Orpheus, Mixcoatl, Namtar, and Ninazu (Cousins)
Sook Lee (Possible Half-Sister or Cousin)

### Affiliation

The Four Horsemen (Member)
Endless (Family)

## Physical Description

### Headless Horseman: Once Upon a Time...

This restless rider was summoned to pursue witchfinder Ichabod Crane for the purpose of claiming his head and bringing it to the summoners: Brandish Descry and Gwendoline Fletcher (better known as Goldilocks). The clever witchfinder proved to be a more elusive target than imagined, first evading the spectre by crossing a bridge that took him into a cemetery (hallowed ground which the haunted horseman could not enter) and then by immediately booking passage across the ocean to the Old World and then finding transport to a whole other reality.

However, the Headless Horseman did not gave up. He found his own way to Earth eventually and caught up to Ichabod Crane in Gotham, he was stopped again, this time by the advent of technology as Crane was able to use an automobile to outpace the horseman. By the time, the Horseman tracked his target to Fabletown in Manhattan, Crane was in the company of the original summoners who told the Horseman to "hold off" on his pursuit "unless something should happen" to either Brandish or Goldilocks — giving Crane incentive not to retaliate.

The Horseman complied and disappeared to whatever dimension he resides in when his services are not required.

### Headless Horseman: 1987 - Present

 File:Four Horsemen Symbol.png
At the moment of the Manhattaning, the Horseman felt a disturbance. He returned to Earth to seek out Crane, this time helping himself to his own upgrade in technological transportation by making use of a black motorcycle. However, as he drove the roads of Earth by night, he did not feel the presence of Crane for years and he simply rode aimlessly.

When Crane returned to life, the Horseman felt it and once more rode with purpose. He found Crane in upstate New York where the Fables had begun to build a new, humbler Fabletown. As soon as the Horseman rode into town, everyone knew he was there for Crane, who was serving as their mayor. Crane was able to escape as Fables such as the Huntsman and Boy Blue stood up to confront the Headless Horseman.

Despite the best efforts of Fabletown's best warriors to stall the Horseman, he was able to incapacitate all challengers and mount his motorcycle, prepared to end his pursuit with Crane once and for all. That is when Briar Rose stepped in front of his motorcycle, took off her gloves, and pricked her finger. Fables all around the Horseman fell asleep where they stood. The Horseman did not understand why she did that, until he began to ride and found his bike and body entwined in thorned vines of magical nature — and they held him for hours until he willed himself to dissipate into the ether.

Years later, when the Horseman was able to will himself back from nothing, Crane was now on Danny the Street — a nearly perfect solution to his curse. For over a decade, the Horseman was perplexed as to how Crane could be so close one day and so far another. Eventually, he was able to deduce the reason and now he lies in wait, waiting for when Crane is close enough to allow the Horseman to pursue.

When he is not bothered, the Horseman is a passive ghost. However, if he is disturbed, harassed, or senses violence in his immediate presence, he cannot help but respond. That's how Mystery Inc came upon him.

### Supplemental Reports

* (*Submitted by Four-Eyes*) Xingtian is a god of ancient Chinese mythology who challenged another god for supremacy. His head was severed but he still fought on. This was possible due to his being the child of the Endless Destruction and the very powerful goddess Xiwangmu, caretaker of the Peaches of Immortality and a goddess of creation, destruction, life, and death.
* (*Submitted by Herald*) The Headless Horseman is also the second of the Four Horsemen of Revelation, specifically the one known as War. As to how I know that, let's just say my good friend Gabe told me. So how did a pair of Fables sic one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse on poor Ichabod Crane? Well, in their fleeing from the Sheeda, the pair managed to steal a bunch of relics from the Sheeda. Included in those relics was a sealed scroll with the summoning spell on it. All they had to do was break the seal and War showed up, helped himself to Brandish's horse, and demanded a name. Brandish and Goldilocks were later able to have him hold off, but it does not seem that will work again. In 2014, the Horseman managed to ride onto Danny the Street. Brandish stepped to dismiss him, and War just pushed Brandish aside and readied his axe. It's speculated the original scroll only allowed one request or this is just an ego thing now.

## Threat Assessment

### Resources

* Endling/Daimonic Physiology
	+ *Cosmic Awareness*
	+ *Gift of Tongues*
	+ *Immortality & Invulnerability*
	+ *Intuitive Navigation*
	+ *Mythic Might & Stamina*
	+ *Necromancy*
	+ *Pyrokinesis*
	+ *Supernatural Senses*
	+ *Truth Compulsion*
* Paragon Warrior

### Weaknesses

* Being Restrained
* Hallowed Ground
* Vulnerability — Adamant
* Vulnerability — Gold
* Vulnerability — Supernal Sorcery

### Analytics

* **Physicality:** 6 — World-Class / Superb
* **Occult:** 4 — Expert / Enhanced
* **Weaponry:** 8 — Paragon
* **Expertise:** 3 — Trained / Exceptional
* **Range:** 4 — Expert / Enhanced
* **Strategy:** 4 — Expert / Enhanced
	+ **TOTAL:** 160
	+ **RANKING:** Severe Threat

## Trivia and Notes

### Notes

* Headless Horseman is a character from *Fables*.
* His aliases are various headless figures from different mythologies and franchises:
	+ Xingtian is a Chinese deity who fought against the Supreme Divinity, not giving up even after the event of his decapitation.
	+ Bertilak de Hautdesert is the Green Knight or Bredbeedle in the Arthurian legend
	+ Blemmyes are headless creatures from the Greek mythology who are described as lacking a head, with their facial features on their chest.
	+ Kabandha is a Rakshasa (demon) who is killed and freed from a curse by the god Rama and his brother Lakshmana in the Hindu mythology
	+ Crom Cruach was a pagan god of pre-Christian Ireland. He was propitiated with human sacrifice and his worship was ended by Saint Patrick.
	+ Headless Specter is a character from the *Scooby-Doo* franchise.

## Network Files

Network Files Headless Horseman.pngNetwork Files: Headless Horseman

## Links and References

* Appearances of Headless Horseman

1. ↑ Network Files: Headless Horseman