[hider=NPC The Maiden]
[row][cell][h2][b]The Maiden[color=2e2c2c].[/color]of the Crows[/b][/h2][/cell][cell][/cell][/row][row][cell][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/RnVqRpb.jpg[/img]

[b]Millennia's old  | The Maiden of the Crows | She/Her [/b][hr][i]"I only ask for you to trust me."[/i][/center][/cell][cell]
[b]Description:[/b]
[indent]The Maiden of the Crows is a mysterious figure who stands at a height of five feet seven inches. Its attire is a mesmerizing display of otherworldliness, as both its dress and cloak are crafted from the sleek, iridescent feathers of crows. These feathers cascade down gracefully, creating a flowing and ethereal appearance. If she so costs she can expand the cloak, causing it to turn into her winter. These wings unfold with broken beauty and cast a green light on the area in front of it.   The feathers are much, much larger than any crow seen on Earth suggesting that there exists a giant one out there, somewhere in the void, or the feathers are simply a construct of The Maiden.  On a close look, it may be that The Maiden has a flair for the dramatic and simply modeled her dress after the Crows she so affectionately loves, but on a second glance one might see that the dress, and the outfit a whole, can separate in the middle.  A possible second set of wings, or a possible entry point to something more monstrous underneath.  

The Maiden's hair seamlessly merges with her cloak. A mask conceals her face, leaving observers unable to discern the features behind it. Her visage is further heightened by a vibrant green emerald that adorns her waist, catching the eye amidst the dark feathers.  The gem has a quality that draws in all eyes, causing those who stare for too long to be entranced with a desire to trade anything, and everything, to try and convince The Maiden to part with it.  If that fails, they will then take it from her.

A green glow envelops the Maiden. The glow is the same color as the emerald that sits on her waist and it carries a softer form of the trance effect of the gem. Those who bask too long under the glow are eventually driven mad with a desire to pluck the feathers off the Maidens's wings.  On top of her head is a crown of feathers.  Each feather seems to be plucked from a separate crow, and the more crows that are available to Lila the more feathers adorn the crown.[/indent]

[b]Abstraction:[/B]
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Apparition - A Murder of Crows

The Maiden is an Apparition born from the emotion of loneliness.  Long, long ago she spawned into existence in this realm and has sought out a companion, a friend, or a lover to keep her company and break her loneliness.  Yet, no matter who she lets in or gets close they are taken under the spell of her form, compelling them to break her body to steal her feathers and her jewels.  The Maiden has a curse, and her body is hexed to enact revenge on those who succumb to the allure of her gifts.  Those who pluck and steal a feather will eventually be turned into one of her servant crows within a week of the theft, and those who steal the jewels from her body eventually get turned into the very item they stole.  As such, The Maiden maintains a treasure trove that is next to none in terms of size and has a flock of followers to keep her company on her eternal search for a companion, a friend, or a lover to keep her company and break her loneliness until the end of time.

The Maiden becomes adjoined with every person she tries to bring into her life, and once selected there is no way to break free of her grasp except distance.  If the person she is adjoined to has gifted her enough valuable stuff, however, distance is no longer a hurdle and The Maiden will follow the person forever more.  Until they either accept her invitation, and gaze on her form, or die.  Once adjoined, The Maiden will bind her crows to a chosen mortal.  Her current choice is Lila.  

Once The Maiden binds her Crows there is no way to undo it. The Crows will take commands from the chosen, as long as they are offered a reward for doing so. The Crows themselves take great pleasure in shiny things, be it jewelry like rings and necklaces or raw gems.  In the modern world the Crows have an intense love of anything diamonds although, in the past, gold was king. The Crows will also love a delicious treat, and they have been known to do many a bold thing for a particular dish that Lila cooks often for them.

The Crows do not collect the jewelry and the gems for themselves.  They collect, and return, them back to The Maiden.  While it is unclear why The Maiden requests these gifts for a favor from the crows, especially considering the vast wealth she has available, it is suspected that it is a way to gauge the soul of a person.  A gift given freely, without a task, is often considered especially important to The Maiden, as are gifts that carry a significant emotional reason or history.  As such, a ring that has been in a family line for generations could convince The Maiden to advance her trust faster as there is power in that emotional connection.

After the Maiden has deemed a mortal worthy, she will begin to unlock more of her power, and with that comes her voice.  The Maiden will begin trying to build trust with her chosen.  Offering her guidance, her opinions, and her assistance in their struggles.  These whispers also have some of the infecting qualities much like her appearance.  The more The Maiden whispers, the more she will want to talk.  The more she talks, the more persuasive The Maiden becomes.  The Maiden's end goal is to convince the chosen to take her challenge, and she will do anything she can and say anything she needs to get the chosen to let her in, and then she will let the chosen into her realm.  And once she has the chosen in her realm, she will make them undergo her trials.

The Maiden is covered in cursed feathers, gems, and jewelry.  The curse works in two stages.  Stage one is infection.  When the chosen gazes on The Maiden's true form they will be overcome with a desire to take something from her body, and the infection that follows will be based on that choice.  No chosen has managed to avoid taking something from The Maiden and the curse that compels them to look is strong.  If the chosen takes a feather from her wings, they will start to notice a change happening within a few days.  Feathers will begin to sprout all across their body until, after exactly one week they will be transformed into one of The Maiden's crows and be subjugated to be a servant of The Maiden for the rest of time.  If a jewelry piece or gem is taken the mortal will undergo a similar transformation though instead of a crow they will instead transform into whatever they stole, a ring stolen means the mortal becomes a ring.

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