The Mari Lwyd
An Intruding Specral Caroler
Mari lwyds are rare spirits that resemble a skeletal specter with the skull of a horse. Also known as a grey mare, these spirits are feared for their magical songs, which they use to influence those unlucky enough to hear them. These lonely spirits seek to be invited into the home of their victims so that they may have a captive audience. Once inside, they serenade their new companions with their otherworldly song while reveling in the comforts of the home. However, the constant droning of its haunting melody eventually leads to the demise of the mari lwyd’s host, at which point it will raise their soul to join them for their next performance.
The rarity of these spirits comes from their tragic origins. If a singer’s final performance has no audience, their soul will be cursed to rise from the grave each year on the anniversary of their final performance as a mari lwyd. For that night only, it will haunt the closest settlement by wandering door to door to perform its dreaded carol, building its spectral choir. As the sun rises, a mari lwyd will return to the stage of its final performance with its ethereal choir in tow, where they remain until its next annual tour.
Illustrated by Therése Pierrau
I had initially designed the Crooked Man for a high leveled D&D one shot that I was running for the Advancing Heroes Foundation charity that was themed after the fey and fairy tales. I wanted to design a threatening monster for high level play that had a gimmick to it rather than it just being a sack of hit points that the players could beat into submission.