Everything

The Erinyes are spirits attracted by acts of entropic imbalance that result in death or murder. It’s a rare thing for someone to look upon the Erinyes and live to tell the tale. It is even rarer

for one to do so and remain sane enough to describe them. Wards and Talismans are rendered useless against these spirits, their Quintessence sizzling and burning away at the righteous flame of their torches. Known as Furies in the western world, they came by another name in ages past: Eumenides.

Few tragedies would be complete without an appearance of the sisters, yet the truth can often be more tragic than any tragedy. Hidden in allegory and folklore lies the history of two of Greece’s most powerful Traditions, as well as the horror of Tisiphone’s revenge. The legend speaks of an unlikely romance between Tisiphone and Cithaeron the king, who murdered his brother, Helicon, for the throne. Said romance met a premature ending when a viper hidden in the Fury’s hair instinctively bit the young monarch. But what events could have possibly inspired this myth?

In a city named Thebes, not far away from Athens, two great mountains stand: Cithaeron and Helicon. Countless years ago, beneath the shadow of trees and within the sanctuary of caves, two cults held rites on each of the respective peaks. Cithaeron was home to the priesthood of Demeter, whereas Helicon was a site of worship for the followers of Persephone. In Greek mythology, Demeter, goddess of agriculture and fertility, was mother to Persephone. Nevertheless, the shrines of Helicon were there before Persephone, and their stones were thirsty for blood. The sisters of Cithaeron frowned upon the primitive practices of their Helicon counterparts and took it upon themselves to purposely civilize them. With careful manipulation, the cult of Demeter persuaded the king of Plataies — a city at the foot of Cithaeron — to ally himself with Athens and Sparta against Thebes, in hopes of gaining his fiefdom’s independence. The war came and went, leaving behind charred earth and driving the followers of Persephone away from their ancestral home. The remaining survivors asked the Necyomantes of Acropolis for sanctuary, uttering the binding words, “konx om pax,” which obliged the temple’s priesthood to open the walls of their sanctum and embrace the refugees as their own. The meaning of these words is lost in time; still, they are used to this day as a formal petition for assistance amongst Greek Traditionalists. Ash staining their eyelids, the diviners of the dead cast the bones and prayed to the gods for answers. The gods were displeased, for the balance was off and only death could restore it. But not just any death would do. Ismene, the high priestess of Demeter, had to be removed, and they had just the man for the job. The elders summoned Splenion, who had served the temple for many years and was blessed with both lethality and beauty. His blackened hands were a testament to his efficiency as a killer; thus, he came to be known as Melanheiras. Upon the night of his departure for Cithaeron, the elders spoke words into the waters underground and filled a goblet for Splenion to drink. The salty water would ward him against Ismene’s power, they said.

As the sun rose above the ancient mountain, the assassin stealthily made his way toward his target. Eventually, he came upon a creek; there, the priestess was bathing, her back conveniently turned. He had taken but a step when she locked eyes with him and smiled. They boldly approached one another. Ismene welcomed him and, at that moment, Splenion realized that his intentions were known to her. She was willing to face judgment, but she wouldn’t let him touch her with tainted hands. She guided him to kneel beside her by the stream and washed the taint away with her touch. As soon as Splenion was Melanheiras no more, a vision bloomed in both their minds: They stood as one, embraced in love, joined in perfect balance. They shrank back in confusion, each one thinking the other was trying to trick them. Splenion wouldn’t have any of it and cast the bones for guidance. The gods remained silent. Ismene had no bones to cast, but she was given a prophecy as a girl; the Oracle of Delphi foretold the coming of her soul

mate. You will know him by his kiss, by taste of sea and stone, the Oracle had said. Eager to prove the vision wrong, the priestess pressed her lips to his, only to leave her dying breath in his salty mouth. The waters beneath Acropolis were poison to the living; the Necyomantes were safe from them, for they had already died once and returned. Splenion was then stunned into another vision, one of Ismene and himself surrounded by their laughing children. At that moment, he knew he had to get her back and called upon the gods below, desperate to strike a bargain. Tisiphone watched from the shadows and smirked. She had marked him long ago — a mark that deepened with each life he took. The young man didn’t stand a chance. His plea went unanswered, never reaching Hades’ halls. What did answer was Tisiphone, her voice a dry whisper in his ear. For every death, a root you’ll grow, for every scream, a branch, unmoving on Demeter’s soil, her heart within your arms.

The Verbenae of Cithaeron know the great tree as the Heart of the Mother, and they revere it to this day. Tradition dictates that all coven mothers must be buried in its shadow, the reason behind it known only to the High Priestess and her successor. Unfortunately, such secrecy has dulled the lesson inherent in the tale. Many Euthanatoi have unleashed the Erinyes on their targets, hoping that the avenging spirits will impart justice on their behalf, only to see the Furies return to claim them as well.

The Verbenae and Euthanatoi of Greece know them as three sisters: Alecto the Mad, Megaera the Spiteful, and Tisiphone the Relentless.

Alecto the Mad

Willpower 7, Rage 5, Gnosis 8, Essence 40

Charms: Armor, Bad Luck Curse, Blast (Screams), Break Reality, Lightning Bolt, Shatter Glass, Terror, Umbraquake

Materialized Attributes: Strength 7, Dexterity 8, Stamina 7; use Gnosis for Social and Mental Traits

Abilities: Alertness 3, Athletics 5, Awareness 4, Brawl 4, Melee 5, Stealth 4

Materialized Health Levels: 10

Alecto personifies wrath and mania. Rage is what stirs her, and crimes of passion call to her. Alecto’s high-pitched screams shatter the mind as her claws tear the offender’s sanity apart. Many mages have taken their own lives after realizing that attempts at self-mutilation could not silence Alecto’s persistent wail.

Megaera the Spiteful

Megaera embodies hate and envy. She’s the reason behind cautionary tales of hexes backlashing when cast with intent to kill. Deaths caused by hexing spells cause the caster’s name to carve itself onto the spirit’s flesh. Millennia of scar tissue prove that seldom are these warnings taken seriously. More often than not, you only do take them seriously when it is already too late.

Megaera’s punishment comes in the form of a temporal loop that cannot be escaped by any means. Death would seem like a great option, then… but death is merciful, and Megaera is not.

Tisiphone the Relentless

Tisiphone is the manifestation of vengeance. Patient and predatory, her blood colder than that of her prey, she stalks murderers and assassins alike. Contrary to her sisters, Tisiphone is insidious and possesses a sense of poetic irony: She will wait, and she will follow, until the time comes for killer to turn savior. After being marked by Tisiphone, the very first attempt her target makes at healing, restoring, or protecting someone’s life will horribly and irrevocably fail.