Lady Yoru
Wet Nurse of the Scarlet Brood,1 Envier of Sanna the Mother Beneath Us, The Scarlet Bridesmaid, She Who Curses From Scornful Depths, Y'gashoth Queen of Curses,2 The Barren One, Watcher of the Scarlet Castle, The Horned Doe, Green-eyed Yoru, The Childless Mother, Khahrahk's Concubine, The Mother of Them All, The Third Hand of the Scarlet King
Conspectus
In the Scarlet King's court there is Lady Yoru, a fearsome goddess, among his dreaded lords. She tends to his seven brides, and teaches their leviathan broods the ways of war. She casts terrible curses into Creation with many witches invoking her power.
Illustration
A drawing that depicts an avatar of Yoru from a temple mural.
Illustration associated with The Scarlet Book of the Horned Doe, a religious text dedicated to Yoru. It contains dangerous information about the curses one can invoke from her.3
!["Sabbat"-_watercolour_by_Tony_Grist.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/"Sabbat"-_watercolour_by_Tony_Grist.jpg)
A watercolor painting titled The Seven of Yoru's Sabbat. It depicts seven noteworthy individuals associated with Yoru. Counter clockwise from top left: General Ka Bulutith, Anahera the Tohunga mākutu, Mother Mary the Sole-breasted, Étaín the Druidess Butcher of Sidhe, Baba Yaga, Pema the Green Sorceress, and Moana-Hekili the Kahuna nui of Mu.45
Knowledge
Traits: Yoru is a goddess associated with witchcraft, motherhood and death. She is often described with draconic imagery, and covered in a veil of shadows. Some sources will mention green eyes, but they are likely referring to her scornful nature. The goddess is known for using avatars to interact with Creation. Meanwhile, her true self remains in the Darkness Below. She has consistently used a few identities that spawned epithets. For example, Yoru occasionally appears as a doe with horns, which may become grotesque when enraged. Another is a beautiful, giant woman with dark skin and regal clothing that changes in style between manifestations.
Nature: Yoru can be scornful and envious. She will exercise great cruelty upon others by casting curses into Creation. Mothers in particular enrage her because she is incapable of truly becoming one herself. She is known to sabotage births with a horrific curse upon their children.
It is possible to summon Yoru and request boons. However, summoners must not have children and become infertile. If the summoner does have children they must surrender them or perish. Yoru also prefers to appear before women with envy in their hearts, likely out of a sense of kinship.
Curses invoked through Yoru can have many forms. They typically manifest as ordinary objects, and inflict great harm onto others when least expected.6 However, they can also be blatant. A notable example involves the conjurer removing one of their breasts, and using it to create an effigy dedicated to Yoru. The result is a large, hideous blob that lactates and poisons the mind with the desire to suckle from it.7 The effigy represents Yoru's longing for motherhood.
Using Yoru's power can damn the conjurer to the Darkness Below. She will expect servitude to continue beyond death by claiming their soul. Dark rewards are also promised to the most devout.
When it comes to the Scarlet King, Yoru is devoted to his whims. She is infatuated with him.
History & Associated Parties: The goddess originates from the Darkness Below. Before the Scarlet King, she originally followed Sanna, the Mother of Those Beneath Us. However, Yoru despised the goddess with great jealousy. It is said that she desired her title as the Mother of Those Beneath Us. Therefore, Yoru did not aid Sanna when the Scarlet King finally subjugated all of the Darkness Below. She instead joined the Scarlet Horde willingly to obtain great power and surpass Sanna.
Yoru became the Scarlet King's concubine and received lordship for her power. When Sanna perished from childbirth, the Scarlet King entrusted Yoru to watch over his Seven Brides like they were her own. She was to maintain the seals he placed upon them so that they may never die like Sanna.
Yoru is responsible for rearing the children of the brides, especially those of A'tivik and A'nuht.8 She grooms the children of A'tivik into wise commanders for the Scarlet Horde. Meanwhile, the children of A'nuht are taught magic, but they are first crippled by Yoru to prevent them from reaching their full potential. It is performed by the decree of Scarlet King to prevent the possibility of them overthrowing him. As a result, A'nuht's children have a scar on their frail being. Others refer to it as the accursed Mark of Yoru. The surviving children of A'habbat9 despise Yoru. She is an obstacle for the liberation of their mother.
Effigies of the seven brides find no peace in death. Their souls arrive before Yoru in the Darkness Below to become her handmaidens. She transforms them into unspeakable horrors to strengthen the Scarlet Horde. They assist Yoru in tending the brides they were forced to represent.
Many female entities in the Scarlet Horde received their high ranks from Yoru. For example, General Ka Bulutith the Witch-Queen was originally a member of the cadre before being promoted to general. She was rewarded for her destructive sorcery and tributes.
General Moloch is favored by Yoru for the suffering he inflicts upon mothers throughout Creation. Therefore, he receives additional resources for his campaigns. Some witches devoted to the goddess will offer child sacrifices to Moloch. Granny Rat Tail of New England is believed to have praised them both before she was partially executed.
The Robber Barons produce copies of The Scarlet Book of the Horned Doe and other texts about Yoru through Knowing Publishing.10 Their copies are cursed for those that have no intention to practice. However, some seek older editions for their occult libraries.1112
Dangerous groups have invoked the aid of Yoru. The Order of the Green Dragon13 have Pema the Green Sorceress among their ranks. She is said to commune with the goddess on the Order's behalf. Members of the Association of Black Magic Power Users14 occasionally do the same. Mortal congregations of the Scarlet King and his pantheon consider Yoru's witches to be high priestesses.
The Mages Academy,15 St. Christina College16 and Deer College17 have essentially banned the subject of Yoru from their campuses. She is mentioned only in theology courses concerning divine threats to Creation. Notably, Deer College had an incident where a sorority called Deerie Theta possessed a copy of The Scarlet Book of the Horned Doe. They used it for hazing new members by testing their bravery. Unfortunately, their foolishness led to the death of everyone in the sorority. The campus police concluded they unintentionally summoned Yoru, and failed to offer proper tribute to her. It is rumored that the summoner was two weeks pregnant, which further provoked the wrath of the goddess.1819
Slavic witches were able to learn about Yoru alongside other occult subjects from Baba Yaga. It is said she owns a copy of The Scarlet Book of the Horned Doe. However, the ancient witch is currently imprisoned by the Jailors.
A few divine beings personally oppose Yoru. The goddess Hecate of the Olympian pantheon have lost followers to her. As a result, the Mystery Scholars of Athens20 eliminated Yoru's witches in Ancient Greece with Hecate by their side. Aradia, the daughter of Lucifer, protects the mortal servants of her father and his many subordinates. It is her contribution to the ongoing conflict between the Darkness Above21 and Below. Another example is the night goddess Yvith.22 She's personally familiar with Yoru from when they were both with Sanna in the Darkness Below.
Jailors and Bookburners have most likely encountered Yoru's curses.
Approach: Do not summon Yoru under any circumstances. It will not be worth it. The followers of Yoru are to be vanquished. Do not confront them alone. Enochian magic will be the best counter against them.2324 Wards will provide some protection against any curse they may have invoked from Yoru.
Observations & Stories
"Our fair lady of Y'gashot and the Scarlet Court, we are yours to guide. Our ears will hear your whispers. Our mouths will speak your curses. Our eyes will witness your coming. We offer ourselves as humble daughters devoted only to you. Our wombs shall not usurp you. From our bosoms others shall drink only the milk of your glory. Endless praise upon the Mother of Them All!"
- Pledge to Yoru from The Scarlet Book of the Horned Doe
"After many long sessions of torture, the witch soon confessed what master she served. She spoke of Yoru, the Dreaded Lady of the Scarlet Court. Her coven were preparing abominations to decimate the land until the arrival of the Scarlet Horde. She then provided us their location, and we assembled the mightiest warriors to destroy them. At first our victory over the coven seemed imminent, but a witch used a spear to open a Way for Karal-ba the Mad Butcher. Our reckoning was upon us."
- Excerpt from Witch Hunts: A Collection of Testimonies
"Me and my legion encountered Yoru, the Horned Doe of the Scarlet King, with her dreadful coven in the black woods. At first her form walked on four legs before changing to two. She quickly formed clawed hands, and more horns grew on top of her head. There was scorn in her many eyes. It was sickening to look upon. I immediately drew my sword for battle, but it would have probably been wiser to retreat. Even in a lesser form the goddess was ferocious. The wounds she inflicted upon me continue to cause me great agony. I can no longer sire an heir. Yoru has undoubtedly put a curse on me. She likely spared me just to be entertained by my suffering. Now I leave my beloved without children. My brothers and sisters must continue our royal lineage without me. May the Scarlet King and all his minions be struck down by righteous blades."
- Excerpt from War Testimonials: Volume 48
Prince Vassago of the Darkness Above wrote a story inspired by Cinderella. It is titled "The Little Red Slipper" with A'habbat as the protagonist, and Lady Yoru as the wicked stepmother. Others from the Scarlet Horde appear in it. The story was well received despite it being derivative. Copies of it can be found in the Library.
The following rhyme is from the legendary Necronomicon in the entry about Yoru.
Foul curses from Darkness Below;
That green-eyed terror, the Horned Doe.
Maidens gather and heed Her call;
Yoru, the Mother of Them All.
Doubt
Yoru's envious nature has caused some to doubt her loyalty to the Scarlet King. What if she eventually covets his power? She can probably sabotage the birth of new soldiers from the brides of the Scarlet King. It's also possible that Yoru could lead a revolt with them. However, such line of thought is merely speculative. Yoru has served the Scarlet King for eons, and she has done nothing against him. Perhaps she is too infatuated or not strong enough. Additionally, the Scarlet King can call upon his other servants to suppress any rebellion unless he does it himself.
