Mystery Benefactor

A mysterious individual who made his first appearance in the article entitled the Brightwell Legacy in Quoth the Raven Issue 22

Description

Virtually unknown. Unless they changed their voice, the Mystery Benefactor is a man. Judging by what little the scholar Mu could see of him, he wears gloves of black leather and a coat of black silk. His age, species and appearance remain unknown at this time. At the very least, he appears to be Medium-sized.

Personality

Also largely unknown. Who- or whatever the Mystery Benefactor is, it seems he is cunning enough to set reasonably elaborate traps for those whom he wishes to ensnare.

• When dealing with Mu in the Brightwell Legacy, he took daguerrographs of the Rue d'Absinth, the street in Richemulot where the Libre des Ombres Sécrètes could be found. By using Vistani, who Mu distrusts, to deliver the pictures to her, he ensured the scholar would flee her safe-house in Kartakass and be in an agitated state.
• By arranging for the Shadow Fey Powrie known as Fie-Fetch to assist the Vistani and spreading word of the treasure of knowledge to be found at the Rue d'Absinth to the major Universities of the Core, he ensured Mu would stay agitated even after the gypsies had delivered the message. Pressured to secure knowledge of the way back to Gothic Earth before it could be taken by others, and feeling pursued by Fie-Fetch, Mu took risks she might otherwise not have done.
• In ensuring Mu would be at the Rue d'Absinth and acting in haste, the Mystery Benefactor succeeded in having her break the wards on the Libre des Ombres Sécrètes. In having Fie-Fetch and the Valachani Cleric Sula there, he made sure Mu could not secure the book or bind its power for her own use.
• Finally, when the conflict at the Rue d'Absinthe reached its zenith, the Mystery Benefactor could simply walk in, claim the book and further traumatize Mu before walking out again.

Apart from being cunning, the Mystery Benefactor appears to be sadistic. Instead of simply claiming the Libre des Ombres Sécrètes, he took the time to lie atop Mu, reinforcing her past trauma caused by mistreatment she suffered in Barovia and Lamordia, and further reminding her of the time she spent as a junior member of the Brightwell Coven. Only once this was done, did he claim his prize and depart - leaving Mu and Sula in a precarious position, with the former barely able to save the latter from falling into a lower level where undead creatures were ready to devour her alive.

History

Again, unknown. One detail which may be significant, is that the Mystery Benefactor is apparently familiar with the Brightwell Coven of Gothic Earth - or at least familiar enough to know their slogan that 'Evil is not an enemy you must fight. It is not a burden you must endure. It is a gift'. Whether this means that he is himself from Gothic Earth or that he simply has knowledge of Mu's past is ... unknown at this time.

Powers

The Mystery Benefactor seems to spread a deathly chill just by entering a room, as well as a palpable sense of fear strong enough to paralyze Mu with terror. While this is not spelled out in the Brightwell Legacy, he is apparently also powerful enough to bypass Tom-Cat and his followers without being attacked. The fact that the dread familiar's bond with his lady master was suppressed by the Rue d'Absinthe's unnatural effect at the time might be a contributing factor.

If Laurie Weathermay-Foxgrove's theory is correct, and the Mystery Benefactor claimed the Libre des Ombres Sécrètes so he could study and absorb its arcane knowledge, he may be a powerful arcane spellcaster. However, the fact that he felt the need to manipulate Mu into a position where she could not fight him freely might lead one to suppose he is not confident in his ability to match the Witch in magical combat - unless, of course, he has future uses in mind for her...