Snake oil salesmen have been around for centuries. This In Nomine demon may not have been behind them all, but she’s been the impetus of many and knows how to take credit.
Mairya
Demon of Quackery
Balseraph Captain of Death
| Corporeal Forces – 4 | Strength 7 | Agility 9 | |||
| Ethereal Forces – 5 | Intelligence 12 | Precision 8 | |||
| Celestial Forces – 5 | Will 10 | Perception 10 | |||
| Word Forces – 8 |
| Vessel(s): | Human Female/6 (+2 Charisma) Body: 70 | |
| Human Male/2 (+1 Charisma) Body: 42 | ||
| Role(s): | Publicist/6, Alternative Health Writer/4 | |
| Skill(s): | Artistry/3, Chemistry/6, Computer Operation/6, Detect Lies/3, Driving/2, Emote/6, Engineering/2, Escape/4, Fast-Talk/6, Language: Dutch/6, Language: English/6, Language: French/6, Medicine/6, Savoir-Faire/6, Seduction/4, Small Weapon: Dagger/4 | |
| Corporeal Song(s): | Charm/4, Form/3, Pestilence/6, Poison/3, Tongues/4 | |
| Ethereal Song(s): | Charm/4, Pestilence/6, Poison/3 | |
| Celestial Song(s): | Charm/4, Form/3, Pestilence/6, Poison/3, Possession/3 | |
| Attunement(s): | Balseraph of Death, Calabim of Death, Balseraph of Greed, Zombi, Vampiric Kiss, Knight of the Dead, Captain of the Infernal Legion | |
Mairya was one of Makatiel’s last creations, before the Prince of Disease went renegade and was destroyed. Like many of the Prince’s surviving demons, she sought protection and service under Saminga, Prince of Death. Unlike most of her fellow plague-bearers, Mairya did not seek to kill humans with new diseases or mutations, but by letting them embrace their ignorance in false cures while the diseases festered.
From the 14th through the 17th century, Mairya’s focused on the stagnation of science. While some nations were developing the germ theory of disease, she helped make sure that the miasma or “bad air” theory was still prevalent and popular in medical science. Her new Prince didn’t always understand the specific methods in the way his tranferred Liar promoted death, but she showed enough conviction and never failed a mission—and people were dying, if not always swiftly—so Mairya remained in her Prince’s favor.
In the 17th century, Mairya began working with profit-driven or well-meaning but misunderstanding humans to develop and promote false remedies. These included popular items like Daffy’s Elixir and Turlington’s Balsam. By 1830 there were over 1,300 of these so-called “proprietary medicines.” Lucifer himself granted the Balseraph the word of Quackery.
The Demon of Quackery continued her work in the Americas, as snake-oil salesmen took to making an easy buck through their concoctions. It was Mairya’s work in the United States that attracted Mammon’s attention; businessmen became wealthy through national and international sales of their products, despite the knowledge that they were not actual cures. The Prince of Greed and Demon of Quackery shared a happy partnership that continues even to today.
Despite what some Princes may view of Saminga, Mairya’s own work has proved beneficial to promoting many of their own Words. Fleurty encourages quack medicine that fosters addictions, Magog enjoys the subtle cruelty inflicted by those who seek profit over the pain of others, Malphas delights in the squabbles between the pro-science and pro-quack communities, Vapula laughs at the weak humans who fall for the pseudo-science, and Nybbas has seen a rise in new alternative and fake medicine TV stars. And, through it all, people keep dying and Saminga continues to be pleased.
Mairya is sure her most recent efforts with quack science will soon earn her a Barony. She helped propagate and promote the fraudulent (and discredited) Wakefield study through the Internet that became the basis for anti-vax movement. That work is paying off as the spread of previously eradicated diseases are spreading again; all she needs is the body count to rise. If her successes continue, perhaps she can one day claim the Word and mantle of her original Prince.
For a great write-up of Makatiel, check out Liber Neglectica.
1 Response
[…] n. fraudulent, ignorant, or unprofessional medical practice (Balseraph Captain of Death, Significant Word) [ref. Attercap] […]