Marais are a house of magisterial officials in Elden Ring. They are based by the northern cliffs of Altus Plateau and serve as castellans of the Shaded Castle, as well as being a major local operator of grim, unsavory tasks such as surveillance and execution. Indeed, they perform some of the darkest duties that drive the wheels of mankind.[1] The most famous relic of the House of Marais is their legendary executioner sword, which has beheaded countless sinners.
The only image of the first representative of this house remains in the form of a mask of a young nobleman with long white hair, which is worn by all heads of the house.[2] The heads of the house also wear a robe with a black cape on their shoulders, their family crest emblazoned on their chest.
While it has not prevented them from performing their executions, the sons of House Marais are all sickly born. Many protecting their fragile skin beneath layers upon layers of bloodsoaked bandages[3] along with a variety of masks obscuring their festering faces beneath.
The current head of the family is Maleigh Marais who had become besotted by Malenia the Severed.[4] So much so that he would hang up a large portrait of her in the castle's great hall, as well as develop a collection of prostheses akin to what Malenia herself uses.
One day, Elemer, the assassin of merchants and teachers alike, was brought to the Shaded Castle for execution. He was supposed to be beheaded with the family sword, however, Elemer stole the sword from the site of his looming execution, furnished it with battle skills from his homeland and laid siege to the castle. Now Elemer has taken up residence at the Castellan's Hall, and while Maleigh managed to escape the stronghold alive, he now spends most of his time wallowing in a graveyard of broken statues west of his childhood home.
Some argue that all the misfortunes of House Marais are just punishments for its veneration of Malenia, whom Maleigh in particular idolized.[5] However, it shouldn't be much of a surprise that a child from family with a history of lifelong disease could become so captivated, when the figure of obsession would be a fierce and beautiful goddess, who despite having been rotting alive since birth, managed to persevere.
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Notes[]
- It's possible that the family's history of sickness from birth stems from their close proximity to toxic substances, as their castle itself is literally sinking into a poison swamp.
- It's possible that Chief Guardian Arghanthy is a member of House Marais, as he wears everything that Maleigh wears with the exception of a different mask.
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