Penda's Slake

Penda's Slake
A colored illustration of a person mid-transformation into "the Elk of Birch and Bone", with Elk features bursting forth from a human form. The creature is being attacked by three white-furred dogs who are splattered in blood. The background is a forest setting with low-hanging fog. Art by 3y3-see-you
Type of Deity	Chasing / Hunting
Aliases	The Elk of Birch and Bone
Known Worshippers	Charity & her family
Legality	Illegal
Doctrine & Manifestation
Saints	The Elk of Birch and Bone Snare-Dogs
Story Context
First Mentioned	Chapter 2: And Next Of Dark Deceit
Featured in Episode(s)	Chapter 4: Of Lovers, Gods, and Beasts

The God of Penda's Slake is an illegal god tied to the region of Penda's Slake, a wooded region outside of Marcel's Crossing.

ATTENTION: SPOILERS AHEAD! Beyond this point, major plot spoilers are expected. Continue at your own risk.

Description

The God of Penda's Slake is related to the Hunt of the Chase and the cycle of life and death in the wilderness. Its followers use the catchline, "There's them that Lead and Them that Chase."

Gallery

A colored illustration of a person mid-transformation into "the Elk of Birch and Bone", with Elk features bursting forth from a human form. The creature is being attacked by three white-furred dogs who are splattered in blood. The background is a forest setting with low-hanging fog. Art by 3y3-see-you

Organization

Prominent Followers

• Charity maintains the chapel to the god in Penda's Slake. She also acts as a lure for the god.

Locations

It is not known if the God of Penda's Slake has any organised following. A chapel dedicated to it is maintained by Charity in Penda's Slake. Its interior walls are covered with prayer marks and victims who open the building's front door are transformed into an Elk of Birch and Bone.

Prayer Marks

One of its prayer marks is observed in the woods by Carpenter who describes: "A triangle. Four descending lines. And a circle above, like a radiant halo."

Saints, Priests and Miracles

• Snare-Dogs: Dog-like creatures that hunt in the Penda's Slake are. While they may be mistaken for dogs at a glance, these creatures transform into more monstrous figures with 'tree-like legs', 'faces split down the centre' and 'two long and winding jaws' once they start hunting.

• The Elk of Birch and Bone: When Gareth enters the chapel of the God of Penda's Slake, he is compelled to repeat the line 'There's them that lead, and them that chase'. He is then violently transfigured into an elk-like creature which is hunted by the snare-dogs. Once dead, the elk's antlers and ribs become part of a birch tree, and ivy grows where the blood pools. It is likely that this process happens to many of the god's victims, as Carpenter saw another Elk of Birch and Bone Penda's Slake.

Rituals and Hymns

"We will bring you terror, And you will bring us meat. You will make me savage. We will make you fleet. You thank us for the chasing, We thank you for the feast. The grass leaps up about your carcass, Long and lean and sweet, We’ll be your chosen hunters. And you - the god we eat. -Charity's Song

Notable Events

• Carpenter encounters Charity and Gareth in the woods.

• Gareth is transformed into The Elk Of Birch and Bone.

• Carpenter realises Charity's trick. She sets fire to the chapel.

• As Faulkner arrives, Carpenter jumps off the roof of the chapel. She damages her ankle but escapes.

Trivia

• Charity attempts to lure another man out into the woods as she did to Gareth, but is interrupted when Carpenter and Hayward enter the bar.