The Forgetting Wings
Filed under: Mirecourt Fauna | Memory Feeders | Atmospheric Entities
Contributor: FDG Field Archivist No. 4
Last updated: May 2025
Overview
Frail as ash and silent as breath, Marrow-Moths are one of the most subtle and insidious creatures within the Mirecourt ecosystem. Unlike many of the realm’s more animated horrors, these tiny, bone-pale moths drift through silence and feed not on blood or flesh, but on memory itself.
They do not bite.
They do not sting.
They simply land—and something inside you fades.
Appearance
- Wingspan: Between 1–3 inches. Often mistaken for wood ash or porcelain fragments when still.
- Wings: Paper-thin and cracked like ancient ceramic. Surface resembles bone-china or fossilized bark.
- Dust: Shed rust-colored powder when disturbed. Inhaling it may cause dizziness or brief moments of dissociation.
- Body: Slender, ghost-white. When seen up close, their eyes are tiny holes, not orbs—like something missing, not present.
They cluster in nests resembling calcified webbing, often found in:
- hollow trees
- derelict nurseries
- gravesites
- the rafters of flooded churches
Behaviour and Abilities
- Memory Scent Feeding:
Marrow-Moths feed by detecting the emotional scent of memory—especially strong or decaying recollections tied to:- grief
- love
- fear
- nostalgia
They land on exposed skin, most often the hands, face, or neck, and absorb a fragment of memory through osmosis-like interaction.
- Temporary Amnesia:
Victims may experience sudden blank spots or mental fog lasting from a few minutes to several hours, most commonly forgetting:- the name of a loved one
- a fear recently overcome
- a treasured location or sensation
The memories usually return, but slightly faded, as if dreamed rather than lived.
- Swarming Events:
Occasionally, mass hatchings occur during high humidity or when the veil between realms thins (e.g. solstices, eclipses). These are called Whisperfalls, and entire villages have reported sudden fogginess, lost hours, or the collective forgetting of local traditions afterward. - Color Reversal:
If a Marrow-Moth lands on a mirror, it will reverse its reflection—left becomes right, living become faded. This is considered a warning that something important is about to be forgotten.
Folklore and Field Signs
- The Moth in the Cradle:
Old Mirecourt lore says if a child’s cradle gathers moth dust overnight, the child may forget its parents’ faces before it learns to speak. - Rust on the Windowsill:
A thin smear of reddish dust on the inside of windows is seen as a sign to seal the home and whisper old names aloud, anchoring memories before they drift. - The Wedding Glitch:
Several historical reports note that Marrow-Moths tend to nest near weddings—attracted to the emotional weight. Brides or grooms affected may forget vows or who gave them certain heirlooms.
Ecological Role in the Mirecourt
Despite their eerie feeding method, Marrow-Moths are not considered hostile. Some believe they serve a balancing purpose—softening grief, blunting trauma, or burying secrets too dangerous to retain.
Lady Wyr tolerates them.
The Mud-Queen has been seen surrounded by them.
The Heron Prince leaves feathers where their nests grow dense.
They are, in some strange way, the air that forgets—a natural pressure release within the memory-drenched swamp.
Summary for Field Operatives
| Trait | Detail |
|---|---|
| Threat Level | Low physical threat. Medium psychological interference. |
| Signs of Presence | Bone-white wings, rust dust, confusion about familiar faces or routines |
| Containment Risk | Low. Easily scattered by wind or light. Attracted to memory hotspots. |
| Engagement Advice | Avoid prolonged exposure to nests. Do not enter Whisperfall zones alone. Speak aloud anchor memories before entering known nesting grounds. Keep salted candles burning. |
Quote from Field Report #147:
“I walked into the chapel at dawn. The floor was thick with dust, and something fluttered past my cheek. By the time I reached the altar, I couldn’t remember why I came. I left my satchel behind, and when I returned for it hours later, it was filled with moths. I never found the report I meant to file.”
—Field Operative “Jonquil”, Thorne Institute Memory Log
Faylinn Defence Group 