Description
Murray Bauman – The Conspiratorial Bat Pony
• Species (AU): Bat Pony (thestral)
• Occupation: Private investigator, conspiracy theorist, freelance translator, and reluctant ally to the Hawkins kids and adults.
• Affiliation: Works independently, but frequently pulled into Byers/Hopper operations against Upside Down forces.
• Specialty: Espionage, translation of foreign texts and runes, uncanny intuition when “something’s not right.”
• Species (AU): Bat Pony (thestral)
• Occupation: Private investigator, conspiracy theorist, freelance translator, and reluctant ally to the Hawkins kids and adults.
• Affiliation: Works independently, but frequently pulled into Byers/Hopper operations against Upside Down forces.
• Specialty: Espionage, translation of foreign texts and runes, uncanny intuition when “something’s not right.”
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Appearance (Bat Pony Form)
Murray’s design as a bat pony matches his oddball, secretive nature:
• Fur: Smoky gray with a slightly unkempt texture.
• Eyes: Piercing amber-orange slit-pupil eyes, always darting around, suspicious of everything.
• Mane & Tail: Dark brown, wiry and slightly greasy, perpetually messy as if he doesn’t care for appearances.
• Ears: Extra large and tufted, swiveling constantly, making him look paranoid.
• Wings: Dark leathery bat wings, with a few small scars from “close calls” in his past.
• Cutie Mark: A cracked magnifying glass overlaying a spiral, symbolizing his mix of detective skills and conspiracy-minded paranoia.
• Accessories: Often wears little round glasses perched precariously on his muzzle, and a threadbare cloak with hidden pockets for scrolls, quills, and “classified evidence.”
• Fur: Smoky gray with a slightly unkempt texture.
• Eyes: Piercing amber-orange slit-pupil eyes, always darting around, suspicious of everything.
• Mane & Tail: Dark brown, wiry and slightly greasy, perpetually messy as if he doesn’t care for appearances.
• Ears: Extra large and tufted, swiveling constantly, making him look paranoid.
• Wings: Dark leathery bat wings, with a few small scars from “close calls” in his past.
• Cutie Mark: A cracked magnifying glass overlaying a spiral, symbolizing his mix of detective skills and conspiracy-minded paranoia.
• Accessories: Often wears little round glasses perched precariously on his muzzle, and a threadbare cloak with hidden pockets for scrolls, quills, and “classified evidence.”
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Personality in the AU
Murray retains his eccentric, paranoid edge, but as a bat pony in Equestria Falls, his quirks are heightened by his species’ reputation as “night-dwellers.”
• Conspiracy-Driven: Believes the government, Canterlot’s royal guard, and shadowy “Council of Elders” cover up magical catastrophes. (Ironically, he’s usually right.)
• Blunt and Cynical: Cuts through ponies’ excuses with razor-sharp observations. This makes him unpopular, but invaluable.
• Loyal Beneath the Grime: Though abrasive, Murray ultimately stands with the Byers, Hopper, and the kids when things get dire.
• Translator of the Strange: Fluent in several Equine dialects, Griffish, Draconic runes, Changeling hive-speech, and even bits of ancient Shadow Tongue—the language tied to Vecna and the Mind Flayer’s corruption.
• Reclusive but Observant: Prefers staying in his cluttered cave-like office full of scrolls, maps, rune-carvings, and half-burned candles. But when dragged into fieldwork, his instincts often save the group.
• Conspiracy-Driven: Believes the government, Canterlot’s royal guard, and shadowy “Council of Elders” cover up magical catastrophes. (Ironically, he’s usually right.)
• Blunt and Cynical: Cuts through ponies’ excuses with razor-sharp observations. This makes him unpopular, but invaluable.
• Loyal Beneath the Grime: Though abrasive, Murray ultimately stands with the Byers, Hopper, and the kids when things get dire.
• Translator of the Strange: Fluent in several Equine dialects, Griffish, Draconic runes, Changeling hive-speech, and even bits of ancient Shadow Tongue—the language tied to Vecna and the Mind Flayer’s corruption.
• Reclusive but Observant: Prefers staying in his cluttered cave-like office full of scrolls, maps, rune-carvings, and half-burned candles. But when dragged into fieldwork, his instincts often save the group.
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Role in the Story
Murray becomes one of the weirdest but most crucial adults in the AU:
1. Decoder of Corruption: When runes or strange magical symbols appear tied to Vecna, Murray is often the only one who can piece together their meaning. He has a knack for spotting patterns no one else sees.
2. Reluctant Adventurer: Though he insists he’s “not cut out for this,” Murray ends up side by side with Hopper, Joyce, and the teens, especially during infiltration missions into corrupted forests or enemy lairs.
3. Comic Relief: Provides cynical commentary during tense moments—“Oh sure, let’s trust the yak to levitate the collapsing cavern ceiling, what could possibly go wrong?”
4. Translator & Mediator: His linguistic skills make him vital when communicating with changelings (he often spars verbally with Jonathan and Will in their hive dialect), griffins, and even shady draconic contacts.
5. Unexpected Fighter: While not physically imposing, Murray uses his bat pony agility, sharp fangs, and surprisingly nasty bite in combat. He’s also good at sneaking and ambushing foes under cover of night.
1. Decoder of Corruption: When runes or strange magical symbols appear tied to Vecna, Murray is often the only one who can piece together their meaning. He has a knack for spotting patterns no one else sees.
2. Reluctant Adventurer: Though he insists he’s “not cut out for this,” Murray ends up side by side with Hopper, Joyce, and the teens, especially during infiltration missions into corrupted forests or enemy lairs.
3. Comic Relief: Provides cynical commentary during tense moments—“Oh sure, let’s trust the yak to levitate the collapsing cavern ceiling, what could possibly go wrong?”
4. Translator & Mediator: His linguistic skills make him vital when communicating with changelings (he often spars verbally with Jonathan and Will in their hive dialect), griffins, and even shady draconic contacts.
5. Unexpected Fighter: While not physically imposing, Murray uses his bat pony agility, sharp fangs, and surprisingly nasty bite in combat. He’s also good at sneaking and ambushing foes under cover of night.
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Key Relationships
• Joyce Byers (Changeling Queen): Murray respects her maternal ferocity and her connection to the hive mind, but often accuses her of “sugarcoating” the truth. Still, they work well together when decoding threats.
• Jim Hopper (Earth Pony): Constantly bickers with Hopper, calling him “too slow” and “too stubborn,” but deeply respects his ability to take charge in chaos. Hopper, in turn, trusts Murray’s instincts more than he admits.
• Jonathan & Will Byers (Changelings): Murray often critiques them harshly but is protective, knowing how fragile they are under their stoic surfaces. He particularly admires Will’s resilience against dark magic.
• Nancy Wheeler & Robin Buckley (Unicorn Ponies): Murray loves to push their buttons—teasing Nancy about being too rigid and Robin about being too scatterbrained. Secretly, he enjoys their company because they challenge him intellectually.
• Alexei (Earth Pony scientist): In this AU, Murray bonds with Alexei even more since he admires Alexei’s rational approach compared to his own chaotic one. They often share long nerdy talks.
• The Kids: Murray pretends he finds them annoying, but he occasionally acts like a twisted uncle figure—giving brutal advice with surprising nuggets of wisdom.
• Joyce Byers (Changeling Queen): Murray respects her maternal ferocity and her connection to the hive mind, but often accuses her of “sugarcoating” the truth. Still, they work well together when decoding threats.
• Jim Hopper (Earth Pony): Constantly bickers with Hopper, calling him “too slow” and “too stubborn,” but deeply respects his ability to take charge in chaos. Hopper, in turn, trusts Murray’s instincts more than he admits.
• Jonathan & Will Byers (Changelings): Murray often critiques them harshly but is protective, knowing how fragile they are under their stoic surfaces. He particularly admires Will’s resilience against dark magic.
• Nancy Wheeler & Robin Buckley (Unicorn Ponies): Murray loves to push their buttons—teasing Nancy about being too rigid and Robin about being too scatterbrained. Secretly, he enjoys their company because they challenge him intellectually.
• Alexei (Earth Pony scientist): In this AU, Murray bonds with Alexei even more since he admires Alexei’s rational approach compared to his own chaotic one. They often share long nerdy talks.
• The Kids: Murray pretends he finds them annoying, but he occasionally acts like a twisted uncle figure—giving brutal advice with surprising nuggets of wisdom.
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Abilities (Bat Pony Traits + Skills)
• Night Vision: Can see perfectly in pitch dark caves or corrupted forests.
• Echolocation: Uses screeches and wing clicks to map areas, helpful for detecting invisible Upside Down magic distortions.
• Linguistic Genius: Can decipher nearly any tongue, from changeling clicks to ancient lich unicorn script.
• Stealth Flight: His bat wings allow silent gliding, making him an excellent spy.
• Combat Skills: Relies on claws, fangs, and dive-bomb tactics in emergencies. While not a warrior, he can hold his own in guerrilla-style combat.
• Night Vision: Can see perfectly in pitch dark caves or corrupted forests.
• Echolocation: Uses screeches and wing clicks to map areas, helpful for detecting invisible Upside Down magic distortions.
• Linguistic Genius: Can decipher nearly any tongue, from changeling clicks to ancient lich unicorn script.
• Stealth Flight: His bat wings allow silent gliding, making him an excellent spy.
• Combat Skills: Relies on claws, fangs, and dive-bomb tactics in emergencies. While not a warrior, he can hold his own in guerrilla-style combat.
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Notable AU Scenes
• The Forest Stakeout: Murray spends hours hanging upside down from a tree branch, spying on corrupted demodogs. He insists this is “the best vantage point,” confusing everyone else.
• Runes of Vecna: When the group finds strange glowing sigils carved into a stone, Murray furiously sketches them, muttering translations in five languages until he finally deciphers: “This is a summoning conduit. Bad news.”
• Interrogation Expert: In his classic abrasive style, Murray grills Jason Carver (Earth pony jock) until he cracks, revealing crucial details about Vecna’s cult activity.
• The “Bat Pony Lecture”: He delivers a rant to the kids about how “every government from Canterlot to Griffinstone is covering up the truth,” leaving them half-amused, half-disturbed.
• The Forest Stakeout: Murray spends hours hanging upside down from a tree branch, spying on corrupted demodogs. He insists this is “the best vantage point,” confusing everyone else.
• Runes of Vecna: When the group finds strange glowing sigils carved into a stone, Murray furiously sketches them, muttering translations in five languages until he finally deciphers: “This is a summoning conduit. Bad news.”
• Interrogation Expert: In his classic abrasive style, Murray grills Jason Carver (Earth pony jock) until he cracks, revealing crucial details about Vecna’s cult activity.
• The “Bat Pony Lecture”: He delivers a rant to the kids about how “every government from Canterlot to Griffinstone is covering up the truth,” leaving them half-amused, half-disturbed.
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Overall Role in Equestria Falls
Murray Bauman is the eccentric wildcard among the adults: the pony everypony rolls their eyes at, but whose conspiratorial brain and bat pony instincts often crack the mystery wide open. He adds both humor and tension, ensuring no one ever feels too comfortable, and his skillset makes him indispensable when facing the shadows creeping in from the Upside Down.
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