The Lyra Skald Secret Society is a clandestine organization of skalds who serve Memory (Mnemosyne) rather than the Matriarchs. They operate in secret to preserve and share stories that official Lyra authorities exclude from sanctioned repertoires.
Philosophy and Purpose
The secret skalds reject the Matriarchs’ claim to exclusive communion with the Muses. They believe the Nine Sisters must also answer to Memory (Mnemosyne), whom they serve directly. This theological position justifies their disobedience and independent operation.
Core Beliefs
- Stories must not be subject to harsh restrictions
- Stories should be free to make their way throughout the world
- Stories need to find echo in minds of listeners
- What is forgotten must be remembered
- The Matriarchs have positioned themselves on pedestals for too long
Operating Methods
Secrecy and Discretion
Members maintain masquerade of obedience to avoid suffering for sacrilegious rebelliousness. They join in required bowing, keep low profiles publicly, but pursue independent objectives privately. The society operates on the margins of Matriarchal rule in silence and secrecy.
Selective Storytelling
Secret skalds carefully choose audiences before sharing forbidden stories. They wait until audiences are ready and situations are appropriate. This discretion protects both tellers and listeners while ensuring stories reach receptive minds.
Forbidden Repertoire
The organization preserves stories that regular skalds conveniently remove from their performances. These narratives often challenge official histories, expose uncomfortable truths, or present alternative perspectives on Lyra traditions and Matriarchal authority.
Power of Stories
Members understand that stories possess inherent power to:
- Bewitch listeners
- Disrupt established order
- Challenge existing beliefs
- Transform understanding
Organizational Structure
The society operates with distributed authority rather than centralized leadership. Members appear to work independently while maintaining shared purpose and communication networks. This structure provides resilience against discovery and persecution.
Relationship with Official Lyra
The secret skalds exist in tension with official Lyra structures:
- They acknowledge Matriarchal authority publicly while subverting it privately
- They use official training and positions as cover for forbidden activities
- They believe in Lyra values of storytelling and memory but reject Matriarchal monopolization
- They serve the same Muses but claim different hierarchical relationships
Warning
Members warn each other not to share stories indiscriminately (“don’t just go telling them left, right and center”). Careful audience selection protects the movement while ensuring forbidden knowledge survives. The most important principle remains that stories must never be forgotten, even when remembering them carries risk.