Altered Lore

Lyra Skald Secret Society

3 min read

Lyra Skald Secret Society

Overview

The Lyra Skald Secret Society is a clandestine organization of Lyra skalds who serve Mnemosyne (Memory) rather than The Nine Matriarchs. They operate in secret to preserve and share stories that official Lyra authorities exclude from sanctioned repertoires.

Philosophy

The secret skalds reject the Matriarchs’ claim to exclusive communion with the Muses. They argue that The Nine Sisters must also answer to Memory (Mnemosyne), whom they serve directly. This theological position—that Memory outranks the Muses—justifies their disobedience and independent operation.

The society holds that stories must not be subject to harsh restrictions, that they should be free to make their way throughout the world and find echo in the minds of listeners. They believe what is forgotten must be remembered, and that the Matriarchs have positioned themselves on pedestals for too long.

Operating Methods

Members maintain a masquerade of obedience to avoid suffering for their sacrilegious rebelliousness. They join in required bowing and keep low profiles publicly, but pursue independent objectives privately. The society operates on the margins of Matriarchal rule in silence and secrecy.

Secret skalds carefully choose audiences before sharing forbidden stories, waiting until audiences are ready and situations are appropriate. This discretion protects both tellers and listeners while ensuring stories reach receptive minds. Members warn each other not to share stories indiscriminately.

Forbidden Repertoire

The organization preserves stories that regular skalds conveniently remove from their performances. These narratives challenge official histories, expose uncomfortable truths, or present alternative perspectives on Lyra traditions and Matriarchal authority.

Members understand that stories possess inherent power to bewitch listeners, disrupt established order, challenge existing beliefs, and transform understanding.

Organizational Structure

The society operates with distributed authority rather than centralized leadership. Members 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, using official training and positions as cover for forbidden activities. They believe in Lyra values of storytelling and memory but reject Matriarchal monopolization of communion with the Muses.

Known Members

Relationships

Backlinks

Graph View