The Nine Matriarchs

Overview

The Nine Matriarchs constitute the supreme authority among the Lyra. Each Matriarch leads one of the nine Sarabands and serves as the exclusive interlocutor for one of The Nine Sisters—the Eidolon Muses who patron each Clan.

Role

Each Matriarch is an elder who ensures respect of traditions and preserves the memory of the Lyra Faction. They represent the spiritual connection between their Saraband and its patron Muse. While The Nine Sisters rarely exercise direct authority, when tradition is violated or significant decisions must be made, they act through the Matriarchs.

Leadership Style

The Matriarchs rarely use their preeminence directly. They prefer to watch over their processions like shepherds over their flocks, guiding from behind the scenes. Daily authority is delegated to Shepherds and Shepherdesses who serve as the official faces of each Clan.

Historical Actions

The Song of One

More than a century ago, the Nine Matriarchs united to sing The Song of One, saving Asgartha from ruin. This event demonstrated the power of their collective authority when the nine Clans stand together.

The Kasirga Clan Exile

When the Kasirga Clan elected Esmeralda, an Eidolon, as their Shepherd, the Matriarchs declared this broke with tradition. They proclaimed that only a mortal could serve as Shepherd—one capable of becoming the vessel of the Matriarch’s voice.

The Matriarchs conferred and delivered an ultimatum: if the Kasirga Clan persisted, it would be banished from the Lyra alliance. When the Clan elders remained steadfast, the Matriarchs—speaking for The Nine Sisters—exiled the Kasirga Clan, a dishonor they must endure forever.

Control of Amahle Kalu (393 AC)

The Nine Matriarchs maintain strict control over the imprisoned Amahle Kalu, keeping him “on a tight leash” and preventing outside investigators from accessing him. This secrecy frustrates The Qorgan’s attempts to uncover the full extent of Kalu’s involvement with The Perjurers conspiracy. Suha questioned what the Lyra were hiding by maintaining such strict control.

Relationships

• Lyra: Faction the Matriarchs govern
• Saraband: The nine organizational groupings each Matriarch leads
• The Nine Sisters: Eidolon Muses for whom each Matriarch serves as interlocutor
• Mnemosyne: Mother of the Nine Sisters, theoretically holds authority over the Muses
• Lyra Skald Secret Society: Clandestine organization that defies Matriarchal authority, claiming to serve Mnemosyne directly
• Amahle Kalu: Former Perjurer imprisoned under Matriarchal control; access restricted (393 AC)
• The Qorgan: Yzmir intelligence organization frustrated by Matriarchs’ secrecy regarding Kalu (393 AC)
• Kasirga Clan: Clan exiled by the Matriarchs for electing an Eidolon Shepherd
• Esmeralda: Eidolon whose election as Shepherd prompted the exile
• The Song of One: Collective song the Matriarchs used to save Asgartha