Altered Lore

Lyra

9 min read

Lyra

Overview

The Lyra are one of the six factions that follow The Covenant. They are the last heirs of the Tumult Nomads, the first humans to have been able to read the currents of The Tumult before its winds swept over the world.

Philosophy

When they contemplate the world, the Lyra understand how it is expression above all else. Every living being, every thing, exhales a cohort of ideas and emotions just by existing, like fragrances, like sensory explosions that must be felt to be truly understood and appreciated. Lyra Alterers rejoice in traversing such a cosmos, as vibrant as it is intense, to be pierced by its beauty, as moving as it is relentless.

Like any living being, humans are shaped by their senses and molded by what they perceive of their environment. The Lyra make sensation the cornerstone of their values, the keystone of their reality. That is why the present and the moment are so dear to them.

The heightened sensitivity of the Lyra means they absorb like sponges the impressions their environment imparts to them. All the excitement they feel grows within them and sets them in motion. Like an instinct that compels them to shout their own existence amidst all this clamor, they express themselves in turn in a passionate torrent, entering into trance and resonance with the universe. Some whirl in feverish or hypnotic dances, others make their voices resound, whether thunderous or crystalline. Still others indulge in declamations full of verve, capable of touching their audience to the core, or paint the world like an artist transforms a blank sheet of paper into a work of art.

For Lyra Alterers, reality itself is a stage or canvas to fill with their energy, their feelings, whether they are euphoria or sorrow, surprise or serenity. Even though their proximity to the artistic domains is undeniable, the Lyra are not limited only to their practice. They are also excellent communicators, talented educators, adept craftsmen, and inspired architects.

Like a vase being filled, a Lyra Alterer must overflow, to let their creative fire erupt lest they be consumed by it. After pouring themselves out in this way, they feel feverish and emptied of their substance, yet again ready to receive the world’s incredible gifts. However, they know this process is necessary, for it is the crucible of their own transfiguration. For the Lyra, it is important to be touched, to be changed by the experiences they live. This transformation reflects the true meaning they give to life: the interaction of an individual with the world in which they evolve. This reciprocal influence is the core of their philosophy and dialectic: to transform, and to be transformed in return.

Organization

The Lyra continue to perpetuate their nomadic way of life, mostly organized into traveling caravans, although some prefer the comfort of solitude. The Lyra roam the peninsula, stopping only briefly. Constantly in motion, they feed on experiences, encounters, and everything they trigger within them. They have no itinerary in mind and are guided by their mood or the opportunities that present themselves to them. It is common for a Lyra to leave their caravan only to return later, after taking the time to immerse themselves in a place or a group of people.

Each Lyra procession, from the most modest to the most imposing, is necessarily part of a Saraband, a grouping of caravans that share the same ancestry and a common set of customs. These Sarabands, nine in number, each have a Matriarch at their helm, an elder who ensures the respect of traditions and the memory of the Faction. These Matriarchs constitute The Nine Matriarchs, the supreme authority among the Lyra, as each represents an exclusive interlocutor for the Nine Sisters, the Eidolons who serve as their tutelary patrons. However, they rarely use this preeminence, preferring instead to watch over their procession like a shepherd over his flock.

Alteration Style: The Ignescence

The Lyra practice The Ignescence, their unique Alteration style. The Lyra draw Mana directly from within themselves, or harvest all the energy they spark around them when performing in front of an audience. Their Alteration style revolves around creativity, whether it’s artistic, architectural, or artisanal expression. It’s a raw style, charged with emotions, and as powerful as the feelings they evoke around them. It’s an instinctive, intuitive style, and perhaps inconsistent, but it allows them to alter the world with a scope unmatched by any other Faction.

The Lyra are arguably the Alterers considered closest to The Tumult. Indeed, their way of altering the world through singing, music, or even daring constructions closely resembles the way Tumult winds transform it. Alterers from other Factions feel this similarity viscerally, which often unsettles them. This proximity even extends to their beliefs: many Lyra believe that The Tumult is not a phenomenon to be entirely banished, but to be mastered. For them, it is the expression of nature in its most fierce and unrestrained form, the very embodiment of the concept of change.

Rites and Initiation

It’s rare for the Lyra to refuse someone from joining their processions, whether temporarily or permanently. They consider these additions as a gain and an opportunity to create new dynamics within their societies, as long as they are ready to fully embrace a life of travel. However, only those who demonstrate exceptional artistic abilities are invited to become Alterers. Applicants must then undergo an initiation rite called Emergence, which is not without danger. Indeed, they must enter a Tumult singularity and allow themselves to be transformed by it. An Alterer always accompanies them to limit the extent of the metamorphosis, but the process is inherently risky.

That’s why the vast majority of the Lyra visibly bear a physical alteration of their being. It can be a simple change in hair color, a parasitism by the idea of an element, or even the appearance of crow wings on their backs. There are countless different mutations. While most are cosmetic and non-functional, a small part of the Lyra inherit talents from this exposure, such as increased longevity, the ability to breathe underwater, or regenerate their limbs. The extent of the marks also varies, mainly depending on the violence of The Tumult and the degree of control exercised by their guide.

The Lyra constantly work towards achieving the ultimate masterpiece of their life, and thus achieving the final realization of their talent. When they feel their days are numbered due to age, or when they believe that the work of their life has been accomplished, some naturally decide to leave their caravan and head towards a Tumult zone. The reasons can be manifold: because they feel they will never be able to surpass their masterpiece, or in the hope of fulfilling themselves as the last work of art they will produce. They then enter The Tumult without seeking protection, and let themselves be transformed by it without any restraint. As if they considered themselves as children of The Tumult and wished to return to it at the end of their existence.

Iconic Locations

The Lyra maintain several key locations:

Known Clans

The Lyra are organized into nine Sarabands, each led by a Matriarch. Within these Sarabands are various Clans:

Current Objectives

Find the Two Other Tribes

Eons ago, before the birth of Asgartha’s civilization, the Tumult Nomads roamed the world. They were divided into eight Tribes, each originating from a distinct region of the world. While they all received a mystical call to converge towards the same place, only seven arrived safely. The eighth was lost body and soul, earning the name of The Lost Tribe after its demise. But even before the foundation of Asgartha, another Tribe decided not to remain on the peninsula and to continue leading a nomadic existence. This latter was named The Exiled Tribe. The Lyra wish to know what happened to these two Tribes. Did they survive? If not, what happened to them? The Rediscovery Endeavor is their opportunity to find out.

Finding their Paramour

The Lyra’s gift of Alteration, Ignescence, is an inner fire that burns with incredible intensity. Born from the purest inspiration, this flame that inhabits them and takes root in the depths of their soul is like a spark of Tumult that continues to grow throughout their lives. It is through this flame that the Lyra achieve a thousand feats. Expressing this inner fire is natural for them, as it is an integral part of their being. But it is also a matter of survival. If they cannot release it through their Alteration, their flesh begins to char, their skin flakes into pale ashes, as if they were slowly being consumed. Conversely, pouring out too much of their fire can leave them empty and drained, prone to lethargy and depression.

But this condition does not frighten the members of this Faction. It is part of their identity, as death is part of life. There is also a persistent legend, that of the Paramours: soulmates capable, by their mere presence, of neutralizing the harmful effects of Ignescence by absorbing a portion of this inner fire, or feeding it in return. That is why many Lyra embark on a quest for their other half, so that their creative abilities can be fully expressed, without any restriction.

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