First Taldàni House of Amra

220-1246 HK. First Taldàni House of Amra.

In some respects, the House of Amra is the longest lasting “lineage” of the Old Empire. Having received special dispensation from the Council of Lanàdus, the Temple of Amra was permitted to hold the powers of both Crown and Scepter within the city-state of Taldàna. Some believe that this power was granted with the caveat that the Temple would hold no control over the land’s army, though there is little evidence that such an agreement ever existed. Others believe that the representatives sent to Lanàdus were able to persuade the Council with the ample favor of the Shining Lady. Still others contest that there was no favoritism shown at all, and that the position of the High Priesthood is in fact a position of Crown which is given privilege of command over the Temple, by the Temple. Whatever the reason, in the summer of 220 HK the Temple was required to chose the first ruler of united Taldàna, the newest city-state of the Dekàli Empire.

A council of priests from across the region convened in the City of Shalvàsal to discuss the matter. Over the course of many weeks it was decided that the ruler of Taldàna should be chosen by the love of the Goddess. It was decided that whomever the Goddess loved most must be infused with the essence of Amra, and therefore be best qualified to guide its people and resist the corrupting influence of their conquerors. Agreeing upon this, the next task was to devise a test on how to determine who the Goddess loved most. To this end, a grisly challenge was devised wherein each of the priests was covered in a white shroud and given a long golden dagger. When a command was given everyone in the crowded room stabbed blindly into the dark. When the shrouds were removed, all lay dead or wounded except a priestess named Tēáda who remained uninjured. After the survivors of the Golden Test returned to the City of Taldàna, she was named Tēáda the First (or Tēáda the Spared).

One of Tēáda’s first dictates was to outlaw further uses of the Golden Test. Tēáda claimed that she had been spared by the Goddess’s love and that the Shining Lady did not wish her beloved priests to spill further blood in an attempt to fulfill the requirements of the High Throne. She explained that Amra’s “Original Love” would be passed from one leader to the next in a way that was more civilized and pleasing to the Goddess. In the meantime, each priest that died would be carried to their home where a shrine would be built in their memory. These shrines, devoted to the Martyrs of the Golden Daggers, would become a route for pilgrims in the generations to come so that the original priests of Taldàna could be remembered and revered.

Lineage

  1. High Priestess Tēáda the First. She was born circa 197 HK. She was named High Priestess in 220 HK following the Golden Test of Shalvàsal. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 220 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 236 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  2. High Priest Ðīel the First. He was born circa 214 HK. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 236 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died in 251 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  3. High Priestess Serásde the First. She was born 233 HK at Wyme’er, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 251 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Alàya of Comlan. She died in 268 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  4. High Priestess Alāya the First. She was born 234 HK at Comlan, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 268 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Serásde of Taldàna. She died in 270 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  5. High Priestess Serásde the Second. She was born 251 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 270 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Hardāyn the Smith. She died in 295 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  6. High Priest Hardāyn the First. He was born 274 HK in the City of Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 295 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. Hardàyn is credited with the design of many of the gardens surrounding Kyrm Or’Amra. He died in 326 HK after breathing the pollen of an exotic flower which had been shipped from Tassèrus. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  7. High Priest Selènder the First. He was born 310 HK at Kalédir, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 326 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved Toldōs of Naddal. He died in 331 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  8. High Priest Toldōs the First. He was born 313 HK at Naddal, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 331 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved Elésēa of Baráde. He died in 373 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  9. High Priestess Elésēa the First. She was born 347 HK at Baráde, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 374 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 382 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  10. High Priest Selènder the Second. He was born 350 HK in the City of Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 382 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved Serásde of Madràldam. He died in 410 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  11. High Priestess Serásde the Third. She was born 388 HK at Madràldam, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 410 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 439 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her twin sister and lover…
  12. High Priestess Alāya the Second. She was born 388 HK at Madràldam, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 439 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Orlāna of Armàrdin. She died in 441 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  13. High Priestess Orlāna the First. She was born 426 HK at Armàrdin, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 441 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved a soldier, Ðiélden of Evermið. She died in 474 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  14. High Priest Ðiélden the First. He was born 424 HK at Evermið, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 474 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved Elèsēa of Teliç. He died in 483 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  15. High Priestess Elésèa the Second. She was born 467 HK at Teliç, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 483 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 517 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  16. High Priestess Tēáda the Second. She was born 477 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 517 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Lorin of Taldàna. She died in 539 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  17. High Priest Lorin the First. He was born 510 HK in the City of Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 539 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died in 577 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  18. High Priestess Serásde the Fourth. She was born 548 HK at Baráde, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 577 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 583 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  19. High Priest Naðran the First. He was born 553 HK in the City of Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 583 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died from poisoned wine in 614 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  20. High Priest Saldàyr the First. He was born 581 HK at Osylmið, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 614 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved Lorin of Shalvàsal. He was murdered in his bedchamber in 614 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  21. High Priest Lorin the Second. He was born 583 HK at Shalvàsal, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 614 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He “fell” from a high ledge within the Dome of Fountains and died in 618 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  22. High Priestess Elésēa the Third. She was born 600 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 618 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She refused lovers until the day of her death. She died in 655 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  23. High Priest Narègyn the First. He was born 639 HK at Caldàeð, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 655 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died in 697 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  24. High Priestess Orlàna the Second. She was born 680 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 697 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Ðalárin the Blind. She thrown from a horse in the Temple gardens and died in 702 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  25. High Priest Ðalárin the First. He was born 678 HK in Ezìrren, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 702 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many and is widely remembered as the greatest Amran lover. He was murdered in a City of Taldàna inn by a jealous husband in 719 HK. The Golden Scepter was passed to his paramour…
  26. High Priestess Alèsēas the First. She was born 699 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 719 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. Her first act as High Priestess was to banish her husband of five years to the Dægwùrdunjun of Oð. She loved many but as her health failed, she summoned her husband from exile to receive the Golden Scepter upon her death. She died in 746 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her husband…
  27. High Priest Servylus the First. He was born 697 HK in the City of Taldàna. He was enrobed himself in 746 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna for the Temple priests locked themselves in their chambers on the day of the ceremony. He was referred to as Servylys the Black during his time as High Priest. His time within the Dægwùrdunjun is believed to have corrupted him, instilling him many obscene and evil perversions. He loved many. Many attempts were made on his life, yet he lived well into old age, dying in 764 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  28. High Priestess Elésēa the Fourth. She was born 741 HK at Elzìrið, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 764 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Serásde of Taldàna though she could never bring herself to touch or look upon another person following the tortures she endured at the hands of her predecessor. She died in 780 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  29. High Priestess Serásde the Fifth. She was born 752 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 780 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. Serásde V’s dismissal of the Book of Tagil Dis incited the Golden Schism. She loved Lorin of Shalvàsal. She is believed to have died circa 792 HK at Zyrr. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  30. High Priest Lorin the Third. He was born 768 HK at Shalvàsal, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 792 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. High Priest Lorin III is something of a joke among the people of Taldàna. While his consort (and soon-to-be predecessor) Serásde V was leaving Kyrm Or’Amra to face certain doom at the hands of Lord Zyrr, Lorin professed his undying love for the High Priestess and promised publicly that he would kill himself should any harm come to her. When word returned that the fate of Serásde was sealed, Lorin accepted the robes of the High Priest instead of taking his own life. His apologists claimed that the Temple required a leader in her absence, and that without any confirmation of her death, it would be hasty for him to take his own. In the centuries since that time, his name has become synonymous with those who offer empty promises. He loved many. He died in 809 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  31. High Priestess Orlàna the Third. She was born 788 HK at Evermið, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 809 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 840 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  32. High Priestess Ilmàdara the First. She was born 813 HK at Wyme’er, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 840 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Tyras of Armàrdin, Taldàna, a Heartguard of Amra. She died in 846 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  33. High Priest Tyras the First. He was born 818 HK at Armàrdin, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 846 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died in 859 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  34. High Priest Ðalàrin the Second. He was born 835 HK in the City of Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 859 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died in 881 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  35. High Priest Narègyn the Second. He was born 857 HK at Comlan, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 881 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died in 901 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  36. High Priestess Elésēa the Fifth. She was born 881 HK at Evermið, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 901 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 919 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  37. High Priestess Orlàna the Fourth. She was born in 903 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 919 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. Orlàna the Fourth is remembered for converting the warlord Korgruk during the Ortori Occupation of Taldàna in 924 HK (rf. Rape of Taldàna). She died in 936 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  38. High Priest Velgyr the First. He was born in 899 HK at Shalvàsal, Taldàna. He was the second child of Narègyn II and Elésea V. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 936 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died in 957 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  39. High Priestess Alāya the Third. She was born 930 HK at Armàrdin, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 957 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She presided over Taldàna during the First Ezmìri-Ortori War. She loved many. She is most famous for being drugged and devoured by her priestesses in 970 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  40. High Priest Balðàrin the First. He was born 944 HK at Laítharàn, Taldàna. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 970 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He loved many. He died in 995 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to his consort…
  41. High Priestess Serásde the Sixth. She was born 954 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 995 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Valyrus of Eromir. She died in 1002 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  42. High Priest Valyrus the First. He was born 970 HK in Eromir, Ezmir. He was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1002 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. He was the first Ezmìran High Priest of Amra. He presided over Taldàna during the Second Ezmìr-Ortòri War. He loved many. He died in 1013 HK.
  43. High Priestess Rāyne the First. She was born 990 HK in Pêwar, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1013 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Elésēa of Soráldor. She died in 1028 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  44. High Priestess Elésēa the Sixth. She was born 1019 HK at Soráldor, Taldàna. She was the youngest person to be made High Priest. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1028 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many but banned male priests from the Dome of the Hierophant, Kyrm Or’Amra. She died in 1076 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  45. High Priestess Ilmàdara the Second. She was born 1057 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1076 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 1095 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  46. High Priestess Taléa the First. She was born 1064 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1095 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 1102 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  47. High Priestess Arkàzya the First. She was born 1081 HK at Boronon, Ezmir. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1102 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Ilmàdara of Telðe’er. She died in 1129 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  48. High Priestess Ilmàdara the Third. She was born 1105 HK at Telðe’er, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1129 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 1156 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  49. High Priestess Myránda the First. She was born 1128 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1156 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Rayne of Taldàna. She died in 1191 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  50. High Priestess Rayne the Second. She was born 1159 HK in the City of Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1191 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved many. She died in 1207 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  51. High Priestess Taléa the Second. She was born 1181 HK at Shalvàsal, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1207 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Serásde of Tashal. She was slain by Netherim in 1209 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  52. High Priestess Serásde the Seventh. She was born 1190 HK at Tashal, Taldàna. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1209 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. She loved Aléseas of Taldàna. She died in 1235 HK. The Golden Scepter passed to her consort…
  53. High Priestess Alèsēas the Second. She was born 1224 HK in the City of Taldàna. She had gained the attention of Serásde VII after a performance at the Dome of Singing which purportedly left the priestesses of Amra weeping with joy. A favorite of Kyrm Or’Amra for a number of years, she was chosen by the High Priestess in 1233 HK. She was enrobed by the priests of Amra in 1235 HK at Kyrm Or’Amra, Taldàna. One of the youngest to be named High Priestess, Alèsēas II also presided during the most tumultuous period in the history of the Cult of Amra. In 1246 HK, Nehkrul warships appeared in the Nyr Alùrin and proceeded to unleash storms of wind and fire upon the Golden City. The skies turned black with the smoke of burning buildings and many towers and domes of Kyrm Or’Amra crumbled beneath the onslaught. Within days, reports also arrived detailing landings at points along Taládan coast. The priests and armies of Taldàna fought bravely for five days but could not hold off the Eylfae ships and Acèntyran armies. News of grievous losses along the Iron Coast are believed to have set the High Priestess’s response. In an act recorded by Old Empire historians as the Heresy of Taldàna, Alèsēas II met with the Eylfae commander and offered him both surrender of the realm and the secret of Myyranágdralyð in exchange for sparing her people. Aléseas II was captured as Eylfae armies marched into the City unopposed. On the third day a terrible cry was heard throughout the land as the ancient Dragul was slain. Alèsēas II was imprisoned for her remaining years within the depths of Albùmor. She is believed to have died in 1278 HK, though no Uren witnessed her passing. In the years to follow, a priestess of Amra explained that during her access to the Governor of Taldàna before the death of Aléseas II, she had overheard a conversation wherein the imprisoned High Priestess had asked to see someone named Delàryssa of Caldāeð. The request had been refused. This report however started a countrywide manhunt for a woman of that name. In 1289 HK, an eleven year old girl named Delàryssa was found living with her family along the slopes of the Tor’n Muran. She was covertly moved to a monastery in the far Westwall where she was educated and trained in matters befitting a High Priestess.