The First Queen

Identity

• Title(s) – The First Queen, Mother of Mazzàlas
• Influence – Matriarchs, Queens, Victims, Revenge
• Appearance – An exotic woman of unknown origin who is clad in expensive fabrics and draped in jewels. Erlànkha is always portrayed as a beautiful but unsmiling woman.

Attributions

• Symbol – Three bloodied white flowers
• Focus – Any red and white flower
• Color(s) – Red and White
• Element – Blood
• Animal – Goat

Cult

• Center of Worship –
• Scriptures –
• Leader –
• Priesthood –
• Orders –
• Aspects –
• Touched –
• Holy Days –
• Friends –
• Enemies –
• Sayings –

Introduction

Upon the crowning of Zirak, the young king demanded that every land in his kingdom should send their most beautiful woman so that he might chose a queen. The women were was sent to the capital and presented to the king, each dressed in finest garments and jewels that their lands could afford. The king’s eye fell instead upon an ambassador’s wife, one of many who had come from distant lands to congratulate the new king on his coronation. The ambassador protested, was dragged before the throne, and put to death. The woman was seized, dragged across her husband’s corpse, and presented to King Zirak. Zirak rose from his throne, grabbed a long knife, and cut the dress from her shoulders. When asked for her name, she announced “Erlankha”. He then threw her against the throne and raped her before the gathered court. When he had finished, he told her to stand and turn toward those assembled. He announced then that the woman would be First Queen.

According to some traditions, the word erlànkha meant “defiant” in her native tongue.

Erlankha produced six heirs for King Zirak. But only Szar Lōk, Szarhà Arha, and Mazzàlas survived to adulthood. The eldest, Szar Lok assisted his mother with her plans to capture and imprison the King. The King was poisoned but not completely incapacitated. Before succumbing to the poison’s effects, he lashed out at his son and delivered a grievous knife wound across the prince’s face. The First Queen wrested the knife from her husband’s hand and plunged it into his heart. Believing that no mortal wound could end Zirak’s life, she ordered Mazzàlas to drag his body into a prepared and hidden dungeon. There, the Hoary King grows old and insane in eternal solitude, feeding on rats and drinking his own water. It is believed that the three children who died, were murdered by Erlànkha for not agreeing to this plot.

The influence of the Erlànkha story on women in Lyrásti society cannot be understated. The First Queen not only represents the power behind the throne, and women throughout the land, but also the limits of power. Despite being the mother to six children, she is not regarded as a model of motherhood. Erlànhka is viewed as powerful female who not only stood-up for herself and her daughter, but for her kingdom, at a terrible personal cost. Depictions of the First Queen, following the filicide, portray Erlànhka in mourning gowns and braids.

The Cult

The Priesthood

Membership to the Cult of Erlànkha is restricted to childless women. Members of the Cult that become mothers are removed from the organization.

Daily Activities

Holy Days and Rituals

Places of Worship

Nomenclature: Erlankha Dekàlic: Erlànkha (god), Erlànkhi (pertaining to), Erlànkhyn (follower), Erlànkhyr (followers), Pryn Erlànkha (priest), Pryr Erlànkha (priests)