Lyran FAQ, V. 2.0 8th Consulate Brother Fireball, Church of St. Dino the Avenger Previous version by DeadLock, Windigo, and Shardik the Ferals. Below is the Frequently Asked Questions file for the Lyrans, arch-enemies of the Maenads of the Holy Albino. Featured prominently in Operation: Pacifica, they developed into a formidible, hated foe of the Jihad. --------------------------------------- Part 1: General Information Part 2: Writer's Information Part 1 - General Information ?Who are the Lyrans? The Lyrans are a race of sorcerers/thaumaturgists allied with b'harnii. ?Where do the Lyrans come from? Lyrans originated from Lyra, the lone planet of one of the suns in a rare triple star system located in a galaxy which is in the galactic cluster closest to the center of the Virgo Supercluster. ?So who's in charge of the Lyrans, b'harnii? No. The High Mage Charn'El of the 9th circle is the undisputed ruler of all Lyrans. He is quite possibly the most powerful sorcerer in the known universe. As a demonstration of his power approximately twenty thousand years ago, Charn'El ascended to immortality and thus eternally cheated death. As a secondary expression of his power, Charn'El summoned the Hell Wyrm, b'harnii, to annihilate humanity. ?Charn'El's more powerful than b'harnii? No. b'harnii was not expected when Charn'El initially cast his spells. Apparently, accordingly to the fragments of records gathered, the Hell Wyrm took advantage of the power exerted by the Lyrans and used it to cross into our dimension. ?What do Lyrans look like? Their color is something approaching ashen complemented by dark, often black hair. Lyrans decorate their faces with intricate, horrific patterns of black paint. Typically, this paint is concealed underneath an elaborately carved wooden mask with intricate decorations. As a rite of passage and initiation, a Lyran who has reached the fifth circle (explanation of circles below) replaces his wooden mask with an actual living creature that has been mutated to perform the same function as well as imbued with some amount of magical power to aid its wearer. As a lyran rises through the remaining circles of power, a new mask, each more elaborate and more powerful than the previous one, is grown to take the place of the older one. Lyrans rarely, if ever, remove their masks in the presence of non-Lyrans. It is often considered offensive and degrading for a Lyran to display their face in public. If a Lyran should so disgrace itself to reveal its naked face, it would resemble a grayish, somewhat emaciated elf with glowing eyes. Their eye-glow color changes from mood to mood and according to the strength of their sorcery. Those who have tried to guess a Lyran's ability by judging the subtle light from behind a mask's eyeholes are often fatally mistaken. ?OK, wait. Living masks? How do the Lyrans make those? In addition to being sorcerers, Lyrans are masters of genetic and biological manipulation. Nearly everything a Lyran has daily contact with is a living organism warped to perform some function. For example, Lyrans often find transportation in giant flying creatures engineered for that purpose. ?Whoa. That's intense. Can they do anything else? Unfortunately, the Lyrans' powers of manipulation are not limited to the magical and genetic realms. They also excel in psychological and spiritual transformations of whatever creatures they can gain control over. The Saethrians and Smudges are two examples of races which lost wars of dominance to Lyra and were forever twisted into willing servants of their conquerors. ?So it would be a really Bad Thing[tm] to be captured by a Lyran? Yes. See the archives of Op: Pacifica and the Jihad bestiary for more details about the fates of Jihaddi captured during the previous story, Operation: Phoenix. ?Ok, masks are a sign of rank. Is there anything else? Yes, the Lyrans also use the color of their robes and underlying clothing to indicate rank in their society. Maenad intelligence has been able to determine the meaning of the following colors: Brown -- Forgotten Ones, the extremely rare Lyran born without magical abilities White -- 1st Circle, usually reserved for children Yellow -- 2nd Circle, new apprentices and novices Blue -- 3rd Circle, a Lyran skilled at the minimum to live an adult life Lavender -- 4th Circle, beginning to develop their power Magenta -- 5th Circle, fully developed adult, no experience Crimson -- 6th Circle, intermediate skill; fully mature, experienced human mages (read: very few if any) would fit into the 5th or 6th circle. Deep Purple -- 7th Circle, advanced mage, great in renown and power Indigo -- 8th Circle, legendary mages in power and renown, often apprentices of Charn'El, quasi-immortal or semi-immortal Black -- 9th Circle, Charn'El, immortal High Mage of Lyra Lyrans have been observed to wear other colors, but Maenad Intel (which, given the Maenads' long conflict with Lyra, is the primary source of the Jihad's knowledge concerning lyrans) hasn't been able to determine the importance of these rare occasions. Two additional notes about ranks: Lyran masks are colored a lighter shade of their robes, another indication of their status. As well, Lyrans sometimes use jewelry and bodily decorations as an alternate to an apparent mask etiquette. Maenad intelligence has been unable to determine the relationship Lyrans ascribe to masks, robes, and jewelry. ?What is known of the Lyrans' history? Very little at this time. The prime reason is Maenad Intelligence's inability to recover useful information from dead Lyrans. 1) Maenads and Lyrans tend to kill each first and talk later, 2) Lyrans are notoriously non-conversive with other species, and 3) Lyra is almost inaccessible to even the toughest team of Maenad operatives. Given the high cost of life associated with such a mission, we've opted not to pursue it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Part 2 - Writer's Information First and foremost, the information below are NOT things the characters of the Jihad Universe, the people in a story, will have any way of knowing. Various facts and elements are outlined so writers can generate Lyran characters more in-line with the notion of their creators and build a coherent set of behaviors. In general, blatantly or explicitly putting any of the following information in a story indicates the reader missed the point by a few dozen light-years. ?What's the real reason Charn'El summoned b'harnii? The truth of the matter is that b'harnii was an accident. Charn'El, through visions and dreams from the future, had foreseen the defeat of his species at the hands of the inhabitants of Earth, a planet he'd never paid much attention. Rather than directly involve his race, Charn'El reasoned, given a relatively long deadline, it would be more strategic to acquire a servant to exterminate humanity. During the sorcery to bring forth a destroyer demon, something went wrong. The hellish creature Charn'El identified as sufficient for his purposes began to fight its binding. Rather than be refused, the High Mage increased his exertions, pulling the resisting creature across dimensions. What emerged was mangled, deformed, and ripped to pieces. When he started to close the portal after his failure, Charn'El was met with great resistance as something else forced its own way through. As he struggled to close the dimensional get, something else emerged and stepped on the remains of the dismembered creature. Much to the lyran's surprise, a vastly powerful being which upon assumtion of corporeal form in this plane of existance called itself Barney, had used their portal to gain access to this dimension. ?What is the disposition of the Lyran race? Lyrans have complex, multi-layered, and oddly faceted personalities. They consider themselves superior to all other life forms in the universe, often citing the unswerving leadership of their god-ruler Charn'El as proof. 'Who else but the chosen people would have an immortal leading them?' argue most. The overwhelming majority of Lyrans are fatalistic, sallow, cruel to a fault, harsh, domineering, arrogant, and tenacious beyond what nearly anyone would consider rational. How their personalities, never openly expressed to non-Lyrans, manifest depends on the species with which they interact. In regards to accomplishing their objectives, Lyrans prefer by far to use servants, slaves, minions, and allies to destroy their enemies rather than involve themselves directly. It's part practicality, part arrogance which dictates this behavior. Lyrans, as they reason, spend decades acquiring their powers: why should they risk it all in one combat? The result of this, in story writing, is that Lyrans very rarely appear as direct adversaries. They should be in the background, the mysterious and frightening mages who construct elaborate strategems and monsters to eliminate their opponents. It is not uncommon for a Lyran wait years before making a move to eliminate an enemy, not from complacency, but from a deep desire to claim victory without self-risk. ?How do Lyrans behave around one another? In the rare instance someone has been able to observe Lyran interpersonal relationships and lived to tell about it, they report wide variations. Formal protocols are rigidly observed between subordinates and superiors, but peers tend towards more relaxed interactions. Children, very rarely observed, and never outside the company of a guardian, do not seem to be bound by the ranking system. Conversely, they have no clout with magic-using Lyrans until they go through a rite of passage. ?How do the Lyrans regard humans? Na'kur'Ol, 6th Circle, speaks of humanity: "As a whole, they are pathetic and weak, barely refined from their ancestors who descended from the trees. When my teacher revealed our supposed future, it was difficult to withhold my laughter." "These vile primitives destroy us? Ha! Then the reality of our plight struck me, and anger grew. Savages destroy us?! I'll slaughter them with my own hands! "Of course, watching a detestable Y'ikta (human servant of Lyra) cut down ranks of humans before falling is a rare pleasure, eliminating two problems with a single stroke." It should be noted that the "secret" of Lyra's fate is not disclosed to every member of their society. Rather, those who rise above the 5th Circle in power are granted this knowledge, upon which they dedicate themselves to destroying humanity. The reason for this is many of the weaker Circles would feel desperation and depression over their inability to do anything. From the moment they can understand language, a young Lyran is taught to despise humanity. Though a small portion of the population may never know their fate, they are well trained to hate their eventual destroyers. ?Are there any humans who would aid the Lyrans? Yes. Some humans (mage or otherwise), greedy for power they could not otherwise obtain, willingly court Lyran assistance. Called Y'ikta by their masters, these minions are granted spells, magical items, and powers in exchange for commands to slay a certain number of their own species as payment. From time to time, other vile deeds are substituted in place of blood. Many Y'ikta, mages in particular, find themselves able to slay their opponents easily with their new gifts. Though the raw feelings of power are strong, few suspect any attacks made against their benefactors would meet with disastrous failure. In any case, a Lyran-aligned human is nothing but a glorified pawn in an undeclared war. The bodies of those who seek an upper hand over their masters are never found. ?How do Lyrans regard J'curr? J'curr are former humans whose lust for power grew a little too strong. Rather than continue to invest in a part-time servant, their Lyran benefactor took control and altered the human into whatever form was convenient. It should be noted that the newly-formed J'curr considers itself to possess a free will, oblivious to strings its master pulls. It is often too enamored with is new body, powers, or abilities to consider the price. Many Lyrans retain control of their J'curr's mind, destroying those memories and areas of the brain which would allow it to rebel. Of all the Lyran's servants, J'curr are the most varied. Some resemble chitinous monstrosities, towering demons, spiked armadillos, or amorphous horrors. Once made, a J'curr is not easily altered, so its creator must choose with care. It is not uncommon for a Lyran to slay a J'curr which has outlived its usefulness. Given the servant's brain is under Lyran control, heart failure or some other lethal condition, like a suicide attack, is not difficult to create. ?How do Lyrans regard smudges, saethrians, thanatins, etc.? With contempt, even more of it than other non-lyrans because these beings have all fought Lyra and lost. They are slaves, a tool of convenience for lyrans, and not even an especially valued tool at that. Their lives are thrown away in conflict with Lyra's enemies without even a second thought on the part of their masters, simply because Lyrans are loathe to personally involve themselves in such conflict outside of very extreme circumstances; a mask or even a magical staff is likely more valuable to a lyran than the life of any such slave. ?How do Lyrans regard Jello Beasts? Unlike most other races, the Lyrans leave the Jello Beasts alone, avoiding contact with them. The reasons for this are many, but prime among them is a reasonable certainty that these creatures would be extremely resistant to domination. As well, their biology is incomprehensible. Secretive measures are underway to understand them. Pending a successful outcome, relations could change drastically. ?How do the Lyrans regard the Jihad? As a severe inconvenience, and with a very well concealed fear. Due both to its success fighting Barney and its association with the Maenads of the Holy Albino the Jihad has presented an unforseen and occasionally distressingly large obstacle to Charn'El's plan to conquer Earth. ?How do the Lyrans regard the Maenads? For all their hatred of Maenads, the Lyrans are afraid. The Holy Albino's direct intervention in the lives of his followers has left them an unpredictable quantity. Unlike other sentients, Ferals are hard to track, harder to predict, and nearly impossible to manipulate. Because of this, they are deadlier than any other opponent a Lyran is likely to face in its lifetime. The Holy Warp Spasm and Big Ass Claws[tm] are the stuff of nightmares for a Lyran, fear often paralyzing them for a short period of time. This fear is not unfounded: lesser Lyrans slain by the Claws[tm] have proven nearly impossible to resurrect or reincarnate. The mightier inhabitants of Lyra experience difficulties resurrecting as well. In sharp contrast to the judicious use of servants to dispose of an enemy, Lyrans will greatly risk their resources, and even lives, if they believe it will lead to slaying a Maenad. ?How to do Lyrans regard sponge/wyrm minions? Sponge minions are beneath a Lyran's contempt. If they're forced to use them, mortality is nearly 100% once the objective is accomplished. This could easily be construed as sloppy strategy on the Lyran's part, when in reality the mage regards spongies as more useful dead. Wyrm minions, however, are considered still salvageable as servants. Choice Wyrm Minions have survived under a Lyran's command to find itself seduced into service. ?What's the real relationship between the Lyrans and b'harnii? Charn'El, and thus all of Lyra, regards b'harnii as a convenience in their war against humanity. Though they find b'harnii an annoying, dangerous bed fellow, the benefits are worth it: if b'harnii can spongify humanity, then their primary concern is satisfied. If the Hell Wyrm fails (by being slain by the Barney Slayer), humanity should be sufficiently weaken to allow a relatively easy genocide against Earth's inhabitants. Should the Jihad lose, Charn'El plans on destroying Barney himself himself and taking the Magenta Menace's power for his own.