Diracusta (Deer-a-coo-stah)

Diracusta, Guardian of the Dangerous Way, is the Clan Mother of House Iraenox.  Her position was secured in AH 1311 after her mother and older sister perished in internal clan political skirmishes.  Under her rule Iraenox has been stable internally, but for a critical period Iraenox lost prestige and position in the High Circle of Ligeoa  relative to other clans due to her continued inability to produce daughters of the blood.    In the eternal struggle for survival in the dark caverns, Diracusta had failed to produce more than five children, all male, two who died in childhood, two Tenacitat and Lempe, who were of the blood, and a son of no account. Thus, her position as Matriarch was being challenged by her two younger sisters, who were supported in their scheming against her by Tas Proditone of Clan Proditone and Ghidna Tenebrae of Clan Tenebrae. After Lempe's birth, she retired Alius her consort of many years and took three new Consorts from allied clans and a male nephew of her sister Discipua's line to improve her possibility of birthing fertile daughters of the blood. After another male child was born, her son Tenacitat died, then Diracusta birthed five daughters. Of the five, her oldest daughter Ligara was not of the blood, and two younger daughters were of the blood Pulchra and Fera. Her other two daughters died in early childhood, making her second born daughter of the blood Pulchra her heir.   At the time of her death, Diracusta had three living sexually mature daughters, and two living sexually mature sons, one of whom, Lempe Iraenox, who took the name Adenshur Kenghym, was the only Iraenox survivor of the Black Fire Massacre in which she died.