Lyra

Lyra was born a minor member of the Calibridge Family, more distant cousin than heir, and spent her life within the walls of Calibridge Citadel. Though of noble blood, her position in the household was that of a handmaid and advisor to the lady of the house — a trusted intermediary between family and servants.

She was known for her loyalty and her soft authority among the handmaids, often advocating for them when others in power would not. Lyra found purpose in the daily rituals of Eternal Harmony, and her voice was often heard in the chapel, reciting hymns.

Her life ended brutally on 11 Crimsonfall 1611 AR, during the Bloody Chapel Incident, when Teige slaughtered all present. Strangled and thrown into the oubliette, she died in terror, her spirit torn from the cycle of passage.

Forgotten by history — her name rarely mentioned in retellings — she became bound to the Citadel, wandering its halls. Her attachment is born from both trauma and love for the Citadel itself.

As a minor noblewoman raised within the citadel walls, Lyra was educated in:

• Courtly Etiquette: The manners, ceremony, and diplomacy expected of Calibridge women.
• Religious Studies: The tenets of Eternal Harmony, with hymns and scripture memorization.
• Domestic Oversight: Management of servants, provisions, and household affairs.
• Basic Literacy: Reading family records, scriptures, and correspondence.

Unlike male members of the family, she had little access to philosophy or martial training, reflecting her station.

In Life

Role: Senior handmaid and confidante to the lady of the house.

Duties: Oversight of other handmaids, attending religious services, and maintaining the domestic order of the Citadel.

Influence: Trusted with minor family secrets and often consulted in matters concerning the servants and chapel.

In death

Lyra’s ghost is driven by:

• Release: A desperate yearning to reach the Harmony Veil and finally cross into the Cosmic Tapestry, free of her earthly torment.
• Recognition: She seeks to be remembered, her name spoken, her death acknowledged — not just as “one of the many” who perished.
• Connection: She instinctively reaches out to women, echoing the bonds she shared with handmaids in life, hoping one will understand her pain.
• Justice: Though fragmented, part of her spirit clings to the wrongs of the Calibridge line, unable to let go until their sins are uncovered.