Isla (ˈaɪ.lə)

"The cats do my sleeping for me."

— Isla, Queen of Cait

Isla is the Queen of Cait and Avatar of Eilidh Oirbheartach, the cat-goddess of the Albidosi. She is the youngest monarch on the island of Ynys. She became queen after the sudden deaths of her mother and older sister three years ago. Her subjects find her strange and uncanny, but take pride in these traits and believe she is destined to become one of Cait's greatest rulers.

Early Life

Isla was a strange child. Even as an infant, she bore unmistakable signs of the cat-goddess. She did not open her eyes for a full week, and when she did, they were amber with the vertical pupils of a cat. As a young child, she meowed, purred, walked on all fours, and cast a cat-shaped shadow. Priests of Eilidh Oirbheartach declared her an Avatar, the youngest ever known.

In time, Isla learned to walk and speak as a human, though she retained many cat-like traits. She could move with complete silence, and often startled people as she emerged noiselessly from a nearby shadow. When she was younger, she would often move about the castle walls as a cat might, making impressive jumps and displaying incredible balance. Some claimed her shadow bore claws, which she could use against those who threatened her.

As Isla matured, she began to manifest other unusual qualities. She could speak with the cats of Aran and command them. She always seemed to know what the cats had seen - not only in the palace, but throughout the city and beyond. At some point, she ceased sleeping entirely, claiming she could borrow rest from the palace cats, who slept enough for them both. Her sleeplessness has granted her the abilities and perceptions of other insomniacs, although she suffers none of the exhaustion. The people of Cait consider her equivalent to the cat-goddess herself, and many have begun offering gifts and sacrifices directly to Isla rather than to the temple.

An Unexpected Queen

When Isla was born, no one expected her to take the throne. She had an older sister, Derile, who was her mother's heir. But when Isla was thirteen, a plague took both Princess Derile and their mother, Queen Lonceta. The kingdom was suddenly faced with crowning the strange and eldritch cat-princess. Many argued that she could not ascend to the throne, either due to her age or because of her mental state; some believed Isla had been driven mad by the goddess’s touch. But Isla took matters into her own hands, and announced that she was being directly advised by Eilidh Oirbheartach and that a regent would be both redundant and an insult to the goddess. Then she met privately with the clan chiefs of the Albidosi, sharing secrets the cats had seen. Afterward, none dared challenge her claim.

As queen, Isla has shown unwavering dedication to her duties and works tirelessly to improve her people's lives. She has been able to use her uncanny nature to her advantage in negotiations, and both merchants and diplomats were often startled by the deals they agreed to. Furthermore, she has often dispatched agents to resolve problems before word of them even reached Aran. When asked how she knew, she would fix the questioner with a penetrating stare, then glance away in silent disgust.

The Legacy of Cailtram

In the history of the Albidosi, no figure is more important than Cailtram, the ancient king who lies asleep and will come again. According to the legends, Cailtram once ruled all of Ynys, and Eilidh Oirbheartach was his companion and familiar. When he was gravely wounded and fell into endless slumber, he charged her with guarding the Albidosi people, elevating her to join the Ellyll.

The Albidosi believe this legacy makes them the rightful rulers of Ynys - and Isla its rightful queen. When Llif's Prophecy foretold that all of Ynys would be united under one crown before the return of the White Comet, some wondered if it heralded Cailtram's return. One year after the prophecy, Isla became Queen of Cait - an event many see as the first step on her foretold path to ruling all Ynys. Though Isla has made no public statement, many Albidosi clan chiefs have begun preparations for the conflict they believe is inevitable.