Diarchs Elago and Munene

The current Diarchs of Maigalinnu hail from one of its smaller tribes, but have won multiple years of trials and have cemented themselves as stable bearers and executors of Arachnida's word. Together, the two siblings battle threats within and without, and will not falter, no matter what the outside world thinks of them - the only word that matters is their Mother's.

Description

Both Elago and Munene bear white chitin with red eyes, and dress in the traditional bright, clashing colors of their people. Munene is sturdy, with a muscular figure. She is always in armor, symbolic of her role as Brother for all Maigalinnu, and wears a bronze helmet that obscures most of her face, save for her eyes. Elago is smaller than his sister, thin, as if he barely eats. His form is covered by the spiderweb veil traditional of a Sister.

History

Munene was born in 310 AH, and Elago only three years later. The two were very close as children, rarely spending even a moment apart. Munene proved to be a skilled and ruthless fighter, joining the tribe's Fathers once she came of age, while Elago's gentle nature and dexterous hands led him to the Mothers. Though separated by their professions, the two remained close, but they remained dedicated to their tribe and to Arachnida, placing community and goddess before each other.

So things stood when Elago began to receive prophetic visions, flashes of events that would come to pass exactly as he described. The Mothers were surprised that such a rare gift was given to such a young Mother, but Elago began to ascend through the ranks, gaining power and more vivid visions while losing his grasp on reality. Many of these visions related to his sister and her cohort, which she heeded, leading to great victories against hostile neighbors, trespassing scions, and wild beasts. Munene's ferocity in battle, bolstered by her brother's foreknowledge, led to her ascending to the highest positions among the Fathers.

A turning point for the siblings came on a starless night, when Elago, then aged only 29, received his longest, most maddening vision yet - a band of vengeful scions, slaughtering and enslaving members of the tribe. None of his fellow Mothers understood his ramblings, not even the high priest. Munene did, and she roused the Fathers to rout the attack before it could begin. The battle was long and bloody, and only ended when Munene herself killed the scion chief with his own weapon. Many on both sides were slain or captured, including the tribe's Siblings. Munene and Elago ascended to take their place, having proven their bond and their devotion to the children of Arachnida in the face of terrifying odds.

The two young Siblings continued to serve their duties, both in their own lands and in the Trials of High Tahumu, where they competed against other pairs of Siblings for the title of Diarchs. With every passing year, Munene's strength and Elago's wisdom grew stronger and stronger, until one year, when Munene was 38 and Elago 35, they found themselves facing the final stage of the Trials: taming the shadewoven Bratex. Through their combined might and magic, they bound the creature to their will, and ascended to become Diarchs. Now their duties spread to all of Maigalinnu, and both have continued to grow stronger, winning every trial since they took their titles, but even so, their duty remains first to Arachnida.

Present

The Diarchs feel the presence of the Cuulminakra - Munene and the Thousand Fathers have faced Minnikas who grow in numbers and ferocity, and Elago's visions often feature the beast. They do not demonstrate this fear to their people - none but themselves know there was even a summit between nations to begin with. Still, they are willing to cooperate with the fools of the other nations - the backwards scions, the traitorous fire ants and chilopodeans, the frivolous akitu and roaches, the haughty mantises, even the mysterious frost ants. Arachnida has shown them the way, and they believe the Cuulminakra may be her path to return to her children.