Disclaimer: The Mass Effect universe is the property of Bioware/Electronic Arts. No infringement of these copyrights is intended as this is a not for profit fan fiction work.
Authors Notes: Commander Lidova Saris is specifically based on the artwork by LuckyFK named Mighty Huntress. art/Mighty-Huntress-435912461
Revision History: 03/07/2015; 03/20/2015 (Medra 'T'Soni' changed to canon Pania 'T'Soni'); 03/28/2015 (Major changes to mythology); 04/19/2015 (Head Matriarch changed to Potinia); 01/26/2016
Armali
Almost a decade ago, the High Priestess of Athame had a dream in which she was shown the location of a building deep in the mountains north of Serrice that had been left for the Asari by the Goddess Athame before she departed for the Heavens. Matriarch Oriessia sent her cousin, Jalan Ateos, a skilled Huntress sworn to the service of the Temple to discover whether her vision was true.
Deep within the northern mountains the Huntress did indeed find a building made of the same stone as the mountains around it, and bearing the sigil of the Goddess Athame upon its great stone doors. The matron had not dared to enter the building, but instead returned as quickly as possible to Serrice and to the Temple of Athame. The High Priestess, upon hearing the news that Huntress Jalan had returned, immediately ordered her cousin brought to her so that the matron could tell her what she had found. Upon hearing that her dream had proven true, that it had been a gift of prophecy from the Goddess, Matriarch Oressia instructed the Temple Guard to prepare for her to leave for the newly discovered holy site at first dawn of the next day.
The Huntresses detailed to supplement the Temple Guards in protecting the High Priestess said that Matriarch Oressia had merely laid her hand upon the heavy stone doors of the building and they had swung silently open for her as if by magic, for there was no one inside to open them. Torches that did not burn or give off heat lighted the interior of the building, gleaming off the polished metal panels which covered the interior walls of the building. Some of the panels were inscribed their entire length with writing, while others bore both writing and drawings. Along the base of the three walls opposite the door, were weapons racks filled with twenty seven swords, nine to each wall. The swords had curved blades which seemed to be made of the same polished metal as the plaques while the hilts were wrapped in fine golden wire.
Three metal panels covered the wall opposite the entryway; the wider central panel depicting the Goddess Athame and her two guides the Goddesses Janiri and Lucen while on either side the panels were covered with writing. The panels on the other two walls of the building bore instructions teaching the biotic skills necessary to wield the swords, which were not ordinary swords, but ones through which the skilled wielder could channel warpfire and were capable of cutting through anything, even metal and stone.
The inscriptions told a dire and stunning tale that had sent the Temple into an uproar for those that the Asari had known as the Goddess Athame and her Guides Janiri and Lucen were not the Goddess Athame herself, or Janiri, or Lucen, but devout Priestess of another race. Long ago, before the Asari had ever gained the skill of speech, the eldest of the Elder Races were the first to walk among the stars. There they created beautiful works of art and built great and wondrous cities.
However, many of the eldest Elder Race became arrogant in their birthright and strength. They came to believe that the Elder Races born after them were inherently lesser beings because they were not as strong or advanced as the eldest Elder Race. Eventually, either by threat of conquest or by conquest, the eldest of the Elder Races came to hold stern dominion over all the other Elder Races. Those they conquered they made act and speak as they did, forcing the other Eldest Races to act as lesser versions of themselves. Because of the way the eldest Elder Race treated them the other Elder Races feared and hated them, and only cooperated with the eldest and greatest of the Elder Races with reluctance. The eldest of the Elder Races did not care that those over whom they held dominion feared them however, only that they submitted and obeyed once they proved to be weaker for they believed that might alone was justification for their rulership.
Then, from the great City in the Heavens to which all ways led, the Great Darkness appeared. It looked upon the wonders the Elder Races had created, and was angered, for the Great Darkness could not create. Filled with great jealousy, the Great Darkness began to destroy all that the Elder Races had fashioned. The eldest Elder Race, secure in their strength, let pride rule them, believing they could defeat the Great Darkness on their own, and thus suffered many defeats before they finally demanded aid from the other Elder Races. The other Elder Races, fearful of punishment if they did not act, obeyed, however they also saw an opportunity in the Great Darkness's attack to weaken the eldest Elder Race. Thus they while they fought, they also in secretive ways aided the Great Darkness in the hope that they would be able to both defeat it and gain their freedom from the eldest Elder Race.
The Goddess Athame saw all of this and saw their doom, but the leaders of the eldest Elder Race would not listen to any voice but their own. Their arrogance and their cruelty toward both the other Elder Races and the Younger Races angered the Goddess and she was loath to help them in any way. A few of them however, were still devout, and would listen to her voice. This was needed, for with her gift of prophecy the Goddess Athame saw that once the eldest Elder Racer fell then the other Elder Races and the Younger Races would also fall to the Great Darkness if nothing was done to help them.
The Goddess did not want to see all of the mortal children of Thalassa, the Great Mother Goddess of All Creation, destroyed by the Great Darkness so she went to her sisters, Lucen and Janiri, and told them of what she had foreseen. The three Goddesses began searching among the mortal races for one worthy of their assistance. The other Elder Races were twisted by their servitude under the eldest Elder Race; full of anger and fear and Athame knew that they would only try to dominate the other races in turn if only to protect themselves if given the ability. Thus with bitter regret at their eventual loss, the Goddesses turned away from them and begin searching among the Younger Races.
Many of the Younger Races were promising, but each had some flaw that caused the three Goddesses to pass over them until they came to Thessia and the Asari. The Asari were warriors equal to any among the eldest Elder Race or Younger Races. Unlike the eldest Elder Race and some of the Younger Races however, they were not driven to dominate those weaker than they simply because they were stronger, nor were they inherently violent or cruel. The Asari were very long lived, which allowed them to acquire great wisdom over the centuries of their lives; and the Asari's ability to meld gave them unparalleled understanding and empathy, both for one another and, once they rose to lead the Younger Races, understanding and empathy for those races under their leadership.
The Asari were the Younger Race sought by the Goddesses. With their guidance, the Asari would grow even stronger, flourish, and eventually lead the other races to stand against and defeat the Great Darkness. The Goddess Athame went to one of her most devout followers within a dream and told her to go to the Asari bearing her name and begin preparing the Younger Race for the future she saw for them, for the Elder Races were lost due to the arrogance of the elder Elder Race. Likewise, the Goddess Athame's two sisters, Janiri and Lucen, went to their most devout followers and commanded them to do the same.
The next day the Priestess of Athame grieved for the entire morning, for she was of the elder Elder Race, but she had long known that her brethren had turned away from the Goddesses to worship themselves. After composing herself, she sought out the other two Priestesses and they began preparing to do as their Goddesses commanded them. The three Priestesses journeyed to Thessia, and after taking on the name of their respective Goddess began to teach the Asari.
While the three Priestesses began the task of teaching the Asari what they needed to know to ascend to the Heavens, the Great Darkness won victory after victory over the Elder Races due to the lack of true cooperation among them. By the time the Elder Races truly banded together out of desperation, it was far too late; their struggles among themselves had only doomed all of them.
Eventually, the Goddess Athame's gift of prophecy bestowed the knowledge upon her that the Great Darkness would soon defeat all of the Elder Races and if not distracted the Great Darkness would turn its jealous, angry gaze toward the Younger Races. Together the three Goddesses made it seem as if the worlds of the Younger Races were empty of life so that the Great Darkness would return to the Beyond once it had destroyed the Elder Races thinking that it had destroyed all beings capable of creating and building. Knowing that the presence of the three Priestesses would attract the Great Darkness to Thessia despite their efforts, the Goddesses appeared to them once again in a dream, this time to tell them they must leave to spare the Asari from its notice. Before they left however, they were to build the hidden shrine, and inscribe on its walls the truth of their identity and the Goddess's Prophecy for the Asari.
The Prophecy was a series of tasks that the Asari must succeed at or face the extinction of their entire race as well as the extinction of the other Younger Races by the Great Darkness in the future. The first task given by the Goddess Athame to the Asari was to unite the various Lineages of Thessia into one unified government. The second task was for the Asari to grow in knowledge and wisdom until they could ascend into the Heavens. The third task was for the Asari to unite the Younger Races under their leadership without succumbing to the same arrogance and cruelty that had been the downfall of the eldest Elder Race. The Asari's fourth and final task was to prepare the Younger Races for the inevitable conflict with the Great Darkness and with a truly unified force defeat it once and for all.
In addition to building the hidden shrine, the three Priestesses had also taken the time to craft the twenty-seven swords found within it. One for each of the known Lineages at the time to wield one through their Potiniini; acceptance of the swords was to be a visible sign that the Lineage had sworn themselves and their progeny to the fulfillment of the Goddess Athame's Prophecy for the Asari. To take up the duties and burdens of leadership, not just for their Lineages and the Families sworn to them, but for the Asari as a people, and eventually the other Younger Races as well and guide them so that they could stand against and defeat the Great Darkness when it returned from the Beyond.
The dual revelations that the Goddesses Athame, Lucen and Janiri had not come to Thessia themselves, but sent their most loyal Priestesses in their stead, and the revelation of the Prophecy and the eventual extinction of the Asari race if they did not fulfill it caused an uproar in not only Serrice, but also farther abroad especially in Armali, Ulee and Cybean. Eventually the Matriarchs of Serrice and the other city-states were able to calm those that followed them, reassuring them that the Goddesses had protected them from the Great Darkness and it had already returned to the Beyond otherwise the Goddess Athame would have not sent a vision to the High Priestess showing her the location of the hidden shrine and revealing the prophecy. Faith in the Goddess Athame, though shaken somewhat by the revelation of the identity of the Priestesses, was strengthened by the revelation that the Goddesses had sent them to the Asari, protected them from the Great Darkness, and even now were guiding the Asari so that they could triumph over the Great Darkness when it returned.
Multiple Families held the land around the great city-state of Serrice, but only six held the greatest amount of land and the allegiance of the lesser Families. These six major Lineages were: Ateos, Daris, Edoni, Iessaos, Saris, and Vasir. Just over a year after the Shrine of the Prophecy had been discovered, the High Priestess of Athame offered each Potiniini, or Great Matriarchs, of these six Lineages one of the twenty-seven swords if they would swear oaths binding their Lineages to the fulfillment of the Goddess Athame's prophecy. Each had accepted, going to the Great Temple of Athame and swearing their solemn oaths to the Goddess in the name of their Lineage and lesser allied families who followed them.
The seventh sword, ordered the High Priestess, was to be offered to the Potinia of the T'Soni Lineage of Armali. Thus Serrice's Council had sent the Sixth Mora, not to fight, but in a display of Serrice's commitment to the will of the Goddess Athame, and the military force they were willing to devote to the fulfilling of her will for the Asari. Hopefully negotiations with the T'Soni's would go smoothly and their devoutness would ensure that they would join willingly with the Lineages of Serrice in the task of uniting the rest of the Asari. If they didn't however, Commander Saris had enough forces, and the authorization of the Serrice Matriarchs, to subdue the T'Soni Lineage by force of arms.
That offer from the High Priestess was why Huntress Lidova Saris, Commander of the Sixth Mora of Serrice was currently climbing up a brush covered hill several miles southwest of Armali. She paused midway up the hill she was climbing to look behind her. In the valley below, the bulk of her support troops were setting up for battle while the Sixth Mora, a force of just over a thousand Huntresses, were spreading out into the hills. As she had left the valley the massive cervus who had hauled the wagons full of supplies were just being picketed out to graze. Cervus were massive herd animals; horned reptilian herbivores, they were naturally resistant to biotics, gentle-tempered, but not very intelligent or very fast. They were useful for slow, but steady travel, the pulling of heavy carts and wagons, and for pulling plows. They were not beasts suited for fighting, for they were generally slower and much less agile than a Huntress on foot, and the noise and smell of blood spooked them too easily.
Staying low to the ground as she approached the crest of the hill, the Commander of the Sixth Mora made her way forward though the brush until she could look upon the valley and opposite hill. As she looked down in the darkness, Lidova could just see the outlying farms within the valley, a single lane road winding its way among them. Opposite her, upon the far hill, the tallest in this area, she could just see the first of the layered defensive walls of the T'Soni acropolis or citadel. The various septs and allied families of the T'Soni Lineage were one of the largest, most powerful - and most importantly - influential of the Lineages of Armali. Fortunately, they were also devout followers of Athame.
Lidova frowned; she prayed that Matriarch Ashita T'Soni would agree to join with them willingly, for she did not want to engage the Great Matriarch and the entirety of the T'Soni Lineage in battle. The T'Soni's not only possessed many skilled Huntresses, meaning that the fight against them would be bloody and cost the lives of many on both sides, but taking up arms against them would doubtless turn the other Armali Lineages against them. On the other hand, if the Potinia did accept, then it was likely the other Lineages of Armali would follow her example. It was a bold, but dangerous, gambit by the Serrice Matriarchs. Of course, knowing Matriarchs, Lidova mused, that probably meant that they were already certain of Matriarch Ashita's acceptance of their offer. The matron did not think a Matriarch truly left anything to chance, no matter how it might appear otherwise.
Lidova Saris breathed in and out slowly, her thoughts focused upon the message High Priestess Oressia Ateos had given her to deliver to Matriarch Ashita T'Soni. Word for word, the message had to be relayed perfectly.
"The Huntresses are all in place," the quiet voice of her second-in-command, Huntress Tevry Vasir, broke into her mediation, "the T'Soni Huntresses on watch spotted us at dawn and have surely made their Mistress aware of our presence. As soon as you are ready, we can begin the procession to the acropolis gates."
Before Tevry could withdraw, Lidova opened her eyes and rose to her full height of over an orgyia (6 foot) tall from where she had been kneeling, and with an automatic shrug of her shoulders set the heavy leather chest piece of her armor into a more comfortable placement. She glanced down at the other Huntress who was a few inches shorter than she, "I am ready now, besides it is not proper for us to make Matriarch Ashita wait upon us."
Huntress Vasir smiled wryly, "Indeed, it would not do for us to offend her, even if we do bear a message from the High Priestess of Athame."
Lidova smiled in return even as she ordered, "Get everyone in place. We set out as soon as we are ready."
Tevry nodded, turned, and moved away heading toward a group of waiting Huntresses. "Form up on the road, we leave as soon as everyone is in place," Lidova heard her order them a moment later, setting off a flurry of activity among them.
The Commander of the Sixth Mora observed them for a moment longer, and then satisfied with her Huntresses steady, calm demeanor as they went about their tasks headed to her own spot within the formation, a few paces behind the standard bearers. At this moment, this mission was a diplomatic one under the auspices of the Temple of Athame and the City-State of Serrice, thus their banners would lead the delegation to the T'Soni acropolis gates. A few minutes later everyone was in place and the group set out upon the one lane cart road that connected the T'Soni holdings primarily with Armali, but also with the paved coastal road that connected Armali with both Serrice and even more distant Ulee.
A quarter of an hour later the road straightened out as it made its way into the valley and among the outlying farms of the T'Soni holding. The standards, both blue and silver, but one with the stylized outline of the Temple upon it and the other with the sword, sheaf, and fish of Serrice fluttered in the slight morning breeze. Another half hour passed as the delegation, led by the two standard bears passed among watchful, but curious workers and farmers. If they were aware of the Huntresses surrounding them they did not show it, and Commander Saris wasn't certain if they knew what was about to happen or if they truly were unaware of the battle that might occur here later. Finally the road turned sharply to the right and began the uphill climb towards the fortifications and gate of the T'Soni acropolis at the hill's summit.
The gates barring the way into the T'Soni acropolis were wide, thick and reinforced with thick bands of bronze. Commander Saris had no doubt that the other side had insets and pre-made braces ready to brace the doors against any attempts to force the massive gates open. The two standard bearers stopped about thirty feet away from the gate, leaving a space between them for her to pass between them.
Without hesitation, her bearing confident, Lidova did so stopping just a few feet in front of them before raising her voice so that it could be heard within the gates. "I bring a message from the High Priestess of Athame, Matriarch Oressia to the Potinia of the T'Soni Lineage, Matriarch Ashita. Is she present within to receive it?" She asked as if she wasn't already perfectly aware that the T'Soni Matriarch was in residence.
Only the occasional murmur of sound from the ever growing crowd of curious workers and farmers a short distance away broke the silence that had fallen since Lidova's speech and the response by one of the Huntresses guarding the gate that they would let the Great Matriarch know of her presence. The Commander of the Sixth Mora waited patiently, already having guessed that Matriarch Ashita would make the delegation wait for a short time, even if it was from the High Priestess of Athame. It would not be proper for the Potinia of the T'Soni Lineage to appear to be waiting upon the arrival of a matron Huntress, not even one who was in command of a mora of Huntresses of Serrice.
Lidova estimated that it would not be much longer before the Matriarch made her appearance however, for leaving her standing here for too long would equally be an insult to the ones who had sent her, the High Priestess of Athame and Matriarchs of Serrice. Almost as if they had been listening to her thoughts, in the next few seconds Commander Saris heard movement from inside the gates and then the sound of the interior brace's removal. Moments later the gates swung open, revealing a sizeable presence of armored and armed T'Soni Huntresses. After one quick evaluating glance at the opposing force of Huntresses, Lidova focused her attention upon the Matriarch standing at their center who was taller than most of the Huntresses surrounding her and almost as tall as Lidova was herself.
The Commander of the Sixth Mora of Serrice bowed low in a gesture of respect to the Potinia of the T'Soni Lineage. Few Lineages, whether of Serrice or Armali, could claim direct descendance from the closest followers of the Goddess Athame. The T'Soni Lineage was one of them through their ancestress, Pania T'Soni, a skilled Huntress and musician, and known for being well beloved by the Goddess. Straightening from her bow, Commander Saris looked into the unusually brilliantly blue eyes of the T'Soni Matriarch standing several feet away from her.
The tall Huntress had heard of the blue eyes of the T'Soni's and of how they were a gift to the daughters of Pania T'Soni from the Goddess Athame. She knew of the even more scandalous rumor that the Goddess, or rather the Priestess of Athame, Lidova corrected herself, was actually the pateras of Pania T'Soni's daughters. Whether or not either was true, what was certain was that any of the T'Soni line who possessed them also possessed very powerful biotic abilities and were unusually gifted in wisdom and foresight…thus it was believed they been granted some of the Goddess's own gift of prophecy.
Lidova didn't know whether she believed that the T'Soni's were daughters of the Priestess of the eldest Elder Race, but looking into the Matriarch's intensely blue eyes made her even more uncomfortable with the idea of raising her sword against the T'Soni Matriarch. Not only because of the rumors her heritage, but also because of the potential strength of the Matriarch's powers. Suddenly she wasn't quite as certain that the Sixth Mora alone was enough of a force to ensure a victory over the T'Soni forces, and Lidova found herself devoutly hoping that the Serrice Matriarchs had indeed already ensured Matriarch Ashita's acceptance of the High Priestess's offer.
Commander Saris's momentary distraction did not go unnoticed by the Matriarch, who stared at her questioningly. The matron Huntress straightened her shoulders, trying to ignore her embarrassment, "Matriarch Ashita, Potinia of the T'Soni Lineage, I am Huntress Lidova Saris, Commander of the Sixth Mora of Serrice. I bear a message from the High Priestess of Athame, Matriarch Oressia to you."
Matriarch Ashita looked at her for a few more seconds before graciously inclining her head in acquiescence, "The daughters of Pania T'Soni are always willing to listen to any message from the High Priestess of Athame."
Lidova's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the Matriarch's unexpected response, it was almost as if she were acknowledging the rumors… Had the T'Soni Lineage already known the identity of the being who had called herself the Goddess Athame? Surely if Pania T'Soni had melded deeply enough with the Priestess of Athame to have a daughter she would have had to be aware that her bondmate was not actually the Goddess Athame, but one of the eldest Elder Race. Such a memory would surely have been passed from mother to daughter even unto the current day.
So unexpected was the response that it took Lidova a moment to properly begin her memorized reply, "The Goddesses Athame has summoned the descendants of her followers to fulfill her holy Prophecy for the Asari; to unite Thessia in her name, follow her into the Heavens and unite the Younger Races under our leadership, and then with this great united host, battle the Great Darkness at Goddess's side and cast it forever into the Beyond. As a descendant of Huntress Pania T'Soni, beloved of the Goddess, will you Matriarch Ashita T'Soni, accept one of the swords crafted by the Priestess of Athame's own hand and swear your Lineage to the Goddess's service and the fulfillment of her Prophecy for the Asari?"
The Matriarch stepped forward, her Huntresses standing aside to let her pass; only stopping when she was a few feet away from Lidova. "Pania T'Soni was devoted to the Goddess Athame, and her daughters are no less devoted to the Goddess. The entirety of the T'Soni Lineage will not rest until we fulfill the Goddess's will for us and defeat the Great Darkness."
Asari in all different hues of blue, some wearing leather armor, some flowing dresses, and some very little at all, flowed gracefully around one another within the central courtyard of the domicile of Matriarch Ashita. Commander Saris nodded her thanks to one of the servitors who was carrying around a large tray of juice filled cups for the Matriarch's guests as she took one of them. Sipping on the refreshingly tart juice, the Huntress looked around at the gathering. Only a few of her officers were here, the rest of the Sixth Mora had withdrawn to the valley where their supply train was located to finish setting up camp. They would remain here a few days until Matriarch Ashita was ready to leave for Serrice, then they would escort her and her entourage to the Great Temple of Athame for the presentation of the sword and her formal oath taking.
After her acceptance of the High Priestess of Athame's offer, Matriarch Ashita had formally invited Commander Saris and her officers to join her for the evening meal. One did not turn down such an offer from a Potinia, especially one which had just become an ally, thus Lidova had arrived almost an hour ago along with her second, Tevry Vasir. Normally Lidova would have had the other Huntress stay at the camp, but the Vasir's had close ties to the T'Soni Lineage. The Matriarch would have rightfully seen Tevry Vasir's absence as a sign of mistrust in the alliance, a grave insult to the Potinia of the T'Soni Lineage as it implied Commander Saris, and by extension the High Priestess of Athame and the Matriarchs of Serrice, did not trust the Matriarch's word.
Lidova's brown eyes fell upon a matron wearing a sheer red skirt and a belt of beaten silver links around her waist and narrowed thoughtfully. The matron was Tal'motea Lero, daughter of Matriarch Nar'sae, the Potinia of the Lero Lineage of Ulee. Her briefing had made no mention of the matron's presence, something she found slightly suspicious. The Lero Lineage of Ulee was very influential and held the alliance of many minor Ulee families. While they were not direct descendants of one of the Goddess's followers, they were believers and generous donors to Ulee's temple. In truth, Commander Saris was beginning to think that perhaps the presence of the Sixth Mora today had much less to do with being a display of resolve to the T'Soni Lineage and more of being a display to their guest from Ulee.
Deep indeed ran the machinations of the Matriarchs, like unseen currents just below the surface of an ocean, and they could either pull one under the surface or sweep the unwary along with them. In this case Lidova thought she was catching a glimpse of how the Matriarchs were arranging events to gather in Lineages much farther away than just Serrice and Armali without so much as a battle. She would not be at all surprised now to hear in the coming months that the other three major Lineages of Armali had followed the lead of the T'Soni Lineage and that the High Priestess was now offering a sword to the Lero Lineage of Ulee. If the High Priestess could get the oaths of the Lineages of Armali and Ulee to unite with Serrice then wider ties of kinship would bring in yet other Lineages, even those who did not yet worship the Goddess Athame. It might even be possible for them to unite all of the northern city-states that bordered the Ceripian Ocean with very little bloodshed, mused Lidova, but the southern city-states would be much more difficult for there were lesser ties between the Lineages of north and south.
Her eyes shifted away from the Lero matron, only to be caught by the deep blue eyes of a young matron staring at her from across the courtyard. Huntress Ceiya T'Soni, third daughter of Matriarch Ashita and just out of her maiden years, was undeniably beautiful and judging by her direct, open stare, also personally interested in Lidova. The Serrice Huntress smiled as she returned the other matron's stare. Ceiya shared her mother's height, which meant they were well matched in that respect, but where Lidova was unusually muscular, even for a Huntress, Ceiya's build was more traditionally lithe.
Lidova shifted her stance, altering her posture as if there were someone standing beside her in a silent invitation for the T'Soni matron to join her. Certainly she would not be at all adverse to sharing pleasures with the blue eyed Huntress. Her smile deepened as Ceiya inclined her head and began making her way through the crowd to her. Let the Matriarchs handle their subtle machinations, Lidova thought as Ceiya stepped into the space the Serrice Huntress had made beside her, an inviting smile curving the younger matron's deep blue lips. She would go where they directed and perform to the best of her ability; tonight though she had other things in mind, like celebrating a newfound alliance.