The Mother of the Lost (VG)
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Affinities
- Children
Also Known As
- Chikiyo
Vision and Driving Beliefs - Dogma
The Mother of the Lost kidnaps children before great disasters. She keeps them safe and well-cared-for in her own realm, which is not a part of Telon. In case of the devastation of the world, the kidnapped children could continue living after the destruction, even if everyone else had died. It seems most people on Kojan understand and respect this, but the families who lose their children might of course often have a different view on the matter.
Personality Traits
The Mother loves all the children and wants to keep them safe. She becomes extremely active before great world-shaking events, wanting to protect the children from this. As an immortal being she has some difficulties grasping why the families would object to her taking the children to keep them safe. If confronted and asked to return the children, she would.
Physical Appearance
The Mother of the Lost looks like a spirit of Kojanese woman. She seems to be wearing the typical Kojanese outfit, and her long hair is pulled back into a braid. Her eyes glow blue.
Races that Often Worship this Divine Being
- Kojani
- Wood elves
Professions that Often Worship this Divine Being
- Jin-masters and unicorns both seem to be aware of her and stand behind her decisions.
Sample Parley
"The children," Tau Rin answers gravely. "Many of them have been disappearing as of late. Rumors whisper that the Mother of the Lost has returned."
You ask, "Mother of the Lost? Isn't she just a myth?"
Tau Rin shakes their head. "Absolutely not! The Mother of the Lost is an ancient being some say timeless in her own right. Her return can only mean one thing: that danger descends upon us once more."
"If this timeless fairy creature is snatching up children again, why isn't anyone out doing something about it?" You ask.
Tau Rin looks perplexed. "The Mother is not of ill-intent. Her actions may seem cruel to some, but it was she who saved countless lives before the Cataclysm."
You blink in confusion. "How can we possibly know they are saved? The children never came back!"
Tau Rin says, "It's illogical to assume the Mother to be a creature of malevolence, for she only descends when devastation looms in our future. I much prefer to think of her as a guardian of the innocent."
"That's some coincidence," you say spitefully. "She's an opportunist and nothing more. She should be stopped!"
Tau Rin says, "It is difficult to look at these kidnappings forgivingly, but one must have faith and, more importantly, one must consider the importance of this event. Something dangerous comes our way. We must prepare."
"Danger certainly is looking us in the face," you agree. "It's the Mother and the missing children that we should be looking for!"
"Those individuals have a lot of faith in presumptions," you say in continued skepticism.
Tau Rin raises a brow, "Why should we do that? The children are likely far from our reach, as they were before the Cataclysm. Secondly, the children will remain safe in the Mother's caresafe from the pending turmoil that we must face."
You roll your eyes and say, "If the Mother is such a benevolent creature, why doesn't she appear to our leaders and tell them what's going to happen? Why is it that the children are the only ones worth saving in her eyes?"
Tau Rin patiently replies, "Many a scholar has pondered that question. It is popular to believe that the Mother preserves innocence and potential, both of which are embodied by our children."
Tau Rin says, "You say this as if it were a character flaw. On the contrary, faith is a most admirable and important virtue. It is the only shield we have against the many inexplicable tragedies of our time."
Sample Parley
Wardrummer Brumbar replies most gravely, "You've noticed the sudden disappearance of children in the area. These are no mere cases of runaways or kidnappings. The Mother of the Lost has returned."
"The Mother of the... Lost, was it?" you inquire. "I recall having heard the name in a bedtime story my mother used to tell to frighten me into behaving."
"This creature is more than a mere bedtime story!" Wardrummer Brumbar exclaims as if you'd just insulted the very nature of their station. "She is very real and her coming always heralds impending doom. Prepare yourself wisely."
"The Mother of the Lost is going to be invading us? What, with an army of children?" you ask, unconvinced of the soldier's argument.
Wardrummer Brumbar shakes their head. "The Mother does not wage war; rather, she sees it fit to rescue the children from impending danger. Such were her actions before the cataclysm; such are her actions now before the coming dark."
"What makes you so certain it's the Mother kidnapping the children?" You ask.
Wardrummer Brumbar replies stiffly, as if reciting from an incident report, "The children were in their beds, safe and sound, when they disappeared. We've gathered that all of the children went missing around midnight during the full moon."
"And this matches the history of the Mother's kidnappings?" you ask.
Wardrummer Brumbar nods gravely. "It is a precise match. There is no question in our minds as to who is responsible. We mustn't delay in preparations for the onslaught to come."
"Wait a minute - what makes you think that this isn't a copycat?" you ask most reasonable.
The soldier raises a brow and glares at you with hardened, soldier's eyes. "We would have recovered the children by now. The soldiers are not incompetent."
You shrug and say, "Of course not, but you may want to consider other possibilities. Not every atrocity committed in the city has to have mystical explanations."
Sample Parley
You say, "Are you the one they call the Mother of the Lost?"
"I am," She says in a voice that echoes in a multitude of tones. "Who are you?"
"I am Ilshenrir," you say. "I was sent here to look for the children."
"I see," she says. Her eyes burrow down into you.
"Do you wish to take them from me?" she asks. "You will not find them here. They are somewhere far safer."
"Which is?" you ask.
"My home," she says. "My world that is not this world."
"I see," you say. "Their parents grieve for them."
"Why?" she asks in a startlingly genuine tone. "Why do they worry? I will give them everything they could ever need and keep them safe in these times."
"I think it is because they love them," you say. "They are their children."
"I see," says the Mother. She pauses. "I love them too. I love every child."
"Not in the same way, though," you say.
Her eyes flare. "How dare you question my love? You who have never seen the sun set on ages and kingdoms... watched a man be born and grow and die old."
"I didn't mean any disrespect," you say. "I just think you would find their love different than your own. Their children... they brought them into the world, they have brought them up into it. They gave some part of themselves for them."
"Hmm," she says. "I see. Don't you think they would like to see them safe though? Don't they want them to survive?"
"I... I think they would," you say. "Most parents think they are safest in their own arms."
"But I am the Mother," she says. "Do you doubt my ability to care for them?"
"I don't," you say, "but, well, the hearts of mortals are funny things to you... I suppose."
"Yes," she says. "Very funny." She studies you and says, "I will leave it to you."
"I am no mortal," she says. "But you are. You decide: should the children stay with me, or will you tell their parents where they have gone?"
"If you decide to tell them, and their parents come here to me and ask for their offspring, I will return them. If you decide to leave the children with me, tell no one of what you have found here."
You think to yourself, "She will take far better care of the children than anyone else can hope to. What is at stake here is bigger than the grief of any parent - it is about survival. These children could become the next generation that lives on after the devastation of the world."
"I will leave the children with the Mother."
The Mother says, "I am glad that you were able to see the importance of leaving the children with me."
She says, "Do not fear that you made the wrong decision. "I will care for them, and they will have everything that they want and need."
You feel her fingers brush across your forehead as she says, "Be at peace."
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