Matriarch Gyrull

Matriarch Gyrull is a secondary character in Ian Irvine's The Well of Echoes quartet.

Physical Description

Gyrull is a large female lyrinx, who has scarred chest armour. Unlike her daughter, Liett, Gyrull is not deformed in anyway. Gyrull's skin is fully capable of camouflage and her claws could easily slice through a human. She is large even for a lyrinx and her golden eyes flicker with amazing intelligence.

Position

Gyrull is Matriarch of the Lyrinx city of Snizort and Oellyll, the Lyrinx city under Alcifer on Meldorin. Gyrull is pre-eminent among the Matriarchs on occasions were a supreme leader is needed. She is farsighted for her species, foreseeing the need to adapt once the war is over.

Gyrull is one of the most powerful mancers of all and Gilhaelith noted that even with the thousands of lyrinx living in Oellyll, she would stand out among them like a ruby in a tray of grey glass, because few hold such power as she.

Gyrull's Role

Tetrarch

During Tiaan's time at Nyriandol, Gyrull decided to kidnap the Tetrarch Gilhaelith and persuade him to help her recover something in the Great Seep at Snizort. Gilhaeltih agreed as he knew that the Council would soon discover his treachery or that Vithis the Aachim would realise his deceit.

While at Snizort, Gilhaelith spent more time researching the Seep to find away to escape, than he did in helping Gyrull find what interested her, a village that had sunk in the Seep 7,000 years ago, though he eventually did discover it.

An army of old humans, lead by Scrutator Xervish Flydd attacked the lyrinx city and in the commotion Gyrull forgot about Gilhaelith. Flydd ventured into the Seep and attempted to destroy the nod-drainer there, but instead caused the node to destroy itself. Moments before the node exploded, Gyrull retrieved Gilhaelith, who had half freed himself with his Geomancy, though he was incapacitated.

Scrutator

Gyrull and several other lyrinx, along with Gilhaelith, escaped to Oellyll, though there was an incident where Gilhaelith was nearly lost and where one of the lyrinx who accompanied the Geomancer and the Matriarch was infected with a terrible disease.

Gyrull allowed Gilhaelith to stay above ground, in Alcifer, but secretly did this only so he would further his experiments, which would be useful to her. Gyrull planned to steal them the entire time. Malien and Tiaan appeared suddenly at Alcifer and kidnapped Gilhaelith.

Chimaera

Several weeks later Gilhaelith returned from the chaos of Fiz Gorgo and Gyrull immediately secured him in a cell.Ryll and the Matriarch soon realised they would need the help of the Tetrarch in the creation of the power-patterner. Under the supervision of the great lyrinx adept, Great Anabyng for a time, Gilhaelith helped Ryll in his endeavour. When the lyrinx could spare Anabyng no more, Gilhaelith saw his chance. He reached deep into the controlling node at Alcifer and seemed to move out of time and space itself. Gilhaelith exacted his revenge on the Matriarch by using his Art to cause a rock fall of several hundred spans, trapping her inside the disease infested Oellyll (That had been infected during an attack).

Gyrull did eventually escape but had been infected by the spores within Oellyll. Gilhaelith used his Geomantic-Globe to scry out the Matriarch and successfully discovered her wearabouts. In her sickly state Gyrull used her Art to protect the precious relics she had with her from the soldiers Gilhaelith had brought (Including Nish and Flangers) and even defended against Gilhaeliths Arts. When Gilhaelith realised his Art was clearly inferior he abandoned his powers and shot Gyrull at point-blank rage with a crossbow.

Gilhaelith stole the lyrinxs relics and gave Gyrull orders to send all her people to Ashmode to receive the relics in return for their unconditional surrender. Gyrull used her last strength to mind-speech to all her people Gilhaeliths orders. She then declared her successor, Ryll and died.