Maghra

**Maghra** is one of the central figures in the dwindling Alkenny tribe and a member of the House of Kane. Mother of the miraculously-sighted Haniwa and Kofun, she often finds herself in opposition to Queen Kane and her lackey, Tamacti Jun. Found lost, alone and pregnant in a storm, Maghra joins the Alkenny as a stranger but quickly ascends to the top of the tribe’s social structure by marrying Baba Voss. As our story begins, she gives birth to the twins Haniwa and Kofun. As husband and wife, Baba Voss and Maghra will protect their family above all else. As an Ayura who is wise, loving, and kind, she can sense truth and hear secrets, yet she keeps her own closely hidden.

Fiercely protective of her family, Marga will do whatever is necessary to keep them alive. When she finds out Kofun and Haniwa have the sense of sight, along with Paris and Baba Voss, they keep the twins' ability hidden from the rest of the tribe as they grow up. When it comes to the children's upbringing, Maghra and Paris don't see eye-to-eye; while Maghra fears the twins' ability to see will bring misfortune upon them, Paris understands the importance of the children exploring and learning to create a prosperous future for citizens of the world. Unbeknownst to Maghra, Paris is able to convince Baba Voss to allow the children to read from the books left by Jerlamarel. Once Maghra unravels the secret, this causes a rift between them.

While she's entirely devoted to her family, Maghra also recognizes the necessary sacrifices she has to make as a member of the royal family. Once she is separated from her family, she reluctantly agrees to follow Tamacti Jun to retrieve her sister, Queen Kane, in hopes of restoring order.

## Biography

### Life with the Alkenny

Maghra travelled with Jerlamarel, arriving at the Alkenny Village in winter while Maghra was three months pregnant. Jerlamarel entrusted her to Paris' care, and Maghra was taken in by the chieftain, Baba Voss. Over time, Maghra and Baba grew close and married, with Baba vowing to raise her child as his own since he had been unable to father children. As the day of Maghra's childbirth arrived, Paris and Sinjay assisted with the delivery, finding that Maghra was giving birth to two children, not just one. With the children safely birthed, Paris insisted that the first words Maghra said to them was the name of their true father.

During Maghra's delivery, the village was attacked by Queen Kane's Witchfinders, hunting the heretic Jerlamarel. During a lull in the fighting caused by heavy rain, some of the villagers wanted to hand Maghra and the children over to the Witchfinders in an effort to appease them. Baba Voss vowed to stand in their way, causing a rift in the village that threatened to turn violent. The situation was defused by Paris, who revealed there was a way to escape their mountain home; a bridge over one of the ravines surrounding the village. With escape possible, Maghra carried the newborn twins as Baba Voss led the Alkenny off the mountain to safety, and followed Jerlameral's directions to a hidden valley where he had left the Alkenny the materials to built a new home.

As the Alkenny establish their new village, Baba Voss has an encounter with Jerlamarel that leads him to recover a cache of books intended for Kofun and Haniwa when they turned twelve. Maghra, hoping that her children would not inherit Jerlameral's ability to see, argued with Baba Voss and Paris that they should not be given to Kofun and Haniwa. The trio agreed to table the conversation until the twins' twelfth year. As the twins grew, Maghra came to realise that the twins could indeed see, and she worried for their safety in a society that saw such things a heresy, fearing that they would be branded as Witches. By the time the twins turned twelve, Maghra decided that the books would not be presented to the children, and forbade it as their mother. Paris, however, went behind Maghra's back and presented them to Kofun and Haniwa in defiance of Maghra's wishes.

### Her rule

Maghra joiners Queen Kane to Pennsa to consecrated as the capital of Paya, much to the surprise of Lord Harlan. While in Pennsa, Maghra grows concerned about Queen Kane's plan to go to war with Trivantes, thinking Paya will be on the losing side with a lot of casualties. She questions Queen Kane publicly, creating a public sense of conflict within the ruling family. This conflict is amplified as Kane offers Maghra to be the bride of Lord Harlan.

The Queen is able to convince Maghra to marry Harlan, on the grounds that this would protect Maghra's sighted children. While Maghra is uncomfortable with this arrangement, she does talk with Harlan about stopping the war with Trivantes and the pair devise a plan.

As Maghra and Harlan prepare to marry, Kofun and Toad arrive. Maghra is relieved to see her son, but acknowledges that he is confused to see her with Harlan. She asks him to trust her, and she and Harlan proceed to marry as Kofun watches on. After the wedding, Maghra is keen to rescue Haniwa, so she enlists Kerrigan, to infiltrate Trivantes to rescue her.

Maghra discusses with Queen Kane the pending battle with Trivantes. Maghra is keen to convince the Queen that the problem can be solved without bloodshed and with talks instead. The Queen reluctantly agrees, but with the addition that Trivantes apologises for the destruction of Kanzua. Maghra cannot believe the Queen suggests this.

Later, Maghra is shocked to be reunited with Baba and the pair share a moment together before being interrupted by Harlan. Maghra acknowledges confusion that Harlan introduces himself as her husband. Later, Maghra takes Baba and the family to dinner with Queen Kane who invited them. Tensions rise as Queen Kane reveals the current state of affairs, and also Maghra's pending trip to Trivantes. All of this causes Baba Voss to leave dinner early.

Maghra sits with her husband later to discuss the plan going forwards and they are interrupted by Harlan who asks Baba to treat him with respect. Maghra later comforts Harlan after he hears the news of his brother's death.

The meeting with Trevantes goes ahead, and Maghra travels with Harlan and Baba Voss to the meeting point. When they arrive and are getting ready, Haniwa also arrives, warning the pair that the meeting should not go ahead due to a premonition from Paris. Maghra declares it is too late to cancel the meeting and it goes ahead regardless. As the talks progress, Maghra reveals to the Trevantian delegation that Queen Kane wants an apology from them. This causes disagreement, and fighting ensues as Trevantes reveals they killed Harlan's brother.

As talks fail, the Payan delegation agreed to hold private talks with Trevantes which are successful. That night however, Trevantian delegates are killed and Baba and Maghra deduce the Queen sent assassins to do this, wanting the talks to fail.

With that knowledge in mind and the war close to commencing, Maghra dethrones her sister, Queen Kane, though the fact that she is with child gives the Queen a stay of execution. Working with Generals, Maghra agrees to a plan to move the battle to the Greenhill Gap, away from Pennsa. Maghra argues with Baba about the children joining the battle, but the children eventually do. An inspiring speech by Maghra sends the troops off to battle. With the troops marching off, Pennsa is vulnerable and two assassins attempt to murder Maghra. She is able to defeat them, though Harlan is wounded.

During the battle, Maghra talks to her sister where it is revealed that Kofun is the father of her son. Maghra says that she is lying and attempts to strangle her before leaving.

After Paya is victorious in the battle and the surviving troops and family return home, Maghra discusses with Baba how the kids are all grown up. That night, Baba leaves Maghra in Pennsa.

### Resolving conflict

Maghra assists her sister, Sibeth, with giving birth to her son. There is initial difficulty in this, and Maghra has to expedite the process by having the baby born inside the sack. With that complete and the baby safe, Maghra takes the baby away, referring to the death of Paris. Outside the room, Maghra is approached by Harlan and Tamacti Jun to raise the pressing issue of handing the Queen over to the Trivantians.

Later, Maghra invites Kofun to hold his son but he declines. Over dinner the next day, Maghra discusses with her children the sighted person Haniwa felt she saw. Maghra suggests this person was unlikely to possess the ability to see, and felt Haniwa was feeling there were more sighted people than there were. As Kofun storms out of dinner, Haniwa blames Maghra for Baba Voss leaving the family. As she leaves, Maghra begins to cry.

In the Council, the fate of Sibeth is discussed and Maghra is silent throughout much of the debate as she ponders. She berates the council members for mentioning her silence, citing how difficult it is to decide about the death of her sister. As the Trivantian ambassador arrives, Trovere, Maghra asks Harlan to find another way to find peace as she will not hand her sister over to them.

Maghra finds out about the burning of Row Vano and discusses with Tamacti Jun possible next steps to take against the Witchfinders. She is furious her daughter was involved, and Tamacti agrees to handle this himself.

The pressure to hand Sibeth over to the Trivantians continues to intensify after talks between Harlan and Trovere fail. Maghra reluctantly agrees to you hand Sibeth over to Trovere upon meeting her. Later, Maghra returns to her room to find Baba in there waiting for her. She immediately runs to him and begins hitting him, before embracing her husband. She is informed by him that Trivantians are on their way with God Thunder weapons, which Maghra is conflicted about. She tells Baba that he may have been deceived, citing an upcoming peace treaty. She sees his annoyance of her not believing him and this is amplified when he hears Trovere is in Pennsa.

Later, Maghra is forced to arrest her husband after he tried to capture and kill Trovere. In her room, she tells Baba about Paris’ murder at the hands of Sibeth, Baba runs to her room to confront her. Maghra tries to convince him to stop but it is irrelevant as Sibeth is not there.

Maghra discusses what to do about Sibeth’s escape with Tamacti and Harlan. She is keen that Trovere does not find out about it, and asks Harlan to do all he can to stall her.

Baba is imprisoned after his outburst against Sibeth and Maghra visits him. Tensions rise as she explains how Baba may have jeopardised the peace treaty with Trivantes. Despite his protestations that there will be no peace, she believes he may be being deceived. She asks him to trust her and talk with Kofun about his son. She does not resist as he escapes prison. After Kofun is attacked by those who sympathise with the Witchfinders, she orders protection for her children. Later, as Maghra comforts Wolffe, Charlotte arrives and helps Maghra stop her grandson from crying. Maghra is sure to thank Charlotte for everything she has done to protect her children. She is then interrupted by Haniwa who has something to tell her.

Wren warns the group about Tormada’s bombs and where they are kept. Maghra is apprehensive of a plan to travel to the House of Enlightenment to destroy them but eventually concedes. That night, she discusses with Baba about the peaceful life they lived with the Alkenny. The next day, Maghra hangs three Witchfinders for the murder of Row Vano, but spares the others, saying they served their queen loyally and asks them to leave.

With her family off to neutralise the threat of Tormada’s bombs, Maghra discusses the pain her sister has caused her with Tamacti Jun. She wants to be free of Sibeth. Later, Maghra is practicing her fighting skills, getting ready for a future war which is inevitable. She confirms this to Council members, who she warns of the bombing threat and asks for their soldiers to be ready. She further asks Tamacti Jun to bring the Witchfinders on side.

Maghra and Tamacti continue to discuss the Witchfinder threat and agree to keep an eye out. However, they stumble upon dead Council members and realise the Witchfinders did this. They both agree the Witchfinders must pay. The pair go to a Witchfinder camp and talk to a blacksmith, Remund, about the location of the Witchfinders. Not complying fully, Maghra orders Tamacti to cut the man’s fingers off and then his hand. They make it to the Witchfinder camp, where they attack it’s inhabitants. They win the battle and injure Shilo, who tells Maghra that they are serving Sibeth and the Godthunder. Maghra cannot believe it, but leaves Shilo to die slowly, refusing to end her life.

With the bomb threat imminent, Maghra discusses with Tamacti how prepared the city is for it. Tamacti tells her that they are as prepared as they can be, but as they talk, a bomb comes flying in. Maghra and Tamacti are knocked off their feet. Maghra rushes to the palace to take care of Wolffe and with him in hand, a bomb hits the palace and it collapses. She is rescued by Baba and group and taken somewhere safe.

Later, she discusses with Haniwa recent events, including finding out that Harlan is dead. She is also given the keys to the city which Harlan wanted her to have. Kofun arrives and warns Maghra that Sibeth wants her to surrender, otherwise the city will be destroyed. Maghra goes to comply, but faints. She later wakes and realises what the key is for. She and Haniwa find a small chest which the key works in. They find a map with a layout of underground tunnels they could use to escape. Maghra hears from Haniwa that Harlan loved her.

After Haniwa and Wren finds at the underground tunnels in person, they fill in Maghra on their location and the logistics of what must happen. They have to be quick with the evacuation before Trivantian soldiers catch on. Maghra has a discussion with Baba privately, where she is keen to settle down with him and her family in a secluded location as they had done before with the Alkenny. Within the tunnels, Maghra joins the citizens of Pennsa and consoles a young girl, Bella, who is scared. Maghra gives her a sound wand to look after. As they walk, they notice Baba is not present and Maghra realises he has gone to kill her sister.

In the tunnels, Maghra debates with the group whether they should go and help her husband and after a cave-in that nearly kills her son, they decide to. Out of the tunnels, Maghra moves towards Sibeth’s camp and signals her sister. She is approached by Sibeth and the pair discuss their respective pasts. Maghra insists she will not kill her sister as he embraces her but Sibeth says she will kill Maghra. Before she can however, Maghra kills her with the secret blade Sibeth had secreted. Tamacti Jun’s forces come from behind Maghra to attack the Trivantians and Maghra joins that fight. She realises something is wrong with Baba and then hears the explosion as he is killed with all thee Trivantian bombs he has detonated, winning the fight for Pennsan forces.

In the aftermath, Maghra tries to convince Bank to form a peace treaty with Paya but this is nearly jeopardised when Haniwa says something controversial. Kofun is able to save the situation and Maghra is grateful to him. She discusses with Kofun about him being king of Paya and she hears him say he wants to make a sacrifice before assuming this role. Visiting the site of Baba’s death, Maghra blames herself but is comforted by Tamacti.

## Appearances

* Season 1
	+ "Godflame" (First appearance)
	+ "Message in a Bottle"

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "Godflame"
2. ↑ "Message in a Bottle"
3. ↑ ”Heavy Hangs the Head”
4. ↑ ”Watch Out for Wolves”
5. ↑ "This Land is Your Land"
6. ↑ ”The Storm”
7. ↑ ”The Lowlands”
8. ↑ ”God Thunder”
9. ↑ ”I See You”