Qhugat'ayu-oru

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Qhugat'ayu-oru is the little-known but greatly feared Demon Queen of the Netherworld. She is not a true deity, but is commonly associated with the domains of rage, vengeance, blood oaths, and corruption. Many colorful epithets have arisen to describe her, the most common of which is "the Black Queen." She is feared and despised by nearly every being on A'therys, man and god alike (with the possible exceptions of Limnas Von and Jövnhast). According to legend, she covets the gods' authority over mortal-kind, and wishes for nothing more than to enslave all of A'therys.

## History

Once, there was a powerful human city-state off the coast of Ithero, ruled by a benevolent but powerful sorceress named Corata Aiya (loosely translated to Aiya the Generous). Like virtually all leaders able to keep separate against the will of the gods, Aiya was an incredibly powerful sorceress, possibly the most powerful in the world. It was only a matter of time before she attracted the ire of the Twingods, and they descended with their full military might. Resilient though the city-state was, they were no match for the master Itheri tacticians, and slowly Corata's lands were taken. During the battle for her capital, she was finally taken prisoner, and was brought before Veser and Naios. They offered her an ultimatum, as they knew her magic was powerful; if she could fulfill their ultimate desire, to exist as one conjoined entity, they would allow her to abdicate her throne in peace. If not, their conquer would be absolute.

Corata Aiya assured the gods that her powers were mightier than even they knew, and she was more than strong enough to bind the two spirits together. She informed them that the ritual would take one year and one day, and that in the end their unison would be perfect - but that, during that time, her people must not come to harm, and she should be allowed to speak to them to explain the situation. The Twingods eagerly agreed, and the year-long preparations began. She stayed within her palace during this time, meditating and preparing amazing concoctions and weaving incredible spells. The high priests of both gods attended her, assisting as she requested and readying for their gods’ great transformation. After the year had passed, Corata called for the gods, and they came. The priests were assembled, and a great fire was lit within the halls of the castle. Over a ceremony of 24 hours, Corata repeated her meticulously crafted spells and incantations, and fed the fire with a variety of the fermented potions she had crafted. Veser and Naios found themselves drawing together, merging into a single entity as they had so wanted.

As the day drew to a close, Corata drew a knife with flourish. She went to add a professed final ingredient to the fire, but suddenly instead pushed the one high priest into the fire and stabbed the other one through the heart. The ecstatic gods now watched in horror as she turned the blade on herself, exclaiming that if she and her people could not remain independent, then they would not remain at all. Meanwhile, outside, smoke rose over the kingdom, set ablaze as per the secret instructions of Corata Aiya - that, should she ever be captured for a year or more, that the torch be turned upon those who held her, rather than allow it to fall into the hands of the enemy. Both the native citizens and the invading army were fully consumed by the fire, leaving no survivors.

However, as the very last drop of lifeblood left her, the horribly conjoined Twingods seized her. Now in immense pain as the binding ritual had been left intentionally incomplete, they placed their darkest curse upon her - she shall never die, but live eternally in the very embers she set, ordered Veser; she shall be remembered forever, not as savior, but as murderess, heretic, and demon, doomed Naios. And so she was cast out, beyond the eyes of men, beyond the eyes of gods, into a place of perfect solitude and eternal pain and shame, where not even Dorrod Muth could protect her nor would Shol dare to tread. To this day, the cursed Corata Aiya dwells within her fiery domain, existing now as Qhugat'ayu-oru - the Black Queen of the Netherworld.

## Appearance

In her days on A'therys, Corata Aiya was a strikingly beautiful woman, regal in demeanor and tall in stature. To those unaware of her supreme magical might, she appeared as any other queen might. The only tell to her power was a gentle aura that surrounded her, an emanating light that cast no shadow and yet was capable of lighting darkness. She wore a stylishly embroidered dress, befitting her station, woven with all the hues of earth and sky. When she was banished to the Netherworld, little changed about her appearance immediately; over time, her appearance came to match her new role. Her eyes, once a deep blue, turned a burning crimson. Her flowing brown hair became as black as obsidian. Though her features remained predominantly unaltered, her aura changed drastically - no longer a pale white glow, but instead one of pitch blackness. It is said that when angered, the aura brightens and turns a fiery red, glowing from beneath her skin as it too ignites to match the flames. In terms of dress, she still wears the same outfit of station that she did when she was cast down, though when circumstance require it she dons a ceremonial cuirass over top of her regal clothing. The humanity of Qhugat'ayu-oru is recognizable to most, though this does nothing to allay the fears of those who see her - cast in an infernal glow, the corrupted frame of the Black Queen cuts a very frightening image indeed.

*Originally written by OccidentalAnvil for the more official A'therys wiki*