Lucilla is the head consul of Theryssa, based in Pelagia. A daughter of Nerissa and Isaac, she is about six centuries old and the mother of Garrik. She opposed Nerissa's alliance with Gabriel, unmade her mother during the invasion of Xalmyrra, and helped bring Theryssa and Thiravos into peaceful relations with their former enemies.
Appearance
Lucilla initially had long black hair and vivid purple eyes. Greater use of divine magic turned her hair golden and her eyes teal. Fine golden inscriptions run across her skin, including her neck, and she often wears deep blue robes or dresses.
Personality
Lucilla is playful and openly flirtatious, but guards the secrets entrusted to her. After centuries in Theryssa, she longs to travel and meet people from the wider world. She opposed sending her nations to war and tried to spare the mages she fought.
Magic
Lucilla designed the golden inscriptions that extend her life, combining earth, divine and temporal magic. Being Nerissa's daughter and using divine magic already increased her lifespan, but the inscriptions do most of the work. They were partly inspired by her father.
She senses essence with considerable precision, shields herself and others with divine magic, and heals injuries. She can enchant her body for combat and repeatedly blink through the air. Her claims to be a weak fighter concealed much greater strength, including balance magic inherited from Isaac.
History
Childhood and Blackcrag's heir
Nerissa trained Lucilla from childhood, preparing her to become a consul through grueling practice in the arena. As Lucilla became head consul, her mother withdrew and left her to shape her own life. Nerissa refused to identify her father, but Lucilla suspected Isandriel after sensing his essence during a handshake when he visited Pelagia.
When George sought an alliance against Shroudvale, Lucilla upheld the northern nations' policy of avoiding mainland wars. George then requested a powerful heir in exchange for leaving them alone. Lucilla agreed to bear the child if Blackcrag's engineers taught her people to build better essence engines. She chose Nero, Nerissa's young wielder, as the father. George kept the bargain, leaving engineers to teach both Thiravos and Theryssa. Nero delivered their son to George, who named him Prince Garrik and publicly presented him as the queen's child.
Renneth and Maric
Lucilla welcomed Renneth and Maric to the Pelagia Consulate and helped them investigate Renneth's unusual nature. She became Renneth's lover and healed him while he slept, but initially withheld Nerissa's secrets under an agreement that left their disclosure to the goddess.
She eventually told Renneth about Pyragos and his troubled past. When Nerissa revealed Renneth's former identity, Lucilla reassured him that he would have their help. She hoped to accompany him to Xalmyrra and arrange diplomatic exchanges, but remained in Pelagia when he formed a pact with Maric. Lucilla raised divine shields to protect nearby people as Renneth's transformation shook the beach.
The invasion of Xalmyrra
After Eira, Kaelion and Xarion disappeared, Lucilla urged Nerissa to speak with Renneth and Nahm rather than commit their nations to war. Gabriel descended in Pelagia, using a snowstorm to threaten its people while demanding an attack on Xalmyrra. He required Lucilla's approval as head consul, and she took his offered hand while Nerissa secured his promise to spare Garrik and return him to them. Nerissa intended to stay on his side until Lucilla could unmake the gods. Lucilla struck her mother in anger at the agreement. Nerissa then confirmed Isandriel's paternity.
Lucilla trained with Nero while pretending that her unmaking ability was barely developed. Nerissa explained that Isaac had warned her never to reveal Lucilla's inherited unmaking power because it was not to be taken lightly. Lucilla concealed her strength from Nerissa and Gabriel and sought to delay the invasion. During the fleet's journey, she took custody of Gabriel's thundercloud crystal, which did not respond to her. Nerissa later gave it to Kalyx.
At the Erenmyr coast, Lucilla survived Orin's devastating sound attack with divine shields. She intercepted Xalmyrran mages between the fleets, knocking them away without killing them and healing those she struck. Feryon recognized that she was holding back and cooperated in a feigned defeat, allowing his mages to withdraw.
When Nerissa immobilized Orin, Lucilla first pulled the unconscious Nero to safety. She then seized her mother's wrists and unmade her, severing the connection that would have let Nerissa escape to the God Realm. Lucilla intended to prevent further attacks on innocent people and further wars involving her nations.
She apologized to Orin and accompanied him to stop Kalyx. When the lightning mage began leaking the essence of Gabriel's crystal, she offered to contain the explosion despite her exhaustion. Brynor took that task instead, carrying Kalyx underground while the others retreated.
Peace and the Valrindor Council
Lucilla negotiated trade and diplomatic agreements with Erenmyr after the invasion. She insisted on removing everyone who had supported Nerissa's invasion plan from both northern governments; Brontes became Thiravos's new head consul, with Damarra as his advisor. Lucilla and Brontes later pledged support for the Valrindor Council during Xarion's visit to Pelagia.
She welcomed Xarion, Aelius and Ozaith, asking about Isaac and showing them the city. Lucilla later attended the council in Melandor alongside Garrik. She cared for Leonora during the meeting, and Thalena intended to invite her to Chronasis afterward.
In Thalena's Shores of Eternity, Lucilla helps search for survivors after the devastation of Melandor and later visits Chronasis with Garrik. In that account, a proposed new gate near Melandor was to connect to the network serving Theryssa and Thiravos. Lucilla separately proposed retuning every gate for direct travel between locations. Neither plan had been completed.
Relationships
- Nerissa: Her mother and childhood teacher. Lucilla challenged her political decisions and ultimately unmade her to stop her wars.
- Isaac: Her father, whose identity Nerissa kept secret. Lucilla inherited his unmaking ability and sought stories of him from Xarion after Isaac's death.
- Nero and Garrik: Nero fathered her son as part of the agreement with George. Lucilla taught Nero politics during his later visits, but never raised Garrik herself.
- Renneth: Her lover during his stay in Pelagia. She helped him seek answers about his identity and wanted to visit his homeland.