Queen Ayara

Queen Ayara's History

Queen Ayara was an ancient elf from the days of the Elven Kingdom on Eldraine who reigned over the court of Locthwain. Also known as the Shadow Queen, she remained as the ruler of Locthwain rather than withdraw with her brethren into the Wilds after the elven courts had lost their hold on the Realm. Ayara looked youthful (due to the Cauldron of Eternity), but she has buried many lovers through the years. She usually wore a magnificent black gown with a purple bodice trimmed in gold with miniature goblets in the fashion of Locthwain. A gauzy black veil half concealed her features, but her beauty and proud strength are evident to all. Her dark eyes have an expression as unreadable as it is daunting.

While her official royal title was First of Locthwain, the denizens of the realm also often referred to her as the Widowed Queen, a reference to the many spouses she has wed over the centuries. Ayara wed those champions of Locthwain who sought the Cauldron on the evening before they set out on their (ultimately fatal) quests. By tradition, a year and a day after a champion had set off on the quest, Ayara declared the champion lost and held a funeral party. More often than not, the party carried over into the next day, transforming the new dawn into a wedding feast for the queen and her next champion spouse.

Ayara secretly partook of the Wild Hunt, although it is outlawed in the land. However, she also worked to foster peace between man and elf.

Ayara, along with the rest of the court of Locthwain, was compleated as part of New Phyrexia's Invasion of the Multiverse.