| “ | Not all who live fear death. | ” |
— Iron Gold, Chapter 55
| ||
Gaia au Raa is the matron of House Raa and mother of the Rim Sovereign Romulus au Raa.
Personality[]
She smokes a pipe. She often plays dumb, "speaking only to the children in a wandering, frivolous voice." [1]
Appearance[]
She has shunned the use of rejuvenation technology, so she looks her age, even going so far as to say Lysander must think she looks "grotesque."[2]
Skills and Abilities[]
Involvement[]
Pre-Saga[]
Gaia knew Octavia au Lune when they were children.
Prior to the beginning of the saga, Gaia served as leader of the Krypteia for over half of her life.
Iron Gold[]
Gaia is first seen at the dinner scene when Lysander and Cassius eat with Dido. Lysander sees Gaia and immediately sees she is wise and coherent. Her whole entire family is blind to the fact that she is still capable, and treats her as she acts: forgetful, old, hard of hearing, etc.[1]
Lysander is woken up in the night and summoned to Gaia's room. They banter about how much they hate Darrow. Gaia offers to teach Lysander piano. She tells him about knowing Octavia as kids. She says she's no good at putting on a mask, though it would seem that is what she is doing around the family at all times, and has been for many years. Lysander somehow plays the piano and both are shocked. She suggests that trauma can erase a memory. [2]
Gaia reunites Lysander with Pytha, and enlists them on a mission to free Romulus from the Dust Cells. In doing so, she reveals she was also friends with Lorn au Arcos. Lysander, Pytha, and Goroth, Gaia's Obsidian, embark on the journey to save Romulus.
Light Bringer[]
In response to Volsung Fa's attack on Ilium, Gaia and the Moon Council send an emergency message to the Dust and Dragon Armadas alerting them to the attack, resulting in the Rim war fleet sailing back to Ilium.
When Volsung Fa's army overran Io, Gaia cut the throats of her grandchildren to prevent them from being butchered, but could not bring herself to kill her youngest granddaughter Thalia, and was soon after taken prisoner by the Gorgons.
Relationships[]
Family[]
Romulus au Raa[]
Gaia loved her son. When Romulus was imprisoned by his wife, Gaia conspired with Lysander to free him.
Dido au Raa[]
Diomedes au Raa[]
Atlas au Raa[]
Quotes[]
"Not all who live fear death." -- Gaia au Raa [2]
"If you are wise and lucky and live long as me, you will learn that pain is just a drop in the sea. So feel all of it, boy, before time makes you forget." --Gaia au Raa