While there were ostensible male leaders in each of the cities, they all bowed to the needs of their respective matriarchs, giving credence to the saying "Behind every powerful man is an even more powerful matriarch." These men would garner the derogative term 'Masks,' as they would go to congresses next to the Matriarchs that used them as a mouthpiece.

Not to mention the fact that masks were used by the Central Tanvoman women to meet with the Nayrang's regulation that no light should touch their faces.

So each of the city-states now were run by masked, whispering women, with their male lieutenants standing beside them. These women would take the names of their trade: the Lady-of-Ovens, the Lady-of-Spears, the Lady-of-Scribes. And eventually, the High Priestess of each city simply adopted the city's name. Versae, Barent, and even Asor once more.

Due to this chaos, the Reulkhaiyan league eventually collapsed due to isolationism and conflicts between city-states. A Dark age fell over the continent, and suddenly these High Priestesses were now embodiments of the cities, living Goddesses with gilded masks. And once more, they fell into conflict.