A matriarch is a female ruler of a faith, family or place. The Matriarch is the head of the Church of Alberon. The Great Mother is the leader of the gnolls of the Burning Lands. Previous Mothers were chosen by gnollish matriarchs. The Nekh are matriarchal. Marcila Lochgate is matriarch of the Lochgates, Maud Verlime is matriarch of the Verlimes, and the founding matriarch of Castle Karandur (13.17) was a bear.