Damaya’s mother is unnamed in the book but of the Strongback use-caste. Partly introduced as an example of the general public’s attitudes toward orogenes, Damaya’s mother turns against her daughter when she learns that she is an orogene, locking Damaya in the barn and giving away her things. She’s even willing to sell Damaya to Schaffa when she thinks that he is there to kill Damaya. Later, Damaya realizes that her mother actually feared her more than she hated her, and did better than many other parents of orogenes by at least reporting her and keeping her safe from murderous mobs.