This guide is to help readers pronounce some of the more challenging names and terms found in the Tapestry. Many of the words are of Irish origin, while others are simply the author’s own creations. Some nuances have been sacrificed in the name of simplicity, and this should not be interpreted as a scholarly work on Irish pronunciation.
Name/Term (Pronunciation) Definition
Archon (AR-kon) A title designating the Raszna leader; archons are always male
Atropos (AH-truh-pos) Among the three Greek Fates, Atropos cut the thread of life; the name was adopted by an assassin guild known for its ruthlessness and fanaticism
Bragha Rùn (BRAH-gah ROON) “The Red Death”; Max McDaniels’s alias in Prusias’s Arena
Brugh na Boinne (BROO nah BOYNE) “On the Boyne”; a river in Ireland
cambion (CAM-bee-un) The offspring of a demon and a mortal woman
Cúchulain (KOO-hull-in) The Hound of Ulster; an Irish hero who was the son of the deity Lugh and a mortal woman
daemona (DAY-moan-uh) The demons’ preferred term for their kind; one that classifies their spiritual essence without automatic association with evil
Elohir (ELL-oh-heer) Scattered, nomadic elder vyes who do not congregate with others
Emer (AY-verr) The wife of Cúchulain; also the name of Elias Bram’s daughter
Faeregine (FAIR-uh-geen) A legendary being that appears in different forms and in different ages to protect those in danger; all spirits hold the Faeregine sacred
gae bolga (GAY BULL-gah) Cúchulain’s spear, which was forged anew by Max McDaniels and the Fomorian. Its strike is almost always fatal; its wounds never heal.
grylmhoch (GRILLM-hoke) A massive, amorphous creature of unknown origins that Max encounters in Prusias’s Arena
koukerros (koo-KERR-os) The transformation that occurs when a demon has consumed enough souls to become a higher order of spirit
Lugh (LOO) A sun deity; High King of the Tuatha Dé Danaan, who slew Balor of the Fomorians. Lugh is the father of both Cúchulain and Max McDaniels.
Magyarün (MY-ah-roon) Elder vyes that prey upon mankind and often serve Astaroth, Prusias, or other demons
malakhim (MAL-ah-keem) Fallen spirits that wear obsidian masks and serve the demon Prusias
médim (MAY-deem) Ritualized contests that mark important demonic gatherings; the contests include alennya (arts of beauty), amann (arts of blood), and ahülmm (arts of soul)
Morrígan (MOH-ree-gan) A Celtic war goddess whose willful and terrifying essence comprises the gae bolga
rakshasa (rock-SHAH-sah) An ancient and powerful type of demon
Raszna (ROZ-nah) A tribe of elder vyes that live underground and have developed sophisticated schools of magic, such as Arcanum and Silverfalls
Rodrubân (ROD-roo-vaan) Lugh’s castle and lands within the Sidh
Scathach (SKAW-thah) A warrior maiden originally from Scotland (Isle of Skye) who has trained many heroes, including Cúchulain and Max McDaniels
Sidh (SHEE) A hidden realm home to the Tuatha Dé Danaan and other magical beings
Solas (SUH-las) Mankind’s greatest school of magic; destroyed by Astaroth in 1649
Tuatha Dé Danaan (TOO-ha DAY DAN-ahn) The Children of Danu; a race of divine beings that conquered the Fomorians and ruled Ireland before departing for the Sidh
Túr an Ghrian (THOOR un GREE-un) The highest tower at Solas, where the Gwydion Chair of Mystics resided
Umadahm (OOH-mah-dahm) A title designating the high priestess among the witches