Aeyan’arric (EYE-ann-AR-ik)—a dragon associated with ice, cold, and storms.
Afterlife, the—a dark mirror of the living world; souls go to the Afterlife after death, hopefully to move on to the Land of Peace.
agolé (a-GOAL-lay)—a piece of cloth worn draped around the shoulders and hips by both men and women in western Quur.
Alavel (A-la-VEL)—home city of the wizards’ school known as the Academy.
Arasgon (AIR-as-gon)—a fireblood, Talaras’s brother.
Arena, the—a park in the center of the Capital City that serves as battleground for the choosing of the emperor.
Argas (AR-gas)—one of the Eight Immortals. Considered the god of invention and innovation.
Atrine (at-rin-EE)—capital of the dominion of Jorat, originally built by Emperor Atrin Kandor.
Baelosh (BAY-losh)—a dragon, best known for the size of his hoard of treasure.
Bahl-Nimian (BALL-nim-ee-AHN)—one of the Doltari Free States, this particular city-state dedicated to Vilfar.
barrier roses—a magical ward preventing teleportation or gate-creation magics anywhere inside the Manol. Nine individuals are known to be able to ignore the barrier roses: the Immortals, Relos Var, and Grizzst, who created them.
Bevrosa (BEV-roz-AH)—a Dry Mother, leader of the morgage tribe living in the center of Kharas Gulgoth, holder of a Cornerstone, Wildheart.
Bezagor (bez-ah-GORE)—a demon lord.
Bikeinoh (beh-KEEN-oh)—Duke Kaen’s second wife, now a member of the Spurned.
Chainbreaker—a Cornerstone, associated with the Manol vané. Has powers dealing with illusions.
Cherthog (cher-THOG)—a god of winter and ice, primarily worshipped in Yor.
Cimillion (seh-MIL-e-on)—the original birth name of Emperor Sandus’s son, Thurvishar.
Citadel, the—headquarters of the Quuran imperial military.
City, the—a.k.a. the Capital City. Originally a city-state under the control of the god-king Qhuaras, its original name (Quur) now applies to the whole empire.
cloudcurl hair—originally a vané trait, now common in areas like Kirpis and Khorvesh, of hair so curly that it is cloudlike. While both vané groups can have cloudcurl hair, the Kirpis vané were especially famous for it.
Copper Quarter—the mercantile district of the Lower Circle of the Capital City.
Cornerstones, the—eight magical artifacts. The Stone of Shackles and Chainbreaker are two of these.
Court of Gems, the—slang for the royal families of the Upper Circle, represented by twelve different kinds of gemstones.
Crown and Scepter, the—famous artifacts that may only be wielded by the emperor of Quur. Created by Grizzst.
Culling Fields, the—a tavern and inn situated just outside the Arena.
D’Aramarin (day-ar-a-MAR-in)—the first ranked Royal House. House D’Aramarin controls the Gatekeepers, the guild of wizards primarily responsible for running and maintaining the gate system. They are thus responsible for and control almost all inter-dominion trade.
Havar (hav-AR)—High Lord of House D’Aramarin.
D’Erinwa (day-er-in-WAY)—a Royal House, primarily associated with slavery.
D’Kard (day-KARD)—a Royal House, primarily associated with crafting.
D’Lorus (du-LOR-us)—a Royal House, primarily associated with paper, books, schools, and education.
Cedric (KED-rik)—High Lord of House D’Lorus. Father of Gadrith.
Gadrith (GAD-rith)—an infamous necromancer and wizard, also known as Gadrith the Twisted. Was killed permanently by Kihrin D’Mon, using Urthaenriel.
Thurvishar (thur-vish-AR)—Gadrith D’Lorus’s adopted son, Lord Heir of House D’Lorus.
D’Mon (day-MON)—a Royal House, primarily associated with the healing arts.
Bavrin (BAV-rin)—deceased son of High Lord Therin D’Mon.
Darzin (DAR-zin)—deceased son of High Lord Therin D’Mon and former lord heir, slain by his younger brother Kihrin D’Mon.
Devyeh (DEV-yeh)—deceased son of High Lord Therin D’Mon.
Galen (GAL-len)—Lord Heir of House D’Mon after the death of his father, Darzin.
Gerisia (ger-IS-see-ah)—youngest daughter of Therin D’Mon, married to the Duke of Khorvesh’s second-oldest son.
Kihrin (KEAR-rin)—youngest child of High Lord Therin D’Mon and only child of Queen Khaeriel of the vané. Also, the reincarnation of S’arric, one of the Eight Immortals.
Saerá (SAY-ra)—eldest daughter of Darzin D’Mon.
Sheloran (shel-LOR-ahn)—Galen D’Mon’s wife, previously of House D’Talus.
Therin (THER-rin)—High Lord of House D’Mon.
Tishar (tish-AR)—Therin D’Mon’s aunt, killed by Gadrith prior to the Capital Hellmarch.
Tishenya (tish-EN-ya)—oldest child of Therin D’Mon.
D’Talus (day-TAL-us)—the Royal House in charge of the smelter and smith’s guild, known as the Red Men.
Damaeris (dah-MARE-is)—an acolyte at the Well of Spirals.
Dana (dan-AY)—god-queen of Eamithon, still worshipped as the goddess of wisdom and virtue.
Daughter of Laaka (LAKE-ay)—a.k.a. kraken, an enormous immortal sea creature.
Demon Falls—the artificial dam constructed by Atrin Kandor to form Lake Jorat, called such because the spillways are shaped like demon mouths.
demons—an alien race from another dimension that can, through effort, gain access to the material world. Famous for their cruelty and power. See: Hellmarch.
Devoran Prophecies, the—a many-book series of prophecies that are believed to foretell the end of the world.
Devors (de-VORS)—island chain south of the Capital City, most famous as the home of the Devoran priests and their prophecies.
dhole (dol)—a form of wild dog, domesticated in Jorat and also found throughout Marakor.
Doc—see: Terindel.
Dolgariatz (dol-GAR-ee-atz)—a Manol vané Founder.
Doltar (dol-TAR)—a distant country believed populated by people having pale skin and light-colored hair and eyes. In reality, a patchwork collection of city-states populated by a diverse range of ethnicities and ruled by squabbling god-kings.
Dorna (DOR-na)—an elderly Joratese woman who served as Janel Theranon’s nanny in childhood.
Dragonspires, the—a mountain range running north–south through Quur, dividing the dominions of Kirpis, Kazivar, Eamithon, and Khorvesh from Raenena, Jorat, Marakor, and Yor.
dreamweaver—a Kirpis vané sorcerer specializing in illusions.
Drehemia (DRAY-hem-EE-ah)—a dragon.
dreth (dreth)—see: vordreth.
drussian (drus-E-an)—a rare metal superior to iron that can only be created through superhot magical fires.
Dry Mothers, the—the elders of the morgage, who rule the various tribal groups.
Dyana (DEE-an-ah)—a vordreth woman, married to Emperor Sandus, murdered by Gadrith the Twisted. Thurvishar D’Lorus’s biological mother.
Eamithon (AY-mith-ON)—a dominion just north of the Capital City, the oldest of the Quuros dominions and considered the most tranquil.
Eidolons—magical sentries guarding the abandoned vané capital of Serafana.
Eight Immortals, the—eight beings of godlike power created by a ritual performed by Relos Var.
Elgestat (EL-ges-stat)—a dreth ruler who died performing the Ritual of Night.
Empire of Quur (koor)—see: Quur.
Eshimavari (esh-EEM-ah-VAR-ee)—the real name of the Goddess of Luck; see: Taja.
Esiné (eh-SIN-ah)—a Manol vané clan that communicates through hand movements.
Feonila (FEE-oh-nih-LAY)—a small town in Khorvesh.
Filoran (FILL-or-an)—dean of the Academy of wizards in Quur.
firebloods—a race originally related to horses but modified by the god-king Khorsal to possess extraordinary size, power, resilience, loyalty, and intelligence. Firebloods are omnivorous, and although they don’t possess fingers, some are capable of manipulating tenyé. They have an average life expectancy of eighty years or more.
Founders—in vané society, Founders are members of the race who founded the vané nation, meaning any Founder is at least fourteen thousand years old. Founders have specific legislative powers.
Four Races, the—four immortal, powerful races that once existed. Only the vané still exist in their original, immortal forms, with the other races having devolved into the morgage, dreth, and human races.
gaesh (gaysh), pl. gaeshe (gaysh-ay)—an enchantment created using the Stone of Shackles that forces the victim to follow all commands given by the person who physically possesses their totem focus, up to and including commands of suicide. Being unable or unwilling to perform a command results in death.
Galava (gal-ah-VAY)—one of the Eight Immortals. Goddess of life and nature.
gate—a.k.a. portal. The magical connection of two different geographic locations, allowing for quick travel across great distances. Only powerful wizards can typically create Gatestone-independent portals.
Gatekeepers—the guild who controls and maintains gate travel. Ruled by House D’Aramarin.
Gatestone—a specially inscribed section of stone that somehow makes gate travel much less magically onerous. Exactly how this is accomplished is a proprietary, heavily protected House D’Aramarin secret.
gender, Joratese—Joratese customs define gender separately from sex or sexual orientation, falling into three categories—stallion, mare, and gelding. Stallions can roughly be considered “men” and mares “women.” Geldings are those who refuse to define themselves within this otherwise binary system (which has all the flaws one might expect of a polarized gender system). Thus, it is possible to have a “mare” who is biologically male or a “stallion” who is biologically female, and “gelding” has nothing to do with whether or not one is capable of sexual reproduction. See: sexuality, Joratese.
god-kings—immortal wizards who have made themselves passive receivers for tenyé energy dedicated to them (offerings). God-kings turned out to be an excellent example of how power corrupts.
Godslayer—see: Urthaenriel.
god-touched—a “gift” or “curse” (depending on whom one asks) handed down by the Eight Immortals to the eight Royal Houses of Quur. Besides giving each house a distinctive eye color, the curse on the Royal Houses forbids them from making laws.
Gorokai (GORE-o-kai)—a dragon.
goschal (gohs-CHAHL)—morgage word meaning sacred or holy.
Grimward—one of the Cornerstones, with the ability to bring the dead back to life.
Grizzst (grizt)—falsely attributed to being one of the Eight Immortals; famous wizard, sometimes considered a god of magic, particularly demonology. Believed to be responsible for binding demons as well as making the Crown and Scepter of Quur.
Gryphon Men, the—a secret organization ultimately working for the emperors of Quur, since both Sandus and his predecessor Gendal seem to have had connections to this group. Their goals are unclear, but they seem to be working toward fulfilling the Devoran Prophecies, although that seems counterproductive considering how many of those prophecies predict the destruction of Quur.
Guarem (GOW-rem)—the primary language of Quur.
haerunth (HAIR-runth)—a nutritionally complete grain used by the Kirpis vané to make porridge.
Hanik Mir (HAN-ik MEER)—see: Ompher.
Hell—distinct from the Land of Peace in the Afterlife; it marks the primary dimensional breach the demons used to invade this universe.
Hellmarch—the result of a powerful demon gaining access to the physical world, freely summoning demons and possessing corpses. This usually creates in a runaway path of death and devastation. This typically happens when a demon escapes a summoner’s control. Before the breaking of the Stone of Shackles, demons could only be summoned to the Living World by corporeal entities (such as humans or vané). But demons quickly discovered they could exploit a loophole by possessing a living body and forcing that body to summon more of their kind. Demons can also possess corpses in the Joratese/Marakori area but cannot summon more demons in this manner. Famous Hellmarches include the Lonezh Hellmarch and the Capital City Hellmarch.
Hellwarrior—a prophesied villain who will rise up to destroy the Empire of Quur and possibly the world. Also a prophesied hero who will rise up to save the world. Also a group of heroes will do either of the previous two.
idorrá (id-DOR-ray)—a Joratese concept of authority, dominance, and control. Roughly analogous to responsibility, duty, and authority, idorrá can be lost if the holder fails to protect or defend it.
Inalea (INN-a-lee-AH)—a Doltari slave. Senera’s mother, deceased.
Ir’amar, (IR-ah-mar), a.k.a Irisia Amar (ir-RIS-ee-ah ah-MAR)—see: Tya.
Jhelora, Fayrin (zah-LOR-ah, FAY-rin)—imperial liaison of the High Council and Ogenra of House D’Jorax. Notoriously corrupt libertine.
Jorat (jor-AT)—a dominion in the middle of Quur of varying climates and wide reaches of grassy plains; known for its horses.
Kaen (kane)—the Yoran ducal line.
Azhen (AHJ-en)—Duke, or Hon, of Yor, grandson of the Joratese Quuros general who conquered the region. Had been keeping the god-queen Suless enslaved by gaesh and was kidnapped by her when the gaesh broke.
Exidhar (EX-eh-DAR)—only child of Azhen and Xivan Kaen, also kidnapped by Suless.
Nexara (Necks-a-RAY)--Exidhar & Veixizhau’s infant daughter.
Veixizhau (vex-e-SHAU)—Exidhar Kaen’s wife, formally Azhen’s wife, but was divorced from her original husband after it was discovered she’d been having an affair with, and was pregnant by, Exidhar.
Xivan (JI-van)—Azhen Kaen’s first wife; her Khorveshan ancestry made her unpopular with the Yoran people, and she was eventually killed in an assassination attempt meant for her husband. She was animated by Relos Var and continues to exist as a free-willed undead being who must sustain herself with massive doses of tenyé (souls are the typical source).
Kandor (KAN-dor)
Atrin (AT-rin)—an emperor of Quur who significantly expanded the borders of the empire; most famous for invading the Manol, which resulted in the destruction of virtually the entire Quuros army and the loss of Urthaenriel. Past life of Teraeth.
Elana (e-LAN-ay)—a musician from Khorvesh who married Atrin Kandor. After his death, she returned to using her maiden name, Milligreest, and journeyed into the Korthaen Blight to negotiate a peace settlement with the invading morgage people; responsible for freeing S’arric. Past life of Janel Theranon.
Karolaen (KAR-o-lane)—former name of Kharas Gulgoth.
Kazivar (KAZ-eh-var)—one of the dominions of Quur, north of Eamithon.
kef (kef)—a style of trouser common in western Quur.
Kelanis (KEL-a-nis)—son of Khaevatz and Kelindel, younger brother of Khaeriel; now king of the vané.
Kelindel (KEL-in-del)—the Kirpis vané king who married the Manol vané queen Khaevatz and united the vané people.
Khaemezra (kay-MEZ-rah)—a.k.a. Mother, the High Priestess of Thaena, and leader of the Black Brotherhood; Teraeth’s mother; the true name of Thaena. See: Thaena.
Khaeriel (kay-RE-el)—queen of the vané, assassinated by her brother, Kelanis. Because Khaeriel was wearing the Stone of Shackles, she ended up in the body of her assassin and was later gaeshed and sold into slavery to Therin D’Mon by her grandmother, Khaemezra. Kihrin D’Mon’s mother.
Khaevatz (KAY-vatz)—deceased Manol vané queen, famous for resisting Atrin Kandor’s invasion. She later married Kirpis vané king Kelindel. Khaemezra’s daughter and Teraeth’s half sister, she and her husband both died fighting a god-king in the Doltari Free States.
Kharas Gulgoth (KAR-as GUL-goth)—a ruin in the middle of the Korthaen Blight; believed sacred (and cursed) by the morgage; prison of the corrupted god Vol Karoth.
Khital (kit-TAL)—a god-king. See: Lord of Little Houses, the.
Khored (KOR-ed)—one of the Eight Immortals, God of Destruction.
Khoreval (KOR-e-val)—a magic spear wielded by Janel Theranon. Particularly efficacious against demons. It was destroyed during the Battle of Atrine by the dragon Morios.
Khorsal (KOR-sal)—god-king who ruled Jorat. He was particularly obsessed with horses and modified a great many of the people and animals under his power. Responsible for the creation of the fireblood horse lines and centaurs.
Khorvesh (kor-VESH)—a dominion to the south of the Capital City, just north of the Manol Jungle.
Kirpis, the (KIR-pis)—a dominion to the north of Kazivar, primarily forest. Most famous for being the original home of one of the vané races, as well as the Academy.
Kishna-Farriga (kish-na fair-eh-GA)—an independent city-state south of Quur, past the Manol Jungle; Kishna-Farriga is used as a trading entrepôt by many neighboring Doltari city-states.
kolyenro mold (KOL-yen-RO)—a mold that can damage and infect silk farms.
Korthaen Blight, the (kor-THANE)—also called the Wastelands, a cursed and unlivable land that is (somehow) home to the morgage.
Laaka (LAKE-ay)—goddess of storms, shipwrecks, and sea serpents.
laevos (LAY-vos)—a Joratese hairstyle consisting of a strip of hair down the center of the head and shaved sides, echoing a horse’s mane. Some Joratese grow their hair this way by default; it’s considered a sign of nobility.
Lake Eyamatsu (EY-ah-mat-sew)—a large lake inside the Manol Jungle.
Lake Jorat—a large lake formed by the Demon Falls dam.
Land of Peace, the—Heaven, the place of reward souls go after they die and are judged worthy by Thaena. Home to the Font of Souls, from which all new souls are created, and all souls go to be reincarnated.
Laudvyis (LAWD-vey-is)—a vané acting as a body double for King Kelanis.
Lefoarnan’s (leh-FOUR-nan’s)—an exclusive entertainment club located in the Mother of Trees.
Lesinuia power station (le-SIN-yu-ah)—a facility where Grizzst worked prior to the destruction of Karolaen, purpose unknown.
Lord of Little Houses, the—a god-king operating in the I’ve only seen Doltari Free States whose sphere of influence centers on the bathroom and associated bodily functions.
Lorgrin (LOR-grin)—chief physicker of House D’Mon, murdered by Gadrith.
Lower Circle—the area of the Capital City that exists outside of the safety of the tabletop mesa of the Upper Circle, thus making it vulnerable to flooding.
Lyrilyn (LIR-il-in)—a slave girl owned by Pedron D’Mon, later transformed by the Stone of Shackles into the mimic Talon. She was Khaeriel’s handmaiden and tasked with smuggling Khaeriel’s newborn son, Kihrin, back to the Manol, a task she failed to carry out.
Maevanos (MAY-van-os)—1. an erotic dance; 2. a holy rite of the Black Gate, the church of Thaena.
Manol, the (MAN-ol)—an area of dense jungle in the equatorial region of the known world; home to the Manol vané.
Marakor (MARE-a-kor)—the Quuros dominion to the southeast of the empire.
mare—a Joratese person who identifies as a woman (note: different from being sexually female, see: gender, Joratese) and expresses “mare” attributes such as housekeeping, child rearing, farming, crafting, art, and cooking and embraces teamwork, family, and subordinate values.
Meahwa (ME-ah-wah)—a vané member of the Black Brotherhood who runs a silk farm.
Milligreest (mill-eh-GREEST)
Eledore (EL-ah-DOOR-ee)—daughter of Qoran Milligreest.
Jarith (JAR-ith)—only son of Qoran; like most Milligreests, served in the military; killed by Xaltorath during the Capital Hellmarch.
Kalindra (KAL-ind-rah)—the widowed wife of Jarith Milligreest, who died during the Capital Hellmarch. Secretly, a member of the Black Brotherhood, of Khorveshan and Zheriasian descent.
Nikali (ni-KAL-i)—cousin of Qoran Milligreest, famous for his skill with a sword. See: Terindel.
Qoran (KOR-an)—high general of the Quuros Army, considered one of the most powerful people in the empire. Janel Theranon’s father.
Taunna (TAWN-ay)—a cousin of Qoran Milligreest, adopted and raised by Nikali; current owner of the Culling Fields.
mimics—although commonly believed to be an entire race, mimics are actually a small number (either twelve or sixteen) survivors of a vané experiment in spell imprinting, which gave them all the ability for extremely fast shape-change, telepathy, and memory absorption (through consumption of brain matter). They all promptly went insane. It’s unknown how many of them now work as assassins or spies. See: Talon.
misha (MEESH-ah)—a long-sleeved shirt worn by men in Quur.
Mithraill (MEETH-rail)—Khored’s son and Sovereign Khaevatz’s consort, Mithraill was killed while attacking King Terindel (who was wearing the Stone of Shackles), who afterward found himself in Mithraill’s body.
Mithros (MEETH-ros)—leader of the Red Spears, a mercenary company selling their services to the highest bidder for tournaments in Jorat; a Manol vané. The real name of Khored, God of Destruction.
Miya (MY-ah)—see: Miyathreall.
Miyane (MY-an-ee)—queen of the vané, wife of King Kelanis and previously wife of Queen Khaeriel. Note that Miyane is Miyathreall’s biological sister.
Miyathreall (MY-ah-threel)—a.k.a. Miya; a handmaiden to Queen Khaeriel, secretly a member of the Black Brotherhood. Miya was slain while assassinating Queen Khaeriel (who wore the Stone of Shackles), and Khaeriel, trapped in Miya’s body, was gaeshed and sold to Therin D’Mon.
Molas (MOO-las)—a beggar from Bahl-Nimian
moolthras (MOOL-thras)—a large reptilian pack animal used by the thriss.
Morasan (MOR-ah-san)—a vané acolyte working at the Well of Spirals.
Morea (MOR-e-ah)—Talea’s twin sister, who was murdered by Talon.
morgage (mor-gah-GEE)—a savage race that lives in the Korthaen Blight and makes constant war on its neighbors. These are mainly Quuros living in the dominion of Khorvesh, but they hold a special hatred for the vané.
Morios (MORE-ee-os)—a dragon, also Mithros’s brother.
Name of All Things, the—a Cornerstone, currently owned by Senera, which will truthfully answer any question the owner asks while holding it. It cannot predict the future, answer questions earlier than its own creation, or interpret opinions.
Nameless Lord, the—the Joratese name of the eighth of the Eight Immortals. See: S’arric.
Nathera, Ola (na-THER-ah, O-la)—a.k.a. Raven. A former slave and owner of the Shattered Veil Club in Velvet Town, Ola was killed accidentally by Thurvishar D’Lorus during Kihrin’s attempt to run away. She was later consumed and impersonated by Talon.
Nemesan (NEM-es-an)—a deceased god-king.
Nerikan (NAIR-eh-kahn)—a Quuros emperor.
Nezessa (nez-es-SAY)—a member of the Spurned.
Octagon, the—the main slave auction house of the Capital City.
Ogenra (O-jon-RAY)—an unrecognized bastard of one of the Royal Houses. Far from being unwanted, Ogenra are considered an important part of the political process because of their ability to circumvent the god-touched curse.
Old Man, the—see: Sharanakal.
Ompher (OM-fur)—one of the Eight Immortals, god of the world.
ord (ord)—the main monetary unit of Kishna-Farriga.
Oxun, Nevesi (OH-chewn, nev-es-EYE)—member of the Quuros High Council.
Qown, Brother (kown)—an acolyte of the Vishai Mysteries, now apprenticed to Relos Var.
Quarry, the—a prison used by the vané.
Quur, the Great and Holy Empire of (koor)—a large empire originally expanded from a single city-state (also named Quur), which now serves as the empire’s capital.
Quuros High Council—the ultimate ruling body of Quur, composed of representatives nominated from the Royal Houses. Theoretically, the emperor has authority over them, but no emperor has attempted to enforce that authority since Emperor Kandor. It’s widely believed that emperors are gaeshed when receiving the Crown and Scepter, hamstringing their powers.
Raenena (RAY-nen-ah)—a dominion of Quur, nestled in the Dragonspires to the north.
Rainbow Lake—a small lake in Eamithon famous for being the home of Grizzst’s workshop, although no one has ever found it.
raisigi (RAY-sig-eye)—a tight-fitting bodice worn by women.
Return—to be resurrected from the Afterlife, always with the permission of the Goddess of Death, Thaena.
Rev’arric (rev-AR-ik)—see: Var, Relos.
Rindala (RIN-dah-lah)—a Kirpis vané dreamweaver who acts as warden of the prison known as the Quarry.
Ritual of Night, the—a voras ritual designed to drain the immortality from an immortal race and use that power to recharge the eighth warding crystal keeping Vol Karoth imprisoned. The ritual kills its participants.
Rol’amar—a dragon.
Rook—see: D’Mon, Kihrin.
S’arric (sar-RIC)—one of the Eight Immortals, mostly unknown (and deceased); god of sun, stars, and sky; murdered by his older brother, Rev’arric. Past life of Kihrin D’Mon. Was corrupted during a magical ritual and turned into Vol Karoth.
sallí (sal-LEE)—a hooded, cloak-like garment designed to protect the wearer from the intense heat of the Capital City.
Sandus (SAND-us)—a farmer from Marakor, later emperor of Quur.
sejin (seh-JIN)—an anise-flavored milky liquor popular in Kishna-Farriga.
Selanol (SELL-an-al)—the solar deity worshipped as part of the Vishai Mysteries.
Senera (SEN-er-AY)—a former slave of Doltari ancestry, now acting as an agent for Relos Var. Owner of the Name of All Things.
Serafana (ser-AH-fawn-NAY)—former capital of the vané nation of Kirpis.
sexuality, Joratese—Joratese society defines sexual identity around partner preference. So, for example, anyone who prefers biologically female sexual partners “runs with mares” regardless of their own biological sex. People who “run with stallions” prefer male sexual partners, and people who “run with the herd” would be considered bisexual. Asexuals simply “don’t run.” All of these options are accepted without discrimination in Joratese society.
Shadowdancers, the—an illegal criminal organization operating in the Lower Circle of the Capital City.
Shahara (shah-HAR-ray)—a voramer ruler who died performing the Ritual of Night.
shanathá (shan-NA-tha)—a light, hard metal used to make some kinds of armor and weapons.
Sharanakal (SHA-ran-a-KAL)—a dragon.
Simillion (SIM-i-le-on)—first emperor of Quur. Past life of Thurvishar D’Lorus.
sky trees—A native species of Ompher, very few of these trees remain outside of the Manol Jungle. They grow to colossal size. While they block out almost all sunlight within the Jungle, they also act as a support mechanism for life under the canopy.
Soaring Halls, the—the imperial palace in the Capital City of Quur. Emperors have rarely used the palace as actual living space, although it has happened.
Spurned, the—an all-female warrior company under the command of Xivan Kaen.
stallion—a Joratese person who identifies as a man (note: different from being sexually male, see: gender, Joratese) and expresses “stallion” attributes such as leadership, assertiveness, guardianship, entertaining, contests, and combativeness.
star tears—a kind of rare blue diamond; also, the tsali of any soul not originally from this universe.
Stone of Shackles, the—one of the eight Cornerstones, ancient artifacts of unknown origin. The Stone of Shackles has power over souls, including the ability to exchange its wearer’s soul with that of their murderer. The Stone of Shackles was destroyed, at least temporarily, by Kihrin D’Mon using Urthaenriel, which freed all gaeshe made using it (namely, almost all of them).
Suless (SEW-less)—god-queen of Yor, associated with witchcraft, deception, treachery, and betrayal; also associated with hyenas. Suless was the very first god-king, who was gaeshed by and forced to marry Cherthog. She was freed from her gaesh when the Stone of Shackles was destroyed.
sundew—a bioluminescent sap harvested from sky trees that allows plants and animals below the canopy layer of the Manol Jungle to conduct photosynthesis.
Surdyeh (SUR-de-yeh)—a wizard and minstrel secretly working for the Gryphon Men who raised Kihrin D’Mon. Surdyeh was murdered and consumed by Talon.
Szarrus (sah-ZAR-us)—a thriss weapon master and member of the Black Brotherhood.
Taja (TAJ-ah)—one of the Eight Immortals, Goddess of Luck.
Talea (tal-E-ah)—Morea’s sister. A slave girl formerly owned by Baron Mataris, now second in command of the Spurned.
talisman—an otherwise normal object whose tenyé has been modified to vibrate in sympathy with the owner, thus reinforcing the owner’s tenyé against enemies who might use magic to change it into a different form. This also means it’s extremely dangerous to allow one’s talismans to fall into enemy hands. Since talismans interfere with magical power, every talisman worn weakens the effectiveness of the wearer’s spellcasting.
Talon—a mimic assassin who was “taken over” by Lyrilyn because of the Stone of Shackles. She promptly went insane (as is tradition) but has since continued pursuing a garbled set of sometimes contradictory goals as her multiple personalities clash with each other. See: Lyrilyn.
tenyé (ten-AY)—the true essence of an object, vital to all magic.
Teraeth (ter-RAYTH)—hunter of Thaena; a Manol vané assassin and member of the Black Brotherhood; son of Khaemezra and Terindel. Reincarnation of Atrin Kandor.
Terindel (TER-in-del)—an infamous Kirpis vané king who was forced out of the Kirpis by Atrin Kandor and later sparked a civil war in the Manol. Was killed by Mithraill, but because Terindel was wearing the Stone of Shackles, he switched bodies with his killer. Married to first Valathea, then Elana Milligreest.
Thaena (thane-AY)—one of the Eight Immortals. Goddess of Death.
Theranon (ther-a-NON)—a noble family from Jorat.
Janel (jan-EL)—a demon-tainted warrior who goes to the Afterlife when she sleeps. Adopted daughter of Xaltorath, real daughter of Qoran Milligreest and the goddess Tya. Reincarnation of Elana Milligreest and C’indrol.
Ninavis (NIN-a-vis)—a former outlaw staging a curious rebellion in Jorat. Adopted by Janel Theranon and became Count of Tolamer after Janel’s abdication. Is likely about to become Duke of Jorat.
thorra (THOR-ah)—Joratese term for a person who abuses idorrá privileges; bully or tyrant, lit. “a stallion who is not safe to leave with other horses.”
Three Sisters, the—either Taja, Tya, and Thaena, or Galava, Tya, and Thaena; also, the three moons in the night sky.
thudajé (thu-DAJ-ay)—Joratese term of respect, humility, and submission; thudajé is considered an essential and positive Joratese trait. No matter how high in idorrá someone is, the Joratese believe there will always be someone to whom they owe thudajé.
Tillinghast, Professor (TIL-in-gast)—a professor who teaches at the Academy in Kirpis. Infamous for giving very boring lectures.
Tolamer (TOL-a-mear)—a canton in northeastern Jorat, ruled by the Theranon family for almost five hundred years.
Traitor’s Walk, the—a vané form of execution where the condemned is gaeshed to prevent them from leaving the Korthaen Blight and then released there without food or water.
tsali stone (zal-e)—a crystal created from the condescended soul of a person.
Twin Worlds, the—name for the combination of the Living World and Afterlife, when referring to both realms as part of a larger whole.
Tya (TIE-ah)—a.k.a. Irisia. One of the Eight Immortals, the Goddess of Magic.
Tya’s Veil—an aurora borealis effect visible in the night sky.
Tyentso (tie-EN-so)—formerly Raverí D’Lorus, now the emperor of Quur; the first woman to ever be emperor.
Uisigi (YOU-sig-eye)—undergarments, specifically underpants or loincloths.
Upper Circle—the mesa plateau in the center of the Capital City that is home to the Royal Houses, temples, government, and the Arena.
Urthaenriel (UR-thane-re-EL)—a.k.a. Godslayer, the Ruin of Kings, the Emperor’s Sword. A powerful artifact that is believed to make its wielder completely immune to magic and thus is capable of killing gods.
Valathea (val-a-THEE-uh)—a harp passed through the Milligreest family. Also, a deceased queen of the Kirpis vané, Terindel’s wife, who was sentenced to the Traitor’s Walk after her husband’s death.
Valrashar (val-ra-SHAR)—vané princess, daughter of Kirpis vané king Terindel and Queen Valathea. Therin D’Mon’s grandmother.
Vamara, Mother (va-MAR-ah)—one of the Dry Mothers.
vané (van-AY)—a.k.a. vorfelané. An immortal, magically gifted race known for their exceptional beauty. Vané appearance is mutable and can be changed as the vané desires (although not quickly). Vané tend to keep the skin colors they were born with unless they are making a big statement (as happened when the Manol vané split from the Kirpis and the entire population of the new nation deliberately darkened their skin).
vané, Kirpis—a fair-skinned, immortal race who once lived in the Kirpis forest. They were driven south to eventually relocate in the Manol Jungle.
vané, Manol—the vané who settled in the Manol Jungle, in part as protest against Kirpis vané isolationism and unwillingness to pay attention to both the Blight and the threat of humanity.
Var, Relos (VAR, REL-os)—a powerful wizard, believed responsible for the ritual that created the Eight Immortals and also the ritual that created both the dragons and Vol Karoth.
Vayldeba (VALE-deb-ah)—a vané Founder.
Veil, the—1. the aurora borealis effect sometimes seen in the nighttime sky; 2. the state of perception separating seeing the “normal” world from seeing the true essence or tenyé of the world, necessary for magic.
velsanaund (VEL-san-ound)—a large lizard, originally developed by the thriss, now used by the vané for transportation.
Velvet Town—the red-light district of the Lower Circle. Those who engage in the sex trade are commonly described as velvet (i.e. velvet boys or velvet girls).
Vimor (vim-OR)—a Doltari slave. Senera’s father, deceased.
Visallía (viz-ALL-e-ah)—a march in Jorat.
Vishai Mysteries, the (vish-AY)—a religion popular in parts of Eamithon, Jorat, and Marakor; little is known about their inner workings, but their religion seems to principally center around a solar deity named Selanol; usually pacifistic; members of the faith will often obtain licenses from House D’Mon to legally practice healing.
Vol Karoth (VOL ka-ROTH)—a.k.a. War Child or Warchild. A demon offspring crafted by demons to counter the Eight Immortals; alternately, a corrupted remnant of the sacrificed god of the sun, S’arric.
voramer (vor-a-MEER)—a.k.a. vormer. An extinct water-dwelling race believed to be the progenitors of the morgage and the ithlakor; of the two, only the ithlakor still live in water. Many Zheriasians have ithlakor ancestors, which is part of the reason they have a reputation for being “undrownable.”
voras (vor-AS)—a.k.a. vorarras. Extinct race believed to have been the progenitors of humanity, who lost their immortality to imprison Vol Karoth.
vordreth (vor-DRETH)—a.k.a. vordredd, dreth, dredd, dwarves. An underground-dwelling race known for their strength and intelligence. Despite their nickname, not short. Believed to have been wiped out when Atrin Kandor conquered Raenena, but in fact, the largest dreth population lives under the Doltar region, which has more than its share of dreth-blooded inhabitants.
Warmonger—a Cornerstone whose power seems to involve manipulating loyalty and anger over large populations.
Watchmen—the guards tasked with policing the Capital City.
Well of Spirals, the—a location sacred to vané, where they imprint their children and perform a number of miraculous biological magics. The mimics were created there.
Wenora, Vornel (WEN-or-ay, vor-NEL)—a member of the High Council.
Wilavir, Silvat (wil-a-VIR, SIV-at)—author of Siege Tactics of the Yoran Invasion.
Wildheart—a Cornerstone that allows its owner to control plant and animal life, as well as manipulate earth and rocks.
Winding Sheet, the—a velvet house specializing in providing lethal entertainments for those with sufficient wealth to afford them.
witch—anyone using magic who hasn’t received formal, official training and licensing; although technically gender neutral, usually only applied to women.
witchhunter—imperial soldiers specifically trained to track down and eliminate witches. Known for wearing their talismans in the form of coins they wear as scale armor.
Worldhearth—a Cornerstone with the power to allow its user clairvoyance through heat sources.
Xaloma (ZAL-o-may)—a dragon, associated with souls.
Xaltorath (zal-tor-OTH)—a demon prince who can only be summoned through the sacrifice of a family member. Self-associated with lust and war. Gender neutral but identifies as female when dealing with her adopted daughter, Janel.
Ynis (YIN-is)—a god-king who once ruled the area now known as Khorvesh. Associated with death and snakes.
Yor (yor)—one of Quur’s dominions, the most recently added and the least acclimated to imperial rule.
Zaibur (ZAI-bur)—1. the major river running from Demon Falls and Lake Jorat all the way to the ocean, dividing Jorat from Marakor; 2. a strategy game.
Zajhera, Father (zah-JER-ah)—leader of the Vishai Faith / Vishai Mysteries. Personally exorcised the demon Xaltorath, who possessed Janel Theranon when she was a child. An alias used by Relos Var.
Zherias (ZER-e-as)—A large island to the southwest of Quur. Independent from Quur and anxious to stay that way. Famous for their skill at piracy and trade. Contains a high proportion of voramer ancestry, so that it’s not uncommon for Zheriasians to go to sea when they’re older.