GLOSSARY

Note: dates marked with as “Y.S.” stand for Year of the Sword. Year 1 traditionally marks the creation of the Spellswords and the establishment of the Eight Clans. The calendar was fully recognized in 15 Y.S.

AGARETH (Ag-AH-reth): the known world, cradle and grave of human civilization.

Aine (AHN-yah): saint. Matron saint of Clan Chale. Matron of autumn, water, and arid land.

Alami Desert, The (Ah-LAH-mee): desert in southeast Agareth, home of the volcano Mount Quorm (KWORM). Part of the Eastern Empire region. Original homeland to the people of Clan Chale, the Alami is the only desert on the entire continent.

Alek (AH-lek): a lieutenant of the Avardi Militia.

Alekinha, Poledra (Ah-leh-KEE-nah, Poh-LEH-drah): owner of a farmstead in the Northern Territories.

Alekhina, Gareth (Ah-leh-KEE-nah, GAH-reth): Poledra’s husband. Blacksmith.

ALENIR (Ah-leh-NEER): presumed lost Swordbearer Clan, one of the first clans (known as the “Original Eight”). Their matron saint was Ur, matron of night and peaceful death. Founded by Orreaga Alenir. Bearers of Deathbringer. Assumed defunct after the death of Katarina Alenir in 965 Y.S. Their sign was a black sword and crown on a yellow-and-green field.

Alenir, Avgust (Ah-leh-NEER, AHV-gust): husband of Tasia.

Alenir, Ilyan (Ah-leh-NEER, Ill-YAHN): grand-daughter of Katarina, mother of Inga.

Alenir, Inga (Ah-leh-NEER, EEN-gah): daughter of Ilyan. Surviving heiress and unrecognized Matriarch of Clan Alenir. Swordbearer of Deathbringer.

Alenir, Katarina (Ah-leh-NEER, Kat-ah-REE-nah): mother of Tasia. Known as “the Butcher,” or “Mad Katarina.” The last recognized Matriarch of Clan Alenir. Inciter of the War of the Sword (also known as the First World War, or the Thirty-Years War) in or around 930 Y.S., she was defeated and executed in 965 Y.S.

Alenir, Pyotr (Ah-leh-NEER, PYOH-ter): husband of Inga.

Alenir, Tasia (Ah-leh-NEER, TAY-zha): surviving daughter of Katarina, mother of Ilyan.

Anointed Church: located in the Holy City of Sitania. The Church is the predominant religious institution on the continent of Agareth, and takes great pains to stamp out any other cults or competition. It was founded around 5-15 Y.S. and teaches the practice of praying to the Saints, believed to be the first Swordbearers.

Arctic Tundra: an icy wasteland at the farthest northern edge of the world. Great herds of wild buffalo and solitary polar bears roam these lands, but humans have little reason to venture here.

ARMISTICE: Spellsword. Also known as Valiant Protector. A short steel blade with a long hilt. Bound to Guillermina Tresca.

Asimir (AH-si-meer): a soldier serving in the Avardi Militia, stationed inside the White Fortress.

Atepa (Ah-TEH-pah): saint. Matron saint of Clan Okemos. Matron of summer, fire and the hearth.

AVARD (Ah-VARD): Swordbearer Clan, one of the Original Eight. Their matron saint is Zhenka, matron of winter and vengeance. Founded by Lyuba Avard. Bearers of Frostbite. Relocated to the Northern Territories after the War of the Sword, believed to be banished there after initially allying with Clan Alenir during the war. Their sign is a six-pointed snowflake, one point dripping blood, speared by a white sword on a blue field.

Avard, Ruslan (Ah-VARD, RUH-slan): younger child and son of Yenda the Elder.

Avard, Saviah (Ah-VARD, Sah-VYE-ah): mother of Yenda the Elder.

Avard, Yenda the Elder (Ah-VARD, YEN-duh): mother of Yenda the Younger and Ruslan. Matriarch of Clan Avard. Swordbearer of Frostbite.

Avard, Yenda the Younger (Ah-VARD, YEN-duh): eldest child and First Daughter of Clan Avard.

Avardi Militia: the armed forces that serve in the Northern Territories. A loose collection of local militias all subject to Clan Avard.

Bacca (BACK-ah): a leafy green plant with a mild carcinogenic effect that, when dried and cut, can be smoked with a pipe or rolled papers.

Black Ash Mountains: the westernmost mountain range in Agareth, which serves as a natural barrier between the Great Plains to the east and the flatlands of the Western Empire. A deposit of pot ash was discovered at the northern edge of the mountains centuries ago, which gave the mountains their name—that deposit is still being worked in present day and is projected to last for another two centuries or even longer.

Black Delta, The: a river marsh seated between the Sable Sea and the inland bodies of water called Silt Lake and Sitan Bay.

BLOODLUST: Spellsword. Servitor of Fury a/k/a Berserker’s Rage. A long steel blade, covered in old bloodstains unable to be removed. Bound to Jaska Isrodel.

Cainkirk (Kain-KERK): a city on the western edge of the continent. Cainkirk is home to some of the largest collections of horses and cattle in the known world, as well as the famous open-air markets where hundreds or even thousands of heads of livestock are bought and sold each day. Cainkirk is the only place in the world where Eizu beef can be purchased, considered by some to be the richest cut of meat in the world. It is also known to be the home of Clan Rohani, but little else about the Clan is known or confirmed.

Central Steppes: the central portion of the continent, the Steppes are made up of both the Central Plains and the Greensward, stretching north into the vast, untamed forests of the Great Wilderness and south into the Southern Weald and Ventil Marshlands, broken up in its midsection by the Rockspar Mountains and Ferrous Hills. Much of the Steppe is used for farming and grazing, with the Greensward serving as the bread basket to feed the Empire’s citizenry.

Cerulias (Seh-ROO-lee-as): the former capital of Clan Avard. A town on the edge of the Scythian Mountains, Cerulias was built with a wide view of the northern plain beyond it, and so it could see the enemy coming from far off while barring its gates and hunkering down for a long siege. In fact, the city had survived eleven previous attempts to break it before Katarina Alenir finally succeeded after learning that Clan Avard had betrayed her. Cerulias was razed after its defenders fell, and soon the snow and ice reclaimed whatever was left of it.

CHALE (KAIL): Swordbearer Clan, one of the Original Eight. Their matron saint is Aine, matron of autumn, water, and arid lands. Founded by Eloise Chale. Bearers of Sandscourge. Allies of Katarina Alenir during the War of the Sword, they were defeated and banished from their ancestral homeland in the northern Alami desert, east of the Snathari Ridge, to their current home near the city of Sulend in central Agareth. Their sign is a horse’s head in profile on a brown field.

Chigu (Chi-GOO): saint. Matron Saint of Clan Essel. Matron of secrets, prisoners, and secret ways.

CLAN: A family, usually legally recognized after six recorded, unbroken generations. In present times, most associate the term “clan” with those of high birth or nobility (e.g. “Swordbearer Clan”). Clans usually possess an item of great wealth or value that is passed down from mother to daughter.

Cravale: town located in central Agareth, north of the Rockspar Mountains. Birthplace of inventor Netrebov Egovic and his creation, spell-steel.

Deadlands, The: an empty moor standing between the forests of the Southern Weald and the frozen expanse of the Ice Wall. The Deadlands are all that remain of Katarina Alenir’s ambitions, a barren wasteland stretching for thousands of kilometers where her former servants and citizens once lived. Stories say that solitary wanderers who enter the Deadlands are never heard from again, attacked and dragged underground by bands of roaming undead that Katarina left behind after her downfall—such stories are, needless to say, unsubstantiated.

DEATHBRINGER: presumed lost Spellsword. Blade of Ruin and Demise a/k/a Sword of Life’s Bane a/k/a Slayer of Men. A sword of black lacquered steel with an inner yellow light. Bound to Inga Alenir.

Denadal (DEN-ah-dahl): the former capital of Clan Alenir. Denadal was an isolated city by design: Apolone Alenir, the Matriarch at the time, believed that settling her family far from the other Swordbearer Clans would toughen them up and teach her descendants to be strong. The city was built on a high plateau overlooking the forests around it, with a great gate carved like a skull from the grey rock.

Dontae (DOHN-tay): saint. Matron of Clan Tresca. Matron of protection, familial love, and merciful acts.

DREAMCATCHER: Spellsword. He Who Pierces the Veil. The Sword has a plain leather hilt and a broken-off blade. Bound to Taraneh Rohani.

Eastern Empire: the landmass containing the Scythian Mountains, the Alami desert, Emerald Crescent and large portions of the Great Wilderness, the Eastern Empire is also home to the Imperial capital of Ordradelon.

Egovic, Netrebov: blacksmith and inventor of spell-steel, a substance which can mimic the magical effect of a Spellsword for a limited duration of time. Netrebov is said to be a very eccentric man who has little time or patience for outsiders and focuses exclusively on his work. Spell-steel’s creation put the town of Cravale on the map and turned it into a rich, bustling center of commerce in the area.

Emerald Crescent: believed to be where humankind was born, some of the oldest known settlements in the world have been unearthed in its fertile ground. The Crescent is also home to some of the richest farm land on the continent, second only to the Greensward.

Endless Depths, The: the largest ocean that covers the remainder of the globe beyond Agareth’s borders.

ESSEL (ESS-ehl): Swordbearer Clan, one of the Original Eight. Their matron saint is Chigu, matron of secrets, prisoners, and secret ways. Founded by Sokatai Essel. Bearers of Shadowborn. Clan Essel maintained neutrality during the War of the Sword, and its Bearers generally disdain the politicking that transpires between the other Swordbearer Clans. They have no sign or capital, but are believed to operate out of the city of Obouros.

FANG OF FLAME: Spellsword. Thrall of Unquenchable Hunger. The weapon is a wide-bladed claymore and hot to the touch. Bound to Nascha Okemos.

FATHER: one of Agareth’s twin moons. Smaller in size to Mother, Father is a darker-colored celestial body whose craters give it the uncanny appearance of a death’s head. Astronomers believe that Father passes over Agareth at a much farther distance than Mother.

Ferrous Hills: smallest mountain range in Agareth, it contains rich deposits of iron, leading to the creation of both steel and (later on) spell-steel.

FIRST DAUGHTER: the eldest living daughter of a clan. They are generally second only to a Matriarch in terms of authority over the entire clan, as well as its property, territory and subjects (if any).

FIRST WORLD WAR: see War of the Sword.

FRASER (FRAY-zher): Swordbearer Clan, one of the Original Eight. Their matron saint is Ordwin, matron of spring and all growing things. Founded by Winfred Fraser. Bearers of Greenwarden. Clan Fraser was an ally of Katarina Alenir during the War of the Sword and only surrendered after Katarina herself was captured by the forces of the Ordus Empire. They were banished to southern Agareth, to the forests known as the Southern Weald, and ordered to stand guard over the ruined capital of Denadal. Their sign is a white tower wrapped in thorn vines on a forest-green field.

FROSTBITE: Spellsword. Arbiter of the Winds. A basket-hilted rapier with silver spikes and white diamonds. Bound to Yenda the Elder Alenir.

Germanus (Ger-MAN-uhs): pet of Damian Kalinin. A black and white furred canine of the northern collie breed, who accompanies and assists his master.

GHADELL (Gah-DELL): Swordbearer Clan. Their matron saint is Rubar, matron of knowledge, learning, and scholars. Bearers of The Key. Clan Ghadell is a recent arrival to the political stage, only appearing around 850 Y.S., and are firm allies of Clan Latos, the rulers of the Ordus Empire. Some rumors say that the Ghadells are more pawns of Clan Latos than allies.

Gisette (GIH-set): owner of the Pair-o-Fish, an eating house in the city of Whitehold.

Golden Plateau, The: an small plain in the southwestern corner of the continent, the Plateau sees little rainfall but still enough to not rank as a true desert. Western portions of the plains are covered in prairie dog burrows that can stretch on for kilometers in all directions.

Golova (Gah-LOH-vah): a regional commander in the Avardi Militia.

Great Wilderness, The: the Wiliderness stretches along the entire northern edge of Agareth, only broken up by several larger bodies of water. Trees are known to grow so thick in places that a woman or man can’t squeeze between them, and only the bravest souls choose to live in the shadows of such trees.

Greensward, The: the central flatlands between the Ferrous Hills and western edge of the Scythian Mountains, the Greensward is inhabited by wide tracts of farmland, the most ever seen throughout the entire Empire.

Green Spur, The: the easternmost portion of the Southern Weald, cut off from the mainland by the Deadlands. Mostly uninhabited by humans, the Spur is home to some of the largest herds of giant elk and direwolf packs in the known world.

GREENWARDEN: Spellsword. Bountiful Summoner a/k/a Earth’s Blessing. The Sword’s blade is notched and worn, while the guard and hilt are wrought in the shape of green, thorning branches. Bound to Maerwyn Fraser.

GUIDING LIGHT: Spellsword. Light Giver a/k/a The Undying Spark. A Spellsword of such fine, uncanny craftsmanship that the blade seems almost translucent or crystalline in appearance. Bound to Empress Shanzai Latos.

Ice Wall, The: a frozen, near-forgotten plain of ice and wind at the southern edge of the world. The “wall” of the name comes from a line of hills so old their name has long since been forgotten, and the steady winds blowing over them have built up a long boundary line.

Ioseb (YO-seb): a soldier serving in the Avardi Militia, stationed inside the White Fortress.

Ira (EYE-rah): a farmhand on Darya Varin’s farmstead in the Northern Territories.

Isle of Kell: the largest island in all of Agareth. Most of the island is frost-bitten forests and rock-filled land impossible to be farmed, but the town of Lanche stands as a testament to human insistence on exploring every corner of the globe. Lanche is also rather infamous for its town council being equally divided between women and men.

ISRODEL (IZ-ro-del): Swordbearer Clan. Their matron saint is Cosme, matron of love and passion. Founded by Carmo Isrodel in or around 650 Y.S. Bearers of Bloodlust. Their sign is a stylized heart clasped in a thorned fist on a burgundy-red field.

Isrodel, Elzbieta (IZ-roh-del, ELZ-bee-eh-tah): granddaughter of Kallia, mother of Kale and Jaska. Wife to Selmin. Former Matriarch of Clan Isrodel.

Isrodel, Jaska (IZ-roh-del, JAZ-kah): younger daughter to Elzbieta, twin sister to Kale. Wife of Damian Kalinin. Matriarch of Clan Isrodel. Swordbearer of Bloodlust.

Isrodel, Kale (IZ-roh-del, KAYLE): elder son to Elzbieta, twin brother to Jaska.

Isrodel, Kallia (IZ-roh-del, KAH-lee-ah): grandmatron to Elzbieta, great-grandmatron to Jaska and Kale. Former Matriarch of Clan Isrodel.

Isrodel, Selmin (IZ-roh-del, Sell-MIN): father to Jaska and Kale. Husband to Elzbieta, once romantically involved with Yenda the Elder Avard. Former soldier in the Avardi Militia.

Issen Isles, The (IH-sen): home to the town of Issa (IH-sah), the Issen Isles are best-known as a trading post and fueling stop for vessels traveling across the Northern Ocean. Sailors born on the Isles are believed to be the best in the world.

Kalinin, Damian (KAL-i-nin, DAY-mi-an): husband to Jaska Isrodel. Liquor magnate and importer. Injured during a riding accident, now permanently bound to a wheelchair.

Kelkvast (KELK-vahst): the current capital of Clan Fraser. Kelkvast is a town deep within the forests of the Southern Weald, and is connected to the city of Sitania by train. Clan Fraser was banished to Kelkvast after the War of the Sword ended, under orders to keep watch over the fallen ruins of Denadal. It’s well known that Clan Fraser still harbors a grudge against Clan Latos—indeed, against the Empire as a whole—but they also curse the name of Katarina Alenir as well, believing her to be the reason for their exile.

THE KEY: Spellsword. Seeker of All Things. The blade is plain steel at first glance, but soon appears to be covered in etchings and words of glowing light, revealing the answer to any question asked of it. Bound to Noni Ghadell.

Kochai (KOH-chye): saint. Matron saint of Clan Latos. Matron of daylight, the blind, and the sun.

LATOS (LAH-toez): Swordbearer Clan, one of the Original Eight. Their matron saint is Kochai, matron of daylight, the blind, and the sun. Founded by Ranrha Latos. Bearers of Guiding Light. Current rulers of the Ordus Empire and its capital, Ordradelon. Their sign is an opened eye with a sunburst iris on a yellow field.

Leivick (LAY-veek): twin brother to Samuil. Manservant of Damian Kalinin.

Lev: a soldier serving in the Avardi Militia, under the command of Lieutenant Alek.

Levian Ocean (Leh-VYE-ahn): named after a sea monster rumored to live somewhere within its briny depths. The levian is said to be a creature from a bygone age, large enough to swallow a paddleship whole in one bite.

LIFEBINDER: lost Spellsword. Malady’s Bane. A sword crafted of iron and silver alloy, with a curious patina across its surface. Formerly bound to Amelia Strale. Lost during the War of the Sword.

MATRIARCH: the leader of a Clan. A Matriarch’s authority is absolute, whether over her family members or the family’s holdings, however large or small they might be.

MOTHER: one of Agareth’s twin moons. Larger than Father, Mother is silver-grey in color. The official calendar recognized by the Anointed Church and the Ordus Empire is a 4-week, 28-day, 13-month lunar calendar following Mother’s lunar orbit.

Mount Quorm (KWORM): the ancestral home of Clan Okemos. A semi-dormant volcano, Quorm is home to a city built both on and inside of the mountain—this city is sometimes referred to as “Fort Quorm,” or “Quorm Fortress.” Clan Okemos is decidedly closed-mouthed about why they chose such environs for their capital and why they refuse to leave it, but the mountain itself provides both geothermal power and riches between iron ore, several rich gold veins and abundant gemstones that their gamble appears to have paid off.

Nika (NEE-kah): owner of the Twin Moons, a tavern in the town of Svolyn.

Northern Ocean: second-largest body of water in the world, containing the Isle of Kell and the Issen Isles.

Northern Territories, The: the northernmost region of the Empire. Although the Territories are subject to Imperial rule, they are also far enough from Ordradelon that Clan Avard is permitted some autonomy in how they see fit to rule the region. The Territories are also sometimes known as “the Frontier,” or “the Northern Frontier,” and its citizens have a reputation for independence and chafing at outside interference.

Nukorovo (Noo-koh-ROH-voh): a town in the Northern Territories, connected to the capital of Whitehold along the East-West Corridor train line.

Nuhad (NOO-hahd): saint. Matron saint of Clan Strale. Matron of birth, life, and new beginnings.

Obouros (OH-bor-oss): rumored to be the home of Clan Essel, Obouros suffers a reputation (rightly or wrongly) as being a place where anything—or anyone—can be bought for the right price. One of the last places in Agareth where slave labor is still permitted, most Obourites claim to eschew the practice…in public, at least. A large force of Imperial troops was recently brought in to keep the peace and see the Empire’s laws enforced.

OKEMOS (OH-keh-mose): Swordbearer Clan, one of the Original Eight. Their matron saint is Atepa, matron of summer, fire, and the hearth. Founded by Ciqala Okemos. Bearers of the Fang of Flame. Clan Okemos refused to take sides during the War of the Sword, only allying with the Ordus Empire once the tide had firmly turned against Katarina Alenir. They stubbornly refuse to venture far beyond their home of Mount Quorm, built within the semi-dormant volcano-mountain of the same name. Their sign is a black mountain on a red field.

Ordradelon (Ohr-DRAH-del-on): capital of the Ordus Empire. Founded in 950 Y.S. The capital of the Empire is the largest city on the continent in spite of its location; its citizens often refer to it as “the center of the world,” perhaps a bit more tongue-in-cheek than intended. Being a planned capital, its architects and designers laid out the city in large square sections (or “blocks”) spreading out from the Imperial Palace at the city’s center.

ORDUS EMPIRE (OHR-duss): established between 950-960 Y.S. by a collection of Swordbearer Clans, all uniting behind the power of Clan Latos. The Empire’s combined might managed to defeat the undead armies of Clan Alenir and bring an end to the War of the Sword in 965 Y.S.

Ordwin (OHR-dwin): saint. Matron saint of Clan Fraser. Matron of spring and all growing things.

Pit, The: the place where evil souls and all wicked things are condemned to go after death. The origin of fell-fire.

Ribov, Mitiryva (REE-bov, Mi-ti-REE-vah): a corporal in the Avardi Militia.

Riessa (Ree-ESS-ah): former capital of Clan Fraser and Clan Strale. Riessa was considered a cultural center for the study of medicine.

Rockspar Mountains: a mountain range in the central portion of Agareth. Notable for its location near to the town of Cravale and the Valley of Bones, the site of the last battle of the War of the Sword.

ROHANI (Roh-HAH-nee): Swordbearer Clan. Their matron saint is Shahin, matron of sleep, dreams and forgotten things. Their origins are shrouded in mystery, but it’s believed the Clan was founded around 300 Y.S. The descendants of Clan Rohani appear to prefer a lighter touch in world affairs than the other Swordbearer Clans, but they profess allegiance to the Ordus Empire. Their sign is a broken sword clutched in a woman’s fist on a blue field.

Rubar (ROO-bahr): saint. Matron saint of Clan Ghadell. Matron of matron of knowledge, learning, and scholars.

Sable Sea, The: a saltwater sea in the southeastern portion of the continent. The Sable Sea is famous for its beaches of black sand, which is where the name originates.

SAINTS: the predominant religion in Agareth involves the veneration and worship of legendary warriors who created the Spellswords, established the Swordbearer Clans and built the matriarchal foundation of human civilization. There are currently 12 saints recognized by the Anointed Church.

Samuil (SAHM-yoo-eel): twin brother to Leivick. Manservant of Damian Kalinin.

SANDSCOURGE: Spellsword. Caller of Waters. The Sword’s blade has a single curved edge with gold inlay and a bright, blue sapphire in the pommel. Bound to Sienna Chale.

Scipio, Nuada (Sih-PEE-oh, Noo-AH-dah): younger son of Clan Scipio, an offshoot of Clan Latos. Nuada was born around 180 Y.S., and wrote the authoritative work on the Spellswords, A Hystorie of the Relm of Agareth and the Magyck Spellswords of Power. Presumed dead in 225 Y.S.

Scythian Mountains: the mountain range in the eastern portion of Agareth. Named after its scythe-like appearance, the mountains are also believed to have sheltered some of the first human settlements in the known world.

SHADOWBORN: Spellsword. The Whispering Void. A thin, curved blade of smoke-stained steel. Bound to Khatei Essel.

Shahin (Sha-HEEN): saint. Matron saint of Clan Rohani. Matron of sleep, dreams and forgotten things.

Silt Lake: a freshwater lake north of the island of Sitan.

Silver Sea, The: a small saltwater lake directly east of the Northern Territories. The sea was named after the wild winds blowing from out of the Northern Tundra, which were so strong that they froze the surface of the sea and required the service of thick-hulled icebreakers to clear the way to the Northern Ocean beyond.

Sitan Bay (SEE-tahn): a freshwater bay south of the island of Sitan, named after the island.

Sitania (SIH-tah-nee-ah): also known as “the Holy City,” Sitania sits upon the island of Sitan. Sitania is the home of the Anointed Church and its holiest place, the Basilica of the Holy Blade. The city fell under siege during the War of the Sword. Amelia Strale, the last Swordbearer of Lifebinder, fell defending the city against Katarina Alenir and her undead army, but the whereabouts of Amelia’s Spellsword were never discovered.

Snathari Ridge (Sna-THAR-ee): a long, narrow strip of mountains stretching from the Scythian Mountains to the Sable Sea. The haft or handle of a scythe is called a “snath,” which is where the Ridge got its name.

Southern Weald, The: a large forest occupying the southern portion of Agareth. The forces of Clan Fraser roam the woods and keeps their capital of Kelkvast there.

SPELLSWORD: ancient weapons of immense power, nigh-indestructible and possessing their own consciousness. Spellswords grant their owners control over elemental magic affecting the physical realm as well as increased strength, hastened healing and entrance to the world of dreams (see The Veil). Spellswords are always bound to a female Bearer (see Swordbearer); upon her death, the Sword then passes to her eldest daughter or, if none exist (or are alive), it may be bound to a new Bearer. Their powers wax or wane according to the lunar cycle. Only a woman may touch a Spellsword; men who attempt to wield one often suffer physical injury or worse.

SPELL-STEEL: a recent invention, spell-steel mimics the effect of a Spellsword’s magic with a limited duration. Once a spell-steel item’s power is extinguished, it begins to degrade and must be replaced. Spell-steel was invented by Netrebov Egovic, a blacksmith in Cravale, who built an empire of wealth and influence to rival that of a Swordbearer Clan. Forging spell-steel involves using blood during the tempering process, but the full secret of its creation is a closely-guarded secret. Specific kinds of spell-steel are named after the effect of the Spellsword they replicate (e.g. green-steel reproduces the effect of Greenwarden).

STRALE (STRAYLE): lost Swordbearer Clan, one of the Original Eight. Their matron saint was Nuhad, matron of birth, life, and new beginnings. Founded by Zarola Strale. Clan Strale were close allies of Clan Alenir, and the last Matriarch, Amelia Strale, was a personal friend and companion of Katarina Alenir before the War of the Sword. Amelia fought valiantly in the defense of the Holy City of Sitania, home of the Anointed Church, but Katarina cut her down. Lifebinder, the Clan’s Spellsword, was lost after the battle and never recovered. Their sign was a stylized heart pierced by a sword on a red and white field.

Sulend (SOO-lend): the current home of Clan Chale, banished there after the War of the Sword. Sulend is an unorganized, sprawling frontier town with little in the way of infrastructure or defenses. The holdings of Clan Chale are more in horses and trained riders than anything else, and they see little need to build walls or permanent stone structures. This method of “disorganized organization” causes a great deal of consternation to the local Imperial authorities, which suits Clan Chale just fine, as there’s little love lost between the forces of Clans Chale and Latos.

Svolyn (SVOH-lin): a frontier town in the Northern Territories. The last western stop on the East-West train corridor between it and Whitehold, the capital.

SWORDBEARER: a title given to women who inherit (or otherwise obtain) a Spellsword, ancient weapons of immense power. The title of Swordbearer can generally be used interchangeably with that of Matriarch, since the eldest surviving female of a Swordbearer Clan also possesses a Spellsword.

Tass: a barmaid who works for Mistress Nika at the Twin Moons in Svolyn.

THIRTY-YEARS WAR: see War of the Sword.

TRESCA (TRESS-kah): Swordbearer Clan. Their matron saint is Dontae, matron of protection, familial love, and merciful acts. Clan Tresca comes from the capital city of the same name, and the family made a fortune trading in all sorts of goods up and down the western coast of Agareth, primarily the highly-coveted silver-and-blue marble that bears the city’s namesake. Clan Tresca also built the rudimentary beginnings of what became the Continental Railroad. Their sign is an armored fist on a silver and blue field.

Ur (UHR): saint. Matron saint of Clan Alenir. Matron of night, and peaceful death.

Valley of Bones: believed to be the site of the last battle between Katarina Alenir and the forces of the Ordus Empire. When Katarina lost the fight, she was taken into Imperial custody and executed, and the Spellsword Deathbringer was destroyed. The Imperial army then attacked the Alenir capital at Denadal and put the remaining members of Katarina’s family to death. See: War of the Sword.

Varin, Darya (Vah-RIN, DAR-yah): owner of a farmstead in the Northern Territories.

THE VEIL: the realm of dreams, accessible by Swordbearers while asleep. A reality “in-between” the waking world and those beyond, the Veil can be manipulated and controlled by some strong-willed Swordbearers. Bearers of Dreamcatcher can use the Sword’s power to enter the Veil at-will.

Ventil Marshlands, The (Ven-TEEL): a wide marsh situated between the southern edge of the Rockspur Mountains and the Levian Ocean. The Marshlands were too wet and saw too much rainfall for any attempt to span it with a railroad to succeed; the last attempt to pass through the Marsh was abandoned more than half a century ago.

Verdant Hills, The: rolling hills and forests between the capitals of Obouros and Tresca. The Hills are believed to hold untapped riches, but no large-scale mining operations have seen much success.

Vyekk, Old (VYE-eck): a farmhand working on Poledra Alekhina’s farmstead.

WAR OF THE SWORD: Incited by Katarina Alenir around 920-930 Y.S., this war was the first to involve every major Swordbearer Clan and saw action across most of the continent, including the destruction of three major capital cities (Riessa, Wynne and Cerulias), as well as the death of hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of people. Its conclusion after a final battle at the Valley of Bones in Central Agareth saw the annihilation of Katarina and her entire Clan, as well as the destruction of the Spellsword Deathbringer. The war also saw three other Clans banished from their ancestral homelands to other parts of the continent under orders of the Ordus Empire, in the hopes of breaking apart any remaining alliance or chance at reigniting the war.

Western Empire: a collection of regions from the Northern Territories at the northwestern corner of the continent, stretching south all the way past the Golden Plateau, the Verdant Hills and the capital city of Tresca, the southernmost city on the mainland. The region also houses five known Swordbearer Clans.

Whitehold: current capital city of Clan Avard, regional capital of the Northern Territories. Situated on the Silver Sea, the city was only of interest as a regional trading hub until Clan Avard chose it as their new home after the War of the Sword concluded. It was further elevated in stature when Clan Isrodel moved their meager holdings to Whitehold, and an alliance of sorts was formed between the two Clans. The city continues to operate as a trading hub, delivering goods from overseas, which are then carried overland, primarily by train.

White Fortress, The: home and headquarters of Clan Avard, situated on an island in the Gray Harbor, within sight of the city of Whitehold.

WORLDBREAKER: lost Spellsword. Presumed to have been the first of their number. Much of the history surrounding the blade, its creation and history has been lost, but it is known that the Saints learned the art of creating other Spellswords after Worldbreaker was made, and used their combined power to defeat the Sword and its owner.

Wynne (WINN): the former home of Clan Isrodel. Wynne was a city focused on the training and trading of horseflesh, and it was believed that to be born in Wynne was to be born in the saddle; untold numbers of skilled horsewomen and -men were born there. Wynne was attacked and overwhelmed by the forces of Katarina Alenir, and it was the first city to fall to her forces during the War of the Sword.

Yegor (YAY-gore): a soldier serving in the Avardi Militia, stationed inside the White Fortress.

Zhenka (ZEN-kah): saint. Matron Saint of Clan Avard. Matron of winter, and vengeance.