People & Places
Adfhail the youngest acolyte to accompany the Furiádhin to Skyrra.
Aell (“air”; ale) son of a fisherman, a common soldier under Prince Ruan’s command.
Aethon (“furze”) itinerant wizard, educated at the Scholia on Leal, who brought word of Guenloie/Winloki’s survival to the council.
Alluinn (“many lakes”; al-oo-WIN) kingdom at the center of the northern empire. The name was also applied to the Empire itself. Pendawer kings and emperors ruled Alluinn for approximately a thousand years. Her downfall was the war with Otöi, in which wizards and mages made such reckless use of their magic that both empires fell and the world was Changed.
Anerüian (“midnight”; an-eh-ROO-yon) Pendawer full name of Prince Ruan. The youngest grandson of High King Réodan, human on his father’s side and Ni-Féa Faey on his mother’s. Named for the hour at which he was born.
Apharos (af-FAY-rows) Ouriána’s capital city on Phaôrax.
Arkenfell a northern kingdom, originally of the same tribal stock as Skyrra and Mistlewald, with whom they continued to be loosely allied.
Arvi Skyrran rider in Kivik’s army; Winloki’s bodyguard for a time.
Aurvang a town in Arkenfell, from which Sindérian, Ruan, and company sailed for Skyrra.
Autlands northeastern region of Skyrra, closest to Eisenlonde.
Baillébachlain (“town of bees, beehive”) the largest town on Leal, and the site of the wizards’ Scholia.
Brielliend a heavily forested region south of Rhüaddlyn. Although Ouriána’s troops were able to win much territory there, the eastern portion continued to resist.
Brihac a knight in the household of Prince Cuillioc.
Cadmin Aernan (“iron mountains”) a great range of mountains west of Alluinn running more or less north-south.
Cailltin (“hazel”) of Aefri nobleman and captain of a small troop of Rheithûnian fighters. He was betrothed to Sindérian. They parted just before the fall of Gilaefri, one of the last three Rheithûnian fortresses to be captured by Ouriána’s armies.
Camhóinhann (“still waters”; cah-VHOYN-ahn) enslaved and corrupted by Ouriána, he eventually became the High Priest of her cult, and the most powerful of the Furiádhin.
Ceir Eldig (“city of princes”) the capital of Alluinn and the seat of the Emperors; ruined and deserted after the Change.
Citadel the palace-fortress at Xanthipei, in which Cuillioc made his headquarters on his arrival in Mirizandi.
Corridon (“stone folk”) another name for the dwarves. Many humans believed the dwarves originally were generated from a stony matrix.
Cuillioc (“pledge” or “word of honor”; QWILL-ee-ahch) Prince of Phaôrax, Ouriána’s second-born son, sent by her to conquer Mirizandi. An honorable but conflicted man.
Cuirarthéros one of the last three fortresses to be conquered in Rheithûn. Sindérian was close enough at the time to psychically experience its downfall, and the death throes of hundreds of its inhabitants.
Curóide (“hero”) a wizard, formerly Éireamhóine’s apprentice, who later took his place on the council of the Nine Master Wizards of Leal. His most notable talent was as a weather-worker.
Deor Skyrran warrior, one of Kivik’s captains.
Drakenskaller (“dragon’s skull”) Mountains a high range in the northern part of Skyrra and the western part of Eisenlonde. Winters in the Drakenskallers were very harsh, and inhabitants were few.
Dreyde lord of Saer. He welcomed Faolein, Sindérian, and their companions into his fortress and then betrayed them.
Dyonas (dye-OH-nahs) youngest of the Furiádhin, but also the most powerful after Camhóinhann.
Efflam in Apharos, one of Ouriána’s temple guards. He accompanied the Furiádhin to Skyrra.
Éireamhóine (“noble eagle”; AIR-ah-vhoyn) at one time the most powerful wizard on Leal, he disappeared while trying to smuggle Guenloie away to safety.
Eisenlonde a region east of Skyrra, occupied by a loose confederation of barbarian tribes, given to border raids and horse thievery. The formation of a vast Eisenlonder army took the Skyrrans by surprise.
Elidûc High King Réodan’s court wizard, close friend, and valued counselor. Because he was also a great scholar, he acted as a tutor to Réodan’s sons and grandsons, including Prince Ruan.
Erios (“shining hills”) an island in the sea of Orania, invaded by Pharaxion forces.
Faellanëos (“dark hair”) family name belonging to a long line of wizards, including Faolein and Sindérian.
Faey a long-lived nonhuman race. Divided into two subraces, the Ni-Ferys and the Ni-Féa. Each branch regarded the other with unfailing suspicion, for though they came of similar stock they were temperamentally opposite. The Ni-Ferys often intermixed with humans, but the Ni-Féa remained extremely insular.
Faolein (“sea-lion”; FAY-oh-LINE) Master Wizard and Sindérian’s father. Adept in all aspects of wizardry, though his particular gift was the ability to divine the name of anyone he met.
Faol-Mora (“the ocean sea”) in one sense, all the oceans of the world, more commonly applied to the uncharted waters beyond the named seas.
Fenéille Galadan (“crown of the north”) a high range of mountains roughly describing an arc from east to west, north of Alluinn and south of Arkenfell and Mistlewald.
Furiádhin (“the changed men” or “the mutated ones”; FOO-ree-AHD-in) Ouriána’s warrior-magician-priests. Singular: furiádh.
Gerig a knight in the household of Prince Cuillioc.
Gilaefri a fortress that long held out against Ouriána’s invading forces, until the Furiádhin overthrew it with magic. See Rheithûn and Cailltin of Aefri.
Goezenou furiádh who served as one of Ouriána’s generals in Rheithûn.
Guenloie (translation uncertain; may be a variant of Guinalli, “lily,” or a combination of guin, “white, clear,” and hloë, “aura, halo”) Princess of Phaôrax, daughter of Ouriána’s twin sister Nimenoë, and therefore regarded as the child of the prophecy. Hidden away in Skyrra for many years, she grew to womanhood under the name Winloki.
Guindeluc (“unblemished honor”) Prince Cuillioc’s late brother. Ouriána’s eldest son, and a dazzling figure to whom Cuillioc was always comparing himself, to his own disadvantage.
Haakon young rider in Kivik’s army, briefly Winloki’s bodyguard.
Haestan Skyrran warrior, one of Kivik’s captains.
Haestfilke an eastern region of Skyrra.
Heldenhof (“the house of heroes”) King Ristil’s palace at Luckenbörg.
Herzenmark the most central province of Skyrra.
Hythe coastal principality. Part of the alliance headed by the High King Réodan. Ruled by Prince Bael.
Iobhar (“yew”; EYE-oh-vhar) furiádh, sent to Mirizandi with Prince Cuillioc to counsel and spy on him.
Jago (“younger son”) a common soldier under Prince Ruan’s command. After surviving most of the journey to Skyrra, he was killed during the crossing from Arkenfell.
Kerion one of the temple guards who accompanied the Furiádhin to Skyrra.
Kivik (KIV-ick) Prince of Skyrra; King Ristil’s middle son and a general in his armies.
Lasaire (“flames”) acolyte-servant to Dyonas.
Leal (leel) a smaller island off the east coast of Thäerie, the location of a great school of wizardry. For all intents and purposes, Leal was ruled by the Nine Master Wizards, but the island had long been so closely allied with Thäerie that there was a sense of shared national identity.
Lochdaen (“swarthy man”) a temple guard in Apharos, he was chosen to accompany the Furiádhin on their journey to Skyrra.
Lückenbörg a town in Skyrra, site of King Ristil’s palace.
Luenil (originally a diminutive of Meluine, “color of the sun”) young Thäerian widow who was chosen as Guenloie’s wet nurse after her own child was stillborn. Believed to be lost in the Cadmin Aernan with Éireamhóine.
Lünerion (LOO-nair-ee-ON) principality of Alluinn, formerly a rich and populous region; a hundred years after the Change it was an uninhabited wilderness.
Maël acolyte-servant to the furiádh Iobhar.
Maelor (MAY-lore) the Astromancer a befuddled old man reputed to have once been a great magician.
Malindor (“the wide realm”) kingdom at the very southern tip of the northern continent. By the time of Réodan’s council, so much territory had been lost to Phaôrax that Ouriána held more of Malindor than its own king.
Mallion (“clover”) Penn legendary wizard. The most powerful of his own era, and generally regarded as the most gifted wizard ever.
Marrec one of Ouriána’s temple guards, who accompanied the Furiádhin to Skyrra.
Meraz city-state in Mirizandi, between Xanthipei and Persit.
Mere coastal duchy just to the north of Rheithûn. The Duke of Mere’s sudden change of heart—his decision to foresake his former allies by declaring his neutrality—was widely regarded as an act of betrayal.
Meriasec a Prince of Phaôrax, the youngest and in every way the least of Ouriána’s sons.
Mirizandi (meer-ah-ZAHN-dee) a nation of city-states on the southern continent, ruled by “semidivine” nobles and princes. It was reputed to be a fabulously wealthy region because of legendary mines somewhere in the interior.
Mistlewald (MIST-el-vahld) a northern kingdom, originally of the same tribal stock as Skyrra and Arkenfell, with whom they continued to be loosely allied.
Morquant acolyte-servant to Camhóinhann.
Necke the channel between the subcontinent of Skyrra/ Eisenlonde and the northern continent.
Nephuar a kingdom on the southern continent, unfriendly to the city-states of Mirizandi.
Ni-Féa Prince Ruan’s mother’s people, a sub-race of the Faey. Little was known of them, though they were rumored to be glamourously beautiful and masters and mistresses of enchantment. Ruan himself, who had long been estranged from his Ni-Féa kin, painted a less pleasing picture. They were ruled by Queen Gäiä. See Faey.
Nimenöe (“bright mist, shining cloud”; nim-en-OH-ee) a Princess of Phaôrax, Ouriána’s twin sister, and Guenloie/Winloki’s mother. Trained in wizardry at the Scholia on Leal, her most notable talents were warding and healing.
Nimhelli (“place of great fogs”) a smaller island southwest of Thäerie, traditionally under Thäerian rule.
Noz the little hunchback with a battered face and seemingly everything else against him, who nevertheless managed, by virtue of a keen mind and unquestioned loyalty, to rise to the position of Ouriána’s Lord Chancellor. Most of her other servants, and particularly the Furiádhin, considered him a despicable upstart.
Old Fortress see Tirfang.
Omair (“amber”) acolyte-servant to the furiádh Iobhar.
Orri one of Kivik’s scouts.
Otöi (aht-OY ) empire ruling over much of the southern continent until it was destroyed in the same cataclysmic battle as Alluinn. Reputedly a realm of black magics and even blacker rites, since the Otöwan rulers and magicians were themselves enslaved to powers of Darkness and Unlife.
Ouriána (oh-ree-ON-ah) Queen of Phaôrax, self-declared Empress and Goddess, and mother to Guindeluc, Cuillioc, and Meriasec. A sorceress steeped in the black arts, she was also known as the Dark Lady of Phaôrax.
Pehlidor (“the far realm”) this is the name that appears on maps of the period indicating a land in the northeast. Believed to be Éireamhóine’s intended destination when he left Thäerie with the infant princess.
Penadamin (literally “the only high mountain”) a mountain in the Fenéille Galadan range. It was not, in fact, the highest mountain in the world, or even in the Fenéille Galadan, but its onetime inhabitants must have thought it was.
Pendawer (“land ruler”) family name of the imperial house of Alluinn. After the fall of the Empire, the last surviving heir found refuge on Thäerie, where his descendants ruled as High Kings.
Pentheirie (“high place of the eagles”) Réodan’s capital city on Thäerie.
Persit (per-SIT ) a city-state in Mirizandi, a short distance from Xanthipei. Ruled by Lord Vaz.
Phaôrax (FAY-oh-racks) island kingdom ruled (some might say enslaved) by Ouriána. Though the Pharaxions were once known as a proud, strong, honorable people, Ouriána’s rule and her endless wars eliminated too many of the best and promoted too many of the worst.
Regin Skyrran warrior, one of Kivik’s captains.
Reichünterwelt (rike-OON-ter-velt) one of the nine underground kingdoms of the dwarves. Ruled by King Yri.
Réodan (“ice man,” originally a nickname given to those with very fair skin and hair; RAY-oh-don) Pendawer High King, ruler of Thäerie, and leader of the alliance against Ouriána.
Rheithûn (“where the water comes down from the hills”) kingdom south of Mere and north of Rhuadllyn which put up a long resistance against Ouriána’s invading armies, but was finally overrun. When the last three fortresses fell to the Furiádhin, it was said that Goezenou gave the order to execute all the leaders of the “rebellion” against the Empress.
Rhuadllyn (“red rivers”) the first nation to be conquered by Phaôrax. Because of the two nations’ long-standing political ties, there is reason to believe the issue was already decided before Ouriána’s troops ever invaded, and that the very slight resistance the Pharaxions met was only a token effort meant by the Prince of Rhuadllyn to appease the populace. Within a decade, the people had come to identify themselves as, essentially, citizens of Phaôrax.
Ristil (RIZ-till) King of Skyrra, father of Kivik, adoptive uncle of Winloki, husband of Sigvith.
Rivanon acolyte-servant to Camhóinhann. One of the eldest acolytes at Ouriána’s temple, he was privy to many of the High Priest’s secrets.
Roric Skyrran warrior, one of Kivik’s captains.
Ruan (rune) see Anëruian Pendawer.
Saer hill fort in Mere. See Dreyde, Thaga.
Sea of Orania the waters between Thäerie, Phaôrax, and the continent.
Shionneth (“like a fox,” a name denoting either cleverness or red hair) Sindérian’s late mother. This elderly and reclusive wizard became Faolein’s second wife.
Sigvith Queen-Consort in Skyrra, King Ristil’s second wife and Kivik’s stepmother; her past was a mystery to her.
Sindérian (“star maiden” or “bright daughter”; sin-DAY-reeon) daughter of Shionneth and Faolein, descended from seven generations of wizards on either side. An instinctive healer and seer.
Skerry (rhymes with ferry) as the great-grandson of a Skyrran king, he was accorded princely rank, but not the title. He and Winloki made a childhood pact to marry.
Skørnhäär a race of ice giants.
Skyrra (skee-RAH) northern realm, ruled by King Ristil. Once allied to the Empire of Alluinn, after the Change they threw off all southern influences and returned to an earlier way of life, only maintaining ties with the kindred nations of Mistlewald and Arkenfell. An essentially peaceful people, they could be the fiercest of fighters when threatened. Their only indigenous magic-workers were healers and runestonereaders.
Syvi a Skyrran healer, second only to Thyra in age and experience.
Thäerian Sea the waters north of Thäerie, west of Mere, Hythe, and Weye. The point where the Thäerian Sea ended and the great ocean began was a matter of some dispute.
Thäerie (roughly translated, “home of the eagle-hearted men”; THAY-ree) island kingdom ruled in former days by their own native princes, later by the Pendawers. The realm of the High King Réodan. As the sea formed a natural barrier, and because of strong ties with the wizards on Leal, Thäerie had never been invaded.
Thaga (“bat”) an Otöwan magus in service to Ouriána who attempted to kill Faolein. It was he who corrupted Lord Dreyde and played some part in the Duke of Mere’s decision to forsake the alliance.
Thyra a healer in Kivik’s army who had seen many campaigns.
Tirfang a valley in the Drakenskaller Mountains, site of an ancient, reputedly haunted city-fortress built by the legendary witch-lords. Sometimes synonymous with the Old Fortress itself.
Tuillo (“mistletoe”) a common soldier under Prince Ruan’s command. He was killed by a sea dragon on the voyage to Mere.
Tyr (teer) Prince of the dwarf kingdom of Reichünterwelt and son of King Yri.
Varjolükka (singular and plural) a type of skinchanger. Skinchangers were a race of humans capable of transforming themselves into bearlike creatures, although some sources claim the reverse: that they were bears who could take on the shape of humans.
Vaz ruler of Persit. One of the lords of Mirizandi, who considered themselves semidivine.
Weye coastal principality, the most northern nation in the alliance against Ouriána. Ruled by Prince Gwynnek.
Whathig Wood (“tangled wood” or “wood of dark sorceries”) forest in Alluinn, believed to be haunted by witches, ghosts, and dangerous wild animals.
Xanthipei (zahn-thip-EYE) a large city in Mirizandi, on the Bay of Mir. When Prince Cuillioc arrived with his fleet to invade the realm, the citizens of Xanthipei gave up without a fight.
Yri (eerie) King of Reichünterwelt. This dwarf of immense age (far in excess of two hundred years) was a powerful seer whose other gifts included the ability to talk with animals.
Ëanor—Time
Ëanoris—Times of the Year
lüenien—year, solar cycle
lüerin—month, lunar cycle
Oerinora* (“cold time”)
Néosora (“dark time”)
Réomiora (“ice time”)
Siôdora (“storm time”)
Weridanni (“roots”)
Syviri (“stems”)
Duilligor (“leaves”)
Ariénora (“bright month”)
Uenora (“heat month”)
Ffarwid (“fruit”)
Grianë (“grain”)
Séarnid (“withering”)
Wisigiri (“rains”)
illüerin half-month, fortnight
gäeä winter
cormath spring
samhrad summer
hafen autumn
Ëanoril—Times of the Day
elüi daytime
nëos night, darkness
elio a day and a night, the time between one sunrise and the next
noë brightening, dawn, morning
érien brilliant, noon
yffarian waning light, afternoon
anoë dimming, twilight, evening
anërui absence of light, midnight
malanëos utter darkness, the time between midnight and first light
lüenodi sunrise
ellüen sunset
lüerodi moonrise
ellüer moonset