All Pathfinder Tales novels are set in the rich and vibrant world of the Pathfinder campaign setting. Below are explanations of several key terms used in this book. For more information on the world of Golarion and the strange monsters, people, and deities that make it their home, see The Inner Sea World Guide, or dive into the game and begin playing your own adventures with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook or the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Beginner Box, all available at paizo.com. Reader specifically interested in the city of Absalom should check out the Pathfinder Campaign Setting supplement Guide to Absalom, while those interested in the faiths of Iomedae and Brigh should see Inner Sea Gods and Inner Sea Faiths.
Absalom: Largest city in the Inner Sea region, located in the middle of the Inner Sea.
Acts of Iomedae: Eleven miracles the goddess Iomedae performed while still a mortal, demonstrating Aroden’s might.
Arazni: Former demigod and herald of Aroden who was slain and then turned into a lich. Currently the ruler of Geb.
Arcanamirium: Prestigious school of magic in the city of Absalom.
Aroden: God of humanity, who died mysteriously a hundred years ago.
Ascendant Court: District in Absalom surrounding the Starstone Cathedral, and which holds myriad temples and markets.
Azlant: First human empire, which sank beneath the waves long ago in the cataclysm following the fall of the Starstone.
Azlanti: Of or pertaining to Azlant; someone from Azlant.
Belkzen: Region populated primarily by savage orc tribes.
Bloodstone of Arazni: Arazni’s internal organs, which were removed and stored in canopic jars, becoming powerful artifacts linked to her former divine power. Stolen and hidden long ago by the Knights of Ozem.
Brigh: Goddess of invention and artifice.
Bronze Lady: Another name for Brigh.
Calistria: Also known as the Savored Sting; the goddess of trickery, lust, and revenge.
Calistrian: Of or related to Calistria or her worshipers.
Castle Overwatch: Famous crusader fortress in Vigil.
Cathedral of Sancta Iomedaea: Enormous temple to Iomedae in Vigil.
Cayden Cailean: God of freedom, ale, wine, and bravery. Was once mortal, but ascended to godhood by passing the Test of the Starstone in Absalom.
Clerics: Religious spellcasters whose magical powers are granted by their gods.
Clockwork Cathedral: Legendary college for engineers and artificers in Absalom, founded by a mysterious figure called the Assembler.
Coins: Mercantile district in Absalom.
Construct: Mechanical creature given life through magical means.
Crusaders: Warrior societies who battle the various evils plaguing the Inner Sea Region, including those guarding against the orcs of Belkzen, the demons of the Worldwound, and the Whispering Tyrant.
Crusader War College: Military academy in Vigil focused on teaching tactics and strategy, as well as battle magic and siege warfare.
Demigods: Semidivine beings, not quite as powerful as true deities, but able to grant spells to their followers.
Demon Lord: A particularly powerful demon capable of granting magical powers to its followers.
Desna: Good-natured goddess of dreams, stars, travelers, and luck.
Dwarves: Short, stocky humanoids who excel at physical labor, mining, and craftsmanship.
Elven: Of or pertaining to elves; the language of elves.
Elves: Long-lived, beautiful humanoids who abandoned Golarion millennia ago before the fall of the Starstone and have only recently returned. Identifiable by their pointed ears, lithe bodies, and pupils so large their eyes appear to be one color.
Forae Logos: Largest library in Absalom.
Foreign Quarter: District of Absalom containing the largest foreign population, as well as the headquarters of the Pathfinder Society.
Geb: Primarily undead nation that takes its name from its necromancer founder.
Ghouls: Undead creatures that eat corpses and reproduce by infecting living creatures.
Gillmen: Race of amphibious humanoids common near Absalom.
Gnomes: Small humanoids with strange mindsets, originally from the fey realm of the First World.
God’s Market: Street in Absalom’s Ascendant Court where many merchants sell holy items, such as divine icons, religious texts, and vestments.
Graveknights: Powerful undead warriors whose spirits are linked to their armor.
Graycloaks: Atheist guards assigned to Absalom’s Ascendant Court, tasked with keeping the peace.
Half-Elves: Descendants of unions between elves and humans. Taller, longer-lived, and generally more graceful and attractive than the average human, yet not so much so as their full elven kin.
Halflings: Race of humanoids known for their tiny stature, deft hands, and mischievous personalities.
Harlot Queen: Arazni.
Hex: Magical abilities granted to witches through pacts made with otherworldly patrons.
Holy Symbol: Physical icon that denotes the follower of a particular god or goddess, and can sometimes be used to channel divine power.
Inquisitors: Religious spellcasters whose power comes from a god, and whose skills are particularly dedicated to hunting down enemies of the faith.
Iomedae: Goddess of valor, rulership, justice, and honor, who in life was a member of the Knights of Ozem and helped lead the Shining Crusade against the Whispering Tyrant before passing the Test of the Starstone and attaining godhood.
Irori: God of history, knowledge, self-perfection, and enlightenment. Popular with monks.
Irorium: Largest arena in Absalom, dedicated to gladiatorial competitions and nonlethal combat.
Ivy District: Quiet, wealthy district in Absalom catering to artists and minor nobles.
Knights of Ozem: Military order devoted to Iomedae and based in Lastwall’s capital, Vigil.
Kraggodan: Dwarven stronghold.
Lastwall: Militant nation dedicated to keeping the Whispering Tyrant locked away beneath Gallowspire, as well as keeping the orcs of Belkzen and the monsters of Ustalav in check.
Liches: Spellcasters who manage to extend their existence by magically transforming themselves into powerful undead creatures.
Lich Queen: Arazni.
Merchants’ Quarter: Financial and business district in Absalom.
Nex: Nation in Garund formerly ruled by an immensely powerful wizard of the same name.
Noqual: Type of skymetal uniquely resistant to magic.
Oathbound: Citizen of Vigil, sworn and magically bound to support its crusade and defend the innocent.
Orcs: Warlike race with green or gray skin, protruding tusks, and warlike tendencies. Almost universally hated by more civilized races for their constant raiding.
Paladins: Holy warriors in the service of a good and lawful god. Ruled by a strict code of conduct and granted special magical powers by their deity.
Pathfinder Society: Organization of traveling scholars and adventurers who seek to document the world’s wonders.
Precentor Martial: One of five military leaders who serve under the Watcher-Lord in Lastwall. Also simply called precentors.
Seventh Church: Temple to Iomedae in Absalom and the site of her seventh of her eleven miraculous acts.
Shield-Mark: Magical mark in the shape of a shield, placed upon the palm, binding the bearer to defend Vigil and its ideals while also conferring the rights of citizenship.
Shining Crusade: Historic organization responsible for cleansing the lands of Ustalav and freeing the nation from the rule of the undead Whispering Tyrant a thousand years ago.
Silver Weights: Denomination of currency used in Absalom.
Skymetal: Metal that fell to Golarion from outer space—either as parts of mysterious craft or as meteorites—that has exceptional and sometimes magical qualities.
Starstone: Magical stone that fell from the sky ten thousand years ago, wiping out most preexisting civilizations. Eventually raised up from the ocean floor by Aroden and housed in the Cathedral of the Starstone in Absalom, where those who can pass its mysterious and deadly tests can ascend to godhood.
Starstone Cathedral: Enormous structure built to house the legendary Starstone and the mysterious tests by which it chooses mortals to elevate to godhood. Anyone who enters the cathedral either dies or becomes a god.
Sword Knight: Priest or other ranking official in Iomedae’s church.
Sword-Mark: Magical mark in the shape of Iomedae’s holy symbol, placed upon the palm, indicating membership in Lastwall’s military. When combined with the Shield-Mark, it indicates full rights and citizenship within Lastwall’s crusader city of Vigil.
Taldan: Of or pertaining to Taldor; a citizen of Taldor.
Taldane: Common trade language of Golarion’s Inner Sea region.
Taldor: Formerly glorious nation that has lost many of its holdings in recent years to neglect and decadence. Ruled by immature aristocrats and overly complicated bureaucracy.
Tempering Hall: Combat school in Absalom run by the church of Iomedae to train those devoted to fighting evil.
Ustalav: Fog-shrouded gothic nation with a reputation for strange beasts, ancient secrets, and moral decay.
Ustalavic: Of or related to the nation of Ustalav.
Vigil: Capital city of Lastwall.
Vigilant: Soldiers sworn to service in Vigil.
Watcher-Lord: Lastwall’s ruler and the commander with final authority over all that nation’s crusaders.
Whispering Tyrant: Incredibly powerful lich who terrorized Avistan for hundreds of years before being sealed beneath his fortress of Gallowspire a millennium ago.
Whispering Way: Secret organization that promotes undeath as a purer form of existence. None of its lore is written down or otherwise recorded, with all information whispered among its members.
Wispil: Gnome city in the Verduran Forest.
Witches: Spellcasters who draw magic from pacts made with otherworldly powers, using familiars as conduits.
Worldwound: Constantly expanding region overrun by demons a century ago. Held at bay by the efforts of the Mendevian crusaders.