Goldenmark

by Jean Lowe Carlson

  Cannus Rift – Treacherous sheer gorge north of the Devil’s Field

  Fithri-Lhis – A lost city up on the ice tundra, home of Morvein

  Dhelvendale – Ruined old capitol of Elsthemen

  Blackthorn – Clan-fortress

  Themi Sea – Eastern inland sea

  White Ring – The site of the Rennkavi’s Ritual

  Heldim Alir – The Way Beneath the Mountain, Memory Vaults of the Giannyk

  THE TWELVE TRIBES

  Oasis Ghellen – An ancient city east of Khehem, capital of the Twelve Tribes

  Oasis Khehem – A dead city west of Ghellen

  Chiriit Crevasses/Oasis Chirus – North of Oasis Ghellen, protected by a vicious, secretive people

  Oases Lukhaan, Niirm, Drashaan – Coastal oases of the Twelve Tribes

  Oases Asyana, Vrenouhem – Northwestern mountain oases

  Oasis Onaani – Far southeast mountain oasis

  Oasis Aj Naab, Oasis Etrii – Eastern trade oases near the Ajnabiit lands

  Oasis Revenhiim – Solitary central desert oasis

  Oasis Bel’raa – Southern trade oasis to the Southern Desert (Ghistani lands)

  The Blood Plinth – A cave sacred to Khehem

  VALENGHIA

  Velkennish – Capitol city of Valenghia

  Palace of the Vine – The White Palace in Velkennish

  Velkennish Valley – Valley where Velkennish is located

  Weeping Sepulcher / The Weeping Woman – A weeping statue in Velkennish

  Cemetery of the Fallen – A veterans cemetery in Velkennish

  The Falconry – Tower in the White Palace

  Obelisk of the Vine – Aka the Stone of Milk and Honey, in the Obelisk Quarter of Velkennish

  Obelisk Quarter – Oldest quarter in Velkennish

  Avenue of the Vine – The approach to the White Palace from the south – Valenghian Royal Houses

  Fluss Helmenthal – River in eastern Valenghia

  Province of Leddi – Provence in eastern Valenghia

  Wayfarer – A ruin in the Heathren Bog near the Aphellian Way

  GHREC

  Shelf of Lost Hope (Thuruman)

  Sea of Ghrec

  Ghreccan Desert

  CENNETIA

  Scovira Province – Northern Cennetia

  Duomini – The City of Waterways in the Ciari River delta

  Ciari River Delta – A primary river in Cennetia

  Tellurium – A city in Cennetia

  LHEMVIAN ISLES

  Lhemvian Isles – Islands in the Archipelago of Crasos

  Althumma – A city on the Lhemvian Isles

  OTHER NATIONS

  Aj Naab – Ajnabiit lands east of the Twelve Tribes, aka “The Wasteland”

  Cennetia, Praough – Nations annexed by Valenghia

  Crasos – Island to the west of Cennetia

  Jadoun, Perthe – Southwest countries to Alrou-Mendera

  Southern Desert – Lands south of the Twelve Tribes (Ghistani nomads)

  Thuruman (Cape of Lost Hope) – Far eastern nation

  Tourmaline Isles – Islands southwest of Alrou-Mendera

  Unaligned Lands – To the northeast, nomadic lands

  NOLDARUM’S REALM

  Sanctuary of the Great Void – A citadel of learning and light

  The Memorarium – Memory-chamber in the Sanctuary

  Tomb of the World Shaper – Sacred resurrection tomb

  The Void – The great cosmic space with souls live

  THINGS

  Aeon – God of the Air, like Zeus

  Age of Chaos – The time of the Demon’s Rise

  Agne wyrdi (Creator wyrria) – The ability to create de-novo

  Albrennus Fellasti of the First Darkening – aka the Albrenni

  Alrashemni Kingsmen – Elite fighters and peacekeepers sworn to the King of Alrou-Mendera

  Annihilation – A Kreth-Hakir rite that breaks the mind into complete destruction

  Ashwood – A pale wood common to Valenghia

  Asye wyrdi – Undoer wyrria, destroys anything

  Aurus excelsianni – The the soul-excelsior finch, colorful and sings

  Autumn Harvestfest – Autumnal celebrations in Alrou-Mendera

  Barrow-vampires – Souls that haunt barrows

  Beast’s Awakening – A latent-awakened wyrria trying to spontaneously change a person’s flesh

  Berlunid – Elsthemi battle-goddess

  Berounhim – Caravanserai for the Twelve Tribes, their most elite warriors

  Bhorlen Rangers – Elsthemi rangers in the Highmountains

  Byrunstone (Bluestone) – Common bluegrey stone in Alrou-Mendera

  Cendarie – Like a cedar tree

  Champelion – A burgundy wine from Valenghia

  Children of the Sands – Heart wyrrics, able to change future outcomes

  Citrene – Citrus

  Commoner’s Audience – The hearing of common petitions in Valenghia

  Consummation of the Goldenmarks – The final event in the Rennkavi’s Ritual

  Council of the Coalition – Council of seven nations for a peace treaty

  Darkwinter Night / Darkwinter Fest – Celebrations of winter solstice

  Demon’s First Rise – When the Red-Eyed Demon rose during the Albrenni / Giannyk Wars

  Diamanne scorpions – southern desert scorpions, ridden by Kreth-Hakir

  Dildrum the Egg-Man – Old nursery rhyme of Alrou-Mendera

  Djinni – Elemental beings of the southern deserts

  Dremor / Dremorande – An Elsthemi seer, with accurate visions

  Elio lizard – A small green gecko with a yellow throat and a red stripe down its back

  First Pact of the Coalition

  First Rite of Proving – The first rite of passage in the Kreth-Hakir Order to become Initiate

  Fleetrunners and High Brigade – Elite military brigades of Alrou-Mendera

  Fyrrini – An ancient race, “born of salt and ash”, keepers of the Key of Fire

  Ghenje – A strategy game, like Go

  Giannyk – A race of giant men from the north, wyrric portal- and sigil-makers – clans of Krethwathsten, Heimhold, Hakkim Beldir

  Giannyk-Albrenni Wars – Ancient wars over 5000 years ago

  Goldenmarked – Marked as the Rennkavi by Leith’s wyrric sigils

  Halsos – Like Hades, a god

  Halsos’ Hells / Halsos’ Burnwater – Hell

  Hellenthine quartzite – A smoky crystal

  Heraldation – The Kreth-Hakir meeting for discussion of important events

  Highsummer – Summer solstice

  Honoress of the Albrenni – The Albrenni’s High Priestess

  Honoring of the Fallen – Ceremony to honor those who die in battle (Alrou-Mendera)

  Illianti / Sons of Illium – Famous secret group of assassins in Cennetia

  Ironpine – A stout hardwood

  Jenner’s Penitent – An order of monks in Lintesh at the First Abbey

  Jinne wyrdi (Heart magic) – Aka jinnic wyrria, the magic of the pure heart

  Kaf-Tesh – A relative of the coffee plant, native to Cennetia

  Karthor – Elsthemi god of war

  Keshar – A large battle-cat/saber-tooth cat, like a cougar but huge

  Khehe wyrdi (Conflict magic) – Wolf and Dragon wyrria

  Khehemnat Ithir – A Way of the Ancients, a portal in old Khehem

  khemri-venom – Venom that gives Alrashemni fever-dreams for the Eighth Seal

  Khets al’Roch – A massive black beast, lean with razor claws and fangs

  Kiani-Hithrai – A battle to the death or domination, to ascend through the Kreth-Hakir

  King Trevius’ Sleep – Elsthemi fae-tale

  Kingskinder – Children of the Alrashemni, not yet 21

  Kotar – Elsthemi god of sexual stamina

  Kreth-Hakir – Mind-bending monks from the Unaligned Lands, aka “Scorpions”

  Kruk-tan – The Giannyk s
cythe symbol

  Lefkani – Pirating culture from the west of Ghrec

  Leithren / Khehemni Lothren – High council of the Khehemni, once aligned with Leith

  Louve wyrdani – Dusk warrior, one who wields Dusk wyrria

  Louve wyrdi – Dusk wyrria (Jherrick’s magic)

  Madrona – A red-wooded tree of the A-M lowlands

  Mind of the Brethren – The Kreth-Hakir hive mind

  Olea lithii – The Peace Olive, a dark and succulent fruit

  Pact of the Coalition – Peace treaty of seven nations

  Palladian – A costly white metal from Valenghia, more expensive than gold

  Path of Initiate – becoming an Initiate among the Kreth-Hakir

  Path of the Dead – Initiation rite for Dusk magic, aka “Way of the Dusk”

  Pearlwood – A white wood found in Valenghia

  Perthian rugs – Finest rugs in the continent

  Pythian Resin – A flesh-eating resin, burns green/yellow

  Rakhan –The leaders of the Alrashemni Kingsmen

  Red Valor – Elite guards of Valenghia

  Rennkavi’s oath – Oath Fenton created to bind his bloodline to the Rennkavi

  Rikiyasti, Fithri Ile – Ancient sites of the Tundra Kings

  Ripfish – Like a pikefish

  Rites of Kotar – Elsthemi rites for death

  Rou – Currency of A-M

  Roushenn Palace Guard – Cobalt-clad guards at Roushenn Palace

  Scarde wyrdi (Scorpion wyrria) – A will-wyrria used by the Kreth-Hakir

  Scorchgrass – Like mesquite

  Shadow-will – The darkest manifestation of one’s will

  Sing-leaf – A tree with leaves that make a singing sound

  Sirve wyrdi (Dawn wyrria) – Ability to access the natural world and the five senses

  Sons of Illium – A secret bloodline of vigilante poisoners in Cennetia

  Summons of the Kingsmen – Historical event ten years prior

  Suna hebi – A vicious black viper form the southern deserts

  Telmenberry – A blue-black berry from Elsthemen, like a blackberry

  The Bitterlance – Term for Arlen and Delennia’s coup

  The Key of Fire – the Key of the World Shaper

  The Noldarum – Knowers of the World Shaper’s mysteries (a Mystery School)

  Travelers – Like gypsies, put on plays and stories

  Tundra-wights – Ghosts that haunt the tundras

  Utrus – The Undoer, aka the Red-Eyed Demon

  Wintermint – An herb like peppermint

  Wolf and Dragon wyrria (Werus et Khehem) – Ancient battle-wyrria of Khehem, Conflict wyrria

  World Shaper – Creationary deity

  World Shaper’s Key – Light of Creation

  Wyrria – Magic - a term originating in the Twelve Tribes

  Wyrric – A magic user

  Yegovian cider – A strong pear cider, like brandy

  Yither-wood – A white citrus wood from Valenghia

  Alrou-Mendera Ranks of Lords (Least to Greatest):

  Dhepan – Mayor of a town/city

  Vicoute/Vicenne – A lower Viscount, manages a moderate area around cities/townships

  Couthis/Couthenna – A higher Count, manages large areas including multiple cities

  Duchev/Duchevy – A Duke/Duchess, manages major sections of the nation

  Chancellor (King’s Chancellor) – Advisers to the King

  Dhenir/Dhenra – Prince/Princess of Alrou-Mendera

  King/Queen – Monarch of Alrou-Mendera

  Alrou-Mendera War Brigades:

  High Brigade – Operate in the highest mountains in the Valenghian border

  Longvalley Brigade – Operate in a well-protected valley on the Valenghian border

  Fleetrunners – Messengers at the Valenghian border

  Stone Valley Brigade – Special tactical unit, fierce fighters, called in where necessary