TWOLAS - 05 - Grand Conspiracy

by Janny Wurts

ERDANE—old Paravian city, later taken over by Men. Seat of old princes of Camris until Desh-thiere's conquest and rebellion. pronounced: er-day-na with the last syllable almost subliminal. root meaning: er'deinia—long walls

  ETARRA—trade city built across the Mathorn Pass by townsfolk after the revolt that cast down Ithamon and the High Kings of Rathain. Nest of corruption and intrigue, and policy maker for the North, pronounced: ee-tar-ah. root meaning: e—prefix for small; taria—knots

  EVENSTAR—first brig stolen from Riverton's royal shipyard by Cattrick's conspiracy with Prince Arithon. Captained by Feylind.

  FALGAIRE—coastal city on Instrell Bay, located in Araethura, Rathain, famed for its crystal and glassworks. pronounced: fall-gair—to rhyme with 'air' root meaning: fal'mier—to sparkle or glitter

  FALWOOD—forest located in West Shand. pronounced: fall-wood root meaning: fal—tree

  FATE'S WHEEL—see Daelion's Wheel.

  FARIENNT TYR—Paravian invocation to make manifest, pronounced: far-ee-an-teer. root meaning: ffar—to make; ient—suffix for 'most'; fir—to be

  FELLOWSHIP OF SEVEN—Sorcerers sworn to uphold the Law of the Major Balance, and to foster enlightened thought in Athera. Originators and keepers of the covenant of the compact, made with the Paravian races that allowed Men to settle on Athera.

  FEYLIND—daughter of Jinesse; twin sister of Fiark; born in Merior by the Sea, and currently serving as captain of the Evenstar. pronounced: fay-lind. root meaning: faelind'an—outspoken one,'noisy one

  FFEREDON-LI—ancient Paravian word for a healer, literally translated 'bringer of grace,' still in use in the dialect of Araethura. pronounced: fair-eh-dun lee root meaning: ffaraton—maker; li—exalted grace

  FIARK—son of Jinesse; twin brother of Feylind; born in Merior by the Sea, currently employed as a factor by an Innish merchant. pronounced: fee-ark root meaning: fyerk—to throw or toss

  FIONN ARETH CAID'AN—shepherd child born in Third Age 5647; fated by prophecy to leave home and play a role in the Wars of Light and Shadow. pronounced: fee-on-are-eth cayed-ahn root meaning: fionne arith caid an—one who brings choice

  FIRST AGE—marked by the arrival of the Paravian Races as Ath's gift to heal the marring of creation by the great drakes.

  GACE STEWARD—Royal Steward of Avenor. pronounced: gace—to rhyme with 'race' root meaning: gyce—weasel GREAT WAYSTONE—amethyst crystal, spherical in shape, the grand power focus of the Koriani Order; lost during the great uprising, and finally recovered from Fellowship custody by First Senior Lirenda in Third Age 5647.

  GREAT WEST ROAD—trade route which crosses Tysan from Karfael on the west coast, to Castle Point on Instrell Bay.

  GRIMWARD—a circle of dire spells of Paravian making that seal and isolate forces that have the potential for unimaginable destruction. With the disappearance of the old races, the defenses are maintained by embodied Sorcerers of the Fellowship of Seven. There are seventeen separate sites listed at Althain Tower.

  HALFMOON—tavern located in city of Innish.

  HALLIRON MASTERBARD—native of Innish, Shand. Masterbard of Athera during the Third Age; inherited the accolade from his teacher Murchiel in the year 5597. Son of Al'Duin. Husband of Deartha. Arithon's master and mentor. Died from an injury inflicted by the Mayor of Jaelot in the year 5644. pronounced: hal-eer-on root meaning: hal—white; lyron—singer

  HALWYTHWOOD—forest located in Araethura, Rathain. pronounced: hall-with-wood root meaning: hal—white; wythe—vista

  HAMHAND JUSSEY—see Jussey.

  HANSHIRE—port city on Westland Sea, coast of Korias, Tysan; reigning official Lord Mayor Garde, father of Sulfin Evend; opposed to royal rule at the time of Avenor's restoration, pronounced: han-sheer root meaning: hansh—sand; era—place

  HARRADENE—Lord Commander of Etarra's army at the time of the muster at Werpoint, still in power after Vastmark campaign. pronounced: har-a-deen root meaning: harradien—large mule

  HAVISH—one of the Five High Kingdoms of Athera, as defined by the charters of the Fellowship of Seven. Ruled by Eldir s'Lornmein. Sigil: gold hawk on red field, pronounced: hav-ish root meaning: havieshe—hawk

  HAVRITA—fashionable dressmaker in city of Jaelot. pronounced: have-ree-tah root meaning: havierta—tailor

  HIGHSCARP—city on the coast of the Bay of Eltair, located in Daon Ramon, Rathain.

  ILITHARIS PARAVIANS—centaurs, one of three semimortal old races; disappeared at the time of the Mistwraith's conquest. They were the guardians of the earth's mysteries, pronounced: i-li-thar-is. root meaning: i'lith'eans—the keeper,'preserver of mystery

  ILSWATER—both a lake bordering the principalities of Korias and Taerlin; and the river which carries the water trade route from Caithwood to Riverton. pronounced: ills-water root meaning: iel—light

  IMAURY RIDDLER—Centaur guardian who enspelled the foundations of the Second Age ruin beside Mainmere. Legend holds the stones will sing in the hour of Athera's greatest peril, pronounced: ah-more-ee root meaning: imauri—riddle

  INNISH—city located on the south coast of Shand at the delta of the River Ippash. Birthplace of Halliron Masterbard. Formerly known as 'the Jewel of Shand', this was the site of the high king's winter court, prior to the time of the uprising, pronounced: in-ish. root meaning: inniesh—a jewel with a pastel tint

  INSTRELL BAY—body of water off the Gulf of Stormwell, that separates principality of Atainia, Tysan, from Deshir, Rathain. pronounced: in-strell root meaning: arin'streal—strong wind

  ISAER—city located at the crossroads of the Great West Road in Atainia, Tysan. Also a power focus, built during the First Age, in Atainia, Tysan, to source the defense-works at the Paravian keep of the same name, pronounced: i-say-er root meaning: i'saer—the circle

  ISHEAL—Paravian word to wish peace or calm, pronounced: ish-ee-all root meaning: isheal—to make quiet

  ITHAMON—Second Age Paravian stronghold, and a Third Age ruin; built on a fifth lane power-node in Daon Ramon Barrens, Rathain, and inhabited until the year of the uprising. Site of the Compass Point Towers, or Sun Towers. Became the seat of the High Kings of Rathain during the Third Age and in year 5638 was the site where Princes Lysaer s'Ilessid and Arithon s'Ffalenn battled the Mistwraith to confinement, pronounced: ith-a-mon root meaning: itha—five; mon—needle, spire

  IVEL—blind splicer who works under master shipwright, Cattrick; known for his spiteful tongue, pronounced: ee-vell root meaning: iavel—scathing

  IYAT—energy sprite native to Athera, not visible to the eye, manifests in a poltergeist fashion by taking temporary possession of objects. Feeds upon natural energy sources: fire, breaking waves, lightning, pronounced: ee-at root meaning: iyat—to break

  JAELOT—city located on the coast of Eltair Bay at the southern border of the Kingdom of Rathain. Once a Second Age power site, with a focus circle. Now a merchant city with a reputation for extreme snobbery and bad taste. Also the site where Arithon s'Ffalenn played his eulogy for Halliron Masterbard, which raised the powers of the Paravian focus circle beneath the mayor's palace. The forces of the mysteries and resonant harmonics caused damage to city buildings, watchkeeps, and walls, which has since been repaired. pronounced: jay-lot root meaning: jielot—affectation

  JASQUE—servant of a blind spinster who lives in Jaelot. pronounced: rhymes with 'cask' root meaning: jiask—binding faith

  JERIAYISH—initiate priest of the Light who has a seer's talent, pronounced: jeer-ee-ah-yish root meaning: jier'yaish—unclean magic

  JIERET s'VALERIENT—Earl of the North, clan chief of Deshir; caithdein of Rathain, sworn liegeman of Prince Arithon s'Ffalenn. Also son and heir of Lord Steiven. Blood pacted to Arithon by Sorcerer's oath prior to battle of Strakewood Forest. Came to be known by headhunters as Jieret Red-beard, pronounced: jeer-et root meaning: jieret—thorn

  JEYNSA—daughter of Jieret s'Valerient and Feithan, born Third Age 5653; appointed successor to her father's title of Steward of Rathain, or caithdien. pronounce
d: jay-in-sa root meaning: garnet

  JUSSEY—Captain of the Guard in the city of Daenfal, Rathain; renowned for his mastery of the sword. pronounced: juss-ee

  KATHTAIRR—landmass in the southern ocean, across the world from Paravia. pronounced: kath-tear root meaning: kait-th'era—empty place

  KELDMAR s'BRYDION—younger brother of Duke Bransian of Alestron; older brother of Parrien and Mearn. pronounced: keld-mar. root meaning: kiel'd'maeran—one without pity

  KELLIS—clan elder and Duchess of Mainmere. pronounced: kell-iss root meaning: kiel'liess—balm of grief KEVOR—son and heir of Lysaer s'Ilessid and Princess Ellaine; born at Avenor in Third Age 5655. pronounced: kev-or root meaning: kiavor—high virtue

  KEWAR TUNNEL—cavern built beneath the Mathorn Mountains by Davien the Betrayer; site of High King Kamridian s'Ffalenn's death, pronounced: key-wahr. root meaning: kewiar—a weighing of conscience

  KHADRIM—drake-spawned creatures, flying, fire-breathing reptiles that were the scourge of the Second Age. By the Third Age, they had been driven back and confined in the Sorcerers' Preserve in the volcanic peaks in north Tysan. pronounced: kaa-drim root meaning: khadrim—dragon

  KHARADMON—Sorcerer of the Fellowship of Seven; discorporate since rise of Khadrim and Seardluin leveled the Paravian city at Ithamon in Second Age 3651. It was by Kharadmon's intervention that the survivors of the attack were sent to safety by means of transfer from the fifth lane power focus. Currently constructing the star ward to guard against invasion of wraiths from Marak. pronounced: kah-rad-mun. root meaning: kar'riad en mon—phrase translates to mean 'twisted thread on the needle' or colloquialism for 'a knot in the works'

  KHETIENN—name for a brigantine owned by Arithon; also a small spotted wildcat native to Daon Ramon Barrens that became the s'Ffalenn royal sigil. pronounced: key-et-ee-en root meaning: kietienn—small leopard

  KIELING TOWER—one of the four compass points, or Sun Towers, standing at ruin of Ithamon, Daon Ramon Barrens, in Rathain. The warding virtue that binds its stones is compassion, pronounced: key-eh-ling. root meaning: kiel'ien—root for pity, with suffix for Tightness' added, translates to mean 'compassion'

  KORIANI—possessive form of the word 'Koriathain'; see entry. pronounced: kor-ee-ah-nee

  KORIAS—southwestern principality of Tysan. pronounced: kor-ee-as. root meaning: cor—ship, vessel; i'esh—nest, haven

  KORIATHAIN—order of enchantresses ruled by a circle of Seniors, under the power of one Prime Enchantress. They draw their talent from the orphaned children they raise, or from daughters dedicated to service by their parents. Initiation rite involves a vow of consent that ties the spirit to a power crystal keyed to the Prime's control, pronounced: kor-ee-ah-thain—to rhyme with 'main' root meaning: koriath—order; ain—belonging to

  KOSHLIN—influential trade minister from Erdane, renowned for his hatred of the clans, and for his support of the headhunters' leagues. Assigned ambassador to Avenor's court, pronounced: kosh-lynn root meaning: kioshliti—opaque

  LACHONN—Fionn Areth's brother, pronounced: lash-on root meaning: lachonn—goatherd

  LAW OF THE MAJOR BALANCE—founding order of the powers of the Fellowship of Seven, as written by the Paravians. The primary tenet is that no force of nature should be used without consent, or against the will of another living being.

  LIRENDA—former First Senior Enchantress to the Prime, Koriani order; now assigned to capture Arithon s'Ffalenn to reinstate her credentials as prime successor, pronounced: leer-end-ah. root meaning: lyron—singer; di-ia—a dissonance; the hyphen denotes a glottal stop

  LITHMERE—principality located in the Kingdom of Havish. pronounced: lith-mere. root meaning: lithmiere—to preserve intact, or keep whole; maintain in a state of harmony

  LUHAINE—Sorcerer of the Fellowship of Seven, discorporate since the fall of Telmandir. Luhaine's body was pulled down by the mob while he was in ward trance, covering the escape of the royal heir to Havish. pronounced: loo-hay-ne root meaning: luirhainon—defender

  LYRANTHE—instrument played by the bards of Athera. Strung with fourteen strings, tuned to seven tones (doubled). Two courses are 'drone strings' set to octaves. Five are melody strings, the lower three courses being octaves, the upper two, in unison, pronounced: leer-anth-e (last 'e' being nearly subliminal) root meaning: lyr—song, anthe—box

  LYSAER s'Ilessid—prince of Tysan, 1497th in succession after Halduin, founder of the line in Third Age Year One. Gifted at birth with control of Light, and Bane of Desh-thiere. Also known as Blessed Prince, pronounced: lie-say-er. root meaning: lia—blond, yellow or light, saer—circle

  MAENOL—heir, after Maenalle s'Gannley, Steward and caithdein of Tysan. pronounced: may-nall root meaning: maeni'alli—to patch together

  MAINMERE—town at the head of the Valenford River, located in the principality of Taerlin, Tysan. Built by townsmen on a site originally kept clear to free the second land focus in the ruins farther south. pronounced: main-meer-e ('e' is subliminal) root meaning: maeni—to fall, interrupt; miere—reflection; colloquial translation: 'disrupt continuity'

  MARAK—splinter world, cut off beyond South Gate, left lifeless after creation of the Mistwraith. The original inhabitants were men exiled by the Fellowship from Athera for beliefs or practices that were incompatible with the compact sworn between the Sorcerers and the Paravian races, which permitted human settlement on Athera. pronounced: maer-ak. root meaning: m'era'ki—a place held separate

  MATHORN MOUNTAINS—range that bisects the Kingdom of Rathain east to west, pronounced: math-orn root meaning: mathien—massive

  MATHORN ROAD—way passing to the south of the Mathorn Mountains, leading to the trade city of Etarra from the west, pronounced: math-orn root meaning: mathien—massive

  MEARN s'BRYDION—youngest brother of Duke Bransian of Alestron. Former ducal emissary to Lysaer s'Ilessid's Alliance of Light, pronounced: may-arn root meaning: mierne—to flit

  MEARTH—city through the West Gate in the Red Desert. Inhabitants all fell victim to the Shadows of Mearth, which were created by the Sorcerer Davien to protect the Five Centuries Fountain. The shadows are a light-fueled geas that bind the mind to memory of an individual's most painful experience, pronounced: me-arth root meaning: mearth—empty

  MEDLIR—an alias used by Arithon s'Ffalenn when he was Halliron Masterbard's apprentice, pronounced: med-leer root meaning: midlyr—phrase of melody

  MELHALLA—High Kingdom of Athera once ruled by the line of s'Ellestrion. The last prince died in the crossing of the Red Desert, pronounced: mel-hall-ah. root meaning: maelhallia—grand meadows,'plain, also word for an open space of any sort.

  MELIANE—madam of a house of ill repute in Jaelot. pronounced: mell-ee-an

  MENNIS—a guild minister in Avenor. pronounced: men-iss

  MERIOR BY THE SEA—small seaside fishing village on the Scimlade peninsula in Alland, Shand. Once the temporary site of Arithon's shipyard, pronounced: mare-ee-or root meaning: merioren—cottages

  METHISLE—small body of land in Methlas Lake, site of Methisle fortress in Orvandir. pronounced: meth root meaning: meth—hate

  METHSPAWN—an animal warped by possession by a methuri, an iyat-related parasite that infested live hosts. Extinct by the Third Age, their crossbred, aberrated descendants are called methspawn, found in Mirthlvain Swamp. pronounced: meth root meaning: meth—hate

  METHURI—an iyat-related parasite that infested live hosts, extinct by the Third Age. pronounced: meth-you-ree root meaning: meth'thi—hate wraith

  MIDHALLA—principality located in Kingdom of Melhalla. pronounced: mid-hall-ah. root meaning: maelhallia—grand meadows,'plain

  MIN PIERENS—archipelago to the west of the Kingdom of West Shand, in the Westland Sea. pronounced: min—to rhyme with 'pin,' pierre-ins root meaning: min—purple; pierens—shoreline

  MINDERL BAY—body of water behind Crescent Isle off the east coast of Rathain. Also reference point of a battle where Arithon tricked Lysaer into
burning the trade fleet, pronounced: mind-earl root meaning: minderl—anvil

  MIRALT HEAD—port city in northern Camris, Tysan. pronounced: meer-alt root meaning: m'ier—shore; alt—last

  MITHLVAIN SWAMP—boglands located in Midhalla, Melhalla; filled with dangerous crossbreeds of drake spawn. Guarded by the Master Spellbinder, Verrain. pronounced: mirth-el-vain root meaning: myrthl—noxious; vain—bog, mud

  MISTWRAITH—see Desh-thiere

  MOGG's FEN—marsh located in Korias, Tysan. pronounced: mog's fen root meaning: miog—cattail

  MOIREY—landlady of the Halfmoon Tavern in Innish; also known as Fat Moirey. pronounced: mow-ar-ee

  MORFETT—Lord Governor Supreme of Etarra. pronounced: more-fit

  MORRIEL—Prime Enchantress of the Koriathain since the Third Age 4212. pronounced: more-real root meaning: moar—greed; riel—silver

  MORVAIN—city located in the principality of Araethura, Rathain, on the coast of Instrell Bay. Elaira's birthplace, pronounced: more-vain. root meaning: morvain—swindlers' market

  NARMS—city on the coast of Instrell Bay, built as a craft center by Men in the early Third Age. Best known for dyeworks. pronounced: narms—to rhyme with 'charms' root meaning: narms—color

  ODREY—a merchant courtier in Avenor. pronounced: oh-dree

  ORLAN—pass through the Thaldein Mountains, also location of the Camris clans' west outpost, in Camris, Tysan. Known for barbarian raids, pronounced: or-lan root meaning: irlan—ledge

  ORLEST—galleymen's port on the coast of Korias, Tysan; also known for its salt harvest, pronounced: or-lest root meaning: iorlest—salt OSTERMERE—harbor and trade city, once smugglers' haven, located in Carithwyr, Havish; current seat of Eldir, King of Havish. pronounced: os-tur-mere. root meaning: ostier—brick; miere—reflection

  PARAVIA—name for the fertile continent on Athera. pronounced: par-ray-vee-ah root meaning: para'i'on—great mystery