by Janny Wurts
LEYNSGAP
a narrow pass in the Mathorn Mountains in the Kingdom of Rathain.
pronounced: lay-ens-gap
root meaning: liyond - corridor
LIESSE s'BRYDION
Duchess of Alestron and wife of Duke Bransian.
pronounced: lee-ess
root meaning: Hesse - state of accord, based from the word 'a note in harmony'
LIRENDA
former First Senior Enchantress to the Prime, Koriani Order; failed in her assignment to capture Arithon s'Ffalenn for Koriani purposes. Currently under the Prime Matriarch's sentence of punishment.
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
LOS MAR
a city located in the westshore of Carithwyr, Havish. It's best known for its libraries and scholars. pronounced: loss-mar
root meaning: liosmar - letters, written records
LUHAINE
Sorcerer of the Fellowship of Seven - discorporate since the fall of Telmandir in Third Age Year 5018. 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 since he declared himself avatar.
pronounced: lie-say-er
root meaning: lia - blond, yellow or light; saer - circle
MACHIEL
caithdein of the realm of Havish. In service under High King Eldir at Telmandir.
pronounced: mak-ee-el
root meaning: mierkiel - post, pillar
MAENELLE s'GANNLEY
former steward and caithdein of Tysan; put on trial for outlawry and theft on the trade-roads; executed by Lysaer s'Ilessid at Isaer, Third Age 5645.
pronounced: may-nahl-e (last 'e' is near subliminal) '
root meaning: maeni - to fall, disrupt; alii - to save or preserve/colloquial translation, 'to patch together'
MAENOL
heir, after Maenalle s'Gannley, Steward and caithdein of Tysan.
pronounced: may-nail
root meaning: maeni'alii - to patch together
MAINMERE
town at the head of the Valenford River in Taerlin, Tysan.
pronounced: main-meer
root meaning: maeni - to fall, disrupt; mierereflection, colloquial translation, 'to 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
MARETHA s'CALLIENT
daughter of the caithdein of Melhalla.
pronounced: mar-ee-tha
root meaning: mier'atha - kindly
MATHIELL GATE
last gate to the inner citadel in Alestron, Paravian built to withstand the fires of dragons. It was the Mathiell garrison who secured the span guarding incursion from the Wyntock Gate during the uprising that threatened clan rule in Third Age Year 5018.
pronounced: math-ee-ell
root meaning: mon'thiellen - sky spires
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
MEDLIR
name used by Arithon when he traveled incognito with Halliron Masterbard as apprentice in Third Age Years 5638 through 5647.
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.
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 descended from a host warped by possession by a methuri, an iyat-related parasite that infested live hosts. Though the Methuri were destroyed by the Third Age, their cross-bred, aberrated descendants continue to breed mutant offspring in Mirthlvain Swamp. pronounced: meth
root meaning: meth - hate
METHURI
METHURIEN (plural form) an iyat-related parasite that infested live hosts and altered them for the purpose of creating new hosts. Extinct by the Third Age.
pronounced: meth-you-ree
root meaning: meth'thieri - hate wraith
MIRTHLVAIN SWAMP
bog-lands located in Midhalla, Melhalla; filled with dangerous, cross-breeds engendered from drake spawn. Guarded by the Master Spellbinder, Verrain.
pronounced: mirth-el-vain
root meaning: myrthl - noxious; vain - bog, mud
MISTWRAITH
see Desh-thiere.
MORNOS
town on the westshore of Lithmere, Havish.
pronounced: more-nos
root meaning: moarnosh - a coffer where the greedy store valuables.
MORRIEL
Prime Enchantress of the Koriathain since the Third Age 4212. Instigated the plot to upset the Fellowship's compact which upset the seven magnetic lanes on the continent. Her death on winter solstice 5670 left an irregular succession.
pronounced: more-real
root meaning: moar - greed; riel - silver
NARMS
city on the coast of Install Bay, built as a craft center by Men in the early Third Age. Best known for dyeworks.
pronounced: narms
root meaning: narms - color
NAYLA
young girl taken in by the Koriani Order as a child candidate for initiation.
pronounced: nay-lah
root meaning: nayl - lack
ODREY
a merchant courtier and member of the regent's council in Avenor.
pronounced: oh-dree
not from the Paravian
ORLAN
pass through the Thaldein Mountains, also location of the Camris's clans hidden outpost, located in Camris, Tysan.
pronounced: or-lan
root meaning: irlan
- ledge
ORVANDIR
principality located in north-eastern Shand.
pronounced: or-van-deer
root meaning: orvein - crumbled; dir - stone
PARAVIAN
name for the three old races that inhabited Athera before Mankind. Including the centaurs, the sunchildren, and the unicorns, these races never die unless mishap befalls them; they are the world's channel, or direct connection, to Ath Creator.
pronounced: par-ai-vee-ans
root meaning: para - great; i'on - fate or great mystery
PARRIEN s'BRYDION
younger brother of Duke Bransian s'Brydion of Alestron, Keldmar, and older brother of Mearn. Broke Arithon's leg in Third Age Year 5654, and in restitution awarded Rathain's prince the service of two s'Brydion retainers, Talvish and Vhandon.
pronounced: par-ee-on
root meaning: para ient - great dart
PRANDEY
term for gelded pleasure boy.
pronounced: pran-dee
not from the Paravian
QUAID
trade town in Carithwyr, Havish, lying inland along the trade-road from Los Mar to Redburn. Famous for fired clay and brick.
pronounced: qu-wade
root meaning: cruaid - a clay used for brickmaking
QUARN
town on the trade-road that crosses Caithwood in Taerlin, Tysan.
pronounced: kwarn
root meaning: quarin - ravine, canyon
QUINOLD
Lord Chancellor of Avenor and a member of Lysaer's regent's council.
pronounced: kwin-old
root meaning: quen - one who is narrow-minded
RADMOORE DOWNS
meadow lands in Midhalla, Melhalla.
pronounced: rad-more
root meaning: riad - thread; mour - carpet, rug
RAIETT RAVEN
brother of the Mayor of Hanshire; uncle of Sulfin Evend. Considered a master statesman and a bringer of wars. Currently serving as High Chancellor of Etarra, ruling in the absence of the ratified mayor.
pronounced: rayett
root meaning: raiett - carrion-bird
RATHAIN
High Kingdom of Athera ruled by descendants of Torbrand s'Ffalenn since Third Age Year One. Device: black-and-silver leopard on green field. Arithon Teir's'Ffalenn is sanctioned crown prince, by the hand of Asandir of the Fellowship, in Third Age Year 5638 at Etarra.
pronounced: rath-ayn
root meaning: roth - brother; thein - tower, sanctuary
RAUVEN TOWER
home of the s'Ahelas mages who brought up Arithon s'Ffalenn and trained him to the ways of power. Located on the splinter world, Dascen Elur, through West Gate.
pronounced: raw-ven
root meaning: rauven - invocation
REDBURN
town located in a deep inlet in the northern shore of Rockbay Harbor in Havistock, Havish.
pronounced: red-burn
root meaning not from the Paravian
RIATHAN PARAVIANS
unicorns, the purest, most direct connection to Ath Creator; the prime vibration channels directly through the horn.
pronounced: ree-ah-than
root meaning: ria - to touch; ath - prime life-force; an - one; ri'athon - one who touches divinity
RTVERTON
trade town at the mouth of the Ilswater River, in Korias, Tysan; once the site of Lysaer's royal shipyard, before the site burned in Third Age Year 5654.
ROCKBAY HARBOR
body of water located on the southcoast, between Shand and West Shand.
ROCKFELL PEAK
mountain containing Rockfell Pit, used to imprison harmful entities throughout all three Ages. Located in West Halla, Melhalla; became the warded prison for Desh-thiere.
pronounced: rock-fell
root meaning not from the Paravian
s'AHELAS
family name for the royal line appointed by the Fellowship Sorcerers in Third Age Year One to rule the High Kingdom of Shand. Gifted geas: far-sight.
pronounced: s'ah-hell-as
root meaning: ahelas - mage-gifted
s'BRYDION
ruling line of the Dukes of Alestron. The only old blood clansmen to maintain rule of a fortified city through the uprising that defeated the rule of the high kings.
pronounced: s'bride-ee-on
root meaning: baridien - tenacity
s'CALLIENT
lineage of the caithdeinen of Melhalla, Fellowship chosen to succeed s'Dieneval after the fall of Tirans.
pronounced: scal-lee-ent
root meaning: caillient - most extreme form of fixed or stubborn - immovable
SANPASHIR
desert waste on the southcoast of Shand. Home to the desert tribes.
pronounced: sahn-pash-eer
root meaning: san - black or dark; fash'era - place of grit or gravel
SANSHEVAS
town on the south shore in Alland, Shand, known for citrus, sugar, and rum.
pronounced: san-shee-vas
root meaning: san - black; shievas - flint
SCARPDALE
waste in Lanshire, Havish, created by a First Age war with Seardluin. Site of the Scarpdale grimward.
pronounced: scarp-dale
not from the Paravian
SCIMLADE TIP
peninsula at the south-east corner of Alland, Shand.
pronounced: skim-laid
root meaning: scimlait - curved knife or scythe
SECOND AGE
Marked by the arrival of the Fellowship of Seven at Crater Lake, their called purpose to fight the drake spawn.
s'DIENEVAL
lost lineage of the caithdeinen of Melhalla, the last to carry the title being Egart, who died at the side of his high king in the battle to subdue the Mistwraith. The blood line carried strong talent for prophecy, and was decimated during the sack of Tirans in the uprising in Third Age Year 5018, with Egan's pregnant wife the sole survivor. Her daughter, Meiglin was mother of Dari s'Ahelas, crown heir of Shand.
pronounced: s-dee-in-ee-vahl
root meaning: dien - large; eval - endowment, gifted talent
SELIDIE
young woman initiate appointed by Morriel Prime as a candidate in training for succession. Succeeded to the office of Prime Matriarch after Morriel's death on winter solstice in Third Age Year 5670, at which time an unprincipled act of possession usurped the young woman's body.
pronounced: sell-ih-dee
root meaning: selyadi - air sprite
SELKWOOD
forest located in Alland, Shand.
pronounced: selk-wood
root meaning: selk - pattern
s'ELLESTRION
lineage of the High Kings of Melhalla, died out in the course of the uprising in Third Age Year 5018. Gifted geas: wisdom.
pronounced: sell-ess-tree-on
root meaning: eliestrion - inspiration, from the word elya - air
SETHVIR
Sorcerer of the Fellowship of Seven, also trained to serve as Warden of Althain since Third Age 5100, when the last centaur guardian departed after the Mistwraith's conquest.
pronounced: seth-veer
root meaning: seth - fact; vaer - keep
SEVRAND s'BRYDION
heir-designate of Duke Bransian of Alestron.
pronounced: sev-rand
root meaning: sevaer'an'd - one who travels behind, a follower
s'FFALENN
family name for the royal line appointed by the Fellowship Sorcerers in Third Age Year One to rule the High Kingdom of Rathain. Gifted geas: compassion,'empathy.
pronounced: s-fal-en
root meaning: ffael - dark; an - one
s'GANNLEY
lineage of the Earls of the West, once the Camris princes, now bearing the heritage of caithdein of Tysan. Iamine s'Gannley was the woman founder.
pronounced: sgan-lee
root meaning: gaen - guide; li - exalted or in harmony
town located on the Scimlade Tip in Alland, Shand.
pronounced: shad-dorn
root meaning: shaddiern - sea-turtle
SHAND
High Kingdom on the south-east corner of the Paravian continent, originally ruled by the line of s'Ahelas. Current device, purple-and-gold chevrons, since the adjunct kingdom of West Shand came under high crown rule. The old device was a falcon on a crescent moon, sometimes still showed, backed by the more recent purple-and-gold chevrons.
pronounced: shand - as in 'hand'
root meaning: shayn or shiand - two,'pair
SHIPSPORT
city located on the Bay of Eltair in the principality of West Halla, Melhalla.
SIDIR
one of the Companions, "who were the fourteen boys to survive the Battle of Strakewood. Served Arithon at the Battle of Dier Kenton Vale, and the Havens. Second-in-command of Earl Jieret's war-band.
pronounced: see-deer
root meaning: i'sid'i'er - one who has stood at the verge of being lost.
s'ILESSID
family name for the royal line appointed by the Fellowship Sorcerers in Third Age Year One to rule the High Kingdom of Tysan. Gifted geas: justice.
pronounced: s-ill-ess-id
root meaning: liessiad - balance
SIMSHANE'S HOUSE OF EXOTIC DELIGHTS
disreputable brothel located in Etarra, renowned for vice and peddling prandeys.
pronounced: sim-shane
not from the Paravian
SITHAER
mythological equivalent of hell, halls of Dharkaron Avenger's judgment; according to Ath's adepts, that state of being where the prime vibration is not recognized.
pronounced: sith-air
root meaning: sid - lost; thiere - wraith/spirit
SKYRON FOCUS
large aquamarine focus stone, used by the Koriani Senior Circle for their major magic after the loss of the Great Waystone during the rebellion. pronounced: sky-run
root meaning: skyron - colloquialism for shackle; s'kyr'i'on - literally 'sorrowful fate'
SKYSHIELS
mountain range that runs north and south along the eastern coast of Rathain.
pronounced: sky-shee-ells
root meaning: skyshia - to pierce through; iel - ray
SOUTHSHIRE
town on the southcoast of Alland, Shand, known for shipbuilding.
pronounced: south-shire
not from the Paravian
SPIRE
town with a hostel of Ath's Brotherhood, located on the southcoast in Havistock, Havish.
s'TALEYN
lineage of the caithdeinen of Shand.