TWOLAS - 02 - The Ships of Merior

by Janny Wurts

  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.

  pronounced: lie-say-er

  root meaning: lia - blond, yellow or light, saer - circle

  MACHIEL - steward and caithdein of the realm of Havish. In service under King Eldir.

  pronounced: mak-ee-el

  root meaning: mierkiel - post, pillar

  MAENELLE s'GANNLEY - steward and caithdein of Tysan.

  pronounced: may-nahl-e (last 'e' is near subliminal)

  root meaning: maeni - to fall, disrupt; alli - 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'alli -'to patch together'

  MAIEN - nickname for Maenalle's grandson, Maenol.

  pronounced: my-en

  root meaning: maien -mouse

  MAGYRE - scholar who discovered the secret of black powder. In accordance with the Fellowship sorcerers' compact, he was forced to give up his studies, but a copy of his papers survived.

  pronounced: mag-wire

  root meaning: magiare - a chaotic force

  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 further south.

  pronounced: main-meer-e ('e' is subliminal)

  root meaning: maeni - to fall, interrupt; miere - reflection, colloquial translation: 'disrupt continuity'

  MARL - Earl of Fallowmere and clan chieftain at the time of the battle of Strakewood Forest.

  pronounced: marl

  root meaning: marle - quartz rock

  MATHORN MOUNTAINS - range that bisects the Kingdom of Rathain east to west.

  pronounced: Mathorn

  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-om

  root meaning: mathien -massive

  MEARN s'BRYDION - youngest brother of Duke Bransian of Alestron.

  pronounced: may-am

  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 Fellowship sorcerer Davien to protect the Five Centuries Fountain. The Shadows are a light-fuelled geas that bind the mind to memory of an individual's most painful experience.

  pronounced: me-arth

  root meaning: mearth -empty

  MEDLIR -name carried by Arithon s'Ffalenn while he travelled incognito as Halliron'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.

  MELOR RIVER - located in the principality of Korias, Tysan. Its mouth forms the harbour for the port town of West End.

  pronounced: mel-or

  root meaning: maeliur -fish

  MERIOR BY THE SEA -small seaside fishing village on the Scimlade peninsula in Alland, Shand. Site of Arithon's shipyard.

  pronounced: mare-ee-or

  root meaning: merioren -cottages

  METH ISLE KEEP - old Paravian fortress located on the isle in Methlas Lake in southern Melhalla. Kept by Verrain, Guardian of Mirthlvain. Contains a fifth lane power focus and dungeons where methuri, or hatewraiths, were held temporarily captive before transfer to Rockfell Pit.

  pronounced: meth isle

  root meaning: meth - hate

  METHLAS LAKE - large body of fresh water located in the principality of Radmoor, Melhalla.

  pronounced: meth-las

  root meaning: meth'ilass'an - the drowned, or sunken ones

  METH-SNAKES - crossbred genetic mutations left over from a First Age drake-spawned creature called a methuri /hate-wraith/. Related to iyats, these creatures possessed live hosts, which they infested and induced to produce mutated offspring to create weakened lines of stock to widen their choice of potential host animals.

  pronounced: meth to rhyme with 'death'

  root meaning: meth - hate

  METHURI - drake spawned, and iyat-related parasite that infested live host animals. By the Third Age, they are extinct, but their mutated host stock continues to breed in Mirthlvain Swamp.

  pronounced: meth-yoor-ee

  root meaning: meth - hate; thiere - wraith, or spirit

  MINDERL BAY - body of water behind Crescent Isle off the east coast of Rathain.

  pronounced: mind-earl

  root meaning: minderl - anvil

  MIRALT - port city in northern Camris, Tysan.

  pronounced: meer-alt

  root meaning: m'ier - shore; alt - last

  MIRTHLVAIN SWAMP - boglands filled with dangerous crossbreeds, located south of the Tiriac Mountains in principality of Midhalla, Melhalla. Never left unwatched. Since conquest of the Mistwraith, the appointed guardian was the spellbinder, Verrain.

  pronounced: mirth-el-vain

  root meaning: myrthl - noxious; vain - bog/mud

  MORFETT - Lord Governor Supreme of Etarra at the time the Fellowship sought to restore Rathain's monarchy following the captivity of the Mistwraith, and during the muster for the war host against Arithon.

  pronounced: more-fet no

  root meaning from the Paravian

  MORRIEL - Prime Enchantress of the Koriathain since the Third Age Year 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 centre by men in the early Third Age. Best known for dyeworks.

  pronounced: narms, to rhyme with 'charms'

  root meaning: narms - colour

  ORLAN - pass through the Thaldein Mountains, also location of the Camris clans' west outpost, in Camris, Tysan. Known for barbarian raids.

  pronounced: or-Ian

  root meaning: irlan - ledge

  ORVANDIR - principality located in northeastern Shand.

  pronounced: or-van-deer

  root meaning: orvein - crumbled; dir - stone

  OSTERMERE - harbour and trade city, once smugglers' haven, located in Carythwyr, Havish; current seat of Eldir, King of Havish.

  pronounced: os-tur-mere

  root meaning: ostier - brick; miere - reflection

  PARAVIAN - name for the three old races that inhabited Athera before Men. 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 - second youngest brother
of Duke Bransian of Alestron; older brother of Mearn, younger brother of Keldmar.

  pronounced: par-ee-en

  root meaning: para - great; ient - dart

  PASYVIER - meadows in Korias, Tysan, where clanblood drifters raise horses.

  pronounced: pass-ee-vee-er

  root meaning: pas'e'vier - hidden little vale

  PERLORN - city in Fallowmere, Rathain on the trade road midway between Etarra and Werpoint.

  pronounced: pur-lom

  root meaning: perlorn - midpoint

  PESQUIL - Mayor of the Northern League of Headhunters, at the time of the battle of Strakewood Forest. His strategies cause the Deshir clans the most punishing losses.

  pronounced: pes-quil, like 'pest quill'

  root meaning not from the Paravian

  PRANDEY- Shandian term for gelded pleasure boy.

  pronounced: pran-dee meaning not from the Paravian

  QUAID - trade city in Carithwyr, Tysan; inland along the trade road from Losmar to Redburn. Famous for fired clay and brick.

  pronounced: quaid, to rhyme with 'staid'

  root meaning: cruaid - a specific form of clay used for brickmaking

  RADMOORE DOWNS - meadowlands in Midhalla, Melhalla.

  pronounced: rad-more

  root meaning: riad - thread; mour - carpet, rug

  RATHAIN - High Kingdom of Athera ruled by descendants of Torbrand s'Ffalenn since Third Age Year One. Sigil: black and silver leopard on green field.

  pronounced: rath-ayn

  root meaning: roth - brother; them - 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

  RENWORT - plant native to Athera. A poisonous mash can be brewed from the berries.

  pronounced: ren-wart

  root meaning: renwarin - poison

  RIATHAN PARAVIANS - unicorns, the purest and 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; ri'athon - one who touches divinity

  ROCKFELL PIT - deep shaft cut into Rockfell Peak, used to imprison harmful entities throughout all three ages. Located in the principality of West Halla, Melhalla; became the warded prison for Desh-thiere.

  pronounced: rock-fell

  root meaning not from the Paravian

  ROCKFELL VALE - valley below Rockfell Peak, located in principality of West Halla, Melhalla.

  pronounced: rockfell vale

  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: farsight.

  pronounced: s'ah-hell-as

  root meaning: ahelas - mage-gifted

  SANPASHIR - desert waste on the souhoast of Shand.

  pronounced: sahn-pash-eer

  root meaning: san - black or dark; pash'era - place of grit or gravel

  SAVRID - merchant brig chartered to transport armed men from Minderl Bay to Merior.

  pronounced: sahv-rid

  root meaning: savrid -thrifty

  s'BRYDION - ruling line of the Dukes of Alestron. The only old blood clansmen to maintain rule of their city through the uprising that defeated the rule of the high kings.

  pronounced: s'bride-ee-on

  root meaning: baridien - tenacity

  SCIMLADE TIP - peninsula at the southeast corner of Alland, Shand.

  pronounced: skim-laid

  root meaning: scimlait - curved knife or scythe

  SEARDLUIN - drake-spawned, vicious, intelligent cat-like predators that roved in packs whose hierarchy was arranged for ruthless and efficient slaughter of other living things. By the middle of the Second Age, they had been battled to extinction.

  pronounced: seard-lwin

  root meaning: seard - bearded; luin - feline

  SECOND AGE - Marked by the arrival of the Fellowship of Seven at Crater Lake, their called purpose to fight the drake spawn.

  SETHVIR - Sorcerer of the Fellowship of Seven, served as Warden of Althain since the disappearance of the Paravians in the Third Age after the Mistwraith's conquest.

  pronounced: seth-veer

  root meaning: seth - fact; vaer - keep

  SELKWOOD - forest located in Alland, Shand.

  pronounced: sellk-wood

  root meaning: selk - pattern

  SEVERNIR -river that once ran across the central part of Daon Ramon Barrens, Rathain. Diverted at the source after the Mistwraith's conquest, to run east into Eltair Bay.

  pronounced: se-ver-neer

  root meaning: sevaer - to travel; nir - south

  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: fal-en

  root meaning: ffael - dark, an - one

  s'GANNLEY family name for the line of Earls of the West, who stood as caithdein and stewards for the Kings of Tysan.

  pronounced: gan-lee

  root meaning: gaen - to guide; li - exalted, or in harmony

  SHADDORN - trade city located on the Scimlade peninsula in Alland, Shand.

  pronounced: shad-dom

  root meaning: shaddiern - a type of sea turtle

  SHAND - High Kingdom on the southeast corner of the Paravian continent, originally ruled by the line of s'Ahelas. Device is falcon on a crescent moon, backed by purple and gold chevrons.

  pronounced: shand, as in 'hand'

  root meaning: shiand - two/pair

  SHANDIAN - refers to nationality, being of the Kingdom of Shand.

  pronounced: shand-ee-an

  root meaning: shand -two SHIP'S PORT- town on the coast of Eltair Bay located in West Halla, Melhalla.

  SICKLE BAY - body of water located inside the Scimlade Peninsula in Alland, Shand.

  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

  SITHAER - mythological equivalent of hell, halls of Dharkaron Avenger's judgement; 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; skyr'i'on - literally 'sorrowful fate'

  SKYSHIEL - mountain range that runs north to south along the eastern coast of Rathain.

  pronounced: sky-shee-el

  root meaning: skyshia - to pierce through iel - light/ray

  s'LORNMEIN - family name for the royal line appointed by the Fellowship sorcerers in Third Age Year One to rule the High Kingdom of Havish. Gifted geas: temperance.

  pronounced: s-lom-main

  root meaning: hernmein - to centre, or restrain, or bring into balance

  SORCERERS' PRESERVE- warded territory located by Teal's Gap in Tornir Peaks in Tysan where the Khadrim are kept confined by Fellowship magic.

  STEIVEN - Earl of the North, caithdein and regent to the Kingdom of Rathain at the time of Arithon Teir's'Ffalenn's return. Chieftain of the Deshans until his death in the battle of Strakewood Forest. Jieret Redbeard's father.