by Janny Wurts
DESH-THIERE – Mistwraith that invaded Athera from the splinter worlds through South Gate in Third Age year 4993. Access cut off by Fellowship sorcerer, Traithe. Battled and contained in West Shand for twenty-five years, until the rebellion splintered the peace, and the high kings were forced to withdraw from the defence lines to attend their disrupted kingdoms.
pronounced: desh-thee-air-e (last e mostly subliminal)
root meaning: desh – mist; thiere – ghost or wraith
DESHANS – barbarian clans who inhabit Strakewood Forest, principality of Deshir, Rathian.
pronounced: desh-ee-ans
root meaning: deshir – misty
DESHIR – northwestern principality of Rathain
pronounced: desh-eer
root meaning: deshir – misty
DHARKARON AVENGER – called Ath’s Avenging Angel in legend. Drives a chariot drawn by five horses to convey the guilty to Sithaer. Dharkaron as defined by Ath’s adepts is that dark thread mortal men weave with Ath, the prime vibration, that creates self-punishment, or the root of guilt.
pronounced: dark-air-on
root meaning: dhar – evil; khiaron – one who stands in judgement
DIEGAN – Lord Commander of Etarra’s garrison. Titular commander of the war host sent against the Deshans to defeat the Master of Shadows.
pronounced: dee-gan
root meaning: diegan – trinket a dandy might wear/ornament
DURMAENIR – centaur, son of the armourer who forged the twelve Blades of Isaer. Sword Alithiel was fashioned for Durmaenir, who died in battle against Khadrim in the Second Age.
pronounced: dur-may-e-neer
root meaning: dir – stone; maenien – fallen
EAST WARD – city in Fallowmere, Rathain, renowned as a port that served the trade-route to Etarra from the Cildein Ocean.
pronounced: ward
no Paravian root meaning as this city was man’s creation
EDAL – next to youngest daughter, Steiven and Dania s’Valerient
pronounced: ee-doll
root meaning: e’ prefix, diminutive for small; dal – fair
ELAIRA – initiate enchantress of the Koriathain. Originally a street child, bought up in Morvain for Koriani rearing.
pronounced: ee-layer-ah
root meaning:e’ prefix, diminutive for small; laere – grace
ELDIR s’LORNMEIN – prince of Havish and last surviving scion of s’Lornmein royal line. Raised as a wool-dyer until the Fellowship sorcerers train him for kingship following the defeat of the Mistwraith.
pronounced: el-deer
root meaning: eldir – to ponder, to consider, to weigh
ELSHIAN – Athlien Paravian bard and instrument maker. Crafted the lyranthe that is held in trust by Athera’s Masterbard.
pronounced: el-shee-an
root meaning: e’alshian – small wonder, or miracle
ELTAIR BAY – large bay off Cildein Ocean and east coast of Rathain; where river Severnir was diverted following the Mistwraith’s conquest.
pronounced: el-tay-er
root meaning: al’tieri – of steel/a shortening of original Paravian name, dascen al’tieri which meant ‘ocean of steel’ which referred to the colour of the waves.
ELWEDD – clansman under Steiven’s rule. Wagered Halliron Masterbard that Arithon s’Ffalenn had poor swordsmanship.
pronounced: el-wet
root meaning: el – short; weth – sight
ENASTIR – Sunchild, Paravian high king. Son and heir of Lithorn. Ruled in the early Second Age until his death on the talons of Great Gethorn.
pronounced: ee-nas-teer
root meaning: e’ prefix for small; nastir – warrior
ENITHEN TUER – seeress in residence, city of Erdane. Where Asandir stays while passing through Camris, Tysan.
pronounced: en-ith-en too-er
root meaning: en ‘wethen – farsighted; tuer – crone
ERDANE – old Paravian city, later taken over by men. Seat of earls 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
FALLOWMERE – Northeastern principality of Rathain
pronounced: fal-oh-meer
root meaning: fal-ei-miere literally, tree self reflection – colloquialism for ‘place of perfect trees’
FALMUIR – city, once in Kingdom of Melhalla, ruined during a war of succession/never rebuilt. Princess of Falmuir subject of a ballad that Halliron uses to illustrate a point to Caolle after the Battle of Strakewood.
pronounced: fal-mu-ear
root meaning: ffael – dark; muir – cause
FELIRIN – minstrel who joins Asandir’s party enroute to Erdane
pronounced: fell-eer-in
root meaning: fel – red lyron – singer
FELLOWSHIP OF SEVEN – sorcerers sworn to uphold the Laws of the Major Balance, and to foster enlightened thought in Athera
FFERETON s’DARIEN – centaur armourer who forged the Twelve Blades of Isaer, among them, Alithiel.
pronounced: fair-et-on
root meaning: ffereton – craftsman/master-maker
GHENT – mountainous principality in Kingdom of Havish; where prince Eldir was raised in hiding
pronounced: gent, hard g
root meaning: ghent – harsh
GNUDSOG – Etarra’s field-captain of the garrison under Lord Commander Diegan; acting first officer in the battle of Strakewood Forest
pronounced: nud-sug to rhyme with ‘wood log’
root meaning: gianud – tough sog – ugly
GRITHEN – last descendent, earls of Erdane. Leader of the raid on Asandir’s party in the Pass of Orlan.
pronounced: gri-then, rhymes with ‘with hen’
root meaning: kierth – mistake; an – one
HADIG – commander of archers, Etarra City Garrison
pronounced: hay-dig
root meaning not from Paravian
HALDUIN s’ILESSID – founder of the line that became high kings of Tysan since Third Age year 1. The attribute he passed on, by means of the Fellowship’s geas, was justice.
pronounced: hal-dwin
root meaning: hal – white; duinne – hand
HALLIRON MASTERBARD – Masterbard of Athera during the Third Age; inherited the accolade from his teacher, Murchiel in the year 5597.
pronounced: hal-eer-on
root meaning: hal – white; lyron – singer
HALMEIN – statue of centaur king, one of the twins who founded the Ilitharis Paravian royal line in the First Age. The carving forms the left side of the arch of Standing Gate on the road leading east into the Pass of Orlan, principality of Camris, Tysan.
pronounced: hal-may-in
root meaning: hal – white; mein – haired
HANSHIRE – port city on Westland Sea, coast of Korias, Tysan. Where enchantress Elaira is stationed following her escapade at the Ravens Inn.
pronounced: han-sheer
root meaning: hansh – sand; era – place
HAVISH – one of the Five High Kingdoms of Athera, as defined by the charters of the Fellowship of Seven. Ruled by the s’Lornmein royal line. Sigil: gold hawk on red field
pronounced: hav-ish
root meaning: havieshe – hawk
HAVISTOCK – southeast principality of Kingdom of Havish.
pronounced: hav-i-stock
root meaning: haviesha – hawk; tiok – roost
IDRIEN – Jieret’s companion on the raid in which they take Halliron Masterbard captive on the road south from Ward.
pronounced: i-dree-en
root meaning: e’ – prefix for small; drien – partner
ILITHARIS PARAVIANS – centaurs, one of three semi-mortal old races; disappeared at the time of the Mistwraith’s conquest.
pronounced: i-li-thar-is
root meaning: i’lith’earis – the keeper/preserver of mystery
IMARN ADAER – enclave of Paravian gem-cutters in the city of Mearth, who dispersed in the times of the Curse which destroyed the inhabitants. The secrets of their trade were lost with them. Surviving works include the crown jewels of the Five High Kingdoms of Athera, cut as focus-stones which attune to the heir of the royal lines.
pronounced: i-marn-a-day-er
root meaning: imarn – crystal; e’daer – to cut smaller
INSTRELL BAY – body of water off the Gulf of Stormwell, that separates principality of Atainia, Tysan, with Deshir, Rathain.
pronounced: in-strell
root meaning: arin’streal – strong-wind
ISAER – power focus, built during the First Age, in Atainia, Tysan, to source the defence-works at the Paravian keep of the same name.
pronounced: i-say-er
root meaning: i’saer – the circle
ITHAMON – city built on a fifth lane power-node in Daon Ramon Barrens, Rathain. Originally a Paravian keep; 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
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
JIERET s’VALERIENT – son and heir of Lord Steiven, clan chief of Deshir, earl of the north and caithdein of Rathain. Bloodpacted to Arithon Teir’s’Ffalenn prior to battle of Strakewood Forest.
pronounced: jeer-et
root meaning: jieret – thorn
KARFAEL – trader town on the coast of the Westland Sea, in Tysan. Built by townsmen as a trade port after the fall of the high kings of Tysan. Prior to Desh-thiere’s conquest, the site was kept clear of buildings to allow the second lane forces to flow untrammelled across the focus site at Avenor.
pronounced: kar-fay-el
root meaning: kar’i’ffael – literal translation ‘twist the dark’ /colloquialism for ‘intrigue’
KARMAK – plain located in the northern portion of the principality of Camris, Tysan. Site of numerous First Age battles where Paravian forces opposed Khadrim packs that bred in volcanic sites in the northern Tornir Peaks.
pronounced: kar-mack
root meaning: karmak – wolf
KARTHAN – kingdom in splinter world Dascen Elur, through West Gate, ruled by the pirate kings, s’Ffalenn descendants of the prince sent into exile at the time of the Mistwraith’s conquest.
pronounced: karth-an
root meaning: kar’eth’an – one who raids/pirate
KARTHISH – from Karthan, term denoting nationality
pronounced: karth-ish
root meaning: kar’eth’an – pirate
KELSING – town immediately south of Erdane, located in Camris, Tysan. Nearest inhabited site to the old earl’s court which served as summer quarters for the Koriani Prime and her Senior Circle at the time of Lysaer and Arithon’s arrival through West Gate.
pronounced: kel-sing
root meaning: kel – hidden; seng – cave
KHADRIM – flying, firebreathing reptiles that were the scourge of the Second Age. By the Third Age, they had been driven back and confined in a warded 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 levelled 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.
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’
KIELING TOWER – one of the four Compass Point or Sun Towers standing at Ithamon, Daon Ramon Barrens, Rathain. The warding virtue that binds its stones is Compassion.
pronounced: kee-el-ing
root meaning: kiel’ien – root for pity, with suffix added translates to 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 eight 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 channel keyed to the Prime’s control.
pronounced: kor-ee-ah-thain (thain rhymes with ‘main’)
root meaning: koriath – order; ain – belonging to
LANSHIRE – northwestern principality of Havish. Name taken from wastes at Scarpdale, site of First Age battles with Seardluin that seared the soil to a slag waste.
pronounced: lahn-sheer-e (last e is nearly subliminal)
root meaning: lan ‘hansh ‘era – place of hot sands
LIRENDA – First Senior Enchantress to the Prime, Koriani order; Morriel’s intended successor.
pronounced: leer-end-ah
root meaning: lyron – singer; di-ia a dissonance (the dash denotes a glottal stop)
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 1. 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
MADREIGH – senior scout, Deshir clans. One of the eleven who stood to Jieret’s defence in the battle of Strakewood Forest.
pronounced: mah-dree-ah (ah is near subliminal)
root meaning: madrien – staunch
MAENALLE s’GANNLEY – Steward and caithdein of Tysan.