The Curse of the Mistwraith

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.