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Floreskand_King

Page 43

by Morton Faulkner


  Gamen – hundred soldiers plus one officer

  Garstigg – large rodent-like creatures with long hairy snouts and vicious claws on the end of fore-feet; found burrowing in the schwarm tunnels, scavenging for insects and rats. Very small red eyes. They prey on schwarm, so the Ratava hunt them to protect their ‘flock’.

  Gods – see glossary V

  Gor-manov prison outbreak – Gor-manov was a serial killer of renown; he escaped prison before he could be sentenced, and took with him fifty inmates who spread far and wide throughout Floreskand.

  Grass-weed – used to smoke, a sweet delicate blend of plains-grass that smoked delightfully

  Gild – Guild. The vast majority of common people belong to some kind of gild, be it religious, merchant, or craft. Most infamous illegal gild is the assassins’ gild. Merchant Gilds regulate trade monopoly. Gildsmen form the greater part of the militia. Gildsmen also take up vendettas on behalf of members’ families.

  Hartwood – hardwood, but not as strong as ironwood, but cheaper…

  Hidges – midges that transmit hrzia (qv)

  Hrzia – a nasty parasite; eggs laid by hidges. A worm of the marshes, a parasite that ravages the pelvic region of human hosts.

  Innman – Landlord or innkeeper; always the owner of the inn, not his staff or managers

  Inner-godder – slang for follower of the Inner God (qv Glossary E)

  Kellan-Mesqa – see Devastators

  Launmark – measurement – equivalent to .8 mile (1.3km)

  Lhoretsorel – Famed sorcerer, reputed author of the Book of Concealed Mystery

  Lornwater - Also called the Three Cities, comprising The Old City, the Second City, and the New City. Founded in 959AC

  Lugarzos – natural predators of schwarms, reptilian bipedal, ‘missing link’? The large tail indicates that they were once surface dwellers; it was used as a weapon and also for counter-balance, and for turning rapidly. When they moved underground the tail was less useful in narrow passages so they developed hands and the ability to make rudimentary tools.

  Madurava – compass; Floreskandian compasses are enormous. There are no portable ones. They are kept in Madurava Houses, usually one per city, administers by Sisters. (See Glossary C)

  Manderranmeron Fault – Geological fault running the length of Floreskand and containing the four fault volcanoes: Danumne, Astle, Altohey and Olarian

  Mark – measurement – equivalent to 50 inches (127cm); see launmark

  Melog – a blasphemous creature, magically created from inanimate matter.

  Meshanel – Jahdemor’s prophet (786-900AC).

  Mindsaur – Leaves, shoots or resin of the saur plant, smoked as an intoxicant

  Mind-reach – telepathy; usually by an adept Sardan

  Mind-snatch – hypnotise; usually by an adept Sardan

  Moonseed – similar to curare

  Mudstahls – reed houses; Kellan-Mesqa derivation: mudst – reeds and qahl – house

  Myndrachon – group of Ratava, followers of Arqitor, found under the mountains and land

  Nhyrachon – group of Ratava, followers of Nikkonslor, found under the cities; narrow slits for eyes, large noses, protruding ears, and pronounced brows overshadow eyes.

  Nightcrawlers – huge noisy toads

  Orm – measurement of time: there are 20 orms per cycle, ten in the day, ten in the night; 1 orm is the equivalent of 1 hour 12 minutes.

  Palace Guard – all ranks in the Palace Guard are honorary. Each member of the Guard holds an Officer rank in the regular army (for example, Crossis is a General and Aco is a Commander).

  Paper – see reedpaper

  Parchment – common alternative to reedpaper

  Pledger – food taster

  Quotamantir - The great sorcerer from Kclenand. (Born ? – Died ?) Prominent 542-556AC

  Ranmeron Empire – Situated at the edge of the Mists; culturally different to the cities of Floreskand. Tarakanda

  Ratava – the Underpeople

  Red Tellar Inn – straddles sectors 26 and 21 in the New City, centre of Marron Square. It was built before walls were constructed around the New City were completed (1502), when the area was known as Miners’ Town.

  Reedpaper – expensive paper, used exclusively by the affluent.

  Roumer – messengers

  Saelac – poison, obtained from the saelworm, undetectable by taste, slow-acting

  Saptor – female messenger bird; bred in pairs, male protects the female

  Saptorman – birdman in charge of messenger birds

  Sardan – secret sect

  Schwarms – tunnelling worms

  Scragrak – underground creature hunted to extinction by the many Ratava tribes; they use the horn to summon the other tribes to their aid.

  Scribe – fane clerk. Any recorder of archives

  Sekor – Type of flower, with octagonal petals; regarded with religious significance, each god being given a different coloured sekor as an emblem.

  Shadowmen – skilled in the art of concealment; mercenaries.

  Shagunblend – Combustible tar-like substance, a method of illumination

  Shomshur spider – originally from Shomshurakand; its sac contains a potent poison that can paralyse a human

  Sianlar – City founded in 1160. The fane of the Overlord was built here in 1241; situated on the Varteron Edge and has become a place of pilgrimage; it is said the dead reside here, too

  Smalt – Glass derived from the treatment of cobalt ore

  Snatchbird – scavenger birds, usually white

  Spyglass – a primitive version of the farscope; not capable of viewing over great distance

  Squares – a boardgame, played usually with wooden pieces on a checkered board

  Stionery – Weather prediction. Derived from a small chamelion called a stion, which changes colour with atmospheric pressure changes

  Surtian lizard – reptile that is always white, even when cooked; makes croaking alarm sound

  Sward-snake – a delicacy found in the grasslands; best seered over a camp-fire

  Taal – lake

  Taalland – Country of lakes and marshes; some contain warm water and an abundance of fish; homeland of the Tramaloma Devastators (qv)

  Taalcerr – water snake, poisonous, its back marked by bright red zig-zags on its green scales; Kellan-Mesqa derivation: taal – lake and cerros – snakes – commonly known as zigzag.

  Taalmuk – special mud used to ward off the attentions of hidges and other insects.

  Taalruff – water buffalo animal, domesticated; Kellan-Mesqa derivation: taal - lake and ruffos – cattle

  Tangakol – Devastator shaman

  Tanlin, the – The Holy Book: The Book of the Living

  Tarakanda – the Ranmeron Empire

  Tatrivan – sedan chair

  Teen – river

  Toran – ancestral home; often a castle or fortress

  Toumen – in military terms, 10,000 men

  Tripdoor – a mangate or wicket gate, often a small door found within a larger door; or a separate small door.

  Troop – usually refers to 50 soldiers or horsemen; a half-gamen (qv)

  Underpeople – people who are never seen or heard; feared, perhaps mythical, inhabitants of the waterlogged disused mines of Lornwater; they call themselves the Ratava and comprise two groups – Myndrachons and Nhyrachons (qv)

  Usufruct – right of one individual to use and enjoy the property of another; particularly applied to agnates and progeny

  Watchman – lawman, under the orders of the Doomsman.

  Xadra – Grimoire; a manual of black magic

  Zigzag – poisonous water snake (q.v. taalcerr)

  Glossary B - Characters

  Traditionally the surname comes first, followed by the given name.

  Aeleg, Ulran’s aide in the Red Tellar Inn

  Ago-med Nerf, young saddle-maker gildsman

  Aniri – see Yordine Aniri

  Ari, one of tw
o concubines of Baron Laan

  Aruna, Aniri’s handmaiden

  Asselan Alyne Dahl, Prince Royal of Endawn

  Asselan Dahl Treyan IV, King of Endawn

  Aurelan Crossis, (aka Lin-kan Feider), Captain of Palace Guard

  Badol Melomar, head and innman of the powerful Open House Combine

  Ban-so, a Lornwater noble, a rich slaver

  Baron, Baroness – see Laan

  Bayuan Aco, Sergeant of the Palace Guard

  Bilorn – see Yordine Bilorn

  Bor-il Cashlas, young gildsman

  Borsalac, Courdour Alomar’s horse

  Che-man Car, Master Torturer in the royal palace, Lornwater

  Choe Kalan, a hermaphrodite, and an Earth Almaturge

  Cla-Damen Estan, swordmaster to King Saurosen

  Cla-tan Bestere, a lieutenent

  Cobrora Clen, brother to Cobrora Fhord and a Sardan

  Courdour Alomar, immortal warrior, friend of Ulran

  Daen Haltese, the Prince Royal, son of Saurosen

  Damureling, Healer and Mystic in Hansear house

  Danscar, lieutenant of Aurelan Crossis

  Dar-redil, a doomsman; Watchman Zen-il reports to this judge

  Dasse Clan, watchman and brother of miner Dasse Wenn

  Dasse Wenn, Oxor miner, brother of Dasse Clan

  Dramomna, Dear Daughter, head of Madurava House, Lornwater

  Epal Danorr, Hansear Lorar’s future agnate

  Fanur, a man-at-arms for Baron Laan man

  Fascar Dak, Gildmaster

  Fayua Vilare, Endawn concubine obtained by Aniri for Launette

  Fel-adnat Pin, royal treasurer of Lornwater

  Fio, lady-in-waiting to queen Jikkos

  Gami, daughter of U-Gath

  Halas Chevelf, strongman in Aurelan Crossis’ army

  Haltese – see Daen Haltese

  Hansear Lorar, Ranell’s girlfriend, daughter of a Master Goldsmith

  Hansear Mowensar, Lorar’s father; Master Goldsmith

  Het-ab Lath, gildsman, one of Olelsang’s followers

  High Priest Senstar of Jahdemor

  Hig Ren-Kan, second son of Sig Ren-Kan

  Hin-era, a criminal family; Baf is the patriarch

  Houran Accantey, General of first toumen; Thand allegiance

  Jaora – see Laan , Jaora

  Jan-re Osa, slave freed by Ulran, gave birth to Uka, a daughter.

  Jaray Ulan Sihn, General tenth toumen; Haltese allegiance

  Jhuren – see Laan, Jhuren

  Jikkos, Queen

  Jumo Bem, a soldier in Crossis’ army, friend of Murar Hun

  K-Kwan, female Ratava

  Kran, son of K-Kwan

  Laan Jhuren, Baron, tutor to Prince Daen

  Laan Jaora, Baroness, wife of the baron

  Lander, a man-at-arms for Baron Laan

  Launette – see Yordine Launette

  Lin-kan Sno, Aurelan’s sister

  Lorar – see Hansear Lorar

  Luascar Quelin, General eleventh toumen; Haltese allegiance

  Lue-ka Golavil, a trusted captain of the sixth toumen

  Masteef, pledger for Daen Haltese

  Matred Boudela, lieutenant of Omagma

  Misk, one of two concubines of Baron Laan

  Murar Hun, a soldier in Crossis’ army; friend of Jumo Bem

  Nemond Adama, Thand’s mother

  Nemond Dori, Thand’s grandmother

  Nemond Tantian, Thand’s wife

  Nemond Thand, first cousin to the king

  Nemond Xara, King Saurosen IV’s mother

  Charja Nev, a Daughter of Arqitor

  Nostor Vata, Saurosen’s female Sardan, friend of Nemond Xara

  Olelsang, Master of the Gild of Saddlemakers

  Omagma Qomn, mistress of Senstar toran

  Omagma, Captain, second-in-command to Lord-General Launette

  Pelnoo, a Lornwater noble, a financier

  Pinur Nhev, General of fourth toumen, the garrottemen; Black Sword allegiance

  Qued, a Lornwater noble

  Rujon Sos, Oxor miner

  Rujon Telicia, wife of Sos

  Saurosen IV, King

  Senstar Curama, a proposed match for Lahaltz

  Senstar Fara, daughter of Oquar

  Senstar Jegen, son of Oquar

  Senstar Loring, son of Oquar and Qomn

  Senstar Oquar, strong supporter of the Lord-General, master of Senstar toran

  Sig Ren-Kan, family head of Manderranmeron Fault crossing

  Sister Hara, a Sardan and concubine to Lord-General Launette

  Sister Illasa, a nun/Sardan allied to the Nemond family

  Snaglip, watchman

  Tanellor, Lord Tanellor Rath, Duke of Oxor

  Tantian – see Nemond Tantian

  Thand – see Nemond Thand

  Tig Ren-Kan, first son of Sig Ren-Kan

  U-Gath, leader of the Myndrachon Underpeople (qv Ratava)

  Ukasur – see Yordine Ukasur

  Uldern Rubon, General Luascar Quelin’s commander

  Ulran, innman of the Red Tellar Inn

  Ulran Ranell, son of Ulran, guardian of the Red Tellar Inn in his father’s absence.

  Umen Datrek, Ambassador for Tarakanda

  Umerma, Sister, Head of Arqitor fane; Dramomna’s twin

  Vamir Wei, water gildsman

  Versayr, Ulran’s horse

  Vort Hoy, treasurer of Lord-General Launette

  Welde Dep, special investigations watchman of Lornwater

  Xara – see Nemond Xara

  Xarop, one of the oldest nobles in the city

  Xiat, watchman

  Yordine Aniri, wife of the Lord-General Yordine Launette

  Yordine Bilorn, male cousin of Lord-General Launette

  Yordine Edural, General sixth toumen; Black Sword allegiance; brother of Bilorn

  Yordine Launette, Lord-General, second cousin to the king

  Yordine Lahaltz, son of Lord-General Launette

  Yordine Lahra, grand-daughter of Yordine Tallast; a maiden

  Yordine Tallast, Master of Taalland Yordine toran Hewqoma

  Yordine Ukasur, princess and sister of Lord-General Launette

  Zen-il, Prime Watchman, Lornwater

  Glossary C – Madurava

  There are eight points on the Floreskandian Compass (madurava) which are read in a clockwise direction:

  Manderon – north

  Dunsaron – east

  Ranmeron – south

  Varteron – west

  Mandunron – north-east

  Dunranron – south-east

  Ranvarron – south-west

  Varmanron – north-west

  Glossary D – The Arisan Calendar

  There are 13 moons of 28-day periods in a year. Each moon is named after a constellation:

  Sekous

  Viratous

  Dandulous

  Ramous

  Centirous

  Juvous

  Fornious

  Darous

  Lamous

  Sortulous

  Anticous

  Petulous

  Airmous

  Each moon is divided into Quarters.

  There are 7 days and 7 nights in each Quarter.

  Days: Nights:

  Sabin Sabinma

  DekinDekinma

  SidinSidinma

  DloinDloinma

  SufinSufinma

  DurinDurinma

  SapinSapinma

  These days are numbered One to Four, depending on which Quarter they are in; thus the 16th day of the 4th month in 1470 would be written as follows:

  Third Dekin of Ramous, 1470AC.

  Glossary E – Lords and Gods - religious structure

  There are three major religions in Floreskand:

  1) The Overlord (orthodox)

  2) The Hidden God; worshipped in Tarakanda.

  3) The Inner God; followed by those who don’t believe in outside influences.

  In th
e orthodox religion of Floreskand, there are 3 tiers of gods:

  1) The Overlord is the Highest God

  2) The Great Lords and Lady; siblings; gods of the second rank

  3) The High Lords are gods of the third rank

  Overlord

  -

  Daqsekor

  Great lord of Day

  -

  Jahdemor

  Great lord of Night

  -

  Nikkonslor

  Great lady of Land

  -

  Arqitor

  High lord of Light

  -

  Brilansor

  High lord of Dark

  -

  Bridansor

  The Less Lords (more commonly lesslords) are spirit messengers/workers of the gods and demi-gods. Arqitor is the most powerful after the Overlord, being the balance between her brothers Jahdemor and Nikkonslor. She also has her own spirits in the Madurava. Jahdemor and Arqitor have their white lesslords. Nikkonslor and Arqitor have their black lesslords.

  Lesslords of

  White

  Black

  winds

  Sansor

  Lamsor

 

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