The Long War 03 - The Red Prince

Home > Fantasy > The Long War 03 - The Red Prince > Page 50
The Long War 03 - The Red Prince Page 50

by A. J. Smith


  From ‘The Chronicles of the Seas’, vol. IV,

  by Father Wessel Ice Fang, lore-master of Kalall’s Deep

  THE DARK YOUNG

  And it shall be as a priest when awake and it shall be as an altar when torpid, and it shall consume and terrify, and it shall follow none save its father, the Black God of the Forest with a Thousand Young. The priest and the altar. The priest and the altar.

  From ‘Ar Kral Desh Jek’

  (author unknown)

  THE DOKKALFAR

  The forest-dwellers of the lands of men are many things. To the Ro, arrogant in their superiority, they are risen men – painted as undead monsters and hunted by crusaders of the Black church. To the Ranen, fascinated by youthful tales of monsters, they are otherworldly and terrifying, a remnant of the Giant age. To the Karesians, proud and inflexible, they are an enemy to be vanquished – warriors with stealth and blade.

  But to the Kirin, to those of us who live alongside them, they are beautiful and ancient, deserving of respect and loyalty.

  The song of the Dokkalfar travels a great distance in the wild forests of Oslan and more than one Kirin youth has spent hours sitting against a tree merely listening to the mournful songs of their neighbours.

  They were here before us and will remain long after we have destroyed ourselves.

  From ‘Sights and Sounds of Oslan’

  by Vham Dusani, Kirin schola

  THE GREAT RACE OF ANCIENT JEKKA

  To the east, beyond the plains of Leith, is the ruined land. Men have come to call it the Wastes of Jekka or the Cannibal Lands, for those tribes that dwell there are fond of human flesh.

  However, those of us who study such things have discovered disturbing knowledge that paints these beings as more than simple beasts.

  In the chronicles of Deep Time – in whatever form they yet exist – this cleric has discovered several references to the Great Race, references that do not speak of cannibalism but of chaos and empires to rival man, built on the bones of vanquished enemies and maintained through sacrifice and bizarre sexual rituals. They were proud, arrogant and utterly amoral, believing completely in their most immediate whims and nothing more.

  Whatever the Great Race of Jekka might once have been, they are now a shadow and a myth, bearing no resemblance to the fanged hunters infrequently encountered by man.

  From ‘A Treatise on the Unknown’ by Yacob

  of Leith, Blue cleric of the One God

  THE JEKKAN SERVITORS

  The war did not last long. The Great Race of Jekka had no desire for the forests. At length we fought them back to their mountains and threw down their altars.

  But their pets had to be defeated. As the masters fled, their servitors covered their retreat. They were terrible, amorphous things of no fixed form, shaping their flesh as their masters ordered.

  Fire did not burn them, arrows did not pierce them, blades did not cut them. Only the touch of cold caused them to flee. The mightiest Tyr wielded swords of deep ice and the wisest Vithar conjured snow and freezing winds.

  The servitors were defeated, though it cost many lives. In the long ages that followed, whispers remained of the terrifying beasts, that they skulked in Jekkan ruins or guarded long-forgotten lore, but they were never again seen by Dokkalfar.

  From ‘The Edda’ Author Unknown but Attributed to the

  Sky Riders of the Drow Deeps

  VOLK WAR HOUNDS

  In ages past, the Volk of the northern ice were bound in an eternal war with their cousins, the Dvergar. They came from the dark lands, scratching like insects across the snow. Generations, beyond the understanding of men, were consumed with bitter conflict until the Dvergar gained the ascendancy.

  In their darkest moment, the Volk priests screamed to the sky, asking Rowanoco for aid, and the ice giant sent the white pack.

  Great hounds from Sovon-Kor gained intelligence and allowed the Volk to saddle them. They felt no fear and valued loyalty above all. They plunged into battle as a wave of death, annihilating any Dvergar that stood before them.

  The white pack bred until there were thousands of war hounds, each one bound to a Volk master from birth to death. But as their masters died, the ageless hounds went forth into the world to do the work of Rowanoco.

  From ‘The Ninth Book of Higher Xar’

  by Orrin Scarlet Beard of Van Clos

  CHARACTER LISTING

  The People of Ro

  The house of Canarn – descended from Lord Bullvy of Canarn

  Hector of Canarn – duke of Ro Canarn – deceased

  Bromvy (Brom) Black Guard of Canarn – traitor lord of Canarn, soldier of the Long War, son of Duke Hector

  Bronwyn of Canarn – the Lady of Canarn, twin sister to Bromvy and daughter of Duke Hector

  Haake of Canarn – Duke Hector’s household guard

  Auker of Canarn – city guardsman

  Hawkin of the Grass Sea – city guardsman

  The house of Tiris – descended from High King Dashell Tiris

  Bartholomew Tiris – the king’s father – deceased

  Sebastian Tiris – scion of the house of Tiris and king of Tor Funweir

  Lady Alexandra – wife of King Sebastian

  Christophe Tiris – son to King Sebastian, prince of Tor Funweir – deceased

  Archibald Tiris – regent of Ro Tiris, cousin to King Sebastian

  Clement of Chase – watch sergeant of Ro Tiris

  Lux – watch sergeant of Ro Tiris

  Elyot of the Tor – watchman of Ro Tiris

  Robin of Tiris – watchman of Ro Tiris

  The house of Haran – descended from High King Dashell Tiris

  Alexander Tiris, also known as the ‘Red Prince’ – disgraced son of the house of Tiris, brother to the king, duke and general of Haran

  Gwendolyn of Hunter’s Cross – the Lady of Haran, wife of Alexander Tiris

  Ashwyn of Haran – a sergeant of the ducal army, the Hawks

  Symon of Triste – a sergeant of the Hawks

  Brennan of the Walls – a captain of the Hawks

  Lennifer of Triste – serving girl to Gwendolyn of Haran

  Clerics of the One God

  Mobius of the Falls of Arnon – cardinal of the Purple

  Brother Rashbone of Chase – Purple cleric, adjutant to Cardinal Mobius

  Severen of Voy – cardinal of the Purple

  Brother Jakan of Tiris – Purple cleric of the sword, protector to King Sebastian Tiris

  Brother Cleon Montague – Purple cleric, bodyguard to King Sebastian Tiris

  Brother Torian of Arnon – Purple cleric of the quest – deceased

  Animustus of Voy – Gold cleric

  Brother Cerro of Darkwald – cardinal of the Brown

  Brother Lanry of Canarn – Brown cleric, former confessor to Duke Hector

  Brother Daganay of Haran – Blue cleric, priest to the Hawk army

  Artus of Triste – novice of the blue, pupil to Daganay of Haran

  Brother Elihas of Du Ban – Black cleric, working with the Seven Sisters

  Brother Utha the Ghost – former Black cleric and last old-blood of the Shadow Giants

  Brother Roderick of the Falls of Arnon – Black cleric

  Brother Hobson of Voy – White cleric

  Knights of the One God

  Malaki Frith – knight general of the Red

  Tristram of Hunter’s Cross – knight commander of the Red

  Markos of Rayne – commander of the White Knights of the Dawn

  Mortimer Rillion – knight commander of the Red – deceased

  Wesson of Haran – knight marshal of Cozz – deceased

  Bracha – old knight sergeant of the Red

  Callis – sergeant of the Red

  Ohms of the Bridge – knight sergeant of the Red

  Dolf Halan – knight captain of the Red, adjutant to Malaki Frith

  Taufel of Arnon – knight captain of the Red, adjutant to Knight Commander Tristram
/>   Nathan of Du Ban – knight captain of the Red, adjutant to Knight Commander Rillion – deceased

  Fallon of Leith, the ‘Grey Knight’ – former knight captain of the Red, exemplar of the One God

  William of Verellian – former knight captain of the Red

  Theron of Haran – former knight lieutenant of the Red and adjutant to Knight Captain Fallon

  Rashabald of Haran – executioner and knight of the Red – deceased

  Nobles

  Vladimir Corkoson, the ‘Lord of Mud’ – lord of the Darkwald and commander of the Darkwald yeomanry

  Dimitri Savostin – major of the Darkwald yeomanry

  Hallam Pevain – mercenary knight in the employ of the Seven Sisters

  Kale Glenwood (formerly Glen Ward) – forger of minor nobility, companion to Rham Jas Rami

  Leon Great Claw – a knight, first master to Randall of Darkwald – deceased

  Lyam of Weir – duke of Ro Weir

  Yacob Black Guard – disgraced lord of Ro Weir, an assassin

  Common folk

  Randall of Darkwald – squire to, in succession: Sir Leon Great Claw: Brother Torian of Arnon: Brother Utha the Ghost

  Broot of Weir – a mercenary under Hallam Pevain

  Castus of Weir – bound man and gaoler – deceased

  Parag of Weir – a mercenary under Hallam Pevain

  Lorkesh – guardsman

  Lyssa – child in the Brown chapel

  Rodgar – child in the Brown chapel

  Fulton of Canarn – tavern keeper

  Mirabel of Arnon – brothel owner in Ro Arnon

  Mott – a bandit

  Tobin of Cozz – blacksmith and fixer

  The People of Rowanoco

  The Ranen of Fjorlan

  The high lords of Fjorlan have, since the first, sought to keep their names alive through their children. Those of minor houses are afforded no such honour and many deliberately strike their father’s name due to dishonourable actions.

  The house of Teardrop – named for Alguin Teardrop, the first high thain of Fjorlan.

  Ragnar Teardrop Larsson – father to Magnus Forkbeard Ragnarsson and Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson – deceased

  Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson – high thain of Ranen, elder brother to Magnus Forkbeard Ragnarsson – deceased

  Magnus Forkbeard Ragnarsson – younger brother to Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson, priest of the Order of the Hammer, friend to Lord Bromvy – deceased

  Alahan Teardrop Algesson –heir to the hall of Fredericksand and son to Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson

  Ingrid Teardrop Algedottir – daughter to Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson

  Oleff Hard Head – chain-master of Fredericksand, survivor of the Dragon Fleet

  Wulfrick the Enraged – axe-master of Fredericksand, survivor of the Dragon Fleet

  Thorfin Axe Hailer – lore-master of Fredericksand

  Samson the Liar – old-blood of the Ice Giants

  The house of Summer Wolf – an ancient and respected house, named for Kalall Summer Wolf

  Aleph Summer Wolf Kallsson – thain of Tiergarten – deceased

  Halla Summer Wolf Alephsdottir –axe-maiden, survivor of the Dragon Fleet, daughter to Aleph Summer Wolf

  Tricken Ice Fang – chain-master of Tiergarten

  Earem Spider Killer – axe-master of Tiergarten

  Borrin Iron Beard – axe-master of Tiergarten – deceased

  Rhuna Grim – cloud-mistress of Tiergarten

  Father Brindon Crowe – priest of the Order of the Hammer

  Heinrich Blood – novice of the Order of the Hammer

  The house of Hammerfall – home of the cloud-men and the Wolf Wood

  Grammah Black Eyes – new thain of Hammerfall

  Rexel Falling Cloud – axe-master, survivor of the dragon fleet

  Moniac Dawn Cloud – axe-master and cloud-man of the Wolf Wood

  Anya Coldbane (Lullaby) – wise woman of Rowanocoa

  The berserkers of Varorg

  Rorg the Defiler – berserker chieftain

  Timon the Butcher – berserker of Varorg

  Unrahgahr – a troll allied with the Varorg

  The house of Ursa – a new house with no honourable lineage, they name as they see fit

  Rulag Ursa Bear Tamer – the Betrayer, now sits in the high thain’s hall. Previously thain of Jarvik, father to Kalag Ursa

  Thran Blood Fist – lord of Jarvik

  Kalag Ursa Rulagsson – lordling of Jarvik

  David Emerald Eyes – chain-master of Jarvik

  Jalek Blood – axe-master of Jarvik

  Father Oryk Grey Claw – priest of the Order of the Hammer

  The Ranen of The South Lands

  Those of the Freelands – formerly Tor Ranen – are known as the Free Companies. They are commoners who earn their names with deeds of honour. They have never sought nobility or family names.

  The Moon Clans – unconquered tribes of the Moon Woods

  Federick Two Hearts – chieftain of the Crescent

  Aesyr Two Hearts – maiden of the rowan oak, daughter to Federick Two Hearts

  Ossa Two Hearts – maiden of the rowan oak, daughter to Federick Two Hearts

  Theen Burnt Face – chieftain of the Crescent

  Dawn Sun Runner – night-raider of the Crescent

  Barron Crow Friend – man of the Earth Shaker

  Warm Heart Moon Father – Volk war-hound of the White Pack

  Wraith Company – protectors of the Grass Sea

  Horrock Green Blade – captain of Wraith Company, commander of the destroyed Ro Hail

  Haffen Red Face – former axe-master of Ro Hail – deceased

  Freya Cold Eyes –wise-woman of Rowanoco

  Micah Stone Dog – young axe-man of Ro Hail

  Darron Moon Eye – priest – deceased

  Scarlet Company – protectors of South Warden

  Johan Long Shadow – captain of the Scarlet Company

  Mathias Flame Tooth – axe-master of South Warden

  Dragneel Dark Crest – priest of Brytag the World Raven

  Twilight Company – protectors of Ranen Gar, the northernmost stronghold of Ranen

  Fynius Black Claw – captain of Twilight Company, exemplar of Brytag the World Raven

  Vincent Hundred Howl – warrior of Twilight Company

  The People of Karesia

  The Seven Sisters – enchantresses, formerly of Jaa, now of Shub-Nillurath

  Saara the Mistress of Pain – leader of the Seven Sisters, bears no mark

  Isabel the Seductress – marked with the sign of a coiled snake

  Sasha the Illusionist – marked with the sign of a flowering rose

  Shilpa the Shadow of Lies – marked with the sign of birds in flight

  Ameira the Lady of Spiders – marked with the sign of a spider’s web – deceased

  Katja the Hand of Despair – marked with the sign of a howling wolf – deceased

  Lillian the Lady of Death – marked with the sign of a hand – deceased

  The wind claws – warriors who give their life to Jaa

  Dalian Thief Taker – greatest of the wind claws and father of Al-Hasim

  Kal Varaz – servant of the Seven Sisters

  Kamran Kainen – servant of the Seven Sisters

  Larix the Traveller – deceased

  The Viziers of Jaa – his faithful

  Voon of Rikara – high vizier of Karesia and exemplar of Jaa

  Sanaa Law Keeper – vizier of Thrakka

  Shadaran Bakara – vizier of Thrakka

  The Hounds – criminals serving as the Karesian army

  Izra Sabal – whip-mistress of the Hounds

  Turve Ramhe – whip-master of the Hounds

  Kasimir Roux – captain of the Hounds and adjutant to whip-mistress Izra Sabal

  Common folk

  Al-Hasim, the ‘prince of the wastes’ – exile and thief, friend to the house of Canarn, son of Dalian Thief Taker

 
; Claryon Soong – Kessian mobster

  Emaniz Kabrizzi – book-dealer of Ro Weir

  Jenner of Rikara – Karesian smuggler, brother to Kohli

  Kohli of Rikara – Karesian smuggler, brother to Jenner

  Makad Rarzi – smuggler and ship’s captain

  Walan Zeen – Karesian warrior

  The Godless

  Kirin – a mongrel race, neither Ro nor Karesian

  Rham Jas Rami – assassin, dark-blood and friend to Bromvy Black Guard of Canarn

  Keisha of Oslan – body slave to Saara the Mistress of Pain, dark-blood and daughter of Rham Jas Rami

  Zeldantor –body slave to Saara the Mistress of Pain, dark blood and son of Rham Jas Rami – deceased

  The Dokkalfar – an ancient race of non-human forest-dwellers

  Tyr Dyus the Daylight Sky – warrior and Fell Walker

  Tyr Hythel – warrior of the Fell

  Tyr Kalen – warrior of Canarn

  Tyr Nanon the Shape Taker – warrior of the Heart and soldier of the Long War

  Tyr Rafn – warrior of the Heart – deceased

  Tyr Sigurd – warrior of Canarn, previously of the Heart

  Tyr Vasir – warrior of the Drow Deeps

  Vithar Jofn – shaman of the Heart

  Vithar Joror the Heart’s Hand – shaman of the Heart

  Vithar Loth the Tree Father – shaman and Fell Walker

  Vithar Xaris – shaman of Narland

  Mysterious others

  Ryuthula – Gorlan mother

  Magnus’s shade – apparition and servant of Rowanoco

  Torian’s shade – apparition and servant of the One God

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  I think I’m getting better. I hope I am... and I really hope you all enjoy this. Thank you for so many things.

  Simon Hall, Kathleen Kitsell, Marcus Holland, Benjamin Hesford, Scott Ilnicki, Carrie Hall, Martin Cubberley, Tony Carew, Karl Wustrau, Mark Allen, Paolo Trepiccione, Terry and Cathy Smith, Mathilda Imlah, Melmo the Sinister Apothecary.

  ABOUT THE RED PRINCE

 

‹ Prev