Soul of Swords (Book 7)

by Moeller, Jonathan

  ATHANARIC - A hrould of the Tervingi nation, betrayed and murdered by Ragnachar at Stone Tower.

  AULUS HIRTAN - A knight in Mazael Cravenlock's service, and Mazael's herald.

  BELIFANE ROLAND – The youngest son of Gerald and Rachel Roland, now a year and a half old. Named for Gerald’s elder brother, slain in battle against Lord Richard Mandragon of the Grim Marches.

  BRYCE SPEARSHORE - Lord of Spearshore in southern Greycoast, and a loyal supporter of Prince Hugh Chalsain.

  CALDARUS - The Grand Master of the Justiciar Order of knights. Famed for his ruthlessness and his single-minded advancement of the Justiciars' wealth and power.

  CARASTER – A renegade wizard and rebel, and one of the last remaining Demonsouled. Killed by Lucan Mandragon, and raised as a runedead wizard.

  CIRCAN - A wizard formerly in Lord Malden's service, and now aiding Gerald Roland's rebellion.

  CORMANE - A Justiciar knight.

  CORVAD – Son of Mazael Cravenlock and twin brother of Molly Cravenlock. Killed by Mazael in the throne chamber of Arylkrad.

  CRAMTON - Formerly the innkeeper of Cravenlock Town, rescued from an unjust execution at the hands of Lord Mitor Cravenlock by Mazael Cravenlock. Now serves as Mazael's seneschal.

  EARNACHAR SON OF BALNACHAR – A headman of the Tervingi nation. Once a loyal supporter of the hrould Ragnachar, but now a grudging follower of Mazael Cravenlock.

  EDGAR TALLBARTH – A knight of Greycoast, in service to Lord Alberon Stormsea of Castle Stormsea. A capable scout and skirmisher, skills acquired during his checkered past of stealing cattle from his neighbors.

  EDMUND - The bailiff of the village of Lord's Stump.

  ELISE – A maid in service to Rachel Roland of Knightcastle.

  ETHRINGA DAUGHTER OF JORDANIC – A holdmistress of the Tervingi nation, respected and influential among the other holdmistresses. Known for her sharp tongue.

  EVERARD CHALSAIN - Formerly Prince of Barellion and the liege lord of Greycoast. Murdered by Malaric during the Aegonar invasion of Greycoast.

  GAITH KALBORN – The knight of Morsen Village, and a San-keth proselyte. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during Corvad’s attack upon the village.

  GARAIN ROLAND - Once Lord Malden's eldest son and the heir to Knightcastle. Murdered by the San-keth during the Malden's war against the Dominiar Order, making Tobias Roland the heir to Knightcastle.

  GERALD ROLAND – The youngest son of Lord Malden Roland of Knightcastle. With all his brothers dead, he is now the heir to Knightcastle, and leads his father's vassals in a revolt.

  HADRAINE - A commander of the Justiciar Order.

  HAGEN BRIDGEBANE – The armsmaster of Castle Cravenlock, and one of Mazael’s loyal vassals. Known for his utter lack of humor.

  HARBINGER - A rebel of Knightreach and a follower of Caraster.

  HIRAM STORMCREST – Liege lord of the Stormvales, and lord of Castle Stormcrest. Generally ignored by his nominal vassals.

  HJALSK - An Aegonar warrior, skilled at carpentry.

  HUGH CHALSAIN – The Prince of Barellion and the liege lord of Greycoast. Formerly the youngest son of Prince Everard Chalsain, Hugh became Prince of Greycoast when Malaric murdered most of the House of Chalsain and usurped the Prince's throne.

  KADARIUS - A commander of the Justiciar Order.

  KARLAM GANELON - Lord of Castle Rutagne in eastern Greycoast, and only a grudging supporter of Prince Hugh Chalsain.

  LADY OF BLADES - A powerful spirit creature, and ruler of a domain within the spirit world.

  LUCAN MANDRAGON – A wizard of terrible power, and the architect of the catastrophic Great Rising. Bearer of the Glamdaigyr and the Banurdem. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during the Great Rising, and now an undead revenant.

  KORVAGER – The High Priest of Sepharivaim among the Aegonar, second only to the Heralds and the High King himself. A powerful wizard, and ruthless even by the standards of the Aegonar.

  MALARIC - The bastard son of Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion. Using the skull of Corvad, Malaric obtained Demonsouled powers, and used them to slaughter his half-brothers and father and claim the throne of Barellion for himself. Later defeated and killed by a spirit he had attempted to enslave.

  MALAVOST – A renegade wizard who tried to murder Aldane Belifane, using his blood to open the Door of Souls. Killed by Rachel Cravenlock Roland in the High Elderborn Temple atop Mount Tynagis.

  MALDEN ROLAND - Lord of Knightcastle, husband to Rhea Roland, and father of Tobias and Gerald. His youth has been restored by Lucan Mandragon's necromancy.

  MATHER - A master assassin of the Skulls.

  MAURUS – A master wizard in service to Prince Hugh Chalsain of Barellion.

  MAZAEL CRAVENLOCK – Lord of Castle Cravenlock, liege lord of the Grim Marches, and the hrould of the Tervingi nation. The son of the Old Demon, and one of the most capable warriors, skilled commanders, and powerful Demonsouled now living.

  MITOR CRAVENLOCK - The older brother of Mazael Cravenlock and Rachel Cravenlock Roland. Allied with the San-keth and rebelled against Richard Mandragon, but killed by the San-keth after his defeat.

  MOLLY CRAVENLOCK – Mazael Cravenlock’s daughter and heir to Castle Cravenlock. A powerful Demonsouled. Raised as an assassin by the Skulls, Barellion’s feared brotherhood of paid killers. Called “the Lady of the Shadows” by the Tervingi for her Demonsouled-granted ability to travel instantaneously through the shadows. The lover and betrothed of Riothamus.

  MOREBETH GALBRAITH - A daughter of the Old Demon, and half-sister to Mazael Cravenlock. Seduced Mazael, and attempted to turn him into the Destroyer, the prophesied Demonsouled who will destroy the kingdoms of men. Killed by Mazael and Lucan Mandragon at Knightcastle. Her spirit has returned to aid Mazael agains the Old Demon.

  NICHOLAS RANDERLY - Lord of Knightport. Young, and newly come to his position, as his father and older brothers were slain in the Great Rising.

  NIZIUS - A calibah of Aegonar descent, in service to Skalatan.

  PHILIP MONTIGARD – A Travian knight, now in service to Prince Hugh Chalsain of Barellion.

  RACHEL CRAVENLOCK ROLAND – The younger sister of Lord Mazael Cravenlock, and the wife of Sir Gerald Roland. Mother of Aldane and Belifane. Once a San-keth proselyte, but since repented.

  RAGNACHAR SON OF NO ONE – Once a powerful hrould of the Tervingi nation. A son of the Old Demon, and at his bidding led the Tervingi over the Great Mountains to the Grim Marches. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock outside the walls of Sword Town.

  RANDUR MAENDRAG – The most powerful high lord of Old Dracaryl, and using knowledge obtained from the Old Demon, the creator of the Glamdaigyr, the Banurdem, and the Wraithaldr. The creator of the Great Rising, and transformed into a revenant in the great spell’s failure. Later destroyed by Lucan Mandragon using the Glamdaigyr, who then claimed Randur’s knowledge and powers.

  RHEA ROLAND – Wife of Lord Malden Roland, and mother of Tobias and Gerald Roland. Dignified and respected, and indifferent to her husband’s frequent infidelities. Killed by the runedead at Knightcastle.

  RHODEMAR GREENSHIELD - The half-brother of Romaria Greenshield Cravenlock, and current champion of Deepforest Keep.

  RIOTHAMUS SON OF RIGOTHARIC – The Guardian of the Tervingi nation, their defender from supernatural threats, and wielder of the ancient Staff of the Guardian. The lover and betrothed of Molly Cravenlock.

  ROBERT HIGHGATE - The Lord of Castle Highgate, and one of the most powerful lords of the Grim Marches. A skilled commander.

  ROCARD - A knight of Tumblestone, in service to Lord Agravain.

  RODRIC CHALSAIN – The eldest son of Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion, and heir to the throne of Greycoast and Barellion. Murdered by Malaric at the Prince's Keep in Barellion.

  ROGER SPEARSHORE - Son of Lord Bryce, and currently serving as squire to Hugh Chalsain.

  ROMARIA GREENSHIELD CRAVENLOCK – Wife of Mazael Cravenlock. Half Elderborn, giving her the ability to change her shape to th
at of a great black wolf. A skilled hunter, archer, and tracker.

  ROSALA - A serving maid at the Knights' Inn of Barellion, and a member of the assassins' brotherhood known as the Skulls.

  RUFUS HIGHGATE - The eldest son of Lord Robert Highgate. Serves as Mazael's squire.

  RYNTALD - Formerly an earl of the Aegonar and a trusted advisor to High King Agantyr. Known for his cunning in battle. Ryntald became the High King of the Aegonar after Agantyr's death.

  SKALATAN – Archpriest of the San-keth, known for both his great age and brilliant intellect. The other San-keth clerics consider him both mad and heterodox, yet fear to cross his tremendous magical power. Now carries the skull of Corvad, taken from Malaric after his death.

  SKALJAR - An earl in service to the High King of the Aegonar.

  SKHATH - San-keth cleric who masqueraded as the human knight Sir Albron Eastwater. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during Mitor Cravenlock's rebellion against Richard Mandragon.

  SOUTHER – The First Dagger and leader of the Skulls, the assassins’ brotherhood of Barellion. One of the most feared men in the city.

  STRAGANIS - San-keth archpriest of great power. Betrayed and killed by Amalric Galbraith during the Dominiars' war against Malden Roland.

  SYKHANA – A San-keth changeling, and the abductor of Aldane Roland from Knightcastle. Betrayed and murdered by Malavost at Deepforest Keep.

  SZEGAN – High priest of the San-keth temple hidden beneath Morsen Village. Slain during Corvad’s attack upon that village.

  TANAM CROWLEY - A knight in Mazael's service, famed for his skill as a scout and skirmisher.

  TANCRED STILLWATER - Lord of Stillwater and a vassal of Lord Malden Roland. Known for his skill as a quartermaster.

  TERVINGAR - The semi-legendary founder of the Tervingi nation, who led the enslaved Tervingi to their freedom after escaping from their Dark Elderborn masters. Revered among the Tervingi, and held up as an exemplar of valor and strength.

  THOMAS – A serving man in service to Lord Malden Roland.

  TIMOTHY DEBLANC – Court wizard of Mazael Cravenlock, and veteran of many battles.

  TOBIAS ROLAND – Formerly eldest surviving son of Lord Malden Roland, and the heir to Knightcastle. Killed by the runedead at Knightcastle, leaving Gerald Roland as heir to Knightcastle.

  TORAINE MANDRAGON - The older brother of Lucan and briefly the liege lord of the Grim Marches. Killed by Lucan at Swordgrim during the Great Rising.

  THE OLD DEMON – The eldest and most powerful of the Demonsouled, and the father of Mazael Cravenlock, Morebeth Galbraith, Ragnachar, Amalric Galbraith, and the grandfather of Molly Cravenlock and Corvad. A wizard of unsurpassed might and a manipulator of great skill and cunning.

  WESSON STILLWATER - Once Gerald Roland's squire, and now a knight in Gerald's service.

  ULTORIN – The last Grand Master of the Dominiar Order, and commander of the Malrag invasion of the Grim Marches. Corrupted by a bloodsword forged by Amalric Galbraith. Killed by Mazael Cravenlock during the siege of Deepforest Keep.

  Glossary of Locations

  AEGONATH ISLES - The ancient homeland of the Aegonar kingdoms.

  ARYLKRAD – Ancient stronghold of Old Dracaryl located at Red Valley, in the heart of the Great Mountains. Once the resting place of the Glamdaigyr.

  BANNERED FOREST, THE - A forest in north-central Greycoast, north of the River of Lords. Its name comes from the numerous battles that have been fought in the forest.

  BARELLION - The chief city of Greycoast, and the stronghold of the Prince of Barellion. The largest and most prosperous port and city in the realm.

  BARREN POINT - A peninsula south of Castle Stormsea, home to minor lords and small fishing villages.

  BLUEHOLT - A village in southern Greycoast.

  BLUEPEAK VILLAGE – A village in the eastern Stormvales, abandoned due to runedead attacks.

  BREAKSWORD - A castle on the northern borders of Knightreach, coveted by the Justiciar Order.

  CASTLE BRIDGE, THE - A fortified bridge over the River of Lords, and the only safe crossing over the River for a week in either direction. Destroyed by Malaric during the Aegonar invasion of Greycoast.

  CASTLE CRAVENLOCK – Seat and stronghold of Mazael Cravenlock, located in the southern Grim Marches. Once home to a San-keth temple, which Mazael destroyed.

  CASTLE DOMINUS - Castle in Mastaria. Once the stronghold of the Dominiar Knights, now held by Lord Adalar Greatheart.

  CASTLE RUTAGNE - The seat of Lord Karlam Ganelon, located in the hill country of eastern Greycoast.

  CASTLE STORMSEA – A castle in northwestern Greycoast, sworn to Prince Everard Chalsain of Barellion. Once prominent, but now falling into ruin.

  CRAVENLOCK TOWN – The town of Castle Cravenlock, a half-mile from the castle proper. Swollen to eight thousand people from peasants fleeing the Malrag attacks, the Tervingi invasion, and the Great Rising.

  CYTHRAUL URDVUL - The birthplace of the Demonsouled, where the corrupted Dark Elderborn attempted to summon a demon god. Pushed into the spirit world by the destruction of the demon god, and now the repository of the power of the slain Demonsouled.

  DRACARYL - Once a mighty realm that ruled what is now the Grim Marches, the Great Mountains, the barbarian lands, and many other lands. The high lords of Dracaryl were powerful wizards and necromancers, and commanded dragons and legions of the undead to enforce their will. Destroyed when Randur Maendrag attempted to cast the Great Rising.

  DEEPFOREST KEEP – A castle in the heart of the Great Southern Forest, home to human settlers and their Elderborn allies.

  EBEN'S HOLD - A small village in northeastern Greycoast.

  GREAT MOUNTAINS, THE - The massive mountains east of the Grim Marches. Few ever survive crossing the mountains, due to Malrags, dragons, and more mundane hazards.

  GREYCOAST – Located northwest of the Grim Marches and north of Knightreach. The princedom ruled by the Prince of Barellion.

  GRIM MARCHES, THE – A plain located east of Knightcastle and the High Plain and west of the Great Mountains. Currently ruled by Mazael Cravenlock. The appellation “Grim” comes from the many battles that have been fought here.

  IRON RIVER, THE - The river that ran through the old Tervingi homeland, east of the Great Mountains.

  HIGH PLAIN – A broad plain northwest of the Grim Marches and northeast of Greycoast. Known for peaceful stability.

  KNIGHTS’ BAY – A bay of the western sea bordering on Knightreach. Knightport and Tumblestone are the chief ports on the bay.

  KNIGHTCASTLE – Seat and stronghold of Malden Roland, famed for its long and illustrious history. Located far to the west of the Grim Marches, and south of Barellion and Greycoast.

  KNIGHTPORT - A port town west of Knightcastle, located at the mouth of the Riversteel. Held by Lord Nicholas Randerly.

  KNIGHTREACH - A hilly peninsula west of the Grim Marches and south of Greycoast. Also the term for the lands sworn to the service of Knightcastle and Lord Malden Roland.

  KYNOTH – A small village in Greycoast, a few miles north of Castle Stormsea.

  LORD'S STUMP - A village in the Grim Marches, east of the Northwater.

  MASTARIA – The hilly country south of Knightreach. Once the domain of the Dominiar Knights, and now controlled by Lord Malden Roland of Knightcastle.

  MISTWATER - A small river in southern Greycoast.

  MONK'S REST - A small village in northeastern Greycoast.

  MOUNT TYNAGIS – A mountain in the heart of the Great Southern Forest. A ruined High Elderborn temple sits atop its peak.

  MORSEN VILLAGE – Village in the hill country west of Castle Cravenlock. Once the fief of Sir Gaith Kalborn, San-keth proselyte. Destroyed by Malrags during Corvad’s search for the Glamdaigyr. A San-keth temple lies hidden beneath the village.

  MORVYRKRAD - The crypt of the high lords of Dracaryl, located deep in the caverns below the Great Mountains. Once the resting place of the Wraithaldr.

  NORTHWATER - A river s
everal days' ride west of Castle Cravenlock, flowing north into the Lake of Swords.

  PRINCE’S REST – A village in northern Greycoast. Famed for its inn, where one of the Princes of Barellion once spent the night.

  RIVERSTEEL - A river flowing west past Knightcastle.

  RIVER ABELINUS - The river marking the traditional border between Mastaria and Knightreach. Fordable in only a few locations.

  RIVER OF LORDS, THE – The river flowing through Greycoast, terminating in the harbor of the city of Barellion.

  STILLWATER - A castle in the hills east of Knightcastle, held by Lord Tancred Stillwater.

  STONE TOWER - A village northeast of Castle Cravenlock. The site of Lord Richard Mandragon's defeat of the Tervingi host, and where Ragnachar betrayed and murdered Athanaric and Aegidia.

  STORMVALES – The land northwest of the Grim Marches. Known for its hilly terrain, deep rivers, and frequent banditry.