Age of War

by Michael J. Sullivan

  Jerydd (Fhrey, Miralyith): The kel of Avempartha. He led the attack on Dahl Rhen, which destroyed the village but failed to kill Arion, Nyphron, or Raithe.

  Kabbayn (Fhrey, Eilywin): The current First Minister, who replaced Gryndal after his death.

  Karol: The room in the Kype where the ruler of Alon Rhist hears grievances and makes judgments on those accused of crimes.

  Kasimer (Fhrey, Miralyith): Leader of the newly reformed Spider Corp, a group of Artists who can combine their power for coordinated attacks.

  Keenig: A single person who rules over the united Rhune clans in times of trouble. Until the appointment of Persephone during the Fhrey war, there hadn’t been one appointed since the days of Gath, who saved mankind during the Great Flood.

  Keenig’s Council: A body of advisers to Persephone consisting of the ten chieftains of the Rhune clans.

  Keeper of Ways: The person who learns the customs, traditions, and general memories of a community and is the authority in such matters. Keepers pass down their knowledge through oral tradition. The most famous Keeper is Brin from Dahl Rhen, who created the famed Book of Brin.

  Kel: The administrator of a prestigious institution such as Jerydd, the kel of Avempartha.

  Knots: Known to disrupt the natural flow of the Art, knots often create difficulty in communication and prevent consensus building. Once a knot is unraveled, so, too, are arguments unknotted, leading to eventual agreement. The knot that holds together a being created from the Art (such as Balgargarath or the Gilarabrywn) is loosed by piercing the creature with its true name.

  Konniger (Rhune, Rhen): Shield to Chieftain Reglan of Dahl Rhen and husband of Tressa. Konniger ruled Rhen for a short period of time between the reigns of Reglan and Persephone after assassinating the former. He also tried to kill Persephone and was inadvertently killed by Grin the Brown.

  Krugen (Rhune, Menahan): Chieftain of Clan Menahan, the richest of the seven Rhulyn clans.

  Kype: The most secure building of Alon Rhist. It is used as living quarters and meeting space by Persephone, Nyphron, Suri, and Arion.

  Language of creation: The root language of the gods and every living thing in Elan. The chords plucked while performing Artistic weaves taps into the language of creation, the building blocks of all living things.

  Leigh mor: Great cloak. A versatile piece of fabric used by Rhune men that can be draped in a number of ways, usually belted. A leigh mor can also be used as a sling to carry items or as a blanket. Usually, they’re woven with the pattern of a particular clan. The female version, known as a breckon mor, is longer, with an angled cut.

  Linden Lott: The chief Dherg city after the fall of Neith. It holds an annual contest to determine the best in various endeavors valued by the Dherg people, such as building, forging weapons, and digging.

  Lion Corps: Personal bodyguards to the fane.

  Lipit (Rhune, Tirre): The chieftain of Dahl Tirre.

  Little Rhen: The area of Alon Rhist that mainly houses Rhunes displaced from the destroyed Dahl of Rhen. The original Fhrey inhabitants left that area of Huhana Hill after the Rhunes took over the fortress.

  Lothian, Fane (Fhrey, Miralyith): The supreme ruler of the Fhrey, father to Mawyndulë, son of Fenelyus. He came into power after an unusually gruesome challenge in which he defeated Zephyron of the Instarya in a humiliating and cruel display of power.

  Maeve (Rhune, Rhen): The former Keeper of Ways for Dahl Rhen and mother of Suri; she was killed by Grin the Brown.

  Magda: The oldest tree in the Crescent Forest; an ancient oak known to offer sage advice, including information that was instrumental in saving the village of Dahl Rhen when it was targeted by First Minister Gryndal of the Miralyith. She was killed during the Grenmorian attack on Dahl Rhen.

  Mahn (Rhune, Rhen): The son of Persephone and Reglan. He was killed by a ferocious bear known as The Brown.

  Makareta (Fhrey, Miralyith): A member of the Gray Cloaks and the object of Mawyndulë’s first romantic crush. After the rebellion, she (nor her body) were never seen again.

  Malcolm (Rhune): The ex-slave of Zephyron, former resident of Alon Rhist, and best friend of Raithe. He’s attacked two Fhrey with rocks: Shegon and Arion.

  Mari: The patron god of Dahl Rhen.

  Master of Secrets: The adviser to the fane who is responsible for Talwara security. Vasek is the current holder of that title.

  Mawyndulë (Fhrey, Miralyith): Prince of the Fhrey realm; the son of Lothian, grandson of Fenelyus, and former student of Arion and Gryndal. He was present at Dahl Rhen when Raithe killed Gryndal. For a short time, he represented the Miralyith in the Aquila as the junior councilor and later as the senior. He was duped by the Gray Cloaks into providing them aid, but was not involved in the rebellion. His action to save himself ended up saving the life of Imaly and several other Fhrey when he held the Airenthenon together.

  Medak: A Galantian who was killed by Gryndal during Gryndal’s attack on Alon Rhist. Younger brother to Eres.

  Melen: A Rhulyn clan known for its poets and musicians, ruled by Chieftain Harkon.

  Melvin (Rhune, Rehn): Deceased husband of Padera.

  Menahan: The richest of the seven Rhulyn clans. Known for its wool and great sheep flocks. It’s ruled by Krugen.

  Merredydd: One of the four Fhrey outposts manned by the Instarya to protect the frontier. It is the one farthest south.

  Meryl (Rhune): A former slave of Shegon and roommate of Malcolm.

  Metis, Minister (Fhrey, Nilyndd): Highest ranking member of the Nilyndd tribe, responsible for creating weapons and armor.

  Minna: A wolf and the best friend of Suri, who dubbed the animal the wisest wolf in the world. Minna was sacrificed by Suri and turned into the Gilarabrywn that fought Balgargarath.

  Miralyith: The Fhrey tribe of Artists—people who use the Art to channel natural forces to work magic. Their tribe is currently in power, and due to their skill with the Art that is not likely to change in the coming future. Many of this tribe have begun to think of themselves as gods, or at least at a higher level than other Fhrey tribes, as evidenced by the recent Gray Cloak uprising.

  Mirtrelyn: A building where Fhrey go to socialize, consume alcoholic beverages, sing, and tell tales. Its Rhunic translation is Land of Mirth.

  Misery Rock: A large pillar of stone that rises above the Dureyan plain. A small path makes it scalable. It is an excellent spot for observing the Grandford Bridge and the entrance to Alon Rhist.

  Mount Mador: A mountain conjured by Fane Fenelyus during the Belgreig War that killed tens of thousands of Dherg.

  Moya (Rhune, Rhen): Shield to Keenig Persephone, who killed Udgar (Chieftain of Gula-Rhune Clan Erling). She’s the first person to use bows and arrows and was the one who shot and destroyed Balgargarath. She is romantically linked to Tekchin, one of the Fhrey Galantians.

  Muriel: Daughter of Erebus as discovered by Brin in the Agave Tablets.

  Mynogan: The three gods of war worshipped by the Dureyans and other warrior tribes. They represent Battle, Honor, and Death.

  Mystic: An individual capable of tapping into the essence of the natural world and understanding the will of gods and spirits. Both Tura and Suri are mystics from the Hawthorn Glen.

  Nadak: A region in the north of Rhulyn that is home to the Rhune clan of the same name. It was destroyed by the Fhrey Instarya, and most of its residents were slaughtered.

  Naraspur: The horse that Arion rode from Estramnadon to Alon Rhist. She left it at the fortress after a fall during her debut trip.

  Narsirabad: A large spear from the lodge of Dahl Rhen used by Malcolm. Its name is Fhrey for “pointy.”

  Neith: The original home of the Dherg in Belgreig. It was an underground city and the most revered place in the Dherg culture. For thousands of years the Dherg were denied use of Neith by
the Old One, who in revenge created Balgargarath to kill any who entered the city. Neith was later destroyed, buried by Suri during an emotional outburst.

  Nidwalden: A mighty river that separates Erivan (the land of the Fhrey) from Rhulyn (the land of the Rhunes).

  Nifrel: Below Rel. The most dismal and unpleasant of the three regions of the afterlife.

  Nilyndd: The Fhrey tribe of craftsmen.

  Nyphron (Fhrey, Instarya): The son of Zephyron and leader of the famed Galantians. After attacking the new leader of Alon Rhist, he was declared an outlaw. He and his Galantians found refuge in the Rhune village of Dahl Rhen. His bid to become the Rhune keenig failed since only humans can rise to that position.

  Old One: Also known as “The Three.” A being whom the Dherg claimed predates the gods of Elan. He was found locked deep underground in the Agave, where he wrote a number of tablets about his existence and the origin of Elan.

  Orinfar: Ancient Dherg runes that can prevent the use of the Art.

  Padera (Rhune, Rhen): A farmer’s wife and the oldest resident of Dahl Rhen, she is known for her excellent cooking ability and for being the best healer in the dahl.

  Parthaloren Falls: The massive set of waterfalls that Avempartha resides on. The rushing water provides an enormous power source to channel the Art.

  Persephone, Keenig (Rhune, Rhen): Ruler of all Rhunes, former chieftain of Dahl Rhen, and widow of Reglan. She killed Grin the Brown and led a party to Neith to kill Balgargarath. When Gronbach failed to provide promised iron weapons, she tricked him into revealing the manufacturing process to Roan, who took this knowledge to the Rhune people.

  Petragar (Fhrey, Instarya): The lord of the Rhist, appointed by Fane Lothian after the death of Zephyron.

  Phyre: The afterlife, which is divided into three sections: Rel, Nifrel, and Alysin.

  Plymerath (Fhrey, Instarya): The gate guard who was on duty the night the fane’s army arrived at the outskirts of Alon Rhist.

  Poric (Fhrey, Instarya): Main gatekeeper of the Kype.

  Pyridian (Fhrey, Miralyith): First son of Lothian, brother to Mawyndulë, and founder of the Estramnadon Academy of the Art, now deceased.

  Rain (Dherg): Perhaps the best digger of his people, he is one of three Dherg responsible for unleashing Balgargarath from a complex series of noise-creating traps. To save him from execution, Persephone takes the three dwarfs back to Tirre after Gronbach’s broken promises. He is a grand-prize winner at the Linden Lott competition.

  Raithe (Rhune, Dureya): The son of Herkimer; also known as the God Killer. He killed Shegon (a Fhrey Asendwayr) in retribution for his father’s death, and Gryndal (a Fhrey Miralyith) when he threatened the people of Dahl Rhen. He refused the position of keenig because he felt war with the Fhrey was impossible. He is in love with Persephone, but she does not reciprocate. He was the first person to train Tesh in combat skills.

  Raow: A feared predator that eats its prey starting with the face. Raow sleeps on a bed of bones and must add another set before going to sleep. A single raow can decimate an entire region.

  Rapnagar (Grenmorian): The leader of a raiding party sent by the Fhrey to destroy Dahl Rhen and kill Arion, Nyphron, and Raithe.

  Reanna (Rhune, Erling): Deceased mother of Roan and slave of Iver.

  Reglan (Rhune, Rhen): The former chieftain of Dahl Rhen and husband to Persephone. Killed by Konniger in an attempt to usurp his power.

  Rel: One of the three regions in the afterlife. The place where most people who are neither heroes or villains go when they die.

  Rhen: A wooded region in the west of Rhulyn that is home to the Rhune clan of the same name. It was formerly ruled by Reglan and later his wife, Persephone. Dahl Rhen was destroyed by a Grenmorian attack initiated by Fane Lothian for harboring Nyphron of the Instarya and killing First Minister Gryndal.

  Rhist: A shortened name for Alon Rhist the Fhrey outpost.

  Rhulyn: The “Land of the Rhunes,” bordered by the Fhrey’s native Erivan to the east and the Fhrey outposts in Avrlyn to the west.

  Rhulyn-Rhunes: The southern clans of Rhunes: Nadak, Dureya, Rhen, Warric, Tirre, Melen, and Menahan. The Rhulyn-Rhunes have been in constant conflict with the northern tribes of the Gula-Rhunes.

  Rhune: One of the five major races of Elan, the race of humans. The word is Fhrey for “primitive,” and for some, it is seen as derogatory. This race is technologically challenged, superstitious, and polytheistic. They live in clusters of small villages, and each clan is governed by a chieftain. There are two major groups of Rhunes, the Gula-Rhune from the north and the southern Rhulyn-Rhunes. The two factions have warred for centuries.

  Rhunic: The language spoken by the humans who live in Rhulyn.

  Rigarus (Fhrey, Asendwayr): Leader of the Wolf Legion, a fighting force made up of Asendwayr and Gwydry, who focus on scouting.

  Roan (Rhune, Rhen): An ex-slave of Iver the Carver. An incredibly talented, emotionally scarred inventor. With the help of the Dherg, she perfected wheels and carts. She adapted the javelin and the device used to start fires to invent the bow and arrow. Thanks to Persephone, she was able to observe the Dherg process of making iron swords.

  Rol: A small Dherg fortification. Rols were created throughout the frontier to provide shelter during the Belgreig War. Most have a hidden door that opens and shuts via a series of pulleys and gears and are lined with Orinfar runes to protect those inside from magical attacks.

  Roundhouse: A typical Rhune dwelling consisting of a single circular room with a cone-shaped roof, usually covered in thatch.

  Ryeteen: The Fhrey term for a simplistic system of markings carried over great distances by birds for limited communication. Ryeteen is also used for the keeping of itemized lists.

  Sarah (Rhune, Rhen): Mother of Brin, wife of Delwin, best friend of Persephone, widely known as the best weaver in Dahl Rhen. She was killed by the giant attack that destroyed Dahl Rhen.

  Sebek (Fhrey, Instarya): The best warrior of the Galantians. He uses two cleve blades named Thunder and Lightning.

  Shahdi: The non-Instarya military group charged with maintaining order in Greater Erivan.

  Shegon (Fhrey, Asendwayr): A hunter stationed at Alon Rhist to provide the warrior tribe with fresh meat. He was killed by Raithe after the Fhrey killed Herkimer (Raithe’s father).

  Shield: Also known as shield to the chieftain or chieftain’s shield. The chieftain’s personal bodyguard, and generally the finest warrior of a given clan.

  Shrine, the: The previous living quarters of Fane Alon Rhist when he was stationed at the fort. After his death, the room remained unoccupied and has been memorialized as tribute to him.

  Siegel (Rhune, Dunn): The chieftain of Clan Dunn.

  Sikar (Fhrey, Instarya): An officer and patrol leader in the Instarya tribe stationed at Alon Rhist and also a former friend of Nyphron before the Galantian’s desertion.

  Sile (Fhrey, Asendwayr): Employed after the Gray Cloak Rebellion, he is one of two bodyguards who never leave the side of Fane Lothian. His size indicates he may have Grenmorian blood.

  Speech Rock: A large stone in the lower courtyard of Alon Rhist that is generally used to give orders to soldiers before going into battle.

  Spider Corps: A group of Miralyith specially trained in coordinated attacks where one Artist directs the combined power of the others in the group.

  Spyrok: The tallest tower in Alon Rhist. It lies across a bridge on the far side of the Kype.

  Strom: One of the three Gula-Rhune clans. The other two are Dunn and Erling.

  Suri (Rhune, Rhen): The illegitimate child of Reglan, who had an affair with Maeve (Dahl Rhen’s Keeper of Ways). She was left to die in the forest but was saved and raised by a mystic named Tura. She may be the only Rhune known to possess the ability to use the Art. Her best friend, a white wolf named Minn
a, was turned into the Gilarabrywn in the Agave of Neith. Later, Suri destroyed the entrance of Neith during an emotional outburst. Arion of the Miralyith believes Suri is the key to peace between Fhrey and Rhunes.

  Synne (Fhrey, Miralyith): Employed after the Gray Cloak Rebellion, she is one of two bodyguards who never leave the side of Fane Lothian. Renowned for her quick reflexes.

  Talwara: The official name of the Fhrey’s palace, where the fane resides and rules.

  Tegan (Rhune, Warric): The chieftain of Clan Warric.

  Tekchin (Fhrey, Instarya): One of Nyphron’s band of outlaw Galantians, Tekchin is a rough, outspoken warrior whose preferred weapon is a thin, narrow-bladed sword. He is romantically linked to Moya, Shield of Persephone.

  Ten Clans: The entirety of the Rhune nation, comprising seven Rhulyn clans and three Gula clans.

  Tesh: The orphan boy who, along with Raithe, is all that remains of the Dureyan clan. His hatred of the Fhrey has driven his intensive training.

  Tet: A curse word derived from Tetlin Witch.

  Tetlin Witch: The universally hated immortal being thought to be the source of all disease, pestilence, and evil in the world.

  Tirre: Clan of Rhulyn-Rhunes. Its dahl is Located in the south of Rhulyn on the Blue Sea. They are known for salt production and trade with the Dherg. Their chieftain is Lipit.

  Tirreans: Members of clan Tirre.

  Torc: A rigid circular necklace that is open in the front. In Rhune society, it is a mark of leadership. The Dherg often bestow a torc as a reward for a great accomplishment.

  Traitor, The: The moniker Mawyndulë bestowed on Arion for her part in First Minister Gryndal’s death while aiding the Rhunes of Dahl Rhen.

  Tressa (Rhune, Rhen): Widow of Konniger who was the ex-chieftain of Dahl Rhen. She is generally despised and shunned by those who know her.

  Treya (Fhrey, Gwydry): Personal servant of Prince Mawyndulë.

  Trilos (Fhrey, unknown tribal affiliation): A mysterious person obsessed with the Door in the Garden.

  Tura (Rhune, no clan affiliation): Mentor to Suri and an ancient mystic who lived in the Hawthorn Glen near Dahl Rhen. She was most noted for her ability to predict the future.