Bardic Gifts
These Gifts separate true Bards from ordinary minstrels and are related to the Gift of Healing. The true Bardic Gift can be best described as Projective Empathy, or the ability to manipulate an audience’s mood through music. The Creative Gift is the ability to create and compose original music. The Musicianship Gift is sometimes referred to as a Talent or the ability to perform. To be granted Bard status, the individual needs two of the three Gifts. (BV)
Bardic Immunity
The right to adopt Gifted apprentices if they are legally free. It is a protective law sanctioned by the Council to ensure such Gifts are not lost or carelessly ruined. It also protects a bard from retaliation if his songs offend the audience. (Oath, LHM)
Barlen
Dealer in dyes at Errold’s Grove’s market. (Owl)
Barnebin
Horsemaster for the Ashkevrons. successor to Ben Dotes. (BB)
Baryl Longarm
A mercenary living in semi-retirement at the White Winds school where Kethry studied. Before Kethry left to take up her nomadic life, Baryl gave her Need. (Oath)
Basilisk
A large and ugly reptilian created during the war between Urtho and Ma’ar. Basilisks have poisonous bites and can hypnotize their prey with a difficult-to-resist mental compulsion. (Gryphon, Storm, Winds)
Basket-spell
The spell that makes it possible for a carry-basket to float. (Gryphons)
Battlesteeds
Also called warsteeds, they are the product of Shin’a’in breeding. Intelligent, agile, strong, with great endurance, able to survive on poor forage, these mottled gray horses with thick necks and huge, ugly heads can travel from sunrise to sunset at a ground-devouring lope. They have had their herd behavior modified to pack behavior. To prevent control of the breed from leaving Shin’a’in hands, only culls are sold out of the clan, and the stallions never leave the Dhorlsha Plains. (Oath, Sword)
Bazie
A former mercenary who lost both his legs during the Tedrel Wars, he became the benefactor of a gang of young thieves in Haven, including the boy Skif. He died in a fire that was set on his landlord’s orders to avoid paying fines on an unsafe building. (TT)
Beak
A term for Valdemar’s city watchmen who patrolled for thieves, robbers, and drunks. (TT)
Beaker Bowman
Formerly one of the Sunhawk scouts but now partnered with Jodi n’Aiker, another retired Sunhawk, he is a horsetalker and trainer of messenger birds. (Oath)
Beast-Healers
Sometimes called horse leeches, their healing Gifts are generally employed to cure animals. During the war they help out at the front lines as combat medics. (Owl, LHM)
Bedbox
A simple box used for sleeping in at Waystatlons, it is lined with a Herald’s bedroll or fresh grass for easy cleaning. (Arrows)
Beel Galko
Middle son of Londer Galko, and Skif’s cousin, he became a priest in the Temple of Belden, a charitable order that taught poor children how to read, write and do sums, and learned to be a good man there, despite his lawless and difficult father. Beel was responsible for turning Londer in to the authorities for his most terrible wrongdolngs. Beel also made sure that Skif was not at the inn when the resulting raid took place. (TT)
Beglamorment
A spell to make the object of one’s desire see what he or she most wants to see. (Gryphon)
Bel
Drunk, abusive, cross-dressing owner of the Inn of the Green Man in Highjorune. (LHM)
Bel
Scout lieutenant with the Skybolts. (Sword)
Belinda
Bride of Val, Lord Breon’s son and heir. (Owl)
Bells (Companion)
Part of the formal tack for Companions worn for ceremonial or special occasions. The chiming bells announce that a Companion is on the road. (BV)
Belton
One of Tarma’s students who sought her out for advice on revenge. (Oath)
Beltrar (Herald)
King Valdemar’s Herald, he was Chosen by thc Grove-Born Companion Kyrith, and became one of the first three Heralds. (Arrows)
Beltren (Herald)
A first-year mate of Herald Keren’s who died during Talia’s first term at the Collegium. He and his companion were ambushed and pushed over a cliff. (Arrows)
Ben Dotes
A retired Horsemaster who had worked at Ashkevron manor. He was a superb volunteer scout at the southeastern battlefield during the war with Karse. (BB)
Bendan
A hunter of the Snow Fox tribe. (Owl)
Benjan (Father)
The priest of Errold’s Grove. (Owl)
Berd
The groom at the Palace stables at Haven, he told Stefen about chirras when the Bard first encountered the creatures. (LHM)
“Berden’s Ride”
Song about a legendary message-rider Herald. A romantic account of Berden was included in a book Lavan read to the Chester family at Midwinter Festival time (BB)
Bern
A human scout with the Silvers, he joined Regin’s search party and spotted the place where Tad and Blade crashed. (Gryphon)
Berrybay
One of the northern towns near the Forest of Sorrows, and the site of a Herald Resupply Station. (Arrows)
Berta
The barbarian persona that Elspeth adopted as part of her disguise when she and Skif journeyed through Rethwellan. (Winds)
Berte
The old woman who cared for Stefen before he was snatched up by Bard Lynnell and carried off to Haven. Berte was using him to beg, and had already sold her own children to support her drinking and drug habit. (LHM)
Beryl (Herald)
Herald who died during Talia’s second year at Court. Her death caused Queen Selenay profound guilt, because she believed she had sent an inexperienced Herald on a fatal mission. (Arrows)
Bessa, Underwife
Talia’s mother who died in childbirth, leaving her upbringing to the care of Keldar Firstwife and the other women of Sensholding. (Arrows)
Bestet
An ancient Battle-Goddess. The sword Need survived the Cataclysm because she was triple-shielded in the heart of Bestet’s Temple, in a casket within a shrine. (Storm)
Bet Micherone (General)
One of Urtho’s officers, she took Laury’s people under her command in the reshuffling necessary before the final battle. (Gryphons)
Beth
Keisha’s beloved rag doll. (Owl)
Bethtia
One of Hadanelith’s victims in White Gryphon. (Gryphons)
Betrothal necklace
A piece of Royal Haighlei jewelry made of ancient amber, goid and bronze. If the king presents this to a woman, together with a dozen Lion Lilies, it is a proposal of marriage. (Gryphon)
Bevis
One of Sewen’s men, wounded in the concluding battle of the Jkathan civil war. (Oath)
Biijal Tribes
They live on the Empire’s Eastern Islands and are known for crafting valuable plush rugs. (Storm)
Binn
Prince Daren’s orderly, a grizzled veteran of a dozen wars. (Oath)
Bird-lords
Colloquial name for the Hawkbrothers used by the peasant land holders in Tayledras territories. (LHM)
Birdkin
A common name for the Hawkbrothers. (Winds)
Bitter Sea
A body of water far south of the known realms. (Sword)
Black Angel Mushroom
This fungus kills by a combination of convulsions, liver failure, and terrifying hallucinations. Tylendel’s mother died after eating Black Angel. (LHM)
Black Bear Clan
Northern tribe-folk from far beyond Valdemar’s northern border. Darian’s expedition to find his parents met with them. (Owl)
Black Kings
Rulers of the Haighlei Empire. (Gryphon, Owl, Storm)
Black Riders
A group of Kal’enedral who, with
Vanyel’s help, gave Falconsbane mysterious and magical gifts that puzzled and distracted him while k’Sheyna and their allies prepared to attack. The Dark Adept did not know who they were, but An’desha, trapped inside Falconsbane’s mind, recognized the Riders as Sword-Sworn servants of the Goddess. (Winds)
Black ring
One of the gifts left for Falconsbane by the Black Riders. Made of a shiny, black, unbreakable substance, it resembled a wedding ring carved with harvest symbols. Widows sometimes wore similar rings in place of their wedding ring as a symbol of mourning. (Winds)
Blacke Ewe
An inn known for its spiced sausage that Tarma and Kethry stayed at in Delton. (Oath)
Black-robes
The feared demon summoners and heretic burners of Karse, until Solaris made the black robe simply a ranking above ordinary priests but below the red robes. (Storm)
Blackfoot
A sturdy bay mare hunter with a touchy mouth kept by Vanyel’s father. When Vanyel rode her to Wyrfen Woods, he used a bitless halter to avoid agitating her. (LHM)
Blessing
Among the Shin’a’in, the survivor(s) of an almost extinct clan blessed the youngest child of her hosts (Clan Liha’irden, In Tarma’s case). The hosts tended the slain clan’s herds and properties while the survivor waged blood-feud against the murderers. This arrangement lasted until the avenger died or returned. If the survivor hadn’t returned by the time the child blessed was old enough to take up their own sword, all the entrusted property belonged to its caretakers. (Oath)
Bood Bear Clan
An outcast clan of northern barbarians whose shaman used Changecircles to create warriors who were more bear than human. They invaded Errold’s Grove, but were repelled by Darian and the Hawkbrothers. After that the remnants of Blood Bear joined the Wolverine Clans, but disgraced themselves by breaking the rules of battle. (Owl)
“Blood Bound”
An ancient song traditionally ascribed to the same Bard who wrote the Tandere Cycle. (LHM)
Blood-debt
A Rethwellan law that states a murderer’s family must pay the family of the slain. (Oath)
Blood-feud
An ancient Shin’a’in tradition that allows a person to seek revenge on those who have committed great harm. The petitioner asks the Goddess to become Swordsworn and, if accepted, may go on Blood-feud. The price to pursue such revenge includes service to the Warrior aspect of the Goddess, life as a neuter, and sword service to the Clans. Swordsworn Shin’a’in dress in black until the blood feud ends. (Oath)
Blood-magic
A form of Dark magic that draws upon the released energy from the torture or death of a living thing to enhance the powers of the magician. Ma’ar, Ancar, Hulda, and Noyoki were all Blood-magic users. (BV)
Blood-path
Blood-path mages use the energy from the torture and or death of something living to create power. Humans give the most energy but animals or land can also be used. (BV)
“Bloody Carthar’s Fourteen Wives”
A cautionary fable that Tarma and Kethry used to frighten the flirtatious new bride they escorted during their mercenary days. (Oath)
Blue Mountain Mages
A group of mages similar to those from the White Winds school who use magic responsibly. (Oath, Winds)
Blue Mountain Mage-School
A mage-teaching establishment established by a Blue Mountain Mage (Oath, Storm)
Blues
Unafflulaled students at Haven training to be scholars or arcificers. Many are the children of nobles, but some are talented youngsters there on scholarship. The Unaffiliates’ uniforms are light-blue. (Arrows, Storm)
Boar spear
A weapon used by Raven Clan defenders and hunters, it is a long spear with a short, sword-sized blade and an iron crossbar to stop the body of a skewered boar from continuing up the shaft of the spear toward its wielder. (Owl)
Bogles/Boggles
Generic term used to describe unclassified dangerous entities. Used in Karse and Valdemar to describe the howling monsters that the Dark Servants sent during the night to harass the border defenders in the Karsite war; also used in Valdemar and Hardorn to describe the change-beasts created by the Mage-Storms. (BV)
Bolthaven
Skybolts’ winter quarters on the southwestern border of Rethwellan close to the l’elagir Hills. During Kerowyn’s years as Captain of the company, it more than doubled in size and became home to a fine annual faire featuring Shin’a’in animals provided by Kerowyn’s cousins. After the Skybolts moved to Valdemar, Quenten took over the land and founded a White Winds Mage-school. (Storm, Sword, Winds)
Bolton
The Skybolts’ deeded border town in eastern Valdemar. Queen Selenay gave It to Kerowyn and the Skybolts when they helped win the war against Ancar. (Winds)
Bondbirds
The magically and genetically altered avian species that choose to be mindlinked to the Hawkbrothers. Very intelligent, they are usually, though not always, raptors and live much longer than their normal counterparts. Eagles, falcons, owls, crows, firebirds, and several other species have been bred to be bondbirds. (BV)
Book of the One
The Book of the One is the holy book of a monotheistic religious group from the Three Rivers area of Valdemar. Mero frequently quotes from it. (Arrows)
Book, The
The dreaded log of herald-trainees’ demerits and misdeeds kept in the Provost-Marshal’s office. (Arrows)
Bors Porthas
A former assassin/agent, he is now Melles’ valet. (Storm)
Bornam’s Bastards
A mercenary infantry company, one of four hired by the Menmellith Council to capture Karsite bandits. (Sword)
Bottomless Barrel Inn
An inn in Oberdorn owned by a genial host named Oskar. (Oath)
Boys’ Raids
A rite of passage for Ghost Cat Clan youths. The boys sneak into neighbors’ houses and steal small items, which are later returned. After numerous protests from Errold’s Grove, the ritual was changed to a form of counting coup—trying to sneak up on dyheli herds and mark an animal’s side with a painted palm. (Owl)
Bram
General with the Imperial forces and spy for the Emperor in Tremane’s army, he was the spokesman for the delegation of spies for various masters who approached Tremane about converting to his side permanently. (Storm)
Bran Kerst
The town of Shonar’s Master Goldsmith, one of the delegation of citizen leaders who came to Tremane with suggestions for combining labor forces to serve both the townsfolk and the soldiers. (Storm)
Brancher
Term for a young gryphon, beyond the age of a nestling, but not yet fledgling. (Gryphon)
Breakneedle Street
A culvert vented down this lane from the Tailor’s Court’s Lady Fountain until it was diverted by the Blues in a prank designed to flood a secret gathering room in the Virgin and Stars Tavern. (Arrows)
Breda (Bard)
The senior Bard with the Colleglum during Vanyel’s time, she possessed all three of the Bardic Gifts. (LHM)
Brendan
Otherwise known as the High Kingdom of Brendan, a land far to the east in the known world of Velgarth. (Oath)
Brenden Keep
The manor of Lord Trevor Corey, where Lissa Ashkevron trained in swordwork before joining the Valdemar Royal Guard. (LHM)
Breon (Lord)
Overlord of the area that includes Errold’s Grove and lord of the manor at Kelmskeep, a heavily fortified and garrisoned outpost In northwestern Valdeinar. (Owl)
Bret
The Artificer who was asked to carry the report to Queen Selenay informing her about the Change-animals and worsening waves of Mage-Storms. (Storm)
Brether’s Crossroads
The town where Tarma and Kethry killed the bandit gang that murderered Tarma’s Clan, and the site of Tarma and Kethry’s first meeting. (Oath)
Briar burl
At the Colleglum, Mero teased Talia by asking her how she would prepare this huge, inedible root into a meal. (Arrows)
Briarley Crossing
Tuck’s home village in north Haven. Briarley Crossing lies between Lower Devin and Endercott just off the Nodding Hill road. (BB)
Briary Holding
Managed by Lady Cedrys, near where Joserlin Corveau was fostered when he was thirteen, before he was sent to Forst Reach Holding. (LHM)
Brightbird
One of Amberdrake’s family, lost to him in the chaos that erupted while he was away at College in Predain. (Gryphon)
Brightmoon
Tayledras scout. (Winds)
Brightsib
Tarma’s nickname for Herald Roald, after a shared meeting with the Star-Eyed (Oath)
Brghtstar k’Treva
Vanyel’s son by Snowlight k’Treva, who was willing to have twins, one child for herself and one for the shay’a’chern pair Starwind and Moondance to raise. Brightstar’s bondbird is a huge white owl. (LHM)
Brightwind k’Treva
Tayledras Adept too old to help Starwind and Moondance deal with an invadlng swarm of colddrakes moving toward k’Treva vale. (LHM)
Brindle Mastiff
Tilden brought puppies of this breed as Midwinter gifts for the children at Kethry’s keep. (Oath)
Brinle-bushes
A bushy shrub. Kethry hid the Sunhawks from Lord Kelcrag’s sentries by creating an illusion the mercenaries were simply part of the landscape, likke a thicket of brinle-bushes. (Oath)
Brion (Herald)
Herald being trained in Mage-Gift of weather control. (Winds)
Brodie (Old Man)
A failed Healer, he fled north out of valdemar and became a veterinarian to the local peasants’ animals. Master Dark forced Brodle to treat his bandit hirelings when they were wounded. Brodie saved Vanyel after the bandits nearly killed him, and he released the bonds placed upon Vanyel by the Dark Adept. Vanyel killed Brodie in his insane rage after being released from his bonds. (LHM)
Broken Arms
A tavern in Haven named for its sign displaying broken arms—a warning to anyone who breaks the peace in that establishment. If they do so, they will possess broken arms just like the ones on the tavern’s sign. (TT)
Broken Sword Inn
A Mornedealth Inn catering to mercenaries run by Hadell and his family (Oath)
Brothers of Perpetual Indulgence
People who participate in drunken revelry and hedonistic adventure are sometimes teased with accusations that they are joining this fictitious order. (LHM)
The Valdemar Companion Page 20