He was a Herald posted to a Skybolt garrison town on Valdemar’s eastern border. They sent him to the Council with alarming news of a magical attack on their position. (Wind)
Semon
One of the Artificer students working on the Mage-Storm problem at the Compass Rose. The Change-rabbit captured after the third Mage-Storm almost bit Semon’s hand off. (Storm)
Sen
He was Talia’s father and the master of Sensholding. (Arrows)
Sendar (King)
He was Queen Selenay’s father, killed by an assassin in the fluai battle of the Tedrel Wars. (Arrows)
Sendlewood
A fragrant material used in oils to massage the body or to protect linen and bedding from insects in storage. Sendlewood comes from a slow growing tree that has tiny purple and white flowers. Distilling the powdered heartwood and roots produces the oil. The lumber is used in the construction of temples and palace throne rooms. (LHM)
Seneschal
The person in a Royal Household in charge of all domestic arrangements and ceremonies, and who handles certain administrative and judicial functions. As the Seneschal is the Chief Steward of Valdemar, his Herald is steward of the Heraldic Circle and is one of its more important members. (Arrows)
Sensholding
The Holderkin Steading which was Talia’s original home. Sensholding and its repressive, polygamous culture had been Talia’s entire world until she was Chosen. That upbringing left her completely unprepared for the freedom, noise and bustle of settlements along the Trade Road, let alone for the size and excitement of Valdemar’s capital city. (Arrows)
Senta (Companion)
An unpartnered Companion and twin of Sartra. (Storm)
Sentlewood
A scent often incorporated into perfume that Tarma’s Clan used to anoint themselves. (Oath)
Sentry-mode
The stance taken by a Shin’a’in battlesteed which has been given the command to guard. (Oath)
Serais (Councillor)
Head of the Imperial Tax Collectors. (Storm)
Serens
Also known as Pappa Serens, he was the owner and proprietor of the Broken Arms tavern. (TT)
Seri
Urtho’s hertasi servant. (Gryphon)
Serina
One of Vanyel’s aunts. (LHM)
Servants of Darkness
Also known as the Dark Servants, they were an evil army guided by the invading sorcerer Leareth. Vanyel held back their hordes at the pass of Dellcrag and Mount Thurlos long enough to save the Kingdom. (Arrows)
Servants of the Warrior
The Spirit-trainers who serve the Goddess as Warrior by training her Swordsworn. Such instructors taught Tarma by night, instilling in her the skills she needed te survive her quest. And they are what she will become should she die while under Oath. (Oath)
Set-spell
A spell that recognizes certain specified individuals and allows them entrance to protectcd arcas. (LHM)
Seven Corey Swordmaids
The way Lissa referred to herself and her fellow students at Trevor Corey’s school for single warrior women. She promised to lead the seven to her brother Vanyel’s rescue if he was being mistreated at Court. (LHM)
Sewen
Captain Idra’s second in command, handfasted to Shayana Healer-Priest Tresti. (Oath)
Shadow Stalker, The
See Ashkevron, Vanyel
Shadow-Lover
A euphemism for death, to embrace the shadow-lover. (Oath)
Shadowdancer, Lythe
One of a pair of early Heralds that Talia read about in tales and legends. Lythe Shadowdanccr was lifebonded to Rothas Sunsinger and their romantic story thrilled Talia as a child, when she dreamed of becoming a Herald. (Arrows)
Shadowstar
A Tayledras scout who offered Darkwind food at the Council meeting and teased him about his appetite. (Winds)
Shaiknam (General)
He Led the Sixth Wing East of Urtho’s forces and was notorious for having little regard for his fighters except as living weapons. He failed as a general, and decided to turn traitor by joining Ma’ar and become a spy and internal saboteur. (Gryphon)
Shakras
Their hides are used to make soles for boots used by Tayledras scouts. (Winds)
Shalaman (King)
In the Halghlei Empire there are Six Nations of the Black Kings. Shalaman is King and emperor of the nation closest to White Gryphon. (Gryphon)
Shallan
A Skybolt scout whose lover, Relli, was killed in the rout during bandit eradication operations for the Menmellith Council. After the Skybolts were reformed under Kerowyn, Shallan was named co-commander and lieutenant of the specialists. (Sword, Winds)
Shallan (Herald)
Field trial herald; her students are called her brood. (LHM)
Shaman/Shamaness
In the Shin’a’in tribes they are known as the Wise Ones and wear headdresses adorned with two tiny antelope horns. They usually have the power of magic, and are more learned than average Clansmen. Each shaman or shamaness is also a keeper of outclan knowledge. (Oath)
Shaman of the Eclipse
A Mage and Shaman with the Wolverine barbarians attacking Raven village. He wore the same kind of medallion, an eclipse painted in scarlet, as the shaman who led Blood Bear warriors in the attack on Errold’s Grove, years before, a symbol of the Eclipse Cult. And he shared that shaman’s rough power and urge for conquest. (Owl)
Shamanic dowsing
A ritual that enables a mage to look for something, or something missing. Snowsar used the technique with a map to find the area of rain forest where magic was nullilled. (Gryphon)
Shamanic weaving
The tapestries kept in a secluded building in Kata’shin’a’in and guarded by the Scroll-Sworn Warriors of the Goddess, open to use by the shamans of all the clans. The weavings were made by the Shin’a’in shamans from the moment of the sundering of the tribes after Urtho’s War, and preserve the whole history of the clans, including the emotions felt by participants in the events recorded. The weavings are a permanent method of keeping Shin’a’in memories of important events alive. (Winds)
Shamile
Herb used in tea making, it serves as a strong tranquilizer. Talia drank it often in the early days of her internship to relieve stress. (Arrows)
Shan
A fur trader who had traveled among the northern barbarians and taught Snowfire what he had earned about them. (Owl)
Shandi Alder (Herald)
Keisha’s younger sister, Chosen by Companion Karles as a teenager. Her Gifts are Empathy and Foresight. and she has strong mundane talents for needlework and making friends. Romantically involved with the Tayledras plant expert Steelmind. (Owl)
Shanse (Minstrel)
A minstrel who had stayed for a time at Forst Reach and praised Vanyel’s good ear for music. The comments gave thee boy hope and fostered his dream of escaping his unhappy home to become a Bard. (LHM)
Sharissa (Herald)
The Herald who led the Guard unit that rescued Lavan and Kalira from ambush by Jisette Jelnack’s hired thugs. (BB)
Shavri (Herald-Healer)
King’s Own Herald, a Healer, and King Randale’s lifebonded lover. She would not marry him because that would prevent any chance for Randale to make a valuable alliance marriage outside the realm, and because she was terrified of the prospect of having to rule Valdemar - something she would have to do if she survived him as a wife and Consort. But Shavri’s desperate desire for a child led her to persuade the couple’s mutual friend, Herald-Mage Vanyel, to sire her daughter Jisa. Healer Shavri kept secret Randale’s sterility, and the world believed that the girl was Randale’s. Shavri could not, however, keep secret the knowledge that Randale was slowly dying of a wasting illness. As Randale’s end drew nearer, Shavri opened all her Healing channels, giving him everything she could of her strength, aware that it would mean her death when he finally succumbed.
Shavri feared ruling so much that it threw her into terrible emotional turmoil when Jisa married Randale’s Heir, Treven. She became reconciled to the match in the end, but could never understand Jisa’s willingness to accept the responsibility of ruling Valdemar. Grove-Born Companion Taver had Chosen Shavri after the death of Queen’s Own Herald Lancir, and when Shavri died, Taver Chose Jisa. (LHM)
Shaya
A Kaled’a’in term of endearment. (Winds)
Shayana
A sect of Healing priests which makes no distinction of gender. Tresti, a female attached to the Sunhawks, was a priest of Shayana. (Sword)
Shaych
A shortened form of shay’a’chern, a Tayledras term meaning preferring partners of the same sex in romantic relationships. By the time Vanyel returned from his mission to the Karsite border, shaych had become common slang throughout Valdemar. (BV)
Shaydra
A Tayledras term of eniearnient. (LHM)
Shay’a’chern
A Tayledras term for same-sex orientation. These relationships are fully accepted among the Tayledras. In Valdemar this very old word has been shortened to shaych, but retains its original meaning. (BV)
Shag’kreth’ashke
A Tayledras term meaning beloved lifebonded person of the same sex. (LHM)
She’chorne
A Shin’a’in term meaning homosexual, it does not have negative connotations among the clars. (Oath)
Sheda (General)
An imperial officer and one of Tremane’s predecessors in the campaign in Hardorn. Tremane wondered if, like General Sheda, he should press on despite increasingly difficult obstacles. (Storm)
She’enedra
A Shin’a’in term for lifebond friend, or the Oathbound, two—made-one. Blood-sisters make a cut in their palms, then clasp hands. For Tarma and Kethry, the Goddess healed these cuts into silver scars, a sign of their bond. (Oath)
Sheka
A Shin’a’in term for horse droppings. (Oath)
Shelana
The warleader of Liha’irden Clan in Tarma’s time, and the one who taught the children swordwork. (Oath)
Shelass
Murassa Emperor of the Haighlei 500 years before the time Shalaman. It was he who decreed that the kestra’chern were to be taken into the Empire. (Gryphon)
Shena
A Shin’a’in term mearing “of the Clan,” literally, “of the Brotherhood.” (Oath)
Sheran
A Gryphon fighter rescued by the Third Wing just before the battle at Stelvi Pass. She had been captured and tortured by Ma’ar’s forces. (Gryphon)
Sherisse (Lady)
A noblewoman at Shalaman’s Court. She fell under the influence of the hated Lady Fanshane and as a result became a man-hating, reclusive drunk, eventually dying young. (Gryphon)
Sherrill (nicknamed Sherri) (Herald)
A senior instructor at the Colleglum, her Companion was Silkswift, Sherri was detailed to act as Talia’s guide when the newly-Chosen girl had just arrived at the Collegium. Before she was Chosen. Sherill had lived her life packed together with a large family. They were fisherfolk on Lake Evendim, and Sherrill spent her youth either on a boat or in a longhouse with her entire family and her many uncles families. Chosen right off a fishing boat, Sherrill could not read or write when she was brought to the Collegium. She also believed, as do most flsher folk, that too much bathing was bad for one’s health, and objected to the daily bath required by the Collegium. She helped Keren rescue Talia when the blues threw her into the river. After Ylsa’s death, Sherrill lifebonded with Keren. Sherri remained Talia’s staunch friend and supporter throughout their lives. (Arrows)
Shesti
A Shin’a’in term for “nonsense.” (Oath)
Sheyna
A Tayledras term meaning “brother.” (Winds)
Shield-Wall
A magical barrier placed by the god Vykaendys around Iftel. It is constantly renewed by earth-magic, which is why there is very little magic to spare inside Iftel’s borders. (Storm)
Sheildbrother
The term used for good friends among mercenary companies or armies. (Oath)
Shielding
In Mind-magic it is the process by which an Empath or one Gifted with ThoughtSensing protects herself from an overload of other people’s everyday emotions or thinking. Dean Elcarth taught Talia to imagine an impenetrable wall around her mind, and make it vivid enough to screen out the surrounding babble. He also told her not to hesitate to drop the shield if she suspected danger as her Inner Gift might well be her best advance warning. In tradicional magic, it the process of building barriers to magical energies. (BV)
Shieldmate
The term for a military or mercenary company partner who is also one’s lover. (Oath)
Shin’a’in
Dark-haired, golden-skinned, blue-eyed nomadic peoples of the Dhorisha Plains, related to the Tayledras; they guard the Dhorisha Plains as the Hawkbrothers guard the Pelagir Hills. The Shin’a’in are noted for horse breeding, especially their warsteeds. Each clan is advised by their Elders, who consIst of a Healer, a Shaman, a Warleader, and a Clan Chief. Wary of outsiders, the Shin’a’in are close-knit and friendly within their own elaborate inter- and intra-Clan relationships. Except for dark-clad Sword-sworn devotees, Shin’a’in prefer bright garments and are very fond of music, preserving their history in song. The only time most Shin’a’in leave the Dhorisha Plains is to trade in cities like Kata’shin’a’in. Shin’a’in forsake magic, except for Shamanic magic, and Gifted children are either trained as Shamans, sent to the Hawkbrothers. or have their Gifts sealed off. (BV)
Shin’a’in bows
Small but powerful weapons made of laminated wood, horn, and sinew. They fire small sharp arrows that cannot penetrate good armor, but can find every weak spot in a common soldier’s war-gear. (Oath)
Shion (Herald)
One of the three Heralds diverted from Circuit duty and assigned to escort the ambassadors from k’Sheyna, she annoyed Elspeth with her endless curiosity. (Winds)
Shkar
The warrior leader of the Blood Bear barbarians who invaded and cap tured Errold’s Grove. (Owl)
Shonar
The town in Hardorn where the Imperial Army was headquartered during the Mage-Storms. It eventually became Tremane’s capital. (Storm)
Shonar Council
Tremane worked out conflicts between the town and the military to everyone’s mutual satisfaction with the Shonar Council. They established a list of infractions and punishments based on the Imperial Code, which were then impartially enforced. (Storm)
Shonar Manor
The former residence of a Hardornen noble who was probably killed by Ancar, Grand Duke Tremane made it his headquarters; It was the best available lodging for him and his officers, though its comforts were far inferior to those of his own estate back in the Eastern Empire. (Storm)
Shonsea (Companion)
Herald-Mage Lissandra’s Companion, who died at the northern end of Companion’s Field, apparently having fallen and broken her neck the same instant her Chosen died in an accident in the alchemy lab. Both were probably murdered by Leareth. (LHM)
Shoveral (Lord)
One of Lord Learnount’s commanders, assigned ro guard his western flank during the final attack on Kelcrag’s forces. Shoveral’s standard was the badger, suiting his military style of implacable defense. His ability to attack was untested, but he ordered a charge and his troops took advantage of a hole in the enemy’s line. (Oath)
Shyrestral
A gryphon, one of Tashiketh’s ambassadorial group from Iftel. (Storm)
Siara
Generic Imperial term of respect. (Storm)
Sifyra
A dyheli stag and Snowfire’s mount. (Owl)
Sigfrid
A red-robe priest, and mutual friend of Treyvan and Ulrich. (Storm)
Sigil
A vowelless representation of a Companion’s name, it is carved into
a Companion’s saddle and on the skirting. A Roadguard at Horn pointed out Rolan’s sigil to Talia and explained its meaning to her while she was traveling to Haven. (Arrows)
Signal-towers
They were bulk in Hardorn to serve as an early-warning system. Based on fire-tower architecture, but with massive mirrors on top of them that could be used to transmit coded messages as a serles of light flashes to other signal towers. It generally took a fraction of the time to transmit a message via signal tower relays than it would with traditional couriers. Ancar had signal-towers built at regular intervals all along Hardorn’s major roads. Signal-towers had the advantage of being non-magical and therefore immune to the arcane effects of the Mage-Storms, though they were subject to the whims of weather. (Storm)
Silence
An adept whose original use-name was Snowfire, she was badly hurt in the Heartstone disaster, and afterward became an unsmiling, tragic recluse. After her recovery, she went with Kaied’a’in Adept Summerfawn to find k’Sheyna’s new homeland and prepare to build a Gate. When she returned she was no longer silent, and she was smiling. (Winds)
Silence Bell
This bell was rung in the Compass Rose whenever someone needed to make an emergency announcement. (Storm)
Silkswift (Companion)
Herald Sherrill’s Companion. (Arrows)
Silver (Companion)
Companion Kantor crossed into Karse and allowed himself to be captured as war-booty. Vkandis priests gave the stallion to the newly promoted Captain Alberich as a reward for his service. Alberich treasured the gift of the beautiful horse whom he named Silver, even though he was troubled by Silver’s shining white coat, which he felt ras so visible that it could be a disadvantge in battle. Also, white horses were considered unlucky in Karse, as they were associated with the witch horses of Heraids. Alberich had a latent precognitive Gift that was discovered by the Karsites, who condemned him to death for it, giving him to the fire. Silver rescued Alberich from his burning prison and brought him to Valdemar, where he revealed his real nature (Companion), and his real name (Kantor). Heralds waiting for Alberich took the newly Chosen Alberich to Haven to become a Herald himself. (Arrows)
Silver Gryphons
Named for the silver badges shaped like gryphons worn by the members, this is the policing organization of White Gryphon, formed from the remnants of fighters and soldiers who managed to make it through Urtho’s Gates before the Catclysm. The Silvers serve both military and police functions, and are the fighters, guards, scouts, and constables of their city. (Owl, Storm, Gryphon)
The Valdemar Companion Page 41