Silver Veil
A kestra’chern, later wife to King Shalaman. Her platinum hair reached the ground and trailed behind her as she walked, and is the reason for her name. When fleeing her home land of Therium during the Mage-Wars, she took in young Amberdrake and taught him her trade. She apprenticed Amberdrake to her friend Lorenshallen and traveled further south to the land of the Black Kings. The Haighlei call her Ke Arigat Osorna, which means silver veil. (Gryphon)
Silver sticks
Writing implements manufactured by the Haighlei. (Gryphon)
Silverbird
A Tayledras weaver who made the pledge ceremony robes for marriage. (Owl)
Silverblade
Daughter of Amberdrake and Winterhart. Named Windsong as a child, on her twelfth birthday she announced her name change. Silverblade is now a warrior attached to the Silvers and Tadrith’s partner. She has some Empathic ability, but must touch the subject before she can read feelings. (Gryphon)
Silverfox k’Leshya
Kestra’chern with the k’Treva clan, he came to Haven with the first floating barge group of the Kaleda’in. Silverfox was a member of one of the k’Leshyan Disciplines. He had been assigned to learn if Firesong, among others, had been affected by the aftermath of the Mage-Storms. This was a serious concern, since, according to ancient records, extremely sensitive mages were often affected so in the days of Ma’ar and Urtho. In time he and Firesong become life mates. (Storm, Winds)
Silverhorse
Clan chief of the Taylesedrin after the Cataclysm, and a strong opponent of magic in all forms. (Winds)
Silversmith Guild
Jelnack was its Master in Haven in the reign of King Theran, but lost his position as a result of his insane wife’s vendetta against Lavan Firestorm. (BB)
Silverswan
One of the Tayledras Elders who solemnized the bonding of Snowfire and Nightwind. (Owl)
Simie
Small, furry, human-looking creatures which inhabit the gardens throughout Haighlei. They enjoy tormenting paintbox-birds. (Gryphon)
Sisterhood of Spell and Sword
The ancient order that mage-smith Lashan served so long ago that no one knows what or where it was. The order’s stronghold was a huge, sprawling group of wooden buildings that looked very much like Quenten’s mage-school. Without town or stockade, only forest surrounded the Sisterhood’s retreat. Flat roofs topped the structures, and a square-knot pattern was carved above all of the doors. The Sisterhood was part temple, part militia, and part mage-school. The Sisterhood worshipped four deities—two sets of twins: Kerenel and Dira, Karanel and Dara—Healer, Crafter, Fighter, and Hunter. (Winds)
Sisters of Agnetha
They worship one aspect of the Goddess. Dierna Brodey was sent to the Sisters’ cloister when she was eight to be taught the womanly arts. (Sword)
Sixth Crimson
Part of General Shaiknam’s and Garber’s troops. They were led into an ambush which Shaiknam’s scouts had already informed him of and were wiped out. (Gryphon)
Skandranon Rashkae
The most famous gryphon ever, the Black Gryphon, and the ally of Urtho in ancient times. He was the strongest and bravest of the gryphon race. His exploits over his long life have never been equaled in all of the long history of gryphons. He discovered and broadcast to all gryphons the fertility spells needed to create offspring. He killed Ma’ar after Urtho was assassinated. He founded White Gryphon after the Cataclysm, and served upon its council. His children grew up strong and clever and became famous in their own right. Mate of Zhaneel, father of Tadrith and Keenath. (Owl, Gryphon, Winds)
Skif (Herald)
Skif lost his father young, and his mother when he was barely nine. Orphaned, he became the responsibility of his venal and amoral uncle, Londer Galko. Lander put Skif to work in his miserable tavern, the Hollybush. Skif woke up early and got the fires at the tavern started and water hauled in from the well while dodging blows from the other tavern workers, then spent his mornings in school and his afternoons stealing food to eat, finishing off the day by working in the tavern at night until it closed in the wee hours of the morning. Skif eventually ran away from his uncle and became a member of a gang of petty thieves headed by a former Tedrel mercenary named Bazie. Skif and the other boys lived as a family— the only one Skif had known after the death of his mother. When Bazie and his boys were killed in an arson fire, Skif swore that he would find the person responsible and take revenge in their names. After being Chosen by his Companion Cymry, Skif found a new family with the Heralds. He and Alberich broke up a slavery ring and Skif discovered his purpose in the world, as a Herald fighting injustice. Skif’s mate was the Change-child Nyara, Mornilithe Falconsbane’s daughter. Skif met her when accompanying Elspeth on a mission to find mages for Valdemar. (Arrows, Storm, TT, Winds)
Skolte (Sir)
A scrawny, middle-aged but quite clever nobleman who hired Kethry and Tarma to escort his wife Darthela to Fromish before winter set in. (Oath)
Sky-mother
A Hardornen deity, associated with the earth-father and represented by the color blue. (Storm)
Skybolts
A mercenary company, they were noted as mounted scout-skirmishers. Lerryn Twoblades, the son of Justin Twoblades, was Captain of the bonded outfit, and was willing to hire Tarma’s student Kerowyn. After Lerryn and his second officer were killed in the war against Karse, the company was almost ruined by the Inept leadership of Ardana Flinteyes. Kerowyn was elected Captain, and under her guidance the Skybolts enjoyed ten years of expansion and prosperity. She arranged the Skybolts into four combined companies, each with a pair of lieutenants. The largest group was the light cavalry, followed by horse archers, and together these comprised two-thirds of the outfit. The remaining third was divided between scouts and specialists: messengers, saboteurs, two Healers and their four aides, three mages, and six apprentice mages. Company uniforms were silver and grey tabards bearing the device of crossed lightning bolts on the sleeve. The Skybolts used Bolthaven in Rethwellan as their winter quarters, until they were deeded a town in Valdemar, which was renamed Bolton, as reward from Queen Selenay for helping to defeat Ancar’s forces. After Kerowyn was Chosen, the Skybolts remained in Valdemar and were added to Queen Selenay’s official forces. (Sword)
Skydance
A Tayledras scout whose bondbird, Raan, killed one of the forest intruders when Darkwind was attacked. (Winds)
Skyr
The hawk-eagle bondbird of Starfall’s Healing-Adept father. Starfall used Skyr’s talons as tokens to adopt Nightwind and Darian into the k’Vala clan. (Owl)
Skyseeker k’Treva
A Hawkbrother fond of garish designs Darkwind imitated in his disguise as a carnival worker. (Winds)
Skyshadow
A Tayledras scout whose bondbird was Eere, a second-year suntail hawk eagle. (Owl)
Smoke
Leftenant Alberich of Karse’s former mount, killed a few weeks before Alberich was promoted to Captain and given the white stallion Silver as a replacement. (Arrows)
Snow Demon
A creature that first appeared during an unusually cold winter four generations before Tarma’s time, and was killed by one of Tarma’s teachers, another Kal’enedral, who also perished in the fight. The history-song of the battle is a favorite among the Shin’a’in. (Oath)
Snow Fox Clan
One of the northern tribes and friendly with the Ghost Cat peoples. (Owl)
Snow Fox
The avatar of the tribe that bears his name. He is the size of a small pony and has milky-blue, catlike eyes, a sharply pointed muzzle, and blunt, pointed ears. To onlookers his furry body seems misty white and translucent. Tiny fragments of white light, like twinkling stars, dance around him like dust motes in sunlight. (Owl)
Snow fever
A dangerous and sometimes fatal disease known in Vaidemar’s northern sectors. It generally shows up immediately after the first few snowfalls and is gone by Midw
inter. Its symptoms are high fever, delirium, a red rash, and swelling under jaws and arms. Treatment is imperative, and trained Healers are required if one hopes to avert numerous deaths from this plague. (Arrows)
Snow-rose
A gift Vanyel made as a reward for a chirra that had carried his packs through a blizzard. (LHM)
Snow-wren
A brown bird with a gray cap, native to Valdemar. Dean Elcarth reminded Talia of a snow-wren with his gray hair and chipper behavior. (Arrows)
Snowfire k’Vala
The Hawkbrother who rescued Darian Firkin from capture by invading barbarians and adopted the boy as his younger brother. He was also Darian’s first teacher in magic. Snowfire was married to Nightwind, the father of Moonshadow. His bondbirds were the mated eagle-owls Hweel and Huur. (Owl)
Snowlight
A Tayledras woman who conceived twins by Vanyel so that Starwind k’Treva and Moondance could adopt one of them, the boy who became Brightstar. Featherfire, the girl, remained with Snowlight. (LHM)
Snowstar
Tayledras scout who called for mage help in evicting a basilisk from his patrol area. (Winds)
Snowstar
The Kaled’a’in Adept, Snowstar, was the official go between for the mages and Urtho. He also helped lead the evacuation before the Cataclysm, and became a member of White Gryphon’s council. (Gryphon)
Soaproot
A natural cleanser, it is often planted among the water-weeds near the Herald Waystations. Heralds use it to wash their soiled clothing and themselves. (Arrows)
Sofi (Companion)
Companion to Herald Destria. When Destria was circuit riding in Valdemar’s northern district and broke her legs while rescuing children from a flood, Sofi got her Chosen and the youngsters to safety. (Arrows)
Sofya (Herald)
A Herald Courier Vanyel met at an inn on his way to Forst Reach for a vacation. Sofya’s Companion is the stallion Gavis. (LHM)
Solan
Hardornan soldier posted to the message tower on the Hardorn-Valdemar border. Solan and his captain demonstrated to Kris and Talia the message-relay system King Alessandar’s realm used, which involved towers, light, and reflection devices. (Arrows)
Solaris (Son of the Sun)
The High Priest chosen Son of the Sun by the god Vkandis himself. She reformed the corrupt black robe priests and returned Karse’s worship to the original writ and rules of Vkandis. Solaris was also responsible for eliminating the cleansing fires, slavery, prostitution, and the production of narcotics. (Storm, Owl)
Solstice fires
They are lit at Midsummer Solstice and part of ancient rituals that include maidens leaping over the flames. (Sword)
Son of the Sun
The title given to the Supreme High Priest in the Karsite religion, temporal and spiritual leader, military commander under the guidance of Vkandis. (BB, Storm)
Sondri
She was a maid at the Forst Reach manor-keep. (LHM)
Song-carving
What the kyree shaman Hyrryl called Bard Stefen’s singing for the entertainment of the Hot Springs Clan of kyree. (LHM)
Songlight
A Tayledras mage assigned to help the scouts. Though injured, Songlight still attended the Council by Mindtouch and relayed to others who couldn’t be there. (Winds)
So’trekoth
Shin’a’in term for a fool who will believe anything, literally, “gape mouthed hatchling.” (Oath)
Soul-bond
A magic link similar to a geas. Need has a Soul-bond with her chosen bearers. (Winds, Oath)
Southford
A village in Hardorn that was visited by Kris and Talia during their ambassadorial trip to that country’s capital. (Arrows)
Southron Keep
One of Valdemar’s Great Courts. Bards and minstrels often dream of attaining a permanent spot at such a place. (LHM)
Sovvan Feast
A harvest festival held on Sovvan-night. According to the old folks, a successful Sovvan hunt meant good luck for the entire winter. (Oath)
Sovvan-Night
A harvest festival celebration filled with partying and superstitious rituals. It is also a night of honest wariness and respectful traditions such as putting candles in darkened windows. Tradition holds that on Sovvan night the veil between this plane and the Otherworids is thin. (LHM)
Spangera
A town in Hardorn where army stragglers managed find shelter behind the fortifications before the worst of the Mage-Storms struck. (Storm)
Spears of the Law
The Haighlei Royal Police and Guard. (Gryphon)
Special Council
A resistance government of Hardorn, after the Empire had moved into their territory. It was a disorganized group of about thirty nobles who had survived Ancar’s purges, plus the heads of Guilds and one member who claimed to speak for Hardorn’s mages. There was no single leader. (Storm)
Special Messenger
Heralds appointed as messengers on Royal command, they wear a silver-arrow insignia. (Winds)
Speed-healing
A technique trained Healers resist using because of the severe strain on the patient’s reserves. With speed-healing, intense exhaustion and buildup of fatigue poisons mean the patients must sleep frequently, and they experience considerably more pain than they would with normal-rate healing. (Arrows)
Spell of the True Sight
A spell that keeps the mage who casts it from being fooled by illusions. (Oath)
Spider-Priestess
A religious order of eunuchs who wear female garb. Sewen volunteered to convince the Bard Leslac that Tarma was a Spider-Priestess. The idea was to make Leslac stop writing outrageously flattering songs and hanging around Tarma in hopes of becoming her lover. (Oath)
Spirit of Truth
A painting representing the Spirit of Truth hangs in Haven’s High Temple; it reminded Vanyel of a demented angel, and of Bard Stefen. (LHM)
Spirit-sword
What the Hawkbrothers called Need. (Oath)
Spongetoad
An amphibian that soaks up vast amounts of water in the rainy season, swelling to several times its normal size, then survives on the stored water supply during the long summer drought. (Arrows)
Stable Elements
The elements of Fire and Earth; their Lesser Wind is invoked by a Journeyman mage’s testing spell. (Oath)
Staferd’s Cold-drakes
A mercenary Company camped next to the Sunhawks during the siege against Declin Lord Kelrag. (Sword)
Star
Vanyel’s mare, a delicately boned black palfrey. She was a gift from his mother, Lady Treesa. (LHM)
Star-yed, The
The Shin’a’in Goddess, also known as She of the New Moon and South Wind. Her eyes are the spangled darkness of the sky at midnight. Raven-haired and tawny-skinned, her forms/faces are: Maiden, Mother, Warrior, and Crone. While the Maiden and Mother claim the Clan, the Warrior claims the Oathbound and Swordsworn, and the Crone claims Healers. (Oath)
Starblade k’Sheyna
A Clan Elder and an Adept mage, he was estranged from both his sons, Darkwind because he became a scout and wouldn’t use magic, and Wintermoon because he had no strong mage skills. Starblade was captured and subverted by Falconsbane, his bondbird Karry killed and replaced by a hawk-sized crow. The spell tying him to Falconsbane was broken when Nyara revealed the compulsions and Vree killed the crow that held them in place. Starblade’s new bondbird was Hyllarr, a crested hawk-eagle. He also acquired a lover, the Shin’a’in shaman healer Kethra, who helped him recover from his mental and physical wounds. (Winds)
Starfall
Tayledras Adept, Elder, Leader, and father of the Healing-Mage Firesong. His bondbird was a cooperihawk. Starfall worked hard to build the Heartstone of what was to become k’Valdemar Vale. (Owl)
Stargem
A member of Amberdrake’s lost family. (Gryphon)
Starsinger
A
member of Amberdrake’s lost family. (Gryphon)
Starsong k’Sheyna
A Tayledras scout and a former lover of Wintermoon. (Winds)
Starwind k’Treva
An Adept Tayledras and Speaker of the k’Treva Hawkbrothers. Starwind’s bondbird was a white gyrfalcon, Asheena. Herald-Mage Savil studied magery with Starwind and became his Hawksister. Lifebonded to Moondance k’Treva, the couple adopted and raised Vanyel’s son, Brightstar. (LHM)
Staven
Shin’a’in word for “water.” (Oath)
Staven Frelennye
Lord Holder of Frelennye, Tylendel’s twin, and his elder by an hour. The boys were always closely mind-linked, a fact that enabled them to know of each other’s danger or pain. Staven was intensely involved in the Frelennyes’ long-running feud with the Leshara clan, and when he died in an ambush, Tylendel felt his death and almost went mad, triggering a fierce psychic storm that damaged the Temple Grove. Tylendel’s grief over Staven’s murder was overwhelming, and had tragic consequences. (LHM)
Steading
A Holderkin one-family property. A man and his Firstwife are expected to eventually move out of his Father’s Steading and set up their own. (Arrows)
Steelmind
A Hawkbrother whose name was given to him by an older Tayledras who admired the young scout’s ability to gather information, Steelmind traded plants, herbs, and seeds at the Errold’s Grove market. He also delivered herbal remedies to Keisha from his vale’s Healer. While he was participating in Darian’s expedition to the north, he and Shandi fell in love. Steelmind’s bondbird was a buzzard. (Owl)
Stefansen Jadrevalyn (Prince, King)
The King of Rethwellan. Kethry, Tarma, and Jadrek helped put Stefan on the throne after Stef’s brother Raschar had seized it for himself through murder and treachery. Stef was declared an outlaw the day his brother Raschar was crowned. Stefansen, his wife Mertis. and their baby son found refuge at Herald Roald’s hunting lodge in Valdemar. They were left alone there until Kethry, Tarma, and Jadrek arrived, bringing with them the legendary Sword That Sings. The Sword identified Stefansen as Rethwellan’s rightful ruler, obligating him to fight for his throne. (Oath)
The Valdemar Companion Page 42