The Valdemar Companion

by John Helfers; Denise Little

Vallen

  The Guard-Captain with Elspeth and Darkwind’s escort from the Vale to Haven once Elspeth finished her Mage training. (Storm)

  Valley-node

  A source point of great magical power. One lay under Starwind k’Treva’s vale in the Pelagir Hills. The magic energy flowed along lines like rainwater to streams. Wherever the streams connect, there was a concentration of energy, called a node. The Tayledras can sometimes direct the course of such streams and move the magic from places where the ancient Mage Wars left it to other places where it will be useful. They also build their strongholds over these powerful areas. Tayledras Adepts can draw from the energy, while most outlanders can neither sense nor use them, Savil and Vanyel were among the rare exceptions to this. (LHM, Winds)

  Vanyel Ashkevron (Herald-Mage)

  The legendary Last Herald-Mage of Valdemar. A troubled youth, he came to Haven reluctantly, but became a well-adjusted young man with the help of his first love Tylendel, his aunt, Herald-Mage Savil, and his aunt’s Tayledras friends. When Vanyel lost Tylendel in a tragic series of events, all of Vanyel’s potential Gifts—Mindspeech, Fetching, Empathy, Mage-Gift, Farsight, Foresight, Firestarting, Bardic—were blasted fully open during a backlash of mage-energy of immense power. The terribly wounded Van was Chosen by the Companion Yfandes. He healed, learned to control his powers, and became a Herald-Mage. Ambivalent about his ncw calling at first, he soon embraced his mission to protect his Queen and country from the enemies of Valdemar. He expanded and stabilized the Web connecting the Heralds and cast the spell that protected Valdemar against foreign mages by having the vrondi watch them. Vanyel lived a heroic life serving Valdemar that ended when he sacrificed himself in a Final Strike to defeat the Dark Mage Leareth at Crookback Pass. His spirit haunted the Forest of Sorrows for hundreds of years after his death, joined by the spirits of his second love Stefan and his Companion Yfandes. As the Mage-Storm crisis reached its peak in Selenay’s reign, he took an active role in solving it, and after it was over was released from his guardianship of Sorrows to go with Stefan and Yfandes to the Havens. He had four children Jisa, Brightstar, Featherfire, and Aryen. His descendants include Elspeth and the royal Line of Valdemar beginning with Jisa, and a large number of Tayledras Mages, including Firesong. (LHM, Storm, Winds)

  Vanyel Demonrider

  Karsite epithet for the Valdemaran Herald-Mage Vanyel. He was able to turn back the most terrible demons and monsters that the Karsitc priests could summon. Ironically, Vanyel used the demons against their summoners, which earned him the title King of Demons. When he returned the Demons to their summoners, Vanyel started a chain of events that produced a cascade of changes in the ruling of Karse, not all of them good. (Storm)

  Vanyel’s Curse

  A spell laid upon the Forest of Sorrows by the legendary Herald-Mage, it was actually a guardianship of the borders of Valdemar by the spirits of Vanyel, Stefen, and Yfandes. The curse created the Killing Trees and kept the northern barbarians from using the Great Pass to reach Valdemar. Thc curse was no Longer in effect after the Mage-Storms. (Owl)

  Vapor demons

  Many of Errold’s Grove folk superstitiously believed that these ghostlike creatures existed in the Pelagiris Forst. (Owl)

  Var’athanda

  A Shin’a’in term that means “to be forgetful of.” (Oath)

  Varianis

  Herald Kris’s sexual partner in his early days as a Herald. (Arrows)

  Varny

  Sania’s shieldmate and a former Sunhawk, she left the mercenary group after losing her left eye in battle. She now lives with Sania and their two daughters at Hawksnest. (Oath)

  Varrir

  Transparent creatures from the Ethereal Plane. The dying King Randale reminded Vanyel of one of these. (LHM)

  Vasely

  One of the Sunhawks who came to Petras in response to Kethry’s call, seeking vengeance for Captain Idra. (Oath)

  Vatean (Guildsmaster)

  Guildsmaster for the traders, and friend of Lord Orthallen. His respectable façade concealed a vast empire of illicit activity, including serving as the ringleader for the slavers that were kidnapping children in Haven. He also hired Jass to burn down one of his own slum properties to avoid fines. Skif’s surrogate family died in that fire. Skif eventually killed him with a knife in the eye. (TT)

  Vaul (Lord)

  An older soldier who helped Prince Daren adjust to the cruel realities of military command early in his career as Lord Martial. (Sword)

  Vault, The

  A repository of ancient tools and weapons under Urtho’s Tower. (Storm)

  Vayshe’druvon

  A Tayledras term for guard, scout, and protector; Darkwind is one. (Winds)

  Vedric Mavelan

  The leader of the mage-gifted Mavelan family, he plotted to kill the entire Remoerdis clan in order to obtain access to the powerful node beneath the Baires castle. He was killed with the rest of the Mavelans by his assassination trap. (LHM)

  Vega

  Jjadrek’s gentle paifrey, formerly the property of Lady Mertis, who gave Vega to Jadrek when he, Kethry, Tarma, and Warrl set forth on their return trek across the Comb. (Oath)

  Veil

  The magic energy barrier at the entrance of a Vale. It is transparent and permits Clan members and harmless wildlife to pass, but bars enemies and bad weather. Passing through the Veil creates a brief tingling sensation, as though lightning were building somewhere nearby. (Winds)

  Velcher (Lord)

  Tremane’s spymaster. (Storm)

  Velgarth

  The continent on which Valdemar and its surrounding kingdoms are located. (LHM)

  Vena

  The apprentice of the mage-smith at the Sisterhood of Spell and Sword when Wizard Heshain attacked. Vena survived the massacre because she was herb-hunting in the woods. She was the first bearer of the sword Need. (Winds)

  Vengeance of the Sunlord

  What the Karsites call the Karsite military. (Arrows)

  Vere Neshem

  Harris’s brother, and also a farmer in Errold’s Grove. (Owl)

  Verenna

  Kero’s Shin’a’in mare, the only mount left at the Keep after the raider attack, because Verenna was always pastured, not stabled. (Sword)

  Vernal Iquinox Festival

  A Valdemaran annual seasonal celebration that is observed with elaborate Court ceremonies. (Arrows)

  Vertalays (Lord)

  A courtier with the difficult task of dowering six marriageable daughters. Lord Vertalays was a wool and mutton merchant. His wife saved money by bringing the family to court during the winter season. This clever tactic meant they could cut fine figures by wearing court dress made from their own wool and embroidered by the Lady and her daughters. This allowed them to demonstrate the family’s domestic skills to potential suitors. (BB)

  Ver’Kal’enedral

  Herald Roald, the future king of Valdemar, was given this title by the Star-Eyed Goddess. He became a minor legend among the Tale’sedrin because he was a good friend of Tarma, and visited the Plains often with his white spirit-horse. (Oath)

  Ves’tacha

  A Shin’a’in term that means “beloved one.” (Oath)

  Vetch

  The Sunhawk scout Gcrrold’s horse. (Sword)

  Vetch

  One of the Silvers. (Gryphon)

  Veth

  Covia Headman Gallen’s half-grown son, he inadvertently caught the results of Vanyel’s fatigue and frustration and got knocked halfway across the village square. (LHM)

  Veth

  A Healer-trained herbalist, he supplied a remedy for Lan’s dazzle headaches. (BB)

  Veth Kethren

  A legendary sword fighter who developed a graceful style of sword fighting for those without upper body strength. Vanyel successfully tried this fighting technique with his cousin Radevel, much to Armsmaster Jervis’s dismay. (LHM)

  Viden

  A town mentioned in Bard Leslac’s heroic versio
n of an unheroic clash between Tarma and a drunken belligerent. (Oath)

  Vikteren

  He served Urtho, passing as an apprentice mage or journeyman, though he was actually a Master. With Skandranon he relayed information from Urtho himself regarding the Gates and the coming Cataclysm. (Gryphon)

  Virgin and Stars Tavern

  Popular with the Collegium’s third-year Bardic students, the tavern is owned by Jon Hapkins. (Arrows, TT)

  Vkandis Medals

  Gold disks blazoned with a sun-in-glory symbol and worn by Karsite priests as part of their ceremonial garb. (Storm)

  Vkandis Sunlord

  One of the numerous names for Karse’s deity, he has manifested as a golden statue, flames, and lightning. Like the Goddess of the Shin’a’in, he is very actively and often quite visibly involved in the affairs of his people and Karse as a whole. (BB, LHM, Storm, Winds)

  Vkandis’ Flames

  Colorful spun-sugar confections meant to resemble the real fires handed out to youngsters at the annual Feast of the Children. (Storm)

  Vkandis’ Light

  What Karsites call the sun. (Storm)

  Voice of Flame

  A nimbus of fire that appears above the head of a priest and speaks through him. Fakery of this manifestation is possible, since Karsite priests are often mages as well as clergy. (Storm)

  Voices of Vkandis Sunlord

  A title borne by Karse’s priesthood. Its leading members wear red and are the land’s ultimate authorities. (Arrows)

  Void

  The Void lies outside the normal plane of existence. It was in the Void that Ma’ar hid his Sanctuary throughout the ages. Firesong returned there to study the damage he inflicted when he destroyed Falconsbane, and to see if the Mage-Storms were disturbing the fabric of that unreal place. (Storm)

  Voorthayshen, Clan Keep

  A Tayledras community whose structures make use of natural elements, including trees, ferns, hot springs for bathing, and skylights for illumination. (LHM)

  Vordon

  Chief of Ghost Cat Clan. (Owl)

  Vorn

  A gryphon who is Salla’s partner, and one of Shala man’s personal guard. (Gryphon)

  Vor’kela

  The Shaman of An’desha’s clan and a rigid man, he was a large part of the reason the boy fled to Tayledras lands and came under Falconsbane’s power. An’desha was certain that if Vor’kela learned of his Mage-Gift he would insist that An’desha become a shaman, a possible fate that appalled the youth. (Storm, Winds)

  Vostel (Herald)

  A Herald who had been burned by the full fury of an angry firebird, he was helped to heal by Talia in her days as a student. Vostel was posted to the Fallflower Healing Temple when word came of Herald Destria’s plight-she had sufferd the same sort of burns he had endured. Vostel was able to help Destria cope with the pain and self-doubts generated by her long and painful healing. (Arrows)

  Vree

  Darkwind’s bondbird, a large forestgyre strong enough to kill a deer or a man. He killed the raven that was holding Darkwind’s father in thrall to Falconsbane. (Storm, Wind)

  Vrisa Sensdaughter

  Talia’s much-loved sister, she married and became a Firstwife with three Underwives to command. When Talia went back to rescue the older woman from that life, Vrisa turned her back and made holy signs to ward off the danger threatened by her own sister, who she now perceived as a demon. (Arrows)

  Vrondi

  Simple air elementals that cannot abide the emotional emanations associated with falsehood. Linked with the Truth Spell, the vrondi produce a glowing blue mist forming a visible aura about the subject’s head and shoulders. Vanyel summoned the vrondi in greater numbers than anyone ever had before and set them to watch throughout Valdemar for disturbances in the fabric of mage-energy lying over the land. This became a force detectable and intensely worrying to incoming mages. The vrondi would follow a mage if the mage was not a Herald, and watch that mage’s every moment. The sense of being watched by thousands of magical eyes drove foreign mages nearly mad once they crossed into Valdemar, especially if they tried to use magic. Vanyel’s vrondi spell was ended in the Mage-Storms. But the Truth Spell remains one of the most useful skills that Heralds have to keep Valdemar safe and well governed. (LHM)

  Vuysher’edras

  Brothers of the Wolves, one of the oldest of the Shin’a’in Clans. (Oath)

  Vykaendys

  The god of Iftel, also known as the Holy Sun, the same God as Vkandis of Karse. Vykaendys created the anti-mage barrier around Iftel after the Cataclysm’s survivors found refuge there and prayed for protection from Ma’ar’s mage-led forces. (Storm)

  Vykaendys-First Bryron Hess

  Iftel’s current Son of the Sun. (Storm)

  Vysaka

  Shin’a’in term for the Goddess-bond formed when the Swordsworn take the Oath. Its presence can be detected by an Adept, another Kal’enedral, and the Kal’enedral who has the bond. It is this bond that creates the shielding that makes Kal’enedral celibate and somewhat immune to magic. Tarma temporarily lost her bond while she was possessed by the demon Thalhkarsh. (Oath)

  Vyusher

  Shin’ain term for “wolf.” (Oath)

  Wagon-families

  Itinerant peddlers who travel across borders and have no home base. Trader Evan was from one of these families and helped spread word throughout Hardorn that Prince Ancar had assassinated his own father. (Winds)

  Ward-off spells

  They can be set as the first line of defense along a kingdom’s border to discourage rather than hurt trespassers. The more intelligent the trespasser, the more likely it is to be affected by the spell. (Winds)

  Warrior Within, The

  The Shin’a’in believe in this inner voice that tells them what they must know. According to them, it is the source of all honor, faith, and prosperity under the Goddess. (Storm)

  Warrl

  A kyree summoned as a familiar by Kethry, he chose to bond to Tarma instead because they were alike—warriors and neuter, and Kethry already had Need. Warrl accompanied Tarma and Kethry on all their adventures and trained Kerowyn in mind-speech. (Oath, Sword)

  Wasting Sickness

  A disease afflicting the Northerners, brought with them into Valdemar. Ghost Cat Clan called it Summer Fever, and knew no treatment or cure. The illness takes two forms, one that causes paralysis, and one that kills. Keisha was able to track down the cause of the illness and destroy the source of the infection. (Owl)

  Wayfarer’s peace

  A greeting announcing that the speaker comes with no evil intent and seeks only shelter. (Oath)

  Wayfood

  Dry travel fare carried in packs or obtained at supply stations on the road route. Wayfood is highly compressed and nutritious, but bland and hard to eat. The one exception to this rule is special bars of pressed grain, fruit and honey. They are tasty, but susceptible to spoiling, and are generally only issued to those on winter duty. (Arrows)

  Waymeet

  A northern town on Kris and Talia’s circuit that was severely hit by plague. Kris helped the townpeople while Talia brought back Healer Kerithwyn to treat the stricken townspeople. (Arrows)

  Waystations

  Supply posts and shelters for the Heralds to use on their Circuits of Valdemar’s outer sectors. Herald Kris’ mother is responsible for managing the restocking and supplies in the Waystations. (Arrows)

  Weatherwitch

  Clairvoyants with a special Gift in long-range weather prediction, particularly of bad weather. Maeven of Berrybay developed the Gift as a result of grief and madness, but retained it when Talia helped restore her to sanity. (Arrows)

  Web-spell

  Also referred to as The Web, it was created by Vanyel because too few Herald-Mages were left to watch Valdemar’s borders. In the past, four Herald-Mages, one for each direction, manned the Web-spell, patrolled the border, and reported trouble to one another. The Web was reset using the energy
of focus stones as substitute sentries and feeding on and joining together the life-energy of all Heralds and Companions. The Web alerted all heralds when there was danger. Thus, Heralds with Foresight were able to make sure that the right Heralds with the right Gifts would be moved to the right places every time a threat to Valdemar crossed its borders. This Web-spell became permanent, the best way to protect Valdemar from any approaching danger, and ensure that any threat was responded to instantly. (LHM, Winds)

  Webs of Time, The

  The Shin’a’in tapestries incorporating the memories of those who lived through history, housed in a holy building in Kata’Shin’a’in. (Storm)

  Weldon (Lord Marshal)

  The Lord Marshal and leader of the forces at the Karse border. (BB)

  Wendar

  Keep Seneschal and the former scribe and accountant of Rathgar’s mercenary company. (Oath)

  Wendi

  A courtier, her older sister Ratha had been fostered with Vanyel’s mother. (LHM)

  Werda

  Elderly history instructor at the Collegium, replaced by Teren when she retired. (Arrows)

  Wernar (Herald)

  He joined Pal and other Heralds at the table near the fire for supper and to relay gossip from his recent Circuit near Torgate. (BB)

  Western Sea

  The migrating k’Leshya clan reached this vast body of water after traveling through two Gates and the wilderness beyond. It is the boundary of Velgarth and is a deep blue-green body of water, stretching to the horizon. White Gryphon was built on its coast. (Gryphon)

  Westmark

  A town on the Herald’s northern Circuit where Herald Talia had to judge a tricky murder case. (Arrows)

  Westrel Keep

  The family holding of House Leshara. (LHM)

  Wethes Goidmarchant

  A wealthy, abusive, amoral Mornedealth banker, he wanted entree into the ranks of the Fifty Familles and Court. He got it when noble Kavinestral Pheregrul sold him his young sister Kethry in marriage. Years after her escape from her sadistic monster of a husband, Kethry returned to Mornedealth as a trained mage, only to be captured by Wethes. The confrontation with Wethes taught Kethry that he was merely an aging, paunchy, greedy coward, not the overwhelming monster of her memory. With the help of Tarma and other friends, she escaped and got revenge on her former tormentor in the city’s courts, having the marriage annulled and fining Wethes heavily for his behavior. Wethes was publicly humiliated, disgraced, and thrown out of the exalted circles that meant everything to him. (Oath)