Broken Stone 02 - Warlock's Sun Rising
Page 80
Thraxia One of the Free Kingdoms of Western Urovia, composing the lands west of the Hyrkrainian Mountains that divide it from Northalde. Originally settled by clans fleeing the Island Realms after the Wars of Kith and Kin two thousand years ago. The last of the kingdoms to embrace the Creed, Thraxia has somewhat more tolerance for right hand magic than the other western kingdoms, although the Left Hand Path is punished severely. Thraxians are famed far and wide for the excellence of their poetry and music, and their greatest bard Maegellin is celebrated throughout the Free Kingdoms and beyond. Their skill at hunting and their fine mead are also noteworthy.
Tintagael Name given to a haunted forest in the westernmost fiefs of the King’s Dominions and the ancient Watchtower of the Magi on its outskirts. Long the earthly sojourn of the Fay Folk, who exploited the Rent Between Worlds caused by the sorcery emanating from the Watchtower to cross over from the Other Side. Nowadays few wayfarers dare venture inside it, and of those who do fewer still emerge.
Tyrnor War god worshipped by the Northlanders. Reviled in Palomedian culture as Azazel, the archdemon embodying war.
Two Prophets Collective name given to the avatars, Sha’abat and Palomedes, whose teachings inspired the Faith and Creed respectively and brought the knowledge of Reus Almighty to mortalkind. Due to religious conflict, particularly the Pilgrim Wars, adherents of both religions respectively call the prophets ‘true’ and ‘false’ – though some loremasters acknowledge both. Note that the term ‘false prophet’ is also used to describe those possessed or impersonated by archdemons in order to lead mortalkind astray.
Un-angels Collective name given to ‘neutral’ entities that are considered neither angels nor demons. Foremost among them are Azrael, judge of souls; Kaia, worshipped as a nature goddess throughout pagan communities in the Island Realms; and Nurë, the archangel of fire, prayed to by smiths of all kinds. The Fay Folk are also considered by many loremasters to be lesser un-angels, being far from good but not truly evil.
Unseen Collective noun given to all inhabitants of the Other Side after the Breaking of the World, when angels and other supernatural entities ceased to walk openly among mortalkind. Throughout the Golden Age they are said to have reappeared occasionally, though with diminishing frequency, and by the advent of the Silver Age such manifestations had become virtually unknown. Note that demonkind will manifest in the form of possessions and in response to summonings by a demonologist meddling with the Other Side using the Left Hand Path.
Upper Thulia Lands adjacent to Dulsinor ruled by the House of Ürl, long hostile to the House of Markward. Its ruling Eorl was crippled by Sir Balthor, foremost knight of Dulsinor, during the last war between the Ürls and Markwards, and has nursed a bitter grudge against them ever since.
Upper Vallia Ancient name given to the northern and central margravates of Pangonia, including Rima where the royal seat is. Besides the capital its foremost provinces are Gorlivere, Vichy, Morvaine and Valacia, long rich in arable lands, vinyards and iron ore. Their smiths are renowned for their smelting skills, and the fineness of their wines is surpassed only by that of Armandy province in Occitania and Aquitania in Lower Vallia.
Urovia Name given to all the lands lying north of the Sundering Sea and the Great Inland Sea, as far the Steppes of Koth that lie beyond the Mercenary Kingdoms to the east of the Urovian New Empire. Nowadays Urovian culture is usually associated with the Creed; but note that the Three Emirates lying directly south of the Mercenary Kingdoms and Koth are considered Sassanian by virtue of their religion and culture.
Urovian New Empire The most powerful and technologically advanced country of the Silver Age, a land empire comprising seven former kingdoms that were consolidated four centuries ago by the House of Usharok during the Hundred Years’ Conquest. Protected by a string of fortresses in the Great White Mountains to the west and the Great Wall to the east, the Empire guards its secrets jealously and trades selectively with its neighbours. It is said to have preserved or relearned much of the lore of Ancient Thalamy, and former outlying provinces of that fallen empire are now part of the New Empire. Its capital, Illyrium, is said to be the greatest Urovian city since Ancient Tyrannos, and is the seat of the Imperator, the Ruling Senate, and the Orthodox Temple.
Varya Name given to the civilisation and the island city that spawned it more than six thousand years ago in the midst of the Great Inland Sea. Inspired by the Archangels, who regularly visited them and taught them the Language of Magick among many other arts and crafts, the Varyans founded an empire that covered the Known World, from the Island Realms in the West to the Steppes of Koth in the East. They were ruled over by the Synod of Elder Wizards, said to number some five dozen warlocks of power unsurpassed before or since. This empire lasted about a thousand years until it was destroyed by the Unseen at the Breaking of the World, by which time it had fallen into demonolatry, decadence and corruption thanks to Ma’amun, foremost among the Elder Wizards, who was seduced by Abaddon during his astral wanderings through the Other Side. Varya is also frequently referred to in texts as Seneca, the name given to it in Decorlangue, the language of Ancient Thalamy.
Vasirius Also known as the Chivalrous King, lauded by poets and loremasters alike for his uncommonly just rule, he was the Scion of the House of Rius who ruled Pangonia more than a hundred years ago and instituted the Code of Chivalry, designed to reform knighthood and rein in its worst excesses. Since Vasirius’ death at the hands of the Traitor Prince Ancelet at the Battle of Avalongne, the code has waned in influence, though it still attracts adherents among idealistic young knights across the Free Kingdoms.
Vorstlund Formerly a kingdom until the Partition Crisis some two centuries ago, Vorstlund is now a loose federation of nine baronies, although it is still classed as being one of the Free Kingdoms. Vorstlendings are known for their gluttony and generosity, but can also be quick to anger and are doughty fighters.
Wadwo The result of disastrous experiments by the Elder Wizards to create a race of superhuman soldiers, Wadwos are generally solitary, near-mindless creatures of humanoid but grossly distorted aspect who dwell in remote forests and mountain lairs. Also known as ogres, woses and beastmen, they are possessed of huge strength but are clumsy and ill-disciplined.
Warlock’s Crown Colloquial name given to the ruins of a structure built by the Elder Wizards in the southern ranges of the Hyrkrainian mountains between Thraxia, Northalde and Vorstlund. Not thought to be a Watchtower, most likely it was a palace or prison colony used to keep Gygants enslaved by the priest-kings of Varya. It takes its name from the five surviving shards of the edifice, each one bigger than a castle.
Watchtowers of the Magi A series of huge towers built by the Elder Wizards to watch over their vast domains across the Known World. Many were destroyed during the Breaking of the World, but some survived partially intact, including the Watchtowers of Tintagael in Northalde, the Valley of the Barrow Kings in the Island Realms, and Mount Brazen in the Great White Mountains dividing the Free Kingdoms from the Urovian New Empire.
Westenlund Richest of the nine major baronies of Vorstlund. Ruled over by the House of Drüler, which insisted on retaining the title of principality after the kingdom was broken up two centuries ago, on account of its scion Aelle being the last king of a united Vorstlund.
Wheel Chief symbol of the Creed, derived from the execution of its prophet Palomedes on a torture wheel in Tyrannos a thousand years ago. The sign of the Wheel is made by first touching the forehead and then splaying the fingers of the hand across one’s chest, in representation of the spokes the Redeemer’s limbs were broken on.
White Valravyn Chivalrous order founded by the Hero King Thorsvald of Northalde a hundred years ago, in memory of the warrior saint Ulred; charged with upholding Royal Law throughout the King’s Dominions and bringing justice to all during peacetime, defending the realm in times of war, and the King’s personal security. Revived during the reign of Freidheim II after falling out of favour during the rule of King A
elfric III. The Order’s prestige means it draws the greatest and most ambitious knights of the realm to its ranks. Its present High Commander is Prince Freidhoff, younger brother to the King. It is headquartered at Staerkvit, one of Northalde’s greatest castles, which lies on lands in the Dominions that the Order rules directly on royal grant.
Wyrm Also known as dragons and wyverns; the ancient offspring of the Great World Serpent and Hydrae the Many-Headed. Now an extinct species, after the last of the great venom-spitting reptiles was slain by the Pangonian knight Sir Azelin of Valacia some years ago.
Acknowledgements
A huge thanks to Moonika for believing and her astonishingly quick and efficient beta reading, Snip for funding the start-up costs and general moral support, Niall for his invaluable advice on how to market, Cris for his stalwart critiquing, and last but not least, my mother for putting me up while I got this project off the ground.
I’m not sure if I could have done this without your help, and even if I did it would certainly have been a hell of a lot harder.
I’d also like to say a quick word of thanks to all of you who have read, reviewed, and generally bought into this book series – I hope you’ll be around for many more years to come!
Finally, to fans both new and old – thanks for letting the Broken Stone Chronicle capture your imagination! Keep spreading the word – in person, on Goodreads, Facebook and Amazon – and let’s see if we can’t get a few more converts!
damien@damienblackwords.com
www.damienblackwords.com
@TheDevilsFriar
www.facebook.com/damienblackwords/