There are three lineman trade classes. From highest to lowest these classes are:
Caravanmaster A master class lineman, typically in charge of a caravan train bringing supplies to Kingdom cities and outposts. To become a caravanmaster, a lineman must survive the trade, follow the prescribed rules, and earn the trust of the garrison commander responsible for the routes traveled. If a garrison commander is willing to put his mark on a lineman’s caravan plans, the lineman has earned the promotion to master.
Lineman A journeyman class, typically responsible for a section of a caravan train.
Liner An apprentice lineman.
Ridesmen
Ridesmen are found throughout the kingdoms and the free cities. It is a highly valued trade, as horses and other beasts of burden are the primary means of transporting people and goods. In the Kingdoms of Yug and Zapad, many exotic animals are used for riding, including elephants, zebras, and king cats. King cat riders can also be found in Vostok.
There are three ridesman trade classes. From highest to lowest these classes are:
Ridemaster A master class ridesman. To become a ridemaster, a ridesman must be able to tame any and all beasts of burden, from the wildest stallion to the exotic mounts of the southern kingdoms. But taming beasts of burden is only the beginning; ridemasters are showmen, earning the respect of the crowd with their skills, and teachers, able to teach proper riding technique to commoners, and lords and ladies alike.
Ridesman A skilled rider who earns his living doing show riding or horse taming.
Rider An apprentice ridesman.
Shipwrights
Most shipwrights earn their pay and respect in coastal towns, building merchant fleets and military craft. Some live and work along the great rivers of the kingdoms. Master Shipwright Armon, who discovered the Mouth of the World, is said to have been the greatest shipwright that ever lived. Hundreds of years later, his designs for merchant galleys and war galleons are still the most duplicated in the kingdoms.
There are three shipwright trade classes. From highest to lowest these classes are:
Master Shipwright A master class shipbuilder, a highly sought after craftsman. Many live in Klaive and Wellison. To become a master shipwright, one must be able to read and write (rare skills in many parts of the kingdoms) and must prove oneself as a ship architect, designing and building multisailed vessels under the watchful eye of a current master shipwright.
Shipwright A builder of ships. Klaive is the primary shipbuilding port in Great Kingdom. Wellison is Sever’s shipbuilding port.
Shipper An apprentice shipwright.
Smiths, Weaponsmiths & Armorsmiths
Every village and city throughout the kingdoms has one thing in common: Each has a blacksmith and that blacksmith is one of the most highly respected members of the community. It takes a certain kind of man (or woman) to pound steel, shape it against its will, and create the tools, weapons, and armor that are needed throughout the lands.
There are three smith trade classes. From highest to lowest these classes are:
Master Smith A master class smith, often working at garrisons and kingdom outposts. Master weaponsmiths and master armorsmiths specialize in the making of finely crafted weapons and armor respectively. The road to becoming a master smith is one of the longest in all the kingdom trades, especially for weapon and armor smiths. Master smiths earn their title by creating durable goods of fine quality. Claim the title too early, and a smith could end up with the sharp end of blade between the eyes.
Smith A forger of steel and other metals, a maker of weapons and armor. Weaponsmiths and armorsmiths are specialists in the making of weapons and armor respectively.
Ironer An apprentice smith.
Stonecutters
Master stonecutters are the true wizards of the land. They use stones cut from mountains, dug from quarries, or shaped in kilns to build the unyielding structures needed to protect kingdomers from natural disasters and attack, to traverse rivers without having to find a ford, and to collect water from far-away places. Master stonecutters are the architects of castles, bridges, aqueducts, and roads. Kings, lords, ladies, and commoners alike commission their services.
There are three stonecutter trade classes. From highest to lowest these classes are:
Master Stonecutter A master class stone and brick mason. To become a master stonecutter, a stonecutter must ply his trade for many years, honing his skills until he is recognized as the best of the best. As with smiths, it is a long road to becoming a master stonecutter, but the good news is that stonecutters often get to pave their own road through life.
Stonecutter A journeyman class stone and brick mason. Stonecutters know how to cut and shape stones, how to make and kiln brick, and how to mix quicklime.
Stoner An apprentice mason.
Tanners
Away from the great cities of the Kingdoms where silk and cloth abound, the master tanner sets the fashion trend of the day with fur and leather. Take a tanner enough rabbit pelts, come back when it’s time, and you’ll have a coat. But being a tanner isn’t only about making clothes. Tanners make other goods, such as leatherskin canoes, covers for wagons, and padded leather suits for protection in the wilds.
There are three tanner trade classes. From highest to lowest these classes are:
Master Tanner A master class tanner. To become a master tanner requires great skill. A tanner must be able to fashion many different types of goods using wits and the animal skins supplied. Sometimes a tanner must make do with what’s available, fashioning the needed item as much with faith as with anything else.
Tanner A tanner of animal skins, a maker of leather goods.
Hidesman An apprentice tanner.
Woodworkers
Because skills and preferences vary so greatly, woodworkers are some of the most misunderstood tradesmen in the whole of the kingdoms. Some woodworkers build structures: bridges, houses, and mills. Some prefer wagons, coaches, and carriages. Others become specialists, crafting small trade goods.
There are three woodworker trade classes. From highest to lowest these classes are:
Master Woodworker A master class woodworker. Master woodworkers often work with master stonecutters on construction projects, and their craft shows clearly in many structures, even those that are mostly of stone. To become a master woodworker, one must become the best at his craft and work hard to make a name for himself in his chosen area of woodworking.
Woodworker A craftsman who works with wood and has passed an apprenticeship.
Wooder An apprentice woodworker.
Chapter 9
Important Families and Noble
Houses of the Kingdoms
In the kingdoms, there are many important families and noble houses. The important families and noble houses that appear most often in the books are discussed in this chapter.
The Alders
In the current age of Ruin Mist, the Alders are the ruling family of Great Kingdom. King Andrew Alder is the patriarch of the family. His wife, Queen Alexandria Alder, now deceased, is the former matriarch of the family. Andrew and Alexandria have four children:
Adrina is their third daughter
Calyin is their eldest daughter
Delinna is their second daughter
Valam is their only son
King Antwar Alder, also called the Alder King, was the first to rule Great Kingdom. At the time of his rule, the capital city of the kingdom was Alderan, a city named after its king.
In the present age of Ruin Mist, Imtal is the capital city of Great Kingdom. Great Kingdom is the largest and strongest of the many kingdoms of men.
King Andrew Alder
The Brodsts
The Brodsts are a family of soldiers in Great Kingdom. The Brodst family is headed by Ansh Brodst, who is the captain of the guard in Imtal. The Brodsts have long been loyal to the Alders, and they are soldiers of the highest order.
The Brodst family includes: Emel and Pyetr. Both
are guardsmen in Imtal.
Ansh Brodst’s wife died when Emel and Pyetr were young. Emel is a close friend of Adrina Alder.
Captain Ansh Brodst
The De Vits
The De Vits are a family of scholars in Vostok. The De Vits have long been loyal to the Tyr’anths.
Edwar De Vit is currently in the service of the King Jarom Tyr’anth of Vostok as chancellor. As the first advisor to the king, Chancellor Edwar De Vit is the king’s primary aide.
The Duardins
The Duardins are a family of scholars in Great Kingdom. The Duardins have long been loyal to the Alders.
The Duardin family includes: Van’te and Yi. Chancellor Yi is the first adviser to King Andrew Alder of Great Kingdom. Chancellor Van’te is the former first adviser to the king and is now confidant to Prince Valam Alder in South Province.
The Fraddylwickes
The Fraddylwickes are a former Great House. Baron and Baroness Fraddylwicke are responsible for the Barony of Fraddylwicke, which is a largely barren area near the Duchy of Ispeth in the southern part of Great Kingdom. There is a long-standing rivalry between the Baron of Fraddylwicke and the Duke of Ispeth.
The Barony of Fraddylwicke is strategically important to Great Kingdom because of the road connecting the northern and southern bounds of the kingdom.
A great swamp of the same name occupies most of the land in the barony. The swamp is also known as the Bottoms.
The history of Fraddylwicke and its castle go back to the time of the Blood Wars. There is mention of a great siege on the castle by Dnyarr the Elf King of Greye, which is record in a book titled The History Of Fraddylwicke & D’Ardynne.
The Froen d’Gas
The Froen d’Gas are a family in the service of kings. The Froen d’Gas have long been loyal to the Alders.
The Froen d’Ga family includes: Isador and Jacob. Isador Froen d’Ga is Adrina’s former nanny. Isador was given an honorary title by King Andrew, so she is referred to as Lady Isador. Izzy is Adrina’s nickname for Lady Isador.
Jacob Froen d’Ga is the First minister to King Andrew. He is head of the priesthood in the capital city of Imtal. Jacob Froen d’Ga is called Father Jacob.
The Rivens
The Rivens are one of the most ancient families in the kingdoms. Its members can trace their lineage through the ages all the way back to Aven and Riven, the twin sons of Alexia D’ardynne who rebelled against the tyranny of their father Dnyarr the Greye and helped liberate the kingdoms.
William Riven
Aven and Riven were denied their birthright as one of the Greye, and took no last name that is known. Aven became the great intellectual of his time, but as he kept mostly to the affairs of elves little is known of him. Riven, on the other hand, renounced the throne of Sever. King Etry Riven I, a descendent of Riven’s line, would later claim the throne. King Etry Riven I of Sever is a legendary hero of Ruin Mist. Ever since his time, the ruler of Sever is referred to as the North Warden of the Word.
King Charles Riven and his son William rule over Sever. The Rivens have long been aligned with the Alders.
The Tabborraths
The Tabborraths are not a great house of Ruin Mist but they are an important family. Vil Tabborrath is the patriarch of the family and the council leader of a village founded by and named after his great, great, great grandfather. The village is located in the kingdom of Sever.
Vilmos Tabborrath is his father’s namesake, as his father was his father’s namesake. Vilmos has the dark gift of magic. Magic is considered evil and a group called the Priests of the Flame hunt down and kill all those who have magical powers.
The Tyr’anths
In the current age of Ruin Mist, the Tyr’anths are the ruling family of Vostok. The Tyr’anth family is headed by King Jarom Tyr’anth. Jarom’s daughter, Galia Tyr’anth is a king cat rider. She is bonded to Razor since the age of 12.
King Gregor Tyr’anth is the namesake for Gregortonn, and a hero from ancient times widely known in the kingdoms of men. Ever since his time, the ruler of Vostok is referred to as the East Warden of the Word.
King Jarom Tyr’anth
Chapter 10 Fiefdoms of Under-Earth
Under-Earth is home to many peoples, but the greatest of those peoples are the descendents of Greye—the dark elves. The last elven king of Greye was Dnyarr. Dnyarr was the father of three sons: Daren, Damen, and Shost. Upon their father’s death, the three sons made war against each other and eventually divided his lands into three kingdoms. Like their father before them, however, the rule of the three brothers did not last. Since the fall of the three kings, the lands of the dark elves have been organized into fiefdoms, loosely allied to the old kingdoms, but there has not been a king of Grey in many millennia.
The Armorians, a race of greater demons, control the lands to the north of Greye, and the lands to the south are controlled by the Rhylle, a race of shadow people. The peoples of Greye have been enemies of Rhylle and Armore since the time of the Rhylle/Armore wars.
Within Greye, the fiefdoms and their allegiance are as follows:
Fiefdoms Allegiance
Cities of Damen Aligned to old kingdom of Damen, the 1st kingdom.
Cities of Daren Aligned to old kingdom of Daren, the 2nd kingdom.
Cities of Shost Aligned to old kingdom of Shost, the 3rd kingdom.
Each fiefdom has noble houses (Great Houses) and noble lords aligned with it and may have villages under its protection, except for the cities of Shost, which have no noble lords. The Lords of Shost and their heirs were massacred during the Dark Fire.
The following tables list the cities of Damen, Daren, and Shost, and their related houses, villages, and lords.
Cities of Damen
Marek A walled city of Damen.
Great Houses: Icthess, Teprium
Lords: Ryajek, Ittwar
Oshio Capital of Damen.
Great Houses: Ibravor, Glorre, Clareb, Darr
Lords: Mark, Kylaurieth, Kylauriel, Hettob
Var A walled city of Damen.
Great Houses: Povoren, Shryth, Ynt
Lord: Vylniul
Villages Under Protection Kedrette, Khennet, Wrenrandyl
Cities of Daren
Beyet A walled city of Daren.
Great Houses: Shryth, Styven
Lords: Lionne, Yras
Pakchek Capital city of Daren.
Great Houses: Fiosh, Lann, Jabell, Tanney, Lebro, Thyje
Lords: Boets, Yuvloren, Lozzan, Ghil, Chilvr, Rhil
Skunne A walled city of Daren.
Great Houses: Zont, Adyir
Lords: Zeli, Ehrgej
Villages Under Protection Azz, B’Him, Qerek, Vythrandyl
Cities of Shost
Abrikos A walled city of Shost.
Great Houses: Ckrij, Triaren
Dtanet A walled city of Shost.
Entreatte Former Capital of Greye.
Great Houses: Jeshowyn, Khrafil
Papiosse A walled City of Shost.
Great Houses: Papli, Ivorij
Village Under Protection Nesrythe
Chapter 11
King’s Mate: The Ancient
Game of Kings
Rulebook & Game Board
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A STRATEGY GAME where
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King’s Mate: The Ancient Game of Kings
In an age of Ruin Mist long since lost from the memory of the living, the kings of old played the game of King’s Mate as a way of settling their differences. The board itself and the players were very real, consisting of soldiers, scholars, and even commoners who acted as the kings’ champions.
Swordmasters, priests, priestesses, and keepers were the essential champions. They had special places of honor on the board. The champions also included fools, whose value was never discounted, and a player who acted in the role of the king. It was a matter of high honor to play t
he king on the board.
These champions of old moved on the game field, each in their turn, according to their king’s bidding. When opposing champions met, they clashed and the victor claimed his or her place on the board. To win the game, one of the two kings had to capture the other’s king piece. Before this could be done, however, both of the defending swordmasters must be eliminated, for only the swordmasterless king can be captured.
The game of King’s Mate is played throughout the kingdoms to this day. In the books, Vilmos learns the game from the troant, Edward Tallyback. Edward Tallyback gives a bit of bad direction when he instructs Vilmos on the setup of the board and the rules of the game, but what else would you expect from a troant? A troant must be true to his nature after all.
Ruin Mist Chronicles Bundle Page 193