She looked expectantly at Arderi for many moments before he realized that she was waiting on him to speak. “I… I am Arderi, Arderi Cor.” Glancing around once more at the mountains surrounding them, he motioned to them. “Have I returned to the Nektine?”
“The Nektine?” The girl looked puzzled. “I have not heard of such a city.”
Shaking his head, Arderi cupped both his hands to the sides of his temples. “It is not a city, it is a mountain range.”
“I am sorry, I still have not heard of it.”
Taken aback, Arderi cut his eyes at her. “How could you not have heard of the Nektine? They are the largest mountains in all of Ro’Arith!”
The girl looked somber, almost repentant, and Arderi felt bad for raising his voice. “I apologize. I have not heard of them, and I have never been to the lands of Ro’Arith.”
Never been to Ro’Arith! This girl is either mad, or—
He scanned the surrounding area once more. Then, Arderi realized he saw nothing except the tops of mountains. The plateau he sat upon seemed alone amongst the clouds. His throat constricted with fear. “Where am I?” His words came out as a croaked whisper.
“Please, come.” Gripping his elbow, she helped him stand.
As Arderi stood, the surrounding area came into view. The patio he stood on was like a stone gazebo, set high on a small plateau, only a score of paces across. On one side of the plateau, a flagstone walkway led away from the area, winding down a steep hill, its destination lost to his sight from this vantage point. On all of the other sides, a sheer drop over jagged rocks disappeared into the clouds below. As he peered over the nearest side, his stomach gave a queasy jerk, and a feeling of vertigo swept over him.
I am above the clouds!
The girl reached out and stroked his hair. “The dizziness of your sending will soon pass.” Turning, she walked down the path, quickly disappearing over the lip of the steep slope.
Unsure of what to do, Arderi glanced around at the scattered cots and chairs resting on the patio around him. He gazed out over the distant mountain peaks jutting through the clouds, and gawked at the blanket of cloud tops forming a misty-looking lake far below him.
By the Twelve, where am I?
Walking toward the path, Arderi stopped on its summit. Spreading out below him, built on a plateau many times larger than the one the patio sat on, he saw a magnificent, pure-white citadel standing regal against the azure-blue of the distant horizon. Sunlight glinted off its pristine walls, causing the building to glow and forcing Arderi to shield his eyes. From the roof, delicate spires shot up, so thin they looked like shards of glass reaching into the sky. Beautiful arches connected the higher towers, creating a cacophony of passageways high in the air. The flawless walls were marred only by the advent of colorful, stained-glass windows set at regular intervals. On each side of the citadel visible to Arderi, cliffs dropped away into nothingness.
There seems to be no access to this place!
The blond-haired girl walked down the path toward the citadel. Arderi noticed that a tall man in white robes met her as she reached the main arch that led inside. Pausing next to him, she turned and looked back up the hill to where Arderi stood. Patiently the two waited, simply gazing up at Arderi until he felt the fool.
You cannot stand up here all day!
Forcing himself to action, Arderi headed down the flagstone path. Once he reached the archway, the tall man—long jet-black hair pulled into a tight braid behind him—bowed before him. “It is always an honor to welcome a new Brother. From where do you hail?”
“I was in the Undercity, below Mocley. Ragnor took me there. And then…” Arderi glanced around again.
“I recognize that blade!” Pointing to his sword, the man looked shocked. “How did you come by it?”
The harshness in the man’s voice forced Arderi to step back. “It was gifted to me by its former owner, Master Rillion.”
The dark-haired man studied the boy in silence, then relaxed. He bowed once more. “Forgive me, Brother, I meant no disrespect. I knew its former owner. He was a good man.” The sound of loss in the man’s voice reverberated through Arderi.
He knows Master Clytus is dead!
“Yet, the Essence owns its will, and here before me stands one to take Brother Rillion’s place.” A weak smile crossed his lips. “Forgive an old man’s rants. I have forgotten my manners.” He held out a hand. “My name is Larith Rine.”
Taking the offered hand, Arderi tried to mimic the old man’s bow. “Master Rine, my name is Arderi Cor.”
Covering Arderi’s hand with his other, Larith’s face became grave. “Well, Brother Cor, welcome to Bin’Satsu. It seems you have arrived just in time. Your training with our Order must proceed with all haste.”
At Master Rine’s words, questions flooded Arderi, and he was at a loss as to which to ask first. “What training, sir? What is the Tat’Sujen Order? Where am I? How did I get here?”
Each question brought an added look of surprise to Master Rine’s face. “Do you know nothing, Brother Cor? I sense that you have bonded to Ka’gana. You must have some of these answers!”
“Nix, Master Rine. There was no time during the expedition into the Nektine. Master Rillion… he…”
Letting out a sigh, a weariness filled the man’s eyes. “Aye. No time. You are here like a babe in swaddling cloth, and it has already begun.”
“What has begun, sir?”
Master Rine shook his head. “The Tat’Sujen Order has waited diligently for thousands of winters. We have waited, watched, and guided. We are the keepers of history. The only ones who know—well, we suspect the Elmorr’Antiens know, yet they share little with the rest of the races. A time will come when things will change. Power will flow into the hands of men, and the Plane of Talic’Nauth will be ripped apart. The Tat’Sujen Order stands ready to see this does not happen.”
“And you, Arderi Cor, are now a part of us, a brother of the Tat’Sujen. Your tasks will not be easy—your burdens not light. The first Mah’Sukai of this Cycle has been created by the Essence. We, of the Tat’Sujen, must see them dead—or die ourselves in the attempt.”
A grim look settled on the man. “The War of Power has begun.”
Names in () were never mentioned in the book.
They are added here for completeness
Aalholm - [ALE-holm] - A port city in north-west Ro’Arith
aftermore - The place a person goes when they die
Aktita - [ack-TEA-ta] - A port city in south-east Silaway
Alant Cor - [ah-LAWN-t CORE] - A young man of twenty winters and a Shaper Initiate
Alimia Felts- [ah-LEEM-ee-ah FELTS] - A leftenant in Clytus Rillion’s mercenary troop
Arderi Cor - [are-DARE-ee CORE] - A farmboy of sixteen winters
Argillian - [are-JILL-ee-an] - A constellation of stars known as the archer
Aritian Mocley - [a-RIT-ee-an MOCK-lee] - The Prince of the Elmorr’Antien people
(Gill) Arminton - [gill ARM-inn-ton] - A scout in Clytus Rillion’s mercenary troop
Arthimius Blanch - [are-THIM-ee-us blanch] - The Grand Elder of the Shaper’s Order in Mocley
Artimus Mocley - [are-TI-muss MOCK-lee] - A former Prince of the Elmorr’Antiens and founder of Mocley
Artoc River - [ARE-tock] - A major river running through south Ro’Arith
Asgarthian Plains- [ass-GARTH-ee-an] - The grasslands covering much of the area east of Mocley
aurn - [ARE-n] - The amount of time it takes the sun to travel its own width in the sky
Baith’Ona Cor - [BAY-th OWN-ah CORE] - The eldest daughter of Tanin and Mel’Ona Cor
Baroth Sarlimac - [BA-roth sar-LI-mack] - A Master Shaper and instructor at Chandril’elian in Mocley
Baylain (Roonlath) - [BAY-lane rune-LAY-th] - A gladiator
Bin’Satsu - [BEEN sat-SUE] - A Mountain citadel and stronghold of the Tat’Sujen Order hidden in the northron mountains of Silaway
Brin (Wist) - [BRIN WIST] - A Bodyguard to Rohann Vimith
Chandril’chi - [Shawn-DRILL-chee] - The Tree of the Essence
Chandril’elian - [Shawn-DRILL-el-ee-in] - School of the Essence
Charver Vimith - [CHAR-ver VIM-ith] - The son of Rohann Vimith in Mocley
Chi’tar - [CHEE-tar] - A power the Elmorr’Antiens posses that can foretell possible futures for an individual
Chi’utlan - [CHEE-oot-lawn] - Essence pool
Clytus Rillion - [CLEYE-tuss RILL-ee-un] - A mercenary commander out of Mocley
coldbox – An Essence enhanced box that maintains a cold temperature for storing food
Crysineis - [cry-SIN-ee-us] - The northron most star
Darma Di’Anty - [DAR-ma Dee-AUNT-ee] - The cook of the Rillion family in Mocley
Dartin Sim - [DAR-tin SIM] - A Guarder Captain of the Third Watch in Hild’alan
Dasha’alan - [dah-SHA-a-lawn] - Meaning ‘Town of the docks’ Located outside of Hath’oolan
Delmith (Bathool) - [DELL-mith bath-OO-l] - An instructor at Chandril’elian of Hath’oolan
Dispaxion - [dis-PACKS-ee-on] - A rare disease that is fatal if untreated
Dorochi - [door-OH-chee] - Clytus Rillion’s sword
Drakon - [DRAY-con] - A winged beast of legend said to have once ruled much of Ro’Arith
eastron - In the east
elderfolk - People who are in their later seasons of life
Elmorian - [el-MORE-ee-an] - A derogative term used when referring to an Elmorr’Antiens
Elmorr’Antien - [el-more-ANT-ee-en] - A powerful race who hail from the isle of Elmorr’eth
Elmorr’eth - [el-MORE-eth] - An island located between Silaway and Ro’Arith
Estular Jerts - [ES-too-lar JERTS] - Slave trader and gladiatorial promoter
(Tuk) Faztilmin - [TUCK faz-TILL-men] - A captain of the Merchantillian Guard in Mocley
Felstar Lysentoc - [FELL-star LIE-sin-toc] - A Master Shaper and instructor at Chandril’elian in Mocley
Fessio’tar - [FESS-see-oh-tar] - An Essence enhanced painting that can record an image from someone’s mind
fielder - A person who works the fields
firstmeal - The first meal of the day
(Brint) Flayt - [BRYNT FLATE] - A former sword trainer to Klain
Flinnok Nime - [FLIN-nock NIME] - A Guarder Captain in Hild’alan
Foretelling - An ability some Humans have to foretell possible futures for an individual
Friaya (Earyin) - [free-AH-ya EAR-yin] - a maid to Rohann Vimith in Mocley
(Gurtred’San) Frinly – [GURT-red-san FRIN-lee] – Charver Vimith’s nanny in Mocley
(Satar) Garson- [SAY-tar GAR-son] - The captain of the Mistbreeze Trader and adopted father to Krin Garson
Gaylain (Roonlath) - [GAY-lane rune-LAY-th] - A gladiator
Ginnius Mulma’Asion - [GIN-nee-us MULL-ma-ASS-eye-on] - A gladiator
Glonlore Bay - [GLAWN-lore] - Located on the south-west coast of Ro’Arith
Gralet - [GRAY-let] - A derogative term used when referring to a Gralet’nar
Gralet’nar - [GRAY-let-nar] - The Warrior Servants of the Elmorr’Antiens
guarder - A person who is employed as a guard
halfmeal - The mid-day meal
(Bire) Harnith - [BIRE HARN-ith] - A gladiator
Hath’oolan - [hath-OO-lawn] - A port city in north Elmorr’eth
hearder - A person who tends animals
Hek’kie - [HECK-keye] - Meaning ‘Of the People’ The Warrior class in Silaway
Hezmire - [HEZ-my-er] - The God of Fallen Warriors
Hild’alan stead - [HILD-a-lawn] - The birthplace of Alant and Arderi, located north-east of Mocley
(Grant) Hindar - [GRANT HEN-dar] - The Scoutmaster in Clytus Rillion’s mercenary troop
Hinden Brue - [HEN-den BREW] - A Captain of the Third Watch in Mocley
Hobbswords - [HOBB-swords] - Guards of the Shapers in Mocley
Holiday - The last day of a tenday usually reserved for rest
Hon’nar - [ON-nar] - Meaning ‘Honored Servant’
Hon’Vanria - [ON-van-RE-ah] - Meaning ‘Honored Teacher’
Inez Quilart - [EYE-nez kwill-ART] - A Shaper in Hild’alan
(Zander) Jam’ees - [ZAN-der Jawm-EE-z] - A scout in Clytus Rillion’s mercenary troop
Jerith De’thane - [JER-ith DU-thane] - A Shapers Initiate in the Chandril’elian of Hath’oolan from Silaway
Jintrill Deln - [GIN-trill DELN] - A Shaper in Mocley
Julitan - [jewl-EE-tan] - The title given to the people who run the Games of Mocley
Ju’nar - [JEW-nar] - Meaning ‘worthless’
Ka’gana - [KAH-ga-na] - A Crystal that allows physical entities to link directly with Sujen
Ka’ilyth - [KAH-eel-yeth] - Meaning ‘Test of Power’ A device that tests the ability to manipulate the Essence
Kasu’yama - [KAH-sue-YA-mah] - A small village in central Silaway famous for its warriors
Katsujai - [CAT-sue-jie] - A port city in north-east Silaway
Kith - [KITH] - A derogative term used when referring to a Kithian
Kithian - [KITH-ee-an] - A lion-like race that inhabits the north part of Ro’Arith
Klain (Kanon) - [KLANE KA-non] - A Kithian raised as a slave and gladiator
Komar Isle - [KOH-mar] - A set of hundreds of islands off the south-west coast of Ro’Arith
Krin Garson - [KRIN GAR-son] - The cabin boy of the Mistbreeze Trader and adopted son of Captain Garson
Krugour - [CREW-ger] - A large, cat-like creature common throughout Ro’Arith
Larith Rine - [LARE-ith RINE] - A Brother of the Tat’Sujen Order in Bin’Satsu
lastmeal - The last meal of the day
Lilaith Rillion - [LILL-ayth RILL-ee-on] - The wife of Clytus Rillion and mother to Sindian Rillion
(Tasik) Lith - [TAY-sick LITH] - A bodyguard to Rohann Vimith in Mocley
Magistra - [ma-GIS-tra] - A building within a stead that holds the Regent and their administrative staff
Mah’Sukai - [MAH-sue-keye] - An evolved Shaper who can meld directly with the Essence
Maja’Kasta - [MA-ja-CAWST-ah] - The god of protection and peace
(Rame) Mallin - [RAME MAL-lin] - A mercenary in Clytus Rillion’s mercenary troop
Masstin Wilt - [MASS-tin WILT] - A fielder at Hild’alan
Mel’Ona Cor - [MELL-OWN-ah CORE] - The wife to Tanin Cor and mother to Alant and Arderi Cor
Merchantillian - [mer-chan-TILL-ee-an] - An area of Mocley housing the best merchants
merkswords - [MERK-swords] - Elite guards who patrol the Merchantillian in Mocley
Mermidians - [mer-MID-ee-ans] - A race of beings who live in the seas and oceans around Talic’Nauth
Millitinia - [mill-i-TEEN-ee-ah] - Military barracks or stronghold within a city or stead
Mi’nathe Blade - [MY-nawth] - An Essence enhanced sword designed to fit a Kithian’s paw
Minroehe Granger - [min-ROW-he GRAIN-ger] -A retired instructor from Chandril’elian in Mocley
Mir’am - A honorific used when addressing an elder man
Mis’am - A honorific used when addressing an elder woman
Mocley - [MOCK-lee] - A large port city in south-west Ro’Arith
Morlis Mountains - [MORE-liss] - A large mountain range running along the south coast of Ro’Arith
Mu’shadar - [MOO-sha-dar] - Meaning ‘Shelterers of Life’ Ruling class in Silaway
Narian - [NAR-ee-an] - Meaning ‘Gold’
(Jaim) Narn - [JAME NARN] - A bodyguard to Rohann Vimith in Mocley
Nektine Mountains - [NECK-tine] - A large mountain range cutting through the center of Ro’Arith
Nithshilo - [nith-SHY-low] - A port city in east Silaway
northron - In the north
O’Arkin - [OH-are-kin] - A barbaric, pig-faced race that inhabits the mountains of Ro’Arith
Oolant - [OO-lant] - An Essence enhanced drink that can heal most injuries and illnesses
Orlis - [OR-liss] - A large trade city in the center of the south half of Ro’Arith
Orm - [Oremm] - A fictitious king of the O’Arkin horde. A joke of the Julitans in Mocley
painstick - An Essence enhanced staff that can deliver a controllable jolt of pain
Palintium - [pa-LIN-tee-um] - A temple dedicated to the Twelve Gods of Man
Pents - A coin made from copper
(Sam) Poltin - [SAM POLE-tin] - A bodyguard to Rohann Vimith in Mocley
Priests of Fatint - [FAY-tint] - A mysterious holy order based out of the Komar islands
Pyne - [PINE] - A coin made from silver
Quay’ka’gana - [kway-kah-GA-na] - Meaning ‘Travel into Essence’ A stone that allows transport over great distances “A Sending Stone”
Ques’lian - [KWESS-lee-ann] - Meaning ‘Great Hall’
Quiln Garfer - [KWILL-n GAR-fur] - Shapers Initiate in the Chandril’elian of Hath’oolan from Ro’Arith
Ragnor De’haln - [RAG-nore dee-HAL-n] - A Leftenant in Clytus Rillion’s mercenary troop
Ralin Sard - [RAL-in SARD] - A guarder in Hild’alan
Ramstone - [RAM-stone] - A constellation of stars known as the bear
Rik Cor - [RICK CORE] - The youngest son of Tanin and Mel’Ona Cor’s
rillball - A game played with a melon-sized ball made from a pig stomach
(Kal) Rilmoth - [CAL RILL-moth] - A Guarder Captain of the Night in Mocley
Riln Toln - [RILL-n TOLL-n] - A farmboy of sixteen winters and friend of Arderi Cor
Rinear (Rine) - [REN-ear RINE] - The daughter of Larith Rine in Bin’Satsu
Ro’Arith - [row-ARE-ith] - A large continent on the Plane of Talic’Nauth
Ro’Arithian - [row-ARE-ithee-an] - A person from Ro’Arith
Rohann Vimith - [ROW-hawn VIM-ith] - A diamond merchant in Mocley and father to Charver Vimith
Farmers & Mercenaries Page 44