by Matthew Wolf
Elementals – Magical beings of Farhaven.
Elements – A game of Farhaven that Ezrah and Kirin play.
Eminas – The name for Gray used by the elves, and literally means eminent one, but its variant meaning is harbinger.
Ester – A city once bound together with Menalas in what was called a “false kingdom”.
Ethelwin – A powerful Reaver and lecturer who is only a few below in rank and prestige of the female Arbiter.
Ezrah – Arbiter of the second rank who lives in the Citadel, and Gray’s grandfather.
Farbs – The sprawling desert city wherein the Citadel resides.
Farhaven – A land full of magic, on the opposite side of Death’s Gate.
Faye – Enthralling and unpredictable, Faye is a woman of many talents. A skilled fighter and a Farhaven-versed individual, she aids Gray, Ayva, and Darius on their journey to Farbs. Though with strange ties to Darkeye and his clan, she finds a way to be both a curse and a blessing in disguise.
Fendary – Also called the Stormbreaker, or the Sentinel. He is Fendary Aquius, a high general during the Lieon who supposedly fought the Ronin.
Fisher in the Shallows – An advanced technique where one flows through Low Moon stances, and makes several sweeping horizontal slashes directed at the attacker’s legs.
Fisher in the Shallows to Dipping Moon – A snaking thrust to an upward strike, from which its power is derived from the bending and swift upward lift of the legs
Flow – What is often called the source of all magic, or the “essence.” It is what the Ronin wield.
Frizzian Coast – Located in Farhaven, full of peaceful towns and villages along the coast and in the Northern provinces.
Full Moon – A defensive stance where one’s blade is above the head and their knees are heavily bent in order to absorb and redirect coming blows. It mimics the pattern of the arcing moon in the sky or a sphere, where water flows off the perfectly round surface, unable to find solid contact.
Fusing – A bond between magic users that wields even greater power. It is said hundreds of Reavers were used in ancient times to forge epic creations, including the transporters.
Heartgard – The name for Seth’s famed sword; meaning brave, enclosed.
Great Tree – The tree that is at the center of Eldas, and bears the spire; the great buildings where all nobility reside.
Gryphons – Mounts of Farbs that are half eagle and half lion.
Hall of Wind – Within the legendary Morrow, Great Kingdom of Wind. Mura claims Kail stashed his most precious of weapons in the “Hall of Wind.”
Hando Cloak – A black and forest green cloak Rydel wears. It signifies that he is one of the Hidden.
Haori (Ha-o-ri) – Colored vests, each matches the powers the Ronin hold, and the color of the Kingdom they represent.
Heartwood – Harder than most human metals, most of Eldas is constructed out of it.
Heron in the Reeds – A powerful and agile strike from above—most often where one baits with the front leg, then pulls it into a “Heron” (a stance upon one leg), and strikes down at the now lunging and exposed attacker.
Herbwort — An herb that aids with shivers and insomnia.
High Council – The council of elves in Eldas that oversee affairs; see also Elders of Eldas.
High Moon – A Devari stance where the back leg is heavily bent, and holding the majority of the weight, while the other foot rests lightly upon the ground. The fighter’s shoulders are angled, just enough to minimize a target, but enough to engage their upper-body, turning for powerful strikes if need be. It is a stance few ever master.
Hitomi – Often called “Mistress” Hitomi. Hitomi is the proprietor of the Dipping Tsugi in the Shining City. When the others stumble upon several rare books in her packed library, they discover her obsession for books.
Hiron (HEE-row-nn) – A Ronin, also known as the Kingslayer. His element is that of water, and the Great Kingdom of Seria. He is known as the peacekeeper, and the Ronin of wisdom and serenity.
Iridal – Baro’s famed sword, rumored to be impossible to shatter.
Jiryn – A high elf healer from Eldas.
Kage (KAH-gey) – The nine nameless evils who pose as the Ronin and hold equal powers.
Kagehass –The saeroks and verg’s name for what others refer to as the Nameless (the Shadow’s Hand).
Kail – The once leader of the fabled Ronin. He is known by many names, from many eras including the blight seeker, betrayer of men, and the wanderer. He is rumored to have survived the Lieon, and still exists, told in fearful tales for the past two thousand years.
Karil – Karil is the queen of Eldas, home and kingdom of the Elves. She is half-human and half-elf. Karil is tall and beautiful, with silver eyes, and white-blonde hair. Her beauty is only equaled by her intelligence.
Ki –The source and power of a Devari.
Kin – Dark men and women who are agents of the “shadow”, specifically the Kage. Gray runs into one in Lakewood when trying to retrieve the sword.
King Gias – Karil’s father and the King of Eldas.
King Katsu – King of the Shining City.
King Owen Garian – King of Median, the rebuilt Great Kingdom of water—said to be a righteous man of conviction with a blue-tinted beard.
Koru Village – The town Gray and the others run across. It is just north of Lakewood.
Laidir – The second of Hiron’s famous twin swords.
Lair of the Beast – The home of the Darkeye clan within the Underbelly.
Lakewood – A peaceful town, but resides close to the ill-famed Lost Woods. It is the home of Ayva and Darius.
Lander – One of the “forgotten kingdoms”. Lander was the Great Kingdom of Stone. It was a city that had walls purported to be thicker than small cities.
Lando – Translates as “redeemers” or “liberators” in the common tongue. They are the group that saves Karil in the woods of Eldas.
Lieon –The Great War during the Final Age that lasted over a thousand years.
Lokai – The god Darius evokes; the god of “luck”.
Lopping the Branch – A slashing strike, twisting the torso and attacking the opponent’s head.
Lord Nolan – Steward of Vaster, Great Kingdom of Sun.
Lost Woods – The infamous dark forest where Gray and Mura live, and said to be full of direbears and other nefarious beasts. Villagers say the woods come alive at night, and travelers who venture in are rarely ever seen again.
Low Moon – A Devari stance where one leg is heavily slanted for a low center of gravity for balance and stability, and the other is heavily bent and holds the majority of the swordsman’s weight.
Malik –Leader of the Kage. He has a spiked pauldron and is bigger than his brethren. He speaks to Vera and is the voice of the dark army.
Maris (mare-is) – A Ronin, also called the Trickster, a Ronin of many names and faces. He wields Masamune, the leaf blade—its powers unknown. His element is that of leaf, and his homeland is the Great Kingdom of Eldas.
Maris’ Luck – the most dangerous inn in Farbs and perhaps all Farhaven.
Masamune – Maris’ famed sword.
Mashiro – Guard captain of the Shining City.
Matriarch – leader of the phoxes.
Menalas – A southern city of Farhaven that was once part of Ester, together they were deemed a false kingdom denied the position of power as one of the nine Great Kingdoms. They were forced to split and divide up their power. Many of their inhabitants, however, still lust for a throne that no longer exists. Moreover, they share an iron mine with Ester that was too difficult to upend in the Lieon.
Mirkal – Darius’ cormac.
Mistress Sophi – She owns an inn in Lakewood, and taught Darius how to dance.
Morrow – A city upon the windy high cliffs of Ren Nar that oversaw the world. It is the Great Kingdom of Wind. It is the last of the three lost Great Kingdoms and the most famous. It is Ka
il’s homeland. It contains the Hall of Wind, the famous meeting place for the great kings, queens, and generals who fought for the armies of Sanctity and against the Alliance of Righteous in the Great War of the Lieon.
Morrowil – The infamous sword that Gray inherits from Kail.
Mortal Being – A religion of Covai that often encourages self-inflicted bodily harm to achieve a higher spiritual state.
Motri (moh-tree) – Gray’s hawk and companion, who also seems to have a mysterious alliance with Karil.
Mundasi – The elite warriors of the Algasi tribe.
Mura – Mura is a charming, but irascible hermit of unknown age. He lives in a cabin in the middle of Lost Woods where Gray stumbles upon him. Mura is wiry with thick gray brows and an often stern, heavily-lined face, and black and gray peppered hair. He is Karil’s uncle.
Nameless – Created from Reavers, a horrible evil that mists from thin air, and is rumored to be invincible to “mortal blades.” Their armor is made from overlapping dark plates. Gray and Darius fight them in the back alleys of Lakewood, behind the Golden Horn.
Narim – The Kingdom of Moon in the dark hills, half above, half beneath the land, and is a vast subterranean gem.
Neophyte – A threader of the spark, a rank below a Reaver. They reside in the Neophyte Palace and wear gray robes.
Nexus – The source of Gray’s power. It is a swirling ball of air that he focuses on to tap into his power.
Niux – A unit of twelve, that consists of vergs and saeroks.
Nodes – a magical oasis and a safe haven for all living creatures of Farbs especially in times of dire need.
Omni – A Ronin, also known as the Deceiver. Omni’s element is that of Sun, and from the Great Kingdom of Vaster. Omni leads the Ronin in Kail’s absence.
Oval Hall – Where the Seven Trials takes place in the Citadel. It is beautiful and ancient.
Phoxes – angelic white creatures with long snow-white fur, sharp elongated teeth, and huge silver eyes. They move in a way familiar to Gray and to the element of wind. They are led by the Matriarch.
Patriarch – the well-known benevolent ruler of Farbs, Great Kingdom of fire. The most powerful wielder of the spark and first rank Arbiter.
Quenching the Fire – A Devari stance.
Reaver – A powerful wielder of magic born of the Citadel.
Rekdala Forhas – “Honor and duty” in the Yorin tongue.
Reliahs Desert – The desert surrounding Farbs, sometimes called the Farbian desert.
Relnas Forest – The forest of Eldas, home of the elves.
Ren – Close friend of Kirin’s and leader of the Devari. He wears a graying Komai tail, a long braid, and is described as ageless. Most characteristically, he is a man hardened from years of training and battle, both mentally and physically.
Renald Trinaden – Warden and Keeper of the Silver, and author of The Lost Covenant.
Rimdel — Trader’s paradise or jewel of the Eastern Kingdoms – capital with no central rule, inhabited by only thieves, ruffians and traders as hard as stone, destroyed by the Kage.
Ronin – The legends of the Lieon, nine warriors who each holds a supreme power. According to the stories, they are dreaded and the bane of mankind.
Rydel – An elf of the rank of Hidden, the most elite of guards that protect the royal family of Eldas, the Great Kingdom and home of the elves. He is Karil’s ever-present companion and guard. He has shoulder-length dark hair and piercing eyes.
Sa Hira – “I see”, in Yorin.
Saeroks – Creatures in the Kage’s dark army. They are tall beasts with thin, patchy fur, sinewy muscled frames, and long gangly arms and legs with long claws. They walk on two legs, but can run on all fours for greater speed.
Salamander – A powerful lackey of Darkeye who can wield the spark.
Sanctuary – The home of the Lost Ones within the Underbelly.
Seth – A Ronin, also called the Firebrand. Seth’s element is fire, and his home is the Great Kingdom of the Citadel, a dark keep whose fires light the night sky. He wields the sword Heartgard. Seth is known for his fiery temper, and proud spirit.
Sevia – Green lands known for their wine, silk, and, unfortunately, bandits.
Shifting – Kail’s rumored ability to transport great lengths of space in a short amount of time.
Si’tu’ah – ‘Way of the sword’ literally translated from the Sand tongue; but more generally, it is a vast philosophy attributed to tribes dating as far back as the First Age, before even the Lieon. Its principles include both fighting and everyday life. Its core tenants revolve around using all facets of yourself (mind, body, spirit) and your enemy in order to succeed.
Silveroot – A tree of both Farhaven and Daerval. Within Farhaven it is described as having veins of glowing silver that flow visibly beneath its bark, and bark that shimmers like a fish’s scaled belly. Within Daerval, where there is no magic, it is simply a large evergreen, producing nut-sized fruits.
Silvias River – A magnificent river that flows south and divides much of Daerval.
Simulacrum – A statue that holds the spark and can be used to convey messages over long distances.
Sithel – The madman who takes over the Citadel. Possessed by a fear of his own weakness Sithel strives to be powerful. Though deprived of the spark, he uses others and finds power through servitude to a higher, darker cause and individual. He is described as oily in every manner, possessing a white robe that looks like a butcher’s apron.
Spark – The magic that all but the Ronin wield, including Reavers, Neophytes and Arbiters, and the majority of Farhaven’s magical beings. It is said to be derived from the Flow.
Spark fever – A potentially deadly fever induced by using too much of the spark.
Spire – The highest building of Eldas where the council, king, queen and their family reside.
Sprites – Magical beings that have no form.
Star of Magha – The famous insignia that symbolizes the eight recognized kingdoms.
Stice – Aurelious’ famed sword.
Sunha – translates to “the learned”.
Taer – A land within Farhaven.
Tales of the Great Schism – Stories about the end of the Lieon and the Devari’s split from old alliances to new ones, including their origin in the Citadel.
Tales of the Ronin – One of most famous books about the deeds of the Ronin.
Temian – An elf with long golden hair, and strange golden eyes. Gray befriends the elf in the encampment beyond the Gates at the border of the woods.
Terus – A game of Farbs where one flips a dagger in the air and attempts to catch it by the handle or blade.
The Great Kingdoms –The legendary cities. There were nine. Stone, Ice, Leaf, Fire, Flesh, Moon, Sun, Metal, and Wind. Each kingdom was the home of one of the Ronin, and coincides with their powers.
The Red Moon – A mythical event that is said to coincide with “The Return” of the Ronin.
The Return – The fated return of the Ronin; an event the world fears. It is said they will finish the destruction of the lands they were rumored to nearly destroy during the Lieon.
The Rift – A rumored chasm where the world split thousands of years ago, before the Lieon and the Ronin even existed.
The Seven Trials – The trials that a Neophyte must pass to become a Reaver.
The Sodden Tunnels – The tunnels that lead out of the Shining City; a dark and dismal place with no light, full of thousands of misleading paths. At one point, Mura says darkness called his name within the Tunnels. Karil also refers to them as the “Endless Tunnels”.
The Terma – Elite elvin warriors, the second highest in rank and skill in the armies of Eldas.
The Wasteland – A vile land where vergs and saeroks are rumored to be born. It is east of the Lost Woods.
Tir Re’ Dol (teer-reh-dol) – Often called The First City. Appropriately named as it was the first city to rise from the ashes of the Lieon, and so
on became the capital of Daerval for millennia.
Transporter – A device that transports its wielder to a specific place by use of magic. They are hidden around the Citadel. Ren says they were created by a hundred Reavers working as one through the use of a “link.”
Trimming the Stalks – A move that uses the rotation of the upper body and shoulders to lash at lower extremities, arms and sword moving in a figure-eight fashion.
Underbelly – The halls and tunnels beneath the Citadel and Farbs, including The Lair of the Beast, and Sanctuary. Some parts are said to have existed since the beginning of all the lands, created by unknown creatures.
Untamed – A threader of the spark who is untrained by the Citadel (neither Neophyte, Reaver, or Arbiter.) They are often considered dangerous to themselves and others.
Yorin – The old human tongue for all of Farhaven.
Yronia (YOR-own-ee-uh) – Great Kingdom of Metal once known for their gleaming steel and mountainous walls of iron, and home to the Ronin Baro. Also home of the Great Forge and the Deep Mines. However, its “unbreakable” walls were shattered during the Lieon and it now lies as one of the forgotten kingdoms.
Vaster – The Great Kingdom of the rising Sun, named for the shining keeps that gleam like alabaster jewels, always in the dawn’s light. Omni’s homeland.
Vera – A woman, originally from the Citadel and connected to Kirin. She is beautiful, but equally dark and would gladly use her looks as a tool to gain even more power.
Vergs – Brutish, behemoth like creatures born from the taint that are said to be intelligent.
Victasys (vic-tay-sis) – A powerful scarred Devari who Gray and Zane befriend.
Zane (ZAY-nn) – An orphan from the Underbelly, the refuge for all misfits and reformed thieves of Farbs. Zane is a hard-bitten young man. However, his rough, fiery exterior softens (somewhat) as he befriends the Devari Victasys and Gray. His beloved sister is Hannah.
Table of Contents
CITADEL OF FIRE
The Tale of the Ronin
THE THREE RULES
Prologue — Golden Lies
Facing Death
Dark Things
The Nodes
The Underbelly