Chartile: Prophecy

by Cassandra Morgan

  Dimitri met Piper when she was seven years old while accompanying Kaytah on a trip to Mount Kelsii. The two became fast friends. Dimitri was permitted to spend time with Piper back at Outland Post for a few days at a time while growing up. When he was seventeen, Dimitri took up the role of Head Retainer to Nefiri like his mother just before Piper was cast out to live in the mountain on her own.

  Dimitri was both loved and hated by the Dwarvik society. He was a constant, cruel reminder that even those voted into power made mistakes. But his charm and exceedingly handsome looks gave him an upper edge, especially with the Dwarvik women. Dimitri was not afraid to use this to his advantage.

  Secondary Characters

  Valar Marion: Born the 20th day of Pasalvar, and the first born nephew of the Lord of Cannondole, Valar succeeded his uncle (who had no children of his own) at the age of twenty-two. Before that time, he lived with his parents in Harpy’s Point where his father worked as a tax collector. Valar and Runa were friends as children, but grew apart when she was sent off to marry King Aramor. Runa worked to get her old friend appointed as the King’s Head Advisor shortly after her marriage when Armor’s advisor at the time decided to retire.

  After Runa’s death, Valar attempted to be like a second father to Princess Taraniz. When the soul of Duke Noraedin overtook Taraniz, Valar was one of the only people who could help Taraniz overcome Noraedin. As Noraedin’s soul grew stronger, Valar soon saw there was little more he could do to save her. Heartbroken, he began working to put plans into motion to help Piper ascend to the throne and usurp Taraniz. His original hope was that Piper might be able to help Taraniz better than he could as he had heard rumors of her magic.

  After his son married Piper and took the throne, Valar returned to his role as Lord of Cannondole, and attempted to remain oblivious to the greater political workings of Chartile. He spent his time with Brock’s father and enjoyed vinting various sweet wines.

  Valin Marion: Born the 10th day of Ansalvar, Valin Marion is the only child of Valar and Aylin Marion. His parents met at the age of 16, and were married shortly thereafter. Valin was born exactly one year later. At only five years old, Valin took up the position of Lord of Cannondole when his father went to work as the Head Advisor to King Aramor and Queen Runa. Aylin governed Cannondole until she passed several years later from The Five Day Fever. Valin was seventeen when he officially became Lord of Cannondole.

  Valin had a string of lovers early on, much to his mother’s dissatisfaction.

  Valin is a lover of music (and brandy), and would often join his fellows at The Glass Lantern for a drink and a song. He is quite proficient at the lyre, and is said to have a lovely singing voice.

  Empress Nefiri of the House of Auldfr: Born the 3rd day of Jenqar, Nefiri is the fourth born child of Nefara and her second hasana (later Harasan of Nafara of the House of Auldfr), Madiri. Nefara served as a council elder for 38 years. Nefiri was chosen by the Council at five years old to train as a Princess of Mount Kelsii. At twenty, Nefiri chose to be trained in Peace, and became Princess when she was twenty-nine. Shortly after being chosen for training as a child, most of Nefiri’s brothers decided to train in the Royal Guard to protect their sister.

  Nefiri knew of her brother’s affair with Dujanah before she even bought the human girl for service in Duneland. Being denied love as a Royal had never set well with Nefiri. She was often disheartened by this, and didn’t want to deny Nahari true love if he had found it.

  Nefiri often found peace and harmony while consorting The Oracle to speak to Rashiri. The Oracle is a tool used by only specially trained priestesses – though Nefiri had specifically requested to be trained in its use – to speak with the Gods. The Oracle is a flat, highly polished piece of obsidian surrounded by running water.

  Princess Gemari of the House of Jetari: Born the 15th day of Florinvar, Gemari is the second daughter of Nefiri’s second eldest brother, Kehara. She was chosen by the Council at age five to train as a Princess of Mount Kelsii. At age sixteen, Gemari chose to be trained in the ways of Peace, like her aunt, the Empress. By age seventeen, Gemari had succeeded Princess Thora as the Princess to Mount Kelsii when Thora was involved in a tragic cave-in that killed her and her entire guard. Rumor and speculation say it was due to Thora’s involvement with the Black Diamonds. Some believe several Council Elders planned the accident, and subsequently blamed the Black Diamonds. However, there is no proof of this.

  Three years later, Princess Gemari had worked with the Council of Elders to begin working to reconstruct some of the old, abandoned mines for the safety of the Mount Kelsii citizens, and the integrity of the mountain itself. Unbeknownst to Gemari, these mines were later occupied by The Black Diamonds in secret.

  Having been thrust into her position of power and responsibility at such a young age, Gemari never experienced much in the way of a childhood. She felt rather naïve and out of place being the youngest among her peers. Meeting Jack and learning more about the Black Diamonds made Gemari see the world in a different light. She felt the weight of her position in a way she never had before, and went on to become one of the most beloved and well known Princesses of Mount Kelsii.

  Queen Una of the House of Ulfra: Born the 13th day of Rhidqar, Una is the second born daughter of Ulfra and her first hasana, Bragrin. Ulfra had miscarried her first daughter, and therefore, put many pressures on Una to be the perfect daughter. Una had only one younger brother who worked as an architect and helped to build new mines and tunnels. At the age of fourteen, Una insisted on being trained in both Peace and War. Ulfra did not believe her daughter was up for the challenge. Una was determined to prove her wrong.

  Ulfra returned to the stone one year after Princess Thora’s death from unknown causes, leaving Una with the additional responsibility to care for her father and her mother’s other hasanas.

  Queen Isla of the House of Arnkatla: Born the 6th day of Torhirvar, Isla was born the first child of Arnkatla and her first and only hasana, Esjani. Isla’s parents had quite a different upbringing for their children. They believed in equality and love above all else. Secretly, Arnkatla and Esjani were two of the first dwarves to begin working towards creating a coalition that advocated the beliefs of the Black Diamonds. Arnkatla and Esjani groomed Isla tirelessly in hopes she would be chosen by the Council for Princesshood. When she was, they continued to influence her training through her teachers and trusted Elders.

  Though few ever knew, not even her own parents, Isla taught herself the traditional ceremonial dances of her people. She loved to dance. She met Kylani when she snuck away to one of the abandoned mines to dance in secret.

  Princess Faeridae of the House of Gudvor: Born the 12th day of Pasalvar, Faeridae is the first born daughter of Gudvor and her third hasana, Faerdir. Gudvor and Faerdir were friends of Arnkatla and Esjani, and were soon recruited to the beliefs of equality they upheld. Though they did not raise their children with these beliefs as strongly as the House of Arnkatla, Faeridae and her brothers were certainly aware of the underlying political issues in their society.

  Faeridae and Isla, though nearly fourteen years apart in age, were good friends. Faeridae was one of the few who knew of Isla’s love of dancing.

  At the age of five, Faeridae was selected by the Council to train as a Princess of The Tutarian Mountains. Feeling the growing tensions of the Black Diamonds and the Council of Elders, Faeridae felt being trained in War, like Queen Carendeil, would be wise. Her parents, however, were not happy with this decision, and felt they had failed their daughter by not instilling a want of peace and harmony within her.

  Both of Faeridae’s parents and one of her brothers, were killed during a raid by the Kelsii soldiers when their secret location within the mountain was discovered. Until Princess Gemari helped to rebuild the abandoned mines, The Black Diamonds were scattered after this attack, and worked in small groups. Faeridae turned to Arnkatla and Esjani for assistance in helping find new marriages for Gudvor’s remaining hasanas and a few
of her brothers who were not yet married.

  Brande of the House of Kymora: Born the 8th day of Kalqar, Brande was the fourth son of Kymora and her first hasana, Bairdir. Brande was denied entry into the Kelsii Soldiers training program at the age of fifteen. Ashamed, he ran away from home and lived on the outskirts of the Belirian Forest close to the mountain for three weeks. His brother, Kylani, found him, and told him about The Black Diamonds. Both brothers worked as miners, and were able to falsify their deaths in the accident that killed Faeridae’s parents. After which, they worked quietly to bring more members into The Black Diamonds.

  Kylani of the House of Kymora: Born the 17th day of Kasmaqar, Kylani was the third born son of Kymora and her third hasana, Bairdir. Kylani’s two eldest brothers were accepted to train as Kelsii Soldiers at a very young age, leaving Kylani to help his father and his mother’s other hasanas to care for his other brothers and baby sister.

  Kylani showed an interest in medicine very early, and began training under one of the Kelsii healers by the age of twelve. This left him little time to spend at home. He felt entirely responsible when his little brother, and best friend, Brande, ran away from home a few years later. While looking for clues to where his brother may have run off to, Kylani discovered Isla dancing in an abandoned mine. They met secretly every day for over a week, where she taught him about her beliefs and The Black Diamonds. With Isla’s help, Kylani discovered Brande was living at the base of the mountain in the Belirian Forest. He immediately went after his brother, and convinced Brande to come back home with the hopes of them joining The Black Diamonds.

  Later, the brothers apprenticed within the miners guild.

  Kylani and Isla’s secret meetings continued over the years.

  Other Characters

  - Parents –

  Reagan DeHaven: Reagan DeHaven received his PHD in Engineering with a minor in Quantum Physics from Cambridge University. He moved back to the United States to live with his parents, Marvin and Darlene in their retirement home in Las Vegas. After being forced to teach mathematics at a local community college, Reagan received a job offer from NASA two years later. He met his wife while working on their project, P905-Tes.

  Emily DeHaven: The adopted daughter of a successful casino owner, Emily Ward (later DeHaven) was expected to take over the family business. When she decided to change her business major to a degree in Quantum Physics, the family disowned her, and she never spoke to them again. She met her husband thirteen years later while working for NASA on the P905-Tes project. Her family never knew she married or had a child. When P905-Tes was cancelled, and Emily and Reagan were dismissed from work, Emily immediately contacted friends she had in France and found a job at CERN.

  Heartbroken, Emily left her husband and son behind, hoping to return to them one day.

  David Hill: David Hill was a software programmer that worked from home, giving him the ability to take his daughter, Jessica, to her specialty school in Michigan. He later went on to work for Apple Corporation after his children had graduated high school.

  Susan Hill: Susan Cancio (later Hill) was a dental hygienist like her mother before her, working at the same dentist’s office her mother had years ago. Her family had lived in Swansdale for several generations. She and David did not leave until after Jayson had bought their home from them when David was offered the job by Apple Corporation. It was the first time Susan had ever been out of the state of Ohio.

  Carter Mitchel: Carter Mitchel began drinking at fifteen years old after suffering years of physical abuse from his alcoholic father. Carter, unfortunately, followed in his father’s footsteps, despite every effort not to be like his dad. Carter found a job at a local gas station in Dover, Arkansas as a mechanic. He met his wife, Karla, when her car was towed into the shop. She had been travelling on a road trip across the country with her friends after graduating from college. Karla and Carter fell in love at first sight, and Karla never returned to her home in Maine.

  After losing his job due to his alcoholic tendencies, Karla was able to convince her husband to sober up. They were quite successful for nearly a year. Unable to find good work, however, the Mitchel’s decided to move to Ohio where there were more automotive jobs available.

  Karla Mitchel: Karla Franklin (later Mitchel) was the youngest of three sisters, and the only one to graduate college. Her family had never supported her endeavors of wanting to waste her money on a college education when she would have been perfectly secure in money and life working at her family’s historical Bed and Breakfast. But the tenacious young girl had other ideas.

  She graduated at the top of her class, with magna cum laude honors. After which, Karla took off with her friends for a much needed escape. When their car broke down, Karla met her husband, the young mechanic at the small gas station up the road. Two years later, they were married with their first child, Jack, on the way.

  Karla knew about Carter’s drinking habits from the very beginning of their relationship. However, she refused to admit her family had been right about marrying “that redneck boy”, and would not leave him. The one thing Karla hated was to be proven wrong. She put up with Carter’s drinking and abuse for fourteen years, despite her family giving her several options to get out of the relationship many times.

  Nevan Romilly: Descended from a family of blacksmiths that had lived in Outland Post for generations, Nevan Romilly met his wife, Paria, the granddaughter of a successful scribe and herbalist from The Rushing Reeds Province when Kaytah came to do a census of the village and had brought her daughter along.

  Paria Romilly: Paria Chaudoin (later Romilly) was the daughter of a palace scribe and local fisherman, and the granddaughter of a palace scribe and herbalist from The Rushing Reeds Province. Paria was mostly raised by her grandparents. Her father drowned in a fishing accident when she was three years old. Her mother, Kaytah, continued to work as a palace scribe, and traveled all over the Elven territories of Chartile, sometimes bringing her daughter once she was older.

  Paria met Nevan while accompanying her mother on a trip to Outland Post. Paria followed in her grandmother’s footsteps as an herbalist, and was one of the main healers in Outland Post, due to her knowledge and the little village’s isolation.

  Kaytah Chaudoin: Kaytah was the daughter of a palace scribe and his wife, a successful herbalist from The Rushing Reeds Province. She decided to follow in her father’s footsteps and became a palace scribe when she was twenty-one years old. Kaytah met her husband, Patrin, and had married by the time she was seventeen.

  Knowing her ambition to become a palace scribe, Patrin cared for their daughter, Paria, and was happy to do so. Patrin died in a fishing accident when Paria was three years old, leaving his in-laws to care for Paria.

  Kaytah’s father had lost his hand the year before in a bear attack, and was able to help his wife not only care for Paria, but help her to fill orders as the local herbalist.

  Kaytah retired from scribal work after the accident in Outland Post concerning her granddaughter, Piper. There, she took over as the healing woman in Outland Post, and cared for Piper to the best of her ability from a distance.

  -Dwarves-

  Sintori: Harasan of House Geofra and second husband, Sintori worked as a historian at Mount Kelsii his entire life.

  Imohad: Third Hasana of House Alofrah. Younger brother to Elder Imohan of the Topaz Quarter of Mount Kelsii. Imohad worked as a soldier his entire life.

  Orctkar: Son of Balla and her first hasana, Otkatir, Orctkar should great interest in working with food from a young age. He worked along the mountainside with some of the farmers when he was an early teenager. Balla soon found him a job working in the kitchens at Mount Kelsii. Orctkar went on to marry Neradah, and became Harasan to her House.

  Ketari: Ketari was the first daughter of Nefiri’s second eldest brother, Kehara, but was considered too rigid for selection in training toward Princesshood. Instead, she decided she wanted to be a retainer. Shortly after that decision, Gemari
was chosen to train as Princess of Mount Kelsii, and it was easily decided that Ketari should be her head retainer.

  Ketari often helped her sister make important decisions, but she often did not agree with her.

  Frejah of the House of Berkhildr of the Carnelian Quarter: First daughter of Berkhildr, a previous elder of the Carnelian Quarter. Frejah always knew she wanted to be an elder. It took her some time to decide whether she wanted to marry or not. Frejah had 2 hasanas that outlived her. She had 3 sons and no daughters.

  Ulfwyn of the House of Hallvor of the Cobalt Quarter: Second daughter of Hallvor and her Harasan, Ulfrik. Ulfwyn never took any husbands. Rumors say she bore one illegitimate child, but it was never proven.

  Queen Carendeil of the House of Esjamourn: Queen of the Tutarian Mountains, Carendeil passed back to the stone from the Five Day Fever when she had only recently been made Queen.

  Goddess Rashiri: Mother Goddess to the Dwarves. She hears the prayers of the dwarves, and delivers them to the appropriate God or Goddess, who then decides whether to act upon the request. She is the protector of the dwarves, like a guardian angel.