by Ben Wolfe
Gadjé: Gadjé are outsiders or those not of the Lianshi Empire. As a general rule, gadjé are distrusted, but none so much as men in general. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Gavon: Gavon Manjoule, King of Alkhier, was raised to prominence by the Conclave in the absence of the High King. According to Eisengard and Medrigor, King Gavon has but one primary task: To keep the other from uncovering the secret to unlocking the warded gates of Cibola with a secondary task of preventing anyone from Corth from getting in either. However, the Conclave raised Gavon to become King of the Shonan Plains and the eastern marches to fill the role of the Eastern March Lord when the high king went missing and his disappearance could no longer be ignored. There were very few inhabitants on the Shonan Plains absent the shepherds, cow herders and merchants, so Gavon represented little threat to their claims. But he did have a sizeable enough household guard and militia to fulfill the role the claimants to the throne of the high king wanted him to. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Geoffrey Martel (Geoffrey II): Referred to as the Hammer of Anjou, Geoffrey II, also called Martel, was the Count of Anjou, a province in west-central France near the Loire River, from 1040 to 1060. Geoffrey II was the (sometimes) right-hand enforcer for the King of France. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Georgina: The wife of the Vordoshan Konigar [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Gharig: The Vordoshan Konigar. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Gherard Corth: Gherard of House Corth is the ruler of Corth and the Warden of the South. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Gregory Gabrihil: March Lord of the North; King and Mage-Lord of Eisengard; and Battle-Mage. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Glyphs: Also referred to as wards. Symbols that in and of themselves contain mystical properties. Wards are usually traced in the air, whereas glyphs are usually written. Mentioned so far: Glyph of stealth; Ward of Sealing; Ward of Privacy; and Ward to chill water. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Grendahl: A journeyman in the Brotherhood of Assassins and an expert in using spears and staves. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Hammer of Anjou: see Geoffrey Martel
Heitar of Lief: The second in command and adjutant to the Jurtan Torhig. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Isle of Vorder: The main island in the North Caruk Ocean ruled by the Vordoshan Jurtans.
Jean Claude Martel: The only true-born son of Geoffrey II, heir to the province of Anjou, he is cursed to stone by Esmerelda Salanegre, Chovihani of a Rom Gypsy tribe.
Jennai Pass: see The Eastern Passes
Jericho: King of thieves and the head of the thieves guild [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Jintai: the Jintai is the warrior class of the Lianshi Empire. One in every ten women must serve as a Jintai. They serve the Lianshi as handmaidens of death to defend the rest. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Jintai serving in the northern pass: Akemi is the commander. Kisa is her second in command. The Jintai are as follows: Asulka; Chihari; Daitsu; Emiko; Kaiko; Mailen; Sayura; Shinchi; Yumakai; Jasmine; Sharizad; Zareen; Vashta; Esahe; Amaia; Nahia; Mitsu; Suzhka; Kayana; Ren; and Saria. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Jon B’tal: The high king of the western kingdoms following the War of Light and Shadow. He disappeared after the abduction of his wife Shantalla B’tal, leaving the gates to Cibola warded in his absence. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Lianshae: In the language of the draven, this word means immortals. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Jurtans: Similar to the high lords of the west but Jurtans have undisputed control over their territories. Each Jurtan governs his territory with his own set of rules and laws with disputes between Jurtans being brought to the Konigar, whose ruling is final. As a result, these disputes usually work themselves out. An attack against rival Jurtans is an attack against the rest. This is how peace is kept and why they have a Konigar. He maintains the peace and unites them in time of war. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Jurtan Torhig: Brother-in-law to the Vordoshan Konigar, Gharig. The leader of the hunters pursuing the Wraiths and the Concubines through the northern pass. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Kara: An aelfen ranger who served as a guide for the wraiths through the aelfen forest. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Karsova: The first settlement of the Lianshi, started as an encampment, which later became the first city founded by the Lianshi. Set upon the plateau of a hilltop, to the south lies The Teeth, a giant mountain range with a spectacular waterfall that serves as a backdrop to the city. Carved into the hillside and the sheer rock face of the mountain is The Maw. To the east, north and west of the city are terraced fields of grain and barley set amidst the defenses of the Maw. Grape vineyards can be found towards the southern reaches of The Maw. To the east of the city is a bazaar for merchants and traders with several narrow footpaths. To the north and west are the two main causeways leading into the city. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Kisa: see Jintai serving in the northern pass
Konigar: Similar to the kings of the west but with a distinction that the Konigar is more like a first among equals. More of a leader and war chief for Vordosha rather than a king, he rules, but there is a council of Jurtans to advise and guide him. The current Konigar is Gharig. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Lady Alyssa: The concubine of Lord Corth. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Lake Eriteba: A lake deep within the Aelfen Woods that is held to be sacred by the Aelfen and holds the secrets to the consecrated, sacred waters of their Royal Water Gardens on the island of Altishan. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Lianshi Empress: Francesca was named Lianshi by the Dravin upon her arrival in the World of the Lianshae. She was tasked with founding an empire of women in the east. As empress, she took the name, Allia Kai, in the language of the draven, which means “fire of the dragon.” She has adopted a golden dragon on a bright green field as her sigil. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Lisei: A Wraith Rider of Arkenheim [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Lord Arizian: see Arizian
Lord Evanton: Lord of the town of Evanton, built within the safe shadow of Arkenheim’s protection though under the rule of Eisengard. Lord Evanton was sent there to collect taxes after it became known to Gregory Gabrihil that a sizable town had been established near Arkenheim and was thriving. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Mage-Forge: Usually refers to a rune-covered anvil created by a Mage-Smith upon which he creates objects imbued with aetherical energy that hold mystical properties. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Mage-Knight: see Social and Military Hierarchies of the West
Mage-Lord: see Social and Military Hierarchies of the West
Mage Sight: The ability to see into the aether. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Mage-Smith: see Social and Military Hierarchies of the West
MAPS: All maps will also be published as images on the series Facebook pages and at https://www.facebook.com/benwolfe.author
March Lord: The March Lords are responsible for the frontiers of the western kingdoms and are as follows: Gregory Gabrihil (Eisengard - north); Nicholas B’tal (Medrigor - west); Gherard Corth (Corth - south); and Gavon Manjoule (Alkheir - east)(named by the conclave in the absence of the High King, Jon B’tal, ruler of Cibola)
Margot: A Wraith Rider of Arkenheim who was contracted to assist Georgina and Artemis defect to the east from Vordosha and seek shelter and safety with the Lianshi. The contract sours when she must attempt to rescue Georgina from the Konigar. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Master Assassin
s: Known as the council of thirteen, they are led by the grandmaster of their order, Lord Arizian. The other masters include: Sylum; Sindu; Sulmein; Arestes; Hadestyx; Melinor; Chandar; Toumik; Murketh; Imogen; Horacles; and Lucius. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
The Maw: Refers to dozens of caverns carved out of the sheer rock face of the mountains known as The Teeth, high enough to be out of reach of siege weapons, in which scorpions (siege engines resembling large cross bolts) and teams of archers stand watch for weeks at a time with enough supplies, including food, pitch, coal, and small furnaces to withstand prolonged sieges for weeks at a time. The Maw also refers to the series of ditches dug up and down the hillside in scattered but neat rows filled with wooden stakes tipped with iron heads to make a cavalry charge up the hill impossible. Together, they make up the city’s siege and cavalry defenses. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Mazzikin (plural: Mazikeen): Distant cousins of the Jinn and perceived by many to be minor demons due to their sarcastic sense of humor and desire to cause annoyance to humans in particular though the only race they love to annoy more than humans are the aelfen. They find the stoic nature of dwarves boring and so they usually avoid them. Their skins make them invisible by adapting to their surroundings though they can choose to be seen. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Medrigor: An island nation east of Corth in the South Caruk Ocean. The cities were rebuilt by the draven as the seat of power for House B’tal following the War of Light and Shadow. Nicholas B’tal became the March Lord of the West with the title of Douquet, the highest hereditary social rank in the western kingdoms. It defends the western coast from invasion and boasts the largest navy. The sigil is a gold hawk in flight on a teal blue field. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Mirabel: Handmaiden to the Lianshi [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Morgovian Empire: Far to the south and to the east is an empire ruled by the human descendants of the draven. Very few have the ability to shapeshift, though those that do rule in the imperial city on the Island of Sar-Morgov. The sigil is a two-headed gold dragon on a red field. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Na S’lar: An aelfen prince of the royal court and younger brother to S’rila [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Nessandra Kai: Translated from the tongue of the draven, it means the daughter of the dragon. She was so named and adopted in secret, as the heir of Allia Kai before she even met her. Nessandra is the ward of Lord Corth and is unaware of her new title or rank. This agreement represented part of the pact made between Allia Kai and the Dravin. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Nicholas B’tal: Half-brother of the High King, Jon B’tal; March Lord of the West; King and Mage Lord of Medrigor; Battle Mage; and nephew of Warren B’tal. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Night Fen: These were followers of one of the most powerful and influential Aelfen Houses that accompanied the Army of Light through the crossing of worlds. They were betrayed by Niefel At’Ar and killed by Baphomet only to be reborn as thralls of Baphomet under the control of Neifel At’Ar. They are faster and stronger than aelfen but burn in the sunlight. They are creatures of the night with a never-ending thirst for blood. Neifel At’Ar and Baphomet have given the night fen the ability to twist aelfen magic and use it as a powerful force of suggestion, persuasion, and seduction. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Niefel At’ar: Neifel was the eldest son of the House At’Ar, one of the most powerful aelfen noble families. His betrothal to Queen S’rila’s oldest daughter and heir to the throne, Shantalla, was broken when she chose to marry the high king of the western kingdoms, Jon B’tal. Neifel became known for betraying the aelfen, his family and his house to Baphomet. The sigil of House At’ar was once a gold boar on a white field. Now, his personal guard use [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
The North Pass: See The Eastern Passes
Pela: A Wraith Rider of Arkenheim. Killed defending the women fleeing the western kingdoms. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Rafael: Rafael is an apprentice in the Brotherhood of Assassins. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Raio: In Gypsy folklore, Raio is the land of the good-dead. To unlock the door to Raio one must first enter the spirit realm where their ancestors bring them money and clothes to prepare them for their journey and hold a feast welcoming them. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Rheia: An older servant of the Lianshi when she first arrives in the World of the Lianshae. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Runes: Ancient symbols with mystical properties that can be imbued with the intention of the mage-smith during the making of the item. Mentioned so far have been runes of: Permanence, Unbreaking, and Invisibility. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Samira: A member of the Lianshi’s Imperial Guard. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Shardelle: The planned capital of the Lianshi Empire [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Shantalla B’tal: Eldest daughter to Queen S’rila of the aelfen and once heir to Halvrashalla. Wife of Jon B’tal and High Queen of the western kingdoms. She was abducted after the Reign of Shadow and led also to the disappearance of Jon B’tal when he sought to find her. Her sigil was a silver hawk in flight on a blue field, marshaled with a silver stag on a white field [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Shonan Plains: The plains between Cibola and the Aelfen Wood in the western kingdoms. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Sian Coin: Aelfen crystal coin of great but unknown value. Rare coin and highly regulated. Rumored to take fifty intervals to grow. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Silbony: A black, nearly petrified wood found in the east. Less flexible than other forms of wood but as hard as iron. It is found in the eastern lands near the coast and in the mountains. It rings like metal when struck with steel, yet has a grip like wood. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Social and Military Hierarchies of Vordosha: Konigar and the Jurtans; Heitars, Horiks, Nodracks, Hirdmen, and Hossacks (in that order); Merchants; Tradesmen, Peasants, Indentured Servants and Slaves (in that order)
Social and Military Hierarchies of the West: High King, March Lord (Douquet) or King, Battle Mage, Mage-Lord, Count, Viscount, Mage-Knight, Mage-Smith, Mage, Knight, Captain, Merchant, Sergeant, Tradesman, Landowner, Infantryman and Tenant (in that order)
S’rila: Queen of the aelfen and head of the House of Halvrashalla. Sigil is a siSilver Stag on a White Field. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Stealth Boots: Boots imprinted with glyphs used by the thieves guild to provide noiseless stealth and the ability to leave no imprint upon the ground [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
The Stone Helix: The Stone Helix is an elemental mage-forge designed to use the planet itself to turn Baphomet’s magik back upon her. When Dakheil Sadow was taken by the Night Fen, he kept shouting for the embattled mage knights and mage-smiths to use the helix. In a last stand against the Night Fen, the Mage Knights gathered together and fused the Stone Helix to a large stone outcropping, while the mage-smiths used the aether to activate the strange rune symbols that none of them except Dakheil Sadow had understood. A stone wall began to grow and the forge took on a life of its own in a cascade of aethereal energy that caused the mage-smiths to flee in a panic because they could not stop or control the cascade of aether that spilled into the planet from the forge, destroying any Night Fen that it touched. The wall grew immense and to unimaginable heights. It is even now known as the highest wall to exist in the world. When the wall was finished, the flow of aether stopped and it simply shut down. It has never once stirred from that location, fused to the stone outcropping and silent. The aelfen have taken up the frontier along the wall and built a winter palace for S’rila behind it
as the Night Fen and all of Baphomet’s minions will avoid even going near it. The only way to go around it is through the ocean, which the Night Fen seems opposed to and through the Aelfen Woods. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Talum: A small rectangular bar approximately worth ten of the weight of whatever type of coin is struck in that metal. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
Tarla: A Wraith Rider of Arkenheim. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
The Teeth: Refers to the mountain range against which the city of Karsova backs up against. The settlement formed around one of its largest waterfalls and the city grew out from that. It provides a defense against encirclement and being cut off from fresh water as the mountains are so high as to have the summits disappear in the clouds on most days, yet it also makes containment within the city rather easy. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
The Three Races: Refers to the alliance between humans, aelfen, and the draven that comprised the Army of Light in the War of Light and Shadow. [first referred to in Curse of the Lianshi]
Valley of Kings: see Cibola
Vindhela: Vindhela is the capital of Vordosha and is the fortress of the seat of power of the Vordoshan Konigar. The Konigar is elected for life from amongst the Jurtans. The Jurtans who have accumulated the most amount of territories from marriages or purchases are usually selected with their territories being divided equally amongst the adjoining Jurtans with a new Jurtan being elected based upon accumulated wealth and territory. Land can be inherited or given as gifts for service by any Jurtan. Vindhela serves as the capital on the mainland with the greatest amount of landholdings and wealth. The Jurtans rule the Isle of Vorder and surrounding islands to the east of Vordosha and Arkenheim, across the Sea of Storms. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]
V’loren: Nicholas V’loren, the emissary to the Conclave from Corth. Known as the Steward to Gherard Corth and has a tattoo of a Gryphon covering half of his face. [first referred to in Escape of the Concubines]