Although they generally distrust humans, some find the Circle’s intentions and practices acceptable and do not harbor such feelings toward the Loremasters or those humans living at Lore’s Haven. In battle, the Shanthi males and females fight side by side. Their weapons of choice are the long dagger and bow.
The Shanthi live in multiple clans, with each clan having its own leader, and all of the clan leaders forming a Clan Council. The Council will select a Shani tu Rish, or Shanthi of Honor, who will lead the Council, and by extension, all of the Shanthi. When a clan leader dies, the leaderless clan will send three candidates to the Council, from which one is selected by the Council to serve as the new leader of that clan. New Shani tu Rish are also selected or reappointed each time a new clan leader is chosen.
Trellin (Enemy)
The Trellin are a belligerent, lizard-like race, having scaly skin, usually mottled dark green and brown. Like human fingerprints, no two Trellin will ever share the same coloration pattern on their skin. Physically, they can best be described as resembling one of Earth’s Komodo Dragons if the dragon were to stand upright, lose its tail, and take on more humanoid proportions. Although very strong, they do not possess great speed or intellect. Like their lizard cousins, they are cold-blooded, which restricts them to the warmer climates of Teleria.
Trellin weaponry consists of jagged, double-bladed shortswords, and thin black daggers called bloodfangs. The bloodfangs are hollow and filled with a virulent poison. A tiny hole in the tip of the dagger slowly releases the poison into the Trellin's victim. Although very durable while dry, once embedded in flesh, the blade material immediately begins to degrade. If it is left in the flesh for longer than a few moments, it will break off if pulled, releasing all of the poison at once.
Due to their adversarial nature toward other creatures, even those of their own kind, they rarely function well in groups larger than five, and even then only if one of the group is clearly dominant. There is no organized leadership in what passes for Trellin society. The leader of any particular group is the largest and/or strongest of the group, regardless whether they are male or female.
Yellowtooth (Neutral)
The Yellowtooth are a blend of canine and human. Surly, although not outright aggressive, they are generally human looking with short snouts, a thin layer of fur coating their bodies and short, black, fixed claws on their fingers and toes. They stand about the same height as a human, and have stocky, muscular builds, rendering them stronger and faster than the typical human. Their society runs the gamut from soldier to scholar, but they have no dimsai ability.
Yellowtooth warriors lean toward the males, although in a battle, the female of the species will be well represented also. The preferred weapons of the Yellowtooth are swords and maces.
While never coming to open hostilities, tension exists between the Yellowtooth and the Ferrin. It’s not uncommon for a Yellowtooth to leave a room when a Ferrin walks in. The Ferrin find this rather amusing and will even go out of their way to irritate a Yellowtooth, stopping just short of the point where the Yellowtooth might lose control.
Female Yellowtooth occupy the leadership positions, which are chosen by hand to hand combat, in much the same way as the Ferrin.
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The Orders
Agathon Saltor is credited with establishing the Circle and the nine Orders in the year 107 PD (Post Devastation).
In 97 PD, he realized that without intervention, all of mankind’s knowledge not already lost in the Devastation would soon vanish. He searched for ten years until he finally found nine men and women whom he thought would be able to undertake the task of safeguarding and rediscovering the knowledge mankind had amassed over the centuries. He charged them with the responsibility of preserving mankind’s knowledge in order to prevent the world from falling into darkness and chaos.
The nine Orders, their areas of expertise, and their current Loremasters are:
Emerald – Agriculture, horticulture, small flora. Loremaster Reyga Falerian, Human male
Ruby – Geography, geology, and stonework (construction and artisanship) Loremaster Brin Jalasar, Human male
Diamond – Healing, medicinal plants and herbs Loremaster Seryn Shal, Human female
Amber – Forestry and woodcraft (including fletching and bows) Loremaster Jarril Breth, Ferrin male
Amethyst – Zoology, animal physiology and husbandry Loremaster Delani Morn, Human female
Topaz – Meteorology, atmospheric phenomena Loremaster Kalen Dristal, Human male
Obsidian – Metallurgy, blacksmithing, and other metal working Loremaster Borin Kaltos, Human male (Recently replaced Chon Artel)
Sapphire – Marine and freshwater biology and ecology Loremaster T’kel Sho, F’aar female
Pearl – History, both factual and legend, social sciences Loremaster Tal Vardyn, Human male (Also serves as High One of the Circle of Nine)
Each Loremaster serves until they die or step down from their post for any reason. At that time, the Loremaster’s apprentice is presented to the Circle to be approved. Once an apprentice is selected, it is a very rare occasion that they are not subsequently approved by the Circle when the time comes. If a Loremaster dies before naming an apprentice, the Circle will confer to determine which student of that Order will assume the position of Loremaster.
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Telerian Calendar
The Telerian year has 360 days, and is divided into six cycles, each consisting of ten sixdays:
Cycle of Awakening
Cycle of Storms
Cycle of Growth
Cycle of Gathering
Cycle of Change
Cycle of Landsleep
Cycles are used for date keeping. A date would be said as “the twenty-second day of Growth,” or “the forty-first day of Landsleep.”
Other time periods include spans, which are five sixdays (12 to a year), and duals, which are two sixdays (30 to a year).
About the Author
G. David Walker was born in Ulysses, Kansas, in the summer of 1963, the youngest of four brothers and one sister. As the internet had not yet been invented when he was a young man, he instead devoured any science fiction or fantasy book that he could get his hands on, dreaming of different worlds, fantastical creatures and strange, alien beings. As an adult, he decided to forge into the realms he had only read about, creating his own worlds to explore and share.
David is also an avid Trekkie (although not rabid) and harbored a secret desire to appear on the SyFy network’s short-lived series “Who Wants to be a Super Hero?”
David is a member of the Missouri Writers Guild and the Springfield Writers Guild, and currently lives in southwest Missouri with his wife and children, and whatever stray animals his children happen to bring home. For more information about David and his current or upcoming projects, visit his website, Chasing Dragons in the Ozarks, at www.gdavidwalker.com.
A word from Dave:
Thank you for taking the time to read Altered Intentions. I appreciate your time and I hope I’ve given you an enjoyable experience with this, the second book of the Jaben’s Rift trilogy. I strive to write stories my readers will enjoy, and I love getting feedback (even constructive criticism) about my work. If you have any comments or questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me through my website, gdavidwalker.com.
Keep up with Dave online at:
Twitter: @gdavidwalker
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/G-David-Walker/115393528485341
Visit Dave's website
Chasing Dragons in the Ozarks
http://www.gdavidwalker.com
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Altered Intentions Page 27