The Bellringer

by William Timothy Murray

  Seven Towers-- Seven very tall towers of mysterious origin that are scattered throughout the world. They mysteriously appeared around the beginning of the First Age of the world. Each tower is alike in form and height, a smooth column of stone rising up 980 feet from the tops of six separate mountains. Each is topped with what appears to be a glass dome of some kind, and each dome is of a different color: white, yellow, blue, red, purple, green, and orange. Many believe they have something to do with the Forty-Nine Keys of the Nimbus Illuminas.*

  Shadowbane-- A rare and mysterious tree of the Time Before Time. It is said that light passed through its leaves so that it did not provide shade and, at night, the leaves glowed with a soft light, dispelling any shadow (hence its name). Its wood was used to form magic staffs of early conjurers, the most famous rod being Swyncraff.*

  Sharlofiorn-- Titled estate of southeastern Tracia. In the late Second Age, Prince Lantos held the title of Duke of Sharlofiorn.

  Shatuum-- A forbidden land on the borders of Vanara and Duinnor along the western edge of the world ruled by Secundur. (See Map Coordinates C3)

  Shevalia-- Firstborn Elifaen, daughter of Desira, father unknown. Wife of Bychanter, mother of Faeanna. Shevalia became a good friend of Loura (Cupledain's wife) and Lady Lyrium. Shevalia and Bychanter were murdered along with Cupeldain, Loura, and many others who were traveling with Cupeldain through lands near to those of the House of Hemlock. Some say that Shevalia's spirit, along with the spirits of the others, haunt a small lake near the town of Lochton, the site of the murders.*

  Silmain-- The Elifaen who united many Vanaran clans and some woodland tribes, after Aperion's host departed. He declared himself "King of the Faere" and attempted to join all of the Elifaen together. It was Silmain who first attempted to have all of the Forty-Nine Keys of the Nimbus Illuminas brought together, but he was defeated in that effort. Silmain had two sons, the twins Heneil and Pellen, who both refused Silmain's throne when he died.

  Sir Sun-- A name sometimes given to the sun. In legend, Sir Sun was husband of Lady Moon.*

  Slimeback-- Name given to the legendary water monster of Lake Halgaeth. It is reputed to be a giant serpent-like creature, by some accounts over sixty feet in length, with a long snout and rows of razor-sharp teeth. It has oily, leathery skin, hence its name. *

  Slobberfang-- Also called Wolftooth, a feverish ailment resulting from being bitten by wild animals, particularly wolves, also called Wolftooth.

  Solsorna-- The capital city of Masurthia, located on the Bay of Famatir, formerly the Kingdom of Solsorna. Solsorna was originally settled and established by coastal Elifaen in the First Age and had little to do with other Elifaen. They had not participated in the conflict against the Dragonkind which led to the Scathing, but would not give up their lands or waters.* (See Map Coordinates G8)

  Starhart-- Surname of husband and wife, Bob and Lally. Bob Starhart was a Post Rider of County Woodland (Janhaven) and County Barley. In the year 870 of the Second Age, he went missing while out on his route and was never seen again.

  Starlerf-- Poet of the First Age. Little is known about Starlerf, but he apparently lived in a region called Everis, which some think was located in lands that would later become part of Masurthia. However, several volumes of poems are attributed to Starlerf, who copied them by hand in several scripts, including the New Writing that was developed in Vanara during the First Age. His poetry most usually pertains to idyllic themes of forest and field, but some recount tales of the Time Before Time, leading many to believe that he was a Firstborn.

  Starshine-- A stag of Uncle Solstice.

  Stavin-- Garnor and Dorcilla, man and wife of Greenfar.

  Stayborn-- River in Vanara, minor tributary to the Iridelin.

  Steggan-- Steggan Pradkin, the half-uncle and guardian of Sheila Pradkin.

  Stingorn-- A carnival man known for his Conundrum Box, a trick box that only he could open. He would offer a wager to any who could open the box and obtain the coins that he and the contestant had placed within. By devious means, he permitted the Conundrum Box to be opened frequently enough to encourage people to try their hand at it, but not enough to lose many wagers himself.

  Sudamoor-- A small kingdom, independent from the Seven Realms, situated to the southeast of the Plains of Bletharn, against the northern shores of Lake Adin. Very little is known about the region, and it has never sent ambassadors or trade delegations to the other realms. For all intents and purposes it has been ignored by the outside world.* (See Map Coordinates I6)

  Sun King-- A reference to the ruler of Drakyr and the empire of the Dragonkind.

  Sundering-- Also called The Fall, or The First Scathing.

  Surthquay-- An ancient boat landing on Lake Halgaeth. It has two distinctive braziers at the end of the quay, carved in the likeness of arms up-stretched, with a bowl (the brazier) in each hand.* (See Map of County Barley)

  Sweedmiller-- Elder of Nowhere.

  Swyncraff-- A magical staff or rod that obeyed its master by remaining in any shape as long as its owner desired. It could be as hard as steel or as supple as rope.*

  Sylphaen-- Children of mortal Man and female Elifaen. These children inherit the characteristics of the Elifaen. It is thought the word stems from a phrase of the Ancient Tongue "sylph faen," or "airy one who has fallen" (literally "airy one who fell")

  Sylphmar-- Children of mortal women sired by Elifaen. These children do not inherit the characteristics of the Elifaen; only those born of female Elifaen do. It is thought that the word is derived from a phrase of the Ancient Tongue "sylph mort a mar" or "airy one but mortal of the sea," with sylph indicating some Faerekind lineage. Compare to Sylphaen, below.

  * * *

  Tallin-- Surname of Men whose lineage goes back to the first Men who came ashore in the world. They eventually became the powerful Named House of Tallin, and under Lord Danig Tallin. It was also due in great part to his efforts that the people of Tallinvale and Tallin City became prosperous and secure.*

  Tallinvale-- A small but fertile valley along the eastern foothills of the Thunder Mountains in southwestern Eastlands. It is situated just north of territory in dispute, claimed both by Tracia and by the Eastlands. Tallin City, the ancient home of the family that gives its name to the region, is a prosperous and thriving center of agriculture and commerce, due chiefly to the guardianship of Lord Danig Tallin. Tallin City and Tallinvale are often used interchangeably. (See Map Coordinates J4)

  Tameron-- Also called the Seven Princesses, the Seven Maidens, or the Thimble Pot. A constellation made up of several stars very closely clustered together within a pale bluish haze.

  Tamkal Plain-- A flat desert expanse in the northeast of the Dragonlands, between the Nalamain Hills and Almedian. It was the site of a famous battle of the First Age.* (See Map Coordinates D5)

  Tamkal Plain, Battle of-- A famous battle that took place in the First Age, sometimes called the Battle of the Kings. It came about after King Salkasin of the Dragonkind sought to establish a line of keeps and fortresses along the northern borders of the Dragonlands. Vanara, fearing that these would be used to protect an invading army, began a campaign to disrupt their construction and to destroy those already completed. King Salkasin led a large army north and east, seeking to swing around the Nalamain Hills to outflank the Elifaen. However, learning of this, King Parthais of Vanara led his own army into position ahead of the Dragonkind and met them on the Tamkal Plain within sight of the Nalamain Hills. It was a short but intense battle, and the only time when kings of the Dragonkind and Vanara would personally face one another. Parthais won the contest, killing Salkasin and beheading him while his troops routed the rest of the Dragonkind. This decisive battle resulted in many years of relative peace during which the Dragonkind engaged in a series of internal power struggles. With the death of King Salkasin, the lineage of Kalzar would be broken until the Second Age when it would be revived by Salzadur.

  Teracue-- (Artais Teracue) General of the Kingsman F
ourth Army in the late Second Age.*

  Thalamir-- The last Sea King of Glareth, of the Elifaen House of Beech, who was instrumental in bringing about the wealth and power that Glareth would enjoy during the latter part of the Second Age after his reign ended.*

  Therepolon-- One of the Wanderers, a star that glows bright yellow and moves across the night sky along its own path.

  Therona-- Former Queen of Altoria, of the House of Fairwillow. Former Queen of Altoria, of the House of Fairwillow. She was forced to abdicate when she could (or would) no longer account for her Seven Bloodcoins. She late died in exile, probably by her own hand.*

  Thistledown-- A region in Vanara.

  Threshmere-- Lord of the House of Hemlock during the late Second Age.

  Thrubold-- (Kurk Thrubold) Kingsman of the Thrubold family who served with distinction at the Battle of Garmitor (856 S.A.) and was severely wounded. He would have died on the battlefield but for the bravery of Ullin Saheed Tallin who saved his life (In gratitude, Ullin would later receive a horse as a gift from the Thrubold family, called Anerath.)*

  Thunder Mountains-- A mountain range between the Eastlands and the middle Plains of Bletharn, south of the Carthanes and stretching into the foothills within Tracia and Masurthia. The Thunder Mountains are named for the noise once made by its most feared inhabitants, the trolls. (See Map Coordinates I4)

  Thurdun-- Son of Parthais, brother of Queen Serith Ellyn of the House of Fairlinden.*

  Timbo-- Boy of Nowhere.

  Tiryna-- Firstborn of the Faerekind, and sister to Desira. Tiryna with Banis had three children, Atlana, Navis, and Esildre. Of these, only Tiryna departed with Aperion.

  Tolimay-- A Melnari, sometimes called Tolimay the Angry. Very little is known about him, and the only record that directly refers to him was a list of guests who attended a banquet in Masurthia. Stories abound, however, nearly all of which having to do with his legendary temper.*

  Toliss-- Prince of Duinnor. During the late Second Age, he expanded the King's Post, using Kingsmen as couriers throughout the Seven Realms.*

  Tonifor-- Boskman, cousin to Billy Bosk on his father's side.

  Toolant-- Former advisor to Prince Lewtrah and the court of Tracia before it was overthrown by the Redvest Triumvirate. Unrelated to this, he was often called Toolant the Red for his bright red hair and beard.

  Torman-- Livery and stable operator in Passdale. He partnered with a master blacksmith named Clingdon who made horseshoes and other equipment needed by his farriers and saddlers.

  Torridge-- Elder of Nowhere.

  Tracia-- One of the Seven Realms, located to the southeast of the world along the coasts where Men first settled. Its chief city is Forlandis. In the late Second Age, Tracia suffered a series of revolts and uprisings, culminating in the overthrow of the Ruling Prince by the so-called Triumvirate and its army of Redvests (named for the color of their uniforms).* (See Map Coordinates K5)

  Trebuchet-- A type of ballistic engine of war used to hurl missiles at the enemy. Trebuchets make use of counterbalance weights to move a throwing arm (similar to the throwing arm of a catapult) to which a sling holding the projectile is attached. Trebuchets can be quite large and can hurl enormous missiles a great distance with accuracy.*

  Triumvirate-- Also known as the Redvest Triumvirate for the reddish uniforms, surcoats, tunics, and banners of its soldiers. The Redvest Triumvirate is a trio of rulers that took power in Tracia in 853 S.A. during the civil war that drove out the Tracian Ruling Prince Lewtrah and his brother Prince Lantos after years of unrest.*

  Troll-- A crude race of unknown origin that populated the Thunder Mountains and whose noise while walking or moving rocks gave the mountains their name. The trolls were large, heavy, stone-like creatures of a cumbersome disposition that lived by eating rocks and sometimes other large creatures. They dwelled mainly in the eastern mountains and were rarely encountered as far west as Vanara and Duinnor, and as far south as the Dragonlands. The trolls inhabited the Thunder Mountains well before Men came to the eastern shores.*

  True Ink-- A magical ink that fades and becomes invisible if what is written with it is false.*

  Tulith Attis-- An old abandoned fortress in County Barley, of the Eastlands. It was the site of a siege and subsequent massacre during the Great Dragonkind Invasion, and events there precipitated much discord between Men and Elifaen.* (See Map of County Barley)

  Tulith Morgair-- A small beacon tower or keep on the west side of the Thunder Mountains. It is situated at the cliff end of a shoulder of a mountain that juts westward and overlooks a ford of the River Missenflo along the old road to Fisenwold. It was built by Danthis of Duinnor in the early Second Age as a part of a line of keeps that were to guard the trade routes to Duinnor. A battle took place below it along the banks of the Missenflo when a small loose knit army of men and Elifaen tried in vain to stop the eastward march of Dragonkind during the invasion of 322 S.A.. The keep was abandoned and soon fell into disuse and ruin. By the late years of the Second Age, it was all but forgotten. (See Map Coordinates H4)

  Tulivana-- (The Tulivanas) A virtually impenetrable mountain range running north and south from Vanara to the sea and to the west of Altoria. To the south, it rises up from the sea to the west of the Hinderlands. In the north, they bend westward into the Blue Mountains and the Megrinor Mountains. Along its eastern feet runs the Iridelin River, from Vanara to Altoria, feeding the Hinderland marshes before emptying into the Craggy Sea. To the west of the Tulivana range are the deserts of the Dragonkind. From north to south, its slopes are sharp and rugged with frequent earthquakes and avalanches and a few volcanoes. With its narrow and easily defended passes, the Tulivana Mountains make a natural strategic barrier against Dragonkind incursions. There have been only a few times in history when the Dragonkind managed to break through in large numbers, including the Great Invasion that took place in the early Second Age. (See Map Coordinates E6)

  Turnbuckle-- (House of Turnbuckle) A lesser house of Men in Tracia, dissolved in 840 S.A. when the last of that line died.*

  Twobanks-- A local name for the area of Barley, originally meaning all the land between the old course of the Rivers Saerdulin and Bentwide, but more lately taken to mean those people who occupy both Barley and Passdale. The Mayor of Twobanks was an unofficial title given to Robigor Ribbon the Elder, who was the first Barleyman ever to become mayor of Passdale.

  Tyrillick-- Elifaen of the House of Tallmaple. He was captain of Lyrium's household guard and presumably died with her when Tulith Attis fell to the Dragonkind.

  Tyrin-- (Tyrin Spritsul) A mercenary of the late Second Age.*

  Tyrsharat-- The capital city of Drakyr, from where the kings of the Dragonkind rule. It is the most ancient of the desert cities, built by Kalzar before the First Age. Also sometimes called the Golden City because of the gold-plated roofs and domes that reflect the sun. (See Map Coordinates D6)

  * * *

  Uden-- One of the First Men, known as Uden of Selacia, who chronicled some of the events of the early Second Age. He witnessed the reconstruction of Tulith Attis during the time of Heneil, but was not alive when the fortress fell to the Dragonkind.

  Umston-- Small town of the Eastlands Realm. (See Map Coordinates K4)

  Undertree-- A small town near the western edge of Tallinvale, just outside of the valley proper, within the foothills of the Thunder Mountains.

  * * *

  Valkose-- A demon of the First Age or perhaps long before, hidden until he was discovered and destroyed by Collandoth in the late Second Age.

  Valley of Dreams-- A valley in northern Vanara where is located the Temple of Beleron. (See Map Coordinates D3)

  Vanara-- One of the Seven Realms and the most ancient of all, believed to be among the first places where the Faerekind of the world lived. It was in Vanara that the Faerekind built their first cities, before the Fall. It lies to the south of Duinnor and just north of the Dragonlands, separated by a rugged range of mountains from the deserts.* (
See Map Coordinates D4)