Reader's Reference
for
Volume 2 The Nature of a Curse
Volume 2
The Nature of a Curse
The Nature of a Curse
Chapter 22
The Witch
The Reader's Companion to the Year of the Red Door.
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Aperion -- A Firstborn Faerekind and the First and True King of the Faere, so appointed by Beras during the Time Before Time. Aperion sought to stop the bloodshed between the Dragonkind and the Faerekind and who led the faithful and loyal Faerekind out of the world. It was Aperion who caused those who remained upon the earth to be Scathed of their wings, becoming the Elifaen, or Fallen Ones.* Attis -- Thought to be the name of the original builder of Tulith Attis, an ancient fortress near Lake Halgaeth in the Eastlands. It was later the name for the town at the base of Tulith Attis, all of which was destroyed during the Dragonkind invasion of 322 S.A. (See Map of County Barley) Bailorg -- (Braig Bailorg Denuth Delcorman) One of the Elifaen, perhaps a Firstborn, but not a member of any known House. He was a mysterious figure, an acquaintance of Pellen in Duinnor during the early Second Age. He was also seen from time to time in various courts, traveling extensively throughout the realms. It is suspected that he traveled into the Dragonlands on several occasions. He was reported to have spent a great deal of time in the region of Shatuum as well, and is thought to have been present with the Dragonkind at the Battle of Tulith Attis, after which he disappeared for many years.* Banshee -- Witches or messengers of the afterlife who are thought to beckon the living into death or whose appearance forebodes extreme danger. It is said that only certain bloodlines of Men are visited by banshees when near death or sometimes when threatened by mortal crisis. Banshees were unknown in the world until the coming of Men, though some say that they are witches of the First Age who struck some bargain with Beras for their redemption. This tale has it that, in order to redeem themselves of the evils their kind committed in the world, they must act as harbingers to the bloodline of certain dying Men whom they wronged. Other legends say that the banshee are not witches at all, but another kind of spirit somehow bonded to the fate of Men. Barley -- A rural county within the old Eastlands Realm south of Lake Halgaeth and just east of the Thunder Mountains, bordering the lands west of the ancient fortress of Tulith Attis. It is so named because of the main crop grown in the region. Barley was once merely the regional name for the area, but was adopted as the county name when the Eastlands Realm organized itself into counting districts for the purpose of performing the First Census. Nearly all of the lands encompassing Barley were once part of the vast Bosk estate holdings, but over time much of the former Bosk lands were sold or deeded away. Its principal town is Passdale, formerly known as Dalefath. (See Map of County Barley) Begrimlin -- Often referred to as Begrimlin the Kingmaker, although it is not known why he was called Kingmaker. A Firstborn Elifaen, he was renown for his ability to bring feuding parties to treaty, though he found little success when it came to bringing peace between his people and the Dragonkind. In the latter part of the First Age and into the Second Age, he was active in many realms.* Buckmarl -- A type of large antlered deer or elk ridden by many of the Faere in the Elder Days and sometimes still. They are swift and light on the hoof, strong and nimble in the wood and on rocky mountainsides. They are renown for their ability to leap from crag to crag, much like a ram, with surefooted ease. Certina -- One of the so-called "Familiars." She accompanied Collandoth in the world during the Second Age. Certina's form was that of a small owl, no bigger than one's hand. Damar -- A warlord region in the Thunder Mountains that sprang up in the latter Second Age; it allied itself with Tracia during that realm's revolt against Duinnor's rule. Its people was ruled by the Cartu warlord clan, and its most powerful ruler was Lang Cartu, who made himself king over the Damar in the late Second Age. Drago -- The ordinary class of Dragonkind. Mistakenly thought by some of the north as a separate race from the Alziekfria since the Drago and Alziekfria are different from one another in appearance and health. That is because the Drago do not regularly receive the darakal elixir and are thus more coarse in appearance and demeanor than those who rule. They suffer scales of the skin, thinning hair, and, should they suffer from the desert sickness long enough, their facial features change, most notable a thinning of the lips, thickening of the tongue, and the loss of the boney structure of the proboscis, resulting in a flat nose with narrow nostrils. As a result of the sickness, few Drago reach physical maturity, becoming increasingly weak and prone to illness, thus their mortality rate is quite high. Dragon -- Terrible, fire-spitting creatures spawned by Morgasir during the Time before Time. Most of the dragons, along with Morgasir and a host of his followers, were destroyed by Beras in a great conflict, but some escaped into the bowels of the earth and into far places. Legend has it that the dragons sired a race of slaves to serve them, and, when the dragons were destroyed, the slaves were set free, becoming the Dragonkind. Dragonkind -- Mortal inhabitants of the southern deserts, calling themselves Drakyr. Their legends tell that they were created as offspring of Morgasir's dragons, to serve as slaves. When Morgasir was destroyed, along with most of his creatures and followers, these people survived by eking out a living in the deserts, shunned and despised by the Faerekind in the fertile lands of the north. Eventually, they multiplied and built great cities, developed engineering and mathematics, writing, and other arts. Since the time of their first great king, Kalzar, the Dragonkind have warred with those of the northern lands.* Duinnor -- A northwestern realm, taking its name from the ancient name for the river that flows along its northern bounds. Among the smallest of the Realms, it is nonetheless densely populated, and, as the ruling realm of the Unknown Kings, it is the most powerful of all the realms. Its chief city is Duinnor City.* (See Map of Duinnor) Eastlands -- Also called "Eastland," "Eastlands Realm," or "the Old Eastlands Realm." The realm that lies south of Glareth and north of Tracia, extending from the coast of the world to the Thunder Mountains in the west. After the Seven Realms were established in the Second Age, it suffered many misfortunes including droughts, floods, plagues, and invasion. Its capital was at Colleton on the coast, once an important trading port. However, in spite of the rich natural resources of the lands, the inept rule of its kings prevented the Eastlands from becoming very strong. After the demise of King Inrick II, the Eastlands became a protectorate of Glareth Realm.* (See World Map) Elifaen -- The Fallen Ones; those of the immortal Faerekind who refused to leave the world at the command of Aperion and who were "scathed," meaning they were stripped of their wings for their disobedience. This event is usually referred to as "the Fall," or sometimes "the First Scathing."* Faere -- Properly speaking, the First Ones, meaning the children of the spirit of the Earth. Those beings who came to inhabit the world in the Time Before Time and who embodied the joy and harmony of creation.* Griferis -- "Place of Judgment," the legendary place where future kings and queens are supposedly judged for fitness to rule. * (See Map of Vanara and Shatuum) Karthia -- A small region surrounding the lake of the same name which is a large basin of the River Osterflo. The mountains of Karthia are renown for the clarity of the rubies and for other minerals. The region is also an important trading and supply stop on the Osterflo River that flows from Duinnor to Glareth. In the Second Age, the Kings of Duinnor built sophisticated locks so that boats may pass around the dangerous falls and shoals on the lake's eastern and western bounds. Karthia thus became an important trading and shipping community, situated on the Osterflo roughly halfway between Duinnor and Glareth. (See Map of the Carthane Mountains) Kingmaker -- A name referring to Begrimlin, a Firstborn Elifaen. He was renown for his ability to bring feuding parties to treaty, though he found little success when it came to bringing peace between his people and the Dragonkind. In the latter part of the First Age and into the Second Age, he was active in many realms. (See Begrimlin.) Kingsman -- A member of the King's Army of Duinnor, the best trained and most professional force in the Duinnor military.* Linlally -- The ruling city of Vanara. Founded and built by Cupeldain, it was enhanced by the carvings and statues of Alonair. It was originally the name only for the palace that Cupeldain built atop the Falls of Tiandari, but later became the name for the larger city that grew up around and below the palace along the banks of the Iridelin River. Since it is a place of governance, and the oldest city of the Elifaen, it is an important city to all of the Realms. In the latter Second Age, Duinnor commonly stationed armies there, ostensibly for defense purposes since Linlally is the closest major city to the Dragonlands. (See Map of Vanara and Shatuum) Lyrium -- A Firstborn Faere who, with her sister Myrium, was the founder of the House of Fairfir. In the Time of Strife, Lyrium became renown for her gift of Sight, which enabled her to foresee portents of things to come.* Navis -- One of the Firstborn of the House of Elmwood, son of Banis, who with his siblings, Atlana and Esildre, was born during the Time Before Time. As did his siblings, Navis refused to go with Aperion and was Scathed of his wings. Navis was a renown warrior and had many adventures. He fought many battles under Silmain, Cupeldain, and Parthais. When a great monster, Jatarak the Ogre, appeared in the region of Altoria during the First Age, Navis pursued him into the Crevasse of Fire and slew him. In the Second Age, Navis singly fought and slew an entire legion of Dragonkind at the Battle of Saerdulin. He and his sister Esildre later became students of Raynor the Wise. After Esildre went to Shatuum, Navis traveled there seeking to free her, but he never returned. Nimwill -- Scribe and court chronicler of Parthais during his reign as King of Vanara. As such, he attended and personally recorded many events that took place within the Royal Court, and he also traveled with Parthais to record his various exploits and experiences. Nimwill was with Parthais when he executed those accused of murdering Cupeldain, and was also with the king during his many campaigns in the Dragonlands as well as other parts of the world. He was at the Battle of Tamkal Plain when King Parthais slew King Salkasin, and he was in Masurthia when Parthais forced King Barindon and Queen Therona to make peace. Nimwill also accompanied King Parthais to see the legendary place called Griferis.* Nowhere -- The land of the Nowhereans, a diminutive people sometimes called Pixies in a derogatory manner. It was located in the western Thunder Mountains. (See Map of the Thunder Mountains) Osterflo -- The long river that flows from northern Duinnor eastward to empty into Salfin Bay at Glareth by the Sea. It was originally called the "duin nord," or north river, and is the basis for Duinnor's name. The name Osterflo, however, was the old Glarethian name of the river and came into standard use by the middle of the First Age.* (See World Map) Paltera -- A mountain witch who occupied a territory in the western slopes of the Thunder Mountains near the Missenflo River. Redvests -- A name for the soldiers of the Triumvirate of Tracia due to their reddish surcoats, capes, and tunics. Saheed -- A given name among Men, particularly of the Tallin and Markal lineages. Secundur -- One of the Firstborn. He was believed to be a follower of Morgasir but escaped the destruction that befell his teacher. Known as the Lord of Shadow because he shuns light. Ever the provocateur of discord among people, he is held responsible for many of the world's woes, including the perpetual strife between the Dragonkind and the peoples of the northern lands. It is said that he provoked Kalzar to attack the north, and later provoked Cupeldain to retaliate. He also frequented Vanara, and spoke lies and rumors to Ormace and others when Cupeldain sought to have the Forty-Nine gathered. Later, King Parthais granted to Secundur a remote region northwest of Vanara later known as Shatuum, those mysterious forbidden lands bordered northwest Vanara and southwest Duinnor territories. There, Secundur slowly gathered his might, breeding foul creatures and hatching dark plots against other lands. Serith Ellyn -- Firstborn Elifaen, Queen of Vanara, daughter of Parthais of the House of Fairlinden. Serith means "most high." The beginning of the Second Age is marked at the start of her reign. She and her brother Thurdun were exiled by King Parthais, and they were later the targets of his agents whose orders were to hunt them down and kill them both. Parthais was no less cruel to his own people who pleaded for deliverance from his tyranny. Serith Ellyn secretly raised an army and managed to position it well within Vanara without being detected. In a bold and swift night attack, she led her army into Linlally and stormed the White Palace where she slew her father.* Shatuum -- A forbidden land on the borders of Vanara and Duinnor along the western edge of the world ruled by Secundur. (See Map of Vanara and Shatuum) Sir Sun -- A name sometimes given to the sun. In legend, Sir Sun was husband of Lady Moon.* Slobberfang -- Also called Wolftooth, a feverish ailment resulting from being bitten by wild animals, particularly wolves, also called Wolftooth. 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.* 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 of the Western Eastlands) Thurdun -- Son of Parthais, brother of Queen Serith Ellyn of the House of Fairlinden.* 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 of Tracia) 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) 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 of Vanara and Shatuum) Vinkasinea -- A witch of the ancient world. She persisted until the Second Age and re-emerged during the Second Demon War. She briefly captured Collandoth, but he was rescued by one of his companions of the Nine Banes who killed her. *Many of these entries are abridged versions of those found within 
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