Reader's Reference
for
Volume 2 The Nature of a Curse
Volume 2
The Nature of a Curse
The Nature of a Curse
Chapter 8
Lyrium
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.* Aram -- (Aram Saheed Tallin) Son of Danig Tallin and Kahryna of Fairoak. Aram was their middle child, being younger than his brother and older than his sister (Dalvenpar and Mirabella). Aram Saheed wed Sharyn Northstar (of a house of Men) was father to Ullin Saheed. Aram became a Kingsman after his older brother's death, but was himself killed at Gory Gulch. 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) 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) Behemoth -- A constellation of the northern sky, so-called after the legendary monster that roamed the earth during the Time of Strife and was said to have been thrown into the heavens by Cupeldain (though Cupeldain denied any such tale). Belmira -- One of the daughters of Heneil and Lyrium, twin sister of Elmira, though they are not identical twins.* Bilaylin -- 1. a founder of the Bosk clan of Men, also called Bilaylin the Hammer. Along with several other Men he joined with the Elifaen to fight the Dragonkind in the Second Age. He gained a reputation for valor on the battlefield and cantankerousness everywhere else. He died at Tulith Attis during the Dragonkind siege of that place, but was survived by a son and three daughters. 2. The right name of Billy Bosk, a descendant of Bilaylin the Hammer. Billy Bosk was one of those who accompanied Robby Ribbon and his party westward in 870 of the Second Age. Bloodcoins -- The common name for the Forty-Nine Keys to the Nimbus Illuminas, often called simply, The Forty-Nine. There are various theories as to how they came to be called Bloodcoins. One stems from a legend pertaining to Chantay and her daughter Lucinda, that when Chantay was driven mad by the Seven given to her by Aperion, Lucinda cut off her mother's head and Chantay's blood covered the objects of the dispute. Others say that they are called Bloodcoins because they were given to the seven greatest "blood houses" or bloodlines of the Elifaen. Another explanation stems from the superstition that any Mortal who possesses any Faere coin of any kind will meet with bad luck or death (But there is no indication that this belief existed at all until sometime during the latter part of the Second Age.)* Bosk -- One of the Ancient Honored Houses of Men, though not a Named House. It is descended from the earliest Men that arrived on the world's shore. The family estate is located in County Barley of the Old Eastlands Realm. Its most famous member was Bilaylin the Hammer who fought and died at Tulith Attis. His descendants were granted vast land holdings not far from Tulith Attis. Boskland -- A regional name for the lands belonging to the House of Bosk. (See Map of County Barley) 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. Cartu -- A warlord clan of Thunder Mountain hillsmen who took power over the Damar and eventually united the other clans under their rule, making Lang Cartu their king. 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. Dargul -- Chief civilian advisor and counselor to Lord Danig Tallin of Tallinvale during 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) 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."* Elmira -- One of the daughters of Heneil and Lyrium, twin sister of Belmira, though they are not identical twins. * 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.* Faerum -- Variously used, this name once was synonymous with "world." More generally, it came to mean those ancient territories of the Faerekind, centered upon the vast Forest Halethiris.* Fairfir -- One of the Seven High Houses of the Elifaen, founded by Lyrium who received Seven Amber Bloodcoins from Aperion.* Fairlinden -- One of the Seven High Houses of the Elifaen, founded by who received Seven Sapphire Bloodcoins from Aperion.* Fairoak -- One of the Named Houses of the Elifaen. When their Vanaran lands were lost to war and economic distress, Kahryna Fairoak married Danig Saheed Tallin, making the Joined House of Tallin and Fairoak. Glareth -- One of the Seven Realms, located in the northeastern coasts and borders the Old Eastlands Realm. Its chief city is Glareth by the Sea. Renown for its maritime trades, it is closely allied with Vanara and has strong trade ties to Duinnor. * (See Map of Glareth) Great Bell -- A great iron bell made by Heneil and placed within a special chamber of Tulith Attis supposedly embued with magical qualities.* 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) Hammer -- A term sometimes given to the legendary bell in Tulith Attis, "Tulith Hammer," also called the "great hammer" or the "Great Bell." Heneil -- Legendary warrior, builder, son of Silmain (first king of the Elifaen), husband to Lyrium of the House of Fairfir. Twin brother of Pellen. Heneil assisted in the rebuilding of Linlally during the First and Second Ages. He also rebuilt and enhanced the fortress of Tulith Attis. He formed an alliance with Men and helped put down the Pinewood Uprising. He was killed at Tulith Attis when it was besieged by the Dragonkind during the Great Dragonkind Invasion.* Kahryna -- Daughter of Cassandra and Dasler of the House of Fairoak. She became the wife of Danig Tallin, a Man of the Eastlands. By him she bore two sons and a daughter, Dalvenpar, Aram, and Mirabella.* Lady Moon -- A name sometimes given to the moon. In legend Lady Moon(or sometimes Lady Luna) was wife to Sir sun.Another name for Lady Moon.* 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.* Melnari -- A mysterious small group of people, neither Man, nor Elifaen, nor Dragonkind. They are very few in number, perhaps less than a dozen, and are long-lived, perhaps immortal as the Elifaen are. Some regard them as troublemakers, and others refer to them as mystics, although that term is somewhat inaccurate. However, in addition to their keen intellects, they do possess strange abilities and powers, similar to some of the older Elifaen.* Passdale -- A town in County Barley of the Eastlands Realm on the banks of the Bentwide River. It was located on the site of a small settlement known as Dalefath which was destroyed in the Dragonkind Invasion of 322 S.A. (See Map of County Barley) Redvests -- A name for the soldiers of the Triumvirate of Tracia due to their reddish surcoats, capes, and tunics. Ring of Hearing -- A magical ring that enables its wearer to know the thoughts of those present.* Saheed -- A given name among Men, particularly of the Tallin and Markal lineages. 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.* 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. 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) 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) 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. 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) Watcher -- A term sometimes given to those who delve into the mysterious and mystical. Sometimes it only means one who is an agent of another, or one who is commissioned to observe events and discern the meaning of those events and other signs. Weylan -- (Chrisafer Weylan) Tallinvale Captain of the Northern Gate and childhood friend of Ullin Saheed Tallin. *Many of these entries are abridged versions of those found within 
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