Reader's Reference
for
Volume 2 The Nature of a Curse
Volume 2
The Nature of a Curse
The Nature of a Curse
Prologue
The White Dragon
The Reader's Companion to the Year of the Red Door.
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Almedian -- A small walled town of the northeastern Dragonlands, and home to Soltani Gurasa of the House of Golden Sand a famous Dragonkind general.* (See Map of the Dragonlands) Altoria -- One of the smaller realms to the south at the edge of the world where the sea begins. To its east is Masurthia, to the north is the Great Bletharn Plains, and to the west is the Hinderland (or Hinderlands), a vast area of marshlands and bogs bordered by the impenetrable Tulivana Mountains.* (See Map of Altoria) 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) Calamandor -- Known as the Green Citadel by Men, a great city in the northern deserts of the Dragonlands, sacked and destroyed twice in the Second Age. It is one of the oldest and largest cities of the Dragonkind, with plentiful wells. It was called the Green Citadel because of the tower that once held the Glowing Stone of Bazradur which emitted a bright green light both day and night. In 790 S.A., the tower mysteriously crumbled and fell, shattering the stone so that it could not glow as before. Calamandor was also renown for its elegant and rare overhanging gardens.* (See Map of the Dragonlands) Dalvenpar -- (Dalvenpar Tallin) Eldest son of Danig Tallin and Kahryna of the House of Fairoak. He became a Kingsman and died during the bloody retreat from the First Siege of the Green Citadel (Calamandor) within the Dragonlands. 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.* Draymoor -- Capital of Altoria located on the Iridelin River about forty miles upriver from the sea. (See Map of Altoria) 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."* Forlandis -- The capital city of Tracia Realm at the mouth of the Saerdulin River. It was formerly the Kingdom of Forlandis, and was founded by Elifaen early in the First Age. It remained an isolated and relatively unknown kingdom until the House of Alder assumed the throne in the late First Age (around 880 F.A.).* (See Map of Tracia) 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) Grisland Strait -- A strait off the coast of Tracia between the mainland and Grisland Island. It is generally avoided by larger vessels due to its narrow and somewhat shallow channel, susceptible to erratic and dangerous tidal currents, and its opposing shores are strewn with treacherous rocks. It was the site of a naval battle between remnants of the Tracian Royal Navy and the Redvest Navy of the Triumvirate.(See Grisland Strait, Battle of.) (See Map of Tracia) Grisland Strait, Battle of -- A naval engagement that took place in the Grisland Strait between the Tracian Royal Navy (loyal to Prince Lantos) and that of the Triumvirate in the year 856 S.A.. It followed only a few days after the rescue of Loyalist forces fleeing from their defeat at the Battle of the Marshlands.* Gurasa -- A Dragonkind deemed by some to be the greatest military mind since Kalzar the Great. Having a slight and unimposing stature and bearing, Gurasa nonetheless was a meticulous planner, cunning tactician, and insightful leader who inspired his followers to great feats of courage and endurance. He was also fearless in battle, often leading the spearhead of his armies when he could have guided things from the rear. In spite of the many wounds that he received, and after loosing his hand in combat, he continued to ride ahead. A brilliant tactician and logician, he was famous for his traps, surprising battlefield maneuvers, and imaginative use of terrain to gain the upper hand against generally stronger and more numerous opponents. He was also very learned, having traveled extensively in the Northlands and all throughout the Dragonlands as a youngster. It is said that he was fluent in the dialects of the Northmen, and that he was highly knowledgeable about the histories of the North and the Dragonlands.* Iridelin -- The great river that flows from Vanara southward along the eastern slopes of the Tulivana Mountains to the sea. It is an important trade route between Vanara and Altoria. Its headwaters are at the Falls of Tiandari in Linlally, and it normally flows high enough for substantial traffic to move along it in the form of boats and barges. Many stretches have towing roads built along its banks so that teams of horses may draw boats upstream. There are a few places along it that are too swift or shallow for heavy boats, with shoals and rapids through narrow canyons, but these are flanked upstream and downstream with towns where boats disembark their cargos for transport overland the short distance to the next embarkation town. The river passes out of Vanara and into Altoria at Gander Falls and widens so that sailboats may make the upstream voyage. Near the coast, the river joins into a vast marshland called the Hinderlands, continuing past the Altorian city of Draymoor to empty into the Craggy Sea.* (See World Map) Kajarahn -- Also called the "Free City," located in the northwestern deserts of the Dragonlands, known in former times as Alaberbra.* (See Map of the Dragonlands) Masurthia -- One of the Seven Realms. It is on the southern coast of the world between Altoria and Tracia. Masurthia was formed of territories that came under the rule of the Kingdom of Solsorna during the First Age.* (See Map of Masurthia) 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) Saerdulin -- A major river of the east, running from its headwaters, Lake Halgaeth, through the old Eastlands Realm into Tracia and then to the sea. In the early Second Age, it was a major transport route for goods. (See World Map) Saerdulin, Battle of -- (Battle of Saerdulin) Sometimes included in descriptions of the Battle of Tulith Attis, this battle took place a week or a fortnight after Tulith Attis was sacked (sources disagree), and took place on the western bank of the Saerdulin at the confluence of the River Lerse, with the south bank of the River Lerse on the northern flank of the Dragonkind forces. The Dragonkind, thinking that the two rivers protected their flanks, sought to force the combined armies of Glareth, Vanara, and Duinnor into a frontal assault against their more advantageous defensive position. However, sufficient forces under the leadership of Navis and Esildre of Elmwood managed to swim the Saerdulin and Lerse Rivers under cover of darkness. They then attacked the Dragonkind's unprotected rear flanks, wreaking havoc and panic. The carefully timed rear assault weakened and disorganized the Dragonkind forces, allowing the simultaneous frontal assault to succeed. As a result, the Dragonkind were decimated and utterly destroyed, with very few, if any, Dragonkind escaping. (See Great Invasion) 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 of Masurthia) 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) 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) *Many of these entries are abridged versions of those found within 
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