Reader's Reference
for
Volume 3 A Distant Light
Volume 3
A Distant Light
A Distant Light
Chapter 15
The Feast of Solstice
The Reader's Companion to the Year of the Red Door.
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Anerath -- A spirited horse belonging to Ullin Saheed Tallin. The name comes from the Ancient Speech, and means "water prancer." Anerath was a gift to Ullin Saheed from the Thrubolds, renown horsemen and breeders of Duinnor, in gratitude for his having saved their son's life at the Battle of Garmitor. 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.* Applewait -- Family of Greenfar. 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.* Beras -- The personification of the Creator; sometimes called Intent. He is worshipped by Elifaen, Men, and the Dragonkind, all having separate views of Beras. Beras is also referred to as the personification of the Creator's Intent, seeing to the balance of the world. It was Beras who commanded the earth to be formed and for life to emerge upon it. And it is Beras who is regarded as the father of the Faerekind. The Dragonkind peoples also worship Beras who is, in their religions, the force behind their liberation from the ancient dragons who enslaved them. Men worship Beras as their savior, who directed their departure from their Lost World and guided their epic passage across the boundless sea to the shores of the Found World. 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. Broadweed -- (Gustan Broadweed) Schoolmaster in the town of Passdale, County Barley in the late Second Age.* 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. Byrn -- (Byrn Tallyck) Tradesman and resident of Greenfar. Bywaters -- Resident of Greenfar. 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. Dorcilla -- Resident of Greenfar, wife of Garnor Stavin, a cobbler and maker of leather-goods. 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) Edgewold -- An agricultural and trading town of Men located in the west near to the Plains of Bletharn on the Long Road from Altoria to Duinnor. During the late Second Age, it feuded with nearby Westlawn when that town was overtaken by Wickermen rebels. Eventually, Edgewold was garrisoned by an army from Duinnor which saw to its defense and eventually overthrew the Wickermen rebels. (See Map of Forest Islindia) 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.* Fallen Ones -- The Elifaen, both those Firstborn who were originally stripped of their wings and all their offspring who bear the scars of Scathing. Familiar -- Familiars are the mysterious creatures that are companions to members of the Melnari race. They have unusual abilities, including the ability to communicate directly with others without the need of speech, although they prefer to communicate only with their particular Melnari companion.* Frizella -- (Frizella Bosk) nee Starfind, wife of Garend Bosk of Boskland, in County Barley of the Eastlands during the late Second Age. Greenfar -- An isolated town on the outskirts of Forest Islindia, shielded from the world and under the protection of the King of the Wood (Islindia's father). (See Map of Forest Islindia) Hemlock -- (House of Hemlock) One of the Houses of the Faerekind. This house is most closely associated with the lineage of Alonair, the Elifaen sculptor, but fell into decline during the Second Age. It is said that the House of Hemlock was in some way involved in the murder of Cupeldain and that the lake nearby to its lands is where Cupeldain and his wife along with many others were drowned. However, many local accounts have it that the House of Hemlock was only one of the many houses involved in the feud that Cupeldain sought to resolve. Regardless, by the late Second Age, the House of Hemlock had lost its standing and was little known or regarded outside its lands. Iceking -- One of the stags of Uncle Solstice. Islindia -- Also known as the Lady of the Wood, Queen of the Wood, and the Princess of Sorrows. Islindia was Princess of Halethiris during the Age of Strife and the early First Age. Through an enchantment intended by her father, King Ilex, to restore Halethiris to the glory of the Time Before Time, Islindia was inadvertently given the power to bring about the past for one day each month. This ability brought her to Secundur's attention, who became infatuated by her beauty. Secundur captured Islindia and tried to force her to become his concubine, but she resisted. In an effort to punish her, he murdered her lover which served to make her even more resolute in her refusals. Still, Secundur continued to entreat her to be his, but she despised him and rebuffed him. She was rescued by her kin, but Secundur destroyed Halethiris with a withering blight. Only she, her father, King Ilex, and her uncle, Solstice, survived the blight Secundur put upon the forest. It is said that Islindia and her father were cursed to remain in the ruins of that place until the world was remade, at which time their spirits could be free.* (See Map of Forest Islindia) Kingsman -- A member of the King's Army of Duinnor, the best trained and most professional force in the Duinnor military.* 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.* Midsummer -- The day of the summer solstice, and one of the days of the year that is not counted as a month day, but usually falling three weeks into Sixthmonth. Midsummer's Day is often celebrated with festivals, bonfires, feasting and music. In the Eastlands and a few other parts, such celebrations are called Firefeasts. Midwinter -- The day of the winter solstice, and one of the days of the year that is not counted as a month day, but usually falling three weeks into Twelthmonth. According to some ancient calendars, Midwinter's was the last night of the year and was a night of celebration, gift-giving, and feasts. In the Second Age, the New Duinnor Calendar supplanted the older ones, and put the last day of the year some ten days after Midwinter's Day. Regardless, Midwinter's remained an important day of celebration, retaining many of the old traditions well into the late Second Age. Moonbeam -- One of the stags of Uncle Solstice. 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) 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) Prideling -- One of the stags of Uncle Solstice. Raenelle -- (Raenelle Bosk) Daughter of Garend and Frizella Bosk, older sister to Billy Bosk. Raenelle was captured by the Redvests during the invasion of 870 S.A. Raskin -- Mysterious Elifaen assistant to Uncle Solstice. Starshine -- A stag of Uncle Solstice. Stavin -- Garnor and Dorcilla, man and wife of Greenfar. Steggan -- Steggan Pradkin, the half-uncle and guardian of Sheila Pradkin. Sundering -- Also called The Fall, or The First Scathing. 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. 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. Wayfind -- One of the stags of Uncle Solstice. *Many of these entries are abridged versions of those found within 
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