Reader's Reference
for
Volume 5 To Touch a Dream
Volume 5
To Touch a Dream
To Touch a Dream
Chapter 16
Inquiries, Explanations, and Orders
The Reader's Companion to the Year of the Red Door.
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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) Avatar -- An uncanny apparition that changes in form each at the beginning of each regnal year of the Unknown Kings of Duinnor. Its form lends the name commonly given to a regnal year (The Avatar never takes on the same form as during any previous year.). The Avatar serves the Unknown King in mysterious ways, not all of which is known. It is known, however, that the Unknown King sometimes sends the Avatar to summon someone to the King's High Chamber.* Banis -- A Firstborn Elifaen of the House of Elmwood. Father to Atlana, Esildre, and Navis. His wife, Tiryna, departed with Aperion. Banis did not join with any other houses during the Time Before Time and lived throughout the Vanara region. As his children became warriors for Cupeldain, Parthais, and Serith Ellyn, Banis served in their courts in various nonmilitary capacities. He was a staunch supporter of Parthais, serving as Vanara's Minister of Justice for many years. In the latter period of Parthais's reign, Banis was removed from his position for insubordination to the throne and became something of a recluse from the Vanaran courts until Serith Ellyn became Queen. He briefly served her as a judge, but moved to Duinnor early in the Second Age, and rarely returned to Vanara thereafter.* 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."* Farby -- A family of northwestern Duinnor, they were miners who in the middle to late Second Age made their fortune in mining iron ore, silver, and gold. * (See Map of Duinnor) Foxdire -- Also called Sigh Mortabilis, or Grave's Breath. 1. A hardy perennial plant known for its pale red or orange blossoms that grow in a frond, somewhat resembling the tail of a fox, and poisonous white glutinous berries, similar in appearance to those of mistletoe. It is most often found in shady mountain lowlands or woodland dales where there is ample moisture. In the west it is known as Sigh Mortabilis, while in other parts it is commonly called Grave's Breath due to the powerful medicinal extract made from its berries. 2. A medicinal extract or tincture made from the berries of the foxdire plant, also called Sigh Mortabilis or Grave's Breath. In minute amounts, carefully administered, it is used to make a patient calm or even unconscious, particularly during surgery or other painful procedures. In greater quantities, or carelessly administered, it may cause deep and prolonged unconsciousness, perhaps lasting for days, and even death. Symptoms of overdose include shallow breathing, cold skin, and complete lack of response to any external stimuli. Those of the Elifaen are particularly sensitive to foxdire, even in small amounts, and it has been used as a poison on numerous occasions or even as a method for suicide. Gladsten -- Farmer of County Barley who, with his wife, was expelled from the county. Grant -- (Grantham Farby, Grant Farby) Son of the Farby's of Duinnor, Blain Farby and his wife, Lady Elyna, born in the year 845 S.A. He would prove to be intelligent but somewhat peculiar, with a penchant for adventure. (See Grantham.) Grantham -- (Grantham Farby, Grant Farby) Son of the Farby's of Duinnor, Blain Farby and his wife, Lady Elyna, born in the year 845 S.A. He would prove to be intelligent but somewhat peculiar, with a penchant for adventure.* 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) 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. High Chamber -- The place where the Unknown Kings of Duinnor reside, located in the uppermost floor of the High Tower of the King's Palace in Duinnor City. Since its construction, the High Chamber has been the Unknown Kings' residence, by all accounts a modestly furnished place. There is only one door leading into the High Chamber, and the room is divided by a curtain so that any who enter cannot see to its far side. But some speculate that there are rooms beyond the curtain.* Highleaf -- A House of Men of Duinnor established in the middle Second Age. In the latter part of the Second Age, Lord Highleaf, who was made wealthy by his banking interests, purchased considerable acreage within Duinnor City, turning it into his new estate, called Wysteria Place. There, his son built the grand Starlight Hall, with its distinctive domed towers. He and his wife died of fever, and the estate was inherited by their daughters, Victoria and Elyna, who were both quite young. Collandoth, who was a friend of the family, took it upon himself to guard the girl's fortune from greedy relatives, and it was due to his work that enough of it was preserved so that the estate could be retained. * 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.* Missenflo -- The river that flows west of the Thunder Mountains along the eastern edge of the Plains of Bletharn. (See World Map) 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) 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. 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) 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.* 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.* 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.)* 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 of the Thunder Mountains) *Many of these entries are abridged versions of those found within 
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