Damrosil escaped the arena and shortly thereafter assumed leadership of the Jhandris’Kul clan of Myrigynes. Several years later, Beia also escaped the spectacles and returned to her home among the clans. Itching to begin adventuring again, Damrosil willingly stepped down from her seat as queen and gave the position to Beia. It was shortly after this period that the Eternal Yi began the reformation of the Protectorate with the help of Cassandra Kel’Ishtauri Felspar. By that time, Damrosil had already found the Shaladen blade Cybersong. Since Damrosil had bonded with the weapon, and few better warriors existed, the protectorate asked her to join their ranks. Damrosil accepted. Damrosil has the distinction of being the first of the indoctrinated warriors of the Shael Dal.
Tournament details: All-World’s Tournament of 1089, winner 14th circle, All-World’s Tournament of 1093, winner 15th circle, placed in top 10 of unlimited play in 5 entered tournaments. Damrosil is a veteran tournament warrior with over 312 victories at various ranks. She spent some years in the Arcturan Death Spectacles and has trained extensively with Beia Targallae. Beia and Damrosil often compete in tag-team unlimited class tournament play. When together they have never failed to place below the top 10.
See Also: Felspar, Cassandra Kel’Ishtauri, shaladen, Targalle, Beia {Regaura} (Queen)
Titaan — One of the core worlds of the Ring Realms, the planet from which the Band of the Crescent Moon hails (among others).
titles/honorifics — There are many uses of title and honorifics in the fiction of the Ring Realms. This chart lists most of them collectively.
Titles/Honorifics/Styles
Rank/Title:
Arminwen
Translation/Address:
High Daughter
Notes/Description:
Elvish style. Used to address a princess. The word ‘Arminwen’ is similar to arwen and comes from the same roots, ‘ari’ which is girl, wen which is a shortening of wenna’fal which is ‘child of’. Min in elvish means high. So, the literal translation is high girl child.
Rank/Title:
Arwen
Translation/Address:
Daughter
Notes/Description:
Elvish style. The word ‘arwen’ is really an elven variant of their word for daughter which is ‘ari-wenna’—ari is girl, wenna is a shortening of wenna’fal which is ‘child of’. Arwen is used contextually as a title of respect to woman who is of lesser rank. Kalindinai addresses Wren as Arwen because she is the daughter of a Duke.
Rank/Title:
Baron/Baroness
Translation/Address:
The Right Honourable
Notes/Description:
The style for Baron/Baroness is usually spoken “The Right Honorable Lord/Lady…” Mostly, this is to distiguish this rank from a the simple address “milord/milady”
Rank/Title:
Count/Countess
Translation/Address:
Milord/Milady
Notes/Description:
The address form “My Lord” or “My Lady” or simply “Lord” or “Lady” is a catch-all term of respect especially in situations where peerage becomes muddled. In the Ring Realms, mages, clerics of power along with immorts share an unspoken peerage even if they do not have an official given title.
Rank/Title:
Dom’Ista
Translation/Address:
Father of Power
Notes/Description:
This title is exclusive to the Elves.
Rank/Title:
Dukes/Duchesses
Translation/Address:
Grace (Highness)
Notes/Description:
Depending on region, a Duke/Duchess may be addressed as ‘your grace’ in rare instances as ‘your highness’. In most kingdoms in the Ring Realms act as regional governors that answer to the King. Note: that the City of Cosmodarus from which Wren hails, her father and mother carry the the title Duke and Duchess. The population of Cosmodarus alone is actually larger than the biggest Kingdom on Titaan. However, Cosmodarus is a free city, and has no rulership over other lands. Vanidaar and Euriel being the high-generals of the defending army were given the honorific of Duke and Duchess to accord them (and identify) the level of respect they deserved. Before they were given higher titles Vanidaar and Euriel held the titles Baron and Baroness. As neither of them is particularly pretentious they often go by their lesser titles and consider it no slight when addressed by them. They are quite often mistakenly identified and introduced by these lower titles.
Rank/Title:
Emperors/Empresses
Translation/Address:
Imperial Majesty
Notes/Description:
On Titaan the only dynasties to ever exist were in Silissia and Pedon. None currently exist. A dynasty is a conglomerate of multiple kingdoms and are sometimes known as empires or alliances.
Rank/Title:
Elven Peerage
Translation/Address:
N/A
Notes/Description:
Because of the age of the elven language and it’s decent from the common roots of the Numinorians and Silcanna, Elven honorifics are used by many races and cultures as a form of “common peerage”. The Elven dialect and its nuances are considered to be “noble” or “educated” tongue particularly appropriate to diplomacy and tact.
Rank/Title:
Governor/High Commissioner/Prime Minister/Secretary-general
Translation/Address:
Excellency
Notes/Description:
A number of high government positions use the style “excellency” and like milord/milady it is something of a catch-all when the correct style is not known by the addressor. ‘Your Excellency’ is actually the correct style when addressing Euriel and Vanidaar Kergatha, the Baron and Baroness who govern the city state of Cosmodarus.
Rank/Title:
Grand Dukes/Grand Duchesses
Translation/Address:
Royal Highness
Notes/Description:
On Titaan, only Corwin has this title (who ranks just below the king). It is a lesser used title because a kingdom must be large enough to have enough Dukes that a second organizational tier is necessary beneath the King. This level of title is typically only used in dynasties where regions within neighboring kingdoms have a sort of governing regional sub-king.
Rank/Title:
King/Queen (Elven)
Translation/Address:
Dom’Ista/Matradomma
Notes/Description:
Means “father of power”, somewhat close to all father. Matradomma is quite literally ‘mother of mothers’. Domma is the respectful form of address to older woman or a woman of higher station.
Rank/Title:
King/Queen (Human)
Translation/Address:
Majesty
Notes/Description:
There are variants of this style used in various kingdoms and on the different worlds of the realms but ‘your majesty’ is the most common form of address.
Rank/Title:
Matradomma
Translation/Address:
mother of mothers
Notes/Description:
This title is only used by the Elves.
See Also: dom’ista, Myrgul, Duke, Matradomma, T’Evagduran, Kalindinai (Queen)
Tradeholme, Edmund (King) — King of the realm of Ivaneth.
Tymoril — Dragon that traveled with Kegari. She accompanies Bannor extensively while he is in Gladshiem. See also Kegari.
See Also: dragon
— U —
Ukko — Pantheon lord, god of the atmosphere and lord of the Vanir. Ukko is to the Vanir what Odin is to the Aesir. Laramis and Irodee serve Ukko as avatars.
See Also: De’Falcone, Irodee, De’Falcone, Laramis
— V —
Vale, Corim Erik — Corim Vale is a well-known tournament competitor, scholar, and treasure hunter. He is also a devotee in the ways of Mataya, following the lore-knight’s cod
e of ethics. In 1094 at the Blackstar Tournament he was overall winner in three events. He has an exceptional tournament record spanning 253 bouts, 211 victories, 31 draws, with only 12 losses.
For several cycles Corim toured the tournament circuit, using his winnings to further his studies and finance his treasure hunting. In the various tournament towns he would tell stories, pass along information, and teach on various subjects making him known as a kind of pseudo-bard.
As a solo adventurer he was moderately successful, not easily able to penetrate deeply into the wild lands without the support of an entire exploration group. All of the magic items in his personal arsenal are the result of those explorations. Corim’s solo treks in the wilderness were sharply curtailed when he ran afoul of a large and rather irritable green dragon. The creature did it’s best to eat him but soon found his sharp sword and tournament honed strength made him a rather unpalatable meal. The encounter left scars on the fighter that will not be soon forgotten.
One of Corim’s unusual abilities is his unusually strong metapathic talent. Metapaths, like empaths, can sense the emotions of others, however metapaths actually manipulate the emotions and mental states of others around them. Corim comes into this ability unusually late in life, and the first manifestations of the talent are raw and uncontrolled. When unfocused, this talent can evoke an instinctive hostile reaction in the creatures it touches. This caused Corim quite some trouble until Cassin Kel’Ishtauri Felspar and Annawen Kel’Ishtauri Felspar help him get the ability under control.
Not long after the dragon incident, Corim decided to take root and formalize his scholarly studies. He heard that the Falorian academy for warriors paid its instructors well and decided that it would make a good substitute for constantly wandering from kingdom to kingdom pursuing the various tournaments. With his tournament record in hand he set out to qualify for the coveted 7th circle teaching position.
It was in the school that he made the acquaintance of Ceraph, Talorian Falor’s Elf talent scout. Due to the effects of Corim’s metapathic ability, Ceraph becomes infatuated with him. It is also around this time that Corim has an encounter with Beia Targallae. It is shortly thereafter that Corim becomes involved with Meridian Arcturan and the Death Spectacles.
A combination of good looks, gentlemanly propriety, and metapathic talent makes Corim an unintentional lady’s man. He becomes involved with Ceraph, catches the eye of Annawen Felspar, and even gets the ancient Belkiran Dulcere to notice him. It is Dulcere who Corim falls in love with, other entanglements aside. The young man’s troubles do not end there. In the pursuit of Meridian, and his attempt to avenge the “death” of his friends that Corim chases down Rakaar Steelsheen. On the Baronian’s starship Corim encounters and frees the warmage’s battle-nurse Senalloy. After the combat which takes Rakaar’s life, but seriously injures Corim, Senalloy sets her eyes and Desires on him. Eventually, the Baronian’s forward and lascivious behavior becomes a wedge between Corim and Dulcere.
By the end of the events in Shaladen Chronicles: A Knot In Time Corim has been indoctrinated into the ranks of the Shael Dal, and has been temporarily given protectorate enforcer beta status in the wake of Aarlen Frielos’ breakdown. Aarlen’s mental patterns have taken residence in Corim’s body, and the Shaladen Stellaraac now answers his call…
See Also: dragon, Felspar, Annawen Kel’Ishtauri, Felspar, Cassin Kel’Ishtauri, shaladen, Targalle, Beia {Regaura} (Queen)
valharesh —
valkyries — Plural of Valkyrie. See Valkyrie.
Vilesilencer, The — Loric Felspar’s sobriquet is “The Vilesilencer” a reference to his days trying to destroy the evil of the pantheon lords when their influence was stronger in the mortal worlds.
See Also: Felspar, Loric
Vinax, Koass — The prime commander eternal of the Universal Protectorate. Koass has a a wife named Megan, and two step-daughters Ralani and Silvia.
See Also: Felspar Clan, Felspar, Cassandra Kel’Ishtauri
void — Of or pertaining to space.
— W —
warmage — A mage specializing in warfare and battle magic. Often warmage’s are trained in the martial arts and in weapons mastery. They are typically trained tacticians and strategists as well. When employed by a Kingdom or territory, warmages often act as generals and lead the troops into battle, devastating the enemy ranks with their magic.
warmaster — Warmaster is a title accorded (or simply assumed) by veterans with extensive combat experience, usually mercenary experience.
Whitelock — Alias for Desiray Illkaren Felspar. See Felspar, Desiray Illkaren.
See Also: Felspar, Desiray Illkaren
— X —
— Y —
— Z —
* * *
About The Author
« ^
First published in 1983, Will Greenway started his creative career wanting to draw and script comics. After a number of years, he found writing better suited to his skills. Aside from writing and art, Will is a self-taught programmer, PC technician, and network troubleshooter. He enjoys skiing, racquetball, Frisbee golf, and is steadfast supporter of role-playing games. To date he has completed eighteen novels more than twenty short stories, and numerous articles on writing. He resides in the Spring Valley suburb of south San Diego.
The Ring Realms, the shared universe his novels take place in, has an online presence at http://www.ringrealms.com (which has a LOT of detailed information about the universe and its inhabitants).
As Will’s “universe” is so complex the following is some information that may help with timelines:
Wren Kergatha (whose story line starts earliest of the three series) interacts with many of the characters depicted in the Chronicles. She also is the savior savant who befriends and helps Bannor in the Reality’s Plaything series.
So the chronological order to the events of the novels roughly follows the list below.
(Numbers specify the summer cycle N.I.S [New Ivaneth Standard]):
1100 Savant’s Blood: Shadow of the Avatar
1102 Savant’s Blood: Hecate’s Bounty
1103 Aesir’s Blood
1108 Shaladen Chronicles: A Knot In Time
1108 Shaladen Chronicles: Anvil of Sorrow
1109 Reality’s Plaything
1109 ‘Neath Odin’s Eye
1110 Gaea’s Legacy: Eternal’s Agenda
1110 Gaea’s Legacy: Savants Ascendant
1110 Gaea’s Legacy: The Infinity Annihilator
1111 Shaladen Chronicles: Who Mourns the Creator
1111 Gaea’s Blood
1112 War of the Genemar
* N.I.S = New Ivaneth Standard.
Since the initial conception, the idea for the War of the Genemar has been broken into a multi-book series. What I have in mind for that story will not fit into a standard novel length. There are simply too many characters and too many side plots.
If you are more inclined to follow a particular character’s storyline and not care to read chronologically the series are:
Reality’s Plaything Series—Tales following the adventures of Bannor Starfist:
1. Reality’s Plaything (http://www.readerseden.com/product.php?productid=181)
2. ‘Neath Odin’s Eye (http://www.readerseden.com/product.php?productid=182)
3. Gaea’s Legacy: Eternal’s Agenda (http://www.readerseden.com/product.php?productid=630)
4. Gaea’s Legacy: Savants Ascendant
5. Gaea’s Legacy: The Infinity Annihilator
Savant’s Blood Series—Tales following the adventures of Wren Kergatha:
1. Savant’s Blood: Shadows of the Avatar (http://www.readerseden.com/product.php?productid=586)
2. Savant’s Blood: Hecate’s Bounty (http://www.readerseden.com/product.php?productid=598)
3. Aesir’s Blood
4. Gaea’s Blood
Shaladen Chronicles Series—Tales following the adventures of Corim Vale.
1. A Knot In Time (htt
p://www.readerseden.com/product.php?productid=183)
2. Anvil of Sorrow
3. Who Mourns the Creator
You can keep track of all Will’s books on his author page:
http://www.readerseden.com/manufacturers.php?manufacturerid=91
* * *
Table of Contents
Reality’s Plaything Series Book 4: Savants Ascendant
Dedication
A Word (or two) About Mythology
Other books in the chronicles of the Ring Realms
What Has Gone Before
Chapter One Playing Tag
Chapter Two Void Trek
Chapter Three Power Play
Chapter Four Approach
Chapter Five Armed Tactical Negotiations
Chapter Six Mecha
Chapter Seven Savage
Chapter Eight Juggernauts
Chapter Nine Waiting For Ascension
Chapter Ten Ascendants
Chapter Eleven Dread
Chapter Twelve Coup
Chapter Thirteen Subterfuge
Chapter Fourteen Deadly Gamble
Chapter Fifteen Internal Conflict
Chapter Sixteen Heavily Armed Refugees
Chapter Seventeen The Meaning of Life
Chapter Eighteen A Favor Abhorred
Chapter Nineteen Revelations Whilst Reclined
Chapter Twenty Kriar Confession
Chapter Twenty-One Incarnations
Chapter Twenty-Two Strategic Withdrawal
Chapter Twenty-Three Beguiled
Chapter Twenty-Four Leaky Paladins and Accidental Mindscans
Chapter Twenty-Five Blessings of the All-Mother
Chapter Twenty-Six Assurances
Reality's Plaything 4: Savants Ascendant Page 54
