TWOLAS - 06 - Peril's Gate

by Janny Wurts

  DAKAR THE MAD PROPHET—apprentice to Fellowship Sorcerer, Asandir, during the Third Age following the Conquest of the Mistwraith. Given to spurious prophecies, it was Dakar who forecast the fall of the Kings of Havish in time for the Fellowship to save the heir. He made the Prophecy of West Gate, which forecast the Mistwraith's bane, and also, the Black Rose Prophecy, which called for reunification of the Fellowship At this time, assigned to defense of Arithon, Prince of Rathain. pronounced: dah-kar root meaning: dakiar—clumsy

  DALWYN—a clanswoman of Vastmark; aunt to Jilieth and Ghedair; friend of Arithon's. pronounced: doll-win root meaning: dirlnwyn—a specific aspect of misfortune; to be childless

  DANIA—wife of Rathain's former regent, Steiven s'Valerient. Died by the hand of Pesquil's headhunters in the Battle of Strakewood, Third Age 5638; Jieret Red-beard's mother, pronounced: dan-ee-ah root meaning: deinia—sparrow

  DAON RAMON BARRENS—central principality of Rathain. Site where Riathan Paravians (unicorns) bred and raised their young. Barrens was not appended to the name until the years following the Mistwraith's conquest, when the River Severnir was diverted at the source by a task force under Etarran jurisdiction. pronounced: day-on-rah-mon root meaning: daon—gold; ramon—hills.'downs

  DARKLING—city located on the western side of the Skyshiel Mountains in the Kingdom of Rathain. pronounced: dark-ling root meaning: dierk-linng—drake aerie

  DASCEN ELUR—splinter world off West Gate; primarily ocean with isolated archipelagoes. Includes kingdoms of Rauven, Amroth, and Karthan. Where three exiled high kings' heirs took refuge in the years following the great uprising. Birthplace of Lysaer and Arithon. pronounced: das-en el-ur root meaning: dascen—ocean; e'lier—small land

  DAVIEN THE BETRAYER—Fellowship Sorcerer responsible for provoking the great uprising in Third Age Year 5018, which resulted in the fall of the high kings after Desh-thiere's conquest. Rendered discorporate by the Fellowship's judgment in Third Age 5129. Exiled since, by personal choice. Davien's works included the Five Centuries Fountain near Mearth on the splinter world of the Red Desert through West Gate; the shaft at Rockfell Pit, used by the Sorcerers to imprison harmful entities; the Stair on Rockfell Peak; and also, Kewar Tunnel in the Mathorn Mountains, pronounced: dah-vee-en root meaning: dahvi—fool, mistake; an—one 'mistaken one'

  DESHANS—barbarian clans who inhabit Strakewood Forest; principality of Deshir, Rathain. pronounced: desh-ans root meaning: deshir—misty

  DESH-THIERE—Mistwraith that invaded Athera from the splinter worlds through South Gate in Third Age 4993. Access cut off by Fellowship Sorcerer, Traithe. Battled and contained in West Shand for twenty-five years, until the rebellion splintered the peace, and the high kings were forced to withdraw from the defense lines to attend their disrupted kingdoms. Confined through the combined powers of Lysaer s'Ilessid's gift of light, and Arithon s'Ffalenn's gift of shadow. Currently imprisoned in a warded flask in Rockfell Pit. pronounced: desh-thee-air-e (last 'e' mostly subliminal) root meaning: desh—mist; thiere—ghost or wraith

  DESHIR—northwestern principality of Rathain. pronounced: desh-eer root meaning: deshir—misty

  DHARKARON AVENGER—called Ath's Avenging Angel in legend. Drives a chariot drawn by five horses to convey the guilty to Sithaer. Dharkaron as defined by the adepts of Ath's Brotherhood is that dark thread mortal men weave with Ath, the prime vibration, that creates self-punishment, or the root of guilt. pronounced: dark-air-on root meaning: dhar—evil; khiaron—one who stands in judgment

  DHIRKEN—lady captain of the contraband runner, Black Drake. Reputed to have taken over the brig's command by right of arms following her father's death at sea. Died at the hands of Lysaer's allies on the charge of liaison with Arithon s'Ffalenn, Third Age Year 5647. pronounced: dur-kin root meaning: dierk—tough; an—one

  DIEGAN—once Lord Commander of Etarra's garrison; given over by his mayor to serve as Lysaer s'Ilessid's Lord Commander at Avenor. Titular commander of the war host sent against the Deshans to defeat the Master of Shadow at Tal Quorin; high commander of the war host mustered at Werpoint. Also brother of Lady Talith. Died of a clan arrow in the Battle of Dier Kenton Vale in Vastmark, Third Age 5647. pronounced: dee-gan root meaning: diegan—trinket a dandy might wear.'ornament

  DIER KENTON VALE—a valley located in the principality of Vastmark, Shand, where the war host thirty-five thousand strong, under command of Lysaer s'Ilessid, fought and lost to the Master of Shadow in Third Age 5647. The main body of the forces of light were decimated in one day by a shale slide. The remainder were harried by a small force of Vastmark shepherds under Caolle, who served as Arithon's war captain, until supplies and morale became impossible to maintain, pronounced: deer ken-ton root meaning: dien'kendion—a jewel with a severe flaw that may result in shearing or cracking

  DORIK—officer of the Alliance, sunwheel division from Etarra. pronounced: door-ick

  DRIMWOOD—forest located in the principality of Fallowmere, Rathain. pronounced: drim-wood root meaning: driem—fir tree

  DURMAENIR—centaur, son of the armorer who forged the twelve Blades of Isaer. Sword Alithiel was fashioned for Durmaenir, who died in battle against Khadrim in the First Age. pronounced: dur-may-e-neer root meaning: dir—stone; maenien—fallen

  EAFINN—one of the fourteen Companions, the only children of the clans of Deshir to survive the Battle of Strakewood. Served Prince Arithon at the Battle of Dier Kenton Vale in Vastmark. Died at the hands of headhunters in Third Age Year 5669. Survived by a son. pronounced: ee-yah-finn root meaning: liaffen—pale yellow hair

  EARLE—Second Age ruin located in West Shand, south of the Salt Fens. Fortress where the Mistwraith's first incursion was fought, until Davien the Betrayer caused the uprising; also, where Seannory bound the four elements to conscious presence, in event Athera had need, pronounced: earl root meaning: erli—long light

  EASTWALL—city located in the Skyshiel Mountains, Rathain.

  ECKRACKEN—king drake who died by the Salt Fens in West Shand; his bones are guarded by a grimward located on the peninsula in West Shand near the ruins of Earle, and his mate's remains rest on the waste continent Kathtairr. pronounced: ack-rack-in root meaning: aykrauken—scorcher

  EDAL—next to youngest daughter of Steiven and Dania s'Valerient. pronounced: ee-doll root meaning: e—prefix, diminutive for small; dal—fair

  ELAIRA—initiate enchantress of the Koriathain. Originally a street child, taken on in Morvain for Koriani rearing, pronounced: ee-layer-ah root meaning: e—prefix, diminutive for small; laere—grace

  ELDIR s'LORNMEIN—King of Havish and last surviving scion of s'Lornmein royal line. Raised as a wool-dyer until the Fellowship Sorcerers crowned him at Ostermere in Third Age 5643 following the defeat of the Mistwraith. pronounced: el-deer root meaning: eldir—to ponder, to consider, to weigh

  ELLAINE—Erdani woman, became Princess of Tysan when she married Lysaer s'Ilessid, mother of the heir apparent, Kevor. pronounced: el-lane

  ELTAIR BAY—large bay off Cildein Ocean and east coast of Rathain; where River Severnir was diverted following the Mistwraith's conquest. pronounced: el-tay-er root meaning: al'tieri—of steel.'a shortening of original Paravian name; dascen al'tieri—which meant 'ocean of steel', which referred to the color of the waves

  ERDANE—old Paravian city, later taken over by Men. Seat of old princes of Camris until Desh-thiere's conquest and rebellion. pronounced: er-day-na with the last syllable almost subliminal root meaning: er'deinia—long walls

  ERLIEN s'TALEYN—High Earl of Alland; caithdein of Shand, chieftain of the forest clansmen of Selkwood. pronounced: er-lee-an stall-ay-en root meaning: aierlyan—bear; tal—branch; an—one.'first 'of first one branch'

  ETARRA—trade city built across the Mathorn Pass by townsfolk after the revolt that cast down Ithamon and the High Kings of Rathain. Nest of corruption and intrigue, and policy maker for the North, pronounced: ee-tar-ah root meaning: e—prefix for small; taria—knots

&nb
sp; EVENSTAR—first brig stolen from Riverton's royal shipyard by Cattrick's conspiracy with Prince Arithon. Currently of Innish regristry, running merchant cargoes under joint ownership of Fiark and his sister Feylind, who is acting captain.

  FALGAIRE—coastal city on Instrell Bay, located in Araethura, Rathain, famed for its glassworks. pronounced: fall-gair—to rhyme with 'air' root meaning: fal'mier—to sparkle or glitter

  FALLOWMERE—northeastern principality of Rathain. pronounced: fal-oh-meer root meaning: fal'ei'miere—literally, tree self-reflection, colloquialism for 'place of perfect trees'

  FATE's WHEEL—see Daelion's Wheel.

  FELLOWSHIP OF SEVEN—Sorcerers drawn to Athera in the Second Age by the dreams of the dragons, and bound to the charge of upholding Paravian survival. Keepers of the compact, they stand surety for the points of concordance made with the Paravians which permitted human refugees to settle on the continent of Paravia. Authors of charter law, which governed the balance of natural law, and the justice of the high kings. Since the departure of the Paravians, the Sorcerers also shoulder the charge of minding the weal of the land. They act in accord with the Law of the Major Balance, which honors the law of free will, and which demands that no consciousness should be imposed upon without permission.

  FEITHAN—wife of Jieret s'Valerient, Earl of the North, and caithdein of Rathain. pronounced: faith-an root meaning ifeiathen—ivy

  FENNICK—man-at-arms from the royal guard of Avenor, assigned as bodyguard to the heir apparent, Prince Kevor. pronounced: fen-nick

  FIONN ARETH CAID'AN—shepherd child born in Third Age 5647; fated by prophecy to leave home and play a role in the Wars of Light and Shadow. Laid under Koriani spellcraft to mature as Arithon's double, then used as the bait in the order's conspiracy to trap the s'Ffalenn prince. Rescued from execution in Jaelot in 5669. pronounced: fee-on-are-eth cayed-ahn root meaning: fionne arith caid an—one who brings choice

  FIRSTMARK—city on the coast of Rockbay in Radmoore, Shand.

  FORTHMARK—city in Vastmark, Shand. Once the site of a hostel of Ath's Brotherhood. By Third Age 5320, the site was abandoned and taken over by the Koriani Order as a healer's hospice. root meaning not from the Paravian

  GACE STEWARD—Royal Steward of Avenor. pronounced: gace—to rhyme with 'race' root meaning: gyce—weasel

  GANISH—trade city located south of Methlas Lake in Orvandir, Shand. pronounced: rhymes with 'mannish' root meaning: gianish—a halfway point, a stopping place

  GERY—man-at-arms in Etarra's sunwheel company. pronounced: gerry

  GREAT WAYSTONE—amethyst crystal, spherical in shape, the grand power focus of the Koriani Order; lost during the great uprising, and finally recovered from Fellowship custody by First Senior Lirenda in Third Age 5747.

  GRIMWARD—a circle of dire spells of Paravian making that seal and isolate forces that have the potential for unimaginable destruction. With the disappearance of the old races, the defenses are maintained by embodied Sorcerers of the Fellowship of Seven. There are seventeen separate sites listed at Althain Tower.

  HADGE—scout tracker, with Etarra's sunwheel field company. pronounced: hadj

  HALDUIN s'Ilessid—founder of the line that became High Kings of Tysan since Third Age Year One. The attribute he passed on, by means of the Fellowship's geas, was justice, pronounced: hal-dwin root meaning: hal—white; duinne—hand

  HALLIRON MASTERBARD—native of Innish, Shand. Masterbard of Athera during the Third Age; inherited the accolade from his teacher Murchiel in the year 5597. Son of Al'Duin. Husband of Deartha. Arithon's master and mentor. Died from an injury inflicted by the Mayor of Jaelot in the year 5644. pronounced: hal-eer-on root meaning: hal—white; lyron—singer

  HALWYTHWOOD—forest located in Araethura, Rathain. Current main campsite of Earl Jieret's band, predominantly survivors of the Battle of Strakewood. pronounced: hall-with-wood root meaning: hal—white; wythe—vista

  HANSHIRE—port city on Westland Sea, coast of Korias, Tysan; reigning official Lord Mayor Garde, father of Sulfin Evend; opposed to royal rule at the time of Avenor's restoration, pronounced: han-sheer root meaning: hansh—sand; era—place

  HASPASTION—ghost of the dragon contained in the grimward located in Radmoore. pronounced: has-past-ee-on root meaning: hashpashdion—Drakish for black thunder

  HAVENS—an inlet on the northeastern shore of Vastmark, Shand, now known as the site of the massacre enacted by the Spinner of Darkness, preceding the Battle of Dier Kenton Vale, Third Age Year 5647.

  HAVISH—one of the Five High Kingdoms of Athera, as defined by the charters of the Fellowship of Seven. Ruled by Eldir s'Lornmein. Sigil: gold hawk on red field, pronounced: hav-ish root meaning: havieshe—hawk

  HAVISTOCK—southeast principality of Kingdom of Havish. pronounced: hav-i-stock root meaning: haviesha—hawk; tiok—roost

  HENLYIE—herb witch who makes amulets in the city of Highscarp. pronounced: hen-lee root meaning: han'lion—light-handed

  HEWALL—clansman serving as scout in the outpost in the Mathorn Mountains in Rathain. pronounced: hugh-ell root meaning: huell—one who protects

  HIGHSCARP—city on the coast of the Bay of Eltair, located in Daon Ramon, Rathain. Current headquarters for Selidie Prime, Matriarch of the Koriani Order.

  ILITHARIS PARAVIANS—centaurs, one of three semimortal old races; disappeared after the Mistwraith's conquest, the last guardian's departure by Third Age Year 5100. They were the guardians of the earth's mysteries, pronounced: i-li-thar-is root meaning: i'lith'eans—the keeper.'preserver of mystery

  INNISH—city located on the southcoast of Shand at the delta of the River Ippash. Birthplace of Halliron Masterbard. Formerly known as 'the Jewel of Shand', this was the site of the high king's winter court, prior to the time of the uprising, pronounced: in-ish root meaning: inniesh—a jewel with a pastel tint

  INSTRELL BAY—body of water off the Gulf of Stormwell; separates principality of Atainia, Tysan, from Deshir, Rathain. pronounced: in-strell root meaning: arin'streal—strong wind

  INWIE—lady-in-waiting to Princess Ellaine. pronounced: in-wee root meaning: yanwi—a sweet made from berries

  IPPASH DELTA—river which originates in the southern spur of the Kelhorns and flows into the South Sea by the city of Innish, southcoast, Shand. pronounced: ip-ash root meaning: ipeish—crescent

  ISFARENN—etheric Name for the black stallion ridden by Asandir. pronounced: ees-far-en root meaning: is'feron—speed maker

  ITHAMON—Second Age Paravian stronghold, and a Third Age ruin; built on a fifth lane power-node in Daon Ramon Barrens, Rathain, and inhabited until the year of the uprising. Site of the Compass Point Towers, or Sun Towers. Became the seat of the High Kings of Rathain during the Third Age and in year 5638 was the site where Princes Lysaer s'Ilessid and Arithon s'Ffalenn battled the Mistwraith to confinement, pronounced: ith-a-mon root meaning: itha—five; mon—needle, spire

  ITHISH—city located at the edge of the principality of Vastmark, on the southcoast of Shand. Where the Vastmark wool factors ship ■ fleeces, pronounced: ith-ish root meaning: ithish—fleece or fluffy

  IYAT—energy sprite native to Athera, not visible to the eye, manifests in a poltergeist fashion by taking temporary possession of objects. Feeds upon natural energy sources: fire, breaking waves, lightning, pronounced: ee-at root meaning: iyat—to break

  JAELOT—city located on the coast of Eltair Bay at the southern border of the Kingdom of Rathain. Once a Second Age power site, with a focus circle. Now a merchant city with a reputation for extreme snobbery and bad taste. Also the site where Arithon s'Ffalenn played his eulogy for Halliron Masterbard, which raised the powers of the Paravian focus circle beneath the mayor's palace. The forces of the mysteries and resonant harmonics caused damage to city buildings, watchkeeps, and walls, which has since been repaired. Site where Fionn Areth was arraigned for execution, as bait in a Koriani conspiracy that failed to trap Arithon s'Ffalenn. pronounced: jay-lot root meaning: jielot�
�affectation

  JAIRE PEAK—mountain near the great divide in the Mathorn ranges, located in the Kingdom of Rathain. pronounced: jayr root meaning: from jieri—spike JERIAYISH—sixth-rank initiate priest of the Light who has a seer's talent, pronounced: jeer-ee-ah-yish root meaning: jier'yaish—unclean magic

  JEYNSA—daughter of Jieret s'Valerient and Feithan, born Third Age 5653; appointed successor to her father's title of Steward of Rathain, or caithdein. pronounced: jay-in-sa root meaning: garnet

  JIERET s'VALERIENT—Earl of the North, clan chief of Deshir; caithdein of Rathain, sworn liegeman of Prince Arithon s'Ffalenn. Also son and heir of Lord Steiven. Blood pacted to Arithon by sorcerer's oath prior to battle of Strakewood Forest. Came to be known by headhunters as Jieret Red-beard. Father of Jeynsa and Barach. Husband to Feithan. pronounced: jeer-et root meaning: jieret—thorn

  JILIETH—girl from a Vastmark shepherd tribe who died of a mauling by Wyverns in Third Age Year 5647. pronounced: jil-ee-eth root meaning: jirlieth—to be stubborn enough to cause pain; a thorn of worry

  JINESSE—widow of a fisherman, mother of the twins Fiark and Feylind; formerly an inhabitant of Merior by the Sea, now married to Tharrick, a former guardsman of Alestron. The couple reside at Innish in Shand. pronounced: gin-ess root meaning: jienesse—to be washed out or pale; a wisp JOLM—swordsman in the sunwheel company from Etarra. pronounced: johm

  KAMRIDIAN s'FFALENN—Crowned High King of Rathain, a tragic figure who died of his conscience under the fated influence of Kewar Tunnel, built by Davien the Betrayer into the Mathorn Mountains. pronounced: cam-rid-ee-an root meaning: kaim'riadien—thread cut shorter

  KARFAEL—trader town on the coast of the Westland Sea, in Tysan. Built by townsmen as a trade port after the fall of the High Kings of Tysan. Prior to Desh-thiere's conquest, the site was kept clear of buildings to allow the second lane forces to flow untrammeled across the focus site at Avenor. pronounced: kar-fay-el root meaning: kar'i'ffael—literal translation 'twist the dark'.'colloquialism for 'intrigue'