by Robert Ryan
This glossary contains a range of names and terms. Many are of Halathrin origin, and their meaning is provided. The remainder derive from native tongues and are obscure, so meanings are only given intermittently.
Some variation exists within the Halathrin language, chiefly between the regions of Halathar and Alonin. The most obvious example is the latter’s preference for a “dh” spelling instead of “th”.
Often, Camar names and Halathrin elements are combined. This is especially so for the aristocracy. No other tribes had such long-term friendship with the Halathrin, and though in this relationship they lost some of their natural culture, they gained nobility and knowledge in return.
List of abbreviations:
Azn. Azan
Cam. Camar
Chg. Cheng
Comb. Combined
Cor. Corrupted form
Duth. Duthenor
Esg. Esgallien
Hal. Halathrin
Prn. Pronounced
Alar: Azn. A strain of horses raised in the southern deserts of Alithoras. Bred for endurance, but capable of bursts of speed. Most valued possession of the Azan people, who measure wealth and status by their number. In their culture, where a person on foot is likely to die between water sources, horse-theft is punished by torture and death.
Alithoras: Hal. “Silver land.” The Halathrin name for the continent they settled after the exodus. Refers to the extensive river and lake systems they found and their appreciation of the beauty of the land.
Alonin: Hal. “White gathering.” Large forest in eastern Alithoras. Once contained a fortress city of the Halathrin, now destroyed by war. The name refers to an abundant variety of deciduous tree that bears white flowers.
Alonùradth: Hal. “White lady.” A Halathrin noble killed during the elug sacking of Alonin.
Anast Dennath: Hal. “Stone mountains.” Mountain range in northern Alithoras. Contiguous with Auren Dennath and location of the Dweorhrealm.
Angle: The land hemmed in by the Carist Nien and Erenian rivers, especially the area in proximity to their divergence.
Aranloth: Hal. “Noble might.” A lòhren.
Aratar: Cor. Hal. “Ara(n)tar(an) – noble father.” A lòhren.
Arawdan: Esg. A Raithlin. Brother to Arawnus.
Arawnus: Esg. A Raithlin. Brother to Arawdan.
Arn: See Letharn.
Assurah: Azn. A renowned sword-smith of ancient Azanbulzibar, capital city of the Azan people. He was also adept at elùgai, and his work was sought by the rich and powerful of many nations.
Auren Dennath: Comb. Duth. and Hal. Prn. Our-ren dennath. “Blue mountains.” Mountain range in northern Alithoras. Contiguous with Anast Dennath. Home of the Duthenor, a tribe of people related to the Camar.
Aurochs: The wild forebear of domesticated cattle. They are larger and more aggressive than their tamed descendants and prefer to graze and forage in swamps and wet forests. The “s” at the end of their name is both singular and plural.
Azan: Azn. Desert dwelling people. Their nobility often serve as leaders of elug armies. They are a prideful race, often haughty and domineering, but they also adhere to a strict code of honor.
Balmur: Cam. A clan-chief of the Camar during the migration from Halathar to Esgallien.
Bakert: Esg. A hound of the otherworld.
Balert: Esg. A hound of the otherworld.
Bikar: Esg. A hound of the otherworld.
Bilar: Esg. A hound of the otherworld.
Caladhrist: Hal. Prn. Kal-ath-rist. “Gold gorge.” A valley north of Esgallien. Rich in gold and the source of much of the city’s wealth subsequent to the depletion of closer alluvial deposits. Many others mined the valley through the history of Alithoras. A dangerous place and believed by many to be haunted.
Camar: Cam. Prn. Kay-mar. A race of interrelated tribes that migrated in two main stages. The first brought them to the vicinity of Halathar; in the second, they separated and establish cities along a broad sweep of eastern Alithoras.
Camarelon: Cam. Prn. Kam-arelon. A port city and capital of a Camar tribe. It was founded after Esgallien as the waves of migrating people settled the more southerly lands first. Each new migration tended northward. It is perhaps the most representative of a traditional Camar realm, while Esgallien is the most influenced by Halathrin culture.
Carandùr: Hal. “Red blade.” A Halathrin noble famous for victorious battles against the elugs. Wounded near to death in the attempt to save his wife, Alonùradth, during the sacking of Alonin.
Carangar: Hal. “Red Star.” A lòhren.
Cardoroth: Cor. Hal. Comb. Cam. A Camar city, often called Red Cardoroth. Some say this alludes to the red granite commonly used in the construction of its buildings, others that it refers to a prophecy of destruction.
Carèthlath: Hal. Prn. Kareth-lath. “Great joy.” A student in Lòrenta.
Careth Nien: Hal. Prn. Kareth nyen. “Great River.” Largest river in Alithoras. Has its source in the mountains of Anast Dennath and runs southeast across the land before emptying into the sea. It was over this river (which sometimes freezes along its northern length) that the Camar, Duthenor and other tribes migrated into the eastern lands.
Careth Tar: Cor. Hal. “Careth Tar(an) – Great Father.” Title of respect for the leader of the lòhrens.
Carist Nien: Hal. “Ice River.” A river of northern Alithoras that has its source in the hills of Lòrenta.
Carnyx: The sacred horn of Conhain’s people and related tribes. An instrument of brass, man high with a mouth fashioned in the likeness of a fierce animal, often a boar or bear. Winded in battle and designed to intimidate the foe with its otherworldly sound. Some believe it invokes supernatural aid.
Carnona: Cam. The Guardian of Enorìen. A creature of ùhrengai who has remained in her birthing lands.
Cheng: Chg. “Warrior.” The overall name of the various related tribes united by Chen Fei. It was a word for warrior in his dialect, later adopted for his growing army and last of all for the people of his nation. His empire disintegrated after his death, but much of the culture he fostered endured.
Clear like water, cold like ice: A mnemonic saying of the Raithlin. The perfect state of mind during a crisis. Emotions, pain or discomfort are momentarily ignored in order to facilitate rapid and logical thought processes.
Condred: Esg. A king of Esgallien.
Conhain: Comb. Esg & Hal. First element unknown, second “hero.” Accounted the first king of Esgallien.
Conmur: Esg. A king of Esgallien.
Conrik: Esg. A former Raithlin and uncle of Lanrik.
Danhain: Comb. Esg. & Hal. First element unknown, second “hero.” A grandson of Conhain.
Drùgluck: A pattern of three slanted lines, going from right to left and each one longer than the previous. Used by elugs as a warning to stay away from a place because it is a sacred area that serves as a gateway between the spirit and normal worlds. Such areas are used in ceremonies and invocations for help or retribution against enemies. It is believed that at certain cycles of the moon and seasons the barriers that separate the worlds are weakened and the gateway opens. Also marks a place where the effects of elùgai linger or where there is some unspecified but lethal danger. Often it signifies all three at once.
Dweorh: A race of people who establish underground homes within mountain ranges. They possess tremendous strength and are the finest workers of stone in Alithoras. They have a reputation of being fierce to foes and true to friends. They are fond of cider, feasting and humor. A complex people of which few in Alithoras have learnt much because of their tendency toward secrecy. However, their ancient feud with the Lethrin is famous.
Ebona: Cam. A witch. A being of ùhrengai who has long since left her birthing lands.
Elendhrot: Hal. Prn. Elen-throt. “Treasure tuber.” A bush type plant with a tuber that contains pain-reducing substances, though too much will kill. The tuber has a purplish skin and slightly bitter pith. Its use was discovered by the
Halathrin, but it was deliberately planted by Raithlin near areas they frequent. They similarly spread other medicinal plants.
Elùgai: Hal. Prn. Eloo-guy. “Shadowed force.” The sorcery of an elùgroth.
Elùgroth: Hal. Prn. Eloo-groth. “Shadowed horror.” A sorcerer.
Elugs: Hal. “That which creeps in shadows.” A cruel and superstitious race that inhabits the southern lands, especially the Graèglin Dennath.
Elù-Randùr: Hal. “Blade of the Shadow.” An elùgroth leader. Formerly a lòhren.
Enorìen: Cam. The Eastern Hills. A land where ùhrengai runs strong. Protected by the Guardian Carnona.
Erenian River: A river in northern Alithoras. Some say its name derives from a corruption of the Halathrin word “nien,” meaning river. Others dispute this and postulate the word derives from a pre-exodus name adopted by the Camar tribes after they settled the east of Alithoras.
Erlissa: Esg. A young woman of Esgallien. Also known as the Seeker.
Esgallien: Hal. Prn. Ez-gally-en. A city established by King Conhain. Named after the nearby ford.
Esgallien Ford: Hal. “Es – rushing water, gal(en) – green, lien – to cross: place of the crossing onto the green plains.” A ford of the Careth Nien.
Exodus: The arrival of the Halathrin into Alithoras from an outside land. They came by ship and beached north of Anast Dennath.
Faladir: A city founded by a Camar tribe.
Foresight: Premonition of the future. Can occur at random as a single image or as a longer sequence of events. Can also be deliberately sought by entering the realm between life and death where the spirit is released from the body to travel through space and time. To achieve this, the body must be brought to the very threshold of death. The first method is uncontrollable and rare. The second exceedingly rare but controllable for those with the skill and willingness to endure the danger.
Founding: The arrival of Conhain and his people near Esgallien Ford. This was nine hundred and fifty three years ago at the time of Lanrik’s meeting with Erlissa and Aranloth.
Free cities: A group of cooperative city states that pool military resources to defend themselves against attack. Founded prior to Esgallien. Initially ruled by kings and queens, now by a senate.
Galathar: Hal. “Green dwelling place – a forest.” Hero of the immortal Halathrin whose deeds have been studied by the Raithlin and whose actions have passed into legend.
Galenthern: Hal. “Green flat.” Southern plains bounded by the Careth Nien and the Graèglin Dennath mountain range.
Ghash: An elug term for a mischievous (and sometimes malicious) spirit intent on causing harm (or death).
Gilhain: Comb. Esg & Hal. First element unknown, second “hero.” A Raithlin.
Graèglin Dennath: Hal. Prn. Greg-lin dennath. “Mountains of ash.” Chain of mountains in southern Alithoras. The landscape is one of jagged stone and boulder, relieved only by gaping fissures from which plumes of ashen smoke ascend, thus leading to its name. Believed to be impassable because of the danger of poisonous air flowing from cracks, and the ground unexpectedly giving way, swallowing any who dare to tread its forbidden paths. In other places swathes of molten stone run in rivers down its slopes.
Guardian: A creature of sentient ùhrengai that preserves its birthing land.
Gwalchmur: Esg. A Raithlin.
Hainer Lon: Hal. Prn. Hiner lon. “Heroes way.” The main thoroughfare of Esgallien.
Hakalakadan: Azn. A revered title among the Azan peoples.
Haladhon: Hal. “Bright tower.” A tower in the Halathrin fortress city of Alonin.
Halathar: Hal. “Dwelling place of the people of Halath.” The forest realm of the Halathrin.
Halathgar: Hal. “Bright Star.” Actually a constellation. Also known as the Lost Huntress.
Halathrin: Hal. “People of Halath.” A race named after a mighty lord who led an exodus of his people to the continent of Alithoras in pursuit of justice, having sworn to redress a great evil. They are human, though of fairer form, greater skill and higher culture. They possess an inherent unity of body, mind and spirit enabling insight and endurance beyond other races of Alithoras. Reported to be immortal, but killed in great numbers during their conflicts with the evil they seek to destroy.
Halls of Lore: Library of records maintained by lòhrens of the history, knowledge and wisdom of the nations of Alithoras. Accumulated over millennia and one of the treasures of Lòrenta.
Hamalath: Hal. “Sorrow joy”. An open-air theatre where dramas of history, tragedy and humor are conducted. Derived from the Halathrin who built many. In Esgallien called simply “The Hamalath,” as there is only one of significant size.
Haranast: Hal. “Horse race.” A racetrack. Its form was derived from the Halathrin but the love of horseracing by the Camar predates the exodus of the immortals. A successful rider, or horse, could be more famous and better loved than tribal chiefs or kings. The stealing of a racehorse is punishable by death.
Headdress: A turban. Worn by the Azan people as protection from desert heat. Can be lowered in a sandstorm to protect the eyes and breath. Its color, and the manner in which it’s worn signify military rank or social status.
Karlenthern: Hal. “Games field.” The location of many events during the Spring Games and other athletic competitions during the year.
Kûn Dennath: Hal. Prn. Kuun Dennath. “Defended mountain.” A man made hill fort. Now the town center of the oldest of the free cities.
Lake Alithorin: Hal. “Silver lake.” A lake of northern Alithoras.
Lanrik: Esg. A Raithlin.
Lathmai: Comb. Hal. & Esg. “Joy and unknown element.” A Raithlin.
Letharn: Hal. “Stone Raisers. Builders.” A race of people that in antiquity ruled much of Alithoras. Only traces of their civilization remain.
Lethrin: Hal. “Stone People.” Creatures of the Graèglin Dennath. Renowned for their size and strength. Tunnelers and miners.
Lindrath: Hal. “People lord.” A shortening of Raithlindrath. Commander of the Raithlin organization.
Ling: Heather. Predominant plant growth of moorland. Purple flowered in late summer and provider of food for deer, and food and cover, for grouse. Prevalent in Lòrenta.
Lòhren: Hal. Prn. Ler-ren. “Knowledge giver – a counsellor.” Other terms used by various nations include wizard, druid and sage.
Lòhren-fire: A defensive manifestation of lòhrengai. The color of the flame varies according to the skill and temperament of the lòhren.
Lòhrengai: Hal. Prn. Ler-ren-guy. “Lòhren force.” Enchantment, spell or use of arcane power. A manipulation and transformation ùhrengai, the natural energy inherent in all things. Each use takes something from the user. Likewise, some part of the transformed energy infuses them. Lòhrens use it sparingly.
Lòhrenin: Hal. Prn. Ler-ren-in. “Council of lòhrens.”
Lonfar: Hal. “Way of peace.” The librarian of the Halls of Lore.
Lòrenta: Hal. Prn. Ler-rent-a. “Hills of knowledge.” Uplands in northern Alithoras in which the stronghold of the lòhrens is established.
Mecklar: Esg. A senior member of King Murhain’s retinue.
Menetuin: Cam. A city founded by a Camar tribe.
Merenloth: Hal. Prn. Mair-en-loth. “Words of power.” A place for philosophical debate, reciting poetry and the chanting of bards. Derived from Halathrin practice. Often full to capacity during times of change. King Danhain, disguised as a bard, often frequented the Merenloth and chanted pre-founding lays passed down from his grandfather. After the performance he discoursed with the crowd to determine what the people thought of the king’s rule. He sometimes changed his decisions after such debates.
Morleth Stone: Hal. “Round Stone.” The name signifies that such a stone is not natural. It is formed by elùgai for sorcerous purposes. The stone is strengthened by arcane power to act as a receptacle of enormous force. Little is known of their making and use except that they are rare and that elùgroths perish during t
heir construction.
Murhain: Esg. The current king of Esgallien. He was a younger son of the previous king and assumed the throne unexpectedly. Earlier in his life, he had attempted to train as a Raithlin but failed their vigorous standards.
Musraka: Azn. A shazrahad.
Nudaluk: Cam. A bird of the woodpecker family.
Otherworld: Esgallien term for a mingling of half-remembered history, myth and the spirit world.
Pattern-welded: A blade forged and reforged from bundles of iron rods that are twisted and beaten. This creates a flexible core to which a hard edge is added. The process produces superior, distinctive and sort-after weapons.
Raithlin: Hal. “Range and report people.” A scouting and saboteur organization. They derive from ancient contact with, and the teachings of, the Halathrin. Their number is always 100.
Raithlin motif: A trotting fox looking back over its shoulder. Symbolizes cunning, stealth and boldness.
Raithlin crawl: A famous technique of stealth. It requires that the palms rest on the earth and the elbows remain tucked in to the body for support and silhouette reduction. The bodyweight is borne on the forearms and only one leg. The other is carefully brought forward in order to avoid making noise while moving.
Raithlin creed: “Our duty is to serve and protect. Our honor is to fight but not hate. Our love is for all that is good in the world.”
Raithlin principles of concealment: The Raithlin believe the eye recognizes movement first, silhouette second and color last. Using this principle enables them to best determine how to remain unseen in varying circumstances.
Raithlindrath: Hal. “Lord of range and report people.”
Rapier: A lightweight sword, still deadly in skilled hands, but advantageous for Raithlin mobility which is their prime concern.
Red Cloth of Victory: The highest symbol of courage and determination in Esgallien society.
Rhodlin: Esg. A Raithlin. Brother to Rhodmur.
Rhodmai: Esg. An inn servant who married King Danhain and ruled as queen after his death. Her reign was noted for civic constructions and marked for its peace. So much so that a prosperous period for the city has ever since been known as “Rhodmai’s Peace.”
