“Where to from there?” Te’oma asked, implying that she would accompany them wherever they might go—perhaps whether Kandler liked it or not.
“To Aerenal, of course.”
“To a whole continent full of those pointy-eared elitists?” Duro said. “Sounds like a slice of damnation.”
“That’s where the Undying Court sits,” Sallah said. “Aren’t those some of the people who would want Esprë dead?”
“Some of them, sure, but not all of them, I don’t think, not if it’s going to mean exterminating a good chunk of their population. With luck, we can get them to side with us.”
“Side with us against who, boss?”
Kandler looked up at Burch and then around into the eyes of each of the others, all of them waiting for him to speak.
“Against the dragons of Argonnessen,” he said. “They want a war, and we’re going to give it to them.”
Glossary
Aerenal: An island nation off the southeastern coast of Khorvaire. Aerenal is known as the homeland of the elves.
Argonnessen: A large continent to the southeast of Eberron, said to be the home of dragons.
Argonth: A floating town designed as a mobile fortress to help defend Breland during the Last War.
Ascendant councilor: One of the revered undead of the elves of Aerenal.
Balinor: One of the Sovereign Host, god of beasts and the hunt.
Baronet Walsley: A halfling leader of House Ghallanda, in charge of the Wandering Inn.
Barrakas: The largest of Eberron’s twelve moons.
Bastard: A warforged lieutenant of the Lord of Blades and commander of Construct.
Berlun: The lath (chief) of a band of nomadic halflings living in the Talenta Plains.
Bitter Sea: The sea to the north of Khorvaire.
blackscale lizardfolk: The largest and strongest of the lizardfolk of Khorvaire. They live in the jungles around Haka’torvhak and serve the dragon Rhashaak.
Blade Desert: A barren landscape at the western foot of the Endworld and Ironroot Mountains that forms the eastern border of the Talenta Plains.
Blood of Vol: Those who worship the Blood of Vol refuse to bow to the power of death. Drawn from the traditions of an ancient line of elven necromancers, the Blood of Vol seeks to abolish death. They revere vampires and other undead creatures as champions in this struggle. This tradition is especially strong in the nation of Karrnath, and while it is not inherently evil, there are subsects—notably the infamous Order of the Emerald Claw—that have turned the battle against death into a struggle to dominate the living. As a result, throughout most of the Five Nations the common image of a follower of the Blood is that of a crazed necromancer leading an army of zombies as part of some mad scheme. The Church of the Silver Flame takes a particularly hard stand against followers of the Blood, and knights of the Flame may assume the worst when dealing with acolytes of Vol.
bloodwing: A fibrous, living symbiont, possessed of its own intelligence, which can sometimes bond to another creature. When dormant, the bloodwing’s fibrous body shrinks to a very small size, but when aroused, the creature expands to large batlike wings, enabling its host the power of flight.
“breather”: A derogatory term used by the warforged to describe non-construct creatures, e.g., elves, humans, dwarves, shifters, etc.
Breland: The largest of the original Five Nations of Galifar, Breland is a center of heavy industry. The current ruler of Breland is King Boranel ir’Wyrnarn.
Brendis: A young Knight of the Silver Flame.
Burch: A shifter and deputy justicar of Mardakine.
Captain of Bones: Commander of Fort Bones, currently Berre Stonefist.
changeling: Members of the changeling race possess a limited ability to change face and form, allowing a changeling to disguise itself as a member of another race or to impersonate an individual. Changelings are said to be the offspring of humans and doppelgangers. They are relatively few in number and have no lands or culture of their own but are scattered across Khorvaire.
clawfoot: A human-sized predator of the Talenta Plains. This lizard is often used as a war-mount by the Halfling nomadic tribes. (A velociraptor.)
cold fire: Magical flame that produces no heat and does not burn. Cold fire is used to provide light in most cities of Khorvaire.
Construct: A mobile city of the warforged in the Mournland.
Council of Cardinals: Along with the Keeper of the Flame, the ruling council of the Church of the Silver Flame.
Cyre: One of the original Five Nations of Galifar, known for its fine arts and crafts. The governor of Cyre was traditionally raised to the throne of Galifar, but in 894 YK, Kaius of Karrnath, Wroann of Breland, and Thalin of Thrane rebelled against Mishann of Cyre. During the war, Cyre lost significant amounts of territory to elf and goblin mercenaries, creating the nations of Valenar and Darguun. In 994 YK, Cyre was devastated by a disaster of unknown origin that transformed the nation into a hostile wasteland populated by deadly monsters. Breland offered sanctuary to the survivors of the Mourning, and most of the Cyran refugees have taken advantage of this amnesty.
Dagger River: One of the largest rivers in Khorvaire, the Dagger runs south through Breland and into the Thunder Sea.
Dal Quor: Another plane of existence. Mortal spirits are said to travel to Dal Quor when they dream.
Darguul: Common name for someone or something from Darguun.
Darguun: A nation of goblinoids founded in 969 YK when a hobgoblin leader named Haruuc formed an alliance among the goblinoid mercenaries and annexed a section of southern Cyre. Breland recognized this new nation in exchange for a peaceful border and an ally against Cyre. Few people trust the people of Darguun, but their soldiers remain a force to be reckoned with.
Dark Six: The six malevolent deities of the Sovereign Host, whose true names are not known.
Darumnakt, Duro: A dwarf of Clan Drakyager of the Mror Holds, leader of the patrols through Mount Darumkrak.
Darumnakt, Wolph: The younger cousin of Duro Darumnakt, who works the patrols with him.
Day of Mourning, the: A disaster that occurred on Olarune 20, 994 YK. The origin and precise nature of the Mourning are unknown. On Ollarune 20, gray mists spread across Cyre, and anything caught within the mists was transformed or destroyed. See the Mournland.
Deathguard: An elite order of Aereni knights and priests, dedicated to the utter eradication of evil undead and the necromancers who defile the souls and bodies of the dead. The Deathguard played a critical role in the destruction of the line of Vol.
Deothen: A senior Knight of the Silver Flame.
Dol Arrah: The Sovereign of Sun and Sacrifice. She is a patron of war, but she fights her battles with words and cunning strategy as well as steel. She is a god of light and honor, and her holy paladins seek to bring her sunlight to the darkest places of the world.
Dol Dorn: The Sovereign of Strength and Steel. He is the lord of war and patron to all who raise their arms in battle. He is the patron of physical arts, and the greatest sporting events of the year are held to mark his holy days. His followers are not held to the same standards of nobility and sacrifice as those of his sister, Dol Arrah, but he still encourages honorable conduct.
Dolurrh: The plane of the dead. When mortals die, their spirits are said to travel to Dolurrh and then slowly fade away, passing to whatever final fate awaits the dead.
dragonmark: 1) A mystical mark that appears on the surface of the skin and grants mystical powers to its bearer. 2) A slang term for the bearer of a dragonmark.
Dragonmarked Houses: One of the thirteen families whose bloodlines carry the potential to manifest a dragonmark. Many of the dragonmarked houses existed before the kingdom of Galifar, and they have used their mystical powers to gain considerable political and economic influence.
Drakyager: A clan of dwarves who once lived under Mount Darumkrak in the Mror Holds.
Dreaming Dark: A secret order of psionic spies and assassins that
serves as the eyes and hands of the quori in Dal Quor, the Region of Dreams.
Eberron: 1) The world. 2) A mythical dragon said to have formed the world from her body in primordial times and to have given birth to natural life. Also known as “The Dragon Between.”
Endworld Mountains: A large chain of mountains that separates the southeastern Talenta Plains from the land of Q’barra.
Eternal Fire: See cold fire.
Esprë: Kandler’s elven stepdaughter.
Esprina: Kandler’s elven wife, now deceased.
Everbright Lantern: A lantern infused with cold fire, creating a permanent light source. These items are used to provide illumination in most of the cities and larger communities of Khorvaire. An everbright lantern usually has a shutter allowing the light to be sealed off when darkness is desirable.
Farlnen: One of the largest and northernmost islands that make up the Lhazaar Principalities.
Finders Guild: A guild controlled by House Tharashk, made up of those carrying the Mark of Finding, as well as freelance inquisitives, law enforcement agents, bounty hunters, and explorers.
Fingerbone Mountains: A range of mountains on the isle of Farlnen.
Five Nations: The five provinces of the Kingdom of Galifar: Aundair, Breland, Cyre, Karrnath, and Thrane.
Flamekeep: The capital of Thrane.
’forged: A slang term for the warforged.
Fort Bones: A Karrnathi outpost that guards the border between Karrnath and the Talenta Plains. It is manned primarily by human and dwarf mercenaries, bolstered by a large force of almost one hundred Karrnathi skeletons.
Fort Zombie: A Karrnathi outpost that guards the border between Karrnath and the Mournland.
Galifar: 1) A cunning warrior and skilled diplomat who forged five nations into a single kingdom that came to dominate the continent of Khorvaire. 2) The kingdom of Galifar I, which came to an end in 894 YK with the start of the Last War. 3) A golden coin minted by the kingdom, bearing the image of the first king. The golden galifar is still in use today and is worth ten sovereigns.
Gatherhold: A large town built into the rocky outcroppings and hills along the eastern shore of Lake Cyre. It is considered the capital of the Talenta Plains.
ghostbeast: An aggressive, glowing creature found in Metrol.
Ginty’s: A Brelish pub in the heart of Metrol.
glidewing: A large, birdlike reptile with a long, toothy beak, a thin headcrest, sharp talons, and small claws at the joints of its leathery wings. It is often used as a mount by Talenta Plains halflings. (A pterosaur.)
Gweir: A young Knight of the Silver Flame.
Haka’torvhak: An ancient city in Q’barra, carved into the side of an enormous volcano. The name literally means “the throne of the holy dragons,” and the city serves as the center of the Q’barran lizardfolk religion.
Halpum: Lathon (high chief) of one of the largest nomadic tribes of the Talenta Plains halflings.
House Cannith: The Dragonmarked House that carries the Mark of Making. The artificers and magewrights of House Cannith are responsible for most of the magical innovations of the past millennia. The house made tremendous profits during the Last War through sales of arms and armor, including warforged soldiers.
House Ghallanda: The halfling House of Hospitality and bearer of the Mark of Hospitality.
Ibrido: A lieutenant of the Captain of Bones.
Ikar the Black: The leader of a band of outlaws who often ventures into the Mournland in search of treasure and artifacts.
Illmarrow Castle: Home of Vol on the island of Farlnen.
Iron Council: The governing council of the Mror Holds, made up of a conclave of the major clans.
Ironroot Mountains: The large mountain chain that makes up the western border of the Mror Holds.
ir’Ranek, Alain: Captain of the city of Argonth.
ir’Wyrnarn, Boranel: King of Breland.
Jaela Daran: The young Keeper of the Flame, head of the Church of the Silver Flame.
Jhorash’tar: A loose confederation of orcs that haunts the darkest, least hospitable parts of the Ironroot Mountains.
justicar: An official chosen to enforce the law and keep the peace. Justicars have little legal authority beyond their local jurisdiction.
Kaius III: King of Karrnath.
Kallo: A young dwarf of Clan Drakyager of the Mror Holds, who works under Duro Darumnakt.
Kandler: Justicar of Mardakine.
Karaktrok, Medd: A slow-witted dwarf of Clan Drakyager of the Mror Holds, who works under Duro Darumnakt.
Karrnath: One of the original Five Nations of Galifar. Karrnath is a cold, grim land whose people are renowned for their martial prowess. The current ruler of Karrnath is King Kaius ir’Wyrnarn III.
Keeper of the Flame, the: The head of the Church of the Silver Flame.
Keeper’s Claw: A Karrnathi airship currently stationed at Fort Bones.
Khorvaire: One of the continents of Eberron, home of the Five Nations of Galifar as well as many other regions.
Khyber: 1) The underworld. 2) A mythical dragon, also known as “The Dragon Below.” After killing Siberys, Khyber was imprisoned by Eberron and transformed into the underworld. Khyber is said to have given birth to a host of demons and other unnatural creatures. See Eberron, Siberys.
Korth: Capital city of Karrnath.
Krezent: An ancient ruin in the Talenta Plains. It is home to a tribe of benevolent yuan-ti who revere the Silver Flame.
Krona Peak: Capital city of the Mror Holds.
Lake Cyre: A large lake between the Talenta Plains and the Mournland.
Last War, The: This conflict began in 894 YK with the death of King Jarot ir’Wyrnarn, the last king of Galifar. Following Jarot’s death, three of his five children refused to follow the ancient traditions of succession, and the kingdom split. The war lasted over a hundred years, and it took the utter destruction of Cyre to bring the other nations to the negotiating table. No one has admitted defeat, but no one wants to risk being the next victim of the Mourning. The chronicles are calling the conflict “the Last War,” hoping that the bloodshed might have finally slaked humanity’s thirst for battle. Only time will tell if this hope is in vain.
lath: The tribal chief among Talenta Plains halflings.
lathon: The “chief of chiefs,” i.e., a leader of several tribes among the Talenta Plains halflings.
Levritt: A young Knight of the Silver Flame.
Lhazaar Principalities: A collection of small island nations that run along the northeastern coast of Khorvaire. The people of the Lhazaar Principalities are renowned seafarers, and there is a strong tradition of piracy in the region.
lightning rail: A means of transportation by which a coach propelled by an air elemental travels along a rail system of conductor stones, which hold the craft aloft.
Llesh Haruuc: A Darguul hobgoblin leader in the Last War.
Lord of Blades: A warforged leader reputed to be gathering a substantial following of other warforged somewhere in the Mournland.
Lords of Dust: An evil cabal, plotting to free their ancient masters from the depths of Khyber.
Lost Mark: Common term for the Mark of Death.
lupallo: A breed of horse noted for its distinctive white-and-brown patched coloring.
Majeeda: An ancient elf wizard.
Mardakine: A small settlement on the border between Breland and the Mournland.
Mark of Death: Believed extinct for hundreds of years, this dragonmark holds powers of death.
Mark of Hospitality: The dragonmark that holds powers of food and shelter.
Mark of Shadow: The dragonmark that holds powers of illusion, deception, and scrying.
Meesh: Karrnathi bosun of Keeper’s Claw.
Metrol: Capital city of the doomed nation of Cyre.
Monja: Halfling shaman of the Talenta Plains, daughter of Lathon Halpum.
Mount Darumkrak: A large peak in the Ironroot Mountains.
Mourning, The: A disa
ster that occurred on Olarune 20, 994 YK. The origin and precise nature of the Mourning are unknown. On Ollarune 20, gray mists spread across Cyre, and anything caught within the mists was transformed or destroyed. See the Mournland.
Mournland, The: A common name for the wasteland left behind in the wake of the Mourning. A wall of dead-gray mist surrounds the borders of the land that once was Cyre. Behind this mist, the land has been transformed into something dark and twisted. Most creatures that weren’t killed were transformed into horrific monsters. Stories speak of storms of blood, corpses that do not decompose, ghostly soldiers fighting endless battles, and far worse things.
The Road to Death: The Lost Mark, Book 2 Page 32
