by Ed Greenwood
Ult: deceased wizard of Galath, who built Ult Tower, a black stone keep in the heart of the realm that he magically linked to himself, stone by stone, so the tower was like his skin; he could feel what was done to it and see out of it. Before the events recounted in DARK LORD, the wizard Arlaghaun took over Ult's body and conquered his mind, inhabiting both, and so gained control of Ult Tower.
Urlaun, Narl: a warrior sworn to Hammerhand, in Ironthorn; the younger member of a patrol that finds Rod Everlar in the forest.
Vanderthand, Marie: the calmly professional and pleasant front desk receptionist at the Corporate Headquarters of Holdoncorp, on Earth. She is elegantly beautiful and has a warm, buttery sensual voice. Note: a fictional character.
Verlen, Greth: a young, given-to-grumbling household servant of Lyraunt Castle, in Ironthorn, with the title of "manjack" (footman).
Waerend, Larl: guard of Lyraunt Castle, Ironthar warrior sworn to serve Lord Magrandar Lyrose.
Welver, Derek: a sarcastic but sensible veteran policeman of Earth, desk sergeant at the local precinct in which the Holdoncorp Corporate Headquarters is located. Note: a fictional character.
Xarrental, Nollard: Royal Scribe of the Court, of Galath. A scholarly, well-spoken, sheltered man, one of the senior "younger pens" among the court scribes.
Xundaer, Loroth: the highest-ranking priest of the Forestmother, a lone forester mighty in magic who constantly roves the wildest depths of the Raurklor. Known as "the Highest" because of his rank, and often assumed to be the personal champion of the goddess. A tall, gaunt man who says little and wears ragged brown robes, or less.
Yelrya, Amaddar: a young, darkly handsome Stormar trader about to embark on his first foray north into the Raurklor holds, notably Ironthorn. His father, who had earlier traded in the holds, is now too elderly and ill to do so.
Yuskel, Irraunt: Duke of Yuskellar, a valley in the land of Tauren. So rich and miserly that he's known across Falconfar as "the Gold Duke." Inherited a pauper's title but built a fabulous fortune through shrewd mercantile dealings; is widely known to hate the nobles of Galath (for their protectionist ways and arrogance toward outlanders and outland titles, such as his own).
Zaervedel, Aumra: Empress of the Emaeraun Empire, a string of coastal city-states almost as far from Galath and the Raurklor as it is possible to get, and still be in Falconfar. "Impossibly tall" (over seven feet in height), sleek, and long-limbed, the Empress is the Overpriestess of the Seven Cults of the Empire, its Supreme Sorcerer, and said to be the most learned—and bored—woman in all Falconfar. She is also reputed (correctly) to be cruel, sophisticated, and masterful at intrigues and the spreading of rumors, purely for her own entertainment. She murmurs almost all of her utterances in a soft, unhurried voice.
Zrendel, Telrorna: undead sorceress of the Stormar cities, defeated and slain in spell-battle by the wizard Malraun decades ago, drained of life and spells but animated in undeath and bound by him into his service forever, to be "his slave beyond death." Largely forgotten, and left in Malraun's fortress of Malragard, in the Raurklor hold of Harlhoh.
Zundarl, Mallatar: wizard of Turentarn, in Falconfar, served by lorn he spell-disguises as humans. Zundarl is a cruel, ambitious mage seeking to expand the lands he rules; they are distant indeed from Galath and the Raurklor, but something—the magical backlash of a spell cast by Zundarl, perhaps—makes Rod Everlar dream of him.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ed Greenwood is best known for his role in creating the Forgotten Realms setting, part of the world-famous Dungeons and Dragons franchise. His writings have sold millions of copies worldwide, in more than a dozen languages. Greenwood resides in the Canadian province of Ontario.
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