by Russ Linton
Anil - Eldest acolyte of Cloud Born Tarak, well regarded among his peers.
The Attarah - Savior of Humanity and the one who freed his people from Kurath's prison. The current Attarah is often referred to as the "Living Attarah" and maintains the title.
Bahadur - An Ek'kiru born with the metallic coloration of Sli'mir's Brood.
Cerudell – Human city in the mountains on the northern edge of the inhabited realms, south of the Sheath.
Chakor - The Jadugar to the current living Attarah and a noble from a large family which includes his cousin, Cloud Born Gohala.
The Child - Focal point of the Ek'kiru's Hive and the city of Abwoon. The Child is an avatar of Sli'mir and the progenitor of the Ek'kiru which was created to explore the Age of Man.
Chuman - Mysterious stranger discovered by Sidge, Izhar, and Kaaliya on the road outside Stronghold.
Cloud Born – Highest rank of priest at the Stormblade Temple. Allowed to accept pupils and train acolytes.
Commoner's Tales - A collection of myths and legends of dubious origin shared by those outside the educated, noble classes.
Deep Night - A once sacred festival held on the longest night of the year.
Ek'Kiru - Race of civilized, humanoid bugs which live in Abwoon and are used as a source of labor by humanity.
Farsal - Gohala's head acolyte and close friend of Sidge.
Firetongue - A former Hive Guard of the Ek'kiru, exiled for breaking taboo.
Gada – A heavy iron mace.
Gambora - Thought to be a warrior who sacrificed his life at the Sun Palace to delay the pursuit of Kurath's armies.
Girish - Head acolyte to Cloud Born Udai. Haughty, vicious.
Gohala - Severe and strict Cloud Born believed to be second only to the Stormblade himself or perhaps, Izhar.
Hedgedweller - Troll which inhabits the Attarah's gardens.
The Hive - The hub of Ek'kiru society at the center of Abwoon. Sidge likens it to a temple, but admits such a description is inadequate.
Hollow One - Troll which inhabits the lower reaches of the Pit.
Izhar - Master to Sidge. A Cloud Born thought by many to be heretical and uncouth for his study of Commoner's Tales alongside temple teachings.
Jadugar – Both a formal title for the Living Attarah's adviser and a group of legendary sorcerers who assisted the original Attarah.
Kaaliya - Courtesan in the household of Lord Chakor. Strong willed and inquisitive.
Kurath – The First Named. Consort of Alshasra'a. Born on the desert winds, Kurath is said to have once enslaved all humanity.
Manoj - Inquisitive, younger acolyte of Cloud Born Tarak.
Moonstrider – A mythical creature which led the first Attarah and his people to salvation. A mercurial gazelle-like beast which treads on moonlight.
Mutri - A lost group of priests or cult who once inhabited the Pit.
Nightsong - An Ek'kiru silk farmer who befriends Sidge.
Nilama Sea - Legendary sea where the world's lesser animals boiled forth.
Oakworm - A Troll who inhabits the forests around Cerudell.
Padmini - Major river west of Stronghold.
Paharibhumi - The hilly grazing lands immediately north of Stronghold.
Pama - A legendary flying mountain that features prominently in Commoner's Tales and parts of the early Stormblade Temple teachings. Said to be sentient.
Pamanites - The greater range of the former.
The Pit - A bottomless depression inhabited by the dregs of humanity, many forced their against their will. Once home to a mysterious cult known as the Mutri.
Puffcap - Mushrooms known for their psychedelic properties.
Raksha - Patron for the individual groups of priests who travel on the pilgrimage.
Sidge - An orphaned Ek'kiru raised by Izhar in the Stormblade Temple. Formal, fastidious and maintains an unequaled recall of the mantras.
Sli'mir's Brood - Feral or barbaric insectoid race relegated to the wild marshes.
Stormblade Temple - The temple dedicated to protecting mankind from the return of the slaver, Kurath.
Stronghold - Seat of power of the Attarah's Realm.
Sun Palace – A legendary city built by Kurath "one grain of sand at a time" which was used as a prison for humanity.
Tarak - Kindly, elder Cloud Born who is friends with Izhar.
The Paint and the Nag – The two mismatched horses which pull Sidge and Izhar's vardo or carriage.
The Trials, the Rebellion, the Forge, the Rule — These are the twelve thousand, one hundred and sixty-two spoken mantras of the Stormblade Temple. There is no system of writing so each must be mastered and memorized in complex chants.
Trolls - Genderless plant-like creatures of unknown origins who live beneath the earth and speak in riddles.
Thornsap - In human lands, an alcoholic drink. Used by the Ek'kiru as a solvent.
Timeless Age – A mythical age wherein the gods roamed and men were prisoners.
Udai - Cloud Born elder who is a staunch supporter of Gohala.
Urujaav – Water spirits said to have been the children of Alshasra'a.
Urumi - A long, thin length of sharpened metal used as a deadly, razor-like whip.
Vadda Chakkar - The bladed wheel, a complex weapon with individual chain spokes connected to a central ring and bladed at each end.
Vasheru – The dragon of the Undying Storm whom the Cloud Born call upon for power and Wisdom.
Wisdom, Vasheru's Gift - The ability to channel Vasheru's power in the form of lightning. It is believed to grant prophecy to those who can control it and also used as a weapon against the Temple's foes.
Yurva and Corva - Two Ek'kiru haulers of large size used to pull Gohala's palatial wagon.
This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialog are drawn from the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Forge of the Jadugar. Copyright 2016 by Russ Linton. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used without written permission except in case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
ISBN: 978-0-9903169-6-1
Edited by - S. Kay Nash
Cover Art - Jeff Brown
Design - Russ Linton
Contents
FREE STARTER LIBRARY
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXIII
CHAPTER XXXIV
CONTINUE THE PILGRIMAGE
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ALSO BY RUSS LINTON
GLOSSARY
COPYRIGHT
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