The Valdemar Companion

by John Helfers; Denise Little

  Tival

  A city in the Eastern Empire. When cargo from Tival arrived in Jacona, Melles tricked Commander Pelcun into investing against the cargo, who believed it contained products he had already cornered in the market. (Storm)

  Tobe

  A boy of Shonar, Tobe and four other youngsters got lost in a mage-blizzard and were rescued by Tremane. Tobe, along with Racky Loder, later became one of Tremane’s pages. (Storm)

  Tobe

  A hard-bitten Skybolt who objected to Lyr’s plan to lead her small band of scouts across the border into Karse. (Oath)

  Tom Kalley

  Leader of Errold’s Grove’s militiamen. The Blood Bear barbarians who raided Riverford Farm wiped out him and all his men. (Owl)

  Tori

  The housekeeper at the Collegium who supplied Heralds and trainees with special things if properly notified, such as properly altered Formal Grays suitable for Lan’s Midwinter outing. (BB)

  Tor’Getha

  The chief Healer of An’desha’s old clan, he was quick to jump to conclusions and look for enemies outside his own folk. Jarim reminded An’desha of Tor’gerha. (Storm)

  Townchit

  A small brass token marked with the name of the town of issue, it is given to a Herald, along with supplies and services, as a record for the tax authorities at Haven. The courtesies signified by the townchit qualified the community for certain tax abatements. (Arrows)

  Trade-tongue

  The merchant language the Shin’a’in use in dealing with outLanders. (Oath)

  Trana Farane

  A prostitute in Haven, and sister to Desi Farane. (TT)

  Tran-dust

  A narcotic that induces dreamy clumsiness, slowing reactions and confusing the user’s senses. (Oath, Winds)

  Transmuting

  The rare mage power of transforming a spell already cast into another. Need possessed the power to Transmute, and was able to change Falconsbane’s attack on the gryphlets into a spell that cleansed them of his tampering. (Winds)

  Trap-spell

  A magical snare set in advance around an enemy sorcerer, It requires only a signal from the mage who set it to trigger it, and trap the enemy mage. (Oath)

  Tre

  A swarthy skybolt scout, the twin of Gies. Capable at handling a squad, Tre couldn’t work with mages and lacked the expertise to become Captain of the Skybolts after Ardana’s ouster, which was one of the many reasons Kerowyn was elected to the job. (Sword)

  Tree-hare

  An animal similar to a rabbit, but with short, tufted ears, long claws, and a flexible, bushy tail. Tarma and Kethry dined on them during their journey to visit the Hawkbrothers. (Oath)

  Treelion

  A creature that was one of the possible dangers in the forest area Wintermoon and Skif explored. They did not encounter any, however. (Winds)

  Tremane (Duke Tremane Gyfarr Pendleson of Lynnai)

  The Imperial Grand Duke once named as Charliss’ Successor, Tremane was the Emperor’s cousin several times removed, and was sixteen when his father first brought him to court. A Master mage, he worked as an imperial scribe, and successfully completed cadet training. Tremane’s Duchy of Lynnai bordered Hardorn, so Charliss put him in command of Imperial forces there as a test of worthiness, with the promise to train him as Heir if he was successful in conquering Hardorn. Tremane was intelligent, cunning, and facile in changing his tactics to suit the situation at hand, but his greatest virtue, according to Charliss, was his good luck. Tremane inspired great loyalty in his followers, both military and civilian. When the Mage-Storms began, Tremane and his army were cut off from communication with the Empire. Forced to survive on his own, Tremane established a central emcampment at Shonar, rounded up sufficient shelter and rations to get his troops through the winter, and worked with the people of Shonar to establish order and prosperity. His actions so impressed the people of Hardorn that they eventually asked Tremane to become their king, once it was ascertained that he had the gift of earth-sense and was willing to be bound to the land. Tremane entered into alliance with Valdemar, Rethwellan, Iftel, the Tayledras, the Shin’a’in, and others, presenting a solid and resolute border to the Eastern Empire and working together to end the Mage-Storms. (Storm)

  Trenor

  A little gelding palfrey Karal requisitioned from the Temple herds and named after his younger brother, who exhibited many of the same nervous mannerisms. (Storm)

  Trenor Severik

  A rich man in Haven who had his collection of silver miniatures stolen. (TT)

  Tresti (Healer)

  A Journeyman Healer with Idra’s Sunhawks, and a Healing Priestess of Shayana handfasted to Idra’s second-in-command, Sewen. (Oath)

  Trevale

  A town on the East Trade Road between Haven and the border with Hardorn. Herald Talia and Herald Kris stopped overnight at an inn there while on their ambassadorial mission to King Alessandar’s country. (Arrows)

  Tre’valen shena Tale’sedrin

  Kra’heera’s apprentice, he was assigned to stay in k’Sheyna Vale to investigate why the Star-Eyed chose a Tayledras to become her avatar. Tre’valen gradually fell in love with the now ethereal Dawnfire. He sacrificed himself to save Starblade from Falconsbane and was also transformed into an avatar. (Winds)

  Treven (Herald, King)

  Grandson of Queen Elspeth the Peacemaker and heir Presumptive of Valdemar to King Randale. King Randale’s cousin, and Herald Tantras’ more distant cousin, Treven was a powerful Mindspeaker, and well trained in government and executive power. He had acted as his father’s right-hand man at their border barony since he was nine. When it became apparent that Randale would never have a son, Treven was selected as Heir, and his training as a Herald was accelerated. Treven was ilfebonded to Jisa, supposedly the daughter of King Randale and the King’s lifebonded Healer Shavri, though actually Herald-Mage Vanyel was Jisa’s father. In time, Jisa and Treven married, Treven took the throne, and Jisa became the King’s Own Herald, and Treven’s consort. (LHM)

  Trevor (Herald)

  The Seneschal’s Herald during the reign of King Theron. (BB)

  Trevor Corey (Lord)

  Teacher of sword-ladies who wish to join the Guard. (LHM)

  Trey/Torey Alder

  One of Keisha’s brothers. (Owl)

  Treyvan

  A gryphon, the mate of Hydona and father of Jervan and Lytha. A Master mage with a sly sense of humor, Treyvan is also a powerful fighter. Treyvan and his mate were sent by their clan k’Leshya to scout for a new home in the Pelageris Forest, and they settled near k’Sheyna Vale. They helped train Darkwind and Elspeth in their mage abilities and were instrumental in the early defeats of Mornelithe Falconsbane. Eventually they went on to serve as k’Leshya’s Envoys to Valdemar, and helped fight the Magc-Storms. (Storm, Winds)

  Triumph Gate

  The main gate out of Hardorn’s capital onto the main highway. Trader Evan took this route to meet with Rolan and leave Hardorn. (Arrows)

  Trondi’irn

  A k’Leshya Discipline, a trondi’irn is a Healer as well as a special caretaker for non-human creatures, particularly gryphons. Trondi’irn handle all the things the non-humans cannot do for themselves, and act as healers when necessary. (Owl, Gryphon, Storm, Winds)

  Truth Spell

  A spell used when necessary by the Heralds, the only residents of Valdemar trusted with the skill. The truth spell uses the air elemental vrondi. It is invoked by the Herald mentally reciting a cantrip nine times and envisioning a wisp of fog with blue eyes enveloping the person being examined. The First Stage Truth Spell reveals whether or not the speaker is telling the truth. Second Stage Truth Spell forces him or her to answer any question truthfully. (Arrows)

  Truth-Finder General

  The official title of Hardorn’s Grand Inquisitor. (Winds)

  Tuck Chester (Herald)

  See Chester, Tuck

  Tuli (Herald-trainee)

  A fellow student at
the Collegium with Elspeth, involved in discovering why Elspeth was such a brat. (Arrows)

  Turag (Herald)

  The Lord Marshal’s Herald, he was a battlefield replacement for Herald Marak, who had been one of the early casualties at White Foal Pass. (BB)

  Twin Suns School

  This mage school taught that demonic beings were created purely of evil forces, in opposition to the belief of Anathei’s followers. (Oath)

  Tylar

  One of the human Silvers, he almost lost his composure when the Silvers arrested Hadanelith. (Gryphon)

  Tylendel Frelennye (Herald-Mage-trainee)

  Herald-Mage Savil’s protege and the son of her heart, and Vanyel’s life-bonded lover until his death. Tylendel’s Gifts appeared wildly and dangerously when he was nine, beginning with Thoughtsensing, Fetching, and Empathy, and the Mage-Gift. Only his twin brother Staven had the nerve to stay with him until they were under control. The brothers had been mindlinked since birth. Tylendel’s beloved twin brother was Staven Frelennye, Lord Holder of the family lands, and was murdered in an ambush by the Leshara Clan. Maddened by the pain of losing his brother, Tylendel hatched a plan to eliminate the Leshara Clan, with Vanyel’s help. In the course of carrying out his revenge, Tylendel was repudiated by his Companion Gala, who died protecting the Leshara clan. Tylendel, unable to bear the pain, committed suicide. The Companions accorded Tylendel full Heraldic honors, and rang the Death Bell in his honor. Bard Stefen had Tylendel’s reborn soul. (LHM)

  Tyler (father)

  The amiable and non-repressive priest who served Forst Reach after the late and unlamented Father Leren Benevy. He was attacked by the seemingly deranged hedge-wizard Vanyel brought to Tyler for treatment. The devious mage stabbed Father Tyler, then attacked Lady Treesa and wounded Herald-Mage Vanyel with a leech-blade before being captured. (LHM)

  Tyreena’s blessed ass

  An oath the normally ladylike Yfandes swore when Bard Stefen apologized to her for running away. (LHM)

  Tyrill

  Native to Iftel, they are a larger race of hertasi created by Urtho. According to Tashiketh, they breed very rapidly. (Storm)

  Tyron Jelnack

  Leader of the Merchants’ School Sixth Form bullies. His father was Grand Master of the Silversmiths’ Guild. Lavan nicknamed the boy “Tyrant.” When Tyron tried to administer a brutal and unmerited punishment on young Lavan, Lavan lost control of his then dormant FireStarting Gift and burned Tyron and his comrades to death. (BB)

  Tyrsell

  A king stag and leader of the k’Vala dyheli, like all king stags, he was an extremely powerful Mlndspeaker, with the ability to mentally control his entire herd. Also like all king stags, he was able to force-teach humans foreign languages in a matter of moments by impressing the language on their mind. Tyrsell became a Great Lord of State when he was chosen to lead the splinter dyheli herd to the new k’Valdernar Vale. (Owl)

  Ulrich

  Karal’s master and mentor in Temple service. Ulrich was a Sun-priest mage, a black robe scholar, an advocate of the reforms of Solaris, and one of her most trusted aides. He was appointed envoy to Valdemar in an effort to effect a lasting peace between the long-feuding countries. Ulrich was murdered in Valdemar by a device planted by an assassin employed by the Eastern Empire. (Storm)

  Unaffiliated Students

  Also known as the Blues, they are a mix of serious scholars, Artificers, and courtiers’ offspring who are allowed to attend classes at any of the three Collegia. Blues generally have a sponsor in the Court or among the three Circles of Heralds, Bards, or Healers. Blues fall into two groups, the Scholars and the Artificers. Some of the Blues are too busy with their studies to cause trouble, while other less serious students—particularly the high-born ones—are ripe for trouble and are sometimes little better than thugs. (Arrows, Storm)

  Uncle Silverhorn

  A member of Amberdrake’s lost family. (Gryphon)

  Uncleansed Lands

  The Tayledras term for the Pelagir Hills. The strange things found there include dangerous thinking plants and other unnatural leftovers from the ancient Mage-War and Cataclysm. (Storm, Winds)

  Underwife

  Any wife ranking second or lower among the Holderkin households. Those who adapt fully to the role feel they have it easy because they are not required to make decisions regarding the Steading; that is the responsibility of the Firstwlfe. In addition, becoming an Underwife is sometimes a guarantee of a more comfortable lifestyle; it means the household is already well established and scrimping and hoarding are no longer necessary. (Arrows)

  Unkindly Ones, The

  Name for the Imperial deities who punish hubris. (Storm)

  Upvale

  A region famous for its wines. A member of the cadet branch of one of Mornedealth’s Fifty Noble Families had just come into an excellent Royal Grant, the revenue on the Upvale wines. With visions of becoming a real aristocrat, he hired Kethry to check his newly acquired racing stable for harmful glamours. (Oath)

  Urtho

  Also known as The Mage of Silence, he was one of the most powerful Adepts in the history of Velgarth. Urtho was an artist and an inventor; his work included the creation of many complicated mechanical and magical constructs, but his greatest love was the creation of beauty, whether in the form of jewelry or of new sentient species, including the gryphons, the tyrill form of hertasi, and possibly firebirds. When the evil Adept Ma’ar tried to enslave his creations and the people around him, Urtho reluctantly became the leader of an army against the dark mage. He was betrayed by two of his own commanders, and poisoned by an agent of one of them in a successful assassination attempt. Urtho’s Healers slowed the eventual outcome, but could not save his life. With his last hours ebbing away, Urtho sent Skan with a destruction device to Ma’ar’s tower after evacuating his people away from Ma’ar’s grasp and away from the destruction Urtho knew was coming in his own lands, Urtho’s death would destroy his own Tower, a safeguard to prevent his constructs from falling into the wrong hands. The resulting double explosion caused what was to become known as the Cataclysm, and its echoes in Queen Selenay’s reign resulted in the Mage-Storms. Excavations at the ruins of Urtho’s Tower unearthed the device that stopped the Mage-Storms and prevented a second Cataclysm. (Owl, Gryphon, Storm, Wind)

  Urtho’s Tower

  Located near the center of what is now the Dhorisha Plains, the ruins of Urtho’s Tower resemble a snow-covered stub of melted rock protruding from a rolling hill, remarkable only for its immense size, In ancient times, the tower was the headquarters of Urtho, the Mage of Silence, who fought the evil Ma’ar with incalculable magic energies, causing the Cataclysm. Weapons workshops and other arcane tools were buried deep beneath the crumbling structure, and recovered by mages and artificers who were seeking a solution to the Mage-Storms. (Gryphon, Storm)

  Use-name

  Most Tayledras choose a use-name more descriptive of their adult natures than that given them at their birth. Blood-path Adepts also adopt one to hide their birth or true names and prevent enemies from speilcasting and thus learning everything about them, including their evil past histories. (Winds)

  Ustil

  A green vegetable that Herald Dirk despises. (Arrows)

  Vai datha

  A Shin’a’in expression for “resignation or agreement,” literally, “there are many ways.” (Oath)

  Val, also Valan/Valyn

  Lord Breon’s son and heir, his betrothed was Belinda. Val had unrealistic ideas of what battle was all about until Darian told him the realities. (Owl)

  Valdemar

  Kingdom in the world of Velgarth founded by the followers of Baron Valdemar, who were fleeing the tyranny of the Eastern Empire. Leading his people to the lands that now form the Kingdom of Valdemar, Baron Valdemar established his realm in the most northwest sector of the civilized world, an event marked on the Valdemaran calendar as the Year Zero. The nature of this realm’s origin made it a welcome refuge fo
r other exiles and law-abiding fugitives from elsewhere in Velgarth, hence the capital’s name, Haven. Such a patchwork of languages and cultures would be difficult to rule, were it not for the Heralds and their Companions, who ensure that the country’s monarch and its Heralds are well-trained, well-meaning people working for the good of Valdemar. Valdeniar’s motto is “No one way is the true way.” (BV)

  Valdemar (Baron, King)

  Baron and mage who led his people westward out of tyranny in the Eastern Empire and became king of the land which took his name. He was accompanied by his wife and his seneschal, who were also mages. Baron Valdemar worried that his country would become just as tyrannical as the Eastern Empire if he could not find a way to insure that every monarch would bc incorruptible. He petitioned to the Gods and Goddesses to help him prevent that, and received his answer in the form of the Companions. (BV)

  Valdir (Minstrel)

  A scruffy disguise Vanyel used to do undercover work. (LHM)

  Vale

  The equivalent of cities among the Taleydras. Each Vale is home base for a group of Kaled’a’in or Tayledras. The Vale’s core is a magic-storing Heartstone. Once a Vale is fully established, it is protected by a shimmering magic curtain called a Veil set up around its perimeter. This Veil filters out undesirable natual things, like predators and cold weather, producing a lush, semi-tropical climate within, and serves as a warning net by letting those within the Vale know if it has been breeched by any unknown life-force. A Vale community consists of humans, hertasi, dyheli, gryphons, kyree, and tervardi. Human dwellings are called ekele, homes made of natural materials and designed to blend into the surroundings. Frequently these ekeles rest high in trees or are built into rock faces. In addition, there are gardens, bathing pools in a variety of temperatures, communal kitchens and eating areas. Meandering paths through the Vale are marked with colored stones to indicate directions and destinations: reddish stones lead to the Vale’s entrance, black to private ekeles, green to water sources, and gray to the common areas. (LHM, Winds)