by Dave Gross
Qadira: Desert nation on the eastern side of the Inner Sea.
Sczarni: A subgroup of the Varisian ethnicity known for being wandering thieves and criminals, and contributing greatly to prejudice against Varisians as a whole by other cultures. Often pass themselves off as non-Sczarni Varisians while attempting to avoid detection.
Shining Crusade: The historic organization responsible for cleansing the lands of Ustalav and freeing the nation from the rule of the Whispering Tyrant a thousand years ago.
Skald: Language spoken in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings and by most Ulfen.
Slip: Slang term for a halfling.
Song of the Spheres: Another name for the goddess Desna.
Starknife: A set of four tapering blades resembling compass points extending from a metal ring with a handle; the holy weapon of Desna.
Starstone: Stone that fell from the sky ten thousand years ago, creating an enormous dust cloud that blotted out the sun and began the Age of Darkness, wiping out most preexisting civilizations. Eventually raised up from the ocean by Aroden and housed in the Cathedral of the Starstone in Absalom, where those who can pass its mysterious and deadly tests can ascend to godhood.
Taldan Empire: Ancient realm once spanning much of Avistan, now reduced to the nation of Taldor.
Taldane (Common Tongue): Most widely spoken language in the Inner Sea region.
Taldan: A citizen of Taldor.
Taldor: Formerly glorious nation, now fallen into self-indulgence, ruled by immature aristocrats and overly complicated bureaucracy.
Tar-Baphon: The Whispering Tyrant’s mortal name.
Thassilon: Ancient empire once located in northwestern Avistan and ruled by seven runelords.
Ulfen: A race of Viking-like humans from the cold nations of the north, primarily Irrisen and the Lands of the Linnorm Kings.
Urgathoa: Evil goddess of gluttony, disease, and undeath.
Ustalav: Gothic nation once ruled by the Whispering Tyrant; now ruled by humans once more but still bearing a reputation for strange beasts, ancient secrets, and moral decay.
Ustalavic: Of or related to the nation of Ustalav.
Varisia: A frontier region northwest of the Inner Sea.
Varisian: Of or relating to the region of Varisia, or a resident of Varisia. Ethnic Varisians tend to organize in clans and wander in caravans, acting as tinkers or performers.
Venture-Captain: A rank in the Pathfinder Society above that of a standard field agent but below the Decemvirate.
Virlych: Haunted portion of Ustalav never completely reclaimed from monsters and spirits after the imprisonment of the Whispering Tyrant.
Westcrown: Former capital of Cheliax, now overrun with shadow beasts and despair.
Whispering Tyrant: Incredibly powerful lich who terrorized Avistan for hundreds of years before being sealed beneath his fortress of Gallowspire a millennium ago.
Table of Contents
Teaser
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One: Princely Trappings
Chapter Two: Dance of the Sczarni
Chapter Three: The Lepidstadt Scar
Chapter Four: The Senir Bridge
Chapter Five: Willowmourn
Chapter Six: The Ugly Little Girl
Chapter Seven: The Secret Hand
Chapter Eight: The Black Bird
Chapter Nine: Lacunae
Chapter Ten: The Fiddler’s Revenge
Chapter Eleven: The Hedge Maze
Chapter Twelve: Children of the Damned
Chapter Thirteen: The Haunted Vales
Chapter Fourteen: The Old Village
Chapter Fifteen: Graves
Chapter Sixteen: The Prince of Wolves
Chapter Seventeen: Monastery of the Veil
Chapter Eighteen: The Starknife
Chapter Nineteen: The Last Crusaders
Chapter Twenty: The Hall of Weeping Consorts
Chapter Twenty-One: The Vault of Secrets
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Dead Undead
Chapter Twenty-Three: The Prince’s Treasure
Chapter Twenty-Four: Devil’s Deal
Chapter Twenty-Five: Amends
Chapter Twenty-Six: The Last Command
About the Author
Acknowledgements
Glossary
