by David Weber
Multhari-the second most important caste group of Mythalan society. The multhari are the military caste. Some members of multhari are also shakira. These normally tend to dominate the upper ranks of the Mythalan military.
Mythal Falls Academy-the oldest and most prestigious magical research and teaching Academy in Arcana.
Mythal River-the Arcanan equivalent of the Nile River.
Mythal-the Arcanan equivalent of Africa. Mythal is dominated by a caste-based society which enshrines the total superiority of the shakira magic-using caste to the garthan caste of non-magic users.
Mythal Falls-the Arcanan equivalent of Victoria Falls.
Mythalan Hegemony-the supranational Mythalan political body representing all Mythalan states.
Effectively, the governing body of the Mythalan Empire, although there is no official Empire of Mythal.
Narhath-an affluent province of the Ternathian Empire, consisting of the equivalent of southern Spain and Portugal.
Narhathan Peninsula-the Sharonian equivalent of the Iberian peninsula.
Narshalla-a Sharonian city located approximately on the site of Medina, Saudi Arabia.
Nessia: eastern-most modern Ternathian province, equivalent to Greece.
New Ramath-the port city built specifically to serve the rail line to Fort Tharkoma in Salym. Located on the trans-temporal equivalent of Durres, Albania.
New Sharona-the first additional universe surveyed from Sharona.
New Ternath-the Sharonian equivalent of North America.
New Farnal-the Sharonian equivalent of South America.
Norgamar Works-one of the great locomotive foundries of Sharona. A prime supplier to the Trans- Temporal Express.
Nosikor-a Sharonian city located at the southwestern end of Lake Arau.
Novice-the title awarded to a Gifted student in Arcana. A student remains a novice, regardless of age, until his or her graduation from formal training. (See also "journeyman," "magister," and "magistron.")
Order of Bergahl-the religious order of the war god Bergahl (see above). Because of its special position in the Kingdom of Othmaliz, the Kingdom's Seneschal must, by tradition, be selected from the Order's priesthood.
Osmaria-the Sharonian analog of Italy.
Othmaliz-the kingdom which dominates the eastern end of the Mbisi Sea and the outlet from the Ylani Sea. It is roughly equivalent to the western half of Turkey and the southern third of Bulgaria. Its capital is Tajvana, the ancient Imperial capital of the Ternathian Empire.
PAAF-the Portal Authority Armed Forces. The military units of various Sharonian nations placed under the Portal Authority's command for frontier security operations.
Paerystia-a region of Arcana roughly equivalent to Oman.
Pairhys Island-the Sharonian equivalent of the Isle of Man. The premier training camp of the Imperial Ternathian Marines is located there.
Plotter-a Sharonian with the "Plotting" Talent. Plotting is a specialized sub-variant of the Mapping Talent which is particularly useful in military service. Plotters, unlike Mappers, detect the presence and location of living creatures, like human beings.
Portal Hound-a Sharonian psionic sensitive to trans-temporal portals.
Porter-a Sharonian Talent with the telekinetic ability to teleport (or "Port") passengers or limited freight via the Emergency Transportation System.
Projective-a Sharonian psionic with the ability to project detailed and accurate mental images for nontelepaths.
All Projectives are also Voices, but less than .01% of all Voices are Projectives.
Queen Kalthra's Lake-the Arcanan equivalent of Lake Ontario.
Queriz-a city in Arpathia, located at the equivalent position of Astana, Kazakhstan.
Queriz Depression-the Sharonian equivalent of the Caspian Depression.
Rahil-the Great Prophetess, the founder of and patron saint of mercy and healing in the Fellowship of Rahil, one of the dominant religions of Ransar.
Rahilian-an adherent of the Fellowship of Rahil.
Rankadi-Mythlan ritual suicide.
Ransar-the Arcanan equivalent of Asia. Ransar is home to a highly humanistic, democratic, and innovative culture which places an extremely high value on the worth of the individual. This makes Ransar an uncomfortable fit with the Andaran warrior aristocracy at times, but an even more uncomfortable fit with Mythal's caste-based society. Ransarans enjoy the most comfortable life styles of any Arcanan social group.
Razinta Basin-the depression between the Gartasa Mountains, Teramandor Mountains, and Emperor Edvar Mountains of the Narhathan Penninsula; drained by the Razinta River.
Razinta River-the Sharonian analogue of Spain's Ebro River.
Recon crystal-also called "RC;" a sarkolis-based reconnaissance device capable of recording and storing visual imagery and sounds within specified radii of the crystal. It is a storage device, and has no ability to transmit reconnaissance data across any distance.
Ricathia-the Sharonian equivalent of Africa.
Ricathian Desert-the Sharonian equivalent of the Libyan Desert.
Rindor Ocean-the Sharonian equivalent of the Indian Ocean.
Rokhana-a nation of New Ternath on Sharona which occupies the western coast from what would be our own Oregon to just about the line of the Mexican border.
Saint Taiyr-also called Taiyr of Estafal, the patron saint of the House of Calirath.
Saramash-the Shurkhali devil.
Sarkolis crystal-the extremely strong, quartz-like "stone" (actually an artificifally manufactured crystal) used as the matrices and storage components for Arcanan spell-based technology.
Sarlayn River-the Sharonian analog of the Nile River.
Sarthan Desert-the Sharonian analog of the Sahara Desert.
Scurlis Sea-the Sharonian equivalent of the Sea of Japan.
Sea of Ibral-the Sharonian equivalent of the Sea of Marmara.
Septs-Arpathian clan-based social units, most of which are nomadic herders. Arpathian septs breed some of the finest horses in Sharona. Septs are mistrustful of outsiders, due to unscrupulous traders who sought to take advantage of "nomadic barbarians" and due to the tendency of other cultures to view them as primitive and make them the butt of unpleasant humor.
Septentrion-Most septs of Arpathia do not have a formal government outside the ruler of each tribe/
clan-based sept. Their territories are somewhat fluid, particularly in the region of the Siberian plains.
The septs banded together in the matter of trade, however, creating the Septentrion as a trade union that protects the financial interests of all the septs. The representatives of the septs who serve in the Septentrion deal with outside merchants and bargain the best prices for Arpathian goods, including the legendary work of Arpathian goldsmiths. The Septentrion established regional trade centers along the borders with Arpathia's neighbors. The Septentrion also sends a delegate to serve as a director of the Portal Authority and assists septmen who want to join the PAAF as soldiers or to apply to the Portal Authority for training to explore the multiverse as members of a civilian survey crew.
Serikai-"City of Snow," a lakeside city in Sharona, which is the equivalent of Buffalo, New York.
Serikai is the capital city of the Republic of Faltharia.
Sethdona-the capital of the Sharonian Kingdom of Shurkhal. Located at the trans-temporal equivalent of Jiddah on the Arabian peninsula's Red Sea shore.
Shakira-the magic-using caste which totally dominates and controls the culture of Mythal. These are the researchers, theoreticians, etc., and control virtually all of Mythal's "white collar" occupations.
Shalana-"Mother Shalana" is one of the Ternathian Double Triads and one of the most-revered and powerful deities of that Double Triad. Blue is her sacred color, which is why her Temple in Tajvana is covered with lapis lazuli and sapphires. She is also known as Shalana the Merciful. Her priestess-hood is one of the wealthiest in Sharona.
Shaloma-The Arcanan equivalent of Western Europe.
Sharona-the home universe and Earth of the Ternathian Empire. Its physics are similar, but not identical, to our own, and its society is largely based upon highly developed psionic Talents.
Shartahk-the main Ternathian religion's devil.
Shartha Highlands-high, rugged mountains in northwestern Shartha; the Sharonian analog of Ethiopia's Eastern Highlands.
#Shartha-a kingdom in eastern Ricathia (see "Kingdom of Shartha," above).
Sherkaya-the ancient Mythalan word for "fire;" the release code which triggers a red dragon's breath weapon.
#Shikowr-a breed of riding/cavalry horse developed in Ternathia over the space of several thousand years. The Shikowr resembles the Morgan horse in conformation and stance, but stands between 16 and
17 hands in height. The name is taken from a type of Shurkhali cavalry saber which was adopted by the Ternathian cavalry.
Showma Falls-the Arcanan equivalent (in New Arcana) of Niagara Falls. Site of the Garth Showma Institute of Magic.
Shurkhal-a Sharonian kingdom, roughly equivalent to Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Sinai Penninsula.
The Kingdom of Shurkhal is the largest of several "Shurkhalian" kingdoms, closely related culturally to Harkala, but clearly a distinct subculture, which dominated the area of Syria, Iraq, and most of Iran.
Sifter-a Sharonian psionic whose Talent allows him to determine whether or not any statement is the truth or a lie.
Sky Blood Mountains-the Sharonian name for the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Sky Blood Lode-the Sharonian name for the Comstock Lode.
Slide rail-also "slider." The Arcanan equivalent of a railroad.
Sniffer-another term for a "Tracer." (See "Tracer," below.)
Snow Sapphire Lake-the Sharonian name for Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Strait of Tears-the Sharonian equivalent of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.
Strait of Bolakin-the Sharonian equivalent of the Strait of Gibraltar.
Strike-an Arcanan Air Force formation consisting of three "flights," for a total of twelve dragons.
sunhold-the Uromathian feudal territory held by a "sunlord" (see below); roughly equivalent to a duchy or grand duchy.
Sunlord-a Uromathian aristocratic title roughly equivalent to that of duke.
SUNN-Sharona's Universal News Network, the largest news organization in Sharona's multipleuniverse civilization, with both print and telepathic broadcast divisions.
Tajvana-the capital of the First Ternathian Empire at its height; the Sharonian equivalent of Constantinople or Istanbul.
Talon-an Arcanan Air Force formation consisting of three "strikes," for a total of thirty-six dragons.
Temple of Saint Taiyr of Tajvana-a temple in Tajvana, comemorating Saint Taiyr of Estafel, built by Empress Wailyana I in 3016. Traditional site of Calirath coronations for almost two thousand years.
Teramandor-a province of the Empire of Ternathian located in northwest Narhath; roughly analogous to Catalonia and western Aragon, Spain.
Teramandor Mountains-the Sharonian analogue of the Cataluna Mountains of Spain.
Ternath Island-the ancient homeland of the Emperors of Ternathia; the Arcanan equivalent of Ireland.
Ternathian Empire-the most ancient human polity known in any of the explored universes. The Ternathians established an effective world-state during the Copper and early Iron Age eras of Sharona, largely through the recognition, development and use of psionic talents. Originally located on Ternath Island (Ireland), it is the largest, oldest, most prestigious empire on Sharona. Its major component states include, besides Ternath Island: Alathia: Italy; Jerekhas: Sicily; Bernith Island: Britain (Scotland, England, Wales); Delkrathia: part of Spain; Ermandia: Austria; Karmalia: Hungary; Lugathia: France; Mulgethia: Germany/ Switzerland; Narhath: part of Spain; Nessia: Greece; Pairhys Island: Isle of Man; Teramandor: part of Spain.
Tharkan-a grand Duchy in Shaloma, an imperial territory of the Kingdom of Elath located in the Arcanan equivalent of Poland where the first Arcanan trans-temporal portal was discovered.
Time of Conquest-the period of ancient Ternathia's most sustained, militant expansion. Generally dated by Sharonian historians as extending from approximately 2025 to 3650.
Torkash-the chief deity of the ancient Manisthu pantheon in Arcana.
Tosaria-an ancient Ransaran kingdom on Arcana. Its ancient capital was located in the same approximate geographical spot as Shanghai. Tosaria had attained a high and sophisticated level of civilization while most of the rest of present day Ransara was still in a state of primitivism.
Tracer-a Sharonian with the Tracer Talent. One who is sensitive to the current location, or at least direction to, another individual or object. They are also called "Sniffers".
Trans-Temporal Express-a privately-held corporation responsible for building and maintaining the primary rail and shipping connections linking the Sharonian home universe to the expanding frontier.
Although it is the single largest, wealthiest privately-held corporation in Sharonian history, the TTE is subject to close regulation and oversight by the Portal Authority, which has granted-and retains the legal right to revoke-the TTE's multi-universal right-of-way.
Tukoria-the largest and most powerful of the Hilmaran kingdoms, consisting of the equivalent of most of Argentina and Chile. Tukoria was the only Hilmaran state which maintained its independence against Andaran conquest and colonization.
Union of Arcana-the world government of the home universe of Arcana.
Union City-a city at the entry portal into New Sharona, located about fifty miles east of Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Union Trans-Temporal Transit Authority-the agency of the Union of Arcana's government charged with overseeing trans-temporal travel and commerce, including regulation of sliderails and maritime transport infrastructure.
Union Arbitration Commission (UAC)-a quasi-diplomatic commission which answers to the Union Senate's committee on inter-universal disputes.
Uromathia-a general term applied to the Sharonian equivalent of Asia south of Mongolia and west of India. This area is divided into many smaller kingdoms and two empires, all of which share many common cultural traits.
Uromathian Empire-the larger of the two empires found in Uromathia. It occupies the Sharonian equivalent of China and includes the equivalent of Vietnam and Cambodia.
Usarlah-a Sharonian city located in the Delkrath Mountains (just north of Madrid) in the Ternathian province of Delkrathia.
UTTTA-see Union Trans-Temporal Transit Authority, above.
Vandor Ocean-the Sharonian equivalent of the Atlantic Ocean.
vos-"of the line of" in ancient Mythlan. The use in a Mythlan's name indicates that the individual is of high shakira caste. (See also "mul," above.)
Vothan-the Ternathian deity called "Father Vothan," who serves as Ternathia's war god, is one of the Ternathian Double Triads. "Father Vothan" protects the Empire in military combat and is therefore also called Protector Vothan or "The Protector" by the people of Ternathia and those regions colonized by Ternathia.
Vothan's chariot-the armored chariot of the Ternathian Double Triad deity who serves as Ternathia's Protector, or god of war.
Vyrlair-an Arpathian region of Sharona roughly equivalent to our own Turkmenistan.
Western Ocean-the Sharonian name for the Pacific Ocean.
Whiffer-a Sharonian with the Whiffer Talent. One who is sensitive to residual psychic impressions.
White Mist Lake-the Arcanan equivalent of Lake Erie.
windhold-the feudal territory held by a Uromathian "windlord" (see below); roughly equivalent to an earldom.
Windlord-a Uromathian aristocratic title, roughly equivalent to that of earl.
Winged Crown-the imperial crown of Ternathia.
This ancient crown (still used in coronations) was made by Farnalian goldsmiths almost 5,000 years ago as a surety for the treaty negotiated between the Kingdom of Ternathia and Farnalia by Celaryon II of Ternathia (see above).
Yamali Mountains: the Sharonian analogue of the Himalaya Mountains, they lie north of Harkala, stretching from Isseth in the west into the Uromathian Empire in the east.
Yanko-the third major Andaran kingdom, which includes the equivalent of most of central North America, from the Canadian border south, and virtually all of Mexico.
Yarahk-an Arcanan city located at the equivalent of Aswan, Egypt.
Yirshan River-the Sharonian equivalent of the Columbia River.
Ylani Strait-the Sharonian equivalent of the Bosporus.
Ylani Sea-the Sharonian equivalent of the Black Sea.
Yurha-the soul as conceptualized by Mythalan religion. The yurha is the basis of Mythalan reincarnation beliefs, which enshrine the concept of "spiritual evolution" to a higher state of being.
Zaithag-an Arpathian city in Vyrlair, located at approximately the same spot as Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Alphabetized Character List
Ambor, Shield Layrak, Union of Arcana Army-[HG] assistant surgeon, Charlie Company, First Battalion, First Regiment, Second Andaran Temporal Scouts.
Anzeti, Djoser-[HG] a director of the Sharonian Portal Authority board, representing the Arpathian Septentrion.
Arthag, Petty-Captain Hulmok, Portal Authority Armed Forces-[HG, HHNF] acting platooncaptain, CO, Second Platoon, Argent Company, Ninety-Second Independent Cavalry Battalion. Formall promoted to platoon-captain in HHNF
Balithar, Sathee-[HG] Princess Andrin's personal maid from childhood.
Banchu, Olvyr-[HG, HHNF] the Trans-Temporal Express' chief construction engineer.
Bantha, Petty-Armsman Grethar, Portal Authority Armed Forces-[HG] Company-Captain Halifu's senior Flicker.
Baskay, Charazan-[HG] Platoon-Captain chan Baskay's sixteen-year-old sister.
Baulwan, Petty-Captain Shansair, Portal Authority Armed Forces-[HHNF a Voice assigned to Company-Captain Halifu at Fort Shaylar.
Berhala, Commander of Twenty-Five Tahlos, Union of Arcana Air Force-[HHNF] a pilot attached to the 3012th Strike; pilot of red battle dragon Skyfire.
