Treachery in the Kingdom

by Dan Zangari

  Kenard, Joselin (KIN-aard): a sea captain hired by Iltar to help Hagen and Hex in their search for mages to rebuild the Sorothian Magical Order.

  Keth: a port city on the Isle of Merdan. Settled after the Karthar Empire’s fall. Originally a port of the elves native to Merda, but the leaders of Merda gave the port to the refugees of Karthar who were intending to start anew.

  Kildath (kill-daath): a large city-nation located on the Kaldean Mainland.

  King’s Scepter, the: a unique staff-like weapon wielded by Dorin, the Mage-King during the rebellion against the Karthar Empire. It resembles a channeling staff, but is a unique fanisar-like weapon, which can separate into three shafts bound by coursing magic. Magically composed axe-blades form from slits along the ends. Intricate designs of vines and leaves wrap around the staff. It is depicted on the emblem for the Kingdom Guard.

  Kingdom of Los: the largest of three powerful nations on Kalda; the others being Kildath and the Western Sovereignty. After the fall of the Karthar Empire, the Kingdom ruled all the Kaldean Mainland until the ninth king divided the borders, establishing a new Kildath and the Western Sovereignty. Since then many other nations have sprung from each of the three countries. Established by Dorin, the Mage-King, Los has been a peaceful realm devoted to protecting all humanity.

  Kitlum (kit-lum): the captain of the Arschicna.

  Klath (claath): a port city off the Aglin Gulf, located on the Kaldean Mainland in the Kingdom of Los.

  Klath Corridor: a channel of water leading to the city of Klath. Its average width spans twenty-seven grand phineals, with its widest length forty-three grand phineals. The channel is U-shaped, wrapping around a large rectangular island south of the city.

  Klindala (klin-dah-lah): a large island chain off the east coast of the Kaldean Mainland. Ruins cover much of the islands, remnants of an extinct dynasty dating back before the Karthar Empire.

  Klimith (klim-eeth): a small village northeast of Klath, along the highway leading to Alath.

  Klis (clis): a small nation on the Kaldean Mainland, with a capitol city of the same name.

  Ko’delish (KOH-dah-leesh): draconic for, darkness.

  Krandos Roll (cran-dose): a meal of vegetables and fish wrapped in seaweed.

  Kridan (kree-dahn): a member of Kenard’s crew.

  Krindal (krin-dahl): an old necromancer archeologist from Soroth.

  Kujark (coo-jahrk): a large humanoid mammal with gray-purple skin with lavender fur and thick black manes. Their faces are covered in brown-red leathery skin.

  Lamniryl Plains, the (lahm-neer-ahl): the southeastern plains of Merdan.

  League of Surveilors, the: an organization in Los’ military responsible for gathering information. They also investigate capitol crimes. Part of their organization is associated with the Kingdom Guard, assisting the armies of Los in times of war.

  Lish’nicht’nal (LISH-nahkt-NAHL): draconic for, the Ruby of Lish.

  Lith Luzdom (LITH luz-DUM): a common man-turned general who rebelled against the Karthar Empire, the father of Dorin, the Mage-King.

  Los: the capitol city of the Kingdom of Los.

  Lycanthrope: the term elves use in the Common tongue when referring to werewolves.

  Lysna (lis-nah): Almar’s betrothed.

  Ma’lisha (mah-li-shah): draconic for “immortal demon.” They are the first vampiric beings who came into existence during the Dragon Wars.

  Mage: a general designation for anyone who can wield magic. Mages are often identified by their particular discipline: arpranist, barsionist, conjurer, illusionist, necromancer, transmuter and wizard.

  Mage-rider: a messenger mage, typically a transmuter or an illusionist, used to relay messages between long distances. They can travel up to four times faster than an average horseback messenger, due to their ability to created transmogrified steeds and enhance the mount’s physical capacities.

  Mages’ Parasite: a humanoid creature whose primary form of sustenance comes from magic. They are gray-skinned with large pores, several inches in diameter, lining their bodies. Long forked tongues absorb the magic and are the primary digestive organ.

  Mages’ Park, the: a vast market within Alath’s Inner City.

  Mages’ Span, the: a bridge in Klath and one of the wonders of Kalda. It is just over three grand phineals long and is two hundred phineals wide, made of a dark-gray stone. It was constructed during the reign of Dorin, the Mage-King

  Magical Essence: mystical beings composed purely of magic. They are immortal and impervious to destructive forces, both magical and physical.

  Mainland, the: the largest continent on Kalda, located in the western hemisphere.

  Marsina (mar-SEE-nah): the Master Arcknight, a female mage-warrior who lived during the Thousand Years War.

  Master’s Wing, the: a dormitory for the masters and agents of the Estate.

  Mathal (math-all): an elementalist wizard and a member of the council of the Order of the Mages of Alath. He’s the Order’s head strategist.

  Maurin (marr-IN): Dorith’s half-sister.

  Medis (med-ees): the third ruler of the Mindolarn Empire, and a brother of Mindolarn.

  Melar Forest (MEH-lahr): a massive woodland in the Kingdom of Los.

  Menal Asterin (MEH-nahl aas-TIR-in): a former Guardian of Soroth, trained by Cornar, who protected the Governor of Soroth but joined his mentor on his adventure to Merda.

  Mendal (men-dahl): the third ruler of the Mindolarn Empire, and a brother of Mindolarn

  Merath (MEHR-ath): an elven city on the eastern coast of the Kaldean Mainland, one of two remaining elven cities on Kalda.

  Merda (MUR-dah): an ancient elven city on the eastern side of Merdan.

  Merda (MUR-dah): a female magical essence inhabiting the Merdan Fortress.

  Merdan (MUR-dahn): an island in the southwest ocean of Kalda, the Kalishir Ocean, the home of the elven metropolis of Merda, and the port city of Keth.

  Merdan Mountains: a purple mountain range spanning the entire length of Merdan.

  Meridin Box (mer-ee-dine): a box with a neretric seal, used for indefinitely preserving objects.

  Messel (meh-sull): a popular tea made from the inner bark of a tree of the same name.

  Mi’nthak (men-tha-ack): the crudest and most vulgar term in the draconic tongue.

  Midar (meh-darh): a warrior trained by Cornar, and a member of his and Iltar’s adventuring party.

  Mindolarn (mine-DOE-lahrn): the first ruler of an empire sharing his name. He has seven brothers.

  Mindolarn Empire, the (mine-DOE-lahrn): a nation on the Kaldean Mainland also known as Mindolarn.

  Mogrin Wand (mog-rin): a transmuting wand, used by humans who could not channel transmutive magic.

  Monach (mon-ach): a city along the coast of the Sea of Korath.

  Mongris (mon-GRISS): a captain of a Kadrea class warship in the Sorothian Navy in Captain Yargis’ fleet.

  Nactilious (NOC-till-E-ous): an enormous aquatic sea monster with thirty two tentacles. Its overall length is fifty phineals. Its head is seventeen phineals long, with a hard carapace enclosing most of it. The tentacles range from twenty phineals to thirty three. They have four eyes. A beak sits at the base of its head with small white antenna lining the beak’s interior. Like other cephalopods, the Nactilious secretes ink that is black-red. Most are dark blue colored with silver or gray accents, with earth toned carapaces and beaks.

  Nath: a member of Tilthan’s thieving troupe, originally from Klath.

  Necromancer: a mage specializing in corrosive and manipulative magics.

  Necrotic Sphere of Protection: one of Iltar’s unique spells using the Ko’delish.

  Nehon (NEE-hawn): an old elven slave from Merda, the son of Naseri. He was a young boy at the time of Merda’s civil collapse. He occupies a seat on Merda’s new Council of Elves as the city’s Arch Warder.

  Neldara (nell-darah): a captain in the Sorothian Navy sent to Los in search for Iltar.

  Nemmerin (nem-mer-in): a
transmuter and a member of the council of the Order of the Mages of Alath. He’s known for his staunch upholding of Losian Law.

  Nemral (NEHM-rall): a thief, and the newest member of Tilthan’s small band. Originally from Klath.

  Neretric (ner-eh-tric): a term describing a seal that is completely air and magic tight.

  Nestari (nes-tar-ee): an old elf occupying a seat on Merda’s new Council of Elves.

  Nethon (neh-thahn): one of three Ma’lisha who ruled Merda.

  Nicht’nal (nahkt-NAHL): the draconic name for the stones placed in the Au’misha’k.

  Nilia (nil-eeah): a young woman studying conjuration from Amendal, formerly Cornar’s maid. Amendal’s third apprentice.

  Nordal (NORE-dahl): a warrior trained by Cornar, and a member of Iltar’s adventuring band. Originally from Klath.

  Order of the Mages of Alath: a magical society with far-reaching ties to Kalda’s past. Founded in 4514 C.D. the first mages of Alath built their order upon the principles of righteousness. They saw themselves as protectors of humanity, though their world had had peace for over four millennia.

  They identify themselves with an emblem of a shadowy figure draped in a robe and covered with a cowl; he holds a globe of Kalda in his right hand and a fiery ball in his left, surrounded by seven streaks of magic. Two staffs are crossed in front of him.

  At the Order’s head is a council of twelve mages, typically comprised from the most powerful of each magical school.

  The council oversees two divisions within the Order; an educational branch and a military branch.

  The educational branch is broken into seven schools, representing the six magical disciplines (Arpran, Barsionary, Conjuration, Illusionary, Transmutation, and Wizardry) and the grand mage discipline. Within each school a headmaster oversees twenty-four masters, twelve for each sub-discipline, such as arcanists and elementalist. Those masters oversee up to five instructors, who have at least two assistant instructors. Each instructor works with Prime-Students, who are apprenticing assistant instructors. Outside the traditional hierarchy of the schools are Masters and Pages. In addition to the twenty-four masters of each school, other mages who belong to the military branch, or are former instructors and/or masters of the Order can take on Pages. To qualify as a Page, one must have at least ten years of schooling at the Estate of Concorious Knowledge.

  The second division comprises two separate groups, Agents of the Order and Protectors of the Order, the latter comprises a third of the Kingdom’s military.

  Ordreth (ORD-reth): a young warrior in Iltar’s expedition to Merda, and Cornar’s nephew.

  Palurn (pal-urn): a Losian coin worth twelve dorins, or four traunths. It is the highest valued coin the Losian monetary system.

  Pelarian (pell-are-ian): a captain in the Sorothian Navy sent to Tor in search for Iltar.

  Phendal (fen-dahl): an arcanist wizard and a member of the council of the Order of the Mages of Alath.

  Phineal (PHEN-ee-ahl): the standard length of measurement on Kalda; the equivalent of seventeen and a half inches or forty-three centimeters.

  Principality of Soroth: a nation made up of various islands: Soroth, Sereth, Sarn, Silgarn, Seriel, Sorgil, Scagarn, Sogil, Sorti, Sangarn, Scain, Sengarn, Seril, Sargon, Seron, Spilath, Scon, Scagil. Each island has their own democratic system. Representatives from each island sits on a national council arbitrated by the Governor of Soroth.

  Protectors of the Order: a division of mages within the Order of the Mages of Alath. They make up one third of Los’ military. Unlike the Agents of the Order, the Protectors are responsible to the hierarchy of the Kingdom Guard.

  Qui’sha (key-shah): draconic for “half breed.”

  Rencath (ren-cahth): a large humanoid reptilian creature. On average, they stand forty phineals and are covered in brown scales with hints of other colors. They have white manes with tresses hanging to their chests. They have reptilian snouts

  Regas (re-gahs): a conjurer, and Agent of the Order.

  Remnillia (REHM-nill-ee-ah): a female elven slave from Merda, appointed by the werewolves of Merda to lead her fellow slaves.

  Rendalin (rehn-DAH-lyn): the Master Guardian, a male elven warrior who lived during the Thousand Years War and perfected the art of wielding a fanisar.

  Ril’Sha (reel-SHAH): draconic name for, council. Anciently, the Ril’Sha was the ruling body of all dragonkind, with a representative from each draconic breed. After the dragon wars, the Ril’Sha consisted of seven to twelve platinum dragons.

  Rildan (ril-dahn): a conjurer and a member of the council of the Order of the Mages of Alath.

  Rinak’ma (rin-ach-mah): draconic for, barsion barrier; but, also the name for a magical device that can produce barsion magic indefinitely.

  Rinden (rin-den): an illusionist, head of the illusionary school, and a member of the council of the Order of the Mages of Alath.

  Riner (rhee-near): the governor of Soroth.

  River Mer (MUR), the: the largest eastward flowing river on the isle of Merdan. It divides the city of Merda from the plateau where the fortress of Merda sits.

  Rogulin Crystal: a type of blue crystal native to Kalda with magical capabilities. It is exotic matter.

  Rosten (roast-in): Soroth’s port magistrate.

  Rovin (row-vin): a powerful necromancer from Soroth. He and his brother, Cordis, were responsible for establishing the Soroth Necrotic Order.

  Ruby of Lish: a twenty-one sided gem made from the body of a red dragon and the key component for the Au’misha’k.

  Sandel (san-dell): assistant to Keth’s Port Magistrate, Zanille Narshon.

  Saprin (sap-rin): a young conjurer from Alath.

  Sarin Class Vessel: the largest class of warship in the Sorothian Navy. The vessels have five masts, sixty two canons, two of which are long-range artillery canons. They have eight decks; three above the main deck, and four below. They measure one hundred and forty phineals from stem to stern, with a beam of twenty seven and a half phineals. Each vessel has a crew compliment of three hundred and twenty eight.

  Sea of Korath (CORE-ath): a large landlocked sea on the Mainland, bordering the Kingdom of Los and Kildath.

  Sebul (seh-bull): a hiss’thrak possessing an illusion created by Iltar, defiant in his demeanor.

  Sereth (sair-eth): Third largest island of the Principality of Soroth, but second in population. Ruled by the Baron of Sereth.

  Serinian (sir-in-ee-in): a tropical fish native to the equatorial oceans of Kalda.

  Shadrin (shah-drin): a member of Kenard’s crew.

  Shan’ak (sha-n-ach): the draconic name for the conjuration anchor.

  Sharim (SHAH-rim): an elven settlement outside Keth. Its inhabitants consist of only pure-blooded elves.

  Sharon: a female thief in Iltar’s expedition, the third member of Tilthan’s troupe, and Ordreth’s lover

  Sharzen: a game of chance played with a card deck consisting of seven suites of twelve cards.

  Shem’rinal (shehm-ryn-ahl): the male magical essence of Merda who inhabits the building known as, the Merda Spire.

  Sinauc (sin-auch): a hiss’thrak possessing an illusion created by Iltar, irreverent and malevolent.

  Sloglien (slawg-leen): a large mammal native to the Carda Wastes and the Black Mountains, whose brown fur is extremely tough. Their fur is often woven into sacks and bags meant to carry sharp objects.

  Soroth (SORE-oth): the largest landmass in the island chain comprising the Principality of Soroth. Its largest city shares the same name.

  Sorothian Magical Order: the original magical society established on Soroth, where all forms of magic were taught. It differed from many other orders because of its acceptance of necromancy.

  Sulin (soo-lyn): an old elf occupying a seat on Merda’s new Council of Elves.

  Supreme Arbiter: the head judicial office in the Sorothian government. Those who occupy the office also sit on the highest council of the Principality of Soroth.

  Survas (sur-vahs)
: a captain in the Sorothian Navy of a Sarin class vessel sent to Klis in search of Iltar.

  Tamadin (tah-may-din): a captain in the Sorothian Navy of a Sarin class vessel sent to Hilarn in search of Iltar.

  Tambrino (tam-bree-no): a strategy game where two players control twenty-four pieces each, including soldiers, mages, scouts, elite guard, sages, generals, and monarchs. The capture of certain pieces gains a player points while retaining pieces also rewards points, but at half the value of those captured. The game ends once the first monarch piece is captured, but the player with the most points wins the game. It was named after two brothers who developed the game in 6134 C.D.

  Tethering Stone: a magical object capable of opening a spherical portal to another world, created by the Irum’mak’sha during the dragon wars. Various texts claim it was made from rogulin crystals and imbued with draconic magic. The portals are one-way, encased by barsion magic on the tethered world’s side. In order to cross back and forth one must possess a Tel’k’shak, or Key of the Stars.

  Thousand Years War, the: a series of conflicts spanning over a millennium. It began when Cheserith, a red dragon, rebelled against his fellow Ril’Sha, seeking to lay claim to his right to rule all Kalda. It brought about a permanent schism between dragonkind. Among men it is commonly known as the “Dragon Wars.”

  Thranar (thrahn-ar); a conjurer and a member of the council of the Order of the Mages of Alath.

  Tiden Kilian (tye-din kill-e-ahn): an admiral in the Sorothian Navy.

  Tilana (till-anah): a female Agent of the Order, Idina’s mother.

  Tilban (till-bahn): a member of Kenard’s crew.

  Tilthan (till-thaan): a notorious thief from Klath, and leader of a small band of thieves.

  Tingarins (tin-gahr-in): a Losian coin, worth one twelfth of a dorin.

  Tor: a large port city on the Kaldean Mainland, and capitol of the Western Sovereignty.

  Transmuter: a mage specializing in manipulating matter through transmutive magic.

  Transmuter’s Sphere: a blue glistening sphere composed of extremely dense matter. They are used by transmuters, often during battle, to erect fortifications or animate minions.