by J. M. Lee
fizzgig: A small furry carnivore native to the Dark Wood. Sometimes kept as a pet.
hooyim: One of the many colorful leaping fish species that migrate in large schools along the northern Sifan coasts. Often called the jewels of the sea.
Landstrider: Long-legged hooved beasts common to the Spriton plains.
maudra: Literally “mother.” The matriarch and wise woman of a Gelfling clan.
maudren: Literally, “those of the mother.” The family of a Gelfling maudra.
muski: Flying quilled eels endemic to the Swamp of Sog. Babies are very small, but adults never stop growing. The oldest known muski was said to be as wide as the Black River.
ninet: One of Thra’s nine orbital seasons caused by the configuration of the three suns. Arcs in which Thra is farthest from the suns are winter ninets; arcs in which Thra is nearest are summer ninets. Each ninet lasts approximately one hundred trine.
swoothu: Flying creatures with strange sleeping patterns. Many act as couriers for the Gelfling clans in exchange for food and shelter.
ta: A hot beverage made by mixing boiling water and spices.
Three Brothers: Thra’s three suns: the Great Sun, the Rose Sun, and the Dying Sun.
Three Sisters: Thra’s three moons: the Blue Moon, the Pearl Moon, and the Hidden Moon.
trine: The orbital period of Thra moving around the Great Sun, roughly equivalent to an Earth year.
unamoth: A large-winged pearly white insect that sheds its skin once every unum.
unum: The time for Thra’s largest moon to circle Thra once, roughly equivalent to an Earth month.
vliya: Literally “blue fire.” Gelfling life essence.
vliyaya: Literally “flame of the blue fire.” Gelfling mystic arts.
APPENDIX
The Gelfling Clans
VAPRA
Sigil animal: Unamoth
Maudra: Mayrin, the All-Maudra
The Vapra clan was a beautiful race with white hair, fair skin, and gossamer-winged women. Considered the oldest of the Gelfling clans, the Vapra resided in cliffside villages along the northern coasts, making their capital in Ha’rar. The Vapra’s maudra, Mayrin, doubled as All-Maudra, matriarch leader of all the Gelfling clans. Vapra were skilled at camouflage; their vliyaya focused on light-changing magic, allowing them to become nearly invisible.
STONEWOOD
Sigil animal: Fizzgig
Maudra: Fara, the Rock Singer
This clan was a proud and ancient people who dwelled on the fertile lands near and within the Dark Wood. They made their main home in Stone-in-the-Wood, the historical home of Jarra-Jen. Many Stonewood Gelfling were valuable guards at the Castle of the Crystal. They were farmers and cobblers and makers of tools. They were inventive but pastoral; like their sigil animal, they were peaceful but fierce when threatened.
SPRITON
Sigil animal: Landstrider
Maudra: Mera, the Dream Stitcher
Age-old rivals of the Stonewood clan, the Spritons were a warrior race inhabiting the rolling fields south of the Dark Wood. With such bountiful land to raise crops and family, this clan’s territory spread to cover the valley in several villages. Counted among the most fierce fighters of the Gelfling race, the Spriton were often called upon to serve as soldiers for the Skeksis Lords and guards at the Castle of the Crystal.
SIFA
Sigil animal: Hooyim
Maudra: Gem-Eyed Ethri
Found in coastal villages along the Silver Sea, the Sifa were skilled fishermen and sailors, but very superstitious. Explorers by nature, the Sifa were competent in battle—but they truly excelled at survival. Sifan vliyaya focused Gelfling luck magic into inanimate objects; Sifan charms enchanted with different spells were highly desired by travelers, craftsmen, and warriors of all clans.
DOUSAN
Sigil animal: Daeydoim
Maudra: Seethi, the Skin Painter
This clan made their settlements on sandships—amazing constructs of bone and crystal that navigated the Crystal Sea like ocean vessels. Resilient even within the arid climate of the desert, the Dousan thrived. Their culture was shrouded and unsettlingly quiet, their language made of whispers and gestures, their life stories told in the intricate magic tattoos painting their bodies.
DRENCHEN
Sigil animal: Muski
Maudra: Laesid, the Blue Stone Healer
The Drenchen clan was a race of amphibious Gelfling who wallowed in the putrid Swamp of Sog, deep in the southernmost reaches of the Skarith region. Fatter and hairier than the rest of their race, the Drenchen were powerful in combat, but generally preferred to keep to themselves. Though one of the smallest Gelfling clans, the Drenchen had the largest sense of clan pride; they were loyal to one another, but remained as distant from other clans as possible.
GROTTAN
Sigil animal: Hollerbat
Maudra: Argot, the Shadow Bender
A mysterious, secretive breed who dwelled in perpetual darkness in the Caves of Grot. Generations in the shadows left them with an extreme sensitivity to light—and solid black eyes that could see in the dark and large ears to make out even the faintest of echoes. The Grottan clan was said to number less than three dozen Gelfling, and their life span was said to be unheard of, lasting three to four times as long as other Gelfling.
J. M. Lee is an author, illustrator, and writing mentor with a background in linguistics and film. His story “The Ring of Dreams” was awarded first place in the Jim Henson Company’s prestigious Author Quest. He writes cross-genre adventure, draws faces with really dramatic eyebrows, and mostly comes out at night . . . mostly. He lives with his wife, Claire, in Minneapolis. www.joeyverse.com
Brian Froud is regarded as the preeminent faerie artist in the world and an authority on faeries and faerie lore. His groundbreaking work with Jim Henson as conceptual designer on feature films The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth set new standards for design, puppeteering, and animatronics in film.
www.worldoffroud.com
Cory Godbey creates fanciful illustrations for books and films. His award-winning work has been featured in many esteemed annuals, including Spectrum and The Society of Illustrators. Cory enjoys drawing monsters, long hikes in the wilderness, and when it rains at night. He lives with his wife, son, and a pack of stray cats in South Carolina. www.corygodbey.com
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