The Crown of the Conqueror

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The Crown of the Conqueror Page 49

by Gav Thorpe


  Mekha – An arid land hotwards of Nalanor and Ersua, divided into the semi-scrub of Near-Mekha and the deserts of Deep (or Far) Mekha. Home to the Mekhani tribes.

  Naakus River – A river in Near-Mekha, considered the border between Greater Askhor and Mekha. Site of Ullsaard's camp during his Mekha campaign and proposed location of a new Askhan settlement in the region.

  Nalanor – Province of the empire lying to duskwards of the Askhor Gap and first to be conquered by King Askhos. Consisting of rich farmlands, Nalanor was once the centre of trade of the empire, but as Greater Askhor has grown, the province faces stern competition from Salphorian importers and growing farmlands in Okhar. Despite this, Nalanor is considered the gateway of the empire, as it is linked by the Greenwater to other parts of Greater Askhor and sits next to the only secure route into Askhor. Its capital is situated at Parmia.

  Narun – Largest harbour on the Greenwater, situated on the border of Nalanor and Askhor. Known as the Harbour of a Thousand Fires due to its many light towers that allow safe navigation even at night. Many decades of construction have made Narun a huge artificial laketown boasting dozens of docks and quays. Almost all trade along the Greenwater passes through Narun at some point on its journey and most of the empire's shipbuilding is centred in Narun. The jewels in the crown of Narun are the stone built docks at the King's Wharf.

  Nemuria – A chain of smoke-shrouded islands situated to dawnwards of the Maasra coast. Home to the inhuman Nemurians, little is known of this realm other than its volcanic nature and richness of iron. Nemuria is protected by arrangement with the empire so that no ship may approach within a mile of its shores.

  Nemurian Strait – A narrow stretch of water separating the shores of Maasra from the isles of Nemuria.

  Okhar – Province of the empire flanking the Greenwater River coldwards of Askhor and bordered to dawnwards by Maasra, duskwards by Ersua and hotwards by Mekha; of rich farmlands, vineyards, forested uplands and numerous harbour towns. After Askhor, the richest province of the empire, due in large part to its much-prized marble and linen. Governed by Prince Nemtun from the capital at Geria.

  River Ladmun – River that runs along the border of Anrair and Enair from the Altes Hills.

  Royal Way – The broad thoroughfare running from the main gate of Askh up to the palaces on the Royal Hill.

  Salphoria – Lands situated to duskwards of Greater Askhor, separated from Ersua by the Free Country, of unknown size and population. Populated by disparate peoples and tribes, nominally ruled over by King Aegenuis from the capital at Carantathi.

  Ualnian Mountains – Range in Salphoria, site of Carantathi.

  Creatures

  Abada – Large herbivorous creature with prominent nose horn, used as a beast of burden throughout Greater Askhor.

  Ailur – Large species of cat bred by the Brotherhood as beasts of war and status symbols for Askhan nobility. Possessed of savage temper, only female ailurs are ridden to war, and do so hooded by armoured bronze masks. Known to attack in a berserk frenzy when unmasked.

  Behemodon – Large reptilian creature native to the deserts of Mekha. Employed as beasts of burden and war mounts by the Mekhani tribes.

  Blackfang – Ailur owned by Ullsaard.

  Kolubrid – Large, snakelike beast native to Maasra, employed by Askhans as mounts for messengers and skirmishing cavalry.

  Lacertil – Giant reptile used by the Mekhani as mounts.

  Lupus – Large, wolf-like beast used by Salphorians to draw war-chariots.

  Storm – Ailur owned by Ullsaard.

  ANGRY ROBOT

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  The empire strikes back

  An Angry Robot paperback original 2011

  1

  Copyright © Gav Thorpe 2011

  Gav Thorpe asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  UK ISBN - 978 0 85766 120 3

  eBook ISBN - 978 0 85766 122 7

  Set in Meridien by THL Design.

  Printed in the UK by CPI Mackays, Chatham, ME5 8TD.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

  This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated without the publisher's prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

 

 

 


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