The Nature of a Curse (Volume 2 of the Year of the Red Door)

by William Timothy Murray

  Beras-- The personification of the Creator; sometimes called Intent. He is worshipped by Elifaen, Men, and the Dragonkind, all having separate views of Beras. Beras is also referred to as the personification of the Creator's Intent, seeing to the balance of the world. It was Beras who commanded the earth to be formed and for life to emerge upon it. And it is Beras who is regarded as the father of the Faerekind. The Dragonkind peoples also worship Beras who is, in their religions, the force behind their liberation from the ancient dragons who enslaved them. Men worship Beras as their savior, who directed their departure from their Lost World and guided their epic passage across the boundless sea to the shores of the Found World.

  Berralasa-- One of the Elders of Nowhere, the outspoken wife of Herbert the Blue.

  Bilaylin-- 1. A founder of the Bosk clan of Men, also called Bilaylin the Hammer. Along with several other Men he joined with the Elifaen to fight the Dragonkind in the Second Age. He gained a reputation for valor on the battlefield and cantankerousness everywhere else. He died at Tulith Attis during the Dragonkind siege of that place, but was survived by a son and three daughters. 2. The right name of Billy Bosk, a descendant of Bilaylin the Hammer. Billy Bosk was one of those who accompanied Robby Ribbon and his party westward in 870 of the Second Age.

  Biradur-- (Biradur Waste) The desert wasteland to the southeast of the Blue Mountains of Vanara in the northernmost reaches of the Dragonlands. It stretches from Kajarahn to the west to the Nalamain Hills and the Tamkal Plain to the east, and reaching from the Badlands southward to Calamandor (the Green Citadel). The Biradur is notorious for its vast flat stretches, sometimes covered by shifting dunes of sand, and for its violent sandstorms.* (See Map Coordinates C5)

  Blain-- (Blain Farby) Father of Grantham Farby of Duinnor

  Blaney-- Surname of brothers Gargeoff and Markum Blaney, residents of Hill Town and expert scouts. The two brothers migrated from Tracia during the rise of the Triumvirate and served under Martin Makeig in the fighting that took place when Redvests invaded the Eastlands.

  Bletharn-- (Bletharn Plain, or The Great Bletharn Plains) The great grassy plain that divides east from west, with Duinnor and Vanara on the north and west at the edge of the world and the other realms to its south and east. It is virtually uninhabited and has few trees and no significant surface water in the form of streams or lakes In addition, a peculiar blight lays upon this region so that any game taken from the place and eaten will make a person violently ill from an intestinal malaise that might last for days but rarely results in lasting harm.* (See Map Coordinates G5)

  Bloodcoins-- The common name for the Forty-Nine Keys to the Nimbus Illuminas, often called simply, The Forty-Nine. There are various theories as to how they came to be called Bloodcoins. One stems from a legend pertaining to Chantay and her daughter Lucinda, that when Chantay was driven mad by the Seven given to her by Aperion, Lucinda cut off her mother's head and Chantay's blood covered the objects of the dispute. Others say that they are called Bloodcoins because they were given to the seven greatest "blood houses" or bloodlines of the Elifaen. Another explanation stems from the superstition that any Mortal who possesses any Faere coin of any kind will meet with bad luck or death (But there is no indication that this belief existed at all until sometime during the latter part of the Second Age.)*

  Bluepine-- A village in the northern extremes of Tallinvale.

  Bodwin-- (Sally Bodwin) Girl of Hill Town in the late Second Age. Daughter of Niels Bodwin and goddaughter of Martin Makeig.*

  Boggy Wood-- A densely wooded and boggy region of Forest Mistwarren on the eastern side of the River Saerdulin opposite County Barley at Tulith Attis. (See Map of County Barley)

  Bonewalker's Valley-- Also called Griferis Vale or Grigferith Vale. Since little is known about Griferis, many tales and legends surround it. Bonewalker's Valley may be derived from the land of Shatuum that surrounds Griferis since it is in that place that all manner of vile and hideous creatures dwell and from where goblins and other creatures purportedly come from. (See Map Coordinates C3)

  Bordy-- A Passdale councilman.

  Borwain-- Ward of Lord Threshmere of the House of Hemlock. Borwain was crippled from a young age and depended upon the use of crutches to get about. He had the uncanny talent of making drawings that seem to depict living, moving, and changing things.

  Bosk-- One of the Ancient Honored Houses of Men, though not a Named House. It is descended from the earliest Men that arrived on the world's shore. The family estate is located in County Barley of the Old Eastlands Realm. Its most famous member was Bilaylin the Hammer who fought and died at Tulith Attis. His descendants were granted vast land holdings not far from Tulith Attis.

  Boskland-- A regional name for the lands belonging to the House of Bosk. (See Map of County Barley)

  Branard-- One of the militia of Boskland.

  Brennig-- (Russard Brennig) Commander General of Tallinvale, Lord Tallin's chief aide and military advisor, died at the Second Battle of Tallinvale.

  Brinathar-- (Brinathar the Lion) Summer constellation to the east of Behemoth. Brinathar was a lion, and was the legendary protector of Ererdid the Princess, whose constellation is nearby. This constellation depicts Brinathar watchfully crouching nearby to the sleeping Ererdid.

  Broadweed-- (Gustan Broadweed) Schoolmaster in the town of Passdale, County Barley in the late Second Age.*

  Brolith-- Elder of Nowhere.

  Buckie-- Powerful pony of Barley, favorite of Ibin Brinnin. Would allow no other person to ride him.

  Buckman's Ferry-- A ferry located near to where the Bentwide meets the Saerdulin. (See Map of County Barley)

  Buckmarl-- A type of large antlered deer or elk ridden by many of the Faere in the Elder Days and sometimes still. They are swift and light on the hoof, strong and nimble in the wood and on rocky mountainsides. They are renown for their ability to leap from crag to crag, much like a ram, with surefooted ease.

  Byrn-- (Byrn Tallyck) Tradesman and resident of Greenfar.

  Bywaters-- Resident of Greenfar.

  * * *

  Calamandor-- Known as the Green Citadel by Men, a great city in the northern deserts of the Dragonlands, sacked and destroyed twice in the Second Age. It is one of the oldest and largest cities of the Dragonkind, with plentiful wells. It was called the Green Citadel because of the tower that once held the Glowing Stone of Bazradur which emitted a bright green light both day and night. In 790 S.A., the tower mysteriously crumbled and fell, shattering the stone so that it could not glow as before. Calamandor was also renown for its elegant and rare overhanging gardens.* (See Map Coordinates D5)

  Calletshire-- County in northeastern Eastlands Realm close to the border with Glareth Realm. (See Map Coordinates K3)

  Calman-- A captain of the King's Post stationed at Janhaven during the late Second Age.

  Carbane-- Ruling Prince of Glareth, father of Prince Danoss. Carbane is of the Elifaen House of Beech.

  Carella-- A bright star of the constellation Brinathar the Lion, often called the Eye of Brinathar.

  Carthane Mountains-- (The Carthanes) Lofty mountains to the west of Glareth and the Eastlands Realms. The range is bordered in the north by the the Osterflo River and stretches south to the Thunder Mountains, west to the Plains of Bletharn, and eastward to Lake Halgaeth. Its highest peaks are ever capped with snow, as they rise precipitously in the middle region of the range and drop away as rapidly to the north. Its high passes, particularly Loringard Pass, are a favorite summer route to and from the Eastlands and the west, but they are closed from late summer through late spring by ice and snow. * (See Map Coordinates I3)

  Cartu-- A warlord clan of Thunder Mountain hillsmen who took power over the Damar and eventually united the other clans under their rule, making Lang Cartu their king.

  Celefar-- 1. One of the Firstborn Faere who stayed behind with Cupeldain and the others of the Faere who were determined to fight the Dragonkind. It was Celefar who was loved by Aperion's daughter, La
eleth, and the love of Laeleth and Celefar and their travails to be reunited are recorded in many songs, poems, and tales. 2. A buckmarl ridden by Prince Thurdun, brother of Queen Serith Ellyn of Vanara. He is named for one of the legendary Firstborn, a great warrior and the lover of Laeleth, daughter of Aperion.

  Certina-- One of the so-called "Familiars." She accompanied Collandoth in the world during the Second Age. Certina's form was that of a small owl, no bigger than one's hand.

  Chaldron-- A constellation of the northern sky, named by the Dragonkind fro a mighty warrior. Chaldron ever circles the North Star, lost and never able to find his way home.*

  Chancellor-- In most realms, the title is given to the highest ruling lord of the land. In Vanara, the Chancellor is the very highest lord, second only to the Queen in power, who is selected by the Queen to serve as her head of state, overseeing military, diplomatic, judicial, and economic matters and carrying out the Queen's Rule of Law, acting as the Chief Judge of the Land with the power to overturn the verdicts and rulings of Vanaran Judges. The Lord Chancellor of Vanara is also Regent of Vanara whenever the Queen is absent from court, speaking for the Queen and with the Queen's authority. In 849 S.A., Lord Rolland Seafar was named Chancellor, the first mortal to hold that title. The House of Seafar continuously held the title thereafter, with Brandis Seafar, at the age of thirty, becoming the youngest Chancellor in Vanara's history in 865 S.A.

  Chanter-- One of the captains of the Household Gray Guard of Queen Serith Ellyn, brother of Gaiyelneth, companion and maid to the Queen.

  Chiroth-- Region to the west of Duinnor that mines silver ore that is exceptionally pure. (See Map Coordinates C1)

  Chiselpeck-- A village in the Carthanes that mines silver and produces modest jewelry. It was known as Darforin until sometime in the middle of the Second Age, when it took the name of the chief mining concern located there. (See Map Coordinates I3)

  Chulwinkie-- A resident of Bluepine.

  Clingdon-- Blacksmith of Passdale, County Barley, father of Gina.

  Common Speech-- Also referred to as the Common Tongue. It is the common language of Men and Elifaen, and the native language for most Men of the eastern realms. It became the standard language of trade and commerce during the Second Age and as its use spread the former languages, particularly the Ancient Speech, fell into disuse. It is a heterogeneous language made up of many aspects of the Ancient Speech and various dialects, combining words and phrases brought by Men to the world with those spoken by the Elifaen.

  Common Tongue-- Also referred to as the Common Speech. It is the common language of Men and Elifaen, and the native language for most Men of the eastern realms. It became the standard language of trade and commerce during the Second Age and as its use spread the former languages, particularly the Ancient Speech, fell into disuse. It is a heterogeneous language made up of many aspects of the Ancient Speech and various dialects, combining words and phrases brought by Men to the world with those spoken by the Elifaen.

  conjurer-king-- The magical kings of legend who reigned over marvelous and mysterious lands unseen by ordinary mortals or Elifaen. Children's stories abound with such figures, sometimes evil, sometimes solitary individuals rarely seen. There is a basis for these tales in the kingship of Duinnor, for that king has an unknown name, is rarely seen, and rules through mysterious and, some say, magical powers.

  Cormund Valley-- A fertile valley in Vanara to the east of the Iridelin River.

  Craggy Sea-- The stretch of sea to the south of the Dragonlands and Altoria. It is a region filled with reefs, shallows, and jagged rocks that jut up from the surface. The combination of these obstacles with powerful currents, frequent fog, strong tides, and violent storms make navigation through this sea nearly impossible. Since wood is scarce throughout the Dragonlands, the people of that region rarely venture far from the few safe bays along their coast. It therefore serves as a natural barrier protecting Altoria from any large-scale sea-based invasions from the west. (See Map Coordinates D8)

  Crevasse of Fire-- Located along the eastern slopes of the Tulivana Mountains, the Crevasse of Fire was formed in the First Age when a volcano erupted there and spewed flowing lava. The lava cut a deep channel between two sharp cliffs and pooled somewhat before cutting under the mountain that blocked the lava before flowing farther eastward through into the western edges of the Hinderlands. The volcano remained active for several years, and the Crevasse of Fire was the place where, in 918 F.A., Navis of Elmwood did battle with Jatarak the Ogre. Navis prevailed, and it is told that he cut off Jatarak's head to take back to Altoria, and tossed the giant's body into the Crevasse. Legend has it that Jatarak's body was not consumed by the molten pool, but was eaten by the dragon that put forth the fiery bile that made the volcano. The dragon, so the story goes, was satisfied with the meal, and went to sleep. By the time Navis had returned to Altoria through the Hinderlands, the volcano had become quiet. (See Map Coordinates E7)

  Culfinor-- One of the ways in which the Unknown King of Duinnor is addressed, meaning "the one who is alone," or, "lonely one," presumably because of his isolation and rare public appearances.

  Cupeldain-- One of the Firstborn of the Faerekind and founder of the House of Fairlinden. It was Cupeldain who led the Faerekind to make a war of retaliation against the Dragonkind, against Aperion's command. He and those who followed him were punished by being stripped of their wings.*

  Cuwali-- A name for the strange nomad tribes and the name of their language. They are hunting tribes, living primitively along the southern reaches of the Bletharn Plains.*

  * * *

  Dalefath-- The former name of the site where Passdale now stands, on the western banks of the Bentwide River in the County Barley of the old Eastlands Realm. When Heneil dammed the Saerdulin at Lake Halgaeth, the lake waters to rose and spilled into the Bentwide, forming a river that was before merely a stream. At that time, the old bridge at Dalefath was rebuilt and made higher and stronger. As a result, Dalefath became an important crossroads since it was the farthest north that heavy trade barges could come (smaller boats could still travel up the Saerdulin as far as Tulith Attis, but only if they were rowed by skilled oarsmen.) The name went out of common use sometime after the battle at nearby Tulith Attis, when Dalefath and the surrounding lands were destroyed. After its destruction, it would be almost a hundred years before the site was reoccupied and eventually called Passdale. (See Map of County Barley)

  Dalvenpar-- (Dalvenpar Tallin) Eldest son of Danig Tallin and Kahryna of the House of Fairoak. He became a Kingsman and died during the bloody retreat from the First Siege of the Green Citadel (Calamandor) within the Dragonlands.

  Damar-- A warlord region in the Thunder Mountains that sprang up in the latter Second Age; it allied itself with Tracia during that realm's revolt against Duinnor's rule. Its people was ruled by the Cartu warlord clan, and its most powerful ruler was Lang Cartu, who made himself king over the Damar in the late Second Age.

  Damar City-- The chief city of the Damar. The fortified city became the seat of power for the Damar warlords. (See Map Coordinates I4)

  Danig-- First given name of Danig Saheed Tallin, Lord of Tallinvale during the late Second Age.

  Danoss-- Prince of the House of Beech, son of Glareth's Ruling Prince Carbane. Prince Danoss was the prince and governor of the Connassa Province of Glareth Realm during the late Second Age. He made his home at Formouth, on the northern shore of Lake Halgaeth. He organized the Connassan Lakemen into a paramilitary naval force tasked with patrolling the lake against pirates, and with carrying on trade with the south, and transporting passengers and trade-goods across the lake.

  Danthis-- A military engineer, builder, and sculptor of the middle Second Age. He was responsible for the design and construction of many watch towers and minor keeps and fortifications in Vanara. He also built Tulith Morgair, a watch tower on the western Carthanes overlooking the Missenflo and the Bletharn Plains.