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

by William Timothy Murray

  Tamkal Plain, Battle of-- A famous battle that took place in the First Age, sometimes called the Battle of the Kings. It came about after King Salkasin of the Dragonkind sought to establish a line of keeps and fortresses along the northern borders of the Dragonlands. Vanara, fearing that these would be used to protect an invading army, began a campaign to disrupt their construction and to destroy those already completed. King Salkasin led a large army north and east, seeking to swing around the Nalamain Hills to outflank the Elifaen. However, learning of this, King Parthais of Vanara led his own army into position ahead of the Dragonkind and met them on the Tamkal Plain within sight of the Nalamain Hills. It was a short but intense battle, and the only time when kings of the Dragonkind and Vanara would personally face one another. Parthais won the contest, killing Salkasin and beheading him while his troops routed the rest of the Dragonkind. This decisive battle resulted in many years of relative peace during which the Dragonkind engaged in a series of internal power struggles. With the death of King Salkasin, the lineage of Kalzar would be broken until the Second Age when it would be revived by Salzadur.

  Teracue-- (Artais Teracue) General of the Kingsman Fourth Army in the late Second Age.*

  Thalamir-- The last Sea King of Glareth, of the Elifaen House of Beech, who was instrumental in bringing about the wealth and power that Glareth would enjoy during the latter part of the Second Age after his reign ended.*

  Therepolon-- One of the Wanderers, a star that glows bright yellow and moves across the night sky along its own path.

  Therona-- Former Queen of Altoria, of the House of Fairwillow. Former Queen of Altoria, of the House of Fairwillow. She was forced to abdicate when she could (or would) no longer account for her Seven Bloodcoins. She late died in exile, probably by her own hand.*

  Thistledown-- A region in Vanara.

  Threshmere-- Lord of the House of Hemlock during the late Second Age.

  Thrubold-- (Kurk Thrubold) Kingsman of the Thrubold family who served with distinction at the Battle of Garmitor (856 S.A.) and was severely wounded. He would have died on the battlefield but for the bravery of Ullin Saheed Tallin who saved his life (In gratitude, Ullin would later receive a horse as a gift from the Thrubold family, called Anerath.)*

  Thunder Mountains-- A mountain range between the Eastlands and the middle Plains of Bletharn, south of the Carthanes and stretching into the foothills within Tracia and Masurthia. The Thunder Mountains are named for the noise once made by its most feared inhabitants, the trolls. (See Map Coordinates I4)

  Thurdun-- Son of Parthais, brother of Queen Serith Ellyn of the House of Fairlinden.*

  Timbo-- Boy of Nowhere.

  Tiryna-- Firstborn of the Faerekind, and sister to Desira. Tiryna with Banis had three children, Atlana, Navis, and Esildre. Of these, only Tiryna departed with Aperion.

  Tolimay-- A Melnari, sometimes called Tolimay the Angry. Very little is known about him, and the only record that directly refers to him was a list of guests who attended a banquet in Masurthia. Stories abound, however, nearly all of which having to do with his legendary temper.*

  Toliss-- Prince of Duinnor. During the late Second Age, he expanded the King's Post, using Kingsmen as couriers throughout the Seven Realms.*

  Tonifor-- Boskman, cousin to Billy Bosk on his father's side.

  Toolant-- Former advisor to Prince Lewtrah and the court of Tracia before it was overthrown by the Redvest Triumvirate. Unrelated to this, he was often called Toolant the Red for his bright red hair and beard.

  Torman-- Livery and stable operator in Passdale. He partnered with a master blacksmith named Clingdon who made horseshoes and other equipment needed by his farriers and saddlers.

  Torridge-- Elder of Nowhere.

  Tracia-- One of the Seven Realms, located to the southeast of the world along the coasts where Men first settled. Its chief city is Forlandis. In the late Second Age, Tracia suffered a series of revolts and uprisings, culminating in the overthrow of the Ruling Prince by the so-called Triumvirate and its army of Redvests (named for the color of their uniforms).* (See Map Coordinates K5)

  Trebuchet-- A type of ballistic engine of war used to hurl missiles at the enemy. Trebuchets make use of counterbalance weights to move a throwing arm (similar to the throwing arm of a catapult) to which a sling holding the projectile is attached. Trebuchets can be quite large and can hurl enormous missiles a great distance with accuracy.*

  Triumvirate-- Also known as the Redvest Triumvirate for the reddish uniforms, surcoats, tunics, and banners of its soldiers. The Redvest Triumvirate is a trio of rulers that took power in Tracia in 853 S.A. during the civil war that drove out the Tracian Ruling Prince Lewtrah and his brother Prince Lantos after years of unrest.*

  Troll-- A crude race of unknown origin that populated the Thunder Mountains and whose noise while walking or moving rocks gave the mountains their name. The trolls were large, heavy, stone-like creatures of a cumbersome disposition that lived by eating rocks and sometimes other large creatures. They dwelled mainly in the eastern mountains and were rarely encountered as far west as Vanara and Duinnor, and as far south as the Dragonlands. The trolls inhabited the Thunder Mountains well before Men came to the eastern shores.*

  True Ink-- A magical ink that fades and becomes invisible if what is written with it is false.*

  Tulith Attis-- An old abandoned fortress in County Barley, of the Eastlands. It was the site of a siege and subsequent massacre during the Great Dragonkind Invasion, and events there precipitated much discord between Men and Elifaen.* (See Map of County Barley)

  Tulith Morgair-- A small beacon tower or keep on the west side of the Thunder Mountains. It is situated at the cliff end of a shoulder of a mountain that juts westward and overlooks a ford of the River Missenflo along the old road to Fisenwold. It was built by Danthis of Duinnor in the early Second Age as a part of a line of keeps that were to guard the trade routes to Duinnor. A battle took place below it along the banks of the Missenflo when a small loose knit army of men and Elifaen tried in vain to stop the eastward march of Dragonkind during the invasion of 322 S.A.. The keep was abandoned and soon fell into disuse and ruin. By the late years of the Second Age, it was all but forgotten. (See Map Coordinates H4)

  Tulivana-- (The Tulivanas) A virtually impenetrable mountain range running north and south from Vanara to the sea and to the west of Altoria. To the south, it rises up from the sea to the west of the Hinderlands. In the north, they bend westward into the Blue Mountains and the Megrinor Mountains. Along its eastern feet runs the Iridelin River, from Vanara to Altoria, feeding the Hinderland marshes before emptying into the Craggy Sea. To the west of the Tulivana range are the deserts of the Dragonkind. From north to south, its slopes are sharp and rugged with frequent earthquakes and avalanches and a few volcanoes. With its narrow and easily defended passes, the Tulivana Mountains make a natural strategic barrier against Dragonkind incursions. There have been only a few times in history when the Dragonkind managed to break through in large numbers, including the Great Invasion that took place in the early Second Age. (See Map Coordinates E6)

  Turnbuckle-- (House of Turnbuckle) A lesser house of Men in Tracia, dissolved in 840 S.A. when the last of that line died.*

  Twobanks-- A local name for the area of Barley, originally meaning all the land between the old course of the Rivers Saerdulin and Bentwide, but more lately taken to mean those people who occupy both Barley and Passdale. The Mayor of Twobanks was an unofficial title given to Robigor Ribbon the Elder, who was the first Barleyman ever to become mayor of Passdale.

  Tyrillick-- Elifaen of the House of Tallmaple. He was captain of Lyrium's household guard and presumably died with her when Tulith Attis fell to the Dragonkind.

  Tyrin-- (Tyrin Spritsul) A mercenary of the late Second Age.*

  Tyrsharat-- The capital city of Drakyr, from where the kings of the Dragonkind rule. It is the most ancient of the desert cities, built by Kalzar before the First Age. Also sometimes called the Golden City b
ecause of the gold-plated roofs and domes that reflect the sun. (See Map Coordinates D6)

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  Uden-- One of the First Men, known as Uden of Selacia, who chronicled some of the events of the early Second Age. He witnessed the reconstruction of Tulith Attis during the time of Heneil, but was not alive when the fortress fell to the Dragonkind.

  Umston-- Small town of the Eastlands Realm. (See Map Coordinates K4)

  Undertree-- A small town near the western edge of Tallinvale, just outside of the valley proper, within the foothills of the Thunder Mountains.

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  Valkose-- A demon of the First Age or perhaps long before, hidden until he was discovered and destroyed by Collandoth in the late Second Age.

  Valley of Dreams-- A valley in northern Vanara where is located the Temple of Beleron. (See Map Coordinates D3)

  Vanara-- One of the Seven Realms and the most ancient of all, believed to be among the first places where the Faerekind of the world lived. It was in Vanara that the Faerekind built their first cities, before the Fall. It lies to the south of Duinnor and just north of the Dragonlands, separated by a rugged range of mountains from the deserts.* (See Map Coordinates D4)

  Vendril-- A high mountain northwest of Duinnor. Ever covered with snow, it is the source of unusually pure silver ore. It is also the location of the ancient tower of the same name. (See Map Coordinates C1)

  Veritask-- A legendary advisor and soothsayer to Aperion who foretold the coming of strife among the Faerekind. In the late Second Age, this name was given to a bright red star that appeared in the west and was seen in Vanara and Duinnor. It was first observed on Midwinter's Day in the Year 869 and remained visible until Midsummer's Day of 870.

  Vidican-- (Branthis Vidican) Tracian Redvest general who led an army into the Eastlands during the late Second Age and captured County Barley and Passdale.*

  Vinkasinea-- A witch of the ancient world. She persisted until the Second Age and re-emerged during the Second Demon War. She briefly captured Collandoth, but he was rescued by one of his companions of the Nine Banes who killed her.

  * * *

  Watcher-- A term sometimes given to those who delve into the mysterious and mystical. Sometimes it only means one who is an agent of another, or one who is commissioned to observe events and discern the meaning of those events and other signs.

  Waterstone-- A House of Men, of the Weatherlee estates in Tracia. In the late Second Age, Lord Waterstone was a staunch Royalist, although a critic of Prince Lewtrah and an advocate for reform, and he actively opposed the Triumvirate's violent rise to power.*

  Wayfind-- One of the stags of Uncle Solstice.

  Wayregyle-- Region to the northwest of the Carthane Mountains from which hardy olives are grown for their oil. (See Map Coordinates I2)

  Weatherlee-- Name of estates and minor principality of Tracia belonging to the House of Waterstone (a House of Men). (See Map Coordinates K5)

  Weepingbrook-- Small stream in Barley. Legend tells that during the fall of Tulith Attis, women fleeing from the slaughter came upon their dead spouses lying about the banks of the stream. There, they wept and swore terrible oaths of vengeance and anguish, and were turned to stone by their anger. (See Map of County Barley)

  Westerman-- A term used to refer to Men living or from the western parts of the world, particularly Duinnor and Vanara.

  Westlands-- A term generally referring to Altoria, Duinnor, and Vanara, but may be used to refer to any area west of the Great Bletharn Plains

  Westlawn-- Town in the western edge of the Plains of Bletharn. It was overtaken by devotees of the cult of Wokan, called Wickermen, and entered into a feud with the neighboring town of Edgewold. The resulting hostilities led to a major battle involving armies from both places and, joining with the Edgewold fighters, Kingsman forces of Duinnor. It was at Westlawn that the Wickermen created a monster from the choking vines that they propagated. (See Map Coordinates F4)

  Westleaf-- A type of aromatic smoking herb or tobacco that is mildly intoxicating.

  Weylan-- (Chrisafer Weylan) Tallinvale Captain of the Northern Gate and childhood friend of Ullin Saheed Tallin.

  Wickerlands-- Those areas in the west that were under the possession of the Wickermen of the town of Westlawn during the Second Age. (See Map Coordinates F4)

  Wickermen-- Worshipers of Wokan, spirit of the grasping vine, which is a form of kudzu. The Wickermen made woven armor from the vine and planted it throughout the fields of their enemies.

  Winborn-- (Sam Winborn) Farmer of Barley.

  Windard-- Head butler and keeper of Tallin Hall in the late Second Age.

  Winterford-- Young man of Martin Makeig's Hill Town people. Winterford was a midshipman under Makeig aboard the Golden Swallow. He was aboard during the Battle of Grisland Strait and was with Makeig's surviving group after the loss of their ship and during their subsequent escape from Tracia. He and his fellow shipmates eventually settled in Hill Town, in the Thunder Mountains.

  Wokan-- Dark spirit of the grasping vine. Wokan was worshipped in various places, but its most notable adherents were those of the Wickerman rebellion who took over the town and region of Westlawn in the west. There a mysterious sorcerer invoked Wokan to infest neighboring fields with a vine known as "kudzu." In Wokan's name, the sorcerer conjured a monster made of the flesh of men and tendrils of the vine. The monster almost immediately killed its creator, whose name remains unknown. That same day, it was destroyed by fire set upon it by a Kingsman army.

  Wolftooth-- Also called Slobberfang, A feverish ailment resulting from being bitten by wild animals, particularly wolves.

  * * *

  Zurlamont-- A low mountain located in the southernmost region of Karkarando in the Dragonlands rising up from the Craggy Sea. Upon its summit is the Tower Zurlamont, one of the Seven Towers of mysterious origin and purpose. (See World Map Coordinate C8)

  * * *

  Many of these entries are abridged versions of those found within

  The Reader's Companion

  to the

  Year of the Red Door.

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  Maps

  A Note from the Cartographers

  The geography and place names depicted on the following maps are generally accepted to be accurate as of the year of their preparation (869 Second Age). Distances are approximate, given the scales of the maps. However, these are only intended to give a general sense of the scale and relationship of the various regions and features. They are not intended for travel or navigation. Any mishap as a result from the use of these maps for such purposes of travel are the responsibility of the user, not the mapmakers.

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  Duinnor City

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  Map of the Western World

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  The Carthanes