Stormed Fortress (113 page)

Spring 5672

Weavings

Last to board the state galley moored at the quay beside the slagged ruin of Avenor, Lysaer
s'Ilessid
muses to his Lord Commander at Arms, while the lines are cast off to make sail in the wake of the last flotilla of refugees:
'
Regrets? I have many. But none to outmatch my honest need for your strength, as I grope for the foothold to safeguard the future . . .

The tall oaks of Halwythwood bud with new leaves on the day that two trail-weary travellers return to Earl Barach
'
s lodge tent; beside a grown daughter clad in
caithdein
'
s
black, invested by Fellowship presence at Methisle, Feithan weeps for joy in the arms of Sidir, restored to her side on command of a crown prince whose talents would bless her life best through benevolent absence . . .

Far south, amid the black sands of Sanpashir, on the dark moon fallen nearest the spring equinox, the eldest of the Biedar unsheathes an ancient flint knife to cut the birth-cord of an infant successor; and her words, in thick dialect, charge the child to watch over the one named as Mother Dark
'
s Chosen through the trials of the next generation . . .

Glossary

A
'
LIESSIAD—a wholeness of balance between all beings,

pronounced:
ah-less-ee-ahd

root meaning
:
a
'
liessiad -
balance, with the prefix for the ferninine aspect.

ADRUIN—fortified coastal town located in East Halla, Midhalla. Bitter enemies of the s
'
Brydion of Alestron, with a running blood feud since the uprising in Third Age 5018.

pronounced:
like
'
add ruin
'

root meaning
:
adruinne -
to block, or obstruct; or alternatively
al
- over;
duinn -
hand

AFFI
'
ENIA—name given to Elaira by an adept, meaning dancer in the ancient dialect of the Biedar tribe, but carrying the mystical connotation of
'
water dancer
'
, the wise woman who presided over the ritual of rebirth, celebrated on the spring equinox.

pronounced:
affee-yen-yah

root meaning
:
affi
'
enia
- dancer

AIYENNE—river located in Daon Ramon, Rathain, rising from an underground spring in the Mathorn Mountains, and coming above ground south of the Mathom Road. Site of the ruinous battle between Earl Jieret
'
s war band, and the Alliance war host under Sulfin Evend, which enabled Arithon
'
s escape to the north in Third Age 5670.

pronounced:
eye-an

root meaning
: ai
'
an - hidden one

ALESTRON—city located in Midhalla, Melhalla. Ruled by Duke Bransian, Teir
'
s
'
Brydion, and his three brothers. This city did not fall to merchant townsmen in the Third Age uprising that threw down the high kings, but is still ruled by its clanblood heirs.

pronounced:
ah-less-tron

root meaning
:
alesstair
- stubborn; an - one

ALITHIEL—one of twelve Blades of Isaer, forged by centaur Ffereton s
'
Darian from metal taken from a meteorite, and sung by the Athlien with the arcane endowment for transcendent change. Passed through Paravian possession, acquired the secondary name Dael-Farenn, or Kingmaker, since its owners tended to succeed the end of a royal line. Eventually was awarded to Kamridian s
'
Ffalenn for his valor in defence of the princess Taliennse, early Third Age. Currently in the possession of Arithon.

pronounced:
ah-lith-ee-el

root meaning
:
alith
- star;
iel
- light
'
ray

ALLAND—principality located in south-eastern Shand. Ruled by the Lord Erlien s
'
Taleyn, High Earl, and appointed
caithdein
of Shand.

pronounced:
all-and

root meaning
:
a
'
lind -
pine glen

ALTHAIN TOWER—spire built at the edge of the Bittern Desert, beginning of the Second Age, to house records of Paravian histories. Third Age, became repository for the archives of all five royal houses of men after rebellion, overseen by the Fellowship Sorcerer, Sethvir, named Warden of Althain since Third Age Year 5100.

pronounced:
all-thay-in

root meaning
:
alt -
last;
thein -
tower, sanctuary original Paravian pronunciation: alt-thein

ANIENT—Paravian invocation for unity,

pronounced:
an-ee-ent

root meaning
:
an -
one;
lent -
suffix for
'
most
'

ANSHLIEN
'
YA—name given to Meiglin s
'
Dieneval by the desert tribes of Sanpashir, prior to her conception of Dari
'
s
'
Ahelas, crown heir of Shand, who would bear the rogue talent for far-sighted vision.

pronounced:
ahn-shlee-yen-yah

root meaning
:
anshlien
'
ya
- Biedar dialect, ancient word for
'
dawn;
'
idiom for
'
hope
'

ANYN
'
E ADM S
'
TEIRDAEL—handfast to my prince,

pronounced:
an-een-ay ay-in s
'
tay-er-daa-el

root meaning
:
anyn
'
e -
one with suffix for in potentia;
ain
- my;
s
'
teirdael -
possessive prefix,
'
belonging to
'
one who holds rulership

ARAETHURA—grass plains in south-west Rathain; principality of the same name in that location. Largely inhabited by Riathan Paravians in the Second Age. Third Age, used as pasture land by widely scattered nomadic shepherds. Fionn Areth
'
s birthplace.

pronounced:
ar-eye-thoo-rah

root meaning
:
araeth -
grass;
era -
place, land

ARITHON—son of Avar, Prince of Rathain, 1,504th Teir
'
s
'
Ffalenn after founder of the line, Torbrand in Third Age Year One. Also Master of Shadow, the Bane of Desh-thiere, and Halliron Masterbard
'
s successor. First among Mankind to tap the transcendent powers of the sword, Alithiel, and also responsible for the final defeat of the Grey Kralovir necromancers.

pronounced:
ar-i-thon

root meaning
:
arithon -
fate-forger; one who is visionary

ARWENT—river in Araethura, Rathain, that flows from Daenfal Lake through Halwythwood to empty in Instrell Bay.

pronounced:
are-went

root meaning
:
arwient
- swiftest

ASANDIR—Fellowship Sorcerer. Secondary name, Kingmaker, since his hand crowned every High King of Men to rule in the Age of Men (Third Age). After the Mistwraith
'
s conquest, he acted as field agent for the Fellowship
'
s doings across the continent. Also called Fiend-quencher, for his reputation for quelling
iyats;
Storm-breaker and Change-bringer for his past actions when Men first arrived upon Athera.

pronounced:
ah-san-deer

root meaning
:
asan -
heart;
dir -
stone
'
heartrock
'

ATAINIA—north-eastern principality of Tysan.

pronounced:
ah-tay-nee-ah

root meaning
:
itain
- the third;
ia
- suffix for
'
third domain
'
original Paravian,
itainia

ATCHAZ—town located in Alland, Shand. Famed for its silk.

pronounced:
at-chaz

root meaning
:
atchias -
silk

ATH CREATOR—prime vibration, force behind all life.

pronounced:
ath

root meaning
:
ath
- prime, first (as opposed to an, one)

ATH
'
IEL I
'
CUEL
'
AN ALESSTAIRIENT—Creator light your extreme persistence
'
dedication.

pronounced:
ahth-ee-el ih-cue-el-ahn ah-less-tay-ree-ent

root meaning
:
ath
- prime force of creation;
iel
- light;
i
'
cuel
'
an
- you
'
one or
'
your
'
with prefix meaning shaded towards light intent;
alesstairient -
emphatic form, extreme dedication

ATHERA—name for the world which holds the Five High Kingdoms; four Worldsend Gates; formerly inhabited by dragons, and current home of the Paravian races.

pronounced:
ath-air-ah

root meaning
:
ath
- prime force;
era
- place
'
Ath
'
s world
'

ATHIR—Second Age ruin of a Paravian stronghold, located in Ithilt, Rathain. Site of a seventh lane power focus; also where Arithon Teir
'
s
'
Ffalenn swore his blood oath to survive to the Fellowship Sorcerer, Asandir.

pronounced:
ath-ear

root meaning
:
ath
- prime;
i
'
er
- the line
'
edge

ATHLIEN PARAVIANS—sunchildren, dancers of the crystal flutes. Small race of semimortals, pixie-like, but possessed of great wisdom
'
keepers of the grand mystery.

pronounced:
ath-lee-en

root meaning
:
ath
- prime force;
lien
- to love
'
Ath-beloved
'

ATHLIERIA—a dimension removed from physical time
'
space, or the exalted that lies past the veil.

pronounced:
ath-lee-air-ee-ah

root meaning
:
ath
- prime force;
li
'
eria
- exalted place, with suffix for Tjeyond the veil.
'

AVENOR—Second Age ruin of a Paravian stronghold. Traditional seat of the
s
'
Ilessid
High Kings. Restored to habitation in Third Age 5644. Became the ruling seat of the Alliance of Light in Third Age 5648. Located in Korias, Tysan.