Glossary

Alethorne Eltherin II: The Grey Elven king of Darandor, father of Kairy Eltherin by blood and Wren Eltherin by marriage. Himself only half elven, he shares the kingdom with his brother Allinar Eltherin, who is human.

Ancalathraxis: One of the three Grand Dragons created by the Primarch, Imperiel, to bar Apollyon from ever returning to Aerth. Guards the Great Southern Gate at the bottom of the world. Rarely if ever seen, it is said that he travels surrounded by vast storms that stretch for miles out in the ocean and these great cyclones can devastate nations.

Antea: The last great effort of the mortal races to recapture the old glories of Empyrea and Luria. Its capital of Anthor-Elberin was set high in the Red Mountains and it stood as a place where all of the races were welcome and treated with equal respect. It fell however when Megatranix, in a pact with the goddess Veimara, caused the people of Anthor-Elberin to distrust and finally turn on one another. Thus setting off the Great Race War and the bringing about of the time known as the Sundering. In the later years of the seventh age, Antea stands as an empty ruin in the mountains, inhabited only by monsters that use the rooms and caverns underneath as their dens.

Aon: The world as it was called before the great rebellion of Apollyon and the Malachim who chose to follow him and the separation of Aon into two separate worlds by Lor. After which Aon was known as Earth and Aerth.

Apollyon: One of the Primarchs and the chief commander of the Malachim before his rebellion to attempt to seize the great emerald throne of the seventh tier, the throne of Lor himself. For his treason he was banished to Terra, the higher-ranking Malachim who joined him were encased in spheres of adamant and glass and the lesser Malachim became the “unknown” and were banished along with Apollyon.

Avatar War, The: The future conflict that the old gods believe will see either the end of the Titans or themselves. Some believe that this event will coincide with the coming of the lord of the summer, but most do not know.

Chronocallien: One of the three Grand Dragons created by the Primarch, Imperiel, to bar Apollyon from ever returning to Aerth. Guards the great disk of Alysium, which sits atop the sphere of the Prime Material. The largest of the Guardians, it is said all other dragons could ride on his back and that the wind of his beating wings is what causes Aerth to rotate on its axis. He is also the chief deity of most all greater dragons of good alignment, and those mortals who serve them. He is most often shown as having platinum scales. Some among the Anakim also worship him.

Codex Anima, The: The holy book of the church, written by the prophet Gilraen not long before the destruction of Luria. Called the Law of Life, it is a guide for all of the rituals a follower of Lor is expected to adhere to in order to enter paradise. Written in the now dead language of Luria, the common folk rely on the priesthood to interpret it for them. This more than anything is how the church has become such a political power.

Council of Arden: When the stones of virtue were taken from the shattered scepter of kings and each one placed into one of the seven dragonblades, each blade was given to one of the surviving members of the seven royal houses of Luria that managed to escape the cataclysm. Each one of these in turn was proclaimed a king and given control of a certain portion of the western realms by the dragons of Arden who had controlled much of the territory up to that point. The goal being to make sure that the seven remaining houses were as equal in power as possible to prevent a repeat of the events that had led to the destruction of Luria.

Dragon blades: Seven swords that were forged in Arden following the destruction of Luria, using the stones taken from the fragments of the scepter of kings and the spirits of seven of the wisest of the dragon council who sacrificed themselves to be forever encased in the blades, so that they may try to guide the kings of Aerth. Each of the blades with the exception of one is now in possession of one of the kings of the west.

Dragonking: One of the keepers of the seven dragon blades. A king who has been ordained by the dragon council on Arden to rule one the seven nations of the west until such time as Taranis returns and lays claim to the swords.

Dream Tree, The: A large magnificent tree that grows up from the center courtyard of the Eltherin family castle in Elmorn. Known to have healing properties it is believed to be the changed form of the first Grey Elven female who lost her mate to a rampaging bull and so was transformed by Gaia into a tree to spare her from an eternity of grief. It is said that in their own despair her children renounced their immortality and so that is why Grey Elves live no longer than humans in Aerth.

Edom: The whole of creation and the cosmos contained within the sphere of the Prime Material, which sits below the disk of Alysium.

Egg Wine: A white, smooth, and incredibly inebriating drink usually can only be afforded by the upper classes, and then only sparingly. It is often sipped from glasses that are no larger than a teacup. Such a glass can easily cost around five gold per. And that is within one of the cheaper alehouses or inns.

Elysian Fields, The: The portion of Alysium set aside for those women and children who have died through violence or heartbreak.

Fire of Lor, The: The energy that Lor surrounded the world with at its creation and from which the Malachim were to draw their power. Aradia, a daughter of Primus and Gaia, gave the secrets of the fire to mankind and birthed the use of magic.

Furies, The: The three demonic daughters of Mordin and his one time sister, Veimara. Evil beyond all compare it is said that even the lesser demons and minions of hell fear to be near them.

Galamadrix: The great black dragon of the first age. The chief deity of the red and black dragons of Aerth, who was mortally wounded by Taranis. The only Grand Dragon to be created by the old gods.

Golden Age of Men: A time before recorded history and after the first exodus to Terra when knowledge and art expanded at an incredible rate among the mortal races. Both the civilizations of Empyrea and Luria flourished and died during this time with the fall of Luria being the event that brought about the beginning of time being measured in years. Most all knowledge of science and art was gained during this time was lost in the cataclysm that claimed Luria.

Grand Dragons: The three Guardians of Aerth.

Guardians, The: Usually refers to the three Grand Dragons who were created by Imperiel to block Apollyon from returning. See Talamane, Ancalathraxis, and Chronocallien.

High Gates, The: The two points, at the southern and northern axis of the world where the Fire of Lor flows into the planet and which forms the planet axis itself. The surge of energy at such a localized point forms the only two known gates between Terra Mater and Terra or Aerth an Earth.

Hiken: A tall slender grass that grows in the swamps and marshes surrounding the Ash Mountains of Rorin. Known to be extremely sharp to the touch, it can cut bare flesh easily and is more often known as “Blade Grass”. It is easily avoided though as it grows in easily recognizable clumps that can grow as much as eight feet high.

Holy Church, The: The formal church of Lor in the realms. They do not recognize the power or the status of the old gods and along with a strict set of rituals, follow the teachings of Gilraen as set down in the Codex Anima, or “law of life.” Long known to despise the open use of magic, which they consider to be heresy when used by followers of the gods, they contend that such power is for the glory of Lor alone and that only the clergy should wield such power if it is to be wielded by mortals at all.

Impyratalix: “King’s Blade”. The holy sword of Taranis, given to him at the beginning of his reign by the dwarven smith, Ran. Believed to have been entombed with him at the summit of Eirid-Dao and subsequently destroyed in the cataclysm sent by Lor to punish Luria.

Kailiea Eltherin: The mother of Wren and Kairy Eltherin and wife of Alethorne. Died giving birth to her second daughter, her child by Alethorne, Kairy.

Kairy Eltherin: The half-elf half sister of Wren Eltherin and the second daughter of Alethorne Eltherin. Whereas her sister learned to use the sword, Kairy has studied the ways of magic.

Lord of the Summer: Refers to the prophesied king who will reunite the races of the west under one banner and usher in a golden age of knowledge and peace that has not been seen since the time of Taranis. He is also known as “Taranis Reborn”, the “8^th King” and the “Dragon Reborn”. It is said that he will come from a direct bloodline of Taranis but other than the “Song of the King” which was written down by the prophet Jerod before recorded history, no other clues are known.

Megatranix: The Great Dragon; the vampire lord of Rorin, the land once known as Roldir. An Asgardian chieftain during his mortal life and a warlord who followed Ulthgar One-Eye in his invasion of Anthor during the third century of the fourth age. Made a pact with Mordin so that he could gain victory over the elves of Roldir and was transformed into a vampire. Later, through trickery and careful planning, he gained a portion of the blood of Galamadrix that had been hidden for centuries inside a relic of the golden age and drank it, thus giving him the power to transform himself into a huge black dragon.

Nether Time: The age before recorded history and the golden age of men. Incalculable span of years between the creation of the universe and the first exodus to Terra.

Patriarch, The: The head of the holy church. Considered the High Priest of all followers of Lor, he serves in the position for life and once he dies a new one is chosen from among the council of the Cardinals in Rhonivin.

Pangaea: The main continent of the world.

Primarchs, The: The original Malachim created by Lor and the first created beings to inhabit Edom.

Scepter of Kings: The golden scepter once held by the kings of Luria, in which were set the seven stones of virtue that had been given to Taranis by Talamane. After Uriah shattered the scepter, the stones were carried to Arden where each one was set into one of the seven Dragonblades.

Sea of Chaos: Commonly refers to the area where the island of Luria once existed before the cataclysm, now a churning void of water, stone and constant storms that most sailors consider to be the edge of the world.

Stones of Virtue: Seven large gems, each one representing one of the seven attributes of the true warrior. Originally given to Talamane by Imperiel who took the stones from the seven tiers leading to the throne of Lor in Alysium and then given to Taranis as a sign of Lor’s blessing of his kingship. The stones were set for a time in the breastplate of the high priest of the temple in Empyrea, but when Taranis died, they were removed in placed in the Scepter of Kings.

Sundering, The: Refers to the period of time between the years 900 and 400 B.C.E. when the races of Aerth openly warred to destroy one another following the fall of Antea. Most all libraries and monasteries of the church in the west were destroyed during this time by the conquering hordes of Megatranix who also managed to enslave the Grey Elves of Roldir. Only by hiding as many ancient texts and scrolls as they could in the warrens of Arkitheron were the gnomes able to preserve much of what would have otherwise disappeared forever.

Symbolic Alphabet, The: A pictographic language that most scholars throughout the realms believe to be the earliest form of writing. At one time it contained maybe hundreds of different symbols but now only those that directly pertain to the gods are used. Each one now the accepted holy symbol of the deity it is used to represent.

Talamane: One of the three Grand Dragons created by Imperiel to bar Apollyon from returning to Aerth. The Guardian of men, he as also the teacher of Taranis. Called the “Seven-Fold” Dragon he is characterized as having seven heads, four wings, two tails and six legs. He is also known as the Guardian of the Great Northern Gate at the top of the world.

Taranis the Great: The first Paladin and king of Empyrea who fell in combat with Mordin and whose body was carried by the Grand Dragon Talamane to Eirid-Dao in Luria. Before his birth the prophet Jerod foretold that Taranis and his blood would rule the world throughout the ages.

The Baron: Commonly refers to the ruler of Roldir. See “Megatranix” above.

Ulthgar “One –Eye”: A warlord from the steppes of Asgard who came to power in the early years of the third century of the fourth age. Famous for his invasion of Anthor, which came near to conquering the entire nation.

Warden: A member of the clerical order assigned to oversee all magic users within the clergy of the Holy Church. Typically a Warden will only have a single charge, but sometimes circumstances dictate that they travel and have responsibility over three or more depending on their abilities and rank. And should one of their charges be corrupted it is their responsibility first to destroy them.

Wren Eltherin: Adopted daughter of Alethorne Eltherin of Darandor and heiress to the throne of the Grey Elves.