Lantean term, literally 'cycle', meaning a period of 76 years (4 'moon-seasons'). In age, roughly equivalent to one human year, though the oldest Lanteans were several hundred aenar old.
A race of Firbolg, of particularly repulsive appearance,
not good for much except tracking, which they did mainly by taste.
BOGGAN
Race of Firbolg, generally about the size of
Fir Morian. The most numerous of
gangrel types, pure boggans were always covered with extremely coarse hair
and had, like most other Firbolg, proportionately longer arms. Hybrids were
known. Boggans could interbreed with Ogri, Bogles,
Humans and Shean.
BOGLES
One of the half-dozen or so types of Firbolg.
Bogles were small— about Shean size— unlovely to look at, though not usually greatly deformed; a slight hunch-back was common. They possessed sharp eyes and ears, were cunning, tricky, cowardly and had a sixth sense for self-preservation. When cornered, they could fight fiercely, using any weapon that came to hand, including their sharp teeth and nails.
BRAIES
Male leg-wear.
(Also worn by females when skirts were inappropriate.) Worn all over the
Nine Realms, usually quite close-fitting,
laced at the front and held up by drawstring or belt at the waist. Length
could vary between ankle and knee. Could be made of any material, including
leather, but most often wool. Often dispensed with for casual wear, or in
summer.
CARIL
Lantean name for the (European) wren, Troglodytes troglodytes, a tiny but perky brown bird with a fine, and very loud, song.
CARILAS
Slieve Donard in Co. Down, Ireland.
CHAMPION OF THREE
There were many fairs and contests held during the year in the six sheadings of the Commonality,
but the Merigarth Midsummer Fair was the foremost
meeting of the year. To win any contest there was the highest accolade, particularly
the major disciplines of Wrestling, Hammer and, of course, Archery. To win
all three at one occasion was rare and no mean feat for Holt, despite charges
by some that his good friend Forman had thrown the final shoot-off to let
him win. To also lead the victorious team in the final of the yearly Skarmuch
League playoff (held just before the Merigarth Fair) was something never
achieved before, so if Forman did manipulate the archery result a little
he may be forgiven.
COMMONALITY
In full, the Commonality of Greater Merigarth. The federation of Shean settlements that made up their province
in the Nine Realms; unique in that they possessed no rulers or aristocracy, at least in theory.
DANAIEN
Lantean, "Daughters of Danai". An irregular construction— one would expect "Danaiein", but the second "i" in the plural was dropped, presumably for harmony in both spelling and pronunciation. Lantean, like ancient Greek, was a highly complex language full of irregularities.
DRIUWAIN
Outlaws, bandits. The term was in general use, coming from a southern Fir Morian tongue, but was not current in the
Commonality.
DUERGHAR (sing. DUERGH)
Name for Rockfolk (Rockmen) in their own language.
Other races found this almost impossible to pronounce, not that many were
ever encouraged to learn it; Morgil was the only one known to be so privileged
at this time, and even he could not speak it perfectly. For this reason,
Duerghar merchants and travellers often adapted their names for outsiders.
So K’Khéri shortened his to Khéri, and his brother (B’Khéri) to Bhéri. Brothers always had the same name, with a different prefix; the prefix was dropped when referring to fathers or other forbears, since individual fatherhood was not recognised. Each Duergh also had a secret
name, given him by his mother, symbolised by the rune within his talisman.
This he divulged to very few; occasionally, even a brother did not know it.
EARDA
The landmass comprising Europe and Asia.
ELFIONAR
'People of Fionn'.
Used to refer to those who came to Earda with him, and their descendants. Also included those Sylvani (see ellyl) who chose to live in Toremath. The singular, ELFION, was used as an individual title, but correctly only to unmixed Sylvani. Since the courtesy title of any with Lantean blood was Ellantar, to address one of these as Elfion bordered on insult— as Elfeor was well aware. (However, the term 'Elfion' was permisible poetically.)
ELLANTAR (pl. ELLANTARI)
Literally ‘Ellyl Lord of Lantis’. Title used among the Elfionar, strictly speaking designating only those
of Lantean blood.
ELLYL
Originally a single humanoid race, of average height and relatively light-skinned, though any that lived in the open became sun-browned. They were long-lived compared to humans, with a span of two to three hundred years. Several tribes were persuaded to live in Lantis, where they were changed: they (or at least their offspring) grew taller, were made nearly impervious to heat and cold, intensely resistant to disease, and capable of self-regeneration. This made them effectively immortal, and extremely hard to kill. [When Rillodan asked Holt to spit him on his sword, he was playing a kind of Russian Roulette, as only a direct thrust through his heart would kill him.]
The Lantean ellyl who returned to Earda regarded the others as their brothers, and at first welcomed any that came to their realm. Some interbreeding even took place. But when the Renegades began to oppress Earda, many blamed Fionn— with some justice, since his revolt had paved the way for the rebellious Lords. Most of the Sylvani (as they came to be called) withdrew to deep forests, regarding their enhanced kin with suspicion.
FIRDAN
Shortened from LanteanFir Danaan, "People of Danai". Later used, incorrectly, as synonymous with "Elfionar", but strictly it meant only Danai's descendants. Since she had 13 daughters there were many of these, including the Sons of Lhiannon and their offspring, who were part mortal, and Rillodan, who with his brother was the fifth generation from Kelanthë, eldest sister of Lhiannon.
FIR DOMNAN
“People of Domnar”.
Domnar was the half-Lantean founder of Loigris and co-founder (with his twin brother Elsar) of Lioneis. Several of the original tribes taken under
their wing had ellyl blood, having interbred with native (non-Lantean) races.
FIR MORIAN
Term for (human)
races of Earda other than Fir Domnan,
from the High Tongue of Loigris, literally meaning “lesser men”. This was
not originally intended to imply inferiority, though later it might, depending
on speaker or hearer; but it purported to refer to stature.
FIRBOLG
Originally a Lantean
word referring to the denizens of Ceir Bolg, it came to embrace all of several
races of humanoid creatures warped, both physically and mentally, by contact
with the Renegades or Black Lanteans. The
physical deformities were presumed not to have been intentional, but caused
by working and living in areas poisoned by emanations from the Renegades’
power sources and experimental weapons; however their malformations certainly
helped to promote the twisting of their minds. Though generally regarded
by other races as inherently evil, in later times it was possible to find
some who were not. But due to age-old enmity and the ease with which Firbolg
could be distinguished by their appearance, there was little chance for them
to live peaceably among other races.
FORCE
Northern English word for a waterfall. High Force (which is exactly as described, and quite spectacular) is on the River Tees.
GEIA
Name, originally Lantean, for the planet Earth. Most people, including the Fir Domnan, used the name Earda, referring to the known lands; Lantis had achieved mythic status and other continents were unknown to mortals.
HOBYAH
Type of Firbolg,
genetically incompatible with other races. (Crosses sometimes occurred,
as Mirdz, but were always sterile.) They were relatively large (averaging
1m 80) burly, and extremely strong. They possessed yellowish skin, protruding
fangs, hunched backs, and long arms not hinged quite like humans’, with
eight fingers on each hand and seven-toed feet. They were generally quite
intelligent, though a larger than normal proportion of them were born idiots.
ISCAIR
In full, Iscair Elfionar, 'Sea Fortress of Fionn's People'. To the East it looked down on the deep vale of Toremath, to the West it viewed the ocean, beyond whose rim lay the immortal isles of Lantis, to which Fionn and his followers were forbidden to return.
KEEP-SAFE
A type of talisman made by many Fir Morian groups, usually consisting of a small bag stuffed with supposedly "lucky" herbs. Among Shean this had mainly lost its superstitious overtones, but was made and given to another (often a sweetheart) as a token of well-wishing. The Herders of Ardonal, on the other hand, set great store by such things, especially when fashioned by a practitioner of power such as Kenfig's daughter.
KHAKAN
Head of a Duergh clan. (A clan was a group of several families with close ties.)
KRIST
Elfionar name for
a particular type of knife, invented by the swordsmiths of Toremath for their
wars against the Renegades. A few swords
of similar type were made, but smaller knives were easier to craft, and served
their purpose as well. Their powers were many, some not now known; the chief
was to kill subverted Ellantari, which due
to their regenerative ability was virtually impossible in a fight with ordinary
weapons, however good. Each krist had
a jewel set in its hilt which warned of danger, changing colour according
to the nature of the enemy. When one was owned by an individual it was said
to bond to him, the stone taking on a soft colour when at rest, and brightening
or dimming according to circumstances. Holt’s krist
helped him often, and sometimes, no doubt, in ways unperceived.
Lover. I have used this archaic word to translate the Lantean term melaer, which had the sense of "pledged sexual partner". (As opposed to melcar, which conveyed a similar bond but platonic.)
Arbutus, 'Strawberry-tree'. Native to the Mediterranean region and also to the south-west of Ireland.
LIHAR
A stringed instrument, something like a mandolin.
Holt was familiar with the small, popular seven-stringed type. There were
others, the largest with twenty strings, which was played standing.
LINNET
A small European finch (Acanthis cannabina) mainly brown, quite shy but with a beautiful song. In summer the male has a splash of red on his forehead, and another at the top of the breast.
LINNATH AVALL'CHAIN
Lantean, "Pipes of the Children of Avallach". The plural '-ath' was common in the tongue of the Elfionar, also the elision of vowels between words and in compound words (Avallach + -ain, children). Note that CH in the Lantean language, and words derived from it, is always pronounced as in German "bach" (think of the composer J S) - an "h" sound with the back of the tongue raised. It is less guttural than Scots "loch", but if you can say "Auchtermuchtie" you've got it. Otherwise, just pronounce as a strong "h", never as in "church"!
LIRA NE MALINNA UOLAIN LHIANNON
Lantean, 'Malinna's Lay of the Fight of Lhiannon'. I have translated lira as "Lay", which sounds better than "cantata" or even "opera" which would be more accurate translations. The name "Malinna" means "Golden-voice", suggesting, as Holt came to realise later, that this work had been written by Rillodan himself. If so, its composition and performance must have gone far to help him come to terms with the tragedy, a therapy denied to him after the later destruction of Aurdene.
The name given to the star-faring race that settled on Geia (Earth). These may have visited the planet a number of times, to boost and guide the developing ecology. Somewhere around 200,000 years ago a group made up their minds to settle here, choosing for their base the chain of islands that then straddled the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (This was during a glacial period. It was their intention eventually to control the advances of the ice.) They created new species, probably including those which, today, seem to have no record of their origin. Later, they chose the ellyl to people their future world, and persuaded several tribes to go to Lantis for improvement, their reward being freedom from hardship, pain and death.
However their scheme began to go seriously wrong when one of their new creations, Fionn, wished to know more than they would teach him, and took by stealth the knowledge they would not give. Though Earda was not yet ready to be populated, they exiled him there, believing it was better to remove him than have him spread dissension among his folk in Lantis. But this had already occurred, and many of his people in fact went with him; so also did Danai, Lady of Lantis, who had come to love her wayward pupil. Soon after, several of the Lords who were discontented with the cautious approach of the rest, broke away. Called the Renegades, they too came to Earda and set up realms that exploited its resources, leading eventually to war and the destruction, not only of much of Earda, but of Alta Lantis (Greater Lantis) itself.
Shean, like most of the peoples of Earda, believed in euthanasia as an option when treatment
was unable to prevent a lingering death. Often administered in the field,
in the case of mortal accidents, the usual method was by hunting-knife,
by the senior male present.
MERIGARTH
A sheading of the
SheanCommonality,
the first to be settled. The name was often used by other races to denote
the whole, even by Fir Domnan
administrators, who should have known better.
NINE REALMS
The provinces under
the protection of the High King. Loigris and Lioneis were ruled by him directly,
the rest largely kept their own systems. They covered an area from the west
coast of what is now Ireland to the borders of Wales, north as far as the
Solway Firth and south to the English Channel. Much that was then dry land
is now sea.
OGRON (pl. OGRI, f. OGRA, OGRAI)
One of the largest types of Firbolg. They could interbreed with boggans, and the Renegades
bred many kinds of hybrid. Pure archetypal ogri were 2½–3m tall and had limited
intelligence, but selective breeding with boggans and even bogles resulted
in a strain of intelligent, 2m tall ogri
who formed an aristocratic officer class. Krasim, who knew how it was done,
probably had to start mainly from scratch when he produced his own, partly
why it took him so long. He was, however, prepared to use any good material,
whatever its origins, not letting any promising individual go to waste; hence
his promotion of Mirdz, a sport hobyah/boggan/human cross (called ogron by courtesy, or coercion) who proved
more able as a leader than any engineered by Krasim.
ORICHALC
An extremely hard, light alloy manufactured by the Lords of Lantis and the
Lanteanellyl. It looked like
gold, and was probably a mix of titanium and gold. Titanium ore is rare in
the west of Earda but not in the east, and both Rockmen
and the Elfionar smiths were advanced enough
in metalworking to extract it.
RENEGADES
Those Lords of Lantis
who rebelled against the principles of their people, and came to Earda to exploit their power.
ROCKMEN (ROCKFOLK)
Humanoid race, immensely heavy and strong, though averaging less than 1½m in height. Other races considered them ugly and disagreeable. The males began to go bald at puberty, which was perhaps why they were vain about their beards. They were indefatigable miners, metalworkers and mechanics, and at this period preferred to live
in fortified underground cities and trade for food, rather than produce it
themselves. Their merchants went all over Earda and were welcomed for their
goods, but however much they mingled with other races their customs and attitudes
remained peculiarly their own. See Duerghar.
ROSALKA (pl. ROSALKAI)
Also known as Woodwives. The origins of this race are something of a mystery. The Ellantari exiles found them in Earda, and venerated their skill with growing things. Another name for them was 'Shadowfolk', because they lived always within the shadows of the trees— though they loved all plants, and cultivated open plots deep within the forests. This secrecy, however, had more to do with shyness than an actual fear of the sun (as with troll). It was thought the Rosalkai were related to ellyl, though no other Sylvani tribe was so tall (Rosalkai averaged 3m). There may have been some interbreeding, though no Ellantar ever admitted to this; the chief reason for believing it may have happened is the extreme longevity of at least some Rosalkai. Pure Sylvani had an average life-span of 2-300 years, while Elfionar with some Ellantar or Firdan blood lived much longer, some almost indefinitely. Rosalkai may have had a much longer natural life-span to begin with, but nothing else of Earda possessed immortality. Kelbrethl was one known to have been alive many centuries, and according to her own tale must have been at least as old as Rillodan.
The Rosalkai were almost wiped out in the War of the Renegades. Many suffered in the ravaging of Earda, and those that lived in Toremath largely perished in its fall, most being unwilling to leave their forests to take refuge in Iscair. A few small populations regenerated, mainly in the east. It is a strange fact that the extremely long-lived Rosalkai were all women.
SADDLE HORNS
Stirrups were unknown in these times. An occasional poor rider suggested foot-loops, but was informed that such things were highly dangerous, leading to the foot becoming trapped when unseated. Learning to ride meant learning to stay on a horse’s back. Most saddles were little more than some form of pad to spare the steed’s back
and the rider’s rear, and this was true even among the Berith people, the
foremost horsemen of the time. The Fir
Domnan, however, had developed a more sophisticated saddle
with projections (horns) at the front and back, against which the rider
could brace himself. The primary purpose of this was to give purchase for
the throwing and thrusting of a lance, but it also helped to keep a rider
in the saddle if something served to unbalance him (such as an enemy). Without
stirrups, the only way to mount a horse, for practical purposes, was to vault
onto his back. Holt could of course do this from many angles, though he did
find it rather less easy when first wearing mail. None of this is impossible,
in fact it is how cavalry riders operated in ancient times.
These were trained
knights whose job was to patrol the provinces of the Nine Realms. In effect
they were its police force, and their methods and hierarchy were similar to
those of such forces even today. However Merigarth
(as outsiders generally referrred to the Commonality)
was a special case, due to Shean sensitivity
over allowing larger and more warlike folk into their territory, and the Shean
Charter was unique in the Nine Realms.
Sentinels patrolled the borders and were able to pass through the Sheadings, but were not permitted to leave the
King’s Highways unless requested, or by special warrant.
SEVEN REALMS
The original territories of the Fir Domnan; they were mainly east of the Archan. All except Loigris, Lioneis and Ullursland were devastated in the Unprovoked War. The remnants of their populations moved west of the river, founding Conagarth and Manaudsland. The Firdan of Lhianasland also joined the federation at about this time. The Shean, who had begun to settle Merigarth, also asked the High King's protection, on condition the land should belong to them alone - having had unfortunate experiences in the past when living in close proximity to larger and more assertive races. The last addition to the federation was Berithian, newly settled by several migrating tribes. Thus the Seven Realms became Nine, since Selagar, some of whose folk had fled into the mountains, regenerated to a degree and was never abandoned. (It was commonly said that many of the Selagarians' strange practices arose from that time, when their survival had hung by a thread.)
SHEADING
An administrative
division of the SheanCommonality, akin to a county. There were six
(as there are today in the Isle of Man).
SHEAN
A diminutive humanoid race— average height
for males being around 4 feet 7 inches (140cm). To reach 5 feet was rare;
Holt at just under 5 feet 2 inches (156cm) was exceptionally tall.
SKARMUCH
After they had settled
Merigarth and Westergarth (chosen for peace as well
as potential fertility) the use of arms began to be discontinued among Shean.
They kept up archery, since they still hunted, and such sports as quarterstaff
and wrestling, since they liked to have trials amongst themselves; but edged
weapons were never their preference. However when they sought to enter the
Nine Realms and were granted their
Charter, it was suggested that at least some of them should learn to fight;
the King, looking to a future when all his own knights might be needed in
battle to defend the Nine Realms, did not wish his army’s major food supply
to be totally undefended. The Protector and his Council solved the problem
by instituting Skarmuch at each of the major Fairs, free ale all winter
to the overall winning team. It was generally the adolescents and unmarried
younger men from well-to-do families who took part, since only they had
the money to pay for equipment and time on their hands to practise. Shean
called their mock-battles the Skarmuch, an appropriate term since they were
rough and ready by comparison with the training mêlées of the
King’s troops.
STONEWAY
Road made by the Rockfolk to west and east of Vigdoladgr, used mainly by them, and those who dealt with them, for trade.
TAPROOM
The chief room of a tavern or inn ["A room in which alcoholic drinks are
available on tap" — OED]
TOREMATH
The land the Elfionar settled and surrounded by an invisible force to keep the hostile Renegades and their minions out. Most of its geographical location now lies under the Mediterranean. (What Lhiannon's release of the Sea-gate started, the tidal wave from the destruction of Alta Lantis finished.)
TROL (pl. TROLL)
Type of Firbolg, large, extemely misshapen, reckoned to be dull-witted. Like most other Firbolg they lived below ground, only venturing out to forage at night, since their skins and eyes were sensitive to the sun. With troll this was extreme, in fact it seems they were rendered helpless by any exposure. (This trauma could have been partly mental, since all troll firmly believed sunlight would kill them.)
ULLURSLAND
A province of the Nine Realms, to the north of the
Commonality. Now sparsely populated, except for the region beside the Sea of Birds.
UTTLANDER
Duergh term for a member of any other mortal race. The word was not from their own tongue, but they had adopted it and made it their own.
WAISTCOAT
The Shean, not being normally wearers of armour, had developed in their hazardous days a heavy leather coat for protection. This persisted as an outer garment, and lighter versions in buckskin and tweed were also worn. In summer, it was usually dispensed with, and indoors at all seasons— Shean houses with their earth insulation were always warm. Over the shirt— which was often quite a warm garment itself, woven from wool— they wore a garment best described as a waistcoat. This might be a leather jerkin, but for special occasions imagination was allowed to run riot. Mothers, sisters and wives vied with one another to produce the most gorgeous embroidered designs.
WARDEN
The title given to the Westergarthsheading head. The Wardens, as other heads, were not regarded as rulers but rather servants of the people, expected to take charge of matters for which others had no time or inclination. In Westergarth the post was only partly hereditary,
being chosen from the Garland family by village elders. (All lesser local posts in all sheadings were elective.)
WESTERGARTH
The westmost sheading of the Commonality, and second to be settled by a group led by Madwin Garland.
Copyright 2002 Christine Davidson. All rights reserved. The contents
of this site are the sole property of Christine Davidson.
Pages may be printed for personal use only. All copies
must acknowledge the author.
