Fallen Embers (The Alterra Histories) (11 page)

Gaelen
(GEH-lehn): Sylvan Elf of the Greatwood, daughter of Tarfian and Gloranel, cousin of Nelwyn. Gaelen is rightly credited with bringing about the downfall of Gorgon Elfhunter. Name means “daughter of valor.” From gael- (valor, feminine).

Giron
(GEER-ron): Trained falcon, light grey above and white below, belonging to Tarfion of the Greatwood. Giron is an excellent scout and messenger.

Gloranel
(GLOR-ah-nel): Sylvan Elf, mother of Gaelen. Name means “Bright tree.” From glora (bright light) and nellas (tree).

Kotos
(KO-tos): Dark Asarla, formerly of Tal-elathas, whose desire for power and to learn all things turned him to the service of Wrothgar. He can see into the hearts and minds of those he encounters. Kotos wore a magical amulet that allowed him to appear benevolent and wise, and he served Wrothgar as his emissary, turning men to his service through deception and promise of reward. His name means “the powerful,” but he is called “deceiver” by the Elves, and they name him Trachair, the treacherous. Fire is his element.

Léir
(Stone of Leh-eer): Great crystal made by Dardis in which one may behold visions of the future or of the past, and gain enlightenment. It derived much of its power from the grieved and bitter spirit of Shandor, the Asarla, who was entrapped within. Shandor eventually was persuaded to come out of the Stone, which he then destroyed. From léir (far-sighted).

Liathwyn
(Lee-ATH-win): Elf of the Eolar, mother of Ordath, espoused to Shandor the Asarla, with whom she founded Mountain-home. She relinquished her spirit after the Second Uprising. She was kin to the High Kings Ri-Aldamar and Ri-Elathan. Her name means “Blue-eyed maiden.” From liath (blue).

Malathon
(MAL-a thon): Great war-horse of Ri-Elathan. Dark-coated and fleet-footed, his name means “swift runner.”

Magra
(MA-gra): Èolarin Elf-lord, second-in-command and friend to Ri-Elathan. Magra was very tall and strong, and had golden hair. His name means “mighty.”

Monadh-ailan
(Monath-EYE-lan): The Verdant Mountains. Gentle, coastal peaks that run along the sea, they are inhabited by folk of many races, notably the Wood-elves of Tal-ailean. Name means “green-mountains.” From monad (mountain) and ailan (green).

Monadh-hin
(Monad-HEEN): The Great Mountains, largest of all mountain-ranges in Alterra, they are a daunting obstacle for travelers. Snow-covered in winter, they are shrouded by clouds year-around. Name means “peaks of rain.” From hin (rain).

Monadh-talam
, or Mountain-home (Monath-TAH-lahm): Elven-realm presided over by Lady Ordath. Hidden among tall peaks of the Monadh-hin, it is also known as Mountain-home. It is perhaps the greatest of remaining Elf-realms and holds great stores of written record. It is a place of healing, study, and enlightenment, and is home to folk of many races. Ri-Elathan, the High King, made it his seat of power. Name means “mountain-realm.” From monad (mountain) and tal- (realm).

Mulafiann
: Name given affectionately to Gaelen by Ri-Elathan, it means “little hunter.” From mula (small, loveable) and fiana (huntress).

Nachtan
(NOCH-tan): Narrow and turbulent cold river that flows to the south and west from Monadh-talam. From nachta- (wild)

Nelwyn
(NEL-win): Sylvan Elf of the Greatwood, daughter of Turanen and Elwyn, younger cousin of Gaelen. Name means “tree-maiden.” From nellas (tree).

Ordath
(OR-dath): The Lady Ordath, very powerful overseer of Monadh-talam. She is the product of a union between a powerful Asarla (Shandor) and an Elf of the Eolar (Liathwyn). She is a great healer and protector of Monadh-talam. Name means “treasure-of-the-land.” From or- (golden, gentle) and –dath (of the land).

Osgar
(OSZ-gar): King of the Greatwood and sire of Aruin, he was known as “the fierce.”

Quanto
: Impressive hunter of the Greatwood, Quanto was especially adept at hunting fierce wild boar. He more than met his match in Turoc, however.

Rain
: Name given to Ri-Elathan by Gaelen, his beloved.

Ri-Aldamar
(ree AL-da-mar): Second High King of the Eolar, brother of Liathwyn and sire of Farahin. He was killed by a dragon during the Second Uprising. His name means “most noble ruler.” From ri- (ruler), aldos (high, noble) and –amar (great, majestic).

Ri-Elathan
(ree-EL-a-than): Last High-elven King, Ri-Elathan left no one to succeed him. He was arguably the wisest of all the High Kings, and was both feared and beloved, but he lived a very lonely and arduous life. Educated in Mountain-home under the hand of Lord Shandor, he chose to remain there after he became High King. His given name was Farahin. His name means “King of Wisdom.” From ri-(ruler) and elathas (wisdom).

Shadowmancer
: Wrothgar, the Dark Power of Alterra. He is thought by many to be an extremely powerful, black sorcerer, hence the name. His true nature and origin is unknown. He can appear in nearly any malevolent form he chooses, but he prefers to appear from within a peculiar black fire which is seen nowhere else. He is also sometimes referred to as the “Black Flame.”

Shandor
(SHAN-dor): Arguably the most powerful of the Asari, he loved Liathwyn, an Elf of the Èolar, and together they founded Mountain-home. He actually challenged Wrothgar in battle and defeated him during the Second Uprising. He is the sire of Lady Ordath. When Liathwyn relinquished her spirit and went to Elysia, Shandor withdrew from the world, eventually seeking refuge in the great stone crystal of Léir. Shandor was the only Asarla (other than Kotos) to leave his protected realm and go forth to war. Physically, Shandor is strikingly handsome, but cold, with silver hair and ice-blue eyes. Air is his element. His name essentially means “great spirit.”

Stone of Léir
(Stone of Leh-eer): One of the most powerful and renowned magical objects remaining in Alterra, this gigantic crystal is now kept in the realm of Tal-sithian by the Lady Arialde, and she alone governs its use. It was made in Tal-elathas, and was first relocated to Monadh-talam. Originally endowed only with power to behold pleasant visions of the past, it was of limited use until the coming of Shandor.

Lord Shandor founded the realm of Monadh-talam, together with his beloved Lady Liathwyn of the Èolar. When Liathwyn gave up her life Shandor was so grieved that he sought refuge in the Stone of Léir, hoping to relive his happy memories with her.

He gazed so long into its depths, weeping and calling to his beloved, that his spirit was drawn into the crystal, and now resides there. Because of Shandor’s powerful spirit, the Stone is now a mighty object capable of great visions not only of the past, but of the future.

Many of the things seen in the Stone are disquieting, and if one looks into it without leave Shandor may afflict him with visions so terrible that they will haunt him until the end of his days. Yet the Stone can be of great value in predicting and averting disaster. From léir (far-sighted).

Sylvan elves
: Wood-elves, or Cúinar.

Taldin
(TAl-deen): Name given affectionately to Gaelen by Ri-Elathan, it means “walks unnoticed, stealthy”. From taldin (silent-footed).

Tal-elathas
(tal-EL-a-thas): Ancient realm of the Èolar, it was the greatest center of invention and discovery that has ever been. At one time three Asari resided there—Leiras, Baelta, and regrettably, Kotos. It was destroyed by Wrothgar’s army when Kotos betrayed the Elves, aided unwittingly by Baelta. From tal- (realm) and elathas (wisdom).

Tal-sithian
, (SITH-ee-ahn): Green forested island in the Linnefionn; the Elven-realm of the Lord Airan and Lady Arialde. From sithion (deer). It means “realm of deer roaming.”

Tarfion
(TAR-fee-ohn): Father of Gaelen, spouse of Gloranel, twin brother of Tarmagil and elder brother of Turanen. Tarfion was probably unexcelled as a hunter-scout, and he gained the King’s favor upon saving the life of his son, prince Aruin. Name means “hunter of the realm.” From fiona (hunter) and tar-(of the realm).

Tarmagil
(TAR-mah-geel): Fraternal twin brother of Tarfion and favorite uncle of Gaelen and Nelwen. Known for being free-spirited and of good humor, he was slain in the Third Uprising. Name means “strong ally.” From tar- (of the realm) and magra- (mighty).

Tuathas
(TOO-ah-thas): Greatest of all realms of Men, Tuathas alone possessed an Asarla. Because of this they were more enlightened than other men. The Tuathar were commonly known simply as northmen. From tuath (north).

Tuathar
(TOO-ah-thar) sing. Tuathan: Men of the Northern Realm of Tuathas. Name means “north-man,” from tuath (north) and aridan (man). Because of the influence of their Asarla, they are tall and comely, hardy and strong.

Turanen
(TOOR-ah-nen): Younger brother of Tarfion and Tarmagil, father of Nelwyn and spouse of Elwyn. An unparalleled archer, he was slain in the third uprising. Name means “glen-bowman.” From tuag- (bow) and ranen (glen).

Turoc
: Fearsome black boar, slayer of many Elves, who was slain by Gaelen’s father, Tarfion.

Ulcas
(UL-cas), sing. Ulca: Evil servants of Wrothgar. Some are quite formidable in battle, but most can prevail only through sheer numbers. All are ugly. They dislike sunlight and live in dark places, particularly beneath mountains. They lurk in nearly every dark, forsaken place in Alterra, and their numbers have waxed and waned according to the power of their Master. There is some debate among scholars concerning the origin of Ulcas, but it is assumed that they are perversions of existing races, for Wrothgar can create nothing of his own; he can only twist and subvert the creations of Aontar.

There is some speculation that the Elves had a part in the making of the Ulcas, a notion that is most emphatically denied by both the Elves and the Ulcas. The two races hate each other, and they claim no relationship that does not involve the point of a blade. The Elves are quick to point out that Ulcas will not consume their flesh (they will eat nearly anything else), that they are entirely hairless, lacking even eyelashes, and that they will not suffer the touch of objects that are Elven-made, hence they could not share the same forebears.

The prevailing view held by western scholars is that Ulcas were men in the beginning, and that Wrothgar, desiring to make them stronger, infected them with a pestilence. This disease killed the weaker members, and those that survived lived much longer, even to the point of appearing to be immortal. All Ulcas now carry the pestilence, which has changed over generations such that it can no longer infect men. It is passed to the Ulcas before they are born, and it makes them hardy and long-lived, but it also twists and distorts their hairless bodies and makes them intolerant of sunlight. Naturally, the Elves prefer this view, yet it has not been proven.

Ulcas are highly variable in appearance; most are greyish-black in color, but some are pale or mottled, and some are dark as pitch. They are all undeniably ugly, some so ugly as to be hideous. Ulcas typically speak a crude form of Aridani, varied according to the area of origin. Because they do not write or record events, we know little of their history, customs, or culture. Their name simply means “evil, wicked” in the Elven-speech.

They have played a large part in Wrothgar’s plans throughout history, swarming down upon their enemies in huge masses during battles. They are terribly weakened by sunlight, hence it is perilous to go abroad at night in any unprotected lands. During daylight they are most often found belowground. They feed primarily upon flesh, scavenging the dead as well as preying upon the living.

Their eyes are well designed for seeing in darkness, with cat-like, vertical pupils. In color they are generally a pale yellow to muddy yellow-brown; blue or grey-eyed Ulcas are almost unknown.

Wrothgar
(ROTH-gar):
Wrothgar
(ROTH-gar): Evil Being of Alterra, also known as the Shadowmancer or the Black Flame. He was so named because of his ability to summon the dreadful being known as “The Shadow”, who can so confuse the soldiers of an enemy army that they turn upon one another. His hallmark is the peculiar dark fire that envelops him when he is engaged in battle—this flame will slowly consume everything it touches. High Elves can shield themselves from it only by summoning their inner Light.

Wrothgar has arisen twice at the time this tale begins; first in f.r.3506-3525, and again in s.r.2026-2029. Each time he has been defeated and driven back into shadow by the Light-bearers. Despite defeat he has eventually regained his strength, for evil cannot be truly vanquished from the world. So long as the children of Aontar are corruptible, and choose the path of Darkness, Wrothgar will continue to trouble them. The name Wrothgar means “Dark Fury.” From wroth (fury, wrath) and gor (dark).