The Ancient (thuh ang-shunt): ancient champion of the Qaanese and Osyriaansa; considered the most wise.

Ancient Wood (ang-shunt wood): primal forest where the first life was created by the Olde Gods, still rife with the powers of creation.

Atomies (AT-um-eez): Great Beasts from a tribe of woodfolk created by the Olde Gods, roughly a foot tall, with wings and vibrantly colored hair.

Biraald (beer-AULD): powerful nation to the Bohrd of Maarihk, second to Maarihk in power on the continent.

Biraaldi (beer-AULD-ee): people from Biraald with very clear Firstblood; master winemakers; most recently at war with Maarihk, despite adherents to the Olde Gods and ancient traditions.

Bohrd (board): a.k.a. Bohrd the Radiant; King of the Olde Gods, God of Life and Death, God of Law and Order, God of the Moon and Stars; creator of government, the spear and the bow; father/creator of Kir the Strong, Ril the Bold, and Vald the Chaste. The foundational compass point.

Braag (brog): grassy Aa nation on the Kir side of the Gulf of Braag.

Braagesi (brog-EE-see): militant people from Braag; master breeders of strong horses.

The Cappes (the caps): the second-largest mountain chain on the continent, separating Porliss from Vaale.

Daemon of Sight (DEE-mun of site): believed by some to be the reason behind people manifesting Sight, possessing some so strongly that they lose control of their physical selves. See Sight.

Demons of Chaos (DEE-muns of KAY-os): race of creatures born of the primal chaos itself; lovers of destruction and bloodshed. Exclamation considered both profane and bad luck.

Dragon (DRA-gun): Great Beast of the Air; reptilian creature with leathery wings, claws and fangs, native primarily to arid lands or deep forests.

Drah (draw): the first Dragon created by the Olde Gods, King of the Great Beasts of the Air, Regent to the Olde Gods.

Erig (AIR-ig): capitol city of Maarihk, home of the King of Maarihk dating back to Maarihk Firstborn.

Erigaan Mountains (AIR-ig-on MOUNT-ens): the largest moun-tain chain on the continent, separating Vaale from Maarihk.

Firstblood (FURST-blud): physical traits indicating someone has Firstborn lineage, such as significantly greater height, and/or broader shoulders.

Firstborn (FURST-born): first race of Mankind, created by the Olde Gods, last of the Great Beasts created.

Fordtown (FORD-town): village in Maarihk near the Ancient Wood.

Foretelling (FOUR-tell-ing): a prophecy made by someone seized by the Daemon of Sight.

Guardian of Maarihk (gard-iun of MARE-ick): ancient post requiring proven Sight, sworn to preserving Maarihk, the birthplace of the Firstborn; since the Aa Conquest, has served as advisor to kings, negotiator to end wars between nations, and the finest trainer of warriors.

Hamadryad (HAM-uh-DRY-ad): creation of the New Gods after the Firstborn were created, but before the creation of the Aa.

Highmont (HY-mont): village in Maarihk.

Horse People (horss pee-pull): the Qaanese.

Kings River (kings riv-ur): longest river on the continent, running along the base of the Erigaan Mountains, between Erig and the ancient wood.

Kir (keer): a.k.a. Kir the Strong, a.k.a the Wargod, a.k.a. Kirgaa; God of War and Bloodshed, God of Chaos and Change, God of Earth and Flora, God of the Sun; creator of the mace and armor; brother of Ril the Bold and Vald the Chaste. (See Kirgaa.) The compass point where the Sun sets.

Kirgaa (keer-GAH): King of the New Gods, God of War, God of Change, God of Nature, father of the New Gods, creator of the Aa.

Knight-Marshal (nite-MAR-shull): ancient post once considered nearly equal to the Guardian of Maarihk; commander of a long-vanished order of knights serving the will of Ril, said to have continued fighting for decades following the end of the Aa Conquest.

Lion-folk (LY-un folk): Great Beasts from a tribe of woodfolk created by the Olde Gods; upper torso and arms of a man, growing from where the neck would rise from the body of a giant lion.

Maarihk (MARE-ick): a.k.a. Maarihk Firstborn; the first of Mankind created by the Olde Gods, the first King of Maarihk. Birthplace of the first Firstborn; greatest, most influential nation in the world.

Maarihkish (MARE-ick-ish): people from Maarihk with apparent Firstblood; master tradesmen and river merchants; some adherents to the Olde Gods and ancient traditions.

Manticore (MAN-ti-core): Great Beast with the head of a man, the body of a lion, the wings of a bat, and a spiked tail.

The Mother (thuh MUH-ther): a.k.a. Mother Sun; Goddess of the Sun, Goddess of Love and Maternity, Matron Goddess of Qaan and Osyraa; creator of The Teachings; New God wife of Kirgaa, mother of The Twins, the rest of the New Gods, and the world itself.

Nordaal (nor-doll): nation one the Bohrdich end of a large island across the Long Water from Biraald; homeland of Queen LaNila; believed the last place to find full-blood Firstborn.

Olde Blood (OLD blud): see Firstblood.

Olde Gods (old gods): Bohrd the Radiant, Kir the Strong, Ril the Bold, and Vald the Chaste. The first Gods, creators of the world and the Great Beasts, including the Firstborn.

Olde Tongue (old tung): verbal, visual, and written language created by Ril the Bold for the Firstborn; considered out of fashion if not worse by many Aa; outlawed in some Aa nations.

Osyraa (oh-seer-AH): arid, grassy Aa nation on the Kir side of the Gulf of Braag and the nation of Braag.

Osyriaansa (oh-see-ree-ON-suh): semi-nomadic people from Osyraa; master horsemen and breeders of fleet, agile horses; master lancers.

Porliss (PORE-liss): wet, green nation to the Vald of The Cappes.

Porlisians (pore-LEE-zhuns): people from Porliss.

The Protector (thuh pro-tech-tur): ancient champion of the Qaanese and Osyriaansa; creator of the lance; considered the most perfect warrior.

Qaan (kwan): arid Aa nation on the Kir side of the Gulf of Braag and to the Bohrd from Braag and Osyraa.

Qaanese (KWAN-eez): nomadic from Qaan; master horsemen and breeders of fleet, agile horses; master bowyers and archers.

Ril (rill): a.k.a. Ril the Bold; God of War and Strategy, God of Wisdom and Art, God of the Sea and Storms; creator of the sword and shield, creator of the Olde Tongue, creator of the Firstborn. The compass point where the Sun rises.

Ril's Square (rills skwair): combat area outlined in a square for training in melee and ritual combat.

Rilari (ril-ARE-ee): followers of Ril the Bold.

Sight (site): ability to Foretell events that have not taken place or took place in the past, a given ability of the Firstborn, although not universally manifested. See Daemon of Sight.

Songs of the Tribes (songs of thuh tribes): oral legends and traditions taught though song in Qaan and Osyraa, particularly to children.

Taargen (TAR-gun): capitol city of Braag, home of world-renowned Masons Guild.

The Teachings (the TEECH-ings): oral legends and traditions taught in Qaan and Osyraa.

The Twins (thuh twins): a.k.a. Favored Sons, a.k.a. the Protector and the Ancient; ancient champions of the Qaanese and Osyriaansa; teachers of the Teachings; creators of the Songs of the Tribes; born fully grown at the same moment, but vastly different in age.

Throne Rocks (throhn RAHKS): a somewhat rectangular upthrust of stone near Erig, said to have served as the throne for Bohrd, King of the Olde Gods.

Vaale (vall): nation to the Vald of Maarihk, between the two largest mountain chains on the continent: The Cappes and the Erigaan Mountains.

Vaaleri (vall-AIR-ee): people of Vaale.

Vald (valld): a.k.a. Vald the Chaste; God of the Harvest and Fauna, God of Love and Beauty, God of Order and Fertility; creator of the hearth and cook pot, creator of the Great Beasts. The uppermost compass point.

Vestaa (vest-uh): nation to the Ril of Maarihk, between the ancient wood and Rild Sea.

Vestaans (vest-uns): people of Vestaa, often in small military incursions with Maarihk.

Woodfolk (wood-folk): tribes of Great Beasts created by the Olde Gods; intelligent, but with bestial attributes.