Glossary

Aliyar – a minor port in northern part of the country of Ayellis and is situated on the Aquhilte River; sends ships north into Silvestri. Anchor – A position in a major spell casting. This person holds the others in focus, keeping them from being absorbed into the working. Only the anchor can break the spell once it's been cast. They can either break it themselves or pass the key on to another to break it. Andan – sixth month of the year, presided over by Tehvir the Wanderer. Aquos – the term used to denote the mother group of elements that consists of water, rain, ice, and mist Ardren – mainland and largest land mass on Melphor. It contains the nations of Miltan, Silvestri, Athros, and Ayellis as well as the Forbidden Lands. Auras – All people have an aura consisting of two or three colors for non-mages and three to five for mages. A mage's additional colors denote the type, specialty, and sometimes power level of the mage. An aura does not necessarily contain the person's clan or House colors. It's quite rare, in fact, and seen as a sign of luck. Aurora Palace – residence of the Dawn Empress. Located in Sunhame. Ayellis – country on the mainland of Ardren populated by both the Lunyari people
Bath'iere – talisman held by House Melipsor. It contains a great power known only to the Dawn Empress and it’s current keeper. Book of Moon and Shadow – also known as the Black Book, it is the counterpart to the Book of Sun and Star, once owned by Empress Hilandra. It has similar properties to its sister book. Book of Sun and Star – an enchanted book that always had a few blank pages in it no matter how much you wrote in it. A gift to Hihaye from her mother Shan-Illu the Shining One, it tells its reader what they needed to know and nothing more at any given point in time.
Centauricorn – people that inhabit Silvestri. They are part horse, part human with cloven hooves and a long horn sprouting from their foreheads. Some Herds have longer hair on their legs. Clearstone – a stone found in Silvestri that has magical properties Council of Nations – the council made up of the head Houses in each nation of the Alliance, led by the Knights of the Rose and the Dawn Empress. It assembles once a year at the height of summer.
Day – A day on Melphor has 26 hours. The midnight hour is an unlucky time of night. Draconars – reptilian Kairyyl
Earthe – the term used to denote the mother group of elements that consists of earth, metal, wood, and stone. Edel – a plant found only in the forests whose leaves can be used as a medicine for aches. Ehkhan – name give to the common tongue of Ardren. Esprit – the fifth element. Made up of the four base elements. It is the only element to not have any other elements classed with it and is therefore viewed as being pure. Eventide Palace – residence of the Twilight Empress. Located in Luyan.
Farmother – a Shai’then term for a distant female ancestor Felinas – cat-like Kairyyl Firefox – a desert animal believed to have special powers and luck-giving abilities. They live in the deserts around Talon Peak Forbidden Lands – zone where the powerful battle magics are said to infect the land and any who try to enter it. Devastated by a long ago war that resulted in the formation of the Soulforge Alliance Forhielin – word in the language of the Alliance denoting people found in or leaving the Forbidden Lands Frost Manor – secondary seat of House Melipsor, located in the coldest part of Miltan, near the border with Silvestri Fyre – the term used to denote the mother group of elements that consists of fire, smoke, lightning, and lava
Guide Star – blue star, sits at true north Guiterra – a stringed instrument made up of six strings stretched over a hollow box with a long fretted neck.
Hepelos – country on the island of Keltos House – social structure in the Alliance is broken down according to one's House. It determines everything about a person from political alliances to friends to marriage prospects. Each House has their own sigil, flower, flag and colors. Higher Houses have gemstones, element, and metal. The Centauricorn Herds and Shai’then Clans serve a similar purpose.
Institute – located near Talon Peak, it is the main training facility for the Scholastic orders
Jelpar – a kind of leafy tree with edible berries Jyelyar – a race of herbivores commonly used as mounts by the Rose Knights
Kairyyl – race of winged beings that inhabit the country of Katashiran Karshe – canine-like Kairyyl Katashiran – country on the island of Keltos inhabited mainly by the varied Kairyyl races. Capital city: Luyan Kavol – a black powder used as makeup Kelphar – the sun around which Melphor orbits as its fourth planet Keltos – second largest land mass. Contains the countries of Katashiran and Hepelos. It is located across the Straight of Schallen Khilest, treaty of – great historical event Kittihawk – a kind of bird of prey common across Melphor Klasvok – seat of House Artreus Knights – warriors of the Alliance Knights of the Rose – also known as the Rose Knights the six warriors that are the protectors and friends of the Dawn Empress. Founders of the Order of the Rose.
Lady's Eye – the moon Tiylshan is often referred to as the eye of the goddess Kephru Lankirr – Lance invented by Lankirrinve. Used by the Centauricorn people. Symbol: the Lankirr lance Leshrii – Town nearest to the Aurora Palace Likte statue – a statue with a guard spell cast on it during the carving process. It will attack people that aren't supposed to be there or perform an unauthorized activity, such as an unauthorized person removing what it's supposed to protect. They are usually carved in the likeness of an important historical figure. Lunyari – humanoid in appearance, they have distinct facial and body markings and only four digits on their hands and feet. Their wings appear only as a survival means. Luyan – Capital city of Katashiran. The palace of the Twilight Empress is built nearby. The name means ‘Moon home’.
Mawsitsit – a rare green stone Melphor – fourth planet in orbit around the sun Kelphar. Melphor is also the name of a House with only two members: Hihaye and Hilandra. It has no known gem or symbol. Miltan – country on the mainland of Ardren, populated mostly by humans. Capital city: Sunhame Miosha – a kind of seaweed found off the coast of Ardren that can be made into silk Mioshan silk – made from a seaweed called Miosha Month – It has 28 days. The 13th month has a 29th day, but, as it’s the last day of the year, isn’t counted as belonging to any specific month.
New script – writing used by the Alliance Nightlords – the six warriors that are the protectors and friends of the Night Queen, also known as the Order of the Stars. They are the counterparts of the Rose Knights.
Old script – used by the Ancients and non-Alliance members Order of the Rose – the protectors of the Alliance, it is composed of the various warriors, guardsmen, mages, minor and lesser knights and the Knights of the Rose, who founded the Order. Order of the Stars – commonly known as Nightlords. Othersight – sight used by mages to detect power and energy flows. Also used to see auras of others
Paraten – city near the border of the Forbidden Lands
Renari – a now extinct Kairyyl sub-type; resembled griffons River melon – fruit from Ayellis
Scholar – a group of people, mostly men, who delve into the mysteries and ancient histories. They are universally revered. Some tend to lean towards mysticism rather than traditional scholastics. There are several offshoots of the main Scholastic body. These are the Mystics, Priest-mages, Priest-scholars, Druids, Druid-scholars, Mage-mystics, Prophets, and Scholar-mystics. Seadrake – a sea dwelling animal that makes it homes in the oceans around Ayellis. Its hide is extremely tough and, when cured, can be used as armor. Silvestri – northernmost country of Ardren where Clearstone is found and mined. It is the home of the Centauricorn people. Solien – Human House of the upper nobility. Gem: sunstone Sigil: fire and smoke Soulforge Alliance – Formed 5 BCE and consists of the nations of Ardren, which are Miltan, Silvestri, Athros, and Ayellis. Staff of Power – symbol of the Dawn Empress’ power and authority
Talon Peak – seat of House Nomien, located in the desert lands near Miltan's border with Silvestri. Tanel – a medicinal root that can be used as a remedy for migraines Tanel root – a root known for its medicinal properties; it has a particularly bad smell, but is the only known remedy for migraines The Forging – The creation of the Soulforge Alliance, a pact made between Hihaye, Tanvihr, Deiyanra, Atilhen, and Lailien. Tilyr – abandoned town near Luyan. Name means ‘sun grave’ Tiylshan – the moon
Watch – law enforcers, not affiliated with the Order of the Rose Week – The people of the Soulforge Alliance divide their year by weeks instead of months. Each week has its own distinct patron and has 12 days. Wheirwood – a plant whose leaves have the property to ease labor pains when made into a tea or to calm the symptoms of arthritis when made into a paste. White marble – a kind of marble that has gold veins. Also thought to have minor magical properties.
Year – A year on Melphor is 13 months and 365 days long. Each year has a patron.