Elfhunter (79 page)

Gelmyr
(GEL-meer): Èolarin Warrior-elf of
Monadh-talam, friend of Magra, slain by Gorgon. From gal- (valor,
masculine) and mirys (graceful).

Glomin
(GLO-meen): Dwarf of Cós-domhain, who
first reveals the secret of Rogond’s ring.

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

Gorgon
(GORE-gun): Dark but mighty perversion
brought into being by Wrothgar, he is also known as the Elfhunter.
From gor- (dark) and gundas (horror).

Gorlan
(Gor-lahn): Great horse of Ri-Aruin,
his name means "dark coated". From gor- (dark) and lanys
(wool).

Gryffa
(GRIF-fa): Chestnut horse ridden by
Nelwyn, his name means "the red".

Grundin
(GROON-din): Dwarf-lord, ruler of
Cós-domhain. Grundin was very wise and reasonably open-minded, and
he could trace his lineage back directly to the Five Founders. Name
means "solid-as-stone".

Gwynnyth
(GWIN-nith): Beloved mortal woman,
lost love of Galador. Her name means "blissful".

Gwyr Farsing
(Gweer FAR-sing): Wide grasslands
to the west of the Ambros. From gwyr (grass) and farsa (wide).

Halrodin
(HAL-roe-din): Hunter-scout of the
Greatwood, friend of Gaelen, slain by Gorgon. His name means
basically "tall tree". From halla (tall) and rodo (trunk of a
tree).

Iduna
(Ih-DOO-nah): Mare of Tal-sithian, her
name means "the young".

Iolar
(Yo-LAHR): Also called Monadh-iolar. Two
tall peaks comprising the Iolari Pass, the best way across the
Monadh-hin in the region of the Linnefion. Name means "eagle".

Iomar
(Yo-MAR): Elf of the Eolar, elder son
and heir of Ri-Aldamar, elder brother of Farahin (Ri-Elathan).
Iomar was in line to succeed Ri- Aldamar as High King, but he was
slain during the Second Uprising. His name means "eagle".

Kelin
(KEH-leen): Hunter-scout of the
Greatwood. Her name means "slender maid". From kelas (slender).

Kharsh
(KARSH): Ulca, venerable and able
advisor to Gorgon. The meaning of his name is unknown.

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 it can also
mean "wrathful". He is called "deceiver" by the Elves, and they
name him Trachair, the treacherous. At the time of these writings,
Kotos can no longer take physical form, but he can inhabit the body
(and mind) of any person who wears the amulet.

Laban Fuath
(la-Ban foo-ath): The great evil
bog surrounding Tûr Dorcha in the south of the Darkmere. Name means
"terrible mire". From laban (bog) and fuath (terrible).

Léiras
(LEH-ee-ras): Asarla, friend and mentor
of Dardis. He instructed Dardis in the making of objects that could
be endowed with magical properties. Name means "the
far-sighted".

Liathwyn
(Lee-ATH-win): Elf of the Eolar,
mother of Ordath, espoused to Shandor the Asarla, with whom she
founded Monadh-talam. 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).

Lindor
(LIN-door): Elf of Tal-sithian.

Linnefionn
(Lin-neh-finn): The very large,
very deep and very clear Lake in the center of which is located the
Elven-realm of Tal-sithian. The Lake is generally shrouded in mist
and cannot be seen by unwelcome visitors. Name means "clear lake".
From linne (lake) and fionn (crystal- clear).

Maglos
(MAG-los): Soft, white metal discovered
and refined by the dwarves, it reacts violently when exposed to
water. It is most likely akin to sodium or magnesium. Name means
"mighty light". From magra (mighty).

Magra
(MAH-gra): Èolarin Elf-lord,
second-in-command and kinsman of Ri-Elathan. Magra is very tall and
strong, and has golden hair. He is related to Liathwyn, and hence
to Lady Ordath. His name means "mighty".

Maidrin
(MYE-drin): Name given to Gaelen by
Gorgon, it means "vixen fox".

Maleck
(MAL-eck): Fisherman living along the
River Ambros.

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
(Monath-TAH-lahm): Elven-realm
presided over by

the Lady Ordath. Hidden among tall peaks of the
Monadh-hin, it is also known as Mountain-home. The Sanctuary, a
great university founded by Shandor, is located there.
Mountain-home is a place of healing, study, and enlightenment, and
is home to folk of many races. 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)

Nasülle
(Na-SOO-leh): Elf of Monadh-talam.

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

Nimo
(NEE-mo): Elder dwarf of Cós-domhain,
descended of Rûmm.

Noli
(NO-lee): Dwarf of the northern
Mountains, descended of Rûmm, cousin of Nimo and son of Kino.

Odo
(OH-doh): Arguably the most accomplished
of all dwarvish scholars, certainly their most renowned
lore-master. He wrote the volume given to Fima by Lady Arialde upon
their parting. His name means "wealthy".

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).

Oriana
(Oh-ree-AH-na): Elf of Eádros, beloved
of Galwaith, friend of Galador. Oriana and Galwaith tried
unsuccessfully to advocate for Galador after he was banished from
Eádros. Her name means "the golden".

Oryan
(ORE-ian): Elf of Tal-sithian who
travels with the Company to the Greatwood and aids the Wood-elves
in battle. His name means "fine singer". From oran (to sing).

Osgar
(OSZ-gar): King of the Greatwood and
sire of Ri-Aruin, he was known as "the fierce". Somewhat impulsive
and reckless, he was slain during the Third Uprising.

Réalta
(ray-AL-ta): Swift and beautiful grey
stallion, favored mount of Galador and companion of Eros. His name
means "star".

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
"majestic noble". From aldos (high, noble) and amar (great,
majestic).

Ri-Aruin
(ree-AR-oo-een): Ruler of the Sylvan
Elves of the Greatwood Realm. His name means "king of the forest".
From ri-(ruler) and aruinnas (forest

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. Beloved of Gaelen Taldin,
he was killed during the Third Uprising, taken by the Black Flame.
His given name was Farahin, but Gaelen simply calls him "Rain". His
name means "King of Wisdom". From ri- (ruler) and elathas
(wisdom).

Rogond
(ROE-gond): Man of the Tuathar, born
during the Plague Year and fostered by the Elves of the Verdant
Mountains. Name means "treasure within the stone". From oro-
(golden, gentle) and gondas (stone).

Rosalin
(ROS-a-lin): "River-beauty". Woman
descended of Tuathas, mother of Rogond. From Ros-(river) and –aille
(beautiful).

Rûmhar
(ROOM-har): Dwarves. Their speech is
known as Rûmhul. From Rûm (to delve).

Rûmm
(RHUM): Ancient and Great Dwarf-realm
known as the Deep Delving, which was lost in the War with the
Eádram. From Rûm (to delve).

Rûndiam-har
(Roon-dee-ahm-HAR): The Book of
Mystery, an accounting of what is known of the time before the
First Reckoning begins. From rûndiam (deep/hidden mystery).

Sanctuary
: Lord Shandor built the Sanctuary so
that all free folk of Alterra would have a place to study and
learn. It is a huge edifice of white granite, and contains many
levels both above and below ground. It represents an enormous
repository of written lore—an irreplaceable treasure.

Shadowmancer
: Wrothgar, the Dark Power of
Alterra. He is thought by many to be an extremely powerful, black
sorcerer, hence the name. The name has also been applied to Lord
Kotos, but in these tales it refers specifically to Wrothgar.

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, which is presently in the
keeping of Lady Arialde, the Asarla of

Tal-sithian. Shandor was the only Asarla 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".

Siva
(SEE-va): Silver-white horse ridden by
Gaelen, her name simply means "grey".

Srath Miadan
(Srath mee-ah-DAHN): Meadows to
the east of the Ambros and west of the Linnefionn. From srath
(riverbank) and miadan (meadow).

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. The Stone was moved to Tal-sithian in s.r.6985, at
the onset of the Third Uprising, and has remained there under the
watchful eye of Lady

Arialde. 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.

Shandor is bitter and grieved, and he will not suffer
anyone to seek his visions outside the grace of the Lady. 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, and it
has greatly aided the Lady Arialde in safeguarding her people. From
léir (far-sighted).

Sylvan elves
: Wood-elves, or Cúinar.

Tal-ailean
(Tal-EYE-lee-ahn): Elven-realm
located in the Monadh-ailan. It is inhabited by various small,
secretive groups of Cúinar known as the Elàni-ailan (green-elves).
From tal (realm) and ailan (green).

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 there were no less than three Asari
that resided there: Leiras, Baelta, and Kotos. It was destroyed by
Wrothgar’s army when Kotos betrayed the Elves, aided unwittingly by
Baelta. From tal- (realm) and elathas (wisdom).

Talrodin
(TAL-roh-deen): Hunter-scout of
Greatwood, friend of Nelwyn and brother of Halrodin. He was slain
by Gorgon. His name means "pillar of the realm". From tal (realm)
and rodos (as the trunk of a tree).