The Crown of the Conqueror (61 page)

 

Greenwater River
– More than seventeen hundred miles long, this is the greatest river of the empire and main route of trade and expansion.

 

Labroghia
– Salphorian region situated on the duskward slopes of the Lidea mountains, infamous for its mines run by debtor labour.

 

Landesi
– Village in Salphoria, populated by a tribe of the Linghan peoples. Birthplace of Gelthius.

 

Lidean Mountains
– range of mountains separating Ersua and Near-Mekha from Salphoria, marking the coldwards edge of the Magilnada Gap and extending more than a thousand miles coldwards to the sea.

 

Maarmes
– Area of Askh, dominated by the sporting circuits and arena of the same name, where ailur chariots are raced and wrestling tournaments take place. Maarmes is also home to the bloodfields of Askh, where nobles can resolve disputes in mortal combat. All duels on the bloodfields are to the death. Commonly, such duels are over marital disputes; if a marriage proposal is opposed, a noble that kills the head of a noble family undertakes to marry the daughters of that family.

Maasra
– Province of the empire situated hotwards of Askhor, with a temperate climate and long coastline. The chiefs of the Maasrite tribes acceded to the empire without battle, though they initiated the Oath of Service by cutting out their tongues so that they could raise no opposition to the conquest. Its people are known across the empire for their placid disposition and its wine is considered the best in the empire. Nemuria lies just off the coast of Maasra.

 

Magilnada
– A city founded by Baruun at the coldwards extent of the Altes Hills, in opposition to the rise of Askh. Magilnada has changed hands through many Salphorian chieftains since its founding, until its status as a free and protected city was guaranteed by agreement between King Aegenuis and King Lutaar. Though fallen into much disrepair, Magilnada remains a formidable fortification on the border between Greater Askhor and Salphoria, and the presence of its garrison protects the vital trade routes between the two.

 

Mekha
– An arid land hotwards of Nalanor and Ersua, divided into the semi-scrub of Near-Mekha and the deserts of Deep (or Far) Mekha. Home to the Mekhani tribes.

 

Naakus River
– A river in Near-Mekha, considered the border between Greater Askhor and Mekha. Site of Ullsaard's camp during his Mekha campaign and proposed location of a new Askhan settlement in the region.

 

Nalanor
– Province of the empire lying to duskwards of the Askhor Gap and first to be conquered by King Askhos. Consisting of rich farmlands, Nalanor was once the centre of trade of the empire, but as Greater Askhor has grown, the province faces stern competition from Salphorian importers and growing farmlands in Okhar. Despite this, Nalanor is considered the gateway of the empire, as it is linked by the Greenwater to other parts of Greater Askhor and sits next to the only secure route into Askhor. Its capital is situated at Parmia.

Narun
– Largest harbour on the Greenwater, situated on the border of Nalanor and Askhor. Known as the Harbour of a Thousand Fires due to its many light towers that allow safe navigation even at night. Many decades of construction have made Narun a huge artificial laketown boasting dozens of docks and quays. Almost all trade along the Greenwater passes through Narun at some point on its journey and most of the empire's shipbuilding is centred in Narun. The jewels in the crown of Narun are the stone built docks at the King's Wharf.

 

Nemuria
– A chain of smoke-shrouded islands situated to dawnwards of the Maasra coast. Home to the inhuman Nemurians, little is known of this realm other than its volcanic nature and richness of iron. Nemuria is protected by arrangement with the empire so that no ship may approach within a mile of its shores.

 

Nemurian Strait
– A narrow stretch of water separating the shores of Maasra from the isles of Nemuria.

 

Okhar
– Province of the empire flanking the Greenwater River coldwards of Askhor and bordered to dawnwards by Maasra, duskwards by Ersua and hotwards by Mekha; of rich farmlands, vineyards, forested uplands and numerous harbour towns. After Askhor, the richest province of the empire, due in large part to its much-prized marble and linen. Governed by Prince Nemtun from the capital at Geria.

 

River Ladmun
– River that runs along the border of Anrair and Enair from the Altes Hills.

 

Royal Way
– The broad thoroughfare running from the main gate of Askh up to the palaces on the Royal Hill.

 

Salphoria
– Lands situated to duskwards of Greater Askhor, separated from Ersua by the Free Country, of unknown size and population. Populated by disparate peoples and tribes, nominally ruled over by King Aegenuis from the capital at Carantathi.

Ualnian Mountains
– Range in Salphoria, site of Carantathi.

 

Abada
– Large herbivorous creature with prominent nose horn, used as a beast of burden throughout Greater Askhor.

 

Ailur
– Large species of cat bred by the Brotherhood as beasts of war and status symbols for Askhan nobility. Possessed of savage temper, only female ailurs are ridden to war, and do so hooded by armoured bronze masks. Known to attack in a berserk frenzy when unmasked.

 

Behemodon
– Large reptilian creature native to the deserts of Mekha. Employed as beasts of burden and war mounts by the Mekhani tribes.

 

Blackfang
– Ailur owned by Ullsaard.

 

Kolubrid
– Large, snakelike beast native to Maasra, employed by Askhans as mounts for messengers and skirmishing cavalry.

 

Lacertil
– Giant reptile used by the Mekhani as mounts.

 

Lupus
– Large, wolf-like beast used by Salphorians to draw war-chariots.

Storm
– Ailur owned by Ullsaard.

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The empire strikes back

 

An Angry Robot paperback original 2011 

1

 

Copyright © Gav Thorpe 2011

 

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UK ISBN - 978 0 85766 120 3 

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This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.