Surrender (32 page)

The Ferryman + The Flame Guide

Timelines

First Era (Circa, 250 million years ago - 65 million years ago)
The Lands Across the Stars were in their birth and growth stages, the Valtanyana was forming and gaining more and more power. The Flames were created by Toraque (Tor) of Avrigost, the final member of the Valtanyana. Aria, The Amethyst Flame and the other eight Flames fought against the Valtanyana and won, locking them away in Avrigost.

Second Era (Circa, 65 million years ago –
5000BCE):
Toraque (Tor) of Avrigost takes over as the High King of the Lands of Peace, ruling a Golden Age. Factions of Daed warriors rise up to oppose High King Tor, but without the rest of the Valtanyana backing them, they are nearly powerless. High King Tor gives Aria, The Amethyst Flame and the other eight Flames new lives. Aria is reborn as Kaliel of Evennses.

People

Kemplan (kemm-plan)
The Great Librarian

Kaliel of Evennses (kal-ee-elle)
Aria, The Amethyst Flame from the First Era. She’s been reborn as a Child of Avristar, a second chance after all of the destruction in the First Era

Krishani of Amersil (krish-aw-nee of am-er-sill)
Kallow, The Ferryman from the First Era. He’s been reborn and sent to Avristar by his ancestors the Tavesin Family from Terra (Earth), the Lands of Men

Pux of Evennses (puhx of evan-sess)
A feorn (half man, half wolf) considered invalid, but in fact is a hidden genius

Adoron of Amersil (a-door-on of am-er-sill)
Child of Avristar, has lived on Avristar all his life. Krishani’s first elder

Luenelle of Evennses (Loo-en-elle)
House Master at the House of Kin, Evennses.

Desaunius of Evennses (Dess-aw-nee-us)
High King Tor’s former betrothed, originally from Tempia, fled to Avristar due to the wars with the Valtanyana. Kaliel’s first mentor.

The Great Oak
Located at the border of Amersil and Evennses, this tree provides guidance to all kinfolk from Evennses and Amersil. Could be considered a Spirit of the Land.

Benir of Amersil (ben-eer of am-er-sill)
Member of the Brotherhood of Amersil, loyal to High King Tor. Krishani’s friend

Zulnas of Amersil (zool-nas of am-er-sill)
Member of the Brotherhood of Amersil, loyal to High King Tor.

Lord Istar, Sovereign of Avristar (iss-tar)
Appointed in the First Era, is married to both Avristar herself and Lady Atara. Krishani’s second elder.

Lady Atara, Sovereign of Avristar (at-are-ah)
Appointed in the First Era, married to both Avristar herself and Lord Istar. Kaliel’s second mentor.

Grimand
Elder in Evennses, Pux’s mentor

Sigurd of Amersil (cig-erd of am-er-sill)
One of the Elders in Amersil. Benir’s mentor.

Melianna of Handele (Mel-ee-anna)
Daughter of General Handele, leader of the Armies of Avristar. Lady Atara’s servant.

Shimma, Daughter of Lord Istar of Avristar (shim-ma)
Witch, half human, half elven. Istar’s youngest daughter, grew up in Avristar, escaped to Nimphalls, Lands of Men, returned due to the unrest in those lands.

Kuruny, Daughter of Lord Istar of Avristar (Koo-roo-nee)
Witch, half human, half elven. Istar’s daughter, grew up in Avristar, escaped to Nimphalls, Lands of Men, returned due to the hex placed upon her by the humans.

Kazza, Daughter of Lord Istar of Avristar (kaz-za)
Witch, half human, half elven. Istar’s eldest daughter, grew up in Avristar, escaped to Nimphalls, Lands of Men, returned due to the growing unrest in those lands.

Hernadette of Avristar (hern-ah-dett)
Lives in the Royal City of Orlondir, feorn, servant, one of the oldest Children of Avristar.

Mallorn the Kiirar (Kee-rawr)
Fled to Avristar from Talanisdir, Lands of Immortals due to the wars with the Valtanyana. Kaliel’s last mentor.

Wraynas of Orlondir (Ray-ness)
Feorn. Son of Falnir of Amersil, lives in Hawklin, Orlondir, Isle of Avristar.

Falnir of Orlondir (Fall-near)
Feorn. Wraynas’s Father, former Champion in the Armies of Avristar.

The Gatekeeper
The voice of Avristar herself

Davlin Tavesin, The Ferryman of Terra (dahv-lynn)
Krishani’s predecessor

Avristar
Has been around since before the First Era, a living, breathing island. She is often known as the Female Spirit of the Land. In Celtic lore she is called the Dan, Bredan, or Dana.

Avred
Has been around since before the First Era, a living, breathing land mass. He is often known as the Male Spirit of the Land. In Celtic lore he is called the Dan, Bredan, or Dana.

Kiirar of the Shee (kee-rawr)
Nameless, lives in the Village of the Shee, speaks on behalf of Avred the Male Spirit of the Land.

Ferrymen / Valkyries
Children from twelve chosen families appointed to keep the Vultures/Wraiths at bay and send souls to the Great Hall. All chosen boys are Ferryman, all chosen girls are Valkyries.

The Valtanyana (The Powers That Be)
A brethren of eleven powerful kings and queens whose only goal is to gain absolute power over the Lands Across the Stars

Crestaos (cress-tae-oss)
Former ruler of Draconis, Lands of Immortals and Lord of the Valtanyana

The Daed
A group of
anarchists from the Lands of Men, Lands of Immortals and Lands of Beasts. The loyal followers of the Valtanyana.

The Flames

A collection of nine weapons created to defeat the Valtanyana. Also known as the hand-crafted jewels of the universe, each of them is one of a kind.

Lotesse, Emerald Flame of Innocence (low-tess)
In the First Era she was a seashell, reborn on Nazole in Lands of Immortals, speaks all languages, versed in healing.

Kaliel, Amethyst Flame of the Apocalypse (kal-ee-elle)
In the First Era she was a girl, reborn on Avristar, versed in psychic, healing and transmutation.

Tiki, Carnelian Flame of Healing (tee-kee)
In the First Era she was a lantern, reborn on Terra, Lands of Men, she can absorb darkness, and is versed in healing.

Clamose, Azurite Flame of Knowledge (clam-oh-se)
In the First Era he was a crown, reborn on Nimphalls, Lands of Men, absorbs knowledge through touch, empathic.

Cossisea, The Ruby Flame of War (caws-iss-see-ah)
In the First Era she was a sword, reborn on Zanandir, Lands of Immortals, telekinetic, versed in combat.

Shezeel, The Quartz Flame of Magic (sheh- zeal)
In the First Era she was a wand, reborn on Zanandir, Lands of Immortals, mind control, possession abilities.

Places

Lands Across the Stars (See Map)

The Great Hall
Center of the Universe, often thought of as a hollowed out planet. The Great Library takes up a large part of The Great Hall. Home to High King Tor of the Lands of Peace.

Lands of Peace
All Lands Across the Stars who have pledged allegiance to High King Tor and who benefit from his generosity and protection.

Lands Across the Stars
The Universe (usually meaning planets that are scattered across the sky.)

Lands of Men /Avristar
Home to Humans, Earth is over there somewhere too.

Terra (tara)
Earth, circa 7000BCE

Amaltheia (am-al-thee-ah)
The Obsidian Flame lives here.

Nimphalls (nimb-falls)
Shimma, Kuruny and Kazza lived here.

Arathia (air-ah-thee-ah)
The Armies of Avristar have been here for years, fighting against factions of Daed Warriors.

Matakasha (mat-ah-kash-ah)
One of the seven Lands of Men of the Lands Across the Stars.

Ronannon (rown-an-non)
One of the seven Lands of Men of the Lands Across the Stars.

Seventia (sev-en-sha)
One of the seven Lands of Men of the Lands Across the Stars.

Lands of Immortals /Avrigard
Home to Elvens, Fae, Draconians and other creatures who live for a long time.

Lands of Beasts /Avristyr
Home to demons and nasty creatures.

Angrenoth, The Lands of Beasts (ang-wren-awth)
Home to Mithronians, Goblins, and stronghold of Crestaos, Lord of the Valtanyana

Land of the Dead /Avrigost
That place nobody ever talks about. It used to be known as Land of Kings.

Isle of Avristar (see map)

Orlondir (Oar-lawn-deer)
Royal City, located in the center of the Isle of Avristar.

Elmare Castle (elle-marr-ee)
Located in Orlondir, it’s where Fire Festivals happen, and where the Lord and Lady live.

Mount Tirion (teer-ee-on)
Located to the East of Elmare Castle, it is where the Gatekeeper lives and where Avristar herself can be summoned.

The Waterfall
Located at the border of Orlondir and Araraema, it’s an unnamed river that leads to the lake surrounding Avristar.

Amersil (am-er-sill)
Located in the West, this is where the handpicked Brothers of Amersil are trained.

Araraema (air-rah-ray-ma)
Located in the East, this is where the handpicked Sisters of Araraema are trained.

Evennses (evan-sess)
Located in the South, this is where the rest of the kinfolk are trained.

House of Kin
Located in Evennses, it is where the kinfolk live while being trained.

Desaunius’s Cottage
Located in Evennses, this is her home.

The Lake
Less of a lake and more of a sea, it’s endless until someone activates the mists that allow the kinfolk to travel to other lands (like the Lands of Men)

Tolemny (toll-emm-nee)
A sacred site

Beonwyn (bay-on-win)
A sacred tree

Larna (lar-na)
A meadow Krishani burned

Yerbia (yer-bee-ah)
A grove Krishani flooded

Nandaro (nan-daw-row)
Located in the North, it is host to villages of Centaurs, Kiirar, Shee, Feorns, and others who are considered permanent residents of Avristar. They often stay to their own affairs.

Village of the Shee
Located in Nandaro, it is very close to Avred.

Hawklin (hawk-lynn)
One of the towns in the province of Orlondir

Gargoyle’s Keep
Located in Nandaro, these are the Northeast shores, where the boats go to and from Avristar. They are often manned by a gargoyle, and most travel at night when gargoyles aren’t stone.

Mallorn’s Cabin
Located in Nandaro, very close to the Northeast Shores.

The Orchards
Endless rows of apple trees on the southwest side of Elmare Castle

The Tower
A secret place above Kaliel’s room at the Elmare Castle

The Catacombs under Elmare Castle
Where they keep the weapons and armor they haven’t used in thousands of years

Words on Avristar

Lands
The World (usually meaning a single planet)

Moons
Months

Summers
Years

Kinfolk
People, children

Samhain (sow-ann)
Fire festival held before the beginning of Winter

Beltane (bell-tayne)
Fire festival held before the beginning of Summer

Kiirar (kee-rawr)
Lorekeeper

Ahdunie (ah-done-ee)
Greetings, farewell

Traditions on Avristar

Marry the Land
Literal, meaning to marry Avristar, the Female Spirit of the Land. This is a tradition that occurs around a kinfolk’s twenty fifth summer. It ensures the kinfolk protection, signifies adulthood and loyalty to their home.

Journey to the Great Oak
A journey all kinfolk take around their fifteenth summer to learn their destiny. Half the battle is decoding the parables the Great Oak speaks in.

Fire Festival
A festival held at the Elmare Castle in the Royal City of Orlondir during Samhain and Beltane. The idea is that they light bonfires, hold games, a feast, and bless the land.

Children of Avristar
Literal, meaning Children born in thickets of grass, hollows of trees or beds of flowers.

Birthstones
Gifts from the Merfolk for each of the Kinfolk

Creatures on Avristar

Merfolk
Webbed hands and feet, mohawk fins, black skin, gills

Kraken
Giant octopi that live in the deep waters surrounding Avristar

Shee
Six to twelve inches tall, glittery, wings, pale

Centaurs
Part human, part horse

Gargoyles
Bat-like wings, smushed faces, turn to stone in daylight

Umber
The horse Kaliel befriends

The Shee
Six to twelve inches tall, glittery, wings, pale skinned

Drow
Black skinned Elvens, also known as “creatures” simply because my characters didn’t know what the technical term for them was.

Constellations seen from Avristar

Phoenix
South part of the sky

Eagle
Northeast part of the sky

Griffin
Intertwined with the wing of the phoenix

Common Destinies for Kinfolk of Avristar

Landkeeper
Kinfolk that will tend to the harvest

Weaver
Kinfolk that will assist and upkeep Avristar’s magic

Messenger
Kinfolk that will deliver messages to those in the Lands Across the Stars

Seer
Kinfolk that will divine prophecies, omens and fortunes

Healer
Kinfolk that will be proficient in the healing arts

Lorekeeper
Kinfolk that will keep track of history, laws and lore

Elder
Kinfolk that will train other Kinfolk

Uncommon Destinies for Kinfolk of Avristar

Judge
Kinfolk who will be judges in the Lands of Men

Warrior
Kinfolk who will join the Armies of Avristar

Catalyst
Kinfolk who will bring change to the Lands Across the Stars

Peacemaker
Kinfolk who will bring peace to the Lands Across the Stars

Troublemaker
Kinfolk who will bring mischief to the Lands Across the Stars