Aaren Valed – Aaren, meaning lofty or inspired and Valed, meaning child or offspring. He was orphaned as a new-born and taken in at the Towers of Kiccé. He has grown into a tall priest, with blond hair, blue eyes, a short beard, and is a natural leader. Now one of the Knights of Gaia.
Adrei – The third month of the year, the equivalent of March.
Air Suit – A magic disk that could be strapped to the wrist and would create an envelope of air around the wearer, like a suit made of air. Once every three days it had to be refueled with a copper coin.
Akhu Plains – (ä'-khü), meadow; the Akhu Plains are west of the Sorgo Mountains and north of the Midbar Desert.
Altman Reeves – A navigator who has lived an unusually long time and has become a Fancy Fop.
Andrea – The cook in the Karash household in Gryreflex.
Ashima – One of gods of Gaia, The Six. His symbol is a volcano and his priests and soldiers wear red tunics with black stripes. He is shown in a red robe with black borders on it, with short black hair and dark eyes.
Ballista – (plural, ballistae) Sometimes called a bolt thrower, it’s a huge crossbow that requires three to four men to load, aim, and fire.
Bashaak – An evil priest of Ashima from the Jungle Empire of Carrzulm. He has black eyes. He is working with Klee Blanrus but only until Blanrus pays him with a small but powerful item.
Beholder – AKA Eye Tyrant. A floating monster with a huge central eye, an oversized mouth full of fangs, and tentacles, each tipped with an eye. Every eye on a beholder can cast a different kind of magic. The central body is usually between 2.5-4 cubits in diameter (4-6 feet).
Bent Goblin – A tavern in Thorginbelt, owned and run by Oren, music teacher and step-father to Katrina.
Biqah Prairie – (bĕ-kä) plain or level valley. The Great Prairie that dominates the middle of Gaia. The horse tribes who live there call themselves Biqah after the name of their homeland. The Riverlands are part of the Biqah.
Bitstsah Swamp – (bits-tsä') A large swamp west of the Carrzulm Empire and south of the city of Nahor, inhabited by giants, trolls, orcs, and other monsters.
Black Beorn – A dwarf who runs a repair station on an asteroid orbiting around the planet Heraup.
Blackwater River – A river in the northern part of the kingdom of Fleyniria.
Bloodlands – A triangular-shaped land south of Nahor, bordered on the south by the Cliff Mountains. It is known for the were-creatures that infest it.
Blue Mountains – A range of mountains that border the eastern side of the Tagil Sea.
Boatswain – AKA bosun. Petty officer or deck boss.
Bosun – AKA boatswain. Petty officer or deck boss.
Bow – The forward part of a ship.
Brandon – A wizard in Thorginbelt who has the king’s ear.
Brig – Place on a ship for the temporary confinement of offenders.
Carrzulm – (cär·zul´em), aka the Jungle Empire. An evil decadent southern empire, bounded by the Azure Sea to the south and the Cliff Mountains to the east, north, and west.
Catapult – medieval siege engine that can launch rocks or other heavy payloads high into the air on a ballistic trajectory against a target. They are very difficult to aim and use in the weightless conditions of space.
Chaos Wars – The terrible wars which destroyed most of the minor gods, and nearly destroyed Gaia itself. The Chaos Wars signaled the end of the First Age.
Cliff Mountains – A semi-circular range of mountains that bounded the northern side of the Carrzulman Empire. The southern slopes were almost perpendicular, hence the name. They keep the Carrzulman Empire trapped in the jungle land of the south.
Cliff Road – The road alongside the more normal, northern side of the Cliff Mountains. It runs from northern Ingold all the way to Nahor.
Colins – Henchman of Klee Blanrus. Accidentally killed in battle by Blanrus.
Copper – Gaian unit of money; one copper coin. 50 coppers = 5 silver sovereigns = 1 gold crown.
Corporal Arick – A member of The Sword.
Cubit – Gaian unit of distance measurement, about 18 inches.
Dales – The Dales, Dale Lands, or hill country, directly south of Shimmerwood. Known for its good black earth for farming, it is dotted with small villages and terraced farms built on the sides of the gently sloping hills. The western end opens onto the Biqah Prairie.
Dolgaron – A pirate the Knights of Gaia killed on Heraup, who was raised from the dead as a vampire, then killed again by the Knights of Gaia.
Earl – Guard on Old Tom’s caravan.
Egg Nest – Sauroid starship that serves as an incubator for their eggs. It is round and nearly featureless.
Elder Earth – The name people on Gaia use to refer to Earth.
Elric Ickär – Young wizard from a farming family, Ickär means farmer or one who farms. Tall and slender with brown hair and hazel eyes. Now one of the Knights of Gaia.
Fancy Fop – Name for people who only want to have fun and have lived long enough to collect the money and power to indulge their every whim.
Fat Greely – An information broker on Harpel who used to be a blacksmith.
First Age – The period of time from the creation of Gaia until the Chaos Wars, lasting just over 1600 years.
Fleyniria – Kingdom on the western shores of Gaia. It is north of the Midbar Desert and south of the Tagil Sea. On its eastern border is the Akhu Plains. The king is old and sick, leaving his son, Prince Abend in charge.
Fo’c’sle – The forward part of the upper deck of a ship, sometimes known as the forecastle.
Forecastle – The forward part of the upper deck of a ship, sometimes known as the fo’c’sle.
Fortune Feud – A stylized battle or contest between Fancy Fops.
Gaia – The name of both the continent and the planet in The Universe of G-Minor. The starting point for All the Heavens.
Galley – Kitchen and/or cooking apparatus on a ship.
Garrick – One of Marak’s men who has previous experience on sailing ships. Appointed as the bosun or boatswain (AKA petty officer, deck boss) of the Sky Hawk.
Gronk – A half-human, half-ogre mercenary hired by the Knights of Gaia as they’re beginning their assault on The Sword’s hideout on Harpel.
Groundling – Space-going term for people who live on planets.
Gryreflex – The city directly across the Nimhes River from Thorginbelt, which is the capital of Fleyniria. One of the “Twin Cities”.
Halfling – A diminutive race of people about the half the height of normal humans, even shorter than dwarves, hence the name. Halflings are known for their prodigious appetites and amazing good luck.
Harpel – One of the larger Pebbles, the asteroids that circle the moon or follow it in orbit around Gaia.
Heraup – The next planet closer the sun than Gaia. It broke up during the Chaos Wars and is now a loose collection of asteroids inside a giant ball of air.
High Market – An upscale, outdoor marketplace on Harpel. Marlana’s bank is one of the few permanent buildings along the outer edges of the market.
Horace Karash – Often called the Smithson, he is the son of Murray and Suzan Karash in Gryreflex. He is well over 4 cubits tall, powerfully built, with midnight hair, snapping black eyes, and royal features. Now one of the Knights of Gaia.
Iggy – A guard on Old Tom’s caravan. He is a Dalesman from the Dale Lands.
Illene Weaver – The daughter of Marak Weaver.
Ingold – Wealthy mountain kingdom between the Plains of Aroon and Carrzulm, renowned for its many gold mines and greenhouses. Currently in the midst of a civil war between two brothers vying for the throne.
Ivan – Ranch foreman for Sir Owen Halburn. A dull, taciturn man who speaks little and answers questions not at all.
Jamison – Wizard killed in combat with Klee Blanrus.
Jon “Fast Hand” Mitsvah – (Mits·vah´), rules or law. Slender and short, brown hair and eyes. A rogue who worked for the city guard as a double agent. Now one of the Knights of Gaia.
Kasrah Toe Feathers – Halfling spy who works for Klee Blanrus. He has a habit of talking to himself out loud. Bitten by a vampire and turned.
Katrina Swansong – Originally Katrina Shiyr, but changed her name after her parents died in a fire. Beautiful singer with flame-red hair and green eyes. Plays the lute. Sometimes speaks out of turn. Now one of the Knights of Gaia.
Klee Blanrus – Powerful and evil wizard intent on conquering Harpel, one of the asteroids around the moon. He has steel gray eyes. He wants revenge on the Knights of Gaia and will stop at nothing to get it.
Knights of Gaia – Adventuring group composed of Aaren Valed, Mira Highmoon, Elric Ickär, Katrina “Shiyr” Swansong, Jon “Fast Hand” Mitsvah, and Horace “Smithson” Karash. They are young, brash, and eager to make their mark on the world.
La-Dan – Island nation in the Western Ocean, known for its powerful wizards and volcanic origins. There is almost always a smoking or active volcano somewhere on it.
Lacewing – Silk created by lantern caterpillars. Used to make magical sails for sky ships and starships.
Lake Mound – A series of isolated peaks in the southern Akhu Plains, collectively known as Lake Mound. A large lake is near the center of the mountains.
Lake Road – Road on the east side of Namak Lake that runs north and south along the lake from Nahor to the Wolfhead River then, continuing north until it reaches the winter camping grounds of the Abeytu tribe.
Lana – Maid in the Karash household in Gryreflex.
League – Gaian unit of distance measurement, about 1 mile.
Life Chest – Rectangular platinum box about the size of an ordinary traveling chest. It has a magical furnace in it that converts gold into artificial gravity and air for starships.
Lightning Lands – Area between the Akhu Plains and the Northern Kingdoms. Winds from the hot dry south and wet winds from the cold north meet and form an area where thunder storms are almost continuous. This has led to it being called the Lightning Lands. The Nimhes River has its headwaters here.
Lizard Men – Aquatic humanoid monsters with limited intelligence. They are strong and fierce.
Lizard Rock – One of the asteroids in Heraup, populated by Sauroids, a highly intelligent variant of lizard men.
Lord Gragan – Official in the Jungle Empire of Carrzulm.
Lord of Light – The “new” god on Gaia, He isn’t counted as one of The Six. His priests and soldiers wear white tunics with blue embellishments. His priests are the only ones who can cast healing spells. The High Priest in each temple can magically communicate with High Priests in other temples, the only priests on Gaia who have such power.
Lorelei – Lorelei Abeytu, daughter of Crowsotarri, wife of Storm. Lorelei means Child of Heaven, a reference to her great beauty as well her power with a bow.
Loud Bang – Bar on Harpel, frequented by mercenaries who like to play with Pyrite. It is located in Merc-Town.
Macazecaha’s – Bar on Harpel run and owned by a beholder named Macazecaha.
Marak Weaver – Spy for Lord Gragan of the Carrzulman Empire. He poses as a caravan master. His daughter is Illene. A large-framed man with strong features but slowly putting on weight.
Marilas Federation – Human/elf federation of kingdoms and city-states on the east coast of Gaia.
Marin – Wise guard on Old Tom’s caravan.
Marlana – Mage who doubles as a banker on Harpel.
Merc-Town – Section of Harpel known for the mercenaries that frequent it.
Midbar Desert – (mid-bär'), desert; the great desert in the southwestern corner of Gaia, east of the Bitstsah Swamp and south of Fleyniria.
Milchamah – (mil-chä-mä'), battle; the Battle Ocean, so named for the endless warfare between Carrzulm and T'thalia, and between Carrzulm and the desert people and kingdoms of the Midbar Desert.
Mina – Gaian unit of weight measurement, about 1¼ pounds.
Mind Flayers – Humanoids with hideous, glistening mauve-colored skin, three-fingered hands, tentacles where their mouth should be, and white pupil-less eyes. They are fierce fighters with mental powers akin to magic. Their most feared attribute is their diet; they eat the brains of their victims, preferring the brains of thinking creatures if possible.
Mira Highmoon – Just 2 fingers shy of 4 cubits tall, she has sparkling blue eyes and long chestnut colored hair. She is an expert tracker and archer. Now one of the Knights of Gaia.
Morgrim Leers – Rancher who has a border dispute with another rancher, Sir Owen Halburn.
Mügard Pass – Well-traveled pass through the southern reaches of the Blue Mountains which, in turn, border the Tagil Sea.
Munros – Small city on the eastern shore of Namak Lake, known for it’s fine wineries.
Murray Karash – Famous blacksmith in Gryreflex and former adventurer. He learned his trade from the dwarves in the Rampart Mountains beyond the Northern Kingdoms. Father of Horace. Large and powerfully built.
Nahor – (nä-hōre'), a city-state at the southern end of Namak Lake. It has moved several times as the level of the lake has risen.
Namak Lake – (nə-mak'), a large lake or inland sea south of the Riverlands in the Biqah Prairie. More water comes in to it than leaves so the level has gradually risen over the centuries.
Nimhes River – The main river that waters Fleyniria. It stretches from its headwaters in the Lightning Lands in the northern Akhu Plains to its mouth at the Western Ocean. It flows between the Twin Cities of Gryreflex and Thorginbelt.
Northern Kingdoms – Set of warring kingdoms in the northeast corner of Gaia, nestled between the Rampart Mountains, the Western Ocean, and the Akhu Plains. The mounted knights of the Northern Kingdoms are some of the fiercest in all Gaia.
Old Tom – Caravan masters for the Seven Thumbs Trading Company.
Overdark Ocean – The eastern ocean.
Pebbles – Common name for the asteroids around the moon or that follow it in orbit around Gaia. Some hold the Pebbles were knocked loose from the moon during the Chaos Wars, others claim they were a smaller moon that broke up.
Pellin – One of the islands in the T’thalian Empire.
Plains of Aroon – Long plain running north and south alongside the Coast Mountains in eastern Gaia, bounded on the west by Ingold and the Cliff Mountains.
Port – Nautical term for left.
Prince Abend – Heir Apparent (Crown Prince) to the throne of Fleyniria. His father, the king, is elderly and ill. Abend has taken over during his father’s illness and is king in all but name.
Prince Urdan Harpel – Ruling prince of the planetoid-moonlet-asteroid known as Harpel.
Pyrite – Newly discovered and highly unstable mineral. It explodes when dropped.
Rampart Mountains – Mountain range running east to west, coast to coast across the northern part of Gaia.
Raven Bridge – One of nine bridges that span the Nimhes River and connect the Twin Cities of Gryreflex and Thorginbelt.
Rimon – Enemy bandit and mage killed in battle with the Knights of Gaia.
Rings of Ryal – Large metal rings, made of intertwining strands of gold and silver, that allow instantaneous transportation between them over any distance, like stepping through a door.
Roget – Henchman of Klee Blanrus.
Rogues Market – Market place on Harpel, not from from the docks. It’s a rough-and-tumble area. Macazecaha’s Bar is located on the edge of it.
Rontoffer – Fancy Fop, one of Altman’s enemies.
Ryal – Powerful flying, feathered serpent with rainbow-colored wings. The Sauroids worship Ryal as a god.
Rymorn – High Priest of the Lord of Light in the city of Thorginbelt in Fleyniria.
Saans – General of the Sauroids on Lizard Rock, and Seasar’s right-hand man.
Sairaw – Known as the City of Wind, it sits at the very southern tip of the Sorgo Mountains, which in turn come down from the Rampart Mountains. The Sorgo Mountains form the western edge of the Biqah Prairie.
Sauroids – Highly intelligent lizard men who live on Heraup.
Seasar – King of the Sauroids on Lizard Rock on Heraup.
Second Age – Period from the end of the Chaos Wars until the beginning of the Third Age when the skies finally cleared and the devastation from the Chaos Wars finally began to fade, a little over 740 years in length.
Sergeant Kline – Member of The Sword, in charge of a patrol of warriors; killed in battle by Horace.
Seven Thumbs Trading Company – Trading company that runs caravans all across Gaia.
Shedey’uwr – The first priest of the Lord of Light on Gaia and the source of innumerable proverbs and sayings. Legend has it he came to Gaia from Elder Earth.
Shimmerwood – In the Old Tongue it is called the Pleasing Shining Forest (Tôḇ 'Ôr Ya´ar). The ancient forest in eastern Gaia where the elves hold power. Bounded on the north by the Rampart Mountains, on the west by the Biqah Prairie, on the south by the Dale Lands, and on the east by the Marilas Federation.
Sir Owen Halburn – Thin, haughty man who owns a large ranch outside of Taeljurm. He claims he’s having trouble with rustlers and poachers but it’s really a border dispute with his neighbor, Morgrim Leers.
Sithfarith – Mind flayer information broker on Harpel.
Sivrei – First month of summer, the equivalent of June.
Skengine – Rectangular platinum box about the size of an ordinary traveling chest. It has a magical furnace in it that converts copper into magical power so skyships can fly through the air.
Sky Hawk – Starship captured, owned, and operated by the Knights of Gaia. Looks like a flying galleon with strange, shimmering sails.
Skyship – A flying ship that can sail through the air on magical currents.
Smiling Waif – Tavern in Thorginbelt, down near the docks, that used to be a blacksmith’s shop. The Knights of Gaia often meet there.
Sorgo Mountains – Located about 2/3 of the way west across Gaia, the Sorgo Mountains descends south from the Rampart Mountains, separating the Biqah Prairie from the Akhu Plains.
Span – Gaian unit of distance measurement, about four inches or the width of four fingers of a man’s hand.
Star Engine – Rectangular platinum box about the size of an ordinary traveling chest. It has a magical furnace in it that converts platinum into ¾ speed of light and “jump” capabilities to instantaneously travel from one solar system to another.
Starboard – Nautical term for right.
Starship – A skyship outfitted with a life chest and star engine to allow it to sail in outer space between the planets and stars.
Stern – Nautical term for the rear end of a boat or ship.
Storm – Born on Earth, transported to Gaia, restored to youth, and raised by the barbarian Bear Clan. He is a Ghibbore (ghi-bōre´) which means mighty man. Married to Lorelei of the Abeytu tribe.
Suzan Karash – Wife of Murray Karash and mother of Horace.
Syth-Finn – Swampy section of Lizard Rock so dangerous no one has ever come back from it.
T'thalian Empire – Island empire southeast of Gaia in the Overdark Ocean. Formerly the islands were each independent kingdoms and pirate strongholds until 500 years ago when they were united by Thal One-Eye, their first emperor.
Taanen – Whipcord thin man with pale, blue eyes and weathered skin. He is Marak’s right-hand man.
Tabaa’d – (Tä·baa·ed´), originally Tabûr Bārā, meaning center of created. Supposedly the city of the gods after Gaia was created. Lost somewhere in the vast reaches of the Bitstsah Swamp.
Taeljurm – City near the eastern slopes of the Blue Mountains that is supposedly part of Fleyniria but is distant enough from the capital to go its own way.
Tagil Sea – Inland sea on the west coast of Gaia. It is open to the Western Ocean but the passage is only about 60 leagues wide, leaving the rest of the Tagil Sea protected from the storms and tides of the ocean. The Tagil Sea is known for its tranquil waters.
Talent – Gaian unit of weight measurement, about 75 pounds.
Tamerin – Starship attacked by mind flayers. It was left floating adrift in space with a load of Pyrite onboard.
Tevrei – Second month of the year, the equivalent of February.
The Bent Sword – Notable constellation in the night skies over Gaia.
The Claw – Starship captured by the Knights of Gaia and renamed the Sky Hawk.
The Healer – Another name for the Lord of Light.
The Knife – Nickname for a bookie on Harpel, real name unknown.
The Motley – Clothing store two doors down from the Loud Bang, the front for The Sword and one of the many secret entrances to their underground lair and network of tunnels.
The Six – There were once hundreds of minor gods on Gaia. They fought to the death in the Chaos Wars until there were only six of them left, collectively known as The Six.
The Sword – Military brotherhood intent on conquering the asteroid known as Harpel. They have an underground network of tunnels on Harpel.
Third Age – The period from the end of the Second Age until the present time, over 2000 years.
Thorginbelt – Capital city of the western kingdom of Fleyniria. One of the “Twin Cities”.
Towers of Kicce´ – The temple to the Lord of Light in Thorginbelt.
Until roads come ’round – Common phrase used when saying good-bye to someone.
Unzar – Henchman of Klee Blanrus; killed in battle by the Knights of Gaia.
Vis – Small, bird-like starship owned by The Sword and used by Blanrus.
Wanderer – Captain’s Skiff loaned to the Knights of Gaia by Black Beorn.
Warlord Number Four – One of the ruling council of The Sword, who all wear masks and use false names to protect their identities.
Whirly – Common gambling game consisting of both dice and cards.
Wolpern – Town in Fleyniria, southwest of the Mügard Pass.
Xyrn – Planet in another solar system.
Xythia – Capital of one of the southern provinces of the Carrzulman Empire and a hotbed of political intrigue.
Zorn – Elderly wizard employed as a minor functionary in the Lord Magistrate’s office in Thorginbelt.
Zul – Capital city of Carrzulm, the Jungle Empire.
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