“the Turncoat” Jokun: head of the Jokun Family and of the Ironmaul Clan.
Hisel Jokun: Baslic’s wife, and manager of the Clan’s affairs.
Hrig “the Spineless” Jokun: Baslic and Hisel’s sole son, known for his lack of importance.
The Slums
Daryk: disowned by his family, he is now the leader of the criminals in the Slums.
Big Ear: the name everyone knows him by. One of the most cunning and treacherous dwarves in the district.
Culun: one of the dwarves in Daryk’s gang.
The House of Khelun
Athal Khelun: King of the Tulvars, Conqueror of Elantion, Commander of the Royal Guard, and head of House Khelun.
Zund Khelun: firstborn, Crown Prince, and General of the Draelian Campaign, as well as Commander of the Black Guard.
Sheera Khelun: second-born, and Commander of the Violet Archers.
Ziglan Khelun: third-born, and Commander of the Ragers.
Auril Khelun: fourth-born, and priestess of the goddess Th’ta.
Ramil Khelun: fifth and last of the royal progeny, and Commander of the Heavy Cavalry.
The House of Urgal-Khun
Yvalee Urgal-Khun: High Priestess, the King’s wife, and mother of the royal progeny, as well as an outstanding representative of House Urgal-Khun, the perpetual right hand of the Khelun.
Kyon Urgal-Khun: head of the House, and Yvalee’s cousin. Commander of the infantry legions.
Enetor Urgal-Khun: Kyon’s brother and Yvalee’s cousin; on the surface, he deals with the thorniest issues in support of the King, but he is capitalizing on his vast spy network.
The House of Irbhun
Lokle Irbhun: head of the House, Commander of the army’s heavy forces, and loyal follower of Zund.
Rerik Irbhun: Lokle’s brother, and an excellent trader.
Deelnat Irbhun: Lokle’s daughter and Rerik’s niece.
Belal Irbhun: King of the Tulvars who led the army tulvaren during the Second Tulvaren Invasion of Elantion.
The House of Naled
Darno Naled: head of the House, and Zler’s father.
Zler Naled: Darno’s son, and Commander of the army’s archer regiment.
The House of Turag-Khalin
Terke Turag-Khalin: head of the House, and Commander of the cavalry regiments.
Datnu Turag-Khalin: Terke’s niece, killed by Enetor to safeguard the rise of the rebellion.
Others
Lyrus: Supreme Necromancer, and the oldest of all.
Snort: an uggar working for Lyrus.
Radash: a resva that has climbed up the ranks, becoming Captain of a group of soldiers loyal to Enetor.
Rodvar: a resva chosen by Zund to captain the Black Guard.
“…The Battle of the Brushwood Plains signaled the end of the Invasion, but all the Monarchs witnessed, upon returning to their realms, were death and ruin. The Great Reconciliation marked a crucial moment in history—most especially the tragic point in time during which it was signed. The document was prepared with expertise, and endorsed by all of the Monarchs of Elantion. That happening, so pivotal and without precedent across the millennia, was to be the turning point, and so the beginning of a new calendar was declared. The following year would not be called 1062, but rather Year Zero ‘F.R.’ (“Following the Reconciliation”). All of the prior years were now labeled ‘B.R.’ (“Before the Reconciliation”).”
Excerpted from the tuecan manuscript, “Chronicles of an Invasion,” written by Master Xuapan.
611 B.R.: the First Tulvaren Invasion.
1056 B.R.: Aidan III’s coronation as King of Draelia.
1059 B.R: the Second Tulvaren Invasion.
1061 B.R.: the Great Reconciliation between humans, elves, and dwarves.
Anno 1 F.R.: the Order of Masters splits into the High Order of Magic and Alchemy, and the Symeris Order of Arcane Scholars.
51 F.R.: Aidan III’s death.
126 F.R.: Gwen I the Wise’s ascension to the throne.
304 F.R.: the Year of Penance against the mages of Olennon, courtesy of King Corald II of Draelia.
The summer of 324 F.R.: the Third Tulvaren Invasion.
PROLOGUE
As the Peoples believed, Nemnairil was the abyss in which the worlds of Elantion, Tesgaran, Lysirdor and Alceas floated. It was a dark dimension, stretching infinitely in all directions, and was shaped by the First Goddess, Tak’Rah, at the genesis of time.
These worlds had been shaped over many eras by the Six Titans, spawn of the First Goddess—Isevir, Nobar, Selfe, Kedal, Elatenn, and Odnir, each dominated by primordial forces. Upon them, the pantheon and their offspring gave shape to the progenitors of each of the Peoples. The dwarves derived from Tesgaran, the elves from Elantion, and the humans from Lysirdor.
And above it all, hidden from view by the Plane of Judgment where the souls of the dead were appraised, Oldenheim was given shape. This was where the pantheon settled after leaving the Peoples to their own devices. In Oldenheim, the passage of time lost all meaning, and it was to Oldenheim that the souls of the meritorious earned access. Below it all, the Great Void was formed, where those damned and excluded by the Realm of the Gods were cast for eternity.
Tesgaran, (which meant “Realm of Rock” in Old Dwarvish), was the home of the dwarves and the trolls. It was a cold and rocky world, constantly covered by clouds and swept by blizzards. Its mountains towered high into the skies, interspersed by deep canyons.
The dwarves, stocky and muscular from the outset, were skilled miners, and unmatched when it came to identifying precious metals and gems. They dug tunnels, cities, and mines in the depths of Tesgaran. The fires of the grand forges allowed them to craft any weapon or object.
