A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands

Book 2: Glossary & Dramatis Personae

Glossary & Dramatis Personae

Abas Yar - An old man and Beastmaster of the Ravens. Gilgamesh cures Abas Yar’s bad back, which also restores him to good health, causing the Beastmaster to venerate Gilgamesh.

Abdul - A guard that dies in Tarkan’s attack on the caravan. Gilgamesh tries, and fails, to resurrect his corpse.

Ables - The driver of Gilgamesh’s wagon.

[The] Adventurer’s Guild - An organization specializing in slaying monsters, gathering rare and precious materials, conquering dungeons and protecting the weak. They are rivals of the Mercenary Guild.

Aizere Ulgen - Twin sister of Erasyl and daughter of Ankhset. She is a Water Seeker apprentice.

Alik Al’Kabar - A guard in the Ravens and Gilgamesh’s riding instructor.

Al-Lazar - The fabled City of the Dust. Gilgamesh is tasked with escorting Larynda there.

Amon Vanes - A mage priest of the Church of Avaria. He was sent by Cardinal Mauros to capture Gilgamesh.

Ankhset Ulgen - An old woman and Water Mage, or Water Seeker, of the Ravens. She is the mother of Aizere and Erasyl. She gifts Larynda with a scroll of Water Ball and begins instructing her in the path of Water.

Ansan - Seat of power for the Children of the Tides. The city of tents is built around an ancient Ark made of mystical living Witchwood. It is a nexus of trade.

Arag - A strong alcoholic beverage made from fermented mare’s milk.

Arimea Lostariot - Wood elf and Spellsinger. Driven by an ancient prophecy, she leads a group in search of Hamsa’s adopted daughter, Larynda.

Aranthia - A kingdom far to the west of Ansan and the Grass Sea. Home of Cordelia.

Asixum - The name of the plant whose pollen is commonly called ‘Dust’, a highly narcotic substance.

Avaria - Goddess of Justice. Known in the North as ‘Vari, Chooser of the Slain’. She is often symbolized wielding the Sword of Justice and the Knife of Mercy.

[The] Beacon Mountains - Home of Durhit. It is an active volcano range where the Lavella tablets were unearthed.

Beron de Laney - Author of ‘The Fanciful Travels’, an account of his travels and adventures across the world of Gesthe.

Blessings - A popular card game. Gilgamesh plays this game with the goal of increasing his Luck Attribute.

Broomshead - A mushroom that has vague resemblance to the head of a broom. Gilgamesh is charged by Hamsa the Alchemist to acquire some Broomshead from the Sainba forest in exchange for a discount at his store.

Bulls of Heaven - A criminal organization.

[The] Call - The seductive pull of magic that makes a practitioner wish to become one of his element. As a user of magic grows in power, so too does the call. This almost always leads to their death.

Catalina - Mother of Dumuzi. Her husband was killed defending the caravan from an attack by a group of raiders led by Tarkhan Aigiam. Nearly fatally wounded in the same attack, she is healed by Gilgamesh and eventually becomes his lover.

Caution Stone - A red colored stone used to warn the caravan of Sandgorgers.

Cillis Aideh - Smith of the Soot-Stained Pig. Supplies Gilgamesh and his companions with a new set of armor and equipment. Trains Gilgamesh in the use of flails.

Charisma - The attribute that governs how one can interact effectively with others. It includes confidence, eloquence, general charm, and/or simply the force of one’s personality.

[The] Children of the Tides - Formerly a maritime people. Now they are a semi-nomadic race of people that live upon the Grass Sea. Their seat of power is the great city of Ansan.

Church of Her Divine Radiance - The religious organization that venerates Avaria, Goddess of Justice.

Constitution - This attribute encompasses a character's physique, toughness, general health and resistance to disease and poisons. It also determines the number of potions one can consume without ill effect. The Constitution attribute greatly affects both Stamina and Health.

Contest of Saints - An ancient martial arts tournament. Also known as the Festival of the Undrawn.

[The] Control - The common colloquial term for the use of magic.

Cordelia de Aserac - Temple Knight of the Order of the Penitent Heart. She was chosen to be part of the mission to capture Gilgamesh, as her father’s lands bordered the Grass Sea. She swears fealty to Gilgamesh as the herald of Avaria and devotes herself to him. She wields the magical longsword ‘The Weight of Justice’.

Corpse Honey - A suspicious foodstuff that Gilgamesh finds underground.

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[The] Crows - A trade caravan led by Gelgor Badawi. They agree to join with the Ravens to travel together to Al-Lazar.

Cureall - A miraculous drug made from aged Moonblossoms. They are said to be capable of curing most poisons, whether they be mundane or magical. Laes gives Gilgamesh a vial of the remedy.

Damien de Savant - A general and author of the ‘The Principles of Conflict’.

Darcen Tsend - Guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild branch in Ansan. Reputedly has the ability to detect lies.

Degei Ganbataar - Slave Overseer of the Slave Pits of Ansan. Disciplines and tortures Gilgamesh after he kills another slave.

Dexterity - This attribute is a reflection of a number of physical abilities including hand-eye coordination, agility, reflexes, fine motor skills, balance, and speed of movement. Dexterity also moderately affects maximum Stamina.

Dezra - Larynda’s childhood friend who died due to an illness. Her pitiful death drives Larynda to improve her living conditions.

Dullstown - Far to the West of the Grass Sea and the Whispering Wastes. Not a single person from Dullstown has ever been able to use magic.

Dumuzi Kalkassin - Catalina’s son. Gilgamesh uses him as target practice to improve his own marksmanship.

Durhit Coal - A dwarf from the Beacon Mountains. He became a slave in Ansan, as his sister Evenes was unable to pay his war ransom. He is slain by a chameleonic variant of the Echo-Stalker.

Dust - A dangerous narcotic substance, also known as Faerie Powder, Stardust, and the Call of Oblivion, among many others. The drug is the pollen of the Asixum plant that grows only upon the shoreline near the city of Al-Lazar. In small quantities, it can improve the health and mental faculties of its users, but can grow to be extremely addictive. The most interesting property of the drug is that it allows the user to experience lucid dreams. It is the source of power and wealth for the city state of Al-Lazar.

Elwin Tucker - Gilgamesh meets Elwin in the slave pits of Ansan. He professed to be a Forester, but is, in fact, a Rogue. He leaves the group before Gilgamesh journeys with Laes, ostensibly to try and reunite with his family. Elwin is captured and caught by the agents of the Church. He is reunited with Gilgamesh after Tarkan’s failed raid. Once was known by the moniker ‘The Luck’ when he was associated with the Bulls of Heaven.

Elves - A long-lived humanoid species whose origin is shrouded in mystery. The elves refer to themselves as the ‘The First Children’. They are allies of the Fae. There are several varieties of elves.

Entropy - The heat death of the universe and the end of all things.

Erasyl Ulgen - Brother and twin of Aizere. He is an apprentice Water Mage.

Fae - A mysterious race that lives in the place between worlds. In times long ago they provided the elves with precious Witchwood to build their great ships.

Fen Vaigorus - Author of the ‘The Living Sword’.

Garven - Armorer and smith in the Company of the Ravens.

Gelgor Badawi - Caravan leader of the Company of the Crows. He is a very fat man and seems to enjoy a friendly relationship with Laes.

Gideon de Salavia - Author of the ‘On the Prophecy of the Gods’ and the ‘The Human Question’.

Guardians - Great worms that inhabit the Whispering Wastes. Also known as Sand Fathers and Hul Abba, to the Elves.

[The] Grass Sea - The domain of the Children of the Tides. Travel across this vast expanse of grass is difficult, as a Water Mage is required to conjure drinking water.

[The] Green Road - Known also as the Samasutum, it is an unnaturally straight river that only appears after the Weeping. The Green Road cuts through a harsh desert known as the Whispering Wastes.

Gryphon - A flying creature originally native to the Misery’s Reach mountain range. They have been domesticated and serve as flying mounts for people who can satiate the Gryphon’s ravenous appetites.

Hamsa - He was an Alchemist in the city of Ansan. However, meeting with Gilgamesh had awoken ancient memories within him making him realize that he is in fact, the Hero. He sends his adopted daughter, Larynda, with Gilgamesh to the city of Al-Lazar.

Happyfeet - A large harmless creature resembling the gigantic prehistoric millipedes of Earth.

[The] Hero - The Hero was the ancient guardian of humanity who was born time and time again, with his memories intact, to combat the threats to mankind.

Hwanda Heveni - The Sum of all Men, in the Elvish language. It refers to the Hero, the ancient Guardian of humanity who had the power to challenge the dragons themselves.

Iasis - Goddess. She is known through much of the known world as the Mother of Monsters.

Iron Quarter - A mysterious place where Alik lost his taste for the adventurer’s life.

Intelligence - The attribute that measures mental acuity, the accuracy of recall, and the ability to reason. It significantly affects maximum Mana capacity.

Jasper - Khalam’s second in command.

Jongshoi Aigiam - A boy that Gilgamesh is forced to kill in the Winnowing.

Kaes-Loka - The god of Hearth and herd. Waveriders of the children of the tides make great offerings in his name before they are allowed to select a mount from his herd.

Karilla - A large lizard that closely resembles a Dimetrodon.

Khalam - The Guard Master of the Ravens.

Kidu Kreshin - A man of giant proportions. He is a peerless warrior and Hunter of the Three Bears clan from the far North, or the Kar-Kaphon. He is a loyal companion of our protagonist. Gilgamesh encounters Kidu in the slave pits of Ansan.

K.D. Fidditch - Author of ‘Monsters of the Mortal Realms’.

Lady Aeleyah - A lady of House Salahaem.

Laes Harevor - Leader of the Ravens, the caravan that is taking Gilgamesh to the city of Al-Lazar. He is a friend of Gelgor, the leader of another trade caravan, the Crows.

Lanarisa - An elven adventurer in Ansan. She is currently one of the highest ranking members of the Adventurer’s Guild.

Larynda - A small half-elven girl and Hamsa’s adopted daughter. She is innately gifted with the magic of Chaos and learns how to control the element of water from Ankhset.

Likam - An old guard in the Ravens.

[The] Living Sword - A treatise on how a warrior should train in the use of a sword, and a commentary on martial arts in general. Written by Fen Vaigorus.

Lorsan - An elven swordmaster who bears a mantis-marked blade.

Lotus Palm - An ancient open-handed technique that is able to transmit the force of an unarmed blow through armor to cause internal damage.

Ma’at - Meaning path, way, or fate in the local language. It has a close meaning to the word Dao from Chinese Taoism.

Mana - The source of all magic in the world of Gesthe.

Mantis Mark - The sign of one that is truly accomplished in the way of the sword. It is the sign of a sword master.

Manzaza Shiptu - A magical scroll.

Mauros - A cardinal in the Church of Avaria. He is jealous of Avaria’s Champion, Gilgamesh, as he himself had not been chosen.

[The] Mer - The people of the sea. They have been at war with the city of Al-Lazal for generations.

Mistevan - Knight-Sergeant of the Church. He had direct orders from Cardinal Mauros to capture Avaria’s Champion, Gilgamesh.

Mithril - Godmetal or Saint’s Silver. Extremely rare, it is a near mystical metal with almost magical properties.

Moon Moss - An alchemical substance that Gilgamesh must harvest in the Sainba forest for the Adventurer’s guild.

Mouse - Gilgamesh’s borrowed mount.

Naspu Surahu - The Forest of Crystal. This is the devastating spell that Larynda uses when Tarkan attacks the caravan.

[The] North - A vast expanse of ice and tundra. Also known as the Kar-Kaphon.

Pakum - An adolescent boy and nephew of Abas Yar. He is sent with Gilgamesh to look after the Xaruar that Kidu rides on their excursion to kill more Sandgorgers.

Patches - The large donkey that Gilgamesh saves from the butcher’s block in Ansan. She is now his favored pet.

Payana Leaf - A plant with minor medicinal properties that the caravan people use to keep their teeth clean.

Praxis Guard - An ancient undead revenant. Its bones have been coated with metal.

[The] Ravens - A traveling people. Their livelihood revolves around trade. Gilgamesh travels with them to get to cross the Whispering Wastes to reach the city of Al-Lazar. They are led by Laes Harevor.

Raza - A young guard in the Ravens.

River Lurkers - A crocodilian creature with six legs.

River Root - One of the herbs that Gilgamesh has to collect for the Adventurer’s Guild.

[The] Rump - A group of hills where the Ravens and Crows sought shelter from the Weeping.

Sahel - The name of the star that serves as Gesthe’s sun.

Sainba - A large ancient forest, filled with gigantic trees.

Sandgorger - A large monstrous three-eyed frog found in the Whispering Wastes.

Sasan - A fruit native to the Sainba forest.

Seals - A sort of magical aid for apprentice mages to cast simple spells. They simplify the spellcasting and are used up in the casting process. Larynda uses a seal to unleash the devastating spell Naspu Surahu, the Forest of Crystal, when Tarkan attacks the caravan.

Sepfan - One of Larynda’s childhood friends.

[The] Shallow River - The river symbolizing death.

Snap-Honey - A carnivorous plant resembling a gigantic venus flytrap.

Spotted Uakari - A type of canid.

Strength - The Strength attribute is a measure of muscle strength, endurance, and stamina combined. Strength moderately affects Stamina and to a much lesser degree, maximum Health.

Sukhbat - A guard in the caravan of the Ravens. He is the childhood friend of Tomorbat.

Tarkhan Aigiam - A young man eager for blood and glory, who led a disastrous attack on the Ravens. He is slain by Gilgamesh.

Timekeeper Knot - A poisoned silken strand. In times past, taking up a Timekeeper Know was a solemn vow and commitment to deliver an important message to its intended recipient. If a bearer of the Timekeeper Knot does not fulfill his charge on time, the poison of the Knot will kill them.

Timur - A guard in the caravan of the Ravens.

Tomorbat - A guard in the caravan of the Ravens. He is the childhood friend of Sukhbat.

Trade - The lingua franca, or common language, of the Grieving Lands.

Vari - Another name for Avaria in the North.

Vlan di Panoli - A playwright.

Vow-poison - The deadly contact poison that is laced through a Timekeeper Knot.

Water Mage - A mage who can manipulate the element of water.

[The] Weeping - The seasonal rains that fall on the Grass Sea of the Grieving Lands. From these rains, the Green Road is born.

Whispermews - A rodent resembling a cross between a ground squirrel and a lemming. Driven out of their homes by the rains of ‘The Weeping’, a ‘horde’ of Whispermews run amok in Gilgamesh’s wagon. He kills them all, except for one creature, which he gives to Larynda to take care of as a pet.

[The] Whispering Wastes - A large desert also known as the Sim Edin. Home to the Guardians.

Water Calling - A duty given to the Water Seeker’s to provide water for the caravan.

[The] Weight of Justice - A magical longsword wielded by Cordelia de Aserac. Also known as the Blind Executioner. It has the power to be light as a feather. However, downward strikes are inordinately powerful.

Windspeaker - A mage, in the nomenclature of the North

Wisdom - The attribute that governs willpower, common sense, perception, and intuition. It moderately affects maximum Mana and Mana regeneration.

Wood Elves - Musenvane, or the First Children. They are a near mythical race and also known as the Warders of the Woods.

Xaruar - A large, six-legged proto-dragon that resembles the Ankylosaur of Earth’s primordial past. They are used as pack animals.

Zarzar Leaf Tea - A beverage used to help one sleep.

Zajasite - Glowing crystals that are mined from the earth.