A to Z of Iourn

Babann: Lord High General of the Church of Contention (Calafax). Based in Uris, Babann is also the honorary commander of the Daggers of Norandor. He was present at the Ceremony of the Sword on 25 Heathaze 204.

The Balance: The greatest tenent of the druidic faith is that they work to maintain the balance between good, evil, law and chaos. They must see to it that no one force becomes dominant over the others. This is open to interpretation, of course.

Balankath: Duchy of Norandor ruled from Lartan Cross by Duke Kellis.

Balmek: One of the members of the dwarven warband that arrived in Uris on 42nd Suntask 204 searching for murdered of King Evabold of Kulhazan. Returned to Kulhâzan with Grimm and the captive Thorangrim, arriving on 27th Midsummer 204.

Balsan (Brother): Legendary figure in the annals of monasticism. Balsan is believed to have lived around 350 PL, and to have been the first Urovan monk. His very existance has been called into question by some sages.

The Ban: Harsh censure the great druid can bestow on any individual. Those under a Ban cannot receive aid in any form from a druid of a particular circle. Bans can be imposed on individuals, settlements or even kingdoms. A Ban lasts for ten seasons after which time it may be renewed. A Ban can be removed at any time. The Synvani Faith in Norandor is currently under a Ban.

Bandalain, Cornice: Head of the Church of Life in the Village of the Eighteen Churches. Cornice is a bit of prude, and has a terrible dislike of the Church of Sensation and the prostitutes that ply their trade in the Village. She has been known to forbid her clerics from using magical healing to save the life of a diseased whore, considering that the woman brought it on herself. It was such an instruction that prevented the priest Salmo from saving the life of Jina Kaldor on 44th Suntask 204.

Barbrasa: Old Hadradan name for the continent of Urova.

Barl: Üganthé and chieftain of the Battleragers tribe. Barl is well over six feet in height and covered in an impressive collection of scars, including one right across his face that has blinded him in one eye. Some younger barbarians call him Grummsh after the orcish wargod, in honour of his missing eye and sunny disposition. This is only ever done behind his back, however. Barl brought one hundred souls to the fight against evil in Midsummer 204.

Barrowmoors: A moorland of more than eighty miles in diameter located six days travel south-west of Northmeet in Norandor. The Barrowmoors received their name from the number of ancient burial mounds that punctuate the landscape. They are said to be the final resting places of ancient kings of Man that predate the Hadradan Invasion. Some scholars do not believe they are that old. Travellers across the moors are sure to stay away from the barrows as it is said that the dead of the barrows are restless. Legend has it that many unwilling servants and family members were sealed into the barrows with the dead kings. After many hundreds of years they are still looking to get out.

Barton: Large town in Umbria. Harris is the squire here.

Battle of Ornlov Field: An great battle between the forces of the Watchers and the Firestarters that took place on 27th Suntask 204 and resulted in the death of many innocent hobbits.

Battleragers: A tribe of Üganthé barbarians from Kerikal, that are are best known for being utterly insane. They berserk at the drop of a hat, and take crazy risks in battle. They are ruled by the chieftain Barl.

Bay of Bereavement: Sea that stretches between the Arms of Uros. Much of it is completely unnavigable, hence the name.

Bear Stream: Stream that leaves the River Running close to Bear's Reach and heads east for twenty miles before reaching the sea.

Bear's Reach: Community of approximately 266 souls located at the tip of the northerly Arm of Uros is easterly Norandor. The village was founded in the Spring of 40 LE, but Scarman Thorn - a native of Uris who had gone native and married into a tribe of barbarians resident in the area. Bear's Reach continues to exist as an autonomous village due to the incredible distance and treacherous terrain that separates it from the rest of Norandor. See section on Bear's Reach for more information.

Bearmen: Name given to the barbarian tribe that occupied the penninsular where the village of Bear's Reach is now located. The Bearmen worshipped a nature spirit called the Great White Bear. The culture of the Bearmen (along with the barbarians themselves) were slowly absorbed into the Bear's Reach of today. By 204 LE they no longer exist.

Belboa, Bilious: One of the thirteen companions of Scarman Thorn who came to Bear's Reach in 38 LE. An ostentatious fire cleric with an eye for the ladies.

Beleus: Wizard and apprentice to Gaston of the Norandon court, accompanied the party (3) from Korvast to Uris during the first part of Suntask 204. He was found ritually murdered in the gardens of the Royal Palace on 30th Suntask 204, just after he said he had information regarding the people hunting Raza. Strange that. It is almost certain that his killers are members of the Brotherhood of the Black Rose.

Belloc: One of the soldiers in the retinue of Baron Tannith Swift who came to Bear's Reach on 30 Chillbone 204. He pursued Vitor Grushko into the Whittenwood on 35 Chillbone. It is not known whether he still lives.

Belsinor: Famous scientist and explorer from the Hadradan empire who, in 700 PL, dicovered the thin strip of land that divides the northern and southern hemispheres. The strip was eventually named Belsinor's Girdle in his honour.

Belsinor's Girdle: Thin strip of land that divides the northern and southern hemispheres of Iourn.

Berdgardt, Boudewijn: Born in the duchy of Kannalas, little is known about Berdgardt's early years save that he did not get on with his father. Boudewijn came to Uris to train as cleric of the Church of Fire at Scaldarnus, but his ambition and inherently destructive nature led him into the arms of the Bombastic Church. During his training at Scaldarnus, Boudewijn and Nicos Allumière were rivals for the affection of fellow initiate, Rio Shai'ir. Boudewijn was initially successful in romancing the girl, and developed his own brand of affection for Rio that would remain constant over the years. However, such affection did not change his nature. He struck Rio and, when she turned from him to Nicos, his hatred of Allumière increased exponentially. Boudewijn left Scaldarnus on 18 Frostbite 201 and used his contacts in the Bombastic Church to abduct Rio. She was subsequently brainwashed into the new Bombastic identity of Wren. She and Boudewijn were together again. Nicos long suspected Boudewijn was behind the kidnapping, but it was not confirmed until 22 Heathaze 204, when Boudewijn admitted to Nicos that he masterminded the whole scheme. Nicos travelled Norandor looking for Rio while Boundewijn and Wren rose higher in the Bombastic Church. Boudewijn reappeared in Nicos's life when he arrived in Uris on 11 Suntask 204, just in time to save First Flame Julian Maynard from being killed when Scaldarnus was attacked by the Watchers. Boudewijn pretended that he had remained a member of the Church of Fire, and joined Maynard during the short war against the Watchers - although he was always working for the Bombastics. On 26 Suntask 204, he arranged to have Sesnic Lodrath (the then First Flame of the Grand Conflagration) abducted by the Bombastics. He disappeared himself, making it seem as though the Watchers were responsible for both kidnappings. Nicos always believed in Boudewijn's culpability, but there was nothing to prove his suspicions. When Rio (as Wren) was captured by the Church of Fire in Heathaze 204 and sentenced to Death by Water, Boudewijn swallowed his pride and went to Nicos for help, revealing who he was, and urging Nicos to save Rio. Despite his best attempts to twist the situation to his advantage and take Wren for himself, Boudewijn was betrayed by his allies Kelton and Rembrandt and captured by Nicos. Wren was banished and Rio restored by Lord Narramac on 24 Heathaze 204. Boudewijn remains a prisoner of the Church of Fire at the Grand Conflagration in Uris.

Beredaire, Liddon J: Elected spokeshobbit of the Wold and adviser to Yaddagon XIV. Liddon claims to be directly related to Nero Beredaire, and has the documentation to prove it. No human has ever stayed awake through Liddon's painful recitation of his family history, so this claim has never been verified. Despite this, Liddon is a good hobbit and loyal friend. Although getting on in years he seemed to have been something of a rabble-rouser in his youth, and hearing his tales of far off places and daring do is a pleasant way to spend an evening. Present at the party thrown by Ralyon Artusi on 22 Heathaze 204.

Beredaire, Nero: Brave halfling companion to the famous Uros. Their friendship did much to cement the warm human/halfling relations in Urova.

Bernie: Thorangrim's cousin. Executed by King Evabold shortly before the king's untimely death. Bernie's death was widely seen as the motivations behind Thorangrim's subequent 'murder' of Evalbold, and was in fact the reason that Thorangrim worked with Prince Abrinthor's plan to remove the king.

Berrisar: One of the soldiers in the retinue of Baron Tannith Swift who came to Bear's Reach on 30 Chillbone 204. He pursued Vitor Grushko into the Whittenwood on 35 Chillbone. It is not known whether he still lives.

Bevverham: Barony located in the county of Hessex, ruled by Baron Linley Caled.

Bitterwell, Jasmin: Head of the Agiostic Church in the Village of the Eighteen Churches.

Blackjack: A wandering bard and member of the Guild of Adventurers. He travelled to the Wraith Haunt with Jedidiah de Chersiré, Jass, Salamar Russ, Brother Kak and Bronx on 36th Scatterseed 204 where he almost succeeded in killing the party by setting a copse of mad treants on them. His skills lie with money not might as was evidenced by his merciless fleecing of the barbarian Bronx on their return to civilisation.

Blackroot: Evil and undead treant encountered by the party (4) approximately one day's travel into the Wraith Haunt. He was apparently killed by the dragon, Furnice, on 38th Scatterseed 204.

Blaine: One of the members of the dwarven warband that arrived in Uris on 42nd Suntask 204 searching for murdered of King Evabold of Kulhazan. Blaine recognised the dwarf, Brack Ogrebane, as an outcaste from dwarven society, and set about making Brack's life a misery until Brack could take it no more. They duelled on 7th Midsummer 204, a fight that Brack won. After that Brack and Blaine became the best of friends. Blaine travelled with the Chosen into the Plains of Acheron, and did not leave their company until 3rd Heathaze 204. He has recently returned to Kulhâzan.

The Blessing: Rite of the Watchers that dates back to 188 LE. The necrotain of each mortage reads a passage from the Book of the Dead and reads a list of everyone in the mortage who has died in the past month.

Blood Oath: The mixing of blood between a dwarven king and his most trusted and loyal of servants. Those who take the blood oath are considered bondskin with their ruler.

Blossom: Dryad and stweard of the druid's sacred grove in the Úngorn. Made a particularly unsubtle pass at Elias on 25th Lollmeadow 204, that Elias was happy to take advantage of when a rather inconvinient battle ensued.

Boar Stream: Stream that leaves the River Running close to Bear's Reach and heads south, taking the path of least resistance to the sea, two miles distant.

Bobbin, Holwell: Enterprising hobbit and member of the Bobbin clan from the Village of the Eighteen Churches. Set up a temporary stable at the foot of Mount Korvast on 49th Brightday 204 in order to make large amounts of money from returning questors. Holwell also aided Malachi de Chesiré and the diviner, Manacus, in their investigation in the death of Ulish Van Caspan in late Suntask 204. Sold Gulping Orchid to Jhasik but was never paid.

Bobbin, Miro: Hobbit proprieter of The Holy Mountain tavern in the Village of the Eighteen Churches. Miro shut the pub on 1st Brightday 204 to attend the funeral of his young son, Wellby. The Bobbins have been residents of the Village for many generations. During the Varamil-sponsored investigation into Ulish Van Caspan's death Miro discovered the true reason for the death of his son. He has not been the same hobbit since.

Bobbin, Sally Ann: Wife of Miro Bobbin and proprietess of The Holy Mountain. Like Miro, the true story behind Whelby Bobbin's death has greatly shocked her.

Bobbin, Whelby: Son of the landlord, Miro Bobbin. During the last days of Spring 204, Whelby fell mysteriously ill and was administered to by a Vítaen priest called Rekaf. Rekaf could not help the child and Whelby subsequently died. He was was interred in the Temple of Mortis in the Village of the Eighteen Churches. Whelby's funeral took place on 1st Brightday 204, and was administered by Archnecrotain Ulish Van Caspan (and observed by Ravenna Tannesh). During the investigation into Van Caspan's murder, it became clear that Whelby's death was a means to smuggle a small carrion-eating demon into the House of Passing. The creature was contained in Whelby's skin, and played a large role in tempting Van Caspan to his death. The mastermind behind this scheme was apparently Thaddeus Carvin, although Rekaf has never been traced.

Bombastics: A church that worships the god Calafax as god of destruction. Bombasticism is a small faith and the clerics are little more than terrorists who travel the country showing the power of Calafax by blowing things up. They are not popular with the other churches of this god.

Bonaratvip, Luigi: Renowed florist who works in Uris. Ravenna's Uncle Jhasik owed him a substantial amount of money.

Bondskin: Dwarves who have taken the blood oath with their king. Bondskin serve their king "through his life and in death." This means they continue to serve and protect the interest of their master even if he is dead. Warmaster Grimm of Kulhazan is bondskin to the late King Evabold.

Book of the Dead: The core religious text of the Watchers on the Cusp of Oblivion. Written over fifteen years starting in 2 LE.

Borrovar: Largest city state on the north coast of Tibrai. Consists of seven small fortified towns surrounded by the impressive Chalstatan Wall.

Borschan: The summer retreat of the Norandon Court.

Bran [1]: Deputy and second-in-command of the Oakholme militia under Constable Trench.

Bran [2]: Druidic initiate of the Kerikite Circle who fought the forces of evil in the Plains of Acheron during Midsummer 204.

Braxton: A marquessate of Norandon located not far from the royal lands that surround Uris. It is ruled by Marquess Pegwillen.

Brewer, Barvin: Elder brother of Krais Brewer. Eldest son of Salia and Tarn Brewer, born in the Spring of 198 LE. A clone of Tarn, Barvin is a scheming criminal always trying to "get one over" on the village. Barvin hopes to inherit the inn sooner rather than later, but no-on in the family believes he would stoop to murdering Tarn. Barvin's schemes normally fall flat because he is so fundamentally dense. He married the more intelligent and more conniving Jennete Fisher in Winter 203, and now she is the brains behind his brawn. They have no children. Following the death of Baron Swith on 30 Chillbone 204, Barvin was convinced by his wife to falsify evidence proving that Tarn was the culprit. He went along with this and did not seem inclined to reveal the truth even when his father was about to be executed. In the aftermath of Tarn's release the relationship between father and son is surprisingly warm.

Brewer, Grint: Younger brother of Krais Brewer. Youngest child of Tarn and Salia Brewer, born in Summer 201. Grint is extremely weak and sickly looking with a pallid yellow hue to the skin (a lot like his father). His great intelligence and growing arrogance has distanced him from his contempories in the village and he is often bullied. Krais tries to protect his brother from harm, but Grint has not shared the bullying he is subjected to with his brother for fear that Krais might simply make matters worse. He has his own plans.

Brewer, Jacob: Uncle to Krais Brewer. The eldest son of Mulbrin and Santha Brewer, Jacob was born in Summer 193. The most respectable child and closest to his father, Jacob shunned his brother and sister. He married Zalina Farmer in Summer 198 and moved into a log cabin of his own construction. They had one child (Gertude) the same year. In Winter 198 the cabin was struck by lightning and burned down. Jacob and Zalina were killed, but their daughter survived. Gertrude was raised by Sancho and Ellen Farmer (her first cousins once removed) who acted as her parents.

Brewer, Jennete (née Fisher): Sister-in-law of Krais Brewer. Born into the Fisher family in Autumn 199, Jennete was a driving force in that family's plots against the Njedelstroms. However, she consdiered her own well being to be more important than her family's and married Barvin Brewer at the first opportunity (Winter 203) knowing that one day he would inherit the lucrative town inn from his father, and gain respect in the town. Her father-in-law is living far too long in Jennete's opinion. Quite what her influence on her slow-witted crook of a husband will be remains to be seen. Following the death of Baron Swift on 30 Chillbone 204, Jennete convinced Barvin to help her frame Tarn as the murderer thus leavign the way clear for Barvin to inherit. When it became apparent that some villagers (including Krais) had seen through this scheme and assumed that Jennete herself was the killer, she fled and hid with the Fisher family.

Brewer, Krais: Middle child of Tarn and Salia Brewer, born on 14 Deep Drift 199. Krais works in the only tavern in Bear's Reach and often finds himself involved in his father's illegal schemes. For more information on Krais, see his entry in the Player Character Spotlight.

Brewer, Mab: Younger sister of Krais Brewer. Child of Tarn and Salia Brewer, born in Summer 200. Mab is chaos. She is a girl of extremes. Her moods change with such alarming speed that no-one is quite sure what to make of her. She is indomitable and vulnerable, witty and coarse, fiercely independent yet someone who wants looking after, quick to anger but quicker to forgive. She looks up to Krais and respects his morality, but often finds herself a willing participant in her father's larcenous schemes. She doesn't respect her father, and when she helps him she doesn't respect herself either. However she is intensely loyal to her family. After Tarn was wrongly accused of the murder of Baron Swift, Mab was determined to save him. This led to her attacking several of the baron's men and preparing to burn down the town gaol. In the end she agreed to work with Krais and his friends to find the truth. Since that time Mab has helped the Companions on some of their adventures and even managed to persuade Illyan into her bed regardless of this other attachments. She has recently taken up with Úsaan Altorro but remains as unpredictable as ever.

Brewer, Mulbrin: Paternal grandfather of Krais Brewer. Born in the winter of 187 LE a few moments before his twin sister, Eloise. Mulbrin married Santha Fisher in Winter 193 and they produced three children Nina, Jacob and Tarn. Mulbrin had a reputation as a stern disciplinary and a fanatically loyal servant to the Thorns. However, he died of pneumonia in winter 197 and his legacy has been largely ignored by his survivors.

Brewer, Nina: Aunt of Krais Brewer. Daughter of Mulbrin and Santha Brewer, born in Autumn 194. Nina was quite close to her rebellious brother in her younger days. However, in Spring 198, while the pair were exploring the sea caves to the north of the town, Nina was killed. She was fourteen seasons of age. Tarn maintains she was trying to lever mussels off the exposed rocks when she skipped and fell on her knife. Santha always blamed Tarn for the death and even accused him of Nina's murder.

Brewer, Salia (née Thorn): Mother of Krais Brewer. The only child of Galen and Thora, born in Winter 194. Salia's mother died in childbirth and she was raised solely by Galen. A quick-witted girl with a great zest for life, her choice of husband puzzled many including her father. She married the degenerate liar and possible murderer, Tarn Brewer, in Winter 198 and bore him five children. She showed no bitterness when Galen gave Tarn the tarvern in Summer 202 and left the village and she was always a staunch supporter and defender of her husband despite his blatant (if unproven) thievery and dodgy dealings. In Winter 203, Salia contracted a wasting disease that has made her weak and bed-ridden ever since. She cannot walk, she can barely speak and every day looks like her last. Her state has had a profoundly ill effect on her family and it seems that nothing ca be done to cure the affliction. It has recently been theorised that Salia's illness is not really an illness, but possession of some kind. It may be related to the arrival of Rellick in Bear's Reach at almost the exact time she fell ill. However, this has yet to be proven.

Brewer, Santha (née Fisher): Paternal grandmother of Krais Brewer. First child of Atilla and Regan Fisher, she married Mulbrin Brewer in Winter 193 and produced two children: Nina, Jacob and Tarn. Tragedy befell Santha as both Mulbrin, Nina and Jacob died within one year (winter 197, spring 198 and winter 198). She never got on with Tarn son and blamed him for Gertude's death. She left Tarn as the only Brewer in the service of the Thorn family. She returned to the Fisher home and lived a quiet life refusing to acknowledge her grandchildren. She died in Summer 202.

Brewer, Tarn: Father of Krais Brewer. Middle child of Mulbrin and Santha Brewer born in Spring 194. A callow and bitter youth, Tarn had few friends and even less who respected him. Always an outsider, Tarn's closest confidante was his sister Nina. Tarn was fifteen seasons when his father died, and a season later he apparently watched Nina fall on her own knife. His mother never forgave Tarn for this and disowned him. His entire family gone, Tarn continued to work at the inn where he met Salia Thorn. In Winter 198 they were married and went on to produce five children and one grandchild. Yet still no-one trusted Tarn. His sister's death was like a millstone around his neck - many even thought he murdered her. Even when Galen Thorn gifted the running of the inn to Tarn (and the place on the council that came with it) in Summer 202 he was still an outsider. Bitter and with a desire to get even with all the people who had 'wronged' him Tarn became a dark character. A swindler, liar and thief rumour has it that Tarn has his own "thief's guild" made up of himself, his sons and a few choice others. If anything goes missing or gets broken in the village it can be traced back to Tarn. He became even more abject in his self-pity when Salia contracted a mysterious wasting disease in Winter 203. After Illyan's many failures, Tarn took steps to try and cure his wife but without success. Tarn was arrested for the death of Baron Swift on 30 Chillbone and would have been executed had the true killer (Vitor Grushko) not confessed to the deed. Tarn was framed for the murder by his son and daughter-in-law proving what a well-loved man he is.

Brewer, Zalina (née Farmer): Aunt to Krais Brewer. Youngest child of Bobcat and Saskia Farmer, born in Autumn 194. Zalina married Jacob Brewer in Summer 198 and bore a daughter, Gertrude, the same season. She was killed in a fire at her log cabin in Winter 198 along with her husband. Gertrude survived.

Bronx: A barbarian in the market for trees who joined the Guild of Adventures in Northmeet. He was teamed with Brother Kak, Salamar Russ, Jass and Jedidiah de Chesiré, but it was with the bard, Blackjack, that he put most of his trust. During a mission to the Wraith Haunt, Bronx proved his skill at despatching the undead and accepted the offer of Archnecrotain Varamil to join the Shadow of Mortis. Bronx currently resides with a dozen worried cows in his own copse of fourteen trees just outside Northmeet. During the great offensive by the Church of Fire during the full of Calafax in Suntask 204, Bronx fought to defend the Watcher's temple in Northmeet.

Brotherhood of the Black Rose: A shadowy organisation dedicated to the hunting down and killing of godspeakers. Their motivations in this matter are unclear, but they have existed since the coming of the gods (perhaps even longer). The Brotherhood appears to have access to the Greymere, and some knowledge of the magical blades wielded by the Chosen of Narramac. This may mark them as an elven organisation. This speculation seems to have been proved true when, on 12th Heathaze 204, Raza de Luna was tortured in the Dreamheart by a female elf of the Brotherhood.

Brutus Bridge: Bridge in Sorgar.

Buckmead: The centre of hobbit government of The Wold in Norandor.

Bulmarr: One of the warmasters of Kulhâzan and good friend of Grimm. Encounted by the party (3) on 25th Midsummer 204.

Buttress Peninsula: Expanse of land that juts out of far western Tibrai. The tip of the buttress peninsula is the closest one can get to the Unknown Lands and still be in civilised Urova.

Bymiro, Ellwyn: Cleric of water based as the Coral Palace in Sorgar.