Adria Idonea - Princess of Heiland; daughter of King Ebenhardt Idonea, niece of Duke Preinon Idonea, and elder sister of Prince Hafgrim Idonea; also known among the Aesidhe as Likshochuhalene (Lilene), Lozheskisiyama (Lózha), and Pukshonisla (Púksha).
Adselm Marbury - Eldest child and heir of Sir Fannen and Lady Marbury.
Aeman - The people who have settled or conquered much of Heiland; typically fair of hair, skin, and eyes; politically considered the rightful people of Heiland by other nations, and presently ruled by the House of Idonea.
Aesidhe - The native people of Heiland; darker skinned and typically organized into nomadic tribes, they mostly inhabit the forests of central and southern Heiland; now under threat by Aeman encroachment and the Knights of Darkfire.
Amos - “The Mountain Bear”; an Aeman constellation.
Angans - Ship-builders who settled Heiland from the Northlands; though they predated the Aeman, they are likely forebears; according to the Sisterhood, they worshiped a goddess and were matrilineal.
Angels - Colloquial term for the unseen servants of the God of the Sisterhood.
Aniya - Aesidhe, daughter of Imani.
Anna - Hafgrim Idonea’s nursemaid as a child.
Archangels - Colloquially, the greatest among the angels in the Sisterhood faith.
Atrius - Son of the Earl of Eastwick in Southern Heiland.
Banneret - A low rank of feudal nobility in Heiland and other Aeman cultures. They are knights who are able to command other knights, but may or may not be landed.
Brother Marshal - Form of address for the Grand Marshal of the Knights of Darkfire.
Brotherhood - Informal term for the Knights of Darkfire.
Chancellor - Typically the chief administrator of a nation.
Chancer, Mount - Mountain in the Werdstan Mountains upon which Windberth is built.
Chasebatu - An Aesidhe Runner; often leads the Runners in song.
Chatechushochugloka - Name given by the Aesidhe to Adria’s bow; literally: Fire Heart of the Black Tree.
Chosen Mother - Aeman translation for a term of endearment one gives an older woman who is not one’s natural mother.
Chúgoye – Familiar form of Mateko's child name, Chúgoyétokoe.
Chúgoyétokoe - “Falls from Trees”; Mateko’s child name; familiar form: Chúgoye.
Council of Peers - Feudal council which advises the King of Heiland; stands apart from the Sisterhood and the Knights of Darkfire.
Count of Coutheshire - Landed title held by Preinon Idonea of Heiland before his exile.
Count of Ebonfold - Landed title held by Preinon Idonea of Heiland before his exile.
Count of Gladewell - Landed title held by Preinon Idonea of Heiland before his exile.
Coutheshire - County in Western Heiland; held by Duke Preinon before his exile.
Crookfinger - River beneath Windberth which cuts between the citadel and the city itself.
Dark Fire (of Heiland) - Name for Ebenhardt Idonea which gave the Knights of the Sisterhood their name; given to Ebenhardt Idonea because of his use of a fire during the War of Scars which could burn upon the water and had a dark hue.
Doctrine - Term for the bulk of the Sisterhood’s laws and teachings.
Dragon - A mythical creature from the legends and folklore of the Aeman.
Duke of Heiland - Royal title held by Preinon Idonea of Heiland before his exile.
Earl of Westmund - Highest landed Title held by Preinon Idonea of Heiland before his exile.
Ebenhardt Idonea - King of Heiland; father of Adria Idonea and Hafgrim Idonea, and younger brother of Preinon Idonea.
Ebonfold - County in Western Heiland; held by Duke Preinon before his exile.
Elwynd High - Highland nation south of Heiland; mostly populated by Aeman or Aeman-like peoples, but with their own language, Wenish.
Erentis - Western continent of the known world of Morandia.
Eward - Second son of Baron Praetorius.
Falk - Steward of Windberth Keep upon Adria’s return; son of a Baronet of Highreach.
Fannen Marbury, Sir - A Banneret with an estate in southern Heiland.
First Arrow - Present given to a young Aesidhe woman when she reaches her maturity; intended to later be given to her potential husband as a betrothal gift.
Ghost Dance - A Sacred Ceremonial mentioned by Shísha as a future practice.
Gladewell - County in Western Heiland; held by Duke Preinon before his exile.
God of the Sisterhood - Unlike the Nine Gods of the Temples in prior generations, the God of the Sisterhood is a singular supreme ruler, transcendental and formless, but personified by the One-Who-Comes, a human believed to herald the end of all wars and an eternity of peace; the use of “God” is colloquial, and the Sisterhood stress that the deity has no actual name.
Godwinson, Sir - Banneret of the Violet West; served Duke Preinon Idonea before his exile.
Gold Crown - The highest value coin in Heiland; bears the face of King Ebenhardt Idonea; has a flint or obsidian core, and thus is sometimes called a Blackheart, a pun of the king’s name; difficult to valuate because of the variable amount of gold.
Grand Marshal - Title of the chief military commander of the Knights of Darkfire; second in power only to the king and the Matriarch of the Sisterhood.
Hafgrim Idonea - Prince of Heiland; child of Ebenhardt Idonea and younger brother of Adria Idonea.
Healer - Aeman translation for a term of respect typically given to those with healing knowledge and ability, usually but not always skills of a Mechushegi.
Heaven - Colloquially, the afterlife paradise envisioned within the faith of the Sisterhood.
Heiland, Kingdom of - Nation of the northernmost area of the continent of Erentis in the world of Morandia.
High Matron - A secondary (and incorrect) title for the Matriarch of the Sisterhood.
Highreach - Largest city of Heiland; often considered the capital before the construction of Windberth.
Hollow Path - The sea west of Heiland; its name is based upon the Aesidhe name.
Holy Matron, Her/Your - Formal term of address for the Matriarch of the Sisterhood.
Hopawecheteya - The Sweat Lodge ceremonial of the Aesidhe, believed to cleanse the body and spirit.
Hunter - Title for an Aesidhe who hunts for the tribe and may serve as a warrior; considered a term of respect.
Idonea, House of - The present ruling family of Heiland; King Ebenhardt Idonea united all of Aeman Heiland during the War for Union, just after the War of Scars.
Ierusca (alternatively Jerusca or Yerusca) - Nation southwest of Heiland; politically ruled by Somana, but often a source of rebellion; the Ieru have a very distinct culture, peoples, and political structure.
Ima Chatechoku-yaihhe haipe - “First Moon Time”; this is a coming-of-age ceremonial for young women reaching maturity among the Aesidhe.
Imani - Young Aesidhe woman of the Shíme Okshowaniya; friend and confidant of Adria.
Kaye - Nursemaid and governess of Adria Idonea as a child.
Kelman - The people of Kelmantium.
Kelmantian - The language of Kelmantium.
Kelmantium - Major nation of Numinon, to the east of Erentis across the sea.
King’s Road - The primary north-south road in Heiland, originally built by Somanans, which stretches from Propolus in the south to Windberth in the north.
Knight Captain - Knight of Darkfire rank above Knight Sergeant, which is above Knight (Brother).
Knights of Darkfire - Military order of the Sisterhood and Heiland; often referred to in Heiland simply as Knights, but distinguished from the Heiland feudal hierarchy rank of knight.
Lichushegi - Aesidhe title of Holy Woman; female form of Mechushegi.
Likshochuhalene - Adria Idonea’s child name among the Aesidhe; literally: Gold Pales in Sunlight.
Lilene - Short form of Likshochuhalene, Adria Idonea’s child name among the Aesidhe.
Lózha - Short form of Lozheskisiyama, Adria Idonea’s adult name among the Aesidhe.
Lozheskisiyama - Adria Idonea’s adult name among the Aesidhe; literally: Walks Two Webs.
Mana - “Basket of the Gods”; an Aeman constellation.
Marbury - Aeman family who own an estate in Southern Heiland on the border with the Aesidhe lands.
Marshal of the Violet West - Military title held by Preinon Idonea of Heiland before his exile.
Massacre of Palmill - A battle between Aeman soldiers and Aesidhe warriors which ended in the destruction of Palmill village.
Mateko - An Aesidhe Runner and Hunter.
Matriarch - Title of the head of the Sisterhood, currently held by Matron Taber.
Mechushegi - a Holy person among the Aesidhe; refers to either a male or female; plural: Mechushegiya.
Mélitali - An Aesidhe term of endearment for a child who is not naturally one’s own; refers to either a girl or a boy.
Meniste - Title for a Hunter of the Aesidhe (neuter form); plural: Menisteya.
Mewashemesitibopi - Aesidhe who have left the tribal cultures and settled in Aeman lands; literally: They Went to the Cities.
Missions - Both the places and the expressed purpose of Sisterhood religious conversion; intended to begin the creation of new temples, abbeys, and schools.
Morandia - The known world.
Moresidhe - A rarely-seen race of people who sometimes serve as traveling merchants.
Morlatra, Sister - Prioress of the High Temple of the Sisterhood at Windberth.
Náme - An Aesidhe child looked after by Imani and Adria.
New Peace - A contract made by nobles of Heiland to allow settlement of Heiland to some Somanans; helped define the current borders of Heiland and end a Somanan occupation, but would not unite the nation until Ebenhardt Idonea’s War for Union, two generations later.
New Skin - An article of clothing worn by an Aesidhe female for her maturity ceremonial; typically passed on to the woman’s first daughter.
Northlands - Islands east of Heiland and north of Numinon; populated almost entirely by Aeman; seafaring culture.
Northland(s) Sea - The sea east of Heiland.
Numinon - Eastern continent of the known world of Morandia.
One Great Spirit - Source of all life for the Aesidhe; not a personified god, but recognized most accurately as the source of all natural cycles.
One-Who-Comes - Figure in the Sisterhood faith believed to herald the final wars which will end all wars.
One-Who-Will-Come - Early name for the One-Who-Comes.
Others - Aesidhe name for the Aeman; usually considered a term of reproach, and not typically used for an Aeman respected or loved by an Aesidhe.
Palmill - An Aeman town in Heiland on the frontier of the forest inhabited by the Aesidhe.
Patrus, Lord - Baron of Chester, west of Sotower in southern Heiland; liege of Sir Marbury.
Pentaros - Nation of Erentis south of Heiland; population is mostly a mixture of Aeman and Somanan peoples; nominally a part of the Somanan Empire, but currently in a state of rebellion led by Michael Pentaros; also, the ruling house of Somana.
Peryna Marbury - Young daughter of the Marbury family.
Praetorius, Baron - A nobleman of Eastern Heiland.
Preinon Idonea - Elder brother of King Ebenhardt Idonea of Heiland and uncle to Adria; once Duke of Idonea and Warden and Marshal of the Violet West; currently in exile among the Aesidhe; known among the Aesidhe as Watelomoksho, he is the informal leader of the Runners.
Prioress - Title for the administrator of a Priory of the Sisterhood; the Prioress of the High Temple at Windberth, currently Prioress Morlatra, is second in power only to the Matriarch.
Propolus - City at the southernmost border of Heiland, near both Elwynd High and Pentaros; significant Somanan population; historically contested with Somana.
Púksha - Short form of Pukshonisla, Adria Idonea’s Hunter name among the Aesidhe.
Pukshonisla - Adria Idonea’s Hunter name among the Aesidhe; literally: Follows the White Wolf.
Puros, Sir - Lord Steward of Windberth Citadel during Adria’s childhood.
Rites of Initiation - Ceremony performed and oaths taken upon becoming a full Sister of the Sisterhood.
Rodham, Sir - Brother Sergeant of the Knights of Darkfire; responsible for training of potential Knights at the Citadel of Windberth.
Runners - Metehãloweye (Aesidhe: Those Who Run); a group of Hunters, scouts, and protectors of the Aesidhe; informally led by Preinon Idonea and Shísha.
Sabatosi - Unknown name Adria hears whispered among others during her First Moon Ceremonial among the Aesidhe.
Seven Ceremonials/Rites - Rituals give to the Aesidhe by their First Mother, Spider Woman, and the White Wolf Woman.
Shema Ihaloa Táya - Prior name of the Shíme Okshowaniya tribe; literally: They Watch Birds Walk.
Shíme Okshowaniya - Current name of the tribe Adria and the Runners often camp with during the winter; literally: We Survive.
Shísha - A blind Holy Woman (Lichushegi) of the Aesidhe; advises and informally leads the Runners alongside Preinon Idonea (Watelomoksho).
Sister - Member of the Sisterhood; also used for a specific rank within the Sisterhood.
Sisterhood - Religious order based in Heiland; all members are female and are guided by the Matriarch, currently Matron Taber.
Sister-Journeywoman - Originally members of the Downcast, the precursors to the Sisterhood, these women traveled among the Aesidhe in an attempt to convert them to the Nine Temples (now non-existent), but also to exchange knowledge and help in times of illness; they were the first to accurately record the Aesidhe language; when the Sisterhood became ascendant in Heiland, they absorbed these, gave them their new name, and eventually withdrew them all from Aesidhe lands.
Somana, Empire of - Nation which spans most of the continent of Erentis in the world of Morandia; considered the most powerful nation in the world; it comprises a number of cultures and smaller nations, and is currently governed by Emperor Alexander I Pentaros and a representative bicameral Senate.
Somanan - Term for both the language and people of Somana.
Song of Ashes - Aesidhe song traditionally sung when first making camp, when ashes are spread in a circle around the campsite.
Spider Woman - Known also as the First or Great Mother, she brought the first of the Seven Ceremonials to the Aesidhe, according to their legends.
Spirit Helpers - Spirits believed by the Aesidhe to carry prayers to their ancestors.
Sun Dance - A Sacred Ceremonial of the Aesidhe that is no longer practiced.
Taber, Matron - Currently the Matriarch of the Sisterhood and Chancellor of Heiland; second in power only to King Ebenhardt Idonea.
Tainábe - Aesidhe term for a state of awareness, almost like daydreaming.
Tenets - Core teachings of the Sisterhood and Knights of Darkfire.
Tiniya - Aesidhe name for the Aeman; usually considered a term of reproach, and not typically used for an Aeman respected or loved by an Aesidhe; literally: Others.
Twyla - Daughter of Adria’s nursemaid, Kaye, and maid to Adria after Kaye’s death.
Violet West - The area of Heiland west of the Greyward Mountains; historically a separate nation from Heiland, was brought under rule by Ebenhardt Idonea and administered for years thereafter by Duke Preinon Idonea.
Wabekshocheya-moyi - River where the Shema Ihaloa Táya were camped when Adria first joined the Aesidhe.
War for (Heiland) Union - Ebehardt Idonea’s successful war to unite Heiland after the War of Scars.
War of Scars - War which occurred a generation before, primarily in Kelmantium, which ended the primacy of the Nine Temples and caused great destruction and political changes across Morandia.
Watelomoksho - Preinon’s name among the Aesidhe; it is a truncation of a phrase which means, “he wars with his brother.”
Watemichaechi Súsha - “Whispers-of-Smoke”; an Aesidhe constellation, said to carry the prayers of Aesidhe from the Spirit Helpers to the Ancestors.
Werdstan Mountains - Mountains in northern Heiland stretching east from the Greyward Mountain range; Windberth is built in the far east of these.
White Wolf Woman - Woman from Aesidhe legends who teaches marriage, mating, and female-oriented rituals to the Aesidhe. She originally took the form of a winter wolf, a rare animal which is consequently revered by the Aesidhe.
Wilding Ghosts - Myth used to frighten Aeman children, often associated with the Aesidhe or their Runners.
Windberth - Capital city of Heiland, built high atop Mount Chancer in the Werdstan Mountains in the north; seat of power for the House of Idonea, the Sisterhood, and the Knights of Darkfire.
Yakseanitáo - “Valley-Keeper”; an Aesidhe constellation, said to watch over the people who live in valleys and protect the land from floods and fires.
Zhehomikhhoapoehhe - A Hunters’ End Camp; considered the last camp of a season of hunting or of war, before the Hunters return to their tribe(s); usually celebratory.