The Dusklight Oath - Maps and Appendices
Maps
Person List (Contains spoilers!)
Written in an elegant hand in the common script of Ithka.
JOUMINA ILOR’ZAUHUNE: High Matron, daughter of Yethva (who ruled only ten years and died in winter), granddaughter of Vounia, a formidable matron. Oversaw the razing of the Zalkamas outer walls and construction of myriad markets, including the jewel of Vaidolin, the Rilanik or Sapphire market.
YILNESS LOR’VANARIK: Once a fifth tier member of Ilor’Zauhune. Joumina’s confidante and mother to her champion knight. Freed to form her own fifth-tier house as a reward for Nothrin’s victory over Zauhune’s rivals in the goddess court.
NOTHRIN LOR’VANARIK: Named a candidate to Isilayne at twenty, exiled in the year of his rejection, returned twenty-nine years later during the purges of Zalkamas, knighted by the high matron, champion of the bloody court, and wielder of the Kiseyl spear.
MIR LOR’ZADRYN: Nothrin’s close associate and childhood friend, also an Isilayne candidate, entered Isiltrin for a brief time, went into exile with Nothrin, returned and was knighted by the high matron, and became Nothrin’s second in the court.
VERXAEN: High Matron Joumina’s first son, Son of Zauhune, warlord, head of the city guard, born of the former Prime Consort Vorxaen.
ROSTRA LOR’ZADRYN: Mir Lor’Zadryn’s mother, sister to Nounica, Matron Lor’Zadryn.
ZEDRIL: Chief Diviner, born of Lor’Dureyl a Xaeltrin bloodhouse, offered to serve Zauhune in exchange for sanctuary as his house had been exiled, suspected high-ranking member of the diviner’s secret conclave.
YAIN LOR’MANTRAE: Isiltrin squire of an ancient and respected house. Befriended Nothrin Lor’Vanarik and introduced him to a den of dissidents, member of the conspiracy to betray Zauhune and pledge to Lor’Lauxyn.
GREVYL LOR’DAMRUD: A dissident diviner who instructed Nothrin Lor’Vanarik and instigated the events that led to Nothrin’s exile, leader of a tradionalist conspiracy to undermine the new teaching proposed by High Matron Joumina’s schools.
GISHNA ILOR’HOSMYR: High Matron, ancient at twelve hundred years, suspected to not be as blind as she says, suspected illicit trading with foreign sources, under investigation.
MAUNYN ILOR’HOSMYR: Prime consort and headmaster of Isilmyr, rumored to be the father of numerous children in the east valley and even Halkamas proper, something of a libertine though a fierce and dangerous warrior, under investigation.
KADRA LOR’BARONAR: matron of the most powerful house in Relkamas, Ilor’Roturra’s “regent” matron, powerful and seductive, born before the Fall, mother to Vaudin—a master of Isilurra, under investigation.
GAEL LOR’BARONAR: Kadra’s consort and headmaster of Isilurra, nicknamed the Bear for his size and strength, once an Isilayne squire but unable to complete training due to the Fall, completed training in Isilurra.
ZAIDRA ILOR’VAKAYNE: High Matron for most of her 900 years, has produced three daughters in the span of fifty years, suspected of a conspiracy to place all three on the high council as high priestesses, born of a murky and weak line.
RYTHAEN ILOR’VAKAYNE: Prime Consort and headmaster of Isilayne, born of Lor’Kiseyl, once the Son of Kiseyl before his consorting, formidable warrior, of an illustrious line leading back to Savra and her son.
VELIN LOR’ZASHTRIN: Accepted into Isilayne in the year of Nothrin Ilor’Zauhune’s rejection, consort to the young matron Lor’Lauxyn, gifted a Maetar spear to Nothrin Ilor’Zauhune at the bloody court, suspect in the Lor’Mantrae defection.
GRAEL LOR’KISEYL: Judge at the first bloody court, Son of Kiseyl, knight of Isilayne, born after the Fall, rumored to be the intended consort for Vakayne’s heiress.
Terms
Notes from a volume on the Mornae stored in the supreme hierophant’s private library in Peraptis, chief city of the Arcanite League.
ACOLYTE: a female Mornae preparing to be a priestess and anointed at their naming.
ALCAR: The vanalo founders of Saylassa, the ancestral root of the Mornae, people who have evolved to use energy from the sun and related forces as their magic, star-travelers, builders of the great engines.
APPRENTICE: a diviner in training, any Mornae in training to a guild or other organization.
BAIKAL: a race of giants in northern Vailassa, followers of multiple gods but primarily Barka, god of the seas and storms.
BEDOR: largest moon, forty-five day cycle.
BEYTOL: the ancient dueling arena located on a blackrock island between Isiltrin and Isilalan.
BLACKROCK: unique material called kith by the Mornae. Most mountains of northern Vailassa are made of the material. It produces the blackrock ore used to make blacksteel.
BLACKSTEEL: called kithaun by the Mornae. An enchanted metal forged by Mornae sorcerers from the purest blackrock ore found in Vaidolin.
BLOODHOUSE: a Mornae house bound to another through numerous reciprocal consortships.
BLUE FIRE: an outpouring of Dark energy appearing as blue flames. Can't be put out or stopped except by the one summoning it.
CASSAN: the second largest moon but only a third the size of Bedor, a fifteen day orbit.
CONSORT: the bound mate of a priestess, implies the physical and psychological binding of the partners in an unbreakable contract.
CONSORT MOONS: the five ecliptic orbit moons in order of size: Bedor, Cassan, Yalloc, Lovan, Suvae.
CYCLES: the future, the time to really live, to do the things one's role demands. Especially for priestesses. Mornae and Alcar define a cycle as a thousand years on Saylosse. It is a relative term usually tied to a cosmological event that takes around one thousand years to complete or appear. For the Mornae, it also provided a guide as to when a priestess should have her first child--and then the next. Taking a cycle to replenish. Sorcerers usually did brain dumps every 1k years as well.
DALASTRE: primary tower of Zalkamas citadel's core.
DALKAMAS: city and region ruled by Ilor'Daushalan.
DARK: the magic associated with Vai and blackrock.
DAUTHENASTE: a bright planet eclipsed every hundred years by Vauthenaste, the assassin. Dauthen is revered for its slow and steady progression, considered the 'first' of stars.
DIVINER: in ancient times the entry level rank of a sorcerer. In current times, the only recognized rank. They act as magistrates, ministers, and scribes.
DORGIST: a small market on the border between Zalkamas and Velkamas, near the upper bridge to Velkamas.
DREKNAE: a Mornae word meaning forsaken of the goddess.
EON: a random time period based on the duration of a particular constellation ascendany. Usually between eight to fifteen cycles long, meant to be longer than a cycle which is roughly a thousand years.
FALL (of Saylassa): the destruction of Saylassa and the chaos that followed. A period of 2000 years as the waste advanced to its current boundary.
GATES (of Vaidolin): the four official entry points to the crater.
GAUN: the ninth star of any constellation in the Mornae system of celestial categories.
GAUNASTRE: tower of Zalkamas citadel's core.
GAURATH: the sea serpent constellation, a market in western Zalkamas.
GENALO: Alcar word meaning ordinary human beings, without any gift.
GODDESS: for the Mornae, the goddess is the power they discovered in the region of Vaidolin, represented by the moon, Vai. Some treat the term in a more anthropomorphized way or as a personal entity.
HIGH COUNCIL: the ruling council of high priestesses and their consorts. The Voice has the tie breaking vote. The high matrons sit on the council, along with their consorts. An invention five hundred years after the Fall of Saylassa. The high council rules on disputes or problems which affect all of Vaidolin or Mornae as a whole.
HIGH HOUSE (ILOR): a Mornae prefix for a high house. One of the five ruling houses of Vaidolin after the Fall. All other houses must declare allegiance to one of the high houses.
HIGH MATRON: the matron of a high house.
HIGH PRIESTESS: a priestess who has summoned the Dark through multiple calls culminating in the 'hum'.
HOUSE (lor or lorisse): a Mornae prefix meaning house. The base political entity within Mornae society. Lead by a matron and includes her consort, children, and relations. Other priestesses within a House are not matrons. However, some priestesses can be granted their own house if theirs was absorbed in the past and they have the means to be independent. It is only in the last three thousand years that large sprawling houses have come into being. In the past, most matrons preferred to focus on smaller bloodlines. Also describes the estate or lands owned by a house. A house owes allegiance to a high house and no other but may work under another for practical purposes.
IRONWOOD: a kind of tree found in northern Vailassa with black bark that is difficult to cut and must be forged like metal. It has evolved to coexist with blackrock and the ecology of the area.
ISILALAN: a phase of the moon Vai, also an academy run by Ilor'Daushalan.
ISILAYNE: a phase of the moon Vai, academy run by Ilor'Vakayne, the original academy, also the darkest part of the goddess’s face.
ISILMYR: a phase of the moon Vai, academy run by Ilor'Hosmyr.
ISILTRIN: a phase of the moon Vai, academy run by Ilor’Zauhune.
ISILURRA: a phase of the moon Vai, academy run by Ilor’Roturra.
JELATAR VALLEY: a massive glacier valley located above the west valley.
KALENEON: the fifth eon since the founding of Saydolin by the Alcar. Kalen, the Seer, is the ascendant constellation for the next twelve thousand years.
KALKO: a Mornae strategy game like chess. The pieces usually have kithaun inlays which add a secondary level of challenge as the players compete to control the enchantment within the pieces.
KISAN: the twins or hound constellation.
KITH: the blackrock of northern Vailassa.
KITHAUN: blacksteel, enchanted material forged by Mornae sorcerers.
KITHVYRAE: another name for the Mornae, the enchanted people, people of the black rock. Most attuned to the goddess.
KITHVYRAE NA’SEN: the assassin's hour.
KNIGHT: the first political rank achievable by a male Mornae. In the past, a martial role and a requirement to be consort or sorcerer. In current times, a preferred rank for consideration as a consort. Mostly symbolic.
KNIGHT’S HOUR: when the Knight constellation is above the temple spire.
KURTHU: derogatory term for a returned colonist, a creature larger than rats but smaller than jackals. They travel in packs of hundreds. Plague-bearers, they despoil any land they settle in.
LETHA: a healing root with a sharp, pungent smell.
LITANIES: series of invocations recited by Mornae to focus their minds especially when using the Dark.
LORISSE: house, shortened to "lor'" when used as a prefix for a house name. "Ilor'" is used for the so-called high houses.
LORISSE KA’VYRAE: a common Mornae saying: house above all, house above all others
MAETAR STEEL: a lesser form of kithaun devised by Maetar Lor’Zashtrin after the Fall when the purest kithaun became difficult to forge.
MATRON: the female head of a house.
MORNAE: a branch of Alcar who separated in order to pursue magic more freely. Focused on the practice of the Dark or vaiyin, exiled from Saylassa in the fourth eon.
NAUKVOLIN: a communal council of priestesses and their consorts. They resolve disputes and provide guidance to their members. Naukvolins are also a part of the Mornae’s crafting heritage by pooling their zaeress together to share with and supplement their community.
NAUKVYRAE: "the faithful people", a secret group of dissenters within Vaidolin who denounce those they think are promoting non-Mornae ideals, traditionalists.
NIGHTSTEED: the shadow mount, a constellation, the mount of an Isilayne knight, a shadow shaped like a horse.
NISHMUR STEEL: the least form of kithaun devised by Nishmur Lor’Lauxyn after the Fall when the purest kithaun became difficult to forge.
NONASIN: a market run by Harlath under the sign of the winter rose.
NYENTA: a large river that runs down the center of the south valley and joins the Southern.
PRIESTESS: a female mornae who has passed the first trial of the temple. The first political rank achieved by Mornae women.
PRIME CONSORT: the consort of a high matron. May retain the title while the heiress is under age.
PUUL: a fruit tree or vine imported ages ago from the north of Saylassa. Known to the Juula but altered greatly.
RELKAMAS: Ilor’Roturra's city within the crater.
RIL: Mornae root syllable for strength, metal, forging, perseverance, sturdy.
RILANIK: the forge constellation, also the formal name of the Sapphire market
RIN: the eighth star of any constellation in the Mornae system of celestial categories.
RINASTRE: the thinnest tower of Zalkamas citadel.
SAYIN: Alcar word for the sun and light-based magic.
SAYLASSA: the central and largest continent, once a vast desert until it was made to bloom by the Alcar’s engines and magic.
SAYLOSSE: fifth planet orbiting Say.
SAYTHELAUN: sunlight-infused material
SENTINELS: the four stars visible during the goddess dawning.
SQUIRE: any Mornae man in training to be a knight, member of one of the five academies.
TARASIL: the blossom constellation. East market in the third tier district of Zalkamas.
TELKASIN: a north valley village near a younger ironwood forest the Mornae can still harvest.
THEKASNE: the Wilderlands, untamed lands to the north of Vaidolin, home to mythical beasts and monstrous creatures.
THERASTE: a "star" comet, returns every 150 years.
TIER: a subdivision within a Mornae high house. Particular to Ilor'Zauhune and Ilor'Daushalan.
TOL: the thirteenth star in a constellation, root for words like tolunsal, son of the mind, learning, teaching, knowledge.
TOLZAERUN: the sorcerer constellation.
VAI: the sixth moon of Saylosse that travels on a southwest to northeast orbit across Vailassa. A moon with a gaseous appearance that changes color. Physical representation of the goddess of the Mornae. Represents the Dark magic practiced in this part of the world known as Vaiyin in other cultures.
VAIDOLIN: the region of the black crater in northern Vailassa, region settled by the Mornae. Divided into six regions: one for each high house and its vassals and one for the temple and Isilayne.
VAIKA: a Mornae term of endearment meaning "little goddess”.
VAILASSA: the eastern continent across which Vai makes her path.
VAILESSO: a large band of land at the center of Vailassa called the Moon Sea by natives. Very tall, thick grasses grow there—like sugar cane. The grass grows out of a layer of water much like reeds in a pond.
Ancient lava rivers made of basalt and black rock cross it from east to west.
VAITHERON: a dusklight oath (the goddess's dusk) in which a man is knighted by a matron for a special purpose.
VAIYIN: the Dark power. Not to be perceived as wicked or evil, simply unseen by the naked eye, behind the veil of sensory reality. A contrast to sayin which has a visible component.
VAIZERA SOR’ANTHIA KA: a saying in the old Mornae tongue, “Let the goddess alone be your shield”.
VAIZORA: the goddess dawning every ten days.
VAIZOREN: the goddess's path across vailassa
VAKENON: a tall peak behind Velkamas, the "great lion of the north”.
VANALO: people or person with a divine gift or power, magic.
VASSAL: among the Mornae a house subject to a high house or another house, usually for financial reasons.
VEL: the fifth star of any constellation in the Mornae system of celestial categories.
VELKAMAS: the city in the northwest part of Vaidolin's crater, ruled by the fifth high house.
VOICE (of the goddess): the most powerful rank of a Mornae priestess. Since the fifth accord also a title for a priestess elected by the high council as leader. Symbolic role.
WILDERLANDS: the vast wilderness to the north of Vaidolin. Said to be occupied by monstrous beasts and magical creatures
XEL: the fourth star of any constellation in the Mornae system of celestial categories.
XELASTRE: a tower of Zalkamas’s citadel, houses the main library.
YALEN: the fist constellation.
YALLOC: the fouth largest consort moon, barely visible.
YATHLIN: a village in the near north valley.
ZAER: Mornae root syllable for power, magic, the unknown, highest form of knowledge.
ZAERESS: transformed power held by an object, usually a person, but any organic or inorganic thing. The natural state of magic in a vessel capable of holding it.
ZALKAMAS: city in the northeast of Vaidolin's crater, ruled by the second high house.
ZAULARIM: the Great Owl, a mythical creature. Month when the Owl is dominant. Usually falls between northern late spring and early summer.
ZAUNASTE: the owl constellation.
ZAYSTERA: a cluster of stars appearing as the lead star in the Tolzaerun constellation.
ZELAUN: the shadow wolf, a legendary creature, and a constellation of the northern sky.
The Accords
Glyphs interpreted by Zedril, Chief Diviner of Ilor’Zauhune, Second High House of the Mornae, and transcribed by Gilthin, a second-degree scribe.
The First Accord
A Mornae house is the primary unit of organization, headed by a matron, with the support and aid of her consort. The word of a matron is life or death to those within her house.
No one is above a matron except the goddess.
The Second Accord
A council comprising every house will be called once a decade.
Priestesses and knights receive a single vote.
Each matron casts the votes of her house in council.
The council will deal with matters affecting the goddess’s domain and surrounding regions. This accord shall not impinge on the rule of a matron within her house but may require certain action from each house for the common good.
The Third Accord
A common temple and academy are established to ensure the quality of our people.
A minimum yet demanding standard must be set.
The court is established for the rectification of grievances and to maintain the peace of the goddess.
The Fourth Accord
Lor’Daushalan takes full responsibility for the construction, maintenance, and security of Vaidolin’s gates.
The Fifth Accord
Five high houses will rule in the crater and valleys
The high council will replace the common council of all houses.
Every matron will oath her house to one of the high houses for a minimum period of a year.
The high houses will be ranked by the number of priestesses and knights within it. These are the number of votes a high matron may use in the high council.
Each High Matron is responsible for the safety and protection of Mornae within her city. Each High Matron may determine the structure and laws of her city as she sees fit.
Any vassal, branch, or house which threatens the peace of the goddess will be uprooted and cast out of the sacred crater, beyond the black rock, to weep and sorrow over their lack of devotion. If determined by high council, they may be publicly executed upon the goddess’s face.
Let none oppose it.