← Back to Book

The Empty Vessel Reference Guide

Notable Houses and Persons

Written in an elegant hand in the common script of Ithka.

High Houses

Ilor'Hosmyr

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.
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.
JULISSA ILOR'HOSMYR: Gishna's eldest daughter and heiress.
SAUGRAEN ILOR'HOSMYR: Gishna's eldest son, the Son of Hosmyr, suspected to be conducting a secret affair with Lissae Ilor'Vakayne, Vakayne's heiress.
THENSIL (ILOR'HOSMYR): Chief Diviner of Ilor'Hosmyr, the primary architect of the effort to fix the taint plaguing his house.

Ilor'Zauhune

JOUMINA ILOR'ZAUHUNE: High Matron, daughter of Yethva (who ruled only ten years and died in winter), granddaughter of Solaya, 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.

Ilor'Vakayne

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.
LISSAE ILOR'VAKAYNE: Vakayne's heiress, suspected to be conducting a secret affair with Saugraen Ilor'Hosmyr.

Lesser Houses

Lor'Toshtolin

TAUL LOR'TOSHTOLIN: Master tender and Prime Consort of Lor'Toshtolin.
RYLDIA LOR'TOSHTOLIN: Matron of Lor'Toshtolin, owner of Zeldra.
PEMZEN LOR'TOSHTOLIN: Son of Toshtolin, suspect origin despite formal matron declaration.

Lor'Vamtrin

VOLDIN LOR'VAMTRIN: East Valley master tender, instructor.
SILLA LOR'VAMTRIN: Matron of Lor'Vamtrin, a modest East Valley house, one of ten influential valley matrons advocating for a return to valley life.

Other Houses

BALNISS LOR'NEVTAR: Notary, fifth level scribe, diviner, suspect behavior.
YAUREN LOR'NADRIL (REN): Minor henchman of Maunyn Ilor'Hosmyr.

Others

SINNIN: Thensil's assistant and prior of the secret scriptorium.

Comprehensive Mornae Encyclopedia

Notes from a volume on the Mornae stored in the supreme hierophant's private library in Peraptis, chief city of the Arcanite League.

ACCORDS: The highest form of Mornae agreement or law.
BLOODHOUSE: A Mornae house bound to another through reciprocal consortships.
CONSORT: The bound mate of a priestess, implies the physical and psychological binding of the partners in an unbreakable contract.
GUILD: A cooperative for tradesmen.
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 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.
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.
MATRON: The female head of a house.
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.
PRIME CONSORT: The consort of a high matron. May retain the title while the heiress is underage.
TIER: A subdivision within a Mornae high house. Particular to Ilor'Zauhune and Ilor'Daushalan.
VASSAL: Among the Mornae a house subject to a high house or another house, usually for financial reasons.
ZELDRA: One of three founding orders.

Ranks and Titles

ACOLYTE: A female Mornae preparing to be a priestess and anointed at her naming.
APPRENTICE: A diviner in training, any Mornae in training to a guild or other organization.
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.
HIGH PRIESTESS: A priestess who has summoned the Dark through multiple calls culminating in the 'hum'.
JABRA: A Yatani or nomad word meaning female elder or master.
JABUN: A Yatani or nomad word meaning male elder or master.
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.
PRIESTESS: A female Mornae who has passed the first trial of the temple. The first political rank achieved by Mornae women.
SQUIRE: Any Mornae man in training to be a knight, member of one of the five academies.
VAISSANA: An unconsorted or widowed priestess dedicated to serving in a sanctuary or school.
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.

Peoples and Races

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.
BAIKAL: A race of giants in northern Vailassa, followers of multiple gods but primarily Barka, god of the seas and storms.
GENALO: Alcar word meaning ordinary human beings, without any gift.
KITHVYRAE: Another name for the Mornae, the enchanted people, people of the black rock. Most attuned to the goddess.
KUXUL: A native Vailassan tribe known for its fierceness, often captured as opponents in tournaments.
MAKAR: A north Vailassan tribe.
MORNAE: A branch of Alcar who separated to pursue magic more freely. Focused on the practice of the Dark or vaiyin, exiled from Saylassa in the fourth eon.
MULKANI: Northern tribe, mostly extinct, said to interbreed with Moon Sea demon dogs, known for cyst-covered skin and decaying odor.
VALMASIN: An ancient clan of sorcerers who specialized in helping the Mornae judge the fitness of their newborns to bear their house name.
VANALO: People or person with a divine gift or power, magic.
VOYDO: A north Vailassan tribe.
YATANI: Descendants of the Yuleh, an ancient vanalo tribe known to possess life sorcery.

Cities and Regions

ARMS OF THE WORLD: Two thin stretches of land joining Saylassa and Vailassa, between the Vel and the Moon Sea.
BARKASSE: The great eastern ocean, named for the local sea god, Barka.
BULOR: Mountain range bordering the south of the east valley, the fourth arm.
DALKAMAS: City and region ruled by Ilor'Daushalan.
DRAGONLANDS: A large region of southeast Vailassa, once the most advanced and populous region of the world.
GATES (of Vaidolin): The four official entry points to the crater.
HALKAMAS: City in the lower right quadrant of the crater, ruled by Ilor'Hosmyr.
HALN: Southeast sector of Saylassa.
JALESSIN: The river that forms the western border in the West Valley.
JELATAR VALLEY: A massive glacier valley located above the west valley.
KIKUNEH: Ancient standing stones located just south of the crossroads at the Southern.
LANASSIN: The first river (from the crater) to cut across the East Valley.
LYKOLA: A region of the Dragonlands known for its plants, especially cotton.
MAUSSIN: The river running the length of the East Valley along the Bulor range.
NYENTA: A large river that runs down the center of the south valley and joins the Southern.
PALORIT: South Valley village.
PIRADOLIN: Ruined Mornae colony in central Vailassa, south of the Moon Sea.
RELKAMAS: Ilor'Roturra's city within the crater.
RULKAMIT: A far South Valley village on the Southern.
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.
SELKAMIT: An East Valley village.
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.
UNDERDARK: Lowborn word for the underground cities or ruins.
UTHKAEA: Ancient name for the Dragonlands before the Alcar engines sundered it.
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.
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.
VAKENON: A tall peak behind Velkamas, the "great lion of the north".
VELKAMAS: The city in the northwest part of Vaidolin's crater, ruled by the fifth high house.
WILDERLANDS: The vast wilderness to the north of Vaidolin, said to be occupied by monstrous beasts and magical creatures.
YAINKAMIT: Small East Valley village on the Fringe.
YATHLIN: A village in the near north valley.
ZALKAMAS: City in the northeast of Vaidolin's crater, ruled by the second high house.

Buildings and Structures

BEYTOL: The ancient dueling arena located on a blackrock island between Isiltrin and Isilalan.
DALASTRE: Primary tower of Zalkamas citadel's core.
DORGIST: A small market on the border between Zalkamas and Velkamas, near the upper bridge to Velkamas.
GAURATH: The sea serpent constellation, a market in western Zalkamas.
GAUNASTRE: Tower of Zalkamas citadel's core.
KALASTRA: Halkamas market, the snowflake constellation, sometimes the reaper, associated with death in some tribes.
NOLESTIN: Halkamas market.
NONASIN: A market run by Harlath under the sign of the winter rose.
RINASTRE: The thinnest tower of Zalkamas citadel.
TARASIL: The blossom constellation. East market in the third-tier district of Zalkamas.
TELAUGIR: Blue wolf, a star in the shadow wolf constellation which often appears blue, also a tavern in Outer Halkamas.
VAILURIATH: The largest public sanctuary in Halkamas, near Isilmyr.
VAISSIN: The river flowing in the deep ravine surrounding the temple district.
XELASTRE: A tower of Zalkamas's citadel, houses the main library.

Academies and Institutions

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.

Magic, Materials and Powers

BLACKROCK: Unique material called kith by the Mornae. Most mountains in northern Vailassa consist of the material. It produces the 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.
BLADES OF TAIYRA: Twin kithaun blades of an ancient Hosmyr priestess.
BLUE FIRE: An outpouring of Dark energy appearing as blue flames. Can only be extinguish by the summoner.
DARK: The magic associated with Vai and blackrock.
DARKLIGHT: A form of energy visible only to creatures with affinity to the Dark.
DARKSIGHT: Innate ability to see darklight.
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.
KISEYL HOUND: A shadow hound trained over cycles by Lor'Kiseyl.
KITH: The blackrock of northern Vailassa.
KITHAUN: Blacksteel, enchanted material forged by Mornae sorcerers.
MAETAR STEEL: A lesser form of kithaun devised by Maetar Lor'Zashtrin after the Fall when the purest kithaun became difficult to forge.
NISHMUR STEEL: The least form of kithaun devised by Nishmur Lor'Lauxyn after the Fall when the purest kithaun became difficult to forge.
SAYIN: Alcar word for the sun and light-based magic.
SAYTHELAUN: Sunlight-infused material.
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.
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.

Celestial Bodies

BARONA: The bear constellation, also called The Mauler, the Mother Bear.
BEDOR: Largest moon, forty-five-day cycle.
CASSAN: The second largest moon but only a third the size of Bedor, a fifteen-day orbit.
CONSORT MOONS: The five ecliptic orbit moons in order of size: Bedor, Cassan, Yalloc, Lovan, Suvae.
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.
GAUN: The ninth star of any constellation in the Mornae system of celestial categories.
HOSIN: The fox constellation, sigil of Ilor'Hosmyr.
HYDIRA: The smallest star in the blossom constellation.
KISAN: The twins or hound constellation, the sigil of Lor'Kiseyl.
MAVIR: The boar constellation.
NIGHTSTEED: The shadow mount, a constellation, the mount of an Isilayne knight, a shadow shaped like a horse.
ORLIN: The spider constellation.
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.
ROTIN: The ram constellation, the sigil of Ilor'Roturra.
SENTINELS: The four stars visible during the goddess dawning.
TARASIL: The blossom constellation.
THERON: The fourth celestial body.
THERASTE: A "star" comet, returns every 150 years.
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.
VEL: The fifth star of any constellation in the Mornae system of celestial categories.
XEL: The fourth star of any constellation in the Mornae system of celestial categories.
YALEN: The fist constellation.
YALLOC: The fourth largest consort moon, barely visible.
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.

Plants, Creatures and Natural Elements

ASTERA: A medicinal flowering crop grown by Mornae.
GUHLA: An herb with sedative qualities.
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.
PUUL: A fruit tree or vine imported ages ago from the north of Saylassa. Known to the Juula but altered greatly.
SILVERPINE: A northern tree with softer wood often used for furnishings, has a silver-colored rings.
ZAULARIM: The Great Owl, a mythical creature. Month when the Owl is dominant. Usually falls between northern late spring and early summer.

Gods and Spiritual Concepts

FORTHAI: The goddess of gentle nature, meadows, flowers, small animals, a favorite of herbalists.
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.
MELKAH: God of nature, forests, beasts, cruel nature.

Terms, Concepts and Cultural Elements

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. Mornae often perform a reverie and sorcerers store their memories in tablets every cycle.
DREKNAE: A Mornae word meaning forsaken of the goddess.
EON: A random Alcar period based on the duration of a particular constellation's ascendancy. Usually between eight to fifteen cycles long.
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.
GAUKASO: Mornae word meaning too much of a good thing, too many priestesses in a family or house.
HALNICOR: The designation for those Alcar serving in Haln.
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.
KITHVYRAE NA'SEN: The assassin's hour.
KNIGHT'S HOUR: When the Knight constellation is above the temple spire.
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.
THERONAL: First appearance of Theron after winter, the day Hosmyr vassals make their public oath.
VAIKA: A Mornae term of endearment meaning "little goddess".
VAITHERON: A dusklight oath (the goddess's dusk) in which a man is knighted by a matron for a special purpose.
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.
VORAVIN: Pure, true. Often refers to the ideal Mornae.

Honorific Terms and Titles

KALARON REBORN: Savra's consort, father of the Vakayne bloodline, a compliment for a male.
SAVRA REBORN: A Mornae woman who possesses great qualities, a rare compliment.

The Five Accords of the Mornae

Glyphs interpreted by Thensil, Chief Diviner of Ilor'Hosmyr, Third High House of the Mornae, and transcribed by Barras, a fifth-degree scribe.

The First Accord

A Mornae matron rules her bloodline 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 the matrons of every house will be called once a decade.
Each matron casts the votes of her house in council based on the number of priestesses and knights of her bloodline.
The council deliberates on matters affecting the goddess's domain and surrounding regions. A matron rules her house absolutely.

The Third Accord

A common temple and academy are established to ensure the success 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.