The Long War 03 - The Red Prince (66 page)

To the east, beyond the plains of Leith, is the ruined land. Men have come to call it the Wastes of Jekka or the Cannibal Lands, for those tribes that dwell there are fond of human flesh.

However, those of us who study such things have discovered disturbing knowledge that paints these beings as more than simple beasts.

In the chronicles of Deep Time – in whatever form they yet exist – this cleric has discovered several references to the Great Race, references that do not speak of cannibalism but of chaos and empires to rival man, built on the bones of vanquished enemies and maintained through sacrifice and bizarre sexual rituals. They were proud, arrogant and utterly amoral, believing completely in their most immediate whims and nothing more.

Whatever the Great Race of Jekka might once have been, they are now a shadow and a myth, bearing no resemblance to the fanged hunters infrequently encountered by man.

From ‘
A Treatise on the Unknown
’ by Yacob
of Leith, Blue cleric of the One God

THE JEKKAN SERVITORS

The war did not last long. The Great Race of Jekka had no desire for the forests. At length we fought them back to their mountains and threw down their altars.

But their pets had to be defeated. As the masters fled, their servitors covered their retreat. They were terrible, amorphous things of no fixed form, shaping their flesh as their masters ordered.

Fire did not burn them, arrows did not pierce them, blades did not cut them. Only the touch of cold caused them to flee. The mightiest Tyr wielded swords of deep ice and the wisest Vithar conjured snow and freezing winds.

The servitors were defeated, though it cost many lives. In the long ages that followed, whispers remained of the terrifying beasts, that they skulked in Jekkan ruins or guarded long-forgotten lore, but they were never again seen by Dokkalfar.

From ‘
The Edda
’ Author Unknown but Attributed to the
Sky Riders of the Drow Deeps

VOLK WAR HOUNDS

In ages past, the Volk of the northern ice were bound in an eternal war with their cousins, the Dvergar. They came from the dark lands, scratching like insects across the snow. Generations, beyond the understanding of men, were consumed with bitter conflict until the Dvergar gained the ascendancy.

In their darkest moment, the Volk priests screamed to the sky, asking Rowanoco for aid, and the ice giant sent the white pack.

Great hounds from Sovon-Kor gained intelligence and allowed the Volk to saddle them. They felt no fear and valued loyalty above all. They plunged into battle as a wave of death, annihilating any Dvergar that stood before them.

The white pack bred until there were thousands of war hounds, each one bound to a Volk master from birth to death. But as their masters died, the ageless hounds went forth into the world to do the work of Rowanoco.

From ‘
The Ninth Book of Higher Xar
’
by Orrin Scarlet Beard of Van Clos

CHARACTER LISTING

The People of Ro

The house of Canarn
– descended from Lord Bullvy of Canarn

Hector of Canarn – duke of Ro Canarn –
deceased

Bromvy (Brom) Black Guard of Canarn – traitor lord of Canarn, soldier of the Long War, son of Duke Hector

Bronwyn of Canarn – the Lady of Canarn, twin sister to Bromvy and daughter of Duke Hector

Haake of Canarn – Duke Hector’s household guard

Auker of Canarn – city guardsman

Hawkin of the Grass Sea – city guardsman

The house of Tiris
– descended from High King Dashell Tiris

Bartholomew Tiris – the king’s father –
deceased

Sebastian Tiris – scion of the house of Tiris and king of Tor Funweir

Lady Alexandra – wife of King Sebastian

Christophe Tiris – son to King Sebastian, prince of Tor Funweir –
deceased

Archibald Tiris – regent of Ro Tiris, cousin to King Sebastian

Clement of Chase – watch sergeant of Ro Tiris

Lux – watch sergeant of Ro Tiris

Elyot of the Tor – watchman of Ro Tiris

Robin of Tiris – watchman of Ro Tiris

The house of Haran
– descended from High King Dashell Tiris

Alexander Tiris, also known as the ‘Red Prince’ – disgraced son of the house of Tiris, brother to the king, duke and general of Haran

Gwendolyn of Hunter’s Cross – the Lady of Haran, wife of Alexander Tiris

Ashwyn of Haran – a sergeant of the ducal army, the Hawks

Symon of Triste – a sergeant of the Hawks

Brennan of the Walls – a captain of the Hawks

Lennifer of Triste – serving girl to Gwendolyn of Haran

Clerics of the One God

Mobius of the Falls of Arnon – cardinal of the Purple

Brother Rashbone of Chase – Purple cleric, adjutant to Cardinal Mobius

Severen of Voy – cardinal of the Purple

Brother Jakan of Tiris – Purple cleric of the sword, protector to King Sebastian Tiris

Brother Cleon Montague – Purple cleric, bodyguard to King Sebastian Tiris

Brother Torian of Arnon – Purple cleric of the quest –
deceased

Animustus of Voy – Gold cleric

Brother Cerro of Darkwald – cardinal of the Brown

Brother Lanry of Canarn – Brown cleric, former confessor to Duke Hector

Brother Daganay of Haran – Blue cleric, priest to the Hawk army

Artus of Triste – novice of the blue, pupil to Daganay of Haran

Brother Elihas of Du Ban – Black cleric, working with the Seven Sisters

Brother Utha the Ghost – former Black cleric and last old-blood of the Shadow Giants

Brother Roderick of the Falls of Arnon – Black cleric

Brother Hobson of Voy – White cleric

Knights of the One God

Malaki Frith – knight general of the Red

Tristram of Hunter’s Cross – knight commander of the Red

Markos of Rayne – commander of the White Knights of the Dawn

Mortimer Rillion – knight commander of the Red –
deceased

Wesson of Haran – knight marshal of Cozz –
deceased

Bracha – old knight sergeant of the Red

Callis – sergeant of the Red

Ohms of the Bridge – knight sergeant of the Red

Dolf Halan – knight captain of the Red, adjutant to Malaki Frith

Taufel of Arnon – knight captain of the Red, adjutant to Knight Commander Tristram

Nathan of Du Ban – knight captain of the Red, adjutant to Knight Commander Rillion –
deceased

Fallon of Leith, the ‘Grey Knight’ – former knight captain of the Red, exemplar of the One God

William of Verellian – former knight captain of the Red

Theron of Haran – former knight lieutenant of the Red and adjutant to Knight Captain Fallon

Rashabald of Haran – executioner and knight of the Red –
deceased

Nobles

Vladimir Corkoson, the ‘Lord of Mud’ – lord of the Darkwald and commander of the Darkwald yeomanry

Dimitri Savostin – major of the Darkwald yeomanry

Hallam Pevain – mercenary knight in the employ of the Seven Sisters

Kale Glenwood (formerly Glen Ward) – forger of minor nobility, companion to Rham Jas Rami

Leon Great Claw – a knight, first master to Randall of Darkwald –
deceased

Lyam of Weir – duke of Ro Weir

Yacob Black Guard – disgraced lord of Ro Weir, an assassin

Common folk

Randall of Darkwald – squire to, in succession: Sir Leon Great Claw: Brother Torian of Arnon: Brother Utha the Ghost

Broot of Weir – a mercenary under Hallam Pevain

Castus of Weir – bound man and gaoler –
deceased

Parag of Weir – a mercenary under Hallam Pevain

Lorkesh – guardsman

Lyssa – child in the Brown chapel

Rodgar – child in the Brown chapel

Fulton of Canarn – tavern keeper

Mirabel of Arnon – brothel owner in Ro Arnon

Mott – a bandit

Tobin of Cozz – blacksmith and fixer

The People of Rowanoco

The Ranen of Fjorlan

The high lords of Fjorlan have, since the first, sought to keep their names alive through their children. Those of minor houses are afforded no such honour and many deliberately strike their father’s name due to dishonourable actions.

The house of Teardrop
– named for Alguin Teardrop, the first high thain of Fjorlan.

Ragnar Teardrop Larsson – father to Magnus Forkbeard Ragnarsson and Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson –
deceased

Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson – high thain of Ranen, elder brother to Magnus Forkbeard Ragnarsson –
deceased

Magnus Forkbeard Ragnarsson – younger brother to Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson, priest of the Order of the Hammer, friend to Lord Bromvy –
deceased

Alahan Teardrop Algesson –heir to the hall of Fredericksand and son to Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson

Ingrid Teardrop Algedottir – daughter to Algenon Teardrop Ragnarsson

Oleff Hard Head – chain-master of Fredericksand, survivor of the Dragon Fleet

Wulfrick the Enraged – axe-master of Fredericksand, survivor of the Dragon Fleet

Thorfin Axe Hailer – lore-master of Fredericksand

Samson the Liar – old-blood of the Ice Giants

The house of Summer Wolf
– an ancient and respected house, named for Kalall Summer Wolf

Aleph Summer Wolf Kallsson – thain of Tiergarten –
deceased

Halla Summer Wolf Alephsdottir –axe-maiden, survivor of the Dragon Fleet, daughter to Aleph Summer Wolf

Tricken Ice Fang – chain-master of Tiergarten

Earem Spider Killer – axe-master of Tiergarten

Borrin Iron Beard – axe-master of Tiergarten –
deceased

Rhuna Grim – cloud-mistress of Tiergarten

Father Brindon Crowe – priest of the Order of the Hammer

Heinrich Blood – novice of the Order of the Hammer

The house of Hammerfall
– home of the cloud-men and the Wolf Wood

Grammah Black Eyes – new thain of Hammerfall

Rexel Falling Cloud – axe-master, survivor of the dragon fleet

Moniac Dawn Cloud – axe-master and cloud-man of the Wolf Wood

Anya Coldbane (Lullaby) – wise woman of Rowanocoa

The berserkers of Varorg

Rorg the Defiler – berserker chieftain

Timon the Butcher – berserker of Varorg

Unrahgahr – a troll allied with the Varorg

The house of Ursa
– a new house with no honourable lineage, they name as they see fit

Rulag Ursa Bear Tamer – the Betrayer, now sits in the high thain’s hall. Previously thain of Jarvik, father to Kalag Ursa

Thran Blood Fist – lord of Jarvik

Kalag Ursa Rulagsson – lordling of Jarvik

David Emerald Eyes – chain-master of Jarvik

Jalek Blood – axe-master of Jarvik

Father Oryk Grey Claw – priest of the Order of the Hammer

The Ranen of The South Lands

Those of the Freelands
– formerly Tor Ranen – are known as the Free Companies. They are commoners who earn their names with deeds of honour. They have never sought nobility or family names.