Tales of a Melder Glossary

A
Afflen
Wife to a caravan leader in Harmarok, who provides Yrsa and Taigrun with food and shelter.
Aggus
The daughter of Darian and Exella.
Agutium
A plant whose crushed leaves can be used as soap.
Akkan
A member of Grecken’s gang.
Alpo
A guard to Wiklop in Gulgidda.
Ambacu
A city in the south of Flengara, home to ancient schools and libraries.
Amluss
A hunter Yrsa meets in a cabin during a snowstorm, with a mysterious past and purpose. He is later revealed as a prince of Caropatia.
Ando
The man Yrsa’s father wants her to marry. He is much older than her, and in her words, ‘a drunken dolt’.
Annalphus
A paper and parchment merchant Yrsa meets in Lonithrya.
Anthella
Wife to Okaq.
Astego
A town at the north-eastern extremity of Caropatia, by the salt marshes.
B
Babaran
A secretary to the chamberlain of Flengara, who follows Yrsa’s trail from Ambacu to Harmarok.
Bellok
Ancient Flengaran king.
Bodira
A young widow, lover to Grenk.
Bodro
A zeffen.
Brimble
Yrsa’s faithful pony, who she’s had since a foal. She is loyal, sturdy, a little obstinate, and not over-endowed with brains.
Buran
A breed of horse peculiar to Caropatia. Strong, elegant, and very intelligent. They are never sold or traded outside the country.
C
Canneteron
Sorcerer who cursed the Heir-Killer (sword belonging to Amluss, bequeathed to Yrsa).
Caral
Aide to Sibberum.
Caropa
The capital city of Caropatia, on the banks of the Inland Sea.
Caropatia
A country stretching from the Inland Sea in the south to the mountains bordering the Outlands in the north.
Cassenix
A blind slave Yrsa encounters in a cage in Gulgidda. They sense something in each other.
Chlea
A member of the prince’s household in the Citadel of Demburan.
Clister
A village near Malkot whose villagers tell of a beast ravaging their cattle.
Crellog
A prosperous town in the Outlands.
Cynta
A scout working with Babaran and Segur.
D
Dargo
A mysterious man from the Outlands; loved, hated, and cunning.
Darian
A captain in Prince Varluss’s service, who is also his cousin and trusted councillor.
Demburan
A city clinging to the northern mountains. Seat of the heir to the throne of Caropatia.
Dragon’s Kedge
A herb which makes one open to suggestion.
E
Effa
Maid and companion to Nestora.
Eldona
A town between Lonithrya and the Great Basin.
Elphinwort
A herb which stops bleeding, but can be fatal at the wrong dose.
Erik
Brother to Yrsa.
Errenko
A dragon. Waker to Melbrok.
Exella
Wife to Darian.
F
Farona
A member of the prince’s household in Caropa, whose family own a herbalist shop.
Flenga
Capital city of Flengara.
Flengara
A kingdom to the south and east of Caropatia.
Fref
The son of Darian and Exella.
G
Garameen
A henchman to Paloquira.
Gaut
A stable lad at the Castle Inn in Malcot, nephew to the landlord.
Gessen
An empire across the eastern sea. They invaded the Outlands in times past, but left long ago, leaving many ruins, a few roads, and some scattered descendents behind.
Gielden
Ancient Flengaran king.
Gorab
A member of Wemburt’s gang. A thug.
Gravalin
Head of the Royal Armoury of Flengara.
Grechin
A land across the sea, source of various dyes.
Grecken
Mysterious Kunah (leader) of Crellog.
Grenk
A blacksmith in a town near Luna’s steading.
Gulgidda
A slave-trading town on the eastern edge of the Outlands.
Gusta
A rather finicky stallion Yrsa’s father bought her. She left him behind.
H
Hagrat
Bondsman to Amluss.
Hama
A lad Yrsa and Taigrun meet pony-racing in Ambacu.
Harmarok
A large isolated town on the south-eastern edge of Flengara, famous for its metalwork and steel.
Hatten
A guard sergeant from Demburan.
Hobrin
A man Yrsa and Taigrun meet in the palace in Flenga. Half-brother to the king.
Horab
A member of Wemburt’s gang. A thug.
I
Ignation
A traveller Yrsa and Rald meet at an inn in Eldona.
J
Jeran
A guard sergeant from Astego.
Jopi
A young lad who leads Yrsa to an inn in Flenga.
K
Kelix
One of Prince Varluss’s guards in Caropa.
Knux
A large wild animal of the Outlands. Something between a deer and a goat. Good eating.
Krempling
A herb which acts as a strong sedative/sleeping draught.
Krystylyn
An ancient being, almost immortal, often powerful. Come in many forms, and regenerate their strength every night in a changed state.
L
Lectus
An old soldier, partner to Yakoz.
Leif
Brother to Yrsa
Lonithrya
A large, impressive city on the Great River. A trading hub, rich, and well-run.
Lucky
A gelding owned by Hagrat.
Luna
A healer and melder who offers Yrsa shelter. Short for Lunata.
Lyrond
Horsemaster and breeder in Demburan.
M
Mahan
Father to Hama. A caravaner.
Malcot
A town on the Norsouth Road. Often rough.
Manitrios
Henchman to Paloquira.
Mapian
One of Prince Varluss’s guards.
Melbrok
A dragon and dragherd, forever frozen in his night-time form.
Morberon
A slave trader in Gulgidda.
N
Nestora
The daughter of Nestryn.
Nestryn
A trader and merchant from Astego. Crafty.
O
Oaksoul
Another name for temkin
Okaq
A krystylyn in human form living in the Outlands.
Oppulus
Captain of the ship which carries Yrsa and Taigrun to Flengara.
Outlands
The lands beyond the mountains north of Demburan. Home to nomads, remnants of the Gessen conquest, and various fugitives. Considered dangerous and primitive.
P
Pacleidius
Rald’s performance name when future-telling: The Great Pacleidius.
Palik
A member of Grecken’s gang.
Paloquira
The (alleged) original name of the Queen of Caropatia. She keeps it quiet.
Parsennus
A scholar and melder in Ambacu.
Pek
A zeffen.
Phinus
One of Prince Varluss’s guards.
Phren
Apprentice to Annalphus, who Yrsa meets in Lonithrya.
Q
Qhoot
An unusual bird Yrsa encounters on the way to Harmarok. He claims he was made by a sorcerer.
R
Ragluss
King of Caropatia.
Rald
A melder and vayer who Yrsa seeks out in Lonithrya. A bit of a charmer and con man.
Rast
A young lad caught spying on naked bathers.
Recu
Aide to Parsennus.
Reko
Uncle to Hama. Mule owner.
Riggle
Taigrun’s horse.
Rolf
A thug recruited by Hagrat to do harm to Yrsa.
S
Segur
Flengaran captain, whose troop of soldiers accompanies Babaran trailing Yrsa to Harmarok.
Semlac
A Buran stallion, son of Tennell, mount of Prince Varluss.
Siantum
The main port of Flengara, three leagues from Flenga.
Sibberum
A scholar in Harmarok.
Skeppa
An isolated town on the border between the Outlands and the Northern Wastes.
Sleepy Top
Another name for temkin.
Steg
A farmer Yrsa meets in a cabin in the woods. Short for Tosteg.
Swift
Hobrin’s stallion.
Szanka
A rare form of weapon from Flengara. Somewhere between a dagger and a short sword, and only given by the king as a reward for special service.
T
Taigrun
A member of Grecken’s gang.
Tannaq
Henchman to Paloquira.
Temkin
A small mushroom which can be eaten, or dried for use in healing. It can be crumbled on leaf and smoked, with varying pleasant effects.
Tennell
A Buran mare, mount of Amluss, who bred and trained her. Bequeathed to Yrsa.
Tibbit
Okaq’s dog.
Tosteg
See Steg.
Tove
Wife to Steg.
Trelentus
Sorcerer who Qhoot claims was his maker.
Treth
A retired guard living in Demburan.
U
Ulf
The son of Steg.
Ulrik
A young watchman in the Valleys.
Uri
Captain of the boat from whom Yrsa buys passage to Lonithrya.
V
Valleys
Parallel long valleys on the western coast from where Yrsa comes. Their inhabitants are focussed seaward.
Vank
A member of Wemburt’s gang. A thug.
Varca
An archivist in the Flenga archives.
Varluss
Prince of Caropatia, and heir to King Ragluss.
Vigor
Ex-member of Grecken’s gang.
W
Waker
A being sworn by oath to waken a krystylyn.
Wemburt
Leader of the gang Hobrin employs to do his dirty work. Less of a thug than his men.
Wiklop
A slave trader in Gulgidda.
Wrakka
A member of Grecken’s gang.
Y
Yakoz
A weapons trainer to the guards in Demburan.
Yown
A member of Grecken’s gang.
Yrsa
A curious young woman who wants to see more of the world. And less of any proposed husband.
Yunkur
A town in the forest above the Valleys.
Z
Zeffen
A mythical canid found in folk tales and horror stories. Over twice the size of a man, and so monstrous that wolves flee from them in terror. Needless to say, nobody has ever seen one.