The * Frilond * Campaign
Things
- Abbey of the Shrine of St. Marius.
- Bergenian monastery in Heremac, headed by Father Peter.
- Achaela.
- A lean young wolf, found by Vandoren in the Hagges' Cave. Achaela was cunning, wary, and very protective of her master. She was killed in a fiery blast while fighting the fiendish witches Adah and Endora.
- Adepts, Imperial.
- Powerful institution in the late Tynan Empire. The Adepts were powerful
magi loyal to and sanctioned by the emperor. Fashioned the Nine Colossi.
- Amphisbaena.
- A powerful, otherworldly creature guarding the treasure-vaults of Prince
Briareus. The creature was like a giant serpent with two heads.
- Aoxians.
- Thieving, mischievous spirits of air that appear as small monkeys with bat-like
wings, large eyes, and pointed, oversized ears. They serve the Lord of the
North Winds.
- Auspice.
- Ancient art of divination by observing the flight of birds.
- "Barefooted Friar, The."
- Song sung by Clement in the Boar.
- Batrachian Champions.
- Squat, slimy, froglike creatures of legend that speak with deep, croaking
voices. Batrachian champions are excellent swimmers, but hate extremely cold
or arid conditions. They are armed with crude spears and turtle-shell shields
and obey the Mother of Toads.
- Bergenian.
- Refers to the Holy Order of St. Bergens, an important monastic order.
- Blackbelly.
- Fine stout known for its dark color and flavor, brewed by the Gerardian
Order.
- Black Blades.
- Also known as Fleshrippers. A ruck-man tribe, strong and well organized.
Disciplined enough to fight in ordered ranks. Black Blades are hunched and
squat, with powerful, muscled physiques. Their skin is a pale, pasty green.
They have broad faces, sloping foreheads, and protruding lower tusks. They
have small, round ears. Black Blades tend to wear blood-red clothing, and
often have chainmail and iron helmets. Most wield pole-arms, and many employ
poison and ruckish fire, as well. The Black Blades are masters of torture.
- Blemmyae
- Horrific creatures appearing as great hairy men with their heads set in
the center of their chests. They are armed with huge two-headed axes, and
serve a mysterious power known only as the Yellow Idol.
- Blood-Moon (Gory-Moon).
- One of the many tribes of ruck-men dwelling in the Ruckish Hills. Blood-Moon
rucks are smaller than most, with long thin limbs, lean, narrow faces, and
dark skin. They usually wear leather armor dyed dark red. Blood-Moon rucks
skillfully employ traps and ambushes. They wield small, triangular stabbing
swords, javelins, and often carry short bows made of horn. Recently, several
Blood-Moon rucks have shown a talent for sorcery.
- Bole, Father.
- One of King Weremach's advisors.
- Bristling Boar, The.
- Inn in Heremac near the North Gate, run by Ellen Golding. The Boar is a
frequent stop for travelers visiting Heremac.
- Brynn.
- General name for the race of fair-skinned indigenous humans of Frilond.
The Brynns were a wild race of poets, bards, and warriors, who were ruled
by a priestly caste known as druids. The Brynns fought against the encroachment
of the Tynan Empire for several centuries; by the fall of the Northern Empire
most Brynns had converted to Pentianity.
- Cataphracts.
- King Tereuss elite guard, infamous for their fearlessness, cruelty, and
fighting prowess. They wear green surcoats, and their banner depicts a three-spired
castle.
- Cathedral of St. Auratien.
- Site in Rheme; said to be the largest cathedral ever built.
- Cathedral of St. Daniel the Convert.
- Located in Canglen, the seat of Bishop Martin. Fashioned in the modern style,
with gently curving forms framing five great spires that rise almost a a hundred
feet in the air.
- Cave of the Crone.
- A strange, otherworldly place, permeated by ancient, powerful magic.
- Cerebean Spawn.
- Underworld spirits that appear as large gray mastiffs with three heads and
iron teeth. They are ferocious and utterly unrelenting in battle.
- Chimera.
- A fantastic monster, part dragon, part lion, and part goat. Encountered
while the consortes were seeking the Cave of the Crone.
- City, The (The Shining City, The Five's City).
- The heavenly kingdom wherein the Five reside, and which good Pentian souls
hope to reach in the afterlife.
- Cokedrille, Aeptetean.
- A fabulous reptilian monster that sheds false tears in order to lure its
prey to the rivers edge.
- Corrughans.
- Filthy, stinking, bird-like spirits, said to live in dark caverns,
far beneath the earth's surface. They have oily black feathers and are flightless,
standing as tall as a man. Corrughans are thin and irritable and attack by
raking their opponents with two claws. They are subject to their unwholesome
lord, Lurach.
- Council of Stars, The.
- A famous band of knights loyal to Emperor Merovan. Often regarded as the
exemplars of knighthood.
- Crone, The.
- A gigantic, withered figure, radiating powerful and ancient magic. Gave
Valerius his raven in exchange for the ovus mirabilis.
- Crusad, I.
- The first Crusade against Abominations, decreed by Pontiff Pious IV; ran
from *824 to *832. Goal was the capture of the Frounter and the extermination
of all monsters in eastern Selcrany.
- Crusad, II.
- The second Crusade against Abominations was initiated after the ruck-men
poured out of the Ruckish Hill, even reaching the city of Abbermark. They
stormed the gates, burned down the cathedral there, and slew Bishop Innocent.
The second crusade ran from *858 to *860.
- Counting Crows.
- A method of divining the future, not uncommon in rural areas.
- Cynocephali.
- Tall, dog-headed men with leather armor, armed with great spiked clubs.
They are said to hate all strangers and dwell in a mountainous kingdom east
of the Perthian deserts. Their patron, by whom they are commanded, is the
Tyrant of the Red-Tiled Palace.
- Cythenus.
- Popular Tynan goddess of love and sexual desire.
- Decad, The.
- A group of ten powerful, converted Adepts in late antiquity, founded by the arch-magus Maecenas.
- Demerian's Wall.
- Ancient stone barrier erected by the Tynan Empire; originally ran nearly the entire length of the Ruckish Hills. Parts of the wall still stand and may be seen on the Frounter.
- Durnel.
- The enchanted, flaming sword of Orland.
- Ebon Quill.
- A loose-knit band of converted ruck-men, led by Mark and Luke. Once based
out of the old ogre cave at Wimm Copse, these Pentian rucks actively raided
Busirane's armies. Other members of the band include Grak, Blarg, Gumsh,
Grill, Krang, and Mazack. The entire Ebon Quill was wiped out fighting off
the elite guard of Prince Argus. The battlefield is now a shrine for converted
rucks.
- Edric's Bridge.
- A sturdy stone structure spanning the Corin River, flanked by torch-lit fortified gatehouses. The Seekers had brought engineers from far-off Rheme to design this wonder, the only stone bridge in Selcrany.
- Empyrean.
- The Kingdom of the Five, a spiritual realm which can only be entered by good Pentians after death. Site of the Shining City.
- Fleshrippers.
- Another name for Black Blade rucks.
- Fortress of the Warders.
- A large, imposing castle complex in Canglen.
- "Fox in the Hedges."
- a lively folk tune.
- Geaunt, The.
- A fearsome creature of the faerie realm, who dwelt in a ruined tower north of Heremac. The Geaunt was slain when his tower collapsed around him.
- Gerardian.
- Common name for a member of the Holy Order of St. Gerard, a mendicant order of friars dedicated to traveling Frilond and preaching the words of the Five to the common folk.
- Gerardian Chapter House.
- A small, ramshackle building in Heremac. An important base of operations for the Black Friars on the Frounter.
- Grammerie.
- The art of magic.
- Gregory's March.
- Bitter retreat following the defeat of the Seekers at Grimall Keep, Caulding *909.
- Hagges.
- Murderous and cunning creatures of great evil, appearing as horrid, gigantic old women. Hagges are descended from an ancient line of powerful, magical creatures.
- House of Plenty, The.
- A great manor house, standing in the middle of the Wood Wondrous. Beautiful maidens ply travelers with offers of warm food, good wine, and rest from the road.
- hyenanthrope.
- Chaotic abominations, first brought into the region by the Tynans as mercenary
troops. A hyenanthrope appears as a man-like creature with the head of a hyena.
Vile man-eaters, they worship an unspeakable servant of the Shaithim.
- "I Saw a Ruck-Man."
- Common children's rhyme.
- INUICTVS.
- Inscription found on the curious sword won by Mendelor in an enchanted castle. Perhaps the name of the sword itself. Currently wielded by Sir Reginald the Penitent
- Jovanus.
- Tynan Ruler of the Gods. A god of storms and law, philandering husband to Mira.
- Justicar.
- Sir Will Garnfellow's old war-horse.
- King Balem's Song.
- A long, sensual lyric from Pentian scripture, composed to honor a nubile young wife.
- Lay of Prester.
- Popular folk-song, many lines long.
- Lean Peg.
- A legendary hag of the Frounter, said to carry off naughty children in the night.
- Lestrygonians.
- A race of fierce, treacherous, man-eating giants of legend, said to dwell
on an inviting Herachean island. Their king is the dread Antiphates.
- Liam's Helm.
- A powerful magical helmet recovered from the Blackwell by the Seekers. Found by Tuck, and taken by him. Now in the possession of Archbishop Nicolas, loaned out to Prince Wenric.
- Lions of Wrath, The.
- Six fierce creatures encountered in the Wood Wondrous.
- Mace of St. Auric.
- Powerful artifact, possessed by the Seeker Order.
- Maiden and Rose, The.
- An inn in Canglen.
- Marnes.
- Tynan god of War, protector of the Empire. Pictured as a tall, armored man with a spear, his head always helmeted.
- Martyrdom, The.
- Event which marks the beginning of the Pentian Calendar. Turning point in the history of Pentianity.
- Mira.
- Pagan Tynan goddess of wives and mothers, jealous and vengeful wife to Jovanus.
- necrophage.
- Herachean for "eater of the dead," a necrophage is a horrible undead creature. Looks like a pale, dead human with dog-like face.
- Nerades.
- These water spirits are said to be the daughters of Neranus, Tynan God of
Seas. They appear as female warriors in bronze armor, armed with spears and
swords. Their hair is made of seaweed and they are excellent swimmers.
- Neranus
- Pagan Tynan sea-god, brother to Jovanus.
- NIFLOGNIF.
- Mysterious word carved in a table in the Bristling Boar.
- Nigromauncer.
- A black magician.
- Nine Colossi of the Limites.
- A series of fabulous magical constructs created by the Tynan Adepts. Each were said to be bronze statues over fifty feet high and cast in the likeness of Marnes, Tynan god of war. One such Colossus was placed on the Frounter, to guard Demerian's Wall.
- nine-mens-morris.
- A popular boardgame of strategy, played with pegs.
- Old Brown.
- The supposed ruler of Owl Island, Old Brown dwells in a titanic oak tree at the center of the isle. Old Brown exudes ancient, powerful magic and appears as a gigantic owl. Old Brown is intelligent and implacable, devouring Dale without any provocation.
- Orland's Sword.
- Magical flaming sword of legend.
- Ox's Yoke.
- Tavern in Dowdling.
- Pendermore Keep.
- Fortress on the southern Frounter, controlled by the Baron Ordway. Site of infamous battle between Baron Eric and his Brother Kay.
- Perdition.
- A spiritual realm, home to the Shaithim and fiends. This is the prison house
for the condemned souls of all evil Pentians. Also known as the Pit. The Shaithim's
realm spans the lower planes; it is a great pit of eternal blackness. The
Shaithim dwell at the dark heart of this place; they are frozen in a great
block of ice, entwined in torment, biting and rending each other, their venom
eternally burning each other. Their malice radiates from their prison, and
seeps into the world of mortal men.
- Phrygatae.
- Small, savage men with pale blue skin and dark eyes. They are said to dwell
in a harsh and frozen land far to the north, beyond the rule of all other men.
The Phrygatae are armed with clubs and javelins. Conjurers may command them by
invoking the name of their Queen, Omalape.
- The Priory of St. Auratien.
- A Bergenian complex near the village of Mattin.
- Purgatory.
- An afterworld where souls of impure Pentians are drawn after death, in order to be cleansed before entering Empyrean.
- Quadrivium.
- The formal study of arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music.
- Reckoning Day.
- Future date when the Five will unmake the world and judge all living men.
- Rotting Eye.
- Tribe of ruck-men. Rotting Eye rucks have very square, flat faces, ape-like
noses, and large wide mouths full of jutting yellow teeth, which are often
filed to points. Rotting Eye rucks are thick of limb and bowlegged; they tend
to wear human dress. The Rotting Eye tribe was involved in the battle of Ordway.
- Royan Order.
- A small but very influential monastic order. Several monks in the Royan Order have been granted permission by the Pontiff to practice white magic, in the name of the Church and the Five.
- Ruck-Nog.
- A foul and very potent intoxicant, gaining popularity in Heremac.
- Ruckish Lottery.
- An infernal money-raising scheme concocted by Prince Briareus. His troops
were obsessed over the regular drawings.
- Seekers.
- Popular name for members of the Military-Religious Order of St. Markham,
dedicated to leading the Church's war against abominations. The Order is headed
by Master Edric the Ironhearted, and is based in Heremac.
- Shaggy Men.
- Wood spirits that appear as hulking ape-like creatures with matted white
fur. The Shaggy Men are bloodthirsty and delight in battle. Their horrific
roars of victory have been known to strike fear into even veteran warriors.
- Shrine of the Quill.
- Site of the last battle fought by the Rucks of the Ebon Quill, where every
last Pentian soldier was slain holding off the elite guard of Prince Argus.
Friar Sidrach has placed a great stone pentifix on the site, which is protected
by a band 0f converted ruck-men.
- The Shannon's Cup.
- A respectable tavern in Mattin, run by Pat Keating.
- Shrine of St. Albric at Coole.
- Holy site, contains the spring where that fabled saint was first baptized.
These waters have very potent healing properties.
- Shrine of St. Marius.
- A popular attraction for pilgrims visiting Heremac. Located on the eastern
edge of town. Said to be the site where St. Marius was visited by an angel,
who announced the imminent conversion of Emperor Horatius. The original shrine
was destroyed by ruck-men; the new shrine was constructed shortly after Heremac
was captured in the crusades. A Bergenian monastery watches over the Shrine.
- Siege of Heremac.
- A brutal campaign that lasted most of the winter of *874. Ruck-men surrounded
the town and cut off supplies for several months, until reinforcements were
finally able to win through the ruck-men lines.
- Skrening.
- A collective name for a large group of Kargish tribes that invaded Frilond
in the sixth century. They were fierce and fearless, and their longships coursed
the entire length of the Channel. They were much feared by the entire Pentian
world.
- Slough of Despair.
- A dismal swamp in the Wood Wondrous; hinders travelers with feelings of
weariness and hopelessness, as well as visions of terrible events from the
past.
- St. Arlean's Parish.
- Church in Heremac, near Old Well.
- St. Hubert's Parish.
- Church in Tymgram.
- St. Lamar's Parish.
- Church in Vesay.
- St. Rosemund's Abbey.
- Large and influential Bergenian Abbey in Abbermark.
- St. Welman's Parish.
- Church in Heremac, near North Gate.
- Strigae.
- Evil spirits of the night from Herachean legend; they could assume the shape
of old women.
- Sword of Tamurlaine.
- A fabulous enchanted blade, said to have been forged by faeries and contained
enormous magical power.
- Syrune.
- A bright star in the northern skies of Frilond.
- Thistle and Briar, The.
- Tavern in Heremac, known for its seedy clientele.
- "Three Corbies."
- A well-known folk song from the north country.
- theurgist.
- Term used in the Church to describe any Pentian able to work miracles through the Five's grace.
- Trivium.
- The study of grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
- Turning Stair, The.
- A gigantic staircase spiraling up and up in the Wood Wondrous.
- veneficium.
- Tynan term with two meanings; first, use of the magical arts, especially sorcery employed to harmful ends; and second, the act of poisoning.
- Warders.
- Common name for the Military Religious Order of St. Albric, dedicated to protecting pilgrims.
- Whitsunday Miracle, The.
- The miraculous birth of baby Agnes to the Anchoress of Abberlane, 26 May *909.
- Wood Wondrous, The.
- A strange, otherworldly place, somehow connected with the Five.
- Wayward Minstrel Inn.
- Drinking-hall in New Hull.
- The Wellstone.
- A tavern in Mattin, run by St. James's parents.
- Welsung.
- Sir Garnfellow's sword.
- "Westron Wind."
- Song sung by Friar Sidrach on the road.
- Ympe.
- A strange, invisible creature that aided the Hagges of Wimm Copse. In death appeared like a young boy with fey features.
© 2007 R. Dorman