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Airgead Glossary

The 13 Noble Clans (elf type) Note: The Districts are named after the Noble Clans

Acorn, also called Birthright (argent, royal)

Archer (gilt)

Bitterberry (scorched)

Blackroot (scorched)

Cinder (sand)

Feather (mist)

Fletcher (gilt)

Greenleaf (gilt)

Riverrunner (earth)

Rockchipper (scorched)

Strongbranch (earth)

Sweetnut (argent)

Talisman (argent)

Types of elves:

Argent: silver-haired, pale-skinned, blue, grey, or green eyes; originated in forests; nocturnal

Earth: white-haired, brown-skinned, with brown, violet, or black eyes; originated in veld; nocturnal

Gilt: blonde, pale-skinned (though tan well), with green, hazel, or topaz eyes; originated in grasslands; diurnal

Mist: black-haired, olive-skinned, with brown, black, or grey eyes; originated in jungles; nocturnal

Sand: black-haired, brown-skinned, with brown, black, or violet eyes; originated in deserts; nocturnal

Scorched: black-haired, pale-skinned, with bronze, brown, or blue eyes; originated in tundra; diurnal

Days and Months:

Days: Seed, Sprout, Bud, Blossom, Flower, Fruit

Months: (year starts after Spring Equinox) Auramoon, Songmoon, Blademoon, Trunkmoon, Branchmoon, Leafmoon, Fruitmoon, Nutmoon, Spiritmoon, Bowmoon, Arrowmoon, Needlemoon

Places:

Wydd: the continent Airgead sits on the southern edge of

Vawlet: human country to northwest of Airgead

Hango: human country north of Airgead

Risehr: elvish kingdom northeast of Airgead

Skycrown Mountains: cliffs that eventually lead to the Sea of Milk to the south of Airgead

Sea of Milk: ocean to Airgead’s south

Sea of Stars: ocean to Airgead’s east

Tromsil Territory: a holdover from Airgead’s war with Risehr, a territory mainly populated with humans but under Airgead’s control

Independent Islands of Seithermorn: an extensive chain of islands under human control that separates the Sea of Milk from the Sea of Stars; Airgead is reliant on its strong transportation system to get imports from other continents.

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Airgead History and Politics

A Brief History of Wydd

The continent of Wydd was originally divided between gilt elves in the southern grasslands and mountains (where Airgead now stands), argent elves in the central forests, and scorched elves in the north. Continually war and raids led to various uneasy truces. Humans have come and gone, and finally came again with a vengeance. When the scorched and argent elves began to need greater resources for their armies, they eyed the breadbasket of the gilt elf territory. In a move to keep the peace, the gilt elves offered up one of their own as a sacrifice to the spirits of the falls (now known as Blessing Falls). However, the sacrifice’s scorched elf lover comes to the rescue; in the resulting finger-pointing, the three groups descended into war.

The argent elves ultimately won, decimating both the gilt and the scorched sides. They take over most of the continent; however, the humans complicate matters. After decades of fighting, the continent is divided loosely into four: Airgead, able to hold on despite its tiny size because of its political marriages and its trading ties; the modern argent elf kingdom of Risehr; the diverse, trade-heavy country of Hango; and the highly developed, business-oriented Vawlet. Although officially Airgead is diurnal in a nod to its original gilt roots, it is actually to align with human business practices. It is in a far more precarious position, both economically and politically, than its royal family would admit. To balance its loyalties, it is unusually diverse, marrying from various noble clans and making international matches as well.

Technology

Elves have long preferred magic to science. However, over a century ago a curious elf named Maeghilde trimmed her ears to pass as human and stole into Vawlet to learn about their technology. She brought this knowledge back to Airgead, and adapted it to work with magic. This put Airgead at an advantage and in the past manufacturing dominated its economy. Elven devices are powered by aura generated by elven sorcerers. As sorcerers must be trained at Seclusions, where they spend decades studying under strict rules, few younger elves want to become sorcerers. This is putting great strain on the aura supply. Companies such as Riagan’s are trying to find profitable solutions; at the same time, humans are increasingly needed to fill in for lower class elves being aggressively recruited into Seclusions. Increased immigration and a changing labour force is making Airgead confront its prejudices and outmoded ways.

The Royal Family

King Eunlaith (argent)

Queen Lina (sand)

Crown Prince Artair (argent)

Princess Mor  (twin, gilt)

Princess Ros  (twin, gilt)

Princess Sorcha  (sand)

Naomhain (gilt) Joined a Seclusion, so no longer has royal standing.

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Airgead Pronunciation Guide

Note: Some of these are friends you haven’t met yet . . .

Ailis: AY leesh

Airgead: EHR geed

Antarrea: an TARR ee yah

Artair: ahr TEHR

Beathan: bee AH thun

Brennus: BREH nuss

Cairbre: CAR BRUH

Donnchad: DAHN ched

Elisedd: EH le suth

Eunlaith: yun LAYTH

Fife: faif

Gema: JEH mah

Hango: HANG goh

Kennet: KEH nett

Lina: lee NAH

Maeghilde: mayg HILL duh

Milis: MEE leesh

Mor: mohr

Naomhain: nowm HAYN

Remiges: REH meh jeez

Riagan: Ree AH gun

Risehr: reh SAYR

Ros: rohss

Seithermorn: say thur MOHRN

Semiplume: say mee PLOOM

Sorcha: SOHR chah

Tromsil: TRAHM seel

Vawlet: VAH lett

Vibeke: VIH beh kah

Wydd: wuth

Zenna: ZEH nah

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It’s been a heckuva long time

In the good news department, I’ve just gotten back edits on my first submission to Less Than Three Press. It’s an urban fantasy involving clashes between elves and humans, tradition and progress. I’ve actually been looking forward to getting to work on it again — I’m really attached to the characters in this one, and I missed them while they were away visiting the editor!