Characters, Places and Concepts
Kinnall Darival - A prince of Salla, second son of the septarch. Tall and muscularly sportive.
Stirron - Older brother of Kinnall. A hulk like his brother. Eventually becomes septarch of the province of Salla.
The septarch - Father of Stirron and Kinnall. A man of slender body and modest height. Killed by a hornfowl - a large bird of prey - which caused Stirron to become the new septarch.
Bonding - A personal alliance between individuals arranged by the families since early childhood. These bond-kin are intended to become very close friends.
Noim Condorit - Kinnall's bondbrother. Son of Luinn Condorit from the northern frontier of Salla.
Halum Helalam - Kinnall's bondsister and his forbidden love interest. Daughter of Segvord Helalam from Manneran.
Schweiz - An earthman. A merchant who develops a strong relationship with Kinnall.
Drainers - Throughout the story, Kinnall seeks relief in the drainers - much like Catholic confessors. The drainers are supposed to keep these revelations secret; however, at least one eventually uses the information he learns for political revenge.
Planet Borthan - An Earth colony orbiting around a golden-green sun. There are five continents: Velada Borthan, Sumara Borthan, Umbis, Dabis and Tibis.
Burnt Lowlands - Arid place in the middle of Velada Borthan, flanked by two immense mountain ranges: the Huishtors in the east and the Threishtors in the west.
Velada Borthan - "The Northern World". Most important continent and home of the first-world human civilization. Divided into eastern and western portions by the Burnt Lowlands. Western portion is divided into nine unnamed provinces. The eastern portion has four provinces: Salla, Glin, Manneran and Krell.
Sumara Borthan - "The Southern World". In the early days of the planet's settlement, those who defied the Covenant were exiled to this southern continent, covered largely by a tropical jungle. Their society has devolved to a more or less primitive state, based around the ritual use of the selfbaring drug. Though not explicitly stated, the name may in some ways be derived from Sumatra.
Salla - A province of Velada Borthan. The capital, Salla City, is the home of Kinnall and Stirron.
Glain - Capital of the Glin province. Ugly, miserable, dismal. The folk of Glain are described as having dark clothes, dark frowns, dark souls, closed and shrunken hearts.
Biumar - Glin's main seaport and second most populous city. A greasy gray sprawl of an oversized town, backed up against a gray and menacing ocean.
Manneran Province - Province favored by the gods. The air is mild and sweet, filled all the year through with the fragrance of flowers.
Manneran - Prosperous, hot and beautiful capital city of Manneran Province. Its site is the finest natural harbor in all Velada Borthan. Manneran has established itself as the holy of the holies with the famous Stone Chapel, and a powerful center of commerce.
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