Locations
Alleble: King Eliam's domain. Alleble is the oldest and most prosperous kingdom in the Realm. It is a walled city-state, located roughly in the center of the Realm. Its culture is described only as "a city that desired to be at peace but should be ever ready for war". Located near King Eliam's palace are two monuments; the Seven Glorious Fountains and the Library of Light. The Seven Fountains are known as Alleble's trademark across the Realm, visited publicly, whereas the Library of Light is a secret place closed to all except King Eliam and his Sentinels. One of the Fountains has been inactive ever since Paragor used it as a furnace to destroy the Elder Guard. Inhabitants of Alleble are known as Allebs.
Paragory: The fortress established by Paragor and his followers after their exile from Alleble. It is located in the west of the Realm, near the double-peaked mountain called the Prince's Crown, under which Paragor imprisons those who have died in his service. Paragory is not acknowledged as a nation by the Allebs, though other city-states in the Realm are known to trade with it. Because no mention is made of any agriculture practiced by Paragory's Glimpses, trade is presumably a necessity. The entrance to Paragory is the Gate of Despair, a pair of gigantic metal doors opening into the side of the Prince's Crown. Immediately inside is a vast hall, where millions of dead bodies are kept, decaying. The accumulation of millions of cadavers has given the area a vile odor.
Mithegard: A city-state located in the north of the Realm. It is built of immense slabs of granite brought from the Blue Mountains and carved by the Glimpses thereof. Mithegard is distinguished by its Seven Towers. Until the story of the first book, Mithegard remained neutral to Paragory and Alleble by trading with both and ignoring their war. Both domains simultaneously sent envoys to Mithegard, asking for an alliance; when the Alleb envoys, knights Gwenne and Aidan, showed honor in the court, King Ravelle of Mithegard delayed casting his influence to either side. The emissary from Paragory, Rucifel, responded to this delay with an open attack. Mithegard was razed, though many of its inhabitants survived. It was in this battle that the knights Bolt and Valithor were killed. Later, Mithegard was rebuilt, whereupon King Ravelle became a vassal of King Eliam.
The Sacred Realm Beyond the Sun: An afterlife to which those who serve King Eliam are sent upon their deaths. Here, the Glimpse's identity is no longer distinct from that of the human. When Paragor kills the Three Witnesses as punishment for their refusal to 'deny' King Eliam, the greatest heroes of Alleble (including the Witnesses and Captain Valithor) are brought from the Sacred Realm into the mortal world, later to be sent into the Sacred Realm again after Paragor's death. It is said to be a place of adventures "beyond wildest dreams".
Yewland: A city-state south-west of Alleble, built in and among the trees of a forest. It is notable for the nectar-based drink called Golden Tear; for the zip lines used for intracity transport; for the skill of its archers; for the extremely fast-flying white dragons that call it home; and for its beauty. Yewland is a longtime ally of Alleble. Its faith in the latter was only shaken once, when a Glimpse called Count Eogan was sent to Yewland by Paragor to masquerade as an Alleb overseer. When the news thereof reached Alleble, Sentinel Kaliam headed a mission to revive Yewland's trust in the domain of which it was a vassal. The mission succeeded.
The Blackwood: A forest of blackwood trees, neighbor to Yewland. Because blackwood trees are very large and consume all the nutrients in the soil, no other flora can survive in this forest; therefore the Blackwood forest is surrounded by dead trees of other species. The interior of the Blackwood is very dark, due to the massive branches of the trees. It is home to many aggressive predators, and is therefore feared by Glimpses. Until the second book, the Seven Sleepers were buried in the Blackwood.
Baen-Edge: A trading community located on two sides of a river. The 'Baen' side is distinguished by the economic poverty in which its Glimpses live, whereas the 'Edge' side is a crossroads for trade of any and all kinds. Both sides are squalid and home to class distinctions.
The Blue Mountains: A community of provinces, named for its environment. Independent for many years; later a vassal of Alleble. Mallik is a representative of the Glimpses that dwell there. It is ruled by King Brower until his death.
King's Forest: A forest composed of gigantic trees. Unlike the Blackwood, it is home to diverse species of flora. Dwelling here are giant spiders who live underground; squirrels as large as dogs; color-shifting snakes large enough to swallow Glimpses; moths as large as raptors, and presumably other animals of exceptional size.
Balesparr: A village located in King's Forest. Balesparr is home to Glimpses who wish to remain detached from the wars of Paragory and Alleble. Few outsiders know of its existence until the events of the third book in the series. Zabediel is known to have lived there until his capture by Paragor's soldiers.
Clarion: A city-state located in the south-east of the Realm, north of Baen-Edge. Clarion is a longtime ally of Alleble. It was ultimately destroyed by the Wyrm Lord on the orders of Paragor.
Candleforge: A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Frostland: A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Inferness: A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Ludgeon: Capital of the Blue Mountain Provinces. Notable for its large bridge.
Pennath Ador: Twin mountains that overlook Alleble. The sight of the sunrise between their peaks is thought to be a good omen by the Allebs; as a result, the image of the rising sun between the peaks of Pennath Ador is engraved on swords and armor. The white stone of which these mountains are composed, called adorite or faercrag, is almost indestructible and emits a streak of white fire when struck. It was used, near the climax of the series, by the Allebs to fortify their city in preparation for Paragor's final attack. The word "Pennath" is said to mean "mountain" in the oldest language of the Glimpses, and so is used on maps of the Realm to indicate the presence of mountains. "Adorite" is stated to mean "of Glory" and "faercrag" "fire stone" in the same language.
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