A
Alasyra – The Alysphidelian equivalent of heaven. Fein thinks that he is in Alasyra the first time he goes to the dream pool.
Alysphidel – The country ruled by Bledri the Wolf Lord. The world Alysphidel comes from a meshing together the names of two locations in the Greek version of the underworld “Elysium” which is a paradise for the heroic and “The Fields of Asphodel” where the not-great-but-not-too-terrible go to wait out the eternities.
Andrew – English name meaning “manly” or “brave.” Son of Narissa and Varick. Goes by Helm
Annette – A french word meaning “grace.” Annette is Latron’s daughter.
Asa – A Japanese word meaning “beautiful,” or “morning.” Asa is a kitsune assassin sent to kill Helm and disrupt the rebellion against the Wolf Lord.
B
Basit – Turkish word meaning “homely.” He is the brother of Sultan Dhani and holds the title of grand vizier. Holds a title that just means that he is a prince who is not in line for the throne.
Bean Nighe – The washer women who wash the grave-clothes of the dying. There are three of them and they are associated with other fateful trios such as the Moirai, the Morrigan, the gray sisters, etc. They are linked to war and destiny. In The Traveler’s Guide series they are also representations of the infirmities and regrets of humanity. Fey (Lachesis, Decima, ) represents loss of beauty, love and the horrors of war her body is covered in scars that mar what once had been beautiful. (Clotho, Nona, ) represents old age, both the regret of never reaching it, and the pains and infirmities that come with aging. (Atropos, Aisa, Skuld) represents disease and the life that is taken by it. She is covered in boils, rashes and painful lesions.
The Book of Night ( βίβλος νύκτιου) – One of the Books of Legend, the Book of Night was written by Castor the mortal brother to Pollux.
Black Annis – This creature is boogeyman figure from English myth. Black Annis is a blue faced crone with iron claws and a taste for children.
Bledri – Welsh name meaning “wolf ruler.” Bledri is a tyrant king of Alysphidel.
Bledritag – Bledri’s force of werewolves
Bugane – From Arthurian legend. The Bugane is most aptly described as a kind of giant mole, which is mostly peaceful unless its nest is disturbed. In the Arthurian tales, the Bugane inhabited the Isle of Man.
C
Caecus Mountains – Caecus is a Latin word meaning “blind.” In a sense these are the blind mountains.
Can Damari – Turkish meaning “heartland.” Capitol city of Fetua.
Captain Rogers – Pirate captain of the Idumea and mentor of Helm’s.
Carnwennan – The legendary dagger of king Arthur. Carnwennan means white handled and in my interpretation is an ivory handled saxon knife. Supposedly it can also shroud it’s user in shadow. Fein finds the dagger in Bledri’s safe.
Cass – The name means “curly.” She has a mass of curly brown hair, and is one of the bird people of Nume. She was a slave who was saved by Helm.
Claire – A french word meaning “clear.” Though not really mentioned in the final version of Sign of the Wolf Claire was Latron’s wife. She died giving birth to their daughter Annette.
Conleth – A Gaelic word meaning “ardent” or “wise.” One of the pirates from the Idumea.
Cria – Wife of Heler, unofficial grandmother of the sherwood camp.
D
Demicus Scevola – Dhamphir assassin of Bledri and master of Asa.
Dhamphir – The dhamphir are the spawn of a human and a vampire. These legends come from Eastern Europe from places such as Romania and Bulgaria.
Dhanī – Hindi word meaning “rich.” Sultan Dhanī is the ruler of Felafatua.
Djinn – Arab sand spirits.
E
Endi – The name is a form of Andrew. He is a Galatean boy from Vestia who was among the slaves captured by the Trader.
Ewhart – One of the wolves that convinces Wahl that there is a plot on his father’s life
F
Fetua – Birthplace of Fein’s mother Kala. Fetua got its name, believe it or not, from a couple of bedtime stories I told to a group of my friends. The original name of the land was Felafelafatua, but was shortened to Fetua, though there are some elements from those stories that have bled into this story, such as the disappearance of the king’s son.
Fein – A German word meaning “genteel,” or “refined.” The oldest son of Gerulf
G
Galateans – Living statues. For more information see Pygmalion
Gerulf – German word meaning “Spear Wolf.” Gerulf is the leader of the Sherwood camp and father of Fein and Wahl.
Gwerin – Site of one of the other camps of the resistance
Gytrash – From Teutonic lore, the gytrash are shape shifting creatures which can take the form of a great dog, a horse or a mule. Fun fact in this story the gytrash have a traditional role as royal guards in the House of Abraxas and name their offspring according to ranks they hope they will someday achieve hence Helm and Fein’s gytrash companions are named Admiral and General. These two also have a brother named Captain.
H
Heler – Dutch name meaning “healer.” Heler is the physician for the sherwood camp. He is married to Cria and they have several children including their oldest daughter Nadia.
Hoshi No Tama – A round pearl like gem that holds a kitsune’s bi or spirit. This story attributes some properties to the hoshi no tama that are not found in folktales, such as the affects of separating a kitsune from their hoshi no tama and the reflection of the kitsune’s personality within the gem.
The House of Abraxas – The royal line of Alysphidel. The first Abraxas was the ill begotten knight who dined with Robin Hood and afterward Robin and his men gave him a horse, livery and even Little John to accompany him as his squire as befits a knight.
The Hun – A djinn from the East who serves Bledri. An elemental being of wind and fire who can shape shift.
I
Iassus – One of the Travelers who is a resister to the rule of Bledri.
J
Jin – Korean word meaning “jewel” or “truth.” Asa’s son who was killed by the bledritag.
K
Kala – Arabic name meaning “beloved.” Kala is a Traveler from the kingdom of Fetua. She is married to Gerulf and has two sons Fein and Wahl.
Kitsune – The Japanese name of a fox like creature that can have up to nine tails. Kitsune are supposedly a type of spirit. Some are benevolent (this is how the Japanese most often portray them) while others are viewed as mischievous and even malicious (this is how they are often portrayed by the Chinese and Korean cultures). In Chinese they are also called Huli Jing.
Kukucan – Chief of the Cloud People who live in the country of Nueme. Cass is one of the chief’s daughters.
L
Latrón Durant – Latrón a french word meaning “thief.” Durant a french word meaning “enduring.” Latrón is a Traveler from the kingdom of Nueme. He was one of the few surviving men from the original rebellion. He lost his wife Claire to childbirth and now lives for his daughter Annette.
Lómhara – Port city in Alysphidel.
M
Myrna – Gaelic word meaning “tender.” Queen murdered by Bledri’s wolves during the werewolf coup.
Myrmidons – A race of people who sprung from the ants of Zeus and were known to be very fierce warriors.
N
Nadia – Russian name meaning “hope.” Nadia is the oldest daughter of Heler and Cria.
Nueme – Country of Latron’s origin. Similar to France.
O
P
Peryton – Winged deer. From Indian mythology.
Pixie – A type of faerie.
Poppies – These flowers are often associated in tales with their ability to make people sleep, such as in the account of Jason’s quest for the golden fleece where the field surround the tree where the fleece is hung is filled with sleep inducing poppies. The power of poppies are also demonstrated in Frank Baum’s classic “Wizard of Oz”.
Pygmalion – A figure of Greek mythology. Pygmalion was an artist who made a sculpture of a woman so lovely that he fell in love with it. The goddess of love, Aphrodite, answered Pygmalion’s prayers by bringing the statue to life.
The Galateans, in this story, are living statues whose ancestors were carved by the great craftsman and live in the Valley of Pygmalion. Unlike the statue in the Greek tale, these statues retain their stone-like quality.
Q
R
Rachel – Hebrew name meaning “Ewe.” Fein meets Rachel in a sort of dream world where she shows him visions in a lake surface.
Riordan – Gaelic word meaning “bright.” King of Alysphidel that was murdered in the werewolf coup.
S
Sang – Korean word meaning, “always.” Name of Asa’s partner who fell to the bledritag.
Shamra – One of the rebels. Sister to Iassus. She has a long, jagged scar across her dusky cheek.
Sprite – A type of faerie. Helm is half sprite and in this story sprites are the weakened bloodline descendants of the Aesir. They have elf-like features but can pass as humans.
Sultan Dhanī – See Dhanī.
T
Tavuskuşu Koy – Turkish meaning “Peacock Cove.” This is a port town in Fetua.
Tennin – Birds that can transform into beautiful women. They live on high peaks and are often sought after for their wisdom (Japanese).
Traveler – Descendants of the Roman Mercury. As their name suggests the Travelers have a gift to be able to travel from one realm to another.
U
Unwin – One of the wolves that convinces Wahl that his father’s life is in danger.
V
Varick Di Mercutio – Varick is a Teutonic name meaning defending ruler. Di Mercutio means from Mercury. Varick is a traveler and was once head of the counsel of the Order of the Hood. He gave up that position to take the princess, Narrissa di Abraxas, his wife, and their unborn child to a safer place so that at least a part of the royal line would be safe in the event that the resistance forces failed.
W
Wahl – A German word meaning “choice.” Gerulf’s younger son.
Washi – Japanese paper.
Werewolf – Half man half wolf creatures. In this story the werewolves are referred to by multiple names including simply “wolves” and “were-kin” or “were-kind.” The wolves have heightened senses and the ability to change their form at night, but whatever form they are in when the sun rises is the form they will stay in for the remainder of that particular day. Most of the wolves from Alypshidel prefer to remain in their human form though there are other groups of wolves that prefer their wolf forms.
Will-o’-the-Wisp – Also known as ignus fatuus (foolish fire). They are atmospheric ghost lights seen by travelers at night. They recede when approached and are known for drawing travelers away from safe paths.
Y
Yale – Goat like/Antelope like creatures that can swivel their horns in any direction.
Yara-Ma-Ya-Who – Resembles a little red man with a very big head. They have no teeth. Instead they feed through suckers on their hands and feet. They live in fig trees and wait for travelers to rest under their trees then sucks their blood to weaken their victims before swallowing them. After this they generally drink some water and take a nap then they spit out their victims who are a little shorter and a little redder (Aboriginal).
Z
