Glossary of Sylvaeren

This glossary is provided as a reference for readers who wish to revisit terms, lineages, or concepts encountered throughout the story. It is not required reading.

 

The Divine History

Divine Makers – The ancient creators of Sylvaeren are believed to have shaped the balance of life, death, and magic within the realm.

 

The Oracle – A messenger of the Divine Makers. Neither Fae nor Human. Not much is known about her.

 

Prophecy – A divinely rooted foretelling. Prior to the reign of King Aeron Morvain, prophecy had no place within recorded history or lived belief in Sylvaeren. The prophecy revealed to Aeron was delivered by the Oracle, a messenger of the Divine Makers.

 

Calendar & Festivals

AE (After Emergence) – The calendar used across Sylvaeren, marking the years since the Emergence, when the Divine Makers first brought the Fae and Humans into being, and the history of the realm began. All dates in Sylvaeren are counted in years After Emergence.

 

Seasonal Calendar & Festivals – Sylvaeren follows a calendar shaped by eight sacred festivals across the year. These are divided into two traditions: the Pillar Festivals, which hold deep cultural and magical significance among the Fae and mark the turning of the seasonal cycle, and the Fire Festivals, observed primarily by Humans, rooted in community, survival, and the rhythms of mortal life.

 

Only the festivals encountered within Death & Shadow are included below.

 

Embernight – Human Fire Festival, celebrated on 1st May. Marked by great bonfires and communal gatherings, Embernight celebrates fertility, passion, and new life. Among Humans, it carries deep cultural significance and is often tied to union rites and the founding of families.

 

Solenya – Pillar Festival. The Summer Solstice, celebrated on 21st June. A celebration of light at its height, marking abundance, vitality, and the peak of the seasonal cycle. Observed across Sylvaeren, with the Summer Territory holding particular significance.

 

First Harvest – Human Fire Festival, celebrated on 1st August. A communal celebration marking the gathering of the first crops, symbolising gratitude, sustenance, and the promise of continued abundance.

 

Northar – Pillar Festival. The Autumn Equinox, celebrated on 23rd September. A time of balance between light and dark, marking the descent into the colder months. Communities gather to prepare for winter, honouring both harvest and endurance.

 

Soultide – Human Fire Festival, celebrated on 31st October. A solemn celebration honouring the dead, rooted in the belief that departed souls join the stars above Sylvaeren. Fires are lit to guide and remember those who have passed.

 

Peoples of Sylvaeren

Human – A mortal race of Sylvaeren, distinct from the Fae in biology, lifespan, and soul structure. Humans possess no innate magic in the way the Fae do. The term is capitalised to reflect racial identity rather than status.

 

Fae – An immortal race native to Sylvaeren, inherently bound to magic. Fae are divided into distinct lineages, each aligned with particular forms of magic and temperament, shaping both culture and identity.

 

Luminaris Fae – A lineage aligned with the Light half of the Seasonal Cycle, associated with Spring and Summer. Their magic draws from Light, Fire, Earth, and Air, often manifesting through vitality, healing, radiance, and emotional perception.

 

Umbrionyx Fae – A lineage aligned with the Dark half of the Seasonal Cycle, associated with Autumn and Winter. Their magic draws from Shadow, Ice, Thunder, and Water, often expressed through restraint, precision, and enduring strength.

 

Magic & Bonds

Mating Bond – A sacred, magical bond formed between two Fae, binding them physically, emotionally, and metaphysically. Once established, it cannot be undone. Fae and Humans cannot form such bonds.

 

Mixed Children – Children born from Fae–Human unions do not occur in Sylvaeren. The two races are fundamentally incompatible in terms of magic, essence, and soul structure, rendering conception impossible within the natural order of Sylvaeren.

 

Places of Sylvaeren

Sylvaeren – The realm in which the events of Death & Shadow take place, home to multiple territories. Though historically divided among territories and lineages, the realm was later unified under the rule of the Fae King.

 

Territories – Regions of Sylvaeren divided by climate, lineage, and magical alignment. Each territory holds cultural and political significance within the realm.

 

Winter Territory – A harsh, mountainous region defined by cold climates and endurance.

 

Spring Territory – A fertile and vibrant region associated with renewal and growth.

 

Summer Territory – A warm and abundant region of light and prosperity.

 

Autumn Territory – A region of transition, marked by forests, mist, and change.

 

Central Territory – The Heart of Sylvaeren. Central grounds connecting all other territories. King Aeron Morvain’s seat of power is located here, as well as most Human settlements.

 

The Corrupted West – A region scarred by lingering corruption that shaped the First War and continues to haunt the western lands.

 

Capitals

Ardenil – Capital of the Spring Territory.

 

Duskwatch – Human capital of the Central Territory.

 

Norwyn – Capital of the Winter Territory.

 

Orindor – Capital of the Autumn Territory.

 

Solmaris – Capital of the Summer Territory.

 

Notable Locations

Morvenya Keep – The seat of King Aeron Morvain and the political heart of Sylvaeren. Located in the Central Grounds.

 

Thornevale – A Human village located within the Central Territory. Birthplace of Elowyn Thornevale.

 

Velarion – Tirian Velarion’s birthplace, a village near the Winter Territory border that was destroyed by an attack from the West.

 

Velastra – A coastal settlement. Fionn Lodrien’s place of origin.

 

Thalorin – A coastal village within the Spring Territory. Selene Virella’s home.

 

Miravel – A settlement within the Spring Territory. Nyra Ilvenor’s home.

 

Other Life in Sylvaeren

Orders of Life – Beyond Humans and Fae, Sylvaeren is believed to be home to older forms of life, shaped by the Divine Makers before Fae and Humans were given life. These beings are often referred to collectively as the Orders of Life, though their true nature has been lost to time.

 

Among them are creatures of myth, such as unicorns, as well as the Elder Kin, and beings known as the Sylvan Kin, who are said to be bound to the oldest parts of the land. Many of these beings have not been seen in generations, their presence preserved only in fragmented records and oral tradition, particularly following the spread of corruption from the West. Whether they withdrew, faded into myth, or simply avoided the affairs of Humans and Fae remains uncertain.

 

Animals – The realm is home to a wide range of natural animals, some familiar, others entirely unique. Each territory sustains creatures shaped by its environment and magic. Among these are rare and often bonded companions, such as the Sunfox of the Summer Territory and the Frostfangs of the Winter lands. While some of these creatures live alongside Humans and Fae, others remain wild and elusive.

 

Corruption

The Warlock – The corruption is widely believed to be the work of the Warlock of the West. Little is known of who he truly was.

 

The First War – A defining conflict in Sylvaeren’s history, during which the Warlock of the West was defeated by Aeron. After the war, sightings of Faded and other corrupted beasts have largely been contained to the West through defensive fortifications and patrols, though the threat has never been fully eradicated.

 

The Faded – A term used to describe Humans or Fae who have been twisted by the corruption spreading from the West. These beings often retain fragments of their former nature, yet their bodies and magic have been altered, making them hostile and unstable.

 

Corrupted Beasts – Animals that have fallen victim to the corruption, which brings out the worst in a species’ behaviour, often amplifying territorial instincts and aggression.