GUIDE & SUMMARY
The first few chapters of The Chains of Fate highlight significant events that took place in The Aspect of Essence and most of the information below comes through in narration. Refreshers and minor details about the characters and the known magic system can be found within the next few pages.
ESSENCE
The elves’ magical source of power, thought to be drawn from the stars. Only pure-bloods have the potential to control all eight abilities (arch elves). The Elven-blooded (those with human and elf blood) have an easier time learning how to summon their talents by drawing on respective emotions tied to each ability. Talents are innate and cannot be learned.
Well- The source where magic is drawn from. Wells can be strengthened and expanded by continual use of magic. Strength is determined by the number of abilities, not the size of the Well. Magic must be regenerated by meditating (easier under starlight for most).
Rending - Destructive shadows that can either restrain a body, inflict perceived pain, or totally obliterate (known emotion to draw from: anger).
Mending - Healing powers that appear as red threads of light, cannot be used on the caster (known emotion to draw from: love/kindness).
Shielding - Violet crystalline wards that can serve as protective barriers on objects or a person (known emotion to draw on: fear).
Force - The caster can use weights of objects or the earth’s gravity to push and pull, appears as blue light (known emotion to draw on: desire/determination).
Illumination - Any individual with elf blood possesses this ability. The user can create a variety of colorful lights or distribute a portion of their magical reserves to another to restore power (known emotion to draw on: happiness).
Portaling - Rifts can be opened only to known locations unless a bond is shared with another (corresponding emotion: trust and yearning).
Illusion - The ability to project realistic images, appears as turquoise light (corresponding emotion not yet revealed).
Telepathy - Mind to mind communication. Those without telepathy can still communicate so long as the person with the talent maintains the connection. Jassyn has discovered that telepathy is used in coercion. Compulsive magic is only able to be used by the king due to his strength in power. King Galaeryn can influence others into not speaking. Lykor’s POV has revealed that the king can also control actions with coercive magic (corresponding emotion not yet revealed).
WRAITH ABILITIES
Warping - Can teleport from one location to another as long as the destination in view is visible and unobstructed.
Venom - Their fangs have paralytic qualities.
Cloaking - Can conceal and obscure themselves in shadows.
PROMINENT CHARACTERS
Serenna (Sir-REN-nah) Vallende (Val-LEND-e) - an elven-blooded and former princess of Allaenar, now an initiate at Centarya. Shares a bond with Prince Vesryn that spontaneously manifested but is not fully formed until they both accept the connection.
Essence abilities: rending, shielding, force, and mending (has yet to manifest illumination and portaling)
Jassyn (JAS-sin) Raellyn (Rae-ELL-in) - a mender and researcher at Centarya, half cousin to Vesryn
Essence abilities: mending, telepathy, shielding, illusion, illumination
Known shaman abilities: controlled plant life
Vesryn (VEZ-rin) Falkyn (FALL-kin) - prince of Alari, arch elf. Commander of Centarya and the rangers
Lykor (Lie-CORE) - wraith leader whose consciousness split from Aesar’s (Vesryn’s twin) at the hands of King Galaeryn during experiments with Essence. Aesar is thought to have perished during the first wraith appearance in an attack on Kyansari a century ago.
Essence abilities: shielding, rending, portaling, force (other talents were stripped away and not returned).
MINOR CHARACTERS
Kal (CAL) - A wraith and Lykor’s captain.
Fenn (FEN) - A wraith, Kal’s son, one of Lykor’s lieutenants.
Elashor (e-LASH-or) Vallende (Val-LEND-e) - Serenna and Ayla’s father and Alari’s General, arch elf.
Velinya (Vel-LIN-ya) - Serenna’s elven-blooded friend who was injured during the wraith attack on Centarya and taken to Kyansari with other wounded for healing.
Magister Thalaesyn (THAL-Aye-Sin) - Mender and researcher at Centarya, Jassyn’s mentor and an arch elf
Galaeryn (ga-LARE-rin) Falkyn (FALL-kin) - Elven king of Alari, Vesryn’s sire.
Ayla (EYE-la) Vallende - An initiate at Centarya, half niece to Jassyn, half sister to Serenna via Elashor. Engaged to Vesryn.
Lady Farine (Fa-REEN) Vallende - Elashor’s mother and one of Jassyn’s former contract holders.
Fynlas (FIN-las) Kovaer (COE-va-air) - an archivist who disappeared decades ago. Had a study in Farine Vallende’s estate when he was one of her live-in companions. Tracked human shaman lines. Jassyn discovered both his and Serenna’s family tree among many other elven bloodeds’.
Queen Maraelyn (Ma-REL-in) - Vesryn’s mother who perished in the first wraith attack, half sister is Jassyn’s mother.
Nelya (NEL-ya) - Jassyn’s peer and research associate at Centarya.
Flight Captain Zaeryn (Zare-IN) - Vesryn’s second in command of the rangers
