Resonance Crystal: Crystals that, when paired with another, can be manipulated by a crystallographer to relay messages over long distances.
Rosca Umhir: Capital of the Midlands of Alabach (Ros-ka iv-er)
Roseán: Small town in the Clifflands of Alabach, adjacent to the Teeth of the Glenn. (Row-shawn)
Santos: Previous Chief Engineer of Penance – deceased.
Seven Seachtú: Provinces of Alabach. (Seven Shock-two)
Simian: Native people to Alabach, holding science and technology to a hire esteem than faith and magic.
Sin: The name given to the remnants of a once great tower in the centre of the city of Penance.
Sir Bearach: Knight of Keep Carríga. (Sir Byar-ak)
Sláine the White: Healer of Dromán. (Slaw-nya the White)
Sorcha Ní Mhurichú: Daughter of Mrs. Mhurichú, dressmaker of Roseán. (Sorsh-sha Nee Vir-iku)
Southern Waterfront: The only dock large enough to house airships in Cruachan.
St. Aisling: The Patron Saint of Healers. (St. Ash-ling)
St. Durnagh: The Patron Saint of Blacksmiths. (St. Durn-ah)
St. Lorcan: The Patron Saint of Architects.
St. Mhórthos: The Patron Saint of Bards. (St. Vor-tose)
St. Moira: The Patron Saint of Hunters.
St. Ruadh: Saint of Sailors (St. Roo-ah)
Taigdh: Son of Peadair, the innkeeper. (Tie-g)
Terrían: Capital of the Godlands of Alabach. (Terry-Ann)
The Academy of Dromán: Educational and academic institute based in the Stronghold of Dromán. Thrives on research into the Nature of magic and training young mages. (The Academy of Dro-mawn)
The Bear and the Beadhbh: Inn and alehouse in Roseán, owned by Peadair.
The Black Sail: A smuggling group operating in Cruachan.
The Clifflands: One of the Seven Seachtú of Alabach, its capital city is Point Grey
The Fall of Sin: An event in the history of Alabach where a tower build by the Simians was cast down by Lord Seletoth for exceeding the height of Mount Selyth.
The Firstborn: Early Humans who conquered Alabach 400 years ago.
The Glenn: A valley separating the greater Penance region from the Alabach’s Seven Seachtú. Uninhabitable as all flora are poisonous, and all fauna, carnivorous.
The Glory of Penance: Airship built for long-distance travel. Decommissioned and used as a trade vessel.
The Gutted Fish: Tavern on the Waterfront of Cruachan
The Kinglands: One of the Seven Seachtú of Alabach, its capital city Cruachan houses the seat of King Diarmuid III, XIX.
The Reardon Brothers: Twin brothers who work the forge of Roseán.
The Seven Seachtú of Alabach: The kingdom’s seven provinces. They are (capital cities in parentheses): The Clifflands (Point Grey), The Godlands (Terrían), The Midlands (Ard Sidhe), The Woodlands (Dromán), The Wetlands (Rosca Umhír), The Floodlands (Tulcha), and Cruachan (Cruachan).
The Stained Glass: Tavern in the commercial district of Cruachan.
The Teeth of the Glenn: Mountain range north of Roseán separating the Clifflands from the Glenn.
The Triad: The governing body of Penance, comprising of Borris Blackhand, Cathal Carríga, and King Diarmuid III XIX.
The Trinity: The three Gods worshipped by Humans in Alabach, comprising of Lord Seletoth (The Father), Lady Meadhbh (The Mother) and King Móráin the First (The Son). The current ruler of Alabach is said to be an incarnation of King Móráin.
The Twelve Saints of the Trinity: Twelve men and women who accompanied Móráin I to Alabach.
Tulcha: Capital of the Floodlands, one of the Seven Seachtú of Alabach. Named after the river that runs through it. (Tul-ka)
Wraiths: Mysterious cloaked figures, agents for the Church, but rumoured to be affiliated with Lord Seletoth directly.
Yarlaith the White: Local healer in Roseán, and uncle to Morrígan Ní Branna. (Yar-layth)
Acknowledgements
First off, I would like to apologise to all of those who had early drafts of this book forced upon them back in 2012. Even though it needed a lot more work at the time, you gave me the encouragement to improve as a writer. I would like to thank all the writers from Scribophile’s Ubergroup, and the Candied Sea Urchins who helped me on that journey. Across those two groups, there are too many names to mention. It’s through all your help and support that I was able to complete this project. Another big thanks to alpha and beta, readers who read the improved versions of this novel.
I’d like to thank my editor Lauren Humphries-Brooks for getting this book to its final form. Also, a big thank you to Cornelia Yoder for the wonderful map of Alabach, really helping to bring this world to life. The incredible art comes from the MiblArt team, a group I can’t recommend highly enough.
Finally, I’d like to thank you, the reader, for picking up this book. Whether you’ve gotten here by skipping to the end or reading the story that precedes this, I am grateful for your time.
About the Author
