So, for this first installment I have all the instances in the trilogy where I could find a historical basis or some link to the real world or "our" world. I might have missed some, so once it gets published some of you might find more, just let me know. I have them listed in alphabetical order. I can't thank enough Hunter Ross and Professor RC Novotny for their help with this project!
Antiopay: in Greek mythology she was seduced by Zues and had two sons by him (twins). In Verngaurd she is Queen of Jaa, Princess Hamaza’s Mother. She is a tough and pragmatic ruler with little sense of humor. Her loyalty is always Jaa and its people. Her alliance will swing to whomever can provide her country the greatest security and peace.
bailey: this is a courtyard/open space inside a castle’s wall. Sometimes refers to the outer walls themselves.
Barbican: an extra fortification that sat on the opposite bank of the moat from the castle. It was positioned counter to the draw bridge.
barding: armor for horses.
barque ship: sailing ship with three or more masts, each with square sails and triangular jibs in the front.
bevor or a bavier or buffe: a chin shaped armor for lower face.
besagew: protective armor, a roundel that protected normally exposed joints of armor.
Bowyer: made bows for archers.
brom: special bread high in nutrients given to hunting and war dogs.
caltrops: made of four iron spikes sticking out from a central orb. The tetrahedron shape assures that one of the spikes is always pointing up to pierce the foot of the enemy.
image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caltrop_DRG.jpg
caparisons: a horses’ decorative cloth coverings.
Cappadocia: a region in the Northwest corner of Verngaurd. In our world, it is a real place in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It has real “fairy chimneys” that are breathtaking.
centaurs: this mythological creature has origins dating back as much as five-thousand years to India, and later Assyria. In Greek mythology they were said to live in herds in Thessaly, Greece. Throughout Western mythology they are often seen as base creatures (i.e. giving into their animal instincts). In Verngaurd these magnificent creatures are very dignified and reserved. They have the head, arms, and torso of a human attached to the body and legs of a horse. Their hair is thick and black. It flows down their back and onto the body of the horse like a mane. The tough, horse skin goes all the way up to their chest.
image courtesy of Hunter Ross, Prof. Novotny, Matus Novotny and ALTIER restoration from Far Forest Scrolls
Cleos: is an old Greek term for “glory.” It means the same thing and reputation for the Proliate, basically, it is what people say about you. Professor Elizabeth Vandiver, Ph.D., has several excellent courses on the Iliad and Odyssey that discuss this concept. It can be found at The Great Courses website: http://www.thegreatcourses.com/
Cloudberry: This is a real plant, rubus chamaemorus. In Verngaurd it is a very unique plant grown in bogs or mires with acidic soil. Finn ate many when he came by them as he was “escaping” the Forest of Creber.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hjortron.jpg
Coliseum. The coliseum in the Citadel is similar to the one in Rome.
cotton birds: fluffy and large insect like creatures about four inches in length. From a distance looks like a wisp of Cotton floating along in the air. Similar to our wooly aphid. See picture at this website:
crenels: the gaps or indentation in the battlements of a castle (see merlons)
criniere: segmented plates of armor to protect a horses’ neck.
cuisse thigh armor for a Knight.
destrier: is the medieval name for a war horse.
dragon tree is a tree found in both the tropics and South America. When cut, this amazing tree oozes a red sap that looks like blood, so called dragon’s blood. It is said to have healing properties.
source: http://www.amazonherb.net/Herbs_Pages_SangreDeDrago.aspx
Dunn, Tower of: the centerpiece of Western Elf life and pride. The large black marble tower rises one-hundred eighty-six feet into the air and is garnished in ornate gold trim. The height of the tower is the same as the highest side of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. This medieval tower was begun in 1173 and took over two hundred years to finish.
http://www.towerofpisa.info/Tower-of-Pisa-facts.html
picture from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leaning_tower_of_pisa_2.jpg
fletcher: a term used for someone who makes arrows
frizzen: technically is a piece of steel on old flintlock guns. The flint would hit against the frizzen and cause a spark, and the gun to fire. In Verngaurd it refers to a hard grooved substance in the upper and lower lip of dragon that strikes to ignite the dragon’s naphtha allowing the dragon to breath fire.
image courtesy of Hunter Ross, Prof. Novotny, Matus Novotny and ALTIER restoration from Far Forest Scrolls
The dragons of Verngaurd strike two frizzen together to produce fire.
gauntlet: armor for hands/an armored glove.
image taken from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HJRK_A_62b_-_Long_gauntlet_of_Maximilian_I,_c._1490.jpg
greaves: lower leg armor.
hackney: name for a nag, a riding horse.
hakama is a type of traditional Japanese clothing with deep pleats and known as a fighting kilt, it is attached by four straps. In Verngaurd it is worn by Proliate during training and formal occasions such as temple ceremonies.
hauberk: long tunic of chain mail used as armor. It is split down middle to allow for horse back riding.
hippocamp: creature from Greek mythology with a horse head and fish tail. In Roman times the god Poseidon was said to have hippocampi to pull his chariot. In Verngaurd these sea creatures have heads that are similar to a horse, but the nostrils are set up on top to allow it to breath easier when surfacing. They also have curled horns like a ram. Instead of hair, hissing sea-serpents line their necks, making a terrifying mane. The belly and front legs looked like that of a horse, except the lowest part of the legs which ended in webbed feet instead of hooves. Pale blue-green scales lined their back and shoulders. The bottom half of their body was shaped like that of a dolphin.
hippogriff: were mythological creatures supposedly born from a male griffin and filly. They had the body of a horse and the wings and head of an eagle.
image courtesy of Hunter Ross, Prof. Novotny, Matus Novotny and ALTIER restoration from Far Forest Scrolls
Independent Knight Oath:
My life I dedicate to the search of wisdom,
My heart I steel to courage.
I shall live each day with temperance.
For all citizens of Verngaurd I defend justice.
Never give up.
Never give up.
Never give up.
Knights!
The oath of the Knights’ uses the four virtues of ancient Greece.
Kama or kai or sickle weapon. Instead of metal “beak” the Elves of Creber used the top portion of the Tuima birds. A vicious bird found only in their forest.
kirous is Finnish for curse or oath. It is the name for a path of coals taken from the volcano Ainoa. The coals are heated up and then the Proliate must walk across them once every four weeks. During the ceremony the Proliate priests paradoxically light a fire by pouring water. They are able to start a fire by pouring water on it because of the special mixture they use. In the center they put quick lime and around it is sulfer, coals from Ainoa, and naptha. When water is poured onto it the quick lime heats up and the sulfur starts on fire. That lights the naptha and then, there is no putting it out. This is based on the recipe that Hannibal used to forge a path on his alpine journey to attack Rome.
kiteers: teams of Knights who specialize in flying kites and dropping various unpleasant things over enemy walls. The Chinese invented kites and their first use was in war.
machicolation: a hole in the floor of a battlement of a castle to allow the defenders to pour various unpleasant substances on the attackers. Placed between two corbel arches to assure adequate support.
picture from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Machicolations_(PSF).png
manica a large shoulder and arm guard. Worn by those warriors from Piscium in the Retiarian division instead of carrying a shield.
mantlet (or a mantelet): a mobile wooden screen for soldiers’ protection-usually in a siege.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mantelet.defensif.2.png
Merlon: the raised or solid sections of the battlements or top of the castle wall. (see crenels)
nymphs: a mythological creature, a nymph is a beautiful female that inhabits woods (or some other location in nature). In Verngaurd, Finn tells Bellae a tale about three nymphs before the Dragon Battle. Drysia: from dryad, a wood nymph in Greek Mythology. Oreia from ορειος or oreios-Greek for “the mountain.” Karya: in Greek mythology was one of the eight nymph daughters of forest spirits.
Palfrey: a quality riding horse.
Palisade: wooden fence fixed into the ground and used as defense.
pauldron: shoulder armor
Battle of Petturi: Petturi is Finnish for traitor. Describes battle during first Dark Wars where Southern Dwarves who held important right flank, betrayed and turned on the Knights center line. The Dark warriors streamed around and out flanked the Knights (who had been winning) and routed them. Rise of Proliators was seen after this defeat.
Phainopepla: this crested bird is about eight inches long and just as in the Verngaurd, lives in deserts and their oasis in our world.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phainopepla
politeia: an ancient Greek word with a complex meaning. It is taken from the Greek word for city, polis. It describes a civic duty of citizens to participate in government (notably in Athens). They had a true (male dominated) democracy. Everyone had the obligation to participate. In Verngaurd it is the name of the meetings held in the mostly wild Rebelde plains of Verngaurd. Technically the meetings were run by the triumvirate, but they are mostly chaotic affairs.
reika is Finnish for puncture or hole. In Verngaurd it is a boring caterpillar/worm like creature in the Forest of Creber that “bores” its way into the Elves thick skin then sucks on their blood.
repules is Hungarian for flying. A general term for the more intelligent flying creatures. Specifically Eaglians and griffins.
Reka-Sla: In Icelandic: slá is strike, reka is fire or expel. Basically a modified catapult arm that had a large rectangular piece of metal reinforced wood. The striker part of it is buried underground and covered by straw and cloth. When triggered by the enemy it fires. Once unleashed it swings up and slams down rows of sharp spikes on an unsuspecting enemy. Not designed for large numbers of kills but to strike fear and unpredictability into the enemy.
Retiarian Division: one of the two divisions of the Piscium army. These warriors are similar to the Roman Gladiators, retiarius, who fought with a weighted net and trident.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Retiarius_stabs_secutor_(color).jpg
image courtesy of Hunter Ross, Prof. Novotny, Matus Novotny and ALTIER restoration from Far Forest Scrolls
riesa is Finnish for pain or blight. In Verngaurd it is a large double sided battle axe with unique blades, they are shaped like phoenixes, giving it an ominous appearance.
River Imir: Imir is Irish for hue. This is the river of the Sprites and Spriggan, they drink water/pollen for nutrition. Also eat small fish, insects. The Sprites live in some of the medium size mushrooms that grow along the River Imir. At the age of three each one goes through rite of Desumo (this is Latin for elect). This rite of selection is when a Sprite is paired with a Spriggan for life.
image courtesy of Hunter Ross, Prof. Novotny, Matus Novotny and ALTIER restoration from Far Forest Scrolls
sarissa spears were the long spears introduced by Philip II and used by the Macadonians in their tight phalanx (including by Alexander the Great). These heavy spears were actually two pieces of wood joined together, they also had a counterweight in the back. In Verngaurd they are eighteen feet long spears that were adopted by the Proliate to defend against Knight cavalry charge.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarissa
Sentientations: from sentient able to perceive or feel things. A group of human “seers” that had the gift of sentientation, like Bellae. They lived a long time ago in a small group of islands which at that time were called the Sentient Islands. They are now called Pitkalla (pitkälle is Finnish for far) Islands.
Spriggan: In our world they are known from tales originating in the Cornwall peninsula (the very southwest tip of England). Sometimes they would act as fairy bodyguards. In Verngaurd they are odd creatures of Cappadocia who are at home in the air, but can also swim incredibly well. They are linked physically, emotionally, and spiritually to one Sprite. These soul mates travel through life as inseparable friends.
Steward of Knights: each Knight castle had one. The person in this position manages the proceedings of each castle. They oversee all facets of daily life needed to allow the Knights to train (the Friar, or Veli, of the castle are responsible for training the Knights). The head of each department from kitchen staff, craftsmen, gardeners, herders, tutors, teachers etc reported directly to the steward who had the authority to hire and fire all non-Knight staff.
stola: these are long pleated dresses. There were very popular through much of Roman history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stola
timay is an Ancient Greek concept, translating loosely into “honor.” This is what it means for the Proliate.
travertine rock: a sedimentary rock/form of limestone. Used in construction of the coliseum in Verngaurd and the colosseum in Rome!
wyvern: in mythology they are two legged dragons. In Verngaurd they are distant relatives of four legged dragons. These two legged beasts have two massive back legs but no arms, only large wings. Their tails have razor sharp spikes and ends in what resembles an axe head. They are native to Ifrean and were not used in the first Dark Wars sixty years ago. However, there are rumors that they are being trained to combat Verngaurd’s dragons.
image courtesy of Hunter Ross, Prof. Novotny, Matus Novotny and ALTIER restoration from Far Forest Scrolls
Zenia or Xenia is the Greek concept of divine mandate/need to provide hospitality. In Verngaurd’s Citadel it is the area where the Knights and other competitors will stay during the Tournament of Flags.
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