CKS Glossary

In Naldoreth, a cycle (year) is divided into four seasons similar to those on Earth: Bloomtide (Spring), Suncrest (Summer), Duskwane (Autumn), and Frosthold (Winter). Rather than using numbered months to mark the passage of the year, the people of Naldoreth organize their calendar around the moon. Each season contains three full lunar cycles, and important dates, such as Birthmoons and festivals, are recorded according to the moon phase on which they fall. For example, the Hearthroot Festival featured in Cycle Keeper’s Shadow always falls on the 3rd Veilmoon of Duskwane—or, in Earth terms, the third new moon of Autumn.

• New Moon- Veilmoon
• Waxing Crescent- Seedsliver
• Waxing Gibbous- Lanternmoon
• Full Moon- Brightheart
• Waning Gibbous- Echomoon
• Waning Crescent- Thornsmile

Naldoreth is home to many familiar fantasy peoples, including humans, faun, elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, and orcs. Unique to Naldoreth are:

• Duinari, fae who are always born as twins such as Sylvi and Fennik
• Smallbloods, people of giant-ancestry like Wendall
• Arboradin, nature-aligned fae similar to dryads like Velhya and Aelori
  • There are four Arboradin tribes, each aligned with one of Naldoreth’s seasons.
    • First Leaf- Bloomtide (Spring)
    • Highbough- Suncrest (Summer)
    • Lastbloom- Duskwane (Autumn)
    • Stillroot- Frosthold (Winter)

• Rootkin- Various creatures often aligned with types of weaving. These include:
  • Emberkits- Fire Weaving aligned fox-like animals that eat kindling and coal
  • Leafkin- leaf/grass creatures that protect natural places
  • Sporeling- mushroom creatures that come in as many forms as fungi do
  • Mossums- moss covered possum creatures often associated with Spirit Weavers because of their emotionally supportive nature
  • Grimbees- fluffy bumblebee creatures that have leaf shaped wings, moth antennae, and no stingers-they eat decay
  • Pebblets- Rock tortoise whose shells are made of stone, featured in races during Thistlehold’s Hearthroot Festival every year
  • Snufflesnouts- Woodland beasts that grow larger than their typical counterparts. They often resemble bushes until they begin to move. They also typically grow some kind of fruit or berries within their fur that can be eaten.
• Scarlimb/Matriarch- a monster that lives within the Virewood that ensnares people by echoing voices and memories of loved ones
• Veil Screechers- flying bat-like monsters that live within the Virewood
• Witherborn- followers of Voryx, the god of decay, who have given up their humanity completely in service to him. This alters their physical being as well as their minds, giving them limbs of bark and bone, needle-like teeth, fungal growth such as bodies made of mushrooms and mold. Some retain parts of their humanity, but not enough to blend in with regular society in Naldoreth.
• Rootflesh- Witherborn who have gone through a re-birth ritual, dedicating their life by allowing themselves to decay completely and be re-born in service to Voryx/the Rotfather. There are few who are strong enough to survive the ritual but those that do are considered sacred among the Witherborn.
  

• The Ashweavers- followers of Nalduun who valued balance within the Cycle even after the Divided Gods destroyed their goddess. Some say there are still Ashweavers, though they have not been seen for centuries
• The Crimson Brand- A mercenary group in the Auric Shore, specifically the city of Kettle Row
• The Dawnblades- The religious order of Elaren’s followers including paladins, scholars, and judges of the faith. The Warden, the hero responsible for sacrificing themselves to bind Voryx away, has historically been depicted as a Dawnblade
• The Tower’s Fist- A militia based guard group funded by Theordrin in Thistlehold

• Aelori- Arboradin of the Highbough tribe and expert folicrafter
• Auren- Wren’s human childhood friend who she attempted to heal with Spirit weaving as a child, leaving him permanently injured
• Brannon- human, Orzen’s father who died in a forge fire when Orzen was a kid
• Branwynn- halfling baker and mother to Tommick
• Brunna- faun blacksmith and childhood friend of Wren and Tavrin
• Calen- teenaged human farm boy that often plays the bone reed flute while selling items in the market
• Cap- an older sporeling that resembles a redcap mushroom and helper in Velhya’s sanctuary
• Cerys- Calen’s twin sister who died of an illness prior to the events of Cycle Keeper’s Shadow.
• Crumb- a young sporeling that resembles a morel mushroom
• Dravek- human leader of the Crimson Brand
• Elaren- goddess of life and growth, the Mother of Blossoms, one half of the Divided Gods
• Elder Mossback- stump-like rootkin that resides in the Glade
• Fennik- Duinari twin of Sylvi and dagger wielding guard in the Glade
• Frinna- halfling maid and assistant to Theordrin who rather hates her job
• Furnie- Brunna’s emberkit friend and helper in the forge
• Garin- dwarf Earth Weaver and potion-maker, Stone Chair on Thistlehold’s council. Helped raise Wren and Tavrin after Pavric died.
• Grub- Tommick’s mossum confidant in the Glade
• Hennah- high elven Spirit Weaver from Mirror Vale that visits Thistlehold before the Hearthroot Festival
• Hollis- Mira’s older brother, member of the guard in the Glade
• Ivon- Mira’s father, member of the guard in the Glade
• Jannah- human dancer that is often seen performing in the central square but is also vocal about her disdain for Theordrin
• Jessa- teenaged human barmaid and history nerd/aspiring writer, possible Weaver with undiscovered magic
• Kael- elven member of the Crimson Brand and Orzen’s former lover/partner
• Lenora- Leora’s mother and Water Weaver/healer in Thistlehold
• Leora- Wren’s childhood faun friend and Water Weaver who disappeared into the Virewood as a teenager and hasn’t been seen since
• Lyrah- human, Mira’s mother who helps greet newcomers to the Glade with spare clothes and assistance
• Maelis- human, Air Weaver and member of the council in Thistlehold. Town historian.
• Marda- elderly human living in the Lower District whose house is in need of repairs
• Marrowen- Wren’s mother, faun herbalist who sells ingredients, salves, homemade ink, and herbal remedies
• Meyra- Spirit Weaver of legend from Mirror Vale whose gift was foretelling people’s deaths
• Mira- human daughter of Lyrah and Ivon, lives in the Glade and has a lot of energy
• Nalduun- former goddess and Orulon’s wife/lover, Keeper of the Cycle, responsible for both life and death, ensuring that balance is maintained. She was destroyed when the Divided Gods separated from within her
• Nessa- faun seamstress who made Wren’s performance outfit
• Old Man Tarl- elderly elven grimbee caretaker in the Glade
• Orulon- god of creation and invention, Father of Creation. Formed the First Thread, the foundation for Weaving
• Orzen- human, former member of the Crimson Brand mercenary group
• Pavric- Wren’s father, faun, who died in a beast attack within the Virewood
• Pell- persnickety halfling owner of the general store Ration and Reason. Also dabbles in charms
• Sennah- young, human teacher and lore-nerd in the Glade
• Silas- human ranger who came to Thistlehold for rare beasts within the Virewood
• Sprig- a grass-like leafkin and helper in Velhya’s sanctuary
• Sylvi- Duinari twin of Fennik and archer/guard in the Glade
• Tallis- human former adventurer and owner of the Turning Root Inn
• Tavrin- Wren’s faun cousin who came to live with them when his mother (Marrowen’s sister Marva) died. His relationship with Wren is more sibling than cousin
• Theordrin Havele- high elven leader in Thistlehold, former Dawnblade Arbiter, creator of the Tower’s Fist
• Tommick- halfling child, son of Branwynn, who dreams of being a knight
• Velhya- Arboradin leader of the Glade and final member of the Lastbloom tribe. Follower of Nalduun despite the goddess being destroyed
• Voryx- god of decay and death, the Rotfather, one half of the Divided Gods
• Watcher- a raven that Leora and Wren named together as children. He has one white feather on his wing that distinguishes him
• Wendall- Smallblood baker, wielder of Doug the rolling pin. Basically a walking cinnamon roll of a man living in the Glade
• Willomay- fae with willow branch hair who cares for the toddlers, youngest children in the Glade
• Wren- faun Spirit Weaver in Thistlehold
• Zehvana Devere- half-elven commander of the Tower’s Fist and former Dawnblade Ascendant (paladin)