Fibji: Queen of the Noor.
Fulder Don: A man of the artist caste in the town of Baris. Father of Pamra Don.
Gendra Mitiar: Dame Marshal of the Towers, member of the Council of Seven in the Chancery. Conspirator with Ezasper Jorn.
Glamdrul Feynt: Master of the files in the Bureau of Towers, Chancery. Conspirator with Shavian Bossit.
Haranjus Pandel: Superior of the Tower in Thou-ne.
Ilze: Senior Awakener in the Tower of Baris, mentor to Pamra Don. Becomes a Laugher.
Jhilt: Noor slave of Gendra Mitiar.
Jondrigar: General Jondrigar, member of the Council of Seven in the Chancery; leader of the armies of the Protector.
Joy: Surviving resident of Strinder’s Isle.
Kesseret: “Kessie,” “the lady Kesseret,” Superior of the Tower in Baris.
Koma Nepor: Director of Research, member of the Council of Seven in the Chancery.
Lees Obol: Protector of Man, member of the Council of Seven in the Chancery.
Lila: The slow-baby. Born from the drowned woman.
Martien: Musician, close friend, and follower of Tharius Don.
Medoor Babji: Daughter of Queen Fibji; chosen heir of the throne of the Noor.
Murga: Wife of owner Blint. Called Blint-wife. Neff: A young male Treeci living on Strinder’s Isle.
Obers-roirt Thrasne’s trusted assistant, first owner’s man after Thrasne takes over the Gift of Potipur.
Pamra Don: Awakener in the Tower of Baris, who leaves the tower to begin the great crusade.
Peasimy Plot: Resident of Thou-ne, childlike adult son of the widow Plot. Follower of Pamra Don.
Prender: Half sister to Pamra Don.
Shavian Bossit: Maintainer of the Household; member of the Council of Seven in the Chancery.
Shishus: A semi mythical typical flier of the past, used as an eidolon for young Talkers.
Sliffisunda: A Talker of the Sixth (highest) Degree among the Thraish.
Stodder: Resident of Strinder’s Isle. Strange: Favorite consort of Queen Fibji.
Suspirra: The idealized woman of Thrasne’s dreams. A carved image of that woman.
Taj Noteen: Leader of a group of Melancholies to which Medoor Babji belongs.
Tharius Don: Propagator of the Faith; member of the Council of Seven in the Chancery. Ancestor of Pamra Don. Leader of the cause.
Thoulia: Semi mythical “Sorter,” the Talker who first discovered the efficacy of the Tears of Viranel.
Thrasne: Third assistant owner’s man aboard the Riverboat the Gift of Potipur. An orphan, adopted by the owner, Blint. Later, owner of the Gift.
Threnot: Servant to Kesseret.
Werf: One of the Treeci on Strinder’s Isle.
*GROUPS, PLACES, AND THINGS
Abricor: Male, second god in the Thraish trinity. Also the second largest moon.
Awakeners, the: Religious order living in the Towers who oversee disposal of the dead.
Bails: Township. Home place of Pamra Don, Tharius Don, and the lady Kesseret.
Blight, the; A fungus living in the World River that seems to turn living flesh to wood.
Boatmen: Those who make their living on the boats that travel westward on the World River. Merchants. Not to be confused with Rivermen, q.v.
Chancery, the. The administrative center of Northshore, including the officers, buildings, and bureaucracy, located at Highstone Lees, behind the Teeth of the North.
Direction of Life, the: Movement to the west, as the sun, tides, and moons move. Movement to the east is considered antilife and forbidden.
Flame-bird: A species of Northshore bird that sets its nest afire in order to hatch its eggs.
Fliers, the: Ordinary-nontalker-members of the Thraish.
Gift of Potipur, the: Riverboat belonging first to Blint, then to Thrasne.
Glizzee; Glizzee spice: A euphoric substance of pleasant flavor, provided by strangeys, sold in the markets as a food additive.
Highstone Lees: The name given to the Protector’s palace, as well as the Chancery offices and residence grounds in the lands behind the Teeth.
Holy Sorters: Those human or superhuman creatures who sort the dead into categories of worthy or unworthy.
Jarb Houses: Places of residence set up by the order of Mendicants for the treatment and housing of madmen.
Jarb Mendicants: Madmen enabled to see the truth by smoking jarb root; visionaries; oracles.
Jarb Root: A food root often eaten by the Noor whose toasted peel contains an anti-illusory drug.
Jondarites: The military personnel under the command of General Jondrigar.
Laughers: Pursuivants and inquisitors sent from the Chancery to find heretics in Northshore.