HAILLE SESTRAN

High-placed member of the Andorian Assassins' Guild, head of the branch of the King's Ears that deals with all of non-Alastarian Ghea. He is at least part Aruaki, about 50, and says he is a widower; nothing is known about his past, and no one seems to wonder. He's based in Tobir and poses as a wealthy collector of curios and travelers' tales, which accounts for any unlikely person seen visiting him. He achieved this position about fifteen years ago and is now heartily bored with it but continues to perform competently if with less enthusiasm than one might wish. Little things might slip by him, but any major activities will catch his notice. He is considered to be incorruptible, but this may simply be because he hasn't been really tempted yet; he is ripe for some new vice.

HALF-MARK

A copper coin of Dullens. (See Mark)

HATHU

Standby warrior in the Free Blades AD arena. Used to be a handmaid to Kristina, then an assistant to Araminth.

HAWK

A silver-colored coin struck from nickel or tin, rectangular in shape, about three-quarters of an inch long. Marked with the likeness of Mickeal I, edges are ridged, and there is a small triangular hole under the profile. Worth about eight jer-hawks, is one-eighth of a common eagle.

HOME GUARD, THE

One of the arenas on the Isle of the Eye. Referred to as "the greatest arena on Alastari" by those who fight there, and the "old farts' arena" by nearly everybody else. Officially, it is the "veterans arena," intended as a refuge for those warriors who made it to the Isle by perseverance rather than skill. Located in the town of Stronghold.

HUMANS

The human races of Ghea are divided into several broad categories by scholars. These are generalizations: one will certainly run into dark-haired Fratsfans and blonde Kannari now and again--and in some areas even so clear-cut a division as that between human and elf grows hazy.

Sevaeni: This category includes those races believed to have originated in the far north of Ghea. Their ancient homelands are the dark pine forests north of the Trier, as far south as the Khriatrin Mountains and the plains of northern Lirith Kai. They tend to be very fair, with hair which is blond or red, usually straight and fine. They have blue or grey eyes. They tend to be tall, with spare, rangy builds, long faces and jaws and sharply chiseled features. In many cases this tendency has obviously been enhanced by intermarriages with the Araoi of Alfhame and Fratsfa (although the elves of Alfhame, at least, deny this hotly, the evidence is plain to see.)

In Alastari, the representative Northron race is the Fratsfans. In some areas of Andoria, notably near the cities of Iaye and Point, there are also families who also trace their descent from another Northron people, the ancient rulers of Krael. Both the Kraellians and the Fratsfans are descendants of the ancient Van, who were largely destroyed in the last Chaos War. Other Northron peoples include the Siniar, who are found to the west of Alastari, across the Trier Sea, and the Ikrada, the fierce sea-raiders of the Ikhazdur Coast to the north of Alastari.

Fratsfans: The Fratsfans (or Frafrejans; Frafrejan is an older variant of the name) are a people living in the northern part of Alastari, mainly in the Andorian League. Fratsfans are very fair, with hair which is blond or red, usually straight and fine, though occasional curly-haired families show up. Blue or grey eyes are most common, though hazel, brown, and green eyes aren't completely unknown. They are tall, averaging 5'10 and up for women, 6'2" and up for men. The average Fratsfan has a rangy, broad-shouldered build, with a long, angular face, strong, rather pointed chin, aquiline nose and sharply chiseled features. In many cases this tendency has obviously been enhanced by intermarriages with the Araoi elves who colonized the area around Fratsfa many centuries past. (It is to be noted that the Araoi elves of Alfhame consider this a revolting example of colonial degeneracy, and deny any relationship. However, the evidence is plain to see in the slightly slanted eyes and slightly pointed ears of many Frastfan noble houses.)

Fratsfans are considered a noble, chivalrous people; they value courtesy and honesty. They have a reputation for being almost foolishly courageous in war, sometimes choosing glory over good sense. They have a very high opinion of themselves and their glorious history. They are generous with others, but expect their generosity to be repaid and may take it as an affront if it is not.

Fratsfans may be found all over the Andorian League, but are most common in Fratsfa, Zensu, and Andor.

Kraellians: Krael, like Fratsfa, was an ancient outpost of the Van Empire which survived the Chaos War and became a kingdom in its own right. Less militaristic than the Frafrejans, the rulers of Krael turned instead to the arts of wizardry, creating a powerful, decadent court of wizard-lords in their capital city. The wizard-lords were eventually overthrown in the great cataclysm which sank the city of Krael and left the outlying community of Iaye an island.

There are very few Kraellians left in Alastari today, as most of them died when Krael sank beneath the waves and the rest intermarried with the Aruaki and Convincians. However, in Point and Iaye, there are still a few families with near-pure Kraellian blood. In general, Kraellians are very similar to Fratsfans in build and appearance, but Kraellians tend more to brown hair and eyes, and to be somewhat more heavily built. Kraellians are thought to be a haughty people with an aptitude for wizardry and an appetite for complex puzzles. They put great store on status and play the game of politics and intrigue very well.

Khriani: These are the peoples who originated in the temperate vales and hills of what is now the Tien-Khrisu Valley, the Twisted Lands and the Alastarian isthmus. Their coloring ranges from moderately fair to tanned. The most common hair colors are shades of brown, but blondes, redheads, and dark brown or black hair is not unknown. Curly or wavy hair is common. The most common eye color is brown, but blue, grey, green, and hazel are found as well. They tend to an average height and build, and have somewhat rounder, broader faces than is common in the far north. In many areas, where there has been much intermarriage with the Kyan elves, these people tend to be small and slight, with pointed ears and slanting eyes.

The most populous of these peoples in Alastari are the Harkeny, whose ancient stronghold is the Shewish Forest, but who can be found all over the Free Cities and into the Delarquan Federation and the Andorian League as well. The isolated Raltumans and the Convincians of Andoria, are of this stock as well; indeed, though their ancestors arrived from the far side of the Trier, the Convincians are so like the Harkeny in face and feature that few can look at a stranger of either race and tell for certain which one he claims.

The adepts of Skaithvarn and many of the myriad races of northern Lirith Kai also fall into this broad grouping.

Harkeny: The Harkeny are one of the most common races in Alastari. Inhabiting the Shewish Forest and most of the Free Cities, they are tan-skinned, and of average height and build. The most common hair colors are shades of brown, but blonde, red, and dark brown or black hair are not unknown. Curly or wavy hair is common. The most common eye color is brown, but blue, grey, green, and hazel are found as well. They tend to an average height (5'10 for males, 5'4 for females) and build, and have somewhat rounder, broader faces than is common in the far north. In southern Andoria, notably around Caer and Ardivent, where there has been much intermarriage with the Kyan elves, Harkene populations are somewhat shorter and slighter, with pointed ears and slanting eyes.

The Harkeny are considered superlative foresters with an uncanny ability to disappear into the landscape--an ability which has stood them in good stead in areas like the Karhhorn Empire. Harkenes are individualistic people, not given to building huge monuments or congregating in great cities. Self-reliant and distrustful of authority, they prefer many local chiefs or leaders to one all-powerful king. Other peoples sometimes accuse them of sharp dealings; Harkenes prefer to say that they tell everyone the truth they want to hear--if you don't want to hear the real truth, that's your problem.

Convincians: Convincians are found in most of the Andorian League, but especially in Amen-Tei, Kati-Tei, Krill, and the extreme northwest of the kingdom. To a stranger it's extremely difficult to tell a Convincian and a Harkene apart; Convincians are also of average height, build, and coloring. The main difference is that Convincians are fairer-skinned, and the lighter hair and eye colors are a little commoner among them--possibly due to interbreeding with the Fratsfans.

Convincians are known for stolid, unimaginative good sense; they, do, however, often harbor a secret longing for adventure. The farm boy who turns out to be a great hero is a favorite Convincian story. They are excellent farmers and craftsmen and supply much of the goods and manufacturing for Andoria. They prefer the civilized, tame, and controlled to the wild and untrammeled. They are generally peaceful sorts, unwilling to start a fight. They are, however, more than willing to finish one. Convincian temperament can be compared to a bull's--placid as long as you allow them to graze in peace, but wave that red flag...

Raltumans: Raltumans are a small, wiry people with tan-to-dark brown skin, dark eyes, and dark brown hair. They inhabit the northern coast of Andoria and the islands to the north. They are superb sailors and fishermen and live in extended families.

Savradese: This third broad category includes various peoples who inhabit the lands east of the Storm Sea as far south as the Nhirivin Forest. Their coloring ranges from tan to dark copper, and they have dark hair and eyes, ranging from brown to black. Curly hair is uncommon. They are of medium height, lean and graceful, with sharp features. The men of this race often grow little or no beard.

In Alastari the primary representative of this race is the Karnhorns of the northern Free Cities. Across the Storm Sea, the parent kingdom of the Karnhorns, Serevada, and their neighbors and rivals to the south, Ferencia, are also of this stock. Several Karnhorn cities (notably Zuwayza, the capital) were originally Ferencian colonies, and there remains a strong Ferencian strain in the populace to this day.

The Kannari of southern Alastari are, so most scholars believe, the result of centuries of interbreeding between the southern Ferencians and the northern Rirorni; the Kannari themselves, having suffered greatly from Rirorni incursions in recent years, hold themselves to be a new people entirely, yet many Rirorni features are still found in their population. The Kannari are the primary race of the Delarquan Federation, and are a large portion of the population in the southern Free Cities as well.

Karnhorns: The Karnhorn Empire is located in the northeast of Alastari, comprising the cities of Zuwayza, Aljafir, Veastian, Kurukar, Jurine, and Willaf. The Karnhorns are a lithe, graceful people with dark hair which may be straight or curly, and coppery skin. They have large, heavy-lidded eyes, oval faces, and Greek noses (no indentation at the bridge.) They favor mustaches and pointed beards for men, and very long hair for women. (Facial hair is more common among Karnhorns than among some related peoples such as the Ferencians, but not as common as it is among the Harkenes or Convincians.)

Karnhorns are a proud, cruel race, much given to scientific and philosophical study. They are warlike but crafty, and will not attack unless sure of their strength. They are hedonistic, enjoying physical pleasures as well as mental ones, and many have a deeply religious bent. They are ruthless, but by their own lights fair.

Kannari: The Kannari are the primary race of the Delarquan Federation, and are a large portion of the population in the southern Free Cities as well. Kannari skin tones are usually medium brown to tan, without obvious coppery or olive undertones. Black or dark brown hair is commonest. Hair may be straight or curly. Brown eyes predominate but hazel or green eyes are found occasionally in Kannari populations; in some areas red or lighter brown hair is fairly common. They are taller on the average than the Harkeny or the Karnhorns, but not so tall as the average Fratsfan. (5'11 for males, 5'6 for females.) They are more heavily built for their height than most of the other races. Their features are mixture of Rirot and Savradese: They have strong, rather blunt features, often with hawk noses.

Kannari are considered to be vicious, ruthless warriors. It's often been said that the Kannari are their own worst enemies, for one of the main reasons they haven't expanded their territory further is that they are usually fighting among themselves. They value pragmatism above all things--getting what you want is far more important than using "honorable" means to get it. If a knife in the back is more efficient than a single combat, go for the knife in the back.

Rirot: Rirot is the term for several related races which come from the broad Rirorni Plains and the delta of the An-Kiu River. Olive skin, straight, rather coarse black hair, and dark eyes are characteristic of these peoples. They are often shorter and sturdier than the average northerner, with broad, high cheekbones, flat noses, and epicanthic folds. The prototypical Rirot are the Rirorni horsemen, (for more information, see Rirorni) which inhabit the Rirorni Plains and (when they can) various areas around the fringes of the plains. Further south, the Ratani inhabit the lands west of the Drakenfell Mountains. Even further west are the Sendori and the Jadir of Lirith Kai.

Other minor Rirot races are the Sangarans (probably a Rirorni offshoot), the Tzatakans (cousins of the Sendori) and the Aruaki (originally Ratani, they intermarried with the Kannari during their migration to northern Alastari, and are slight darker than the average Rirot in consequence. They are also distinguished by having golden eyes.)

Aruaki: The Aruaki are originally of Ratani stock. They have olive skin, and dark hair, and lithe, graceful builds. They rarely have facial hair. (Ironically, they greatly resemble their mortal enemies the Karnhorns.) High cheekbones and epicanthic folds are fairly common. Their eyes are yellow almost without exception. They inhabit the western part of the Andorian League in northwestern Alastari.

Some Aruaki are shapeshifters, with the ability to turn into lions, tigers, or other large cats. (They all show up as shapeshifters on the turn sheets, the Commission would rather be safe than sorry.) Aruaki are known for scholarship and wizardry, and for being rather cat-like in nature: curious, playful, but also capable of ruthless cruelty: a Kannari will kill an enemy quickly; an Aruaki plays with his prey. It is from the Aruaki that most of the members of the Andorian Assassins' Guild are drawn.

Aruaki are more religious than most other Andorians, being devoted to Demnat, the god of shapeshifters. (For more information, see Aruaki)

Lubanese: The final grouping is not much seen in Alastari, or even in Lirith Kai, as it originates far to the south and west of either kingdom. Little is currently known about the various tribes and peoples which comprise this group. The Lubanese are very dark, with black eyes and black hair, which ranges from straight to curly to kinky in different areas. The Gladiatorial Commission has considered opening an arena in Naowei, one of the Lubanese kingdoms, but so far nothing has come of the plan; if it ever comes to fruition, we will doubtless learn more about these distant peoples.

HYORN FOREST

The forest between Lapur and Monuntial, along the Duskblood River. Site of the Battle of Hyorn, wherein the power of the Moryan Charioteers was broken.