Caged Bear Society: a nationally known warrior society; see under warrior societies.

Caravan City: another name for Simtakka city.

Caste: in Lirith Kai, refers to the general category in which a family pursues its daily activities; castes are determined by birth. The castes in Lirith Kai are: nobles, priests, merchants, farmers, and outcastes.

Casteless: outcaste, one who has been ejected from his birthcaste. Very few people are born into this non-caste; those who are so born, unless their parents are professional beggars or the like and have no concern for their child's future, are put up for adoption (which is handled by the Temples of Mantor).

Chalhar: the Drahnoran god of wilderness and wild things, antlered leader of the Great Hunt. His High Priest is called the Horns of Chalhar.

Chalharo-Lo-San Forest: a strange forest in the Simtakka Valley which is said to be a remnant of the orchards of the ancient Hladanna--the earliest known people of this area--gone wild. It is true that there are many trees in this forest which bear plump fruits, but those who have eaten them have not prospered, and who ever heard of apple and peach trees with thorns? Although no one has ever proved beyond question that the fruits of these trees are poisonous, illness follows so surely upon consumption of even a single apple that the trees are now left severely alone. An earlier governor is said to have attempted to cut down that part of the forest which lies between the Han-Ko River and the road to Kae Holan, but the men who worked there began to suffer evil dreams, and all who were scratched by thorns sickened, so that they soon ceased that effort. The governor then ordered that the trees should be set on fire, whereupon a smoke was made which lay heavily in the Valley, and more people were taken ill, and the trees not much damaged. So now the forest is suffered to grow as it will, so long as it does not spread or close off the road that passes through it--but none travel that road by dark, if they can avoid it.

Chamat: a drink made with powdered herb and boiling water, a kind of tea. There is a chamat plant which produces the basic leaves, but most chamat as used is mixed with other herbs, the choice of which varies to the taste of the consumer. Chamat is considered to be a mental stimulant and the drinking of it is often surrounded by ceremonious details. The basic chamat herb comes from the Naowei.

Chan-Kerang: a province in southern Lirith Kai.

Charmed Wind Society: a nationally known warrior society; see under warrior societies.

Chasarian Boar: a legendary wild pig of the Chan-Kerang area. The Chasarian Boar was said to have spoken prophecy and had something to do with the founding of the Sun Kingdom.

Chief Priest: the title given to the senior priest at a temple which does not have the services of a high priest. The chief priest is usually an upper priest but in some small towns may be a plain priest.

Chimal: a tree found in the Tomende Hills of Hadarana and Lubana provinces. It has amber-colored wood which is saturated with aromatic resins, and chips of it are used as incense in many places.

Cho-Chun, Marshes of: a stretch of land along the eastern bank of the An-Kiu River in Kiniar Province between Chu Ko'Iang and Chumien; it is decidedly swampy and reputedly treacherous.

Cho-Lana: harvest goddess (possibly an aspect of Ghera) worshipped in Pelang.

Circle of Three: a minor cult, hostile to the Committee of Immortals (another minor cult); dervishes of the Circle wear robes of red, yellow, and white ribbons over turquoise tunics and scarlet pants, with hats like emerald pancakes with tassels of the three ribbon colors around the rim, and they spin in a frenzy as a form of ecstatic worship.

City of Angels: another name for Daiyla Kiv.

City of Lights: another name for Lyn Tirian.

Clawmoon Society: a nationally known proscribed warrior society; see under warrior societies.

Clouded Hounds: a breed of hunting dog brought to the Imperial Heart Province from Mirning, where they were developed, by Lady Mernili tyl Kornisal. They are unusually large, with thick, coarse, medium-length coats of mottled gray hair, yellow eyes, and half-pricked ears. Lady Mernili has trained hers to use in the Great Hunt, but it is said that in their homeland they are used as guard dogs, too. Their voices are very deep.

Coastal Orchis: a group name for several species of parasitic orchid-like plants found growing mostly on the yabana cane but sometimes on other trees, along the southwestern coast of the Trier Sea. They are generally very showy and colorful and are sometimes cultivated for that reason; some have medicinal values, some are poisonous and/or carnivorous; and a few are used by perfumers or spice-compounders. Lyrman's Ruby-Throated Orchis is the best-known of the ornamental varieties, although the Royal Gull, so named for its long, arching, white side-petals, and the Flame-Flower are also popular. The common Red-Eye Orchis is widely believed to be poisonous and does cause a poison-ivy-like irritation of the skin on contact; the sap of the much rarer Turtle Orchis is a deadly poison. The Dragon Orchis, which has a superficial similarity to the Lyrman's Ruby-Throated, is carnivorous, as is the Toad Orchis.

Coast Road: road suitable for wagons (more or less!) that runs along the Trier Sea Coast of Dal Shang Province, sometimes on the beach and more often on the cliff tops. Also called the Trier Coast Road. It is a class C/D provincial highway.

Coast Road: either of the two main branches of the road that runs along the coast of the Southern Ocean, the Southern Coast Road or the Western Coast Road.

Cobra Society: a well-known teva society.

Coins: in Lirith Kai, made of either gold, silver, or copper (officially, copper, actually bronze). In order of value, they are commonly called the gold shield or kanolara, the gold quarter or kanokira, the silver shield or mejilara, the silver ring or mejimina, the copper flat or tokolara, the copper ring or tokomina, and the copper bit or tokotika. All but the "shields" are pierced.

Comar: the third rank of Adantri nobility, the next to the lowest hereditary rank. A comar is addressed as "lord" (women holding the title may be called "lady" if they prefer). A comar may raise fifty men for the Army and is ranked as a captain.

Committee of Immortals: formed of the priests of a group of minor gods and goddesses, hostile to the Circle of Three (which denies the godhood of any but their own Three). The importance of this ecumenical group varies from province to province; they are usually stronger where the minor local gods are very weak or nearly forgotten. (When the local gods are strong, their priests feel no need to band together for support.)

Comtiral: a rank which may be held by a member of a comar family who is not the primary title-holder for the family; this title carries no lands and is not, itself, hereditary, but the holder of it may raise ten men for the Army as a regular tiral would and is called "sir."

Contemplative: a member of a monastic group, sometimes one who has been a contemplative or monastic since completing the aspirant step, at other times an upper priest who has chosen to broaden his/her understanding by a period of further study.

Cotiral: another name for the comtiral, which see.

Council of All Lords: the least influential of the Councils that advise the Emperor, this group may contain any and all nobles of the rank of comar and above.

Council of High Lords: the group of highest nobility, including montirs, senars, and renvors, which advises the Emperor.

Council of High Priests of Mantor: the group formed by the High Priests of each province and the heads of the major monastic foundations; it numbers about sixty in all. This group, also, advises the Emperor.

Council of Ministers: the group of highest officials in the Empire, the heads of the various departments of government. The Council of Ministers advises the Emperor.

Covenant of Mantor: the agreement between Mantor and the Adantri individually and collectively whereby the Adantri agree to forgo the use of magic (as specifically defined in the Covenant), in return for which Mantor will guard them against the efforts of mages to harm them. Naturally, it isn't quite that simple...

Crimsarine: a red-skinned fruit rumored to have aphrodisiac properties; it grows on a sprawling shrub or short woody vine in Blue Hills wetlands. Regularly cultivated in the Dal Shang area by a few farmers (it's picky about soil); usually preserved and shipped to other cities. There is no proof either way concerning its reputed qualities.

Crown of Gourrah: another name for the city of Mazgourrah.

Crouching Panther Ridge: a long ridge in the Jade Panther Hills.

Crystal City: another name for Dal Shang City.

Crystal Sea Packet Group: a group of six ships carrying passengers and cargo both, which plies the Trier Sea; in Dal Shang they dock at the Crystal Harbor Inn. The ships are: Blue Wind, Dancing Gull, Flying Cloud, Lady Herina, Pride of the North, and Trier Star, all with Dal Shang registry; there are other ships, registered in other ports or here, which also work this area with passengers and cargo.