Paladin Cavalry: a unit of the Emperor's Sun Legion; in Dal Shang they are quartered in the Lord Governor's Palace Compound and respond to dire emergencies.

Palenian Steppe: a plain which lies between the An-Kiu Valley itself and the World's Edge. It slopes gently from north to south and is rolling and grassy in nature, the grasses being of the short type. The soil is mostly sandy and infertile, and the area as a whole is dry, having few live streams and reliable springs. Ini Palel lies at the northern end of this steppe where it butts against the Twisted Lands; in the south it merges into the plateau of Old Ratan between the World's Edge and the Ratani Scarp.

Palian Cattle: a breed of large black cattle developed by the Harinzans for their northern pastures. The palians are noted for their evil tempers, and some herdsmen will sell the more dangerous bulls to pit-masters from Ini Palel, where they are set to fighting dogs, bears, and men.

Pamnir: a minor god of agriculture, probably one of the lesser Drahnore gods who have been largely forgotten. Pamnir has fared better than many such, however, as he still has shrines in many small farming villages in the southern An-Kiu Valley.

Pass of Kinsang: the cleft by which the Kinsang River cuts through the hills that form the western border of the Karndiz Steppe in Minho Province; it is considered to mark the division between the Du Dizar Hills and the Jina Kabir Hills. The Pass is about thirty miles in length overall, and several sections are narrow gorges, usually with rapids and/or waterfalls. There is a trail running through this canyon, but it is not a good one.

Pegasus Regiment: Border Legion regiment stationed in Harin-Tiran Province. They are light cavalry.

Pelang: province in the upper An-Kiu Valley, upstream from its junction with the Fatebringer.

Pink flower girls: female (mostly) entertainers and prostitutes, a subcaste of the merchant caste.

Pit-Fighting: a sport pursued in Ini Palel, where beasts are set to fighting other beasts, or men, or men against men, in a bloody semblance of the Alastarian arena. Pit-fighting is the older sport, however, and a much bloodier one: the pit-fights always go to the death of one or both of the combatants, and no one enters the pit voluntarily.

Pit-Masters: in Ini Palel, men who operate fighting "pits." It is their business to stage battles between whatever beasts and men may be available and expected to put up an exciting struggle. They are often slavers.

Plain of Danath: a plateau cupped between the arc of the Dja-Gavena Hills and the An-Kiu River. At one time it was all good farmland, but now it is desert or nearly so. The streams that used to water the area cut themselves deep canyon-like channels when the drying started, then finally vanished. The Plain of Danath is strewn with ruined farmsteads and villages, even a few ruined castles, and is now practically uninhabited. The Plain is about two hundred feet above the river level at its eastern, or lower, edge.

Plain of Hawks: This oval plain, with its sheltering ring of hills and its firm sandy floor and short grasses has been used throughout Simtakka's long history as a site for contests--races, mock battles, and occasional fairs. When not being so used, it serves as pasture for the flocks of Kerarima.

Plain of Niming: small plain sloping down to the south from the Storm Ridge in Liho Province. This plain is noted for its relatively short turf grass, much relished by horses. The plain is relatively dry.

Pride of the North: a ship of the Crystal Sea Packet Group which sails from the Crystal Harbor Inn in Dal Shang.

Priest: the general term for a temple attendant, frequently used without reference to the person's actual rank in the temple and religious hierarchy. The term "priest" is also applied more specifically to the group of ranks (three to five in number) between under priest and upper priest.

Priestly Caste: the semi-hereditary grouping of professional scholars and temple attendants.

Protector of the Empire: the official title, within the Empire, of gladiators who have Advanced and become Lord Protectors. A Protector receives the same grant of lands as a tiral; though the title is not hereditary, the lands may be willed to descendants--only--of the original Protector. Like a title estate, they may not be disposed of without official consent.

Provincial Army: the troops raised, trained, equipped, paid, and commanded by the noblemen of the province in question. These are professional troops, always under arms and available. Also called the Regular Army, Regular Provincial or Provincial Regular Army.