Lion warrior, p.36
Lion Warrior, page 36
• Goblin – Goblins come in many forms and sizes. Frost goblins are formed of northern lichen. Cave goblins appear to have flesh formed from cave fungus. Spore goblins are terrifyingly small and toothy and known to inhabit Taneletharian deserts. All goblins are vindictive and delight in torturing humans and animals in many ways.
• Golmog – A foul-smelling dark creature a little taller and much heavier than a grown man. Fat and lumbering, golmogs serve the dragons most in manual labor but can be terrible foes in battle.
• Granog – A winged dark creature that looks like it shares dragon and human heritage, a littler larger than a grown man. The appearance of granogs is a dragon deception and likely a poor attempt at making creatures that look like the ancient Lisropha warriors. Granogs serve as dragon administrators in Tanelethar.
• Mudslinger/Muk – A slimy mud creature found in Taneletharian swamps and wetlands. Muks are known to moan at their victims, luring them into a sense of despair. Spines may grow from their bodies and fling poisonous slime that burns through clothing.
• Orcs – “Ore creatures” formed from various minerals. Iron orcs and coal orcs are the most common. Quicksilver orcs are considered the most dangerous, able to shift form at will. The dragons filled their orcs with burning rage, often exhibited by fire blazing behind their eyes, within their joints, and from the runes carved into their hides.
• Rime Runner – A long black worm found in ice tunnels where frost goblins live. Rime runners attack in great numbers and attempt to burrow into their victims’ flesh.
• Spider – Giant arachnids used to terrorize and deceive mankind. They are known to share the influence of the same dragons that control giants. Where giants are found, the caves and burrows are usually infested with spiders.
• Sprite – A creature formed to mimic the ancient Dynapha, which many remember today as faeries. They are masters of illusion, hiding their roach-like features and ugly intent. Sprites employ stings that inject their poisons. As with goblins, there are several forms.
• Troll – Four forms of troll are currently known in Tanelethar—wood troll (mocktree), water or river troll (rattlefish), stone troll (rumblefoot), and north troll (iceblade). Trolls are known to employ both song sorcery and infections/poisons.
• Wanderer – A wan and withering humanlike thing designed, like ghosts, to deceive mankind into believing it is a form of lingering dead. Wanderers carry lanterns and are known to roam Sil Shadath and Gloamwood.
• Wraith – Although this term may be used throughout Talania to describe different and often imagined creatures, an actual wraith is a specific form of orc made in the ancient days from Suvoroth ore by the dragon Valshadox. They may be found in Sil Shadath, where they float on the mists flowing from the Tagamoor.
The Five Quests – Cadet missions that serve as the tests required for promotion from cadet stalwart to cadet scout. Most cadets endure these quests as a class, working together like a lightraider raid party. Each of the Five Quests is named for and overseen by one of the five lightraider spheres.
Fjord – A strange word referring to a finger of a sea reaching inland between high, sheer ridges. The cliffs above the fjords of Orvyn’s Vow, descending from the Celestial Peaks, are thought to be the highest in all creation, some reaching nearly a league above the water. According to legend, the word fjord is a Fulcan amalgamation of the Elder Tongue phrase fi v’yort, meaning to pass through (literally “in then out”). The name implies “a pass,” which a fjord is not. Thus, using it at all is likely a mistake.
Havarra – The Havarra are the shepherds of the beasts. They are animals capable of speech, tending to be larger than the creatures they shepherd. The Havarra were nearly wiped out during the Dragon Scourge, and the survivors went into hiding. We are not certain of the number that remain, but talking falcons, bears, wolves, stags, and horses are known to the Lightraider Order. Some choose to become companions to lightraider knights, following them into adventure in the service of the High One.
Lightraider Academy (Ras Telesar) – The seat of the Lightraider Order and the fortress where they live and train, including training new recruits.
Lightraider Order – A knightly order in Keledev, commissioned for service by the Rescuer himself when he appeared to his people after he raised the Celestial Peaks and the Storm Mists.
Lightraider Spheres – The primary divisions of the Lightraider Order. The five spheres include the Navigators’ Sphere, the Tinkers’ Sphere, the Rangers’ Sphere, the Comforters’ Sphere, and the Vanguard. Members of each sphere may choose additional specialties such as becoming a knight of his creatures, a renewer, or even a lightraider bard. Some specialties are unique to certain spheres, but not all.
Manykit – A leather harness with many pouches, buckles, and sheaths for carrying kit and weapons. Lightraiders prefer to wear manykit in place of carrying packs. Manykit harnesses come in a number of forms, with broad and narrow bands of pouches and sheaths that may strap to the chest, waist, arms, legs, or any combination thereof. Large lightraiders like Dagram Kaivos may wear manykit with spikes on the shoulders. These look imposing in battle, but they are designed as hooks from which to hang additional satchels filled with supplies for the party.
Queensblood – A Taneletharian term for a member of the matriarchal Arkelian bloodline. House Arkelon never bowed to the dragons and was decimated. A queensblood will often have identifying traits like hair so silver it appears blue and blue freckles that form flourishes on her arms, feet, wrists, or face. The granogs fueled hatred of queensbloods in Tanelethar with the rumor that their ancestors invaded from Arkelia, a separate continent, to become one of the prominent houses of Talania.
Starlot – A jewel formed from crystalized dragon fire. Starlots are the tokens of the Lightraider Order, symbolizing a lightraider’s willingness to venture north of the barrier on missions to rescue the Aladoth. Starlots formed when the dragons blasted their fire against freezing winds at the start of the Great Rescue, amid the rising of the Celestial Peaks.
Vanquish – A game of skill and strategy using a table with pockets and leather rails played in many corners of Talania, including at Lightraider Academy.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
Praise the Lord! God is great and has blessed me greatly with the opportunity to write this series and continue the game Dick Wulf started so many years ago.
The cast of heroes to thank grows larger with each book. My wife tops the list as always, providing every kind of support on top of reading and editing each chapter in multiple iterations as it comes off the printer. Steve Laube and Harvey Klinger are also up there. Without either of them or their graciousness, we would not have this series in such a beautiful form.
The dedication mentions several people who work behind the scenes on different facets of Lightraiders, from books to tabletop games and beyond. They are all amazing in their professionalism and Christian love. I’ll say it again. I am so blessed.
The dedication also mentions the Lightraiders teens. These are teens in Houston and Florida who have dedicated their time to supporting the launch of Lightraiders in several ways, especially in helping us create videos for our social media. They are truly awesome. I’d like to give a special mention to Gavin, Tristan, Aiden, Sophie, and Gabe. These five are the teens I’ve worked with the most and whose laughter, smiles, and insight have given me and our adult team so much joy. All the Lightraiders teens together are an exceptional group of volunteers with bright futures as leaders in the Kingdom.
This is the last installment in the Lightraider Academy trilogy, but it is not the last adventure in the Lightraiders Realm. This grand quest to change hearts and disciple youth is just getting started. Our swords are drawn and our charge into the mist has begun. Won’t you join us?
You can learn more about us at www.lightraiders.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As a former fighter pilot, stealth pilot, and tactical deception officer, James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. He is the award-winning author of thrillers, mysteries, and fantasies for adults and children, and he is the developer of Lightraider Academy games. As a pastor’s kid in Colorado Springs, he guinea-pigged every youth discipleship program of the 1980s, but the one that engaged him and shaped him most as a Christ-follower and Kingdom warrior was DragonRaid, by Dick Wulf—the genesis of the Lightraider world.
James R. Hannibal, Lion Warrior
