- Blessing: Can create ice talons from her finger tips.
Breck – From the Haggler’s Cliffs. Is typically bored until there something risky and exciting happening to bring out the dare devil in her. Likes difficult odds but not impossible ones. Closest with Juniper’s group when she isn’t being a loner.
- Blessing: She can “wrangle” things. Draws the attention of enemies within 30 feet so they attack her and increases her strength.
Dera – She’s quiet and sweet and has a head for numbers and calculations. She’s closest to Wren but is friendly with most of the cohort.
- Blessing: She can shape bone with her will if she maintains her concentration.
Ento (En-to) – From the Swirling Waters tribe. Grounds Idra and Juniper and lets them do most of the talking though sometimes she does have a dry comment to make. Nearly joined at the hip with Idra, protective of Juniper, and mostly ambivalent of everyone else.
- Blessing: Creates three different rings around herself with daggers connected to each ring.
Gimley (Gim-lee)/Gimlea (Gim-lay-ah) - Main character. Stubborn and has a need for control. From the Gabbler Shore tribe and known as “Little Diver” to some whisper women. Doesn’t want to get close to anyone and somehow allowed Prevna to form a friendship with her anyway.
- Blessing: She can’t die.
Idra (Ee-dra) – From the Swirling Waters tribe. Has more than her share of pride. Nearly joined at the hip with Ento and protective of Juniper though sometimes she wishes she didn’t have to guard the younger girl.
- Blessing: Creates an invisible dome shield that people and things can exit from but can’t enter.
Juniper – From the Swirling Waters tribe. Melancholy air and can be a strong leader or a fearful mess depending on if fighting fish or heights are involved. Closest with Ento and Idra though she does also privately look up to Gimley and would like to be better friends with Prevna and Breck.
- Blessing: She can summon fresh water by cupping her hands together. Also has a pearl that allows her to form a sphere of water from the water she summons.
Loclen (Lock-lin) – From the Arches. Isn’t an early riser and takes pride in her intelligence. Formed a mostly one-sided rivalry with Gimley and is closest with Nii, Wren, and Dera.
- Blessing: She can blend in with shadows. In a darker environment this makes her effectively invisible while in a brighter environment she’d just be more difficult to spot.
Nii/Sanii – Takes pride in her strength and her blessing. Was friendly with Gimley until she learned about her blessing. Then she fell in with Ulo and Andhi until she’s seemed to have another change of heart. Now she’s rekindling her friendship with Loclen.
- Blessing: All of her ranged attacks/throws can’t miss as long as she can see her target.
Prevna (Prev-na) – From Milwa’s Picker band. Mischievous and determined and kind. At some point she saw Gimley and thought “Ah, that’s someone I’ll be friends with” and she’s made it her mission to make that come true ever since. It worked. She’s also friendly with most of the cohort.
- Blessing: Poison-touched. She can absorb or expel poisons and venom from plants and animals with her fingers.
Ulo (Oo-low) – She was ready to enter the Seedling Palace and be the best at everything. That didn’t happen and she likes to blame everyone else, especially Gimley who she’s prejudiced against. Closest with Andhi. She was close with Nii as well but now she’s starting to question the other’s loyalty.
- Blessing: Can breathe underwater.
Wren – From a runner tribe. Very friendly and open and charismatic. Has a bird companion named Chirp. She’s closest with Dera followed by Loclen and Prevna.
- Blessing: She can speak with birds. She bonds the easiest with wrens and other songbirds.
Clara – Sprout that is always in the nested library with Shawsh.
- Blessing: can change the color of inanimate objects.
Fern – Sapling. Gimley’s group advisor during their trip through the woodlands to the Rookery.
Mil – Sprout who “makes the best nectar” and sells it for small favors and offerings in the arena.
Beet – Peacekeeper. Part of Hattie’s squad.
- Blessing: Her hands and feet can stick to surfaces when she wishes it.
Corrin – Mellow whisper woman who has a very valuable blessing. Helped Gimley recover after Jin tested Gimley’s blessing during their one-on-one training.
- Blessing: Can make someone as they were an hour before, but she can only do it once a day. She has saved many from life threatening injuries with it. “Be as you were.”
Dawnli – Hundred Eyes (Sect head).
Eliss – Peacekeeper. Mishtaw’s life partner. She doesn’t like Gimley that much and thinks she’s a troublemaker.
- Blessing: her skin takes on an unusual texture and it boosts her physical defense.
Esie - Intermediary for the Lady of Calm Waters. Gives Gimley advice on occasion and keeps tabs on her. In a relationship with Kaylan.
Hana – Very skilled at shadow walking.
Hattie – Peacekeeper. Chatty, friendly squad leader. Likes dramatics and grand gestures.
- Blessing: Can make holes appear in the ground by twirling her finger.
Jin - Peacekeeper (Second in command). The cohort’s assigned teacher when they arrived at the Seedling Palace. Known for efficiently punishing those who didn’t adhere to the Scales’ rulings and forcing compliance.
- Blessing: Named Blessing (Desperation’s Mirage). Creates illusions with some physicality and effects.
- Known as the Enforcer.
Kaylan – The lazy sentry. A bit smug, easily amused, likes to tease, and is a good storyteller. In a relationship with Esie.
- Blessing: Can hear things miles away if she focuses.
- Known as Far Listener.
Lithunia – Hundred Eyes. High Priestess and leader of the goddess’s Chosen. Snow and shadow color scheme.
- Blessing: Can freeze her surroundings.
- Known as the Lady of Frost.
Melka – Peacekeeper. Hattie’s second-in-command.
- Blessing: Aura that strikes terror in the hearts of creatures within fifty paces. She can tell if it takes hold or not, and protect a select number of people in her area from the effect.
Mishtaw – Seeker. Leader of the squad Gimley and the rest get assigned to when they go the shore. Now Gimley’s sole allowed whisper woman mentor.
- Blessing: She can yell out a battle cry that increases her allies strength and agility for a short time.
- Known as the Relic Seeker.
Nadia (the Commander) – Peacekeeper (Sect head).
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- Blessing: Storm Drinker.
Rivon – Hundred Eyes (Second-in-command).
Tasha – Strikingly beautiful. Owes Gimley a debt.
- Blessing: Can transform into a giant gray and black hawk that trails smoky shadows.
Yeelan – Esie’s sister. They look near identical though Yeelan is normally the dourer of the two. She’s a happy, giggly drunk.
Yetti (deceased) – The previous seedling mentor before Jin.
Yolanda – Scales (Sect head). Doesn’t take well to critique or humor. Strict.
Yule – Hundred Eyes. Sleek, no nonsense (or a prissy wretch according to some). Jin’s supporter.
- Blessing: Can spy on people from afar by viewing them through floating rectangles (screens).
Colm – Fern’s fire starter. Wiry older man with the presence of a hunter.
Creed – Mishtaw’s fire starter. Very strong and Petra’s husband. Loyal and good-natured.
Petra – Eliss’s fire starter and Creed’s wife. Has a strong sense of direction and tracking training. Clear headed and kind.
Shawsh – Caretaker of the nested library in the Seed Landing. Makes miniature sculptures and knows the library like the back of his hand. Clara’s bound fire starter.
Maud
Morgan
Ressia
Sid – In the final stages of his training when he helps Gimley’s group on their trip to the Rookery. Excitable and nervous, talkative.
Trish – Petra’s younger sister.
Anore - Motherly storm bird in the Rookery.
Barra - Whisper woman and Tracker of the Rookery.
Cloud - Storm bird in the Rookery. Very gentle flying.
Douwan - Tufani’s adult son and Miyan’s father.
Miyan - Young girl living in the Rookery.
Tufani (Two-fawn-ni) - Tamer of the Rookery.
Fellen - A huntress’s apprentice in the Gabbler Shore tribe.
Rawley - Lone huntress of the Gabbler Shore tribe and Gimley’s mentor.
Ekail - Friendly Carver that Tufani introduces Gimley to. Gifts Gimley a wooden carving of a storm bird.
Magda - A Carver of few words that Tufani introduces Gimley to.
Old Ion - The oldest known Carver according to Ekail and Magda.
Azabel (Az-AH-bell) - Sister goddess to Heliquat.
Chirp - Wren’s bird companion. He is a wren.
Dogar – Part of Milwa’s Picker band and protective of his cooking.
Heliquat (Hell-e-quat) – Goddess ruling over the territory where the story takes place. Largely associated with darkness, death, pine trees, and blood.
Her Beloved/ The Beloved - The only person to personally win Heliquat’s favor and convinced Her to allow humans to live in Her territory. Now she helps to act as an intermediary between the goddess and humanity. Blood and shadow color scheme. Tattoo artist? (the goddess saw her work and liked the idea of leaving her mark on others too?)
Igi (deceased) – Prevna’s childhood friend.
Lady Blue (aka the Devouring Blue)
Lady of Calm Waters
Milwa - Prevna’s mother and leader of her Picker band. She had Prevna call her by her name from a young age in public as “she couldn’t only be her mother.”
Moorkin – One of the first Chosen and the first Recorder. Wrote the Collection of Wishes and has much of her writing and drawings reproduced to preserve her first hand account of the beginning of the Fealty Age.
Ver – Prevna’s childhood friend. Has a slight obsession with ice folk.
Azabel Statue
Broken Spear Peaks (Upper Peaks and Lower)
Calling Road
Carver Enclave
First Shore Lake
Flickermark
Gabbler Shore
Grislander’s Maw
Haggler’s Cliffs
Root Mountains
Seedling Palace – contains the goddess’s residence.
- Arena
- Healer’s Nests
- Seed Landing
- The Gathering Spot
Shadow Caster Mountains
Silver Forest
Statue Garden
The Arches – Has terraced gardens and a gigantic ice statue of the Beloved that never melts and protects the residents in the gorge from the ocean waves. Arched pathways stretch from one side to another over the river at the bottom.
The Crossing River
The Cut
The Folds
The Rookery
The Sisters (rivers)
Black Root – caps.
Corning flower – no caps.
Diatris leaves – no caps.
Feverluck – no caps.
Frostbite Berries – no caps.
Golden head – no caps.
Knuckle Grass – no caps. Has a dizzying affect if you ingest too much but otherwise works as a good base for potent recipes. Very common and has a stringent flavor and smell.
Lace Flower
Lady’s Tear – caps.
Lake Algae – no caps.
Lattis weed – no caps.
Needle Grass – no caps.
Purple Boulder Drops – no caps.
Ring Bush Bark – no caps.
Ripple Leaf Bush – no caps.
Seeping Moss – no caps.
Sleeper’s Nest – no caps.
Snow Berry Bush – no caps.
Spirit Flower/Spiritflower – no caps.
Sun Glory – no caps.
Sweet Grass – no caps. Often fermented.
Traveler’s Catch – caps.
Weaver’s Grass – no caps.
White Leaf
Bane Pack
Heart Backed Asper – venomous snake. Asper’s love is common name for its venom.
Screecher
Sea snake/water snake
Shaggy coated boar
Sleet Beetles – Chirp’s favorite snack.
Storm Birds
Conch commander
Crawler
Fish soldiers
Kraken/squid creature (no in world name yet)
Shamble men
Shore Eaters
Storm singers
Petition the Goddess
Recall
Stones and Circles/Circles and Stones
Hunter’s Quarry
Dark Night celebrations
First Flurry Festival
Heartsong Festival
Welcome of the Winds
Bone Ring story
Boulder and River myth
Ghost Trees
Grandmother and protective wall of bloody fire
Grislander
Ice Folk tales
Lace Flower Lady and her green denizen entourage
Sticky Fingers (person)
The First and Last Wave
The Thousand Cut Witch (whisper woman)
The Wave Whisperer (Whisper woman)
Warming Winds myths
Whisper woman who crushed a Shore Eater’s skull with her bare hands
Echo
Grandmother
Pack Leader
Tribe Leader
Claiming Sanctuary
Shrines
Use of tassels for status by fire starters
Blessing
Bless Mark
Common Blessing
Dark Sight
Elemental Resistance
Shadow Walking
Wind Whispering
Beastwatcher Sect
Caretakers Sect
Hundred Eyes Sect
Peacekeepers Sect
Scales Sect
Seekers Sect
Gabbler Shore
Rookery
Swirling Waters
Black Handed Healers
Carvers
Seedlings
Sprouts
Whisper Women
Carver’s Maze
Feather Heart
Glow stones
Hearth stones
Listener – a whisper woman whose role focuses on receiving and sending messages on the wind.
Patron
Picker band
Prayer needle
Tamer
Waterhole tribe
Warming Winds (aka Living Winds)