Composed by the master scholar himself.
Lan Banti (Lahn Bahn-tee): The art of using Banti, the Source associated with Life and body. By removing the bark from a piece of living wood, practitioners of Lan Banti (also known as invokers) can access the Banti in the wood, releasing it in the form of various types of energy.
It is most commonly used to provide light and heat, but the art’s uses are vast. An invoker simply needs to take hold of their chosen instrument, form an invocation in their mind, and release the power.
Invocations take the form of a command. The first part of the command is for the Banti to either change into a different form of energy or stay the same. The second part commands the desired shape of the energy’s release. When Banti energy is released, it is fired from the instrument and accompanied by bright green flames that dissipate upon impact.
Lan Kuanghi (Lahn Kwan-gee): The art of using Kuanghi, the Source associated with Wild Freedom, or the mind. The art is commonly referred to as beastlore, and its practitioners are sometimes called beastlorists.
Lan Kuanghi draws upon the primal instincts of Sentients, enabling them to bond with the beasts of Lun. Using a soft bond, a Sentient can communicate telepathically with a beast. This requires a reaching out with the Sentient’s mind.
By instinctively widening the flow of Kuanghi between oneself and a beast, a full bond can be instantiated. With the full bond comes an intimate awareness of the beast, including its location and emotional state. With a full bond, a beastlorist can draw upon the beast’s strength, supplementing their own. Additionally, a Sentient can utilize the attributes of the bonded beast. Examples include heightened senses, wings for flight, and claws for use in combat. Some attributes manifest physically as azure projections, both slightly transparent and slightly luminescent.
Lan Mhong (Lahn Mohng): The art of using Mhong, the Source associated with Song and the spirit. Known as Singers, practitioners of the art Sing enchantments over objects, beasts, and Sentients.
The words of the Song are less important than the intent of the Singer. Truly the most artistic of the Three Arts, Singers draw from the Mhong energy that rests in all things, imparting it into a target to pull on various aspects of its spirit that will in turn have differing effects on the physical or spiritual state of the target. For inanimate objects, a pseudo-spirit is created that fades as the Mhong energy infusing it dissipates.
Powerful Singers can enchant objects for years at a time, though it would require a significantly long Song. Songs used to enchant beasts and Sentients fade more quickly.
Hukan (Hoo-Kahn): Tall, broad-shouldered people with feathers in place of hair. Black feathers are most common, though other colors are not unheard of. Hukan crests begin above the forehead and continue over the top and back of the head (leaving the sides of the head bare) and down the spine.
Men also grow a mane of feathers over their shoulders and chest. Their crests are typically taller than females. Both are characterized by amber eyes, and sharp, hooked noses are most common.
Hukan were created with a higher density of Kuanghi, and thus have the greatest aptitude for beastlore among the Sentient races. Consequently, their ability to learn Lan Banti and Lan Mhong is diminished.
Hetanzou, Het (Het-ahn-zoh): The balanced people. Typically shorter than Banqilun and Hukan but taller than Montililun, the appearance of Hetanzou can vary greatly. Dark eyes and hair are most common. Hetanzou skin color tends to be darker in the north than in central Lun or the south.
Hetanzou were created with equal amounts of Banti, Kuanghi, and Mhong. Therefore, they have equal aptitudes for each of the Three Arts. While each of the other three Sentient races have greater talents for their respective arts, the level field for the Hetanzou brings about great diversity.
Montililun, Mon (Mohn-til-il-loon): The shortest of the Sentient races, most Montililun look much like smaller, thinner versions of Hetanzou. Because of their ancestral home in the north of Lun and proclivity for sailing, tanned skin and sun-bleached hair are common.
Montililun were created with greater amounts of Mhong, and thus have a greater talent for Lan Mhong. Their aptitude for Lan Banti and Lan Kuanghi are lessened as a result. However, a side effect of the Montililun’s Source makeup is their ability to see the emotional state of others as a colored aura around them. Additionally, a Montililun’s eyes change colors to reflect their own emotions.
Banqilun (Bahn-chee-loon): Tall and most often wispy, Banqilun typically stand a head above even Hukan. Most Banqilun are long of limb, with knobby joints and thick skin. However, rounder Banqilun are not unheard of.
Banqilun skin is most often a dark brown, but can be lighter, and even a pale shade of gray. Their hair ranges from a dark, mossy green to bright yellows and even red. Eyes tend to be dark. Banqilun are made up of a greater amount of Banti than the other Sentient races, and display a significant aptitude for Lan Banti. However, this means that their inclinations towards Lan Kuanghi and Lan Mhong are less than the other peoples.
Wanyi (Wahn-yee): Hukan. Chief of the Owl Clan of the United Hukan Clans.
Meisun (May-soon): Montililun. Proprietor of the Enchanted Shanty in the Owl District.
Yishan (Yee-shahn): Hukan. Head clerk of the Owl Clan and Wanyi’s spymaster.
Ramreunya (Rahm-ruhn-yah): Hetanzou. Emperor of the Tohk Empire. Formerly the Royal Cartographer and son-in-law of the former king of the Het Kingdom, Sithmonset, who was so pleased with Ramreunya’s work in mapping the entirety of Lun, he gave one of his daughters to him in marriage. Many worship Ramreunya as “the Recreator,” after reading his writings from his journeys around the continent.
Sithmonset (Sit-mohn-set): Hetanzou. Final king of the Het Kingdom, who began the war with the United Hukan Clans. Deceased.
Kanlan (Kahn-lahn): Hukan. High King of the United Hukan Clans and chief of the Owl Clan. Husband to Nensin and father of Wanyi. Deceased.
Nensin (Nen-seen): Hukan. Former High Queen of the United Hukan Clans. Owl Clan. Widow of High King Kanlan and mother of Wanyi. She is a devout Child of Silence.
Ban (Bahn): A red-tailed hawk befriended by Wanyi.
Lishan (Lee-shahn): A young working dog found by Wanyi as a stray in the Owl district of Shanshia.
Fahyo (Fah-yoh): Meisun’s brother and co-proprietor of the Enchanted Shanty.
Yushagai (Yoo-shah-guy): The legendary sky dragon sometimes worshiped by the Hukan people. It is said to be able to control the weather.
Jinhua (Jeen-hwa): Hukan. Chief of the Eagle Clan. Wanyi’s childhood friend.
Tukaren (Too-kah-ren): Hukan. Chief of the Ram Clan.
Dandan (Dahn-dahn): Hukan. Chief of the Buffalo Clan. Youngest member of the council of Hukan clan chiefs.
Ningroh (Neeng-roh): Hukan. Chief of the Stag Clan.
Kuozai (Koo-oh-zai): Hukan. Chief of the Wolf Clan.
Chengroh (Chung-roh): Hukan. Chief of the Bear Clan. The oldest member of the council of Hukan clan chiefs. He sought out Wanyi and Jinhua and brought them back to Shanshia after the war with the Het Kingdom ended.
Sanchi (Sahn-chee): Hukan. Chief of the Falcon Clan.
Kancheng (Kahn-chung): Hukan. Chief of the Lion Clan.
Rohdan (Row-dahn): Hukan. Bear Clan. Chengroh’s grandson. Friends with Tukharen.
Lun (Loon): The largest continent in the known world, and home to the four Sentient races and their respective kingdoms.
United Hukan Clans: The ancestral nation of the Hukan people, made up of the nine Hukan Clans. Formerly governed by High King Kanlan of the Owl Clan until the war with the Het Kingdom, during which the High King and his three eldest sons were slain. After the war, the United Hukan Clans were governed by the council of Hukan clan chiefs.
Mon Empire: The ancestral empire of the Montililun, whose lands include the Island and the city of Colony on the northeastern coast of Lun. Its people are known for being easy-going lovers of the sea and of songs.
Tohk Empire (Toke): The current empire of the Hetanzou, founded by Ramreunya. Each year, every citizen must complete a basic test of mental and physical fitness called the Testing. Those that fail are given a week to set their things in order before being given a swift death. Each Hetanzou must also choose one of the Three Arts to practice, and practicing arts outside of one’s choice is forbidden.
Het Kingdom: The former kingdom of the Hetanzou, whose last king was Sithmonset. Warred with the United Hukan Clans after a mysterious slaughter of Hetanzou villagers near the Hukan border.
Shanshia (Shahn-shee-ah): The capital city of the United Hukan Clans and the ancestral home of the Owl Clan.
The Council Hall: The former High King of the United Hukan Clans’ castle. It was sacked in the war with the Het Kingdom before eventually being turned over to the council of Hukan clan chiefs. More specifically, the phrase “Council Hall” refers to the meeting room of the council of chiefs.
Dawnwood Forest: The largest forest in Lun that covers most of the land of the United Hukan Clans from Shanshia to the antarctic in the south.
Daohet (Dow-het): The former capital of the Het Kingdom.
Tohkdao (Toke-dow): The capital of the Tohk Empire, formerly known as Daohet.
Zijiang (Zee-jee-ahng): A smaller town to the east of Shanshia in the United Hukan Clans.
The Enchanted Shanty: The store owned by Meisun and her Band. Sells mostly goods from the Island, but also provides Lan Mhong enchantment services.
Colony: The ancestral home of the Montililun on the northeast coast of Lun.
The Island: The current center of power of the Mon Empire, founded after Montililun sailors Sang the Nidonan Sea to stillness and sailed across it.
The Creator: Legends say the Creator once walked with Sentients in Lun, and even used to speak directly into their minds, much like a bond of Lan Kuanghi. Many centuries ago, the Creator ceased speaking to Sentients, which gave rise to the name, “Father Silence”. Now, most people believe the Creator abandoned Sentientkind, or was only ever a legend to begin with.
Children of Silence: A sect of Sentients who still worship the Creator, often referring to Him as “the Silent Lord.” They continue to practice the ways of kindness and righteousness that the legends speak of. The Children of Silence was founded by Wanyi’s grandmother, who came to believe after communing with a mysterious owl named Tianfu.
Diani (Dee-ahn-ee): The traditional outer garment of the United Hukan Clans for both men and women, the diani generally covers its wearer from neck to the knees, and is tied closed with a belt. Typically made from cotton or wool.
Invoker: Practitioner of Lan Banti.
Beastlorist: Practitioner of Lan Kuanghi.
Beastmaster: One who practices Lan Kuanghi by bonding beasts against their will.
Lan’ti (Lan Banti) staff, wand (Lahn-tee): A wooden rod, staff, or wand that has been stripped of bark and used for practicing Lan Banti.
Band: A group of Montililun who agree to live, work, and travel together. Not all members of a Band are related by blood, but Bands are often made up of one or more families. The membership of a Band is often in flux.