Lenh, the royal capital of Sra
The Great River, the sacred river that runs through much of southern Sra and Khonua
Hans Waters, a major tributary of the Great River
Grui River, a major river running along the northern border of Sra and through Khonua
Gnauk, southeastern marshland region along the Great River, the traditional domain of younger princes of Mieh
Anrunh, site of a disastrous battle between Sra and Cziens during Glonh’s reign
Lonpha, site of a battle between Sra and Khonua in the first year of Klanh’s reign
Dranpan, site of a bloody battle between Sra and Cziens in the third year of Klanh’s reign, where Sra met with decisive defeat
Kiep, an unfortified northern town, not far from the plains of Dranpan
- the late King Klanh the Peaceful (Mieh Hiomtau), the eldest of five brothers
- Mieh Hiomwran, Klanh’s son and heir, strangled in his sickbed
- Hiomgran (Mieh Hiomwei), second brother and Steward of the Realm, who has usurped the throne
- Czekar (Mieh Hiompieh), third brother and Chancellor of the Right
- Czesiek (Hiom Mukkuen), fourth brother, Royal Stablemaster and Lord Governor of Gnauk
- Hiom Khesjit, the youngest of five brothers, of an age with Wran
Rathai, Mukkuen’s older sister
Naslin, a young servant
Prak Turei, the Prime Minister, originally from rival state Cziens
Czehak (Prak Khrakor), the Prime Minister’s cautious son and a Senior Officer of the kingdom
Kuizprak, the Prime Minister’s daughter, a certain Lady Nrais
Gna Kra, a sentimental but conscientious and faithful Senior Officer
Slin Mawah, the no-nonsense Harvestmaster
Slin Gwe, his son
Czellans, the Chancellor of the Left, whose talent has long been overlooked
Nrais Liaks, a Senior Officer of the kingdom
Nrais Slat, a general of the kingdom
Khut Llans, the current Maknau, “Wild Dog,” a hereditary post of the Khuts
Khut Lhin, son of Khut Llans, a Senior Officer of the kingdom
Khut Srienh, son of a previous Steward of the Realm
Toks Wuikrua, a wise Senior Officer of the state
Czegre (Mans Dennan), his greedy son
High Lord Muwn the Cultured, the second to be acknowledged as Hegemon in the history of Tu
the late High Lord Dawks the Mourned (Ke Tiu), acknowledged as Hegemon at age 25
Ke Priu, current High Lord
Ke Lei, Ke Priu’s sickly son and heir
Minister Czeshren, an elderly but still highly influential statesman, a pragmatist with no patience for superstition
Aoka, a boatman
Khobishne, a village chief
Makabis, Aoka’s mother, whereabouts unknown
Palhem, an ambitious Speaker
Luendang, Palhem’s grumpy son, next in line to take the reeds
Dangdukais, an easygoing officer of the Speaker’s “court”
Rangmun, a villager
Dumenh, who named himself King instead of Holdmaster, deceased
Tabhan, Dumenh’s son and king after him, killed in battle
Lazsas, Dumenh’s second son, king after Tabhan, killed by an Awat captive
Lamazs, Lazsas’s younger twin brother and the current king
Kuistrut of Nua, Dumenh’s youngest son, an internationally respected diplomat
Kuozslu, snarky younger half brother of Dumenh’s sons
Dhuktan, Lazsas’s widowed daughter
Trawnua, a deeply loyal and dignified officer of Slaz
Czenog (Kwar Zlons), a cynical diviner, originally of Sra, now working for Trawnua
High Lord Ghuar the Pillar, the first to be acknowledged as Hegemon in the history of Tu
Minister Krans, a widely respected elder statesman renowned for his sharp wit and short stature
Banka, the Ancient One
Buknai the Patriarch, who read the fates of the world
Nanue the Restorer, who patched the walls of Heaven
Tuklum, the Lord of Fire, from whom the house of Mieh claims descent
The Golden Bear, the founding mother of Mieh
Siuns, the first of the Sage Kings
Hero Wa, who moved the hills and conquered the rivers, then founded the Age of Gra
Kuon, “Lord Blackfish,” the disgraced father of Wa
Krulhors, a legendary sword of Awat, one of a twinned pair
Graklhors, a legendary sword of Awat, one of a twinned pair
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