Hârndex/1st Edition/B

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HÂRNDEX B
 


Bailiff

On Harn, a person appointed to run a manor on behalf of the owner, or the assistant to a Sheriff (qv). If the former, a bailiff will manage the fief either for a fixed stipend or a percentage of the revenues and will reside in the manorhouse. If the latter, a bailiff will probably be one of several bailiffs in a shire responsible for royal justice in a sub-division of the shire, usually called "a hundred". His formal title will then be "Bailiff of the Hundred" and he will reside in a manorhouse, owned by the king.

Balakas, The [Jl, Kl, K2]

An archipelago lying off the northeast coast of Orbaal in the Sea of Ivae. The largest island, Kereva, is inhabited. A combination of hard weather and numerous reefs make the islands hazardous for seafarers.

Balesir of Chybisa

The 23rd monarch of the Kingdom of Chybisa. Balesir succeeded, almost by default, when the tragic death of Udine II brought an end to the House of Burzada in 664. The first ruler of the new House of Geledoth, perhaps through no fault of his own, became involved in the Treasure War with Kaldor in 675. After long years of peace, Balesir's Chybisan army was no match for the Kaldoric knights and Balesir soon found himself besieged in Burzyn. Balesir held out until 678 when plague and rebellion forced him to surrender. Receiving honourable exile from Torastra, the Kaldoric King, Balesir and his few vassals journeyed to Melderyn where the outcast king was finally able to raise an army in 686 after promising his fealty to Melderyn's king Chunel. At the battle of Geda, in 687, Balesir won back his throne but then broke his promise to swear fealty to Chunel (an act for which Verlid VII, Balesir's successor, still has ulcers). Balesir himself died of stomach cramps in 691.

Balgashang

The legendary flame-shrouded fortress of the god Agrik and his minions, possibly located at the centre of Kethira and said to be the location of Ak-Syt (qv).

Balhafen [M5]

A good natural harbour lying at the mouth of the Beldel River on the Isle of Keron. Sandy beaches allow shallow-draught vessels to be dragged ashore for repair. An Ivinian/Orbaalese settlement was established here, in 704, as a preliminary to the planned attack on Thay but it was mysteriously destroyed (either by a freak storm or by some action on the part of Melderyn) in 707. The anchorage is still occasionally used by mariners plying Harn's east coast but is avoided by most Orbaalese.

Balimshire

A shire of the Kingdom of Kaldor. The Shire moots are held at Shebra, the keep there being held for the king by the Sheriff of Balim.

Balm of Joy, Order of the

The celebate, female order of the church of Peoni (qv). The mother house is located in Thay and is also the residence of the Peonian primate of Harn. There are subsidiary temples in Aleath, Coranan, Cherafir and Tashal, as well as hundreds of unmanned roadside shrines dotted throughout civilised Harn. The sisters of the order are beloved and welcomed by common farming folk of good heart. Each temple has an infirmary, open to anyone of reasonable morals, on a pay as you can basis. The sisters spend most of their labours among the people, providing comfort and healing. The order abhors violence; most members would die themselves rather than cause suffering. The sisters tend to be aescetic vegetarians but there is no rule to this effect. The Irreproachable Order (qv), is the fraternal male equivalent of the Balm of Joy.

Balsha

Born to a common soldier of the Corani Empire in the Province of Rethem in 520, Balsha was the most important religious personality in the history of Harn. His preaching of Balshanism (qv), his charismatic personality and the accuracy of his prophesies, won him a massive following. The emperor Medak had Balsha impaled in 558 but his martyrdom fostered the Balshan Jihad (qv), a rebellion that had destroyed the Corani Empire in seven bloody years. Some have suggested that Balsha was a renegade Melderyni mage but this is unlikely.

Balshan Jihad

The rebellion triggered by the execution of Balsha in 558 TR and which by 565 had engulfed and destroyed the Corani Empire. The jihad led to the founding of the Theocracy of Tekhos in 568.

Balshanism

A variation of the dogma of the Church of Morgath, espoused by and named for the prophet Balsha (qv). Morgathian philosophy teaches that the afterlife is an eternity of misery and that one should live only for today. Balshanism argued that since the worldly existence of most, was in itself misery, to avoid eternal misery, one must serve Morgath well today and receive the rewards of a grateful deity, with "half-life eternal". In effect, Balshanism argues that worship of Morgath during one's lifetime, will moderate the misery of the afterlife, creating a state of eternal "undeath", now and forever.

Baron

The lowest hereditary title of nobility (on Harn), ranking below Earl. A barons's fief is called a Barony and usually contains a keep and about twenty manors. Roughly 70% of these will be held by vassal knights and the rest held by his appointed bailiffs.

Barsothe Falls [J3]

A 120 foot waterfall, which is the second cataract of the River Kald. Uvien, a master of elemental water is said to dwell nearby. Uvien's residence may be submarine, but is at least well hidden.

Baseta Keep [J4]

A keep in Meselyneshire, in the Kingdom of Kaldor, held by a constable on behalf of the Earl of Vemion.

Bedenes Keep [C6]

An orderial fief in Hohnamshire in the Kingdom of Rethem, held by the Order of the Warriors of Mameka from King Chafin III.

Bejist [K8]

An Earthmaster site on windswept Setha Heath. There is little evidence of this site above ground, but there may be many buried chambers. The Sindarin may have used the site for incarceration of criminals after the Codominium.

Bekar Keep [D7]

A barony in Parachshire in the Kingdom of Rethem, held by Clan Orgatt from King Chafin III.

Belna Island [J8, J9, K8, K9]

An island to the south of Setha Heath. It is the fourth largest of the Harnic Isles. The windward margins are hilly heathland, but the island is mostly mixed forest and woodland. Belna is the home of the Chymak (qv).

Belna Strait [J8, K8]

The strait separating Belna Island from Setha Heath. The western entrance is hazardous due to reefs and shoals.

Benath, Lake [F5, F6, G5, G6, H5]

Harn's largest lake is fed by rivers of the Felsha and Rayesha Mountains, and drained by the Thard River into Boka Bay. The few small islands are uninhabited. There are the usual legends of fearsome monsters, but only a particularly nasty type of stinging, freshwater eel is known to exist. Some parts, such as the Kubend Sink off Firis, seem bottomless. The lake is important to Shiran's prosperous fishing industry and the raw materials for the town's famous perfumes are also, in part, obtained here. The lake is normally quite calm, but can become very rough during southwesterly gales or storms.

Bidow Keep [J4]

A keep in the Kaldoric shire of Neph, held for the king by the Sheriff of Neph. The Shire Moots are held here.

Bijo Island [I1, J1]

The most northerly of the Harnic Isles, inhabited by seals and sea-birds.

Bindra Point [K2]

A cape projecting into the Sea of Ivae north of the Anoth Delta.

Biren, River [M9]

The central river of Solora which flows from the Anadel highlands to the Indatha Straits.

Birenshire

A shire of the kingdom of Melderyn. The Shire Moot is at Racyn, where the Sheriff of Biren holds the keep on behalf of the king. Theoretically. Birenshire includes the Solora wilderness region (qv).

Bjaka

The legendary "wind demon" of Mount Fyso (qv).

Black Lantern

(see Uhla)

Blessed Realm, The

The euphemistic name (the real name is unknown) of the present home of Siem. The Sindarin were, at the time of their arrival on Harn, headed for this realm, lying "far to the west". Periodically, groups of Sindarin will set sail for the Blessed Realm, which, almost certainly lies beyond the bounds of Kethira, through a "gate" which opens only to Siem's command.

Boka Bay [D6, D7]

An arm of the Gulf of Andurien at the mouth of the Thard River.

Brant of Nurelia

The 3rd king (172-207) of Nurelia's only ruling house, clan Ethelyen. Brant guided his kingdom skilfully through much of the Migration Wars. He was succeeded by Nurelia's last king, Lotin the Grey.

Bujoc, The

The tribal nation inhabiting Anadel (qv). The Bujoc are noted for their quasi-matriarchal culture and for the fact that they have inherited many of their traditions from the early Jarin. Some Jarin blood is certainly present but the degree is uncertain. The Bujoc support themselves by hunting and gathering but herb and vegetable patches may be found dotted about Anadel. Their tribes rarely exceed 100 and are generally nomadic although they do seem to gather frequently for large moots. There seem to be around 30 tribes. The Bujoc are not very warlike, tend to be shy of strangers, but have been known to offer assistence to lost travellers. When forced to fight, they prefer to employ bow and arrow from ambush, or from amidst the vegetation where their woodcraft makes them hard to see.

The tribes will occasionally trade with outsiders, but do not like to venture into the surrounding settlements, preferring instead to stop travellers on the Genin Trail to barter wolf and bear skins and other forest products for civilised artifacts. The Bujoc share the northern end of their range with the troublesome Chindra-Gargun bands; there is no love lost between them. The Bujoc try to avoid conflict by avoiding the Gargun.

Superstition and magic is rife among the Bujoc; fully 80% of the population uses some kind of "minor medicines". Shamans, and their enterourges travel from tribe to tribe, carrying news and performing useful spells. Such a group will consist of the shaman (most frequently female) and up to a half dozen "apprentices".

The Bujoc are matrilineal, and practice a high degree of sexual equality. The male "chief" usually acts on the advice of his wife, the real power behind the "throne". This de-facto government by the chief's wife will not, however, be apparent to outsiders who are rarely permitted even to look at the tribe's women. When the chief dies, his wife will take a new husband who will automatically become chief. When the chief's wife dies, the chief will take "the long walk", and her chosen heir (usually a daughter) will succeed her; her chosen mate will become chief. The women of the tribe sit frequently in council, and will settle tribal disputes among themselves. The Bujoc do not see marriage as a fundamentally sexual institution; any woman may summon to bed any unmarried male; married males may also be summoned with the permission of their wives, or of the chief's wife or of the women's council. Only the women are aware of the biological connection between sex and procreation.

Bula Pass [F8, F9, G8, D7]

A strait separating the Isle of Domid from the mainland.

Burzyn Castle.
Burzyn Castle [L7]

The principal seat of the King of Chybisa, Verlid VII of the House of Geledoth. The king also holds Onden Keep directly. Burzyn may be the most impressive fortification on Harn. Located at the only bridge across the Ulmerien River, the original castle was built some 500 years ago to guard against barbarian encroachment, but has been improved and enlarged many times since. Burzyn is a trading centre of some significance. The Hodiri use it for trading and it also commands the traffic between Thay and Tashal.

Bwaft [H4]

This Gargun (qv) cave-complex is located at an elevation of some 5,900', on the southeastern flank of Mount Obew. Winter forces the inhabitants (Gargu-kyani) into virtual hibernation .

Bythe Keep [G6]

A fortress in the Thardic Republic, garrisoned by the Shiran Legion.