The Great Ordeal (Aspect-Emperor #3)

The Cult of Yatwer

The traditional Cult of the slave and menial castes, taking as its primary scriptures The Chronicle of the Tusk, the Higarata, and the Sinyatwa. Yatwer is the Goddess of the earth and fertility.

Psatma Nannaferi - Mother-Supreme of the Cult, a position long outlawed by the Thousand Temples.

Hanamem Sharacinth - Matriarch of the Cult.

Momemn

Biaxi Sankas - Patridomos of House Biaxi, and an important member of the New Congregate.

Caxes Anthirul - Exalt-General of the Three Seas.

Imhailas - Exalt-Captain of the Eothic Guard.

Issiral - The Narindar contracted by Esmenet.

Naree - A Nilnameshi prostitute.

Ngarau - eunuch Grand Seneschal from the days of the Ikurei Dynasty.

Phinersa - Holy Master of Spies.

Powtha Iskaul — General of the Twenty-ninth Column.

Thopsis - eunuch Master of Imperial Protocol.

Vem-Mithriti - Grandmaster of the Imperial Saik and Vizier-in-Proxy.

Werjau - Prime-Nascenti, and Judge-Absolute of the Ministrate.

The Great Ordeal

Varalt Sorweel - Only son of Harweel.

Varalt Harweel - King of Sakarpus.

Captain Harnilias - Commanding officer of the Scions.

Zsoronga ut Nganka’kull - Successor-Prince of Zeum, and hostage of the Aspect-Emperor.

Obetegwa - Senior Obligate of Zsoronga.

Porsparian - Shigeki slave given to Sorweel.

Thanteus Eskeles - Mandate Schoolman, and tutor to Varalt Sorweel.

Nersei Proyas - King of Conriya, and Exalt-General of the Great Ordeal.

Coithus Saubon - King of Caraskand, and Exalt-General of the Great Ordeal.

Gwanw? - Swayali witch promoted Grandmistress in Serwa’s absence.

Sibaw?l - Leader of the Cepaloran contingent of the Great Ordeal.

Siroyon - Leader of the Famiri contingent of the Great Ordeal.

Ishterebinth

Oinaral Lastborn - Son of Oir?nas, youngest of the Nonman, last of the Siqu.

Nil’giccas (Cleric) - The Nonman King of Ishterebinth, lost to the Dolour.

Immiriccas - Son of Cinial, imprisoned in the Amiolas for sedition.

Harapior - The Lord Torturer of Ishterebinth.

Nin’ciljiras - Son of Ninar, Son of Nin-janjin, last surviving heir of Tsonos.

Oir?nas - Hero of the C?no-Inchoroi Wars, lost to the Dolour.

Cilc?liccas - The Lord of Swans, Master of the Injori Quya.

Cu’mimiral - The Dragon-gored, prominent among the Injori Ishroi.

S?jara-nin - Dispossessed Son of Si?l, prominent among the Si?lan Ishroi.

The Boatman - The Master of the Great Ingressus.

Ancient K?niüri

Anas?rimbor Celmomas II (2089-2146) - High-King of K?niüri, and tragic principal of the First Apocalypse.

Anas?rimbor Nau-Cay?ti (2119-2140) - youngest son of Celmomas, and tragic hero of the First Apocalypse.

Seswatha (2089-2168) - Grandmaster of the Sohonc, lifelong friend of Celmomas, founder of the Mandate, and determined foe of the No-God.

The D?nyain

A monastic sect whose members have repudiated history and animal appetite in the hope of finding absolute enlightenment through the control of all desire and circumstance. For two thousand years they have hidden in the ancient fortress of Ishu?l, breeding their members for motor reflexes and intellectual acuity.

The Consult

The cabal of magi and generals that survived the death of the No-God in 2155 and has laboured ever since to bring about his return in the so-called Second Apocalypse.

The Thousand Temples

The institution that provides the ecclesiastical framework of Zaudunyani Inrithism.

The Ministrate

The institution that oversees the Judges, the New Imperium’s religious secret police.

The Schools

The collective name given to the various academies of sorcerers. The first Schools, both in the Ancient North and the Three Seas, arose as a response to the Tusk’s condemnation of sorcery. The so-called Major Schools are: the Swayal Sisterhood, the Scarlet Spires, the Mysunsai, the Imperial Saik, the Vokalati, and the Mandate (see below).

The Mandate

Gnostic School founded by Seswatha in 2156 to continue the war against the Consult and to protect the Three Seas from the return of the No-God, Mog-Pharau. Incorporated into the New Imperium in 4112. All Mandate Schoolmen relive Seswatha’s experience of the First Apocalypse in their dreams.





Acknowledgments


Kellhus I am not.

I’m the kind of guy who would starve for forgetting to eat. I sometimes think I’m only half a person, given the way my projects consume me and my attention. I depend on others to lend me the semblance of being whole, more than most, I think. There’s my wife and my daughter, of course. My agent, Chris Lotts, and my brother, Bryan.

My other conditions of possibility include Mike Hillcoat, Zach Rice, Andy Tressler, and everyone else at the Second Apocalypse forum. Thank you all not simply for believing in the series, but for assuring it walks Conditioned Ground. If these books are remembered, it will be due to you.

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