The Lore of Sithesia
The history, prophecies, orders, creatures and customs of Sever Bronny’s world, from a timeline of Sithesia to the Sacred Chivalric Code of the Arcaner. Looking for spells? See the complete spell list.
A Timeline of Sithesia
Years are counted After the Founding (AF).
The Sacred Chivalric Code of the Arcaner
Semperis vorto honos. An Arcaner’s shield fades with every lie or breach of the code.
- Thou shall never refuse a challenge from an equal.
- Thou shall never turn thy back on a foe.
- Thou shall always show thy stripes before thine enemy.
- Thou shall not duel the lower ranks without serious provocation.
- Thou shall be gallant and fair to those unable to learn the craft.
- Thou shall never take the life of a weaponless Ordinary.
- Thou shall always accept a bent knee.
- Thou shall give succor to widows and orphans and beggars.
- Thou shall refuse pecuniary reward for doing thy duty.
- Thou shall fight for the welfare of all.
- Thou shall guard the honor of the arcane craft.
- Thou shall seek knowledge that contributes to the craft.
- Thou shall preserve and honor the Hallowed Trust.
- Thou shall never break thy word.
- Thou shall serve thy lord and king and kingdom with valor and courage and an open heart.
- But thou shall also root out corruption in all its forms, and the sanctity of the truth shall vanquish any title.
- Thou shall swear fealty to this code of honor, for it is the war ye are locked in from this moment on.
The Arcaners
The warlock-knights of Fury of a Rising Dragon and Arcane Legacy.
The ranks
An Arcaner rises from squire to dragoon to dragon. A squire’s shield bears the order’s words, a dragoon’s a castle, and a dragon’s a dragon atop it.
The shield
Every Arcaner’s shield bears Semperis vorto honos. The words fade with a lie or a breach of the code. A first breach halves the Arcaner’s simuls, a second quarters them, and a third makes them an Arcaner in Disgrace. Only a pilgrimage of humility restores the shield.
Simuls
Arcaner-only spells woven from two others, learned at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 13th, 16th and 20th degrees. See them all on the spell list.
Customs
An Arcaner speaks the Final Valediction after every kill, and may declare war lawfully, in the old way. Their sworn enemies are the Whisper Blades, founded by the fallen Arcaner Riktus.
Isobel Roseheart
The founder of the order and the first Arcaner, a woman, known as Prima Arcana. Her teachings against the predator within are still studied.
Breastplates
The golden, dragon-crested breastplates of the order bear the words Defendi au o dominia: Defender of the Kingdom.
Dragons of Endraga Ra
Endraga Ra
The plane of dragons, lit by three suns (pink, orange and ivory) and studded with earthen pillars. Dragons live there in twenty-one lairs.
The dragons
Spiritual beings of eight elements, necromancy among them. They see with tendrils, radiate a Fear aura, cast wild arcanery and are measured in “barns.” Some believe they are the source of all arcanery.
Necro dragons
Matte black and crimson, they drain life. Three together can snuff out arcanery.
Siege-engine dragons
Ancient Rivican war machines shaped like dragons, castle-sized and fuelled by warlocks. It once took true dragons to fell them.
Spirit of the Dragon
The Leyan simul that turns a warlock into a dragon about a barn and a half in size. It drains stamina constantly, and a caster at zero reverts, helpless.
The Callousness of the Predator
The price of the dragon. Coldness becomes cruelty, then bloodlust, with cravings for dragon eggs and visions of three suns. Defenses: the code, naming loved ones, and Isobel’s meditation, “I am the watcher,” neither horse nor rider.
Proverbs & Old Sayings
Folk wisdom, riddles and idioms heard across Sithesia.
Proverbs of Sithesia
A child is not born with the sins of its parents.
The sins of the father are not the sins of the son.
In old mythology, all things ugly come from Hell, and all things beautiful from Ley.
Mrs. Stone, RivenOne cannot find wisdom without first searching for it.
Esha, Mercy’s TrialA sword ought not to rust in its scabbard.
The sword calling the dagger sharp.
Said of hypocrisy‘Tis only a swallow that dares call another swallow a swift.
Boulders don’t roll too far away from mountains.
ValorCourtesy is to gentle men as wallowing is to swine.
Bowlander, LegendYe don’t win a battle sittin’ in ye castle.
Any warlock worth his robe.
Every good deed deserves its due.
Sometimes a cap is just a cap.
Once in a red moon.
None be so sorry as those who make their friends worry.
Danger comes with the upwind breeze.
Mrs. Stone, Mercy’s TrialA soul of thrift cannot be bought.
It is not the mice who stir when the lion enters— —but the sheep who crave its protection.
Flames of StoneThe cure for love can be a broken heart.
Death doth stand outside thy door.
Buried for the ‘mancer.
A cynical oneSticks in the sand, sticks in the snow, reveal a man, dead long ago.
“A shot across the shoulder,” as they sayShouldst the candle dieth after Endyear, all would be clear. Shouldst it dieth prior, the house would know naught but ire.
An Endyear superstitionPerfection has no place in battle when good enough is all you need to survive.
The sheep shall not stray beyond the pen, for in the forest the wolf awaits.
Quoted by MahmouteThe path of persuasion is walked not in silence, but with a lively tongue.
First quoted by Mahmoute to AugumThe lord of war cometh and bringeth with him the mightiest of furies.
An ancient proverb in the Arcaner codexSayings of the Peoples
Long peace makes weak men.
Canterran, well knownVirtue is crafted together hand-in-hand, one step at a time.
Ohmish, quoted by NaokiAll things must pass.
from Mrs. Stone’s letter, Clash; Thomas and Panza say “All things pass”If the past is an echo of hardship and the future a whisper of promise, what then is the present? Answer: Learning.
An Ohmish riddleHide no lies with a second pair of eyes.
AbrandianNek oco na—death sees nothing.
Henawa, The Arcane ArtistWhen faced with the most dreaded of dreads, the heart longs for peace.
A Solian kingAlways keep them coming back.
Merchants’ proverbShades of manure!
Sailors’ idiomSeventeen-leventeen, ain’t no in-between!
A seventeenth-birthday rhymeWords in the Old Tongue
Soto nei soto. Sword no Sword.
Meaning: “Come and leave in peace—no harm sent, no harm returned.” Flames of StoneYestus aro o sureka au mirthus. Jesters are the source of mirth.
Ven del dubu, kel o sprutu. When in doubt, check the sprout.
Advanced Arcaneology class proverb, Whispers of WrathFrom the Stage & the Sea
Today a warlock I hath becometh. Thus hath I becometh locked in war.
From the famous tragic play A Baron’s BlunderSpeak thy mind, oh sheltered ones!
from an old play, Whispers of WrathThat nary answers the query, doth it?
from the famous play Fanny’s Follies, Storms of the AncientsLions and tigers and minotaurs and wyverns and lizards and krakens and gargoyles and goblins. In lands beyond such beasts rove, battling kingdoms in trials of woe.
Mclidian the MarinerMottos of Sithesia
Cogniata, excellan, servi
Knowledge, excellence, service.
The Academy of Arcane Arts
Omnio incipus equa liberatus corsisi mei
All begin equal but only the curious thrive.
Library of Antioc
Nosiquos ani enitrios
Knowledge is forever.
Library of Bahbell
Semperis vorto honos
Courage, fortitude, honor.
The Arcaners
Loyaltos fidelema ruthergara
Loyalty, faith, ruthlessness.
The Path Archons
Saenius praetius kavoss
Speed, stealth, cunning.
The Whisper Blades
Ascendi, eo stroma
Rise up, ever strong.
House Brewerson (The Grizzly)
Honos alvara avenga
Honor always avenged.
House Von Edgeworth
Adversi alua probata
Against all odds.
House Arinthian
Del servi o tei ancro balan
In service to the sacred balance.
House Sepherin
Nei avenia unexplocio
No avenue unexploited.
House Blackflower
The World of Sithesia
The seven kingdoms
Solia (capital Blackhaven, home of the Academy of Arcane Arts and the Black Castle), Canterra (Ironfeather and the Academy of Iron), Tiberra (Dramask), Nodia (its four tribes), Ohm (home of the Seers), Abrandia, and Sierra (the Titans, a lightning clan). Legend says the seven were forged from seven shards of one blade.
Beyond Sithesia
Ley, a separate plane of orange desert where the immortal Leyans live under a Vow of Isolation. Endraga Ra, the plane of dragons, beneath three suns. And across the ocean, the beast kingdoms of wolf, bull, lizard and lion.
The calendar
Years are counted After the Founding. Each month is 30 days, for a 360-day year. The academy runs on the five-day quint; elsewhere folk count in tendays. The year ends with Endyear and the midnight Star Feast.
The arcane orders
The Arcaners, warlock-knights sworn to the code below. Their enemies the Whisper Blades, a guild of assassins. And the Path Archons, Canterra’s counter-Arcaners of the Path faith, with black rings and a crimson shield.
Peoples
Warlocks are a tiny minority; everyone else is an Ordinary. Among the other peoples are the Henawa of the plains, the immortal Leyans, the lion-like Dreadnoughts, the towering wolven of the north, and the gargoyles (gorgan) from beyond the sea.
Creatures
Hellhounds, harpies and the banyan beast. The undead: walkers, wraiths, regenerating revenants and reavers bound to their maker. Sea serpents and krakens. And the dragons themselves, who cast wild arcanery and are measured in “barns.”
The old way
Ancient customs still honored: duels fought barefoot, disowning a kin, cursing, showing one’s stripes before an enemy, lawful declarations of war, and forgiveness offered by laying a blade at the feet of the bereaved. The dead are remembered with blue fire.
The Unnameables
The gods of Sithesia, invoked in oaths. Some whisper that they were once mortal warlocks who simply grew ancient.
The Academy of Arcane Arts
Cogniata, excellan, servi. Knowledge, excellence, service.
The academy
Over nine centuries old and built atop Rivican and Arcaner ruins, the Academy of Arcane Arts boasts floating wings, the Hall of Heroes, secret Trainers, Mute Manor, a shopping street called Shoptown, and the Hall of Rapture, whose doors open onto random places. In a siege, a dome seals it shut.
Degrees and graduation
Students advance one degree per term and graduate at the 10th degree. Their robes mark their degree.
The law
Learning more than two degrees ahead of one’s own is illegal, punishable by arcastration. Healing and wartime are the exceptions.
Service
Every warlock owes proata mentora, tutoring and service to the community: 10% of their time, 20% for healers.
The Trio’s Class Schedules
Their 7th-degree timetables at the Academy of Arcane Arts, Autumn/Winter term of 3342, during Burden’s Edge. The academy quint has four days of classes and one Study Day. Classes end at the 3rd afternoon bell.
Augum Stone
Element: Lightning · Degree: 7th · Term: Autumn/Winter 3342Bridget Burns
Element: Earth · Degree: 7th · Term: Autumn/Winter 3342Leera Jones
Element: Water · Degree: 7th · Term: Autumn/Winter 3342The Trio: Birthdays
All three were born in the year 3326 After the Founding.
The Seers’ Prophecy
When thy fallen can’t be slain,
when lion children rise again,
when fires burn from east to west,
blood of kin can vanquish death.
Notable Character Quotes
Memorable words from the people of Sithesia, grouped by who said them.
The Trio
“Battle makes people creative.”
“I guess that’s something I’ve learned … that all we can do is try our very best.”
“I always thought loving someone meant accepting them as exactly who they are.”
“Today … today we become more than we are.”
“It’s not who you’re related to. It’s what’s in here.”
“True friendship is powerful, more powerful than a spell, and even more powerful than a determined enemy.”
“Memorizing something doesn’t mean you understand it.”
“I lost all of my brothers, but now I have you. You are my brother.”
“Uh, people sometimes think we’re too young to fall in love. I tell those people to stuff themselves.”
“Life is short and fragile. Like, ridiculously fragile.”
“People have choices. He chose his path a long time ago.”
Mrs. Stone (Anna Atticus Stone)
“Spell-casting is like traversing through a thick forest. At first, there is no path and you have to make one. After, the more you tread on this path, the clearer it becomes.”
“You see, I shall never again teach someone the arcane art without knowing which way their moral compass points.”
“Be wary of power, Augum, for power corrupts.”
“Lightning is a serious element that takes concentration and discipline, and discipline is built on many foundations, not the least of which is waking early—”
“Patience is a skill that transcends, Augum. You will find it as useful in housework as in spellcraft.”
“See it before you do it.”
“Without absolute conviction and concentration, you will fail!”
“No, I will teach you mastery. … And you will learn, Augum. I daresay, you will learn …”
“Sometimes there are unintended consequences for doing just enough.”
“I find decisions are best made on a full stomach.”
“Death comes to us all, young prince. Killing does not right wrongs, something your father understood well.”
“Leave the castle and inform Lividius that the hole in his heart cannot be filled with what he seeks.”
“The royal court has always been a dangerous place.”
“Mrs. Stone told me working through exhaustion makes a good warlock great.”
“One of the keys to greatness is review, Augum. Cleverness only gets you so far.”
“Knowledge is important. It is like fire—if it is not kept alight, it shall extinguish. Once in a while, a reminder is needed.”
“It is as wise to know one’s weaknesses as it is to know one’s strengths.”
“Sometimes those that seem to have the least power or strength actually have the most.”
“You must know hardship to appreciate struggle and reward.”
“Sacrifice for the good of all is the greatest strength of the benevolent—and the greatest enemy of the selfish.”
“Never underestimate the power of friendship.”
“Evil knows only selfishness. It does not know teamwork or friendship, and therefore cannot know those strengths, nor can it anticipate those strengths in battle.”
“Remember, my dears, that you are strongest together, that life is precious and short, and that all things must pass.”
“Do not be afraid to become the man you are destined to be.”
“But also do not forget to listen to the silence in between moments.”
“You must learn to appreciate fine arcanery like you would a fine work of art.”
“And mastery … mastery always has a price.”
“Stand against tyranny. Honor tradition. Love deeply. Live brightly.”
“King Ridian was old, perhaps unable to keep up with the many youthful intrigues that follow kings like flies follow lions.”
“This fame business was all sheer nonsense anyway, as Nana would say.”
Sir Tobias Westwood
Augum’s first master, a knight, whose lessons echo through the books.
“Fear creates enemies.”
“Your real enemy is your mind. Master your mind and you master your adversary.”
“Be as still as the snow.”
“It is not the deer that froze, Augum.”
“When you do not have a torch, use the light of the moon. When there is no moon, use the stars. When there are no stars, use the moss. When there is no moss, disappear …”
“Hate is like stones in your heart. They only slow you down and clutter your spirit.”
“An enemy with a clear and focused mind is a fearsome one.”
“Learn to control your emotions, Augum, and you can control the outcome of a confrontation.”
“One must do one’s best with what one knows.”
“Life is cheap in war.”
“Some things are better left unsaid in small villages.”
“Sithesia never has and never will be a fair place. No kingdom treats its citizens well. No kingdom is perfect. All kings have subjects, all castles have servants.”
“Sir Westwood had always cautioned to be wary of a quiet forest.”
“Sir Westwood had been most particular about the written word, proclaiming that a knight who could not read or write was at the mercy of those who could.”
“Sir Westwood warned him he should never shoot one without being ready to cut it down with his sword, in case he missed.”
Leyans
“In the river of time, paths often diverge.”
“The past is a mirage. The future is a haze. The difference is the moment.”
“All things have purpose.”
“Our greatest fight is always with ourselves.”
“It is our choices that make us who we are, that determine our fate.”
“What is a library for if the books cannot be read?”
“Good teacher pain is.”
“Contrary to our beliefs, we Leyans can and should fathom beyond the eternal moment in which we dwell.”
“The more you give in to the demands of the beast, the closer to the beast you grow, until you become the beast.”
“Been this way it has before, begin we must not peace but war.”
Esha & the Dreadnoughts
“Nothing through the ages has ever—and I mean ever—been more powerful than love.”
“Love builds castles. Love builds armies. Love builds kingdoms. It is a foundation.”
“We die two deaths. The second death comes when our names are spoken aloud for the last time.”
“You are limited by this age, Augum Stone. It is not your fault.”
“Fear not the tempests of the past, sweet child of the morning dew, but the betrayal of your present heart.”
“Ir vitae mio suela o ento ersa au aat veteri sona. … for my life now sings the final verse of an old song.”
“You are a particle of sand in a great hourglass.”
“Time. You try to understand it, to slow it. Many of you want eternity. You resist what is, instead of embracing truth. … The moment is truth.”
“A story becomes a fable, a fable turns to legend, a legend becomes myth, and lastly, if the story is powerful enough, myth becomes faith.”
“Enlightenment is balance.”
“The importance of the small— —as meaningful as the grand.”
“Once we question everything, everything becomes a question.”
Mentors & Elders
“Knowledge needs to be free. Always remember that, Anna.”
“A great warlock practices the basics again and again. Even on top of mountains.”
“Our thoughts dye our souls. Inevitably, we become the result of those thoughts.”
“Your past is your future if you don’t let go of it.”
“One must excise the demons in one’s soul before one can vanquish the demons outside one’s door.”
“We are nothing but awareness clothed as persons.”
“The only thing that makes you special, kiddo, are your choices.”
“Vagueness! Vagueness does no one any good, no it does not. Leaders think clearly, decisively.”
“Deduction is a powerful mechanism of the mind.”
“A good general will strike at the right moment, when his opponent is weakest, yes he will indeed.”
“History demands greatness from those seeking glory.”
“Those that care little for books fall prey to shallow ideas.”
“History is always written by the conqueror, not the conquered.”
“The curse of our kind is that we cannot bridge the divide with platitudes, but with deeds.”
“There are all kinds of villains, Augum. All kinds.”
“Do you not realize that as one gets older those riches and baubles become less and less valuable?”
“It’s a precious thing to have a hand to hold. A precious thing, fleeting though it oft be.”
“Birth is not a choice. The creation of the self, however, is.”
Friends & Folk
“It’s not a waste of time, this is why we live.”
“The bigger the lie the more people believe it.”
“They speak in whispers and tread on feathers for fear of having their fortunes confiscated and their daughters thrown into service.”
“The Legion does not believe in … reformation. But they do believe in punishment.”
“Everything is pre-written in our fates.”
“Time does not necessarily bring wisdom or insight.”
“And death they would know most of all, creatures of fate and sorrow, for none would live to eye the morrow …”
“He who sets his heart high, flies higher than the sun.”
“The playthings of worry are wont to be sorry.”
“Vitae io unfazza. Life is unfair.”
“Never have I ever seen so much worry in a soul want to be sorry.”
“Woe to the lonesome chick wandering the henyard with foxes watching.”
“What gentle joy know the quiet moments …”
“Lost winter child, oh, woeless is I.”
“We are all mere guardians of our possessions, which we take on loan paid for with time. A loan that comes due upon the moment of death, whereupon all our—things—are forfeit, to be drooled over by another, until they in turn have to relinquish those very things when the particles of sand in their own hourglass trickle to expiration.”
Villains & Rogues
“All that I am lies not within my fist, but in that fist crushing my enemy. I shall be defined by my victories, not by groveling fools begging for their lives.”
“Return me mine son and I shall henceforth unburden thy kingdom of mine wrath and leave thy lands to their woe. Relinquish mine boy and I shall free thy common folk to sow seeds of corn and barley, unchain thy taverns so ale may flow, and free ye daughters and sons of thy flesh, for all such are but trivial wisps of smoke in balance to mine heir.”
“Comi ia fromia o bloodalina Malevant. Oro castla lientey del ruino. Denbo weppo aro fenexei. Weppo vli ascendi adver. … I come from the bloodline Malevant. Our castle lies in ruins. But we are phoenix. We will rise again.”
“Your enemy is death. Mine is boredom.”
“A conversational pivot worthy of a noble in the king’s court.”
“I don’t trust him. He’s got lying eyes.”
“One of the highest pleasures in life, Albert, is seeing your greatest foe’s feet helplessly kick at the air as he dangles on the end of a noose.”
Reader Q&A
A reader named Jack asked an excellent question: What do the trio do in their spare time, when not training or studying?
The trio do a lot of reading, usually by a fire, especially when it’s raining or snowing heavily. Aside from that, they ride their horses (which unfortunately have not been mentioned much yet) in the surrounding forest and meadows. Augum and Leera spend a lot of their time together, of course, and Leera often plays with Sir Pawsalot. They visit their friends in Arinthia (Haylee, Jengo and his girl, Priya, and a few notable others).
A solid ten percent of the trio’s spare time is dedicated to proata mentora, the practice of serving one’s community. It is an age-old tradition meant to foster trust between the warlock community and Ordinaries. They repair broken things, help move heavy objects, help defend Arinthia from bandits, teach kids and adults alike about arcanery, help the young and old learn how to read, help the very old with chores, and so on. Bridget usually goes above and beyond in this regard, while Leera slacks off a touch, and Augum does what is required.
In the academy, the trio have a wealth of activities to choose from. Once a quint (remember that the academy runs on a five-day cycle) the girls get together with the Sacred Sisterhood of the Academy of Arcane Arts, and the boys with the Sacred Brotherhood of the Academy of Arcane Arts, where they get into all sorts of mischief (this will hopefully be fleshed out in a future book).
Although it hasn’t been mentioned in the books yet, each of the trio also has an after-school elective, usually in the form of a club. There are a huge number of clubs in the academy, from the Animal Rescue Club (which Bridget almost joined), to Blacksmithing, to Games Club, Student Council, theater, writing, and so on. Last term Augum chose Horsemanship, Leera Art, and Bridget the Charity and Community Club.
More to come in due time. Have a question of your own? Ask the author.
A Sithesian Phrasebook
Alianos
A greeting, in the old arcane tongue.
Mio nominos io …
“My name is …”
Trati extremis dargarus
Spoken in mourning.
Ia, ei varli locka del var
“A warlock locked in war.”
Suala Chi
Henawa for “Brave Soul,” the name given to Augum.
Litna Hauka
Henawa for “Lightning Hawk,” the name given to Anna.
Gyot · Draga · Gerger
Gargoyle words: slave, dragon, and one cursed with empathy.
Odds & Ends
Currency
Crowns, spines and castles.
The Library of Ley
Forty floors of knowledge kept by the Leyans.
Epigraph: Whispers of Wrath
The lord of war cometh / and bringeth with him / the mightiest of furies.
Epigraph: Storms of the Ancients
Guided by The Fates go I / Alone / Lashed by the waves / Of a mighty storm.
—Mclidian the Mariner
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Suggestions? Leave a comment below!
1. In Legand when the trio are trying to break into the black cassle, what/who is the thing that passes them engulfed in fire?
2. If the Wolven have natural born necromancers, and people can be naturally attuned with an element, Jengo with healing Augum with lightning; I think it would be cool to see later on if Leera gets her curse removed if like a fragment is left affecting her first kid, so it seems like they are an ordinary until something happens and they cast wild and raise a body or do something that visually confirms that they aren’t an ordinary and are an necromancer, and them dealing with trying to figure the morals with it and the ridicule.
I have some questions that have been bothering me for a while, mostly about the verbalization of spells.
1. Were the actual words to cast spells created during the founding?
2. Do the words sort of influence the casters thoughts, or the arcane ether itself?
3. Why are some spells verbal, while others aren’t (In terms of arcane lore)? Is there any particular reason why some (or, most) spells use words to cast, while some (like telekinesis or shield) don’t?
4. Is it possible to directly influence, or even create, arcane tendrils without the use of a specific spell (like disenchant)? If there is, have there been any / will there be any warlocks capable of doing so?
5. Is it possible for a character to create a new spell?
6. Will you ever explore the concept of time travel, on a larger scale than Annocronomus Tempusari? For example, will the trio ever travel back in time to the age of the Rivicans?
Just some questions I have been wondering for a little while.
Great questions!
1. The actual words are very old, and slowly evolved over time. That said, many of the spells were “finalized and formalized” during The Founding,
2. The words influence the arcane ether itself, using a tiny fragment of its power to craft spells in the real world.
3. The muscle for arcanery can be strong enough to manipulate the ether without having to verbalize the manipulation.
4. Hmm, I’m not sure I understand the question, I’m sorry. Do you mean can a warlock simply mind meld with the ether and use it like it’s part of their free will? If that’s the case, then no, not really. Perhaps a god would, but generally no.
5. Yes it’s possible! See the book The Arcane Artist (Chronicles of Anna Atticus Stone, book 3), which showcases Anna crafting a thesis spell ;)
6. I cannot answer this at this time. Time travel is insanely complicated to write, so it would be a huge challenge. If I get an idea I love, though, I won’t hesitate to take the challenge on a second time ;)
Hello Mr. Bronny! what might happen if a necromancer turned one of their enemies into a revenant? In the books, we only see Lividius turn his own servants into revenants (who were already loyal to him anyways). However, since revenants seem to be able to think for themselves and remember being alive, I was wondering how it would affect revenants who had been the opponents of the necromancer who raised them while they were still alive. If, say, Lividius had managed to kill Augum and turned him into a revenant, would he just become a loyal servant like the rest of the undead? or would he have been able to think for himself and thus actively rebel against the authority of the person who raised him?
What a fun concept! The revenant would certainly be able to think for him/herself, but the fact that they are so altered in so negative a way would be a hellish condemnation and existence. It would be a very cruel thing to do, and I could see a necromancer enjoying inflicting such a punishment and watching from afar as the hero struggles to come to terms with his/her new self. Interesting indeed, Josh!
What’s”Abua ibin hamua”, mean?
It’s a Tiberran curse. You don’t want to know =P
Abua means,”Animal”, or in an insult,”You are a dirty animal”(Twi Lnaguage).Ibin means,”Son”, and the closely similar word Ibn means “Son of”.Based on this you could make a few guesses on it.
Very astute, Senior Attendant!
Wait, if someone did the shrink spell while in dragon from, would they become a tiny dragon or would it cancel out?
In this case, they would become a tiny dragon!
What if they casted incarnate as a dragon?
They would become larger, but not overly so.
Interesting, would the stamina cost be the same as a human casting it to the same size(ignoring spell amplification effects gained by SotD)?
Not sure at this time :)
Theoretically can telekinesis push the caster away from something? If so, could the caster practice enough with telekineses so the caster could push himself off the ground and eventually fly?
Telekinesis can be used to push oneself away form an object, yes, but it is a tricky thing. One can theoretically levitate oneself in this manner, but it’s extremely difficult to do, let alone for a prolonged time. Flying, however, is impossible as one needs to be close to the ground to even achieve levitation. Such skills would be very advanced and beyond the competence of most warlocks.
Why not have the trio practice with the weight of the floor instead of objects trying to levitate themselves it could be incredibly useful to know how to boost ones movement speed in battle by pushing off the ground behind them periodically or using it to leap
An Idea for future books is that they find a powerful healing spell that Jengo learns and can remove the curse Tyranecron placed on Leera and the Arinthian line can be continued.
I actually have something in mind for Leera’s plotline on that front, but a wonderful idea nonetheless! :D
Theoretically, what would happen if an Arcaner used the incarnate spell while in dragon form? are the spells just completely incompatible with each other, or could they be combined to give oneself a massive, unstoppable dragon form? (Which in my mind, would probably be at least twice the size of Orion?
Also, is the spirit of the dragon simul really just an Arcaner-modified version of the incarnate spell? (Kind of like how the birth of the dragon simul is a modification of the summon elemental spell) Or are they two completely different spells?
Well if it were possible it would create a larger dragon made up of your element(We’ve seen Anna use it in MT and in Erok AA).
I think there completely different spells, Incarnate basically makes you into a giant elemental version of your self, whereas SoTD makes you into a complexity different shape(A dragon).
What if after you got to Ley, there was another set of arm rings to get, and eventually, a second sleeve? This would teach you not just how to wield arcanery, but to totally control it. As you progressed, you would begin to transcend past simply casting spells and simply weave arcane tendrils. The same goes for your element. Rather that casting elemental spells, they all would meld together to you just controlling your element to suit your specific needs. Also, what if it was possible to take field warp a step farther to actually rip the fabric of reality to create a rift or a portal between planes?
I would say that in the case of leyans who have advanced teleportation that Might not be instant they might be able to crack space in the middle of a tp and the unknown space thats in the shards might be able to transmute a portal spell to anchor to a unknown place beyond where one has been before
Hey, what if after one got into Ley, there was a whole other hierarchy of Arcanery. A second band of rings that could eventually be a second sleve? Through climbing this second set of rings, the warlock would begin to transcend past learning standard and elemental spells and start to weave arcane tendrils to do what ever they please, and the same for their element. The spells would slowly meld together until you just weave the tendrils to suit your specific needs. True mastery of the Arcane Ether. They could move beyond simply wielding their element and arcanery, but learn to control it entirely. Also, what would happen if people could move beyond field warp and actually rip the fabric of reality with Telekinesis?
Intriguing idea, Brian! I could foresee see alternative tiers of arcanery, especially because historically, Pre-Founding, something like that did happen.
Hello Mr. Bronny, I just want to say I love all your work! However, I have a few questions about the lore that confuse me a fair bit
1. seeing as how Gavinius was able to possess an already living dragon (I’m also still confused as to how he managed that in the first place) without learning the Spirit of the Dragon Simul, and Tyranecron was able to control several dragons at once, why would there have been any need for the Archons to bother learning the simul in the first place? Why couldn’t they simply have used the already living dragons as weapons?
2. Were the Rivicans originally from Endraga Ra, and then proceeded to invade Sithesia? or were they an already established power in Sithesia who just so happen to figure out a way to travel there and establish a few temples? (Without going through Ley like the Arcaners obviously)
3. were the Rivicans even human, or were they something entirely different like the Dreadnaughts and the Wolven? (I don’t remember the books ever specifying)
4. If the witch Occulus consulted with was able to grant immortality to the Occi, why didn’t Lividius simply strike a similar bargain but for himself instead? also, if he could survive being literally incinerated, how was he still not considered immortal at that point anyway?
5. If necromancy is simply a corruption of regular arcanery (seeing as how one has to actively work to turn their rings black, rather than them occurring naturally) wouldn’t that mean that necromantic Dragons are actually dragons of other elements that were corrupted at some point in the past?
6. If the witches are able to summon portals to Ley themselves (as evidenced by the arcaner ritual) why did they want Occulus to build a portal for them? why haven’t they simply attacked Ley themsleves?
Hello Gerald!
Thank you for writing me. Now let me see if I can answer some of those questions:
1. If I remember correctly, Tyranecron, who was formidable as a warlock, used powerful arcanery to command the dragon. Gavinius sold his soul to be able to command some of that arcanery, which Tyranecron taught him. But I’d have to check the records of the book to be certain, but I think that’s right?
2. I cannot comment on Rivican history if it hasn’t yet been published, but there is indeed an answer to that question :)
3. Alas, same as above
4. The sort of immortality involved is a special cursed type that no one would really want. It’s a torturous existence, one that only a smidge of the full scope was revealed.
5. Necromancy has a deeper history than modern arcaneologists understand. It’s something I hope to delve into more in future books, aas it would answer this particular question.
6. The answer here lies in the complex arcane spellcraft involved with Ley, as well as the history and mythology, which I also hope to elaborate on in due time :)
Hope that clears things up a little but, and I’m sorry i wasn’t able to answer everything!
Someone can u tell me if you can see your comment in full form after u post it cause i can’t see mine
I can see it!
Is it possible to have a warped affinity? Like a fire and healing affinity mixed together could make white fire that can also heal? Also, would that sort of affinity be able to make its own variation of arcanery degree stripes?
sorry 1 more question, can someone have 2 primary affinities so they have 2 sets of stripes?
Hmm, I am not sure about “affinities”, so I’d have to give it some thought and how that would work with the laws of arcanery. Off the top of my head, something like that might be possible….
Affinities as in what element your stripes show up in, so if you had 2 affinities, it would mean stripes on both arms, or if you have a combined element like fire and healing, it could show up as white or golden fire
I asked this because your magic system is already AMAZING, but in future series if you could include combination elements it would give more depth and endless possibilities in your magic system.
Certainly an interesting proposition. I’ll take it into consideration, thank you :)
in Rivin Mrs. Stone said centarro was a 3rd degree spell but in legend she said it was 20th degree
It wasn’t centarro that was 20th degree master it was cron. Centarro is a 3rd degree leyan spell
I just finished my second read thrugh of both of the series and theese are the questons that i wrote down so you could hopefully answer them.
i sacraficed reading many other books over the three months that i have spread the books out over and have little hope of reaching 100 titles again this year on kindle but i will keep my streak up for weeks which is 137 going strong love the series and very much looking forward to annas adventures and how you will fanangle her meeting krakatos and getting a invite to ley into the books so have fun with this brain food :)
what is the limit of telekenesis?
how fast do tendrils move and is it possible to rip it across itself to make friction?
will a higher tier spell always be stronger like first offensive and second?
if shrink was said to cause immense pain why doesnt castimg th dragon simul hurt?
is centarro a forgotten spell to get rid of the side effects of the dragon simul by making one stupid?
were the rivicans who came to sythesia wiped out quite early on?
did they meet people in ley and got banished and sent to sythesia?
why are there no ancient newspapers in ley if there were many people there and also coming from other places other than the places that the leyans inhabit?
did the rivicans have majorly advanced learning programs seeing as they knew lots about wild arcanery from being in endraga ra?
how come augum didnt ask mrs stone to ask the council if eshra could become a leyan?
if dreadnaught steel was able to be made wouldnt it have been studdied and replicated seeing as it was old enough for ishobel to have a full suit giving ample time to do so?
if the setteling happens does that mean that the arcane ether can possibly allow one to cast a spell so high above their degree it allows them no drain in the case of leyan lifespan allowing that much practice?
are there replicas of things made by rivicans in ley like cloudrooms or temples or siege machiene?
can people who are very good at medetation seperate mind parts to meditate and practice a spell like telekenesis or or the spell to peer from ley to sythesia?
if telekenesis is tethered to the body to be able to swing someone does that mean over a certan weight kill someone by them trying to hold it?
can telekenesis actually warp space enough that it cracks and warps pieces of somthing to somewhere else?
if elemental armor was made by augum by spreading it over his body from the shield spell does that mean anyone could make a wall out of a shield with out using the summon minor wall spell?
if the cube was able to kill a dragon why not use it on tyrananecron?
wouldnt the book of elements have a list of common uses and combos with the spells listed that were used to train with?
can the of the dragon summon wepon spells be cast well enough to give extra primes or just increse the added spells effect?
shouldnt healers have mandatory classes on meditation for obvious reasons?
does frenzy provoke a more efficcient or more power response?
shouldnt centarro multiply the effect of frenzy because it enhances everything?
do frenzy and centarro counteract eachother because of the brutality mindset and the efficciency mindset differ so greaty?
Hiyas Brady! Glad you enjoy my work :)
And wow, that’s a lot of questions. Let me see what I can do here:
1. What is the limit of telekenesis?
Theoretically, none.
2. how fast do tendrils move and is it possible to rip it across itself to make friction?
Sometimes as slow as a dart, sometimes as fast as an arrow. Not sure about the friction part.
3. Will a higher tier spell always be stronger like first offensive and second?
For those examples, yes.
4. If shrink was said to cause immense pain why doesnt castimg th dragon simul hurt?
They are very different spells.
5. Is centarro a forgotten spell to get rid of the side effects of the dragon simul by making one stupid?
Apologies but I am not sure I understand this question.
6. Were the rivicans who came to sythesia wiped out quite early on?
Yes, thousands of years ago (covered in Fury of a Rising Dragon series).
7. did they meet people in ley and got banished and sent to sythesia?
No, they got wiped out by war.
8. why are there no ancient newspapers in ley if there were many people there and also coming from other places other than the places that the leyans inhabit?
There actually might be ancient heralds, just in the library.
9. did the rivicans have majorly advanced learning programs seeing as they knew lots about wild arcanery from being in endraga ra?
This is a secret at this time, but will be explored in some future book :)
10. how come augum didnt ask mrs stone to ask the council if esha could become a leyan?
He respected Esha’s request to stay with the Canterrans.
11. if dreadnaught steel was able to be made wouldnt it have been studdied and replicated seeing as it was old enough for ishobel to have a full suit giving ample time to do so?
No, as Dreadnought steel is imbued with power only Dreadnoughts wieded.
12. if the settling happens does that mean that the arcane ether can possibly allow one to cast a spell so high above their degree it allows them no drain in the case of leyan lifespan allowing that much practice?
Hmm, not quite sure on this one.
13. are there replicas of things made by rivicans in ley like cloudrooms or temples or siege machiene?
This is a secret at this time.
14. can people who are very good at medetation seperate mind parts to meditate and practice a spell like telekenesis or or the spell to peer from ley to sythesia?
Apologies but I also do not quite understand this question.
15. if telekenesis is tethered to the body to be able to swing someone does that mean over a certan weight kill someone by them trying to hold it?
Apologies but I also do not quite understand this question either.
16. can telekenesis actually warp space enough that it cracks and warps pieces of somthing to somewhere else?
Theoretically, at a very, very high degree, yes the space warping can affect nearby objects.
17. if elemental armor was made by augum by spreading it over his body from the shield spell does that mean anyone could make a wall out of a shield with out using the summon minor wall spell?
Theoretically, yes. But unlikely.
18. if the cube was able to kill a dragon why not use it on tyrananecron?
It’s possible, but unlikely to work as Tyranecron was much smarter than that one dragon.
19. wouldnt the book of elements have a list of common uses and combos with the spells listed that were used to train with?
Not the yellow book on elements, no. It’s just a basic spellbook, not a comprehensive compedium.
20. can the of the dragon summon wepon spells be cast well enough to give extra primes or just increse the added spells effect?
I am not sure what extra primes means
21. shouldnt healers have mandatory classes on meditation for obvious reasons?
Good question. In theory, yes. But academy politics and tradition tends to get in the way.
22. does frenzy provoke a more efficcient or more power response?
Power, I believe.
23. shouldnt centarro multiply the effect of frenzy because it enhances everything?
Mmm, not necessarily. Centarro enhances focus of the mind, not inherent power.
24. Do frenzy and centarro counteract each other because of the brutality mindset and the efficciency mindset differ so greaty?
They can at times, depending on the state of mind of the caster.
Okay, hopefully I gave you some clarity there, Brady. Sorry I couldn’t answer them all!
Hello, Mr. Bronny, I am making my own little spell thing-a-migig, but with Necromantic spells. However, I have no idea what degrees any of these spells are in. Is there a way for you to put the necromantic spells on this page, or at least say the degrees? Thanks.
I likely will post the necro spells in due course, but not until more of them get published, as it’s a smattering of the true depth of the dark art (at least so far).
It would be very cool to see someone who is on the same level as a Leyan. This person would not be “ancient/immortal” like the Leyans are while in their own plane of existence, but rather like the Dreadnoughts. Just as the dreadnoughts came to be it would be a very similar origin. Created with the purpose of protecting the plane of the known lands(Sithesia, Tiberra, etc.) from the inhabitants of the dark plane known as Hell. The resident home of the witches and other similar things(i.e. hellhounds). His/her existence was intended to be secret, with him in a deep sleep, hoping that it would never be necessary to come forth. His sleep was disturbed when Occulus attempted to create a portal to Hell, although he did not fully wake as Occulus was vanquished before he could succeed. Now with the increasing return of Leyan knowledge to the mortal plane, the barrier between Hell was weakening, with hellhounds slipping through on their own accord, without being summoned. Eventually the champion to fight the inhabitants of Hell awakens, gathering the members of the Arcaner order and other such people to train and protect the mortal plane. All just something I think would be cool. Obviously there’s so much intricacy in writing a novel that I currently don’t understand.
Epic, Jacob!
It would be interesting if the arcane ether could give rings/stripes/degrees. Similar in how it conveys “the sleeving”. The ancient warlocks created this system of degrees, classifying the spells, etc. It seems as if in order to use the 17th(It might be 16th) degree spell “convey degree” (again I may have that term/name incorrect), one requires at least one stripe. Thinking to the descriptions of the advancement ceremonies it describes the caster as having their rings involved in the spell(i.e. the appearance of the rings moving). Before the recipient of their degree receives it the caster’s stripes dim momentarily. This also makes me wonder if the ancient warlocks even created the system of degrees, as it appears that attaining mastery is decided by the arcane ether, not by that “system”. It may be possible for one to receive their stripes without having the spell cast. I feel if this were a thing, such stripes should be call “true” stripes, as the arcane ether itself bestowed it upon them, not another warlock. An entire new way of advancement. It could be that “the old way” means more than what it seems, referring to the times before the founding in which training in such a way eventually earned you a stripe. Again, I am just thinking out loud here.
I love reading people “thinking out loud”, even if I don’t always comment or reply. Very much appreciated :)
since Augum already has one sleeve, his other arm should have have one full “true sleeve” where he has to train so hard to the point he even forgot the human body was a thing and can, if possible sense arcane from millllless away even without a trap.
but another way to gain “true stripes” could be getting full stripe armour, where one is so powerful that their arcana becomes a physical Armour form that can emit the elemental or base arcana of the warlock (as in, for Augum have a lightning armour that will zap metal and zap the opponent.
another idea: since Augum is so powerful at telekinesis, after reaching to the point where he can lift a whole chunk of the earth or one kingdom with just his telekinesis, he should be able to warp time itself, if he felt like it, he could stop time for a certain amount of time. BUT THE SIDE EFFECT!!!: after stopping time he would experience the same amount of time in asphyxiation.
thanks for reading this pretty long comment.
It would be cool if ( I saw the top ) If the healers first offensive actually gave a short burst of energy to the person, or strength. It could cost a bit more stamina, but I thin that it would be good for Jengo (and other healers ) to have that.
Perhaps we will see that in the next book (;
Favorite scene is the battle with the prince as dragons, and augum cleaning the tombs. Would love to see the trio hunting down the rest of the whisper blades in a future novel.
Great choice, Brandon. And I have plans for our intrepid trio ;)
Favorite scene was Augum crushing the desk. It was so visceral and satisfying. I unashamedly lived vicariously through the moment lol.
The fights with the whisper blades were also top notch. It was like Jason Borne with arcanery
Yeah,that was an awesome scene.
Thanks, Eric. And that was a fun scene to write. I too live vicariously through such moments :)
Would it be possible to add necromantic spells under the list of spells in this website? I think it would be a useful guide to compare elemental spells with necromantic ones.
Hmm, that’s an interesting idea. I’ll consider it!
could you also add the necromantic commands?
Thanks for adding the arthainian crest it looks awesome
You’re welcome!
What stops a high-degree warlock from casting the convey degree spell over and over again on someone or themselves even if they didn’t earn it?
I would think it would be two things ,one honoring arcanerey as a whole as well as it must be a spell of legend so higher up in the degrees.
Thatś true I think that is the answer,I wonder what the spell´s degree is because imagine if spells start to fade away like frenzy and shrink then over time arcanery would go back to being wild and the leyans have to intervene as well as a new founding.
I don’t think that a spell like convey degree would fade away and the only reason that frenzy and shrink went away is because they are pain full or have large consequences after casting.
Devon what I’m meaning is it’s such a high degree spell and if warlocks keep getting lower in degrees or there are now less warlocks I mean there used to be thousands of students
Although Mrs. Stone was trying to reconnect the portal from ley so there will probably be more warlocks once that happens.
It probably works just like achieving Mastery. The arcane ether knows if the warlock has earned their stripe
Then what is the point of convey degree if it happens by itself?
Because the arcane ether probably needs a host to cast it to make it happen.
I meant when someone casts Convey Degree on a warlock who hasn’t earned it, the ether doesn’t let the ring appear.
I have an idea for the next book. all the friends of the TRIO go to ley to find new spells. but mostly Jengo (and leland after he is old enough). he finds a spell called resurrect but since it was even almost lost in ley but also EXTREMELY rare he has to go trhough VERY HARD obstacles with the trio but once he gets his hands on it he finds out that it will take a couple years off his life but will bring someone he wants back to life and another side affect is mild depression for one day and the side effect of the dragon simul (I read champions wrath) and for leland he can after a certain rank , like necromancy spawn some ghoul clones that when bonded enough can use spells.
Thanks for these lovely ideas! Food for thought :)
What if he could spawn some ghouls for the army
Could you please introduce a character who has achieved mastery with wild arcanery
and he would be a good guy
It’s impossible to achieve mastery with wild arcanery in the traditional sense. But it is possible to be very powerful with it. Such a person would be … interesting, to put it mildly.
Definitely.
I read all the books t times and I was just wondering if after the fury of a rising dragon series will u write more about the trio
I absolutely will as I want to document some of their adult lives too. Should be interesting, and there’s plenty enough challenges left to make it fun for me and the fans.
What would be a healers first offensive can you comment
It would be a white-hot beam of energy :)
Ok I figured it would be like a beam of life energy
I would have thought it was the opposite of the spell Necromancers use to steal life energy to heal themselves and do some minor healing in the process. Like minor cuts and bruises. I noticed Arcanery can be very malleable but the healing element energy seems to have healing properties. But even though healing warlocks can cast standard spells like push or mental alterations I would have thought the elemental energy of healing would be… um healing. And therefore impossible to hurt someone with healing energies. Though granted one could say too much healing can also be a bad thing.
That’s understandable, Angel. One day I hope to delve into this point further, because in the history of arcanery healers had a contentious role. There was a whole kerfuffle about healers taking part in warfare and being forced to fend for themselves. This resulted in them learning the First Offensive in a more classical manner. As such, the spell was more of a political representation of arcanery at the time, rather than what ought to have happened. The whole history of arcanery and the way it was formed was quite an ordeal for many involved, and not without its share of controversy. I hope to have time to expound on this point in future books.
Also make a good necromancer who has already passed the torment trial but are still helpful and a official quiz for all 8 elements
Yeah I’ve been toying with crafting a “good guy” necromancer for a while. Only so much room in each story though, and this one already has a lot of elements (no pun intended).
Can you add what a healers first offensive would be and add a powerful air warlock in the next book
I’ll eventually give a situation in which a healer is forced to use their First Offensive. As to a powerful air warlock, that’s Katrina :)
Oh yah I totally forgot about her :)
Horde choices I have to pick leera. But I have a question is there a ghost walk spell that allows you to phase through solid object or is that a ridiculous idea. Might be dangerous and very tiring but is it possible.
Ps. My favorite scene is when dragon leera use Spectreril port on the dark dragon
There are variations of that idea, but not that specific spell per se. There is a spell, for example, that turns a water warlock to mist. But such spells are very rare and difficult to pull of.
Sever Bronny I can Honestly say that you are my favorite author, I literally cannot stop reading your book until I Collapse from exhaustion.
Thank you very much, I’m honored! Did you have any favorite scenes? How about any favorite characters? I’m always curious :)
My favourite was Augum get settling and looking extremely intimidating
Oh then you’ll enjoy the new book. Augum does not hold back nearly as much.
you are epic
Thank you! Did you have any favorite characters? What about any favorite scenes? Always curious.
Augum getting his Settling
Augums schedule didn’t format correctly
Thanks, good catch! Will try to amend it now.
I saw you changed this section recently, what exactly did you change.
Can we have the house mottos in the lore
You bet! House mottos now on the to-do list!
I updated the formatting only (for now). However, I expect to find time to update this page with some more useful information in due time :)
Thank you for the clarification, I look forward to your new additions to this section.
Can you put when Leera and Augum Make out?