The Door Within Trilogy
Encyclopedia
The Door Within Trilogy is a set of three novels written by American author Wayne Thomas Batson
describing the adventure
s of three adolescent protagonist
s through a fantasy world. The titles of the books are The Door Within, The Rise of the Wyrm Lord, and The Final Storm. The plot contains many similarities to that of the Book of Revelation
, which is apparently used as source material.
The cover of "The Door Within" shows a stone archway opening onto a curving torchlit staircase. A well-equipped knight in armor stands beside the door. This doorway is probably a rendering of the Door Within, which protagonist Aidan must enter in order to travel to the Realm.
The cover of "Rise of the Wyrm Lord" depicts a huge, scaly, three-toed, purple claw rising from a pit. This is derived from a scene in which the Wyrm Lord, the firstborn of all dragon
s, is released from his underground imprisonment by chief antagonist
Paragor.
The cover of "The Final Storm" depicts an army of knights with bows standing on an enormous stone wall, preparing to fire at a vast oncoming army. A storm is brewing in the sky and a lone dragon flies about. This is derived from the last few scenes of the book, when the remaining forces of good defend the city
of Alleble from Paragor's greatest attack.
formerly united with and later adjacent to ours, wherein the story is set. They are largely similar to Grine
s, in that each Glimpse corresponds to a human in appearance, personality
, allegiance/beliefs, and time of death, though not necessarily in age.
Glimpses have white skin
and eye
s that change color
according to their loyalties. If a human chooses to believe that the "Story" of the Realm (also known as The Book of Alleble) is true, the Glimpse will side with King Eliam, the God
like king of Alleble, whereupon its eyes glint blue; if a human chooses to scorn the Story, the Glimpse sides with the rebel Paragor (a Lucifer
-like character who is the principal villain
of the series), whereupon its eyes glint red; if the human does not choose either, the Glimpse will remain independent and its eyes will glint green. Similarly, if the Glimpse changes its loyalty, the human changes its opinion. The color signifying loyalty
can only be seen when the Glimpse moves or from a sidewise angle; when seen from the front, Glimpse eyes are as various in color as human eyes, and may or may not match those of the human to whom a Glimpse corresponds.
Upon dying, each Glimpse is united with its human and transcends both worlds in favor of an afterlife
. Followers of King Eliam join their master in a world known as the 'Sacred Realm Beyond the Sun', whereas followers of Paragor become imprisoned beneath his citadel, behind the 'Gates of Despair'.
In the third book of the series, The Final Storm, the two worlds reunite into one, so that all separation and distinction between each Glimpse and the human to which it corresponds ceases to exist.
The main character
At first concerned only with his own convenience (or lack thereof), Aidan becomes brave, loyal, and self-sacrificing after he enters Alleble. Invited by King Eliam, he enters the Realm and becomes a knight
, in which role he brings Mithegard, one of Alleble's neighbors, to become Alleble's ally in its war with Paragor. A favorite ruse of his, used in the first and third books, is to disguise himself in the livery of Paragor in order to infiltrate the latter's territory. Aidan is revealed in The Final Storm to be one of the 'Three Witnesses'; one of three prophesized heroes who bring about the final end of the said war. Aidan's name as a Witness is "Seeker of the Lost".He is killed by Paragor after he refuses Paragor's offers of wealth and glory; but is revived moments later to defeat Paragor's army. Before he becomes Witness he wields the sword
called Fury, which had earlier belonged to his mentor Captain Valithor; but once revived, he wields Adoric, "The Glory Seeker". Aidan is the only Witness to have visited the Realm more than once, and the only one to have returned from it.
Gwenne:
A Glimpse swordmaiden of the Elder Guard. One of Aidan's most intimate friends. Gwenne is typically audacious and lighthearted, but can be passionate and reliable. Aidan is very fond of her. Her sword is called Thil Galel ("Daughter of Light" in the language of Glimpses).
Antoinette Lynn Reed:
Gwenne's human counterpart. Antoinette is a classmate of Aidan's, who having learned of the war continuing in the Realm is brought to Alleble, where she takes Gwenne's place. As a swordmaiden of Alleble, Antoinette joins a diplomatic mission to revive the faith in Alleble of the vassal Yewland. She is skilled at the art of kendo
, rambunctious, and sometimes danger
-prone. Her personality is similar to Gwenne's, but lacks Gwenne's emotional maturity. Antoinette is revealed in The Final Storm to be one of the Three Witnesses, one of three prophesized heroes who bring an end to the war between Alleble and Paragory. Antoinette's name as a Witness is "Child of Storms". This is ironic, because Antoinette is said throughout Rise of the Wyrm Lord to have suffered a trauma
in near-infancy during a thunderstorm; as a result of this trauma, she is attuned to weather and is instantly aware of an approaching storm and its intensity. The irony may serve to indicate the ability of King Eliam (to whom the Glimpses of Alleble attribute "all that is just and good") to generate positive effects even from the least likely sources. As Witness she wielded the sword Thorinsagaet, the "Storm Bringer".
Black Dragons:
Huge, bulky, unwieldy dragons kept by Paragor's people as beasts of burden. Used to carry siege engines from Paragory to targets of its invasions.
Blue Dragons:
Alleble's messenger dragons, used only in times of emergency. Known for their speed and stamina.
Butterwing:
A dragon known for smooth flight. Mentioned by Mallik in The Final Storm. Later implied to become Nock's mount en route to the Blue Mountains.
Captain Valithor:
A Sentinel of Alleble. A powerful figure, known to be almost entirely honest with himself and others; notable for his thunderous voice, his colorful language, and the strict discipline he imposes on his students, the Elder Guard. Captain Valithor's human counterpart is Aidan's grandfather; his son Ravelle is king of Mithegard and the alter-ego of Aidan's father Charles; his grandson Aelic is Aidan's reflection. Captain Valithor is himself killed when Mithegard is sacked by Paragor's army.
Kaliam:
A Glimpse warrior who is often called "Pathfinder" and who helps Aidan learn knighthood. In the second book, Kaliam succeeds Captain Valithor as Sentinel of Allble. He is quite compassionate, tall, and capable. He often imitates Valithor in order to admonish his students. In The Final Storm, Kaliam marries the swordmaiden Merewen. At the end, he is appointed ruler of Alleble by King Eliam.
Acsriot:
A member of the Elder Guard who betrayed his fellows to Paragor. In order to disrupt a diplomatic mission sent to the city-state Mithegard, he advised the Guard to travel across a wasteland known as the Grimwalk, whose stormy weather scattered the knights. Acsriot then escaped on dragonback, later to join Paragor's army for an attack on Mithegard. There, he fought on Paragor's side and eventually inflicted a mortal wound on Captain Valithor. Moments later, Aidan took Valithor's sword Fury and used it to kill Acsriot. His name is an anagram or play on "Iscariot", the name of a disciple of Jesus
who betrayed his mentor.
Count Eogan:
A spy from Paragory, who disguises himself as an Alleb envoy and attempts to impose harsh law
s on Yewland in order to turn the inhabitants of Yewland against Alleble. He is thwarted in this effort by the mission headed by Kaliam. Later, Eogan approaches Aidan's friend Robby, whom he teaches to perceive Paragor as the injured party of the Great Betrayal, only to have his statements refuted by Aidan. He is later killed by the sword he gave Robby.
Elspeth:
An Alleb Glimpse who acts as caretaker to the new recruits among the knights. She is quite talkative, optimistically stoic, and fond of her charges, as well as familiar with most of those to whom she speaks. Elspeth is renowned as a skilled cook; her specialty is a stew
much prized among the Elder Guard. She has a very hard time keeping secrets, and is very inquisitive.
Falon:
Eldest of the mortiwraiths. Falon dwells in a cavern, where she amuses herself by arranging her body into a maze
called Falon's Labyrinth. If Glimpses or humans can navigate this maze without error, Falon will allow them to pass unharmed; if they make mistakes, Falon will eat them. She owes Captain Valithor a debt for his rescue of her daughter from Paragor's knights, which she pays by helping Aidan rescue Gwenne and several Mithegardians from a Paragorian military camp. Her son Faethon tests Antoinette during the latter's training as a swordmaiden. Falon is ultimately killed in a battle with the Wyrm Lord (see below). Because her blood is a toxin
, the Wyrm Lord dies upon ingesting it.
Faethon:
Last living son of Falon the Great. He tests Antoinette's trust in the King and later is sought by Sentinel Kaliam and Lady Merewen, who wish him to help defeat Paragor. He is not found, and nothing is ever said of his outcome.
Farix:
A Glimpse martial artist, known to be a lethal, efficient fighter despite his lack of any weapon other than his limbs. He is capable, as such, of holding his own in a battle and keeping his friends safe.
Gabrielle/Gabby:
Gwenne's silver dragon. Brings Aidan to Alleble in the first book. Later serves as Aelic's mount when Gwenne is replaced in the Realm by Antoinette. Gabby is affectionate to most people and loyal to both of her riders. She ultimately dies defending Aelic from the Seven Sleepers.
Grampin:
Aidan's paternal grandfather, who uses a wheelchair. He has traveled to the Realm and kept an extensive diary of his journeys there. The death of his parents and loss of his mobility is implied to correspond with Valithor's similar losses of his parents and much of the skin on his hands during the Great Betrayal. Grampin speaks with a broad accent and a firm tone of voice. It is he who encourages Aidan to resume belief in the reality of the Realm, after the belief had been doubted by Aidan's father. He died as a result of Valithor's murder.
Honk:
A white dragon from Yewland named in imitation of a sound she uses to name herself. Serves as Antoinette's mount when Antoinette is trying to reform Lord Kearn. Like all dragons in the Realm, Honk is loyal to her rider and understands everything said to her. Dragons of her color and breed are said to be the fastest in the Realm. She is not mentioned after Antoinette's capture by Kearn.
King Eliam:
The omniscient, omnipotent, apparently immortal King of Alleble, acknowledged as ruler by non-Glimpse life-forms such as trees. His second-in-command, the Sentinel Paragal, attempted to oust King Eliam and usurp the throne, but was unable to complete his conquest. King Eliam is known to be generous and seldom seen. When he does appear, King Eliam resembles a Glimpse, having long white hair
and a long white beard
, though both features are often hidden by a brilliant halo
. Alone among the Glimpses, King Eliam's eyes do not display the colors of his loyalty. The Knights of Alleble, in particular the Elder Guard (of whom Aidan, Gwenne, and Paragal were members), are fiercely loyal to him. At the end of the series, King Eliam departs from the mortal world, leaving Sentinel Kaliam and swordmaiden Merewen to rule Alleble. His name is derived from the Hebrew Bible
.
Mallik:
Gigantic Glimpse warrior from the Alleble's vassal kingdom located in the Blue Mountains. His people are known for their skills with mining and stonemasonry. Mallik appears to be brusque and coarse, but is eventually revealed as a big-hearted, gentle giant. He is distinguished by his size and by his gigantic war hammer. Mallik eventually succeeds to the rulership of the Blue Mountains after the death of King Brower.
Merewen:
Merewen is a swordmaiden formerly in the service of Paragor, who turned to the Alleb side. She is part of the diplomatic mission to revive the alliance of Yewland to Alleble. As a result of her experiences, her arguments in favor of service to King Eliam are more convincing than are the arguments of those who have been Allebs all along. Merewen eventually marries Kaliam.
Naysmithe:
A master swordsmith and former Sentinel of Alleble. He is known to have prepared for the coming of the Three Witnesses by creation of weapons for their use.
Nock and Bolt:
Twin archers who grew up in Yewland, a vassal domain of Alleble. As a result of a tradition wherein toddlers are taught to use a bow before they can walk, Nock and Bolt never miss a target. When not practicing their shooting, they enjoy talking/sparring with Mallik. Bolt is killed in battle while defending Mithegard. His death shocks the Queen of Yewland, who was very much attached to him. Nock, at the end of the series, becomes ruler of Yewland after the Queen is killed by Paragor's allies.
Oswyn/Os:
Oswyn is a herbalist and a chemist, as well as a knight of Alleble. He is quite friendly and enjoys experimenting with chemicals of all kinds. Several of his concoctions are explosive and therefore used in battle.
Queen Illaria:
Queen of Yewland. One of the strongest allies of Alleble. She has exceptionally keen hearing; is generous and indulgent toward nonroyals; is both passionate and cautious; and is known to have had a soft spot for Bolt.
Paragor:
The main antagonist
. Formerly King Eliam's Sentinel Paragal, who led a rebellion known as the Great Betrayal. Later was banished to a region of the West, where he anointed himself Prince and gathered armies to himself. The change of his name is indicative of the change of his character; in the oldest language of the Glimpses, Paragal means "Pure Light" whereas Paragor means "Pure Darkness". Paragor and King Eliam are constantly vying for the loyalties of the free Glimpses, through whom their political power is achieved. Paragor is vanquished at the end of the series. He is an able sorcerer, though shown to be jealous of King Eliam for keeping supreme power to himself.
Ravelle:
King of the city-state Mithegard and son of Captain Valithor. Ravelle, in his youth, became estranged from his father and left Alleble for Mithegard, where he became king through a vaguely described process. His own statements imply that rule of Mithegard is not necessarily inherited, but can be obtained through a "campaign", which word may signify either a coup d'etat
or a raising of support for himself among the people. His right to rule remains unchallenged. Ravelle's selfishness caused his wife Ariana and son Aelic to be estranged from him. After the destruction of Mithegard by Paragor's army, Ravelle became a vassal of Alleble. His son Aelic (the Glimpse version of Aidan) later joined the Elder Guard.
Ariana:
Wife of King Ravelle of Mithegard. Separated from her husband when they refused to co-operate. Ariana lived in Balesparr for several years, then later reunited with Ravelle before the end of the war — ironically on the very day of Kaliam's marriage to Merewen. Implied to be the alter-ego of Aidan's mother, whose given name
is never mentioned.
Aelic:
Glimpse knight, son of King Ravelle and grandson of Captain Valithor. Protagonist Aidan's alter-ego. Aelic is similar to Aidan in some ways, but has more skill with words and has made fewer comical mistakes. As a result, Aelic is often embarrassed when reminded of Aidan's errors. He is fond of secondary protagonist Antoinette, but is less reckless than she or Aidan. Aelic is known to favor the stew that is specialty of the palace servant Elspeth.
Robby Pierson:
Aidan's best friend in the human world. Athletic, outwardly relaxed, but traumatized by his parents' separation. His Glimpse counterpart Kearn is a servant of Paragor. When Antoinette learns this, she attempts to convert Kearn to King Eliam's side, but in so doing places in danger the mission of which she is part. Robby ishimself later approached by Paragor's servants, who give him good luck in order to convince him to join their side. Robby is later convinced to become a servant of Alleble. He is trained as a knight of the Elder Guard, later to join them as the twelfth member of their group. Robby is revealed in The Final Storm to be one of the Three Witnesses. His name as a Witness is "Dragonfriend", because he alone could tame 'Splinter', the most vicious dragon in the service of Alleble. As Witness he wielded the sword 'Wyrmfel', the "Dragon's Bite".
Kearn:
Robby's alter-ego, the son of Rucifel. A highly-ranked servant of Paragor. Kearn believes that the world is a savage place, wherein all creatures constantly take from each other; therefore he is continuously frightened of the idea that if he has not power superior to that of others, the others will take that which he considers precious from him. Antoinette, having recognized him as Robby's counterpart, makes several efforts to persuade Kearn that he should fight on the side of Alleble. Although Kearn is hostile to this suggestion, he makes efforts of his own to understand Antoinette's motives and is gradually converted to her beliefs. During his imprisonment of her, Kearn visits Antoinette many times, in which encounters occurs the debate between them. He shows more mercy and respect toward her than to his other prisoners, to the extent of giving her a sword by which to die fighting her would-be executioners.
Rogan:
A warrior from Mithegard who fights on the side of Alleble. Rogan carries a large axe
. He is chosen as one of those who assist Antoinette on her journey to Yewland in The Rise of the Wyrm Lord. He becomes a good friend of Nock and Mallik and is often near them in the rest of the series. He is sent to watch Robby on his mission in the King's Forest in The Final Storm to make sure that Robby is a wholehearted follower of King Eliam and later survives the novel's climax
.
Rucifel:
Paragor's second-in-command. A ruthless, cruel fighter known for using two swords simultaneously. Acts as his Prince's diplomat. His name is an anagram of "Lucifer
". His human twin is Kurt Pierson, father of Robby. His son is Lord Kearn, Robby's Glimpse twin.
Swiftwing:
A dragon from Alleble. Sent by King Eliam to be Captain Valithor's mount after the captain was nearly killed in a violent "Tempest" created by Paragor. Swiftwing is said to have fought and died in the battle at Mithegard.
Splinter:
A dark-colored female dragon, named for the white spines protruding from the back of her head and tip of her tail. Untamable except by Robby. Dies defending him when Alleble is sacked by Paragor's army.
Thrivenbard:
A tracker and pathfinder, having skills superior to any other of his trade. Very flexible, co-ordinated, and agile. Blames himself for the loss of anyone whom he guides.
Halberad:
Thrivenbard's apprentice, who is often awed by his mentor. His name resembles that of a Ranger appearing in The Lord of the Rings
.
Timera:
A Mortiwraith descended of Falon, having the atypical abilities to glide by means of flaps of skin located between her legs (compare to the gliding lizards of the tropics) and to remain unharmed in moonlight and sunlight, which ordinarily activate the toxin
s in a mortiwraith's blood, killing it. Mentioned only in a chapter of The Final Storm. In this chapter, she is shown enlisting Mallik and Nock to help her build a shelter for her offspring.
Trenna Swiftfoot:
Glimpse maiden rescued from slavery
by Antoinette. Born and raised in Yewland. Antoinette dubbed her a servant of King Eliam outside of the trading posts known as Baen-Edge. Trenna later became a knight of the Elder Guard. She was presumably killed by Paragor's soldiers during the aerial assault.
Sil Arnoth:
Oldest of the Realm's trees. He is a blackwood tree: a species unique to the Realm, so called for its shining black coloration, as large as a Sequoia. Sil Arnoth's growth rings, like those of most blackwood trees, are legible to Glimpses, who can in them read a highly detailed description of the trees' entire history. Sil Arnoth himself is held in reverence by the Glimpses of Yewland, as well as by King Eliam, who hid inside him a scroll revealing the location of that place wherein the Wyrm Lord is imprisoned. He is eventually killed by Paragor, who seeks to discover the location of the Wyrm Lord.
Warriant:
"First vanguard", or war-leader, of the Glimpses who dwell, isolated, in Balesparr. His people wish to remain aloof from the wars fought between other Glimpses, until such a position becomes untenable. Although he is nearly neutral, as reflected in his green eyes, for a large part of the book, he eventually becomes a servant of Alleble.
White Dragons: The fastest dragons in the Realm, bred in Yewland. They do not speak either human or Glimpse languages, but are suggested to have a definite language of their own and to understand everything spoken directly to them. These abilities may or may not be shared with other dragons of the Realm; no other is shown exhibiting them, though several are implied to have them.
Wyrm Lord:
Oldest of the Realm's dragons, whose envy and hate have corrupted him. In the second book, he arises from long imprisonment (given as a punishment for his murder of Torin, King Eliam's most faithful servant) to aid Paragor. His servants are seven lupine creatures called the Seven Sleepers
, who like him have the power of shape-changing. It is suggested that the Wyrm Lord caused the Realm to separate from the readers' world. His 'Black Breath', which obscures vision, creates a frightening backdrop for the Final Storm after which the third book is named. He dies as a result of having ingested the blood of Falon the mortiwraith.
Zabediel/Zabed:
A scribe in the service of King Eliam. Zabed has lived for millennia. It was he who wrote on the scroll taken from Sil Arnoth the location of the Wyrm Lord, and the prophecies of Paragor's rise and that of the Three Witnesses.
Zabediel is known to have lived, until the third book's beginning, in the secluded village of Balesparr. From there, he was taken by Paragor and imprisoned. He was freed by Aidan and Antionette, to whom he revealed the prophecy
, and later killed while trying to escape Paragory. The suffix of his name means "of God" in Hebrew and is commonly used to name angel
s.
King Eliam's domain. Alleble is the oldest and most prosperous kingdom in the Realm. It is a walled city-state
, located roughly in the center of the Realm. Its culture
is described only as "a city that desired to be at peace
but should be ever ready for war
". Located near King Eliam's palace are two monuments; the Seven Glorious Fountains and the Library of Light. The Seven Fountains are known as Alleble's trademark across the Realm, visited publicly, whereas the Library of Light is a secret place closed to all except King Eliam and his Sentinels. One of the Fountains has been inactive ever since Paragor used it as a furnace to destroy the Elder Guard. Inhabitants of Alleble are known as Allebs.
Paragory:
The fortress established by Paragor and his followers after their exile from Alleble. It is located in the west of the Realm, near the double-peaked mountain called the Prince's Crown, under which Paragor imprisons those who have died in his service. Paragory is not acknowledged as a nation
by the Allebs, though other city-states in the Realm are known to trade
with it. Because no mention is made of any agriculture
practiced by Paragory's Glimpses, trade is presumably a necessity. The entrance to Paragory is the Gate of Despair, a pair of gigantic metal doors opening into the side of the Prince's Crown. Immediately inside is a vast hall, where millions of dead bodies are kept, decaying. The accumulation of millions of cadavers has given the area a vile odor.
Mithegard:
A city-state located in the north of the Realm. It is built of immense slabs of granite
brought from the Blue Mountains and carved by the Glimpses thereof. Mithegard is distinguished by its Seven Towers. Until the story of the first book, Mithegard remained neutral to Paragory and Alleble by trading with both and ignoring their war. Both domains simultaneously sent envoys to Mithegard, asking for an alliance; when the Alleb envoys, knights Gwenne and Aidan, showed honor in the court, King Ravelle of Mithegard delayed casting his influence to either side. The emissary from Paragory, Rucifel, responded to this delay with an open attack. Mithegard was razed, though many of its inhabitants survived. It was in this battle that the knights Bolt and Valithor were killed. Later, Mithegard was rebuilt, whereupon King Ravelle became a vassal of King Eliam.
The Sacred Realm Beyond the Sun:
An afterlife to which those who serve King Eliam are sent upon their death
s. Here, the Glimpse's identity
is no longer distinct from that of the human. When Paragor kills the Three Witnesses as punishment for their refusal to 'deny' King Eliam, the greatest heroes of Alleble (including the Witnesses and Captain Valithor) are brought from the Sacred Realm into the mortal world, later to be sent into the Sacred Realm again after Paragor's death. It is said to be a place of adventures "beyond [Aidan's] wildest dreams".
Yewland:
A city-state south-west of Alleble, built in and among the trees of a forest. It is notable for the nectar-based drink called Golden Tear; for the zip lines used for intracity transport; for the skill of its archers; for the extremely fast-flying white dragons that call it home; and for its beauty. Yewland is a longtime ally of Alleble. Its faith in the latter was only shaken once, when a Glimpse called Count Eogan was sent to Yewland by Paragor to masquerade as an Alleb overseer. When the news thereof reached Alleble, Sentinel Kaliam headed a mission to revive Yewland's trust in the domain of which it was a vassal. The mission succeeded.
The Blackwood:
A forest of blackwood trees, neighbor to Yewland. Because blackwood trees are very large and consume all the nutrients in the soil, no other flora can survive in this forest; therefore the Blackwood forest is surrounded by dead trees of other species. The interior of the Blackwood is very dark, due to the massive branches of the trees. It is home to many aggressive predators, and is therefore feared by Glimpses. Until the second book, the Seven Sleepers were buried in the Blackwood.
Baen-Edge:
A trading community located on two sides of a river. The 'Baen' side is distinguished by the economic poverty in which its Glimpses live, whereas the 'Edge' side is a crossroads for trade of any and all kinds. Both sides are squalid and home to class distinctions.
The Blue Mountains:
A community of provinces, named for its environment. Independent for many years; later a vassal of Alleble. Mallik is a representative of the Glimpses that dwell there. It is ruled by King Brower until his death.
King's Forest:
A forest composed of gigantic trees. Unlike the Blackwood, it is home to diverse species of flora. Dwelling here are giant spider
s who live underground; squirrel
s as large as dog
s; color-shifting snake
s large enough to swallow Glimpses; moth
s as large as raptor
s, and presumably other animals of exceptional size
.
Balesparr:
A village located in King's Forest. Balesparr is home to Glimpses who wish to remain detached from the wars of Paragory and Alleble. Few outsiders know of its existence until the events of the third book in the series. Zabediel is known to have lived there until his capture by Paragor's soldiers.
Clarion:
A city-state located in the south-east of the Realm, north of Baen-Edge. Clarion is a longtime ally of Alleble. It was ultimately destroyed by the Wyrm Lord on the orders of Paragor.
Candleforge:
A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Frostland:
A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Inferness:
A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Ludgeon:
Capital of the Blue Mountain Provinces. Notable for its large bridge
.
Pennath Ador:
Twin mountains that overlook Alleble. The sight of the sunrise
between their peaks is thought to be a good omen by the Allebs; as a result, the image of the rising sun between the peaks of Pennath Ador is engraved on swords and armor. The white stone of which these mountains are composed, called adorite or faercrag, is almost indestructible and emits a streak of white fire when struck. It was used, near the climax of the series, by the Allebs to fortify their city in preparation for Paragor's final attack. The word "Pennath" is said to mean "mountain" in the oldest language of the Glimpses, and so is used on maps of the Realm to indicate the presence of mountains. "Adorite" is stated to mean "of Glory" and "faercrag" "fire stone" in the same language.
books, along with Press Releases for the Washington Post Front Page Article, my appearance on Fox & Friends national TV, the books' appearances on the CBA Bestseller Lists, etc. This contact (no name for his privacy) is very well connected with Walden Media
(of Narnia and Terabithia fame), as well as Sunflower Productions (recent Amazing Grace movie)". (Quoted from Wayne Batson's Dec. 19 blog post) Batson recently sent one of his questioning fans a message concerning the movie rights. Here is that message:
WayneThomasBatson · Aug 25 2009, 05:09 PM
Still in the waiting phase. The rights may be purchased soon. If so...then we have a chance.
would be producing an audio book
series of the Trilogy. (Original Announcement here.) Availability will be on CD, Audible
and iTunes
, and the release date is scheduled for October, 2010 - January 2011.
Wayne Thomas Batson
Wayne Thomas Batson is an American writer. He has been married to his wife for seventeen years and has four children...
describing the adventure
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
s of three adolescent protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
s through a fantasy world. The titles of the books are The Door Within, The Rise of the Wyrm Lord, and The Final Storm. The plot contains many similarities to that of the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
, which is apparently used as source material.
The Door Within
The Door Within was published on April 8, 2007, is the first book of the trilogy.The cover of "The Door Within" shows a stone archway opening onto a curving torchlit staircase. A well-equipped knight in armor stands beside the door. This doorway is probably a rendering of the Door Within, which protagonist Aidan must enter in order to travel to the Realm.
Rise of the Wyrm Lord
Rise of the Wyrm Lord, was released on July 10, 2007.The cover of "Rise of the Wyrm Lord" depicts a huge, scaly, three-toed, purple claw rising from a pit. This is derived from a scene in which the Wyrm Lord, the firstborn of all dragon
Dragon
A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...
s, is released from his underground imprisonment by chief antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
Paragor.
The Final Storm
The Final Storm, was released on September 11, 2007.The cover of "The Final Storm" depicts an army of knights with bows standing on an enormous stone wall, preparing to fire at a vast oncoming army. A storm is brewing in the sky and a lone dragon flies about. This is derived from the last few scenes of the book, when the remaining forces of good defend the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Alleble from Paragor's greatest attack.
Glimpses
"Glimpse" is the name given to the humanoid inhabitants of the 'Realm', a parallel universeParallel universe (fiction)
A parallel universe or alternative reality is a hypothetical self-contained separate reality coexisting with one's own. A specific group of parallel universes is called a "multiverse", although this term can also be used to describe the possible parallel universes that constitute reality...
formerly united with and later adjacent to ours, wherein the story is set. They are largely similar to Grine
Grine
A Grine is a spirit conforming to a particular description, which is found both in the folklore of Morocco and in modern literature.-In Myth:In Moroccan myth, each time a human is born in our world, a djinn called a Grine is born in another, adjacent world...
s, in that each Glimpse corresponds to a human in appearance, personality
Personality type
Personality type refers to the psychological classification of different types of individuals. Personality types are sometimes distinguished from personality traits, with the latter embodying a smaller grouping of behavioral tendencies. Types are sometimes said to involve qualitative differences...
, allegiance/beliefs, and time of death, though not necessarily in age.
Glimpses have white skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
and eye
Eye
Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptors in conscious vision connect light to movement...
s that change color
Color
Color or colour is the visual perceptual property corresponding in humans to the categories called red, green, blue and others. Color derives from the spectrum of light interacting in the eye with the spectral sensitivities of the light receptors...
according to their loyalties. If a human chooses to believe that the "Story" of the Realm (also known as The Book of Alleble) is true, the Glimpse will side with King Eliam, the God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
like king of Alleble, whereupon its eyes glint blue; if a human chooses to scorn the Story, the Glimpse sides with the rebel Paragor (a Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
-like character who is the principal villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
of the series), whereupon its eyes glint red; if the human does not choose either, the Glimpse will remain independent and its eyes will glint green. Similarly, if the Glimpse changes its loyalty, the human changes its opinion. The color signifying loyalty
Loyalty
Loyalty is faithfulness or a devotion to a person, country, group, or cause There are many aspects to...
can only be seen when the Glimpse moves or from a sidewise angle; when seen from the front, Glimpse eyes are as various in color as human eyes, and may or may not match those of the human to whom a Glimpse corresponds.
Upon dying, each Glimpse is united with its human and transcends both worlds in favor of an afterlife
Afterlife
The afterlife is the belief that a part of, or essence of, or soul of an individual, which carries with it and confers personal identity, survives the death of the body of this world and this lifetime, by natural or supernatural means, in contrast to the belief in eternal...
. Followers of King Eliam join their master in a world known as the 'Sacred Realm Beyond the Sun', whereas followers of Paragor become imprisoned beneath his citadel, behind the 'Gates of Despair'.
In the third book of the series, The Final Storm, the two worlds reunite into one, so that all separation and distinction between each Glimpse and the human to which it corresponds ceases to exist.
Characters
Aidan Thomas:The main character
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
At first concerned only with his own convenience (or lack thereof), Aidan becomes brave, loyal, and self-sacrificing after he enters Alleble. Invited by King Eliam, he enters the Realm and becomes a knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
, in which role he brings Mithegard, one of Alleble's neighbors, to become Alleble's ally in its war with Paragor. A favorite ruse of his, used in the first and third books, is to disguise himself in the livery of Paragor in order to infiltrate the latter's territory. Aidan is revealed in The Final Storm to be one of the 'Three Witnesses'; one of three prophesized heroes who bring about the final end of the said war. Aidan's name as a Witness is "Seeker of the Lost".He is killed by Paragor after he refuses Paragor's offers of wealth and glory; but is revived moments later to defeat Paragor's army. Before he becomes Witness he wields the sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
called Fury, which had earlier belonged to his mentor Captain Valithor; but once revived, he wields Adoric, "The Glory Seeker". Aidan is the only Witness to have visited the Realm more than once, and the only one to have returned from it.
Gwenne:
A Glimpse swordmaiden of the Elder Guard. One of Aidan's most intimate friends. Gwenne is typically audacious and lighthearted, but can be passionate and reliable. Aidan is very fond of her. Her sword is called Thil Galel ("Daughter of Light" in the language of Glimpses).
Antoinette Lynn Reed:
Gwenne's human counterpart. Antoinette is a classmate of Aidan's, who having learned of the war continuing in the Realm is brought to Alleble, where she takes Gwenne's place. As a swordmaiden of Alleble, Antoinette joins a diplomatic mission to revive the faith in Alleble of the vassal Yewland. She is skilled at the art of kendo
Kendo
, meaning "Way of The Sword", is a modern Japanese martial art of sword-fighting based on traditional Japanese swordsmanship, or kenjutsu.Kendo is a physically and mentally challenging activity that combines strong martial arts values with sport-like physical elements.-Practitioners:Practitioners...
, rambunctious, and sometimes danger
Danger
Danger may refer to:* Risk, the threat of adverse events* Danger , a Microsoft subsidiary which made cellular telephones* Danger , French electronic composer and performer* Danger , the fourth studio album by P-Square...
-prone. Her personality is similar to Gwenne's, but lacks Gwenne's emotional maturity. Antoinette is revealed in The Final Storm to be one of the Three Witnesses, one of three prophesized heroes who bring an end to the war between Alleble and Paragory. Antoinette's name as a Witness is "Child of Storms". This is ironic, because Antoinette is said throughout Rise of the Wyrm Lord to have suffered a trauma
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
in near-infancy during a thunderstorm; as a result of this trauma, she is attuned to weather and is instantly aware of an approaching storm and its intensity. The irony may serve to indicate the ability of King Eliam (to whom the Glimpses of Alleble attribute "all that is just and good") to generate positive effects even from the least likely sources. As Witness she wielded the sword Thorinsagaet, the "Storm Bringer".
Black Dragons:
Huge, bulky, unwieldy dragons kept by Paragor's people as beasts of burden. Used to carry siege engines from Paragory to targets of its invasions.
Blue Dragons:
Alleble's messenger dragons, used only in times of emergency. Known for their speed and stamina.
Butterwing:
A dragon known for smooth flight. Mentioned by Mallik in The Final Storm. Later implied to become Nock's mount en route to the Blue Mountains.
Captain Valithor:
A Sentinel of Alleble. A powerful figure, known to be almost entirely honest with himself and others; notable for his thunderous voice, his colorful language, and the strict discipline he imposes on his students, the Elder Guard. Captain Valithor's human counterpart is Aidan's grandfather; his son Ravelle is king of Mithegard and the alter-ego of Aidan's father Charles; his grandson Aelic is Aidan's reflection. Captain Valithor is himself killed when Mithegard is sacked by Paragor's army.
Kaliam:
A Glimpse warrior who is often called "Pathfinder" and who helps Aidan learn knighthood. In the second book, Kaliam succeeds Captain Valithor as Sentinel of Allble. He is quite compassionate, tall, and capable. He often imitates Valithor in order to admonish his students. In The Final Storm, Kaliam marries the swordmaiden Merewen. At the end, he is appointed ruler of Alleble by King Eliam.
Acsriot:
A member of the Elder Guard who betrayed his fellows to Paragor. In order to disrupt a diplomatic mission sent to the city-state Mithegard, he advised the Guard to travel across a wasteland known as the Grimwalk, whose stormy weather scattered the knights. Acsriot then escaped on dragonback, later to join Paragor's army for an attack on Mithegard. There, he fought on Paragor's side and eventually inflicted a mortal wound on Captain Valithor. Moments later, Aidan took Valithor's sword Fury and used it to kill Acsriot. His name is an anagram or play on "Iscariot", the name of a disciple of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
who betrayed his mentor.
Count Eogan:
A spy from Paragory, who disguises himself as an Alleb envoy and attempts to impose harsh law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
s on Yewland in order to turn the inhabitants of Yewland against Alleble. He is thwarted in this effort by the mission headed by Kaliam. Later, Eogan approaches Aidan's friend Robby, whom he teaches to perceive Paragor as the injured party of the Great Betrayal, only to have his statements refuted by Aidan. He is later killed by the sword he gave Robby.
Elspeth:
An Alleb Glimpse who acts as caretaker to the new recruits among the knights. She is quite talkative, optimistically stoic, and fond of her charges, as well as familiar with most of those to whom she speaks. Elspeth is renowned as a skilled cook; her specialty is a stew
Stew
A stew is a combination of solid food ingredients that have been cooked in liquid and served in the resultant gravy. Ingredients in a stew can include any combination of vegetables , meat, especially tougher meats suitable for slow-cooking, such as beef. Poultry, sausages, and seafood are also used...
much prized among the Elder Guard. She has a very hard time keeping secrets, and is very inquisitive.
Falon:
Eldest of the mortiwraiths. Falon dwells in a cavern, where she amuses herself by arranging her body into a maze
Maze
A maze is a tour puzzle in the form of a complex branching passage through which the solver must find a route. In everyday speech, both maze and labyrinth denote a complex and confusing series of pathways, but technically the maze is distinguished from the labyrinth, as the labyrinth has a single...
called Falon's Labyrinth. If Glimpses or humans can navigate this maze without error, Falon will allow them to pass unharmed; if they make mistakes, Falon will eat them. She owes Captain Valithor a debt for his rescue of her daughter from Paragor's knights, which she pays by helping Aidan rescue Gwenne and several Mithegardians from a Paragorian military camp. Her son Faethon tests Antoinette during the latter's training as a swordmaiden. Falon is ultimately killed in a battle with the Wyrm Lord (see below). Because her blood is a toxin
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
, the Wyrm Lord dies upon ingesting it.
Faethon:
Last living son of Falon the Great. He tests Antoinette's trust in the King and later is sought by Sentinel Kaliam and Lady Merewen, who wish him to help defeat Paragor. He is not found, and nothing is ever said of his outcome.
Farix:
A Glimpse martial artist, known to be a lethal, efficient fighter despite his lack of any weapon other than his limbs. He is capable, as such, of holding his own in a battle and keeping his friends safe.
Gabrielle/Gabby:
Gwenne's silver dragon. Brings Aidan to Alleble in the first book. Later serves as Aelic's mount when Gwenne is replaced in the Realm by Antoinette. Gabby is affectionate to most people and loyal to both of her riders. She ultimately dies defending Aelic from the Seven Sleepers.
Grampin:
Aidan's paternal grandfather, who uses a wheelchair. He has traveled to the Realm and kept an extensive diary of his journeys there. The death of his parents and loss of his mobility is implied to correspond with Valithor's similar losses of his parents and much of the skin on his hands during the Great Betrayal. Grampin speaks with a broad accent and a firm tone of voice. It is he who encourages Aidan to resume belief in the reality of the Realm, after the belief had been doubted by Aidan's father. He died as a result of Valithor's murder.
Honk:
A white dragon from Yewland named in imitation of a sound she uses to name herself. Serves as Antoinette's mount when Antoinette is trying to reform Lord Kearn. Like all dragons in the Realm, Honk is loyal to her rider and understands everything said to her. Dragons of her color and breed are said to be the fastest in the Realm. She is not mentioned after Antoinette's capture by Kearn.
King Eliam:
The omniscient, omnipotent, apparently immortal King of Alleble, acknowledged as ruler by non-Glimpse life-forms such as trees. His second-in-command, the Sentinel Paragal, attempted to oust King Eliam and usurp the throne, but was unable to complete his conquest. King Eliam is known to be generous and seldom seen. When he does appear, King Eliam resembles a Glimpse, having long white hair
Hair
Hair is a filamentous biomaterial, that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Found exclusively in mammals, hair is one of the defining characteristics of the mammalian class....
and a long white beard
Beard
A beard is the collection of hair that grows on the chin, cheeks and neck of human beings. Usually, only pubescent or adult males are able to grow beards. However, women with hirsutism may develop a beard...
, though both features are often hidden by a brilliant halo
Halo
Halo may refer to:* Halo , a glow or ring of light around a head or person in art-Game franchise and spin-offs:*Halo , a video game franchise by Bungie and Microsoft Game Studios...
. Alone among the Glimpses, King Eliam's eyes do not display the colors of his loyalty. The Knights of Alleble, in particular the Elder Guard (of whom Aidan, Gwenne, and Paragal were members), are fiercely loyal to him. At the end of the series, King Eliam departs from the mortal world, leaving Sentinel Kaliam and swordmaiden Merewen to rule Alleble. His name is derived from the Hebrew Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
.
Mallik:
Gigantic Glimpse warrior from the Alleble's vassal kingdom located in the Blue Mountains. His people are known for their skills with mining and stonemasonry. Mallik appears to be brusque and coarse, but is eventually revealed as a big-hearted, gentle giant. He is distinguished by his size and by his gigantic war hammer. Mallik eventually succeeds to the rulership of the Blue Mountains after the death of King Brower.
Merewen:
Merewen is a swordmaiden formerly in the service of Paragor, who turned to the Alleb side. She is part of the diplomatic mission to revive the alliance of Yewland to Alleble. As a result of her experiences, her arguments in favor of service to King Eliam are more convincing than are the arguments of those who have been Allebs all along. Merewen eventually marries Kaliam.
Naysmithe:
A master swordsmith and former Sentinel of Alleble. He is known to have prepared for the coming of the Three Witnesses by creation of weapons for their use.
Nock and Bolt:
Twin archers who grew up in Yewland, a vassal domain of Alleble. As a result of a tradition wherein toddlers are taught to use a bow before they can walk, Nock and Bolt never miss a target. When not practicing their shooting, they enjoy talking/sparring with Mallik. Bolt is killed in battle while defending Mithegard. His death shocks the Queen of Yewland, who was very much attached to him. Nock, at the end of the series, becomes ruler of Yewland after the Queen is killed by Paragor's allies.
Oswyn/Os:
Oswyn is a herbalist and a chemist, as well as a knight of Alleble. He is quite friendly and enjoys experimenting with chemicals of all kinds. Several of his concoctions are explosive and therefore used in battle.
Queen Illaria:
Queen of Yewland. One of the strongest allies of Alleble. She has exceptionally keen hearing; is generous and indulgent toward nonroyals; is both passionate and cautious; and is known to have had a soft spot for Bolt.
Paragor:
The main antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
. Formerly King Eliam's Sentinel Paragal, who led a rebellion known as the Great Betrayal. Later was banished to a region of the West, where he anointed himself Prince and gathered armies to himself. The change of his name is indicative of the change of his character; in the oldest language of the Glimpses, Paragal means "Pure Light" whereas Paragor means "Pure Darkness". Paragor and King Eliam are constantly vying for the loyalties of the free Glimpses, through whom their political power is achieved. Paragor is vanquished at the end of the series. He is an able sorcerer, though shown to be jealous of King Eliam for keeping supreme power to himself.
Ravelle:
King of the city-state Mithegard and son of Captain Valithor. Ravelle, in his youth, became estranged from his father and left Alleble for Mithegard, where he became king through a vaguely described process. His own statements imply that rule of Mithegard is not necessarily inherited, but can be obtained through a "campaign", which word may signify either a coup d'etat
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
or a raising of support for himself among the people. His right to rule remains unchallenged. Ravelle's selfishness caused his wife Ariana and son Aelic to be estranged from him. After the destruction of Mithegard by Paragor's army, Ravelle became a vassal of Alleble. His son Aelic (the Glimpse version of Aidan) later joined the Elder Guard.
Ariana:
Wife of King Ravelle of Mithegard. Separated from her husband when they refused to co-operate. Ariana lived in Balesparr for several years, then later reunited with Ravelle before the end of the war — ironically on the very day of Kaliam's marriage to Merewen. Implied to be the alter-ego of Aidan's mother, whose given name
Given name
A given name, in Western contexts often referred to as a first name, is a personal name that specifies and differentiates between members of a group of individuals, especially in a family, all of whose members usually share the same family name...
is never mentioned.
Aelic:
Glimpse knight, son of King Ravelle and grandson of Captain Valithor. Protagonist Aidan's alter-ego. Aelic is similar to Aidan in some ways, but has more skill with words and has made fewer comical mistakes. As a result, Aelic is often embarrassed when reminded of Aidan's errors. He is fond of secondary protagonist Antoinette, but is less reckless than she or Aidan. Aelic is known to favor the stew that is specialty of the palace servant Elspeth.
Robby Pierson:
Aidan's best friend in the human world. Athletic, outwardly relaxed, but traumatized by his parents' separation. His Glimpse counterpart Kearn is a servant of Paragor. When Antoinette learns this, she attempts to convert Kearn to King Eliam's side, but in so doing places in danger the mission of which she is part. Robby ishimself later approached by Paragor's servants, who give him good luck in order to convince him to join their side. Robby is later convinced to become a servant of Alleble. He is trained as a knight of the Elder Guard, later to join them as the twelfth member of their group. Robby is revealed in The Final Storm to be one of the Three Witnesses. His name as a Witness is "Dragonfriend", because he alone could tame 'Splinter', the most vicious dragon in the service of Alleble. As Witness he wielded the sword 'Wyrmfel', the "Dragon's Bite".
Kearn:
Robby's alter-ego, the son of Rucifel. A highly-ranked servant of Paragor. Kearn believes that the world is a savage place, wherein all creatures constantly take from each other; therefore he is continuously frightened of the idea that if he has not power superior to that of others, the others will take that which he considers precious from him. Antoinette, having recognized him as Robby's counterpart, makes several efforts to persuade Kearn that he should fight on the side of Alleble. Although Kearn is hostile to this suggestion, he makes efforts of his own to understand Antoinette's motives and is gradually converted to her beliefs. During his imprisonment of her, Kearn visits Antoinette many times, in which encounters occurs the debate between them. He shows more mercy and respect toward her than to his other prisoners, to the extent of giving her a sword by which to die fighting her would-be executioners.
Rogan:
A warrior from Mithegard who fights on the side of Alleble. Rogan carries a large axe
Axe
The axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
. He is chosen as one of those who assist Antoinette on her journey to Yewland in The Rise of the Wyrm Lord. He becomes a good friend of Nock and Mallik and is often near them in the rest of the series. He is sent to watch Robby on his mission in the King's Forest in The Final Storm to make sure that Robby is a wholehearted follower of King Eliam and later survives the novel's climax
Climax (narrative)
The Climax is the point in the story where the main character's point of view changes, or the most exciting/action filled part of the story. It also known has the main turning point in the story...
.
Rucifel:
Paragor's second-in-command. A ruthless, cruel fighter known for using two swords simultaneously. Acts as his Prince's diplomat. His name is an anagram of "Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
". His human twin is Kurt Pierson, father of Robby. His son is Lord Kearn, Robby's Glimpse twin.
Swiftwing:
A dragon from Alleble. Sent by King Eliam to be Captain Valithor's mount after the captain was nearly killed in a violent "Tempest" created by Paragor. Swiftwing is said to have fought and died in the battle at Mithegard.
Splinter:
A dark-colored female dragon, named for the white spines protruding from the back of her head and tip of her tail. Untamable except by Robby. Dies defending him when Alleble is sacked by Paragor's army.
Thrivenbard:
A tracker and pathfinder, having skills superior to any other of his trade. Very flexible, co-ordinated, and agile. Blames himself for the loss of anyone whom he guides.
Halberad:
Thrivenbard's apprentice, who is often awed by his mentor. His name resembles that of a Ranger appearing in The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
.
Timera:
A Mortiwraith descended of Falon, having the atypical abilities to glide by means of flaps of skin located between her legs (compare to the gliding lizards of the tropics) and to remain unharmed in moonlight and sunlight, which ordinarily activate the toxin
Toxin
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms; man-made substances created by artificial processes are thus excluded...
s in a mortiwraith's blood, killing it. Mentioned only in a chapter of The Final Storm. In this chapter, she is shown enlisting Mallik and Nock to help her build a shelter for her offspring.
Trenna Swiftfoot:
Glimpse maiden rescued from slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
by Antoinette. Born and raised in Yewland. Antoinette dubbed her a servant of King Eliam outside of the trading posts known as Baen-Edge. Trenna later became a knight of the Elder Guard. She was presumably killed by Paragor's soldiers during the aerial assault.
Sil Arnoth:
Oldest of the Realm's trees. He is a blackwood tree: a species unique to the Realm, so called for its shining black coloration, as large as a Sequoia. Sil Arnoth's growth rings, like those of most blackwood trees, are legible to Glimpses, who can in them read a highly detailed description of the trees' entire history. Sil Arnoth himself is held in reverence by the Glimpses of Yewland, as well as by King Eliam, who hid inside him a scroll revealing the location of that place wherein the Wyrm Lord is imprisoned. He is eventually killed by Paragor, who seeks to discover the location of the Wyrm Lord.
Warriant:
"First vanguard", or war-leader, of the Glimpses who dwell, isolated, in Balesparr. His people wish to remain aloof from the wars fought between other Glimpses, until such a position becomes untenable. Although he is nearly neutral, as reflected in his green eyes, for a large part of the book, he eventually becomes a servant of Alleble.
White Dragons: The fastest dragons in the Realm, bred in Yewland. They do not speak either human or Glimpse languages, but are suggested to have a definite language of their own and to understand everything spoken directly to them. These abilities may or may not be shared with other dragons of the Realm; no other is shown exhibiting them, though several are implied to have them.
Wyrm Lord:
Oldest of the Realm's dragons, whose envy and hate have corrupted him. In the second book, he arises from long imprisonment (given as a punishment for his murder of Torin, King Eliam's most faithful servant) to aid Paragor. His servants are seven lupine creatures called the Seven Sleepers
Seven Sleepers
The Seven Sleepers, commonly called the "Seven Sleepers of Ephesus", refers to a group of Christian youths who hid inside a cave outside the city of Ephesus around 250 AD, to escape a persecution of Christians being conducted during the reign of the Roman emperor Decius...
, who like him have the power of shape-changing. It is suggested that the Wyrm Lord caused the Realm to separate from the readers' world. His 'Black Breath', which obscures vision, creates a frightening backdrop for the Final Storm after which the third book is named. He dies as a result of having ingested the blood of Falon the mortiwraith.
Zabediel/Zabed:
A scribe in the service of King Eliam. Zabed has lived for millennia. It was he who wrote on the scroll taken from Sil Arnoth the location of the Wyrm Lord, and the prophecies of Paragor's rise and that of the Three Witnesses.
Zabediel is known to have lived, until the third book's beginning, in the secluded village of Balesparr. From there, he was taken by Paragor and imprisoned. He was freed by Aidan and Antionette, to whom he revealed the prophecy
Prophecy
Prophecy is a process in which one or more messages that have been communicated to a prophet are then communicated to others. Such messages typically involve divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of conditioned events to come as well as testimonies or repeated revelations that the...
, and later killed while trying to escape Paragory. The suffix of his name means "of God" in Hebrew and is commonly used to name angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s.
Locations
Alleble:King Eliam's domain. Alleble is the oldest and most prosperous kingdom in the Realm. It is a walled city-state
City-state
A city-state is an independent or autonomous entity whose territory consists of a city which is not administered as a part of another local government.-Historical city-states:...
, located roughly in the center of the Realm. Its culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
is described only as "a city that desired to be at peace
Peace
Peace is a state of harmony characterized by the lack of violent conflict. Commonly understood as the absence of hostility, peace also suggests the existence of healthy or newly healed interpersonal or international relationships, prosperity in matters of social or economic welfare, the...
but should be ever ready for war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
". Located near King Eliam's palace are two monuments; the Seven Glorious Fountains and the Library of Light. The Seven Fountains are known as Alleble's trademark across the Realm, visited publicly, whereas the Library of Light is a secret place closed to all except King Eliam and his Sentinels. One of the Fountains has been inactive ever since Paragor used it as a furnace to destroy the Elder Guard. Inhabitants of Alleble are known as Allebs.
Paragory:
The fortress established by Paragor and his followers after their exile from Alleble. It is located in the west of the Realm, near the double-peaked mountain called the Prince's Crown, under which Paragor imprisons those who have died in his service. Paragory is not acknowledged as a nation
Nation
A nation may refer to a community of people who share a common language, culture, ethnicity, descent, and/or history. In this definition, a nation has no physical borders. However, it can also refer to people who share a common territory and government irrespective of their ethnic make-up...
by the Allebs, though other city-states in the Realm are known to trade
Trade
Trade is the transfer of ownership of goods and services from one person or entity to another. Trade is sometimes loosely called commerce or financial transaction or barter. A network that allows trade is called a market. The original form of trade was barter, the direct exchange of goods and...
with it. Because no mention is made of any agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
practiced by Paragory's Glimpses, trade is presumably a necessity. The entrance to Paragory is the Gate of Despair, a pair of gigantic metal doors opening into the side of the Prince's Crown. Immediately inside is a vast hall, where millions of dead bodies are kept, decaying. The accumulation of millions of cadavers has given the area a vile odor.
Mithegard:
A city-state located in the north of the Realm. It is built of immense slabs of granite
Granite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
brought from the Blue Mountains and carved by the Glimpses thereof. Mithegard is distinguished by its Seven Towers. Until the story of the first book, Mithegard remained neutral to Paragory and Alleble by trading with both and ignoring their war. Both domains simultaneously sent envoys to Mithegard, asking for an alliance; when the Alleb envoys, knights Gwenne and Aidan, showed honor in the court, King Ravelle of Mithegard delayed casting his influence to either side. The emissary from Paragory, Rucifel, responded to this delay with an open attack. Mithegard was razed, though many of its inhabitants survived. It was in this battle that the knights Bolt and Valithor were killed. Later, Mithegard was rebuilt, whereupon King Ravelle became a vassal of King Eliam.
The Sacred Realm Beyond the Sun:
An afterlife to which those who serve King Eliam are sent upon their death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
s. Here, the Glimpse's identity
Identity (social science)
Identity is a term used to describe a person's conception and expression of their individuality or group affiliations . The term is used more specifically in psychology and sociology, and is given a great deal of attention in social psychology...
is no longer distinct from that of the human. When Paragor kills the Three Witnesses as punishment for their refusal to 'deny' King Eliam, the greatest heroes of Alleble (including the Witnesses and Captain Valithor) are brought from the Sacred Realm into the mortal world, later to be sent into the Sacred Realm again after Paragor's death. It is said to be a place of adventures "beyond [Aidan's] wildest dreams".
Yewland:
A city-state south-west of Alleble, built in and among the trees of a forest. It is notable for the nectar-based drink called Golden Tear; for the zip lines used for intracity transport; for the skill of its archers; for the extremely fast-flying white dragons that call it home; and for its beauty. Yewland is a longtime ally of Alleble. Its faith in the latter was only shaken once, when a Glimpse called Count Eogan was sent to Yewland by Paragor to masquerade as an Alleb overseer. When the news thereof reached Alleble, Sentinel Kaliam headed a mission to revive Yewland's trust in the domain of which it was a vassal. The mission succeeded.
The Blackwood:
A forest of blackwood trees, neighbor to Yewland. Because blackwood trees are very large and consume all the nutrients in the soil, no other flora can survive in this forest; therefore the Blackwood forest is surrounded by dead trees of other species. The interior of the Blackwood is very dark, due to the massive branches of the trees. It is home to many aggressive predators, and is therefore feared by Glimpses. Until the second book, the Seven Sleepers were buried in the Blackwood.
Baen-Edge:
A trading community located on two sides of a river. The 'Baen' side is distinguished by the economic poverty in which its Glimpses live, whereas the 'Edge' side is a crossroads for trade of any and all kinds. Both sides are squalid and home to class distinctions.
The Blue Mountains:
A community of provinces, named for its environment. Independent for many years; later a vassal of Alleble. Mallik is a representative of the Glimpses that dwell there. It is ruled by King Brower until his death.
King's Forest:
A forest composed of gigantic trees. Unlike the Blackwood, it is home to diverse species of flora. Dwelling here are giant spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s who live underground; squirrel
Squirrel
Squirrels belong to a large family of small or medium-sized rodents called the Sciuridae. The family includes tree squirrels, ground squirrels, chipmunks, marmots , flying squirrels, and prairie dogs. Squirrels are indigenous to the Americas, Eurasia, and Africa and have been introduced to Australia...
s as large as dog
Dog
The domestic dog is a domesticated form of the gray wolf, a member of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. The term is used for both feral and pet varieties. The dog may have been the first animal to be domesticated, and has been the most widely kept working, hunting, and companion animal in...
s; color-shifting snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
s large enough to swallow Glimpses; moth
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
s as large as raptor
Bird of prey
Birds of prey are birds that hunt for food primarily on the wing, using their keen senses, especially vision. They are defined as birds that primarily hunt vertebrates, including other birds. Their talons and beaks tend to be relatively large, powerful and adapted for tearing and/or piercing flesh....
s, and presumably other animals of exceptional size
Size
The word size may refer to how big something is. In particular:* Measurement, the process or the result of determining the magnitude of a quantity, such as length or mass, relative to a unit of measurement, such as a meter or a kilogram...
.
Balesparr:
A village located in King's Forest. Balesparr is home to Glimpses who wish to remain detached from the wars of Paragory and Alleble. Few outsiders know of its existence until the events of the third book in the series. Zabediel is known to have lived there until his capture by Paragor's soldiers.
Clarion:
A city-state located in the south-east of the Realm, north of Baen-Edge. Clarion is a longtime ally of Alleble. It was ultimately destroyed by the Wyrm Lord on the orders of Paragor.
Candleforge:
A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Frostland:
A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Inferness:
A city-state located in the extreme west of the Realm. Allied formerly with Alleble and later with Paragory.
Ludgeon:
Capital of the Blue Mountain Provinces. Notable for its large bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
.
Pennath Ador:
Twin mountains that overlook Alleble. The sight of the sunrise
Sunrise
Sunrise is the instant at which the upper edge of the Sun appears above the horizon in the east. Sunrise should not be confused with dawn, which is the point at which the sky begins to lighten, some time before the sun itself appears, ending twilight...
between their peaks is thought to be a good omen by the Allebs; as a result, the image of the rising sun between the peaks of Pennath Ador is engraved on swords and armor. The white stone of which these mountains are composed, called adorite or faercrag, is almost indestructible and emits a streak of white fire when struck. It was used, near the climax of the series, by the Allebs to fortify their city in preparation for Paragor's final attack. The word "Pennath" is said to mean "mountain" in the oldest language of the Glimpses, and so is used on maps of the Realm to indicate the presence of mountains. "Adorite" is stated to mean "of Glory" and "faercrag" "fire stone" in the same language.
Movies
Recent posts from Wayne Batson's blog hint the possible arrival of new movie adaptations of the trilogy. As of December 18, 2007 "...a very important contact in Hollywood received The Door Within and Isle of SwordsIsle of Swords
Isle of Swords is a pirate novel for young adults by Wayne Thomas Batson, also author of The Door Within Trilogy. First published in 2007, it tells of sailors, pirates, and a mysterious group of monks all working to get a great treasure, the treasure of Constantine...
books, along with Press Releases for the Washington Post Front Page Article, my appearance on Fox & Friends national TV, the books' appearances on the CBA Bestseller Lists, etc. This contact (no name for his privacy) is very well connected with Walden Media
Walden Media
Walden Media is a children's film production and publishing company best known as the producers of The Chronicles of Narnia series. Its films are based on notable classic or award-winning children's literature, compelling biographies or historical events, documentaries and some original...
(of Narnia and Terabithia fame), as well as Sunflower Productions (recent Amazing Grace movie)". (Quoted from Wayne Batson's Dec. 19 blog post) Batson recently sent one of his questioning fans a message concerning the movie rights. Here is that message:
WayneThomasBatson · Aug 25 2009, 05:09 PM
Still in the waiting phase. The rights may be purchased soon. If so...then we have a chance.
Audio Books
On April 5, 2008 Wayne Thomas Batson announced on The Realm Forums that Thomas Nelson (publisher)Thomas Nelson (publisher)
Thomas Nelson is a publishing firm that began in Scotland in 1798 as the namesake of its founder. Its former US division is currently the sixth largest American trade publisher and the world's largest Christian publisher. It is owned by the private equity firm Kohlberg & Company...
would be producing an audio book
Audio book
An audiobook or audio book is a recording of a text being read. It is not necessarily an exact audio version of a book or magazine.Spoken audio has been available in schools and public libraries and to a lesser extent in music shops since the 1930s. Many spoken word albums were made prior to the...
series of the Trilogy. (Original Announcement here.) Availability will be on CD, Audible
Audible.com
Audible.com is an Internet provider of spoken audio entertainment, information, and educational programming.Audible sells digital audiobooks, radio and TV programs, and audio versions of magazines and newspapers....
and iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, and the release date is scheduled for October, 2010 - January 2011.