Arholt - Located in the country of Gareth, island of Meriva. Gareth’s busiest and most prominent port village, Arholt has retained its rustic beauty and the old ways of the sea. In addition to a lively fishing industry, Arholt also holds the responsibility of policing the western seas between Gareth & Barinesh.

Asphel - The capital city of Gareth Kingdom. The city sprawls over the entire island of Asphel, for which it was named. The island itself is only about five miles around, but is the hub of the kingdom’s foreign and even local affairs. The city’s most prominent feature is Grand Castle Asphel, home to Gareth’s Royal Family and all who serve them. The island is a self-sufficient nation within a nation, and is well protected against many types of siege.

Barinesh - The warrior nation of the west. Its capital is Baira, a city named for the first warrior king who founded the kingdom. Not many venture to Barinesh for trade, for the people are just as hot-blooded and aggressive as their rulers, and negotiation is not their strong point. Barinesh is traditionally known for its homage to the battle arts. It spurns modern technology, insisting that the old ways are best. Its people are not primitive, but have yet to adopt much of the advances of the past few decades.

Co-Regent - This is the position held by any Crown Prince or Princess upon the absence of the ruling King or Queen. There is always an appointed Regent who supervises the Co-Regent, but the Co-Regent essentially possesses the same powers.

Cradle Ring - A dormant volcano that figures in many of Gareth’s legends. Scholars and mystics alike predict that it will erupt again within the next century. Its last eruption created the volcanic island of Khezhan.

Farrier - One whose primary occupation is to shoe horses. In many villages, also serves some blacksmith duties and doctors horses as well.

Ferry - The Gareth Ferry operates all the coasts on Cradle Bay, and stops in all major port towns. It has several independent branches, including the Arholt-Asphel Ferry. Queen Thalia the Wise first implemented this ferry system.

Fever - An epidemic currently sweeping through Barinesh. A cure has yet to be found, and the cause is unknown as well.

Gareth - An island kingdom. Its location made it the battleground of many disputes in early times. Now it is ruled by a monarchy and has become quite prosperous on the strength of its ports and foreign trade. Known as the land of merchants, Gareth is also a crossroads for travelers and houses the headquarters of the Trade Delegation.

Grand Palace - The Grand Palace at Asphel took nearly twenty years to complete, and covers most of the island of Asphel. It has four towers, one for each cardinal direction, and a large area known as the Green. Its ten gates all bear names. There are many secret entrances and passageways in the Palace, many of which have yet to be documented. These are part of the Palace’s excellent defense.

Guerre Quatre - A war between the four lands that occurred in the year 260. It spanned five years of fierce fighting, much of which was staged on the islands of Gareth.

Guillare - Guillare is the cold, mountainous country to the north. During the Guerre Quatre, it established itself as a major military power, and has always been known as a highly advanced nation. Exclusively its Royal Family—a line of kings and queens that possess the trademark “Guillare gift”, has traditionally led Guillare. It has been rumored that Guillare guards a terrible secret. Guillare’s standard is the moon, pierced by an arrow and entwined in the country’s signature night-flowering vine.

King Oliver of the Sword - Often referred to as Gareth’s greatest ruler, King Oliver of the Sword ascended to the throne of Gareth shortly after the culmination of the Guerre Quatre. He is credited for the rebuilding of Gareth and the establishment of the nation as the world’s most prosperous trading zone. King Oliver of the Sword defeated the Pirate King in the greatest naval battle ever recorded, but died in the year 279 at the age of 57.

King's Army - The formal name for Gareth’s army. King Theo III was its first Commander General, and it mobilized roughly two years after he called it to arms. Its first mission was to claim the island of Khezhan in the name of the Kingdom, thus wresting it from the rule of the native peoples.

Leiden - Leiden is often called the land of beginnings. This is because it is the origin of many innovators and innovations; its sage elders were the first to devise a recorded written language, for one thing. Also, a man from Leiden founded the country of Barinesh. The people of Leiden value wisdom and the pursuit of simple joys. They are levelheaded judges of character and crime. The country is ruled by a council of sage elders who are represented by a Prime Minister. Leiden’s standard is the scroll and the javelin.

Matanza - The Pirate King’s finest ship, and the only one that was not stolen from another fleet. It’s name means, “Massacre,” and its figurehead is known on all the seas; it is a beautiful woman, blindfolded and bearing a sword that doubles as one of the ship’s many weapons. Should the captain choose, he could steer the ship into an enemy vessel and pierce the side with the figurehead's sword.

Medrana - The Pirate King’s second ship. Medrana means, “Fear.” Its figurehead is a woman in chains, once again blindfolded. Medrana burned in the assault on the Pirate King’s islands in the east.

Merry Isles/Lyon Isles - These islands are the easternmost of Gareth country. The Pirate King’s ancestors claimed them long before he ever established himself as an enemy of the throne. They are most often called the Merry Isles, despite their given name of Lyon Isles. The main island houses the cove and is covered with plantations. The other islands all bear secrets, and are never without an open bar.

Naval Battle - In the tenth year of King Oliver’s reign, the Pirate King emerged from the east and attempted to capture the throne. The two armadas met in the channel that connects the Lyon Islands to Cradle Bay. After a long and arduous battle that lasted three days and nights, King Oliver was victorious; however, the Pirate King survived, and with his remaining ships, returned to his island base.

Oracle - Specifically, the Southern Oracle. She lives her entire life on an island south of Gareth, and has always been neutral in all affairs of state or war. The Southern Oracle is the sole responsibility of the Nuns of Saint Calla, who are the only ones permitted to set foot on her island without having to undergo a perilous quest. The Oracle's power is so intense that it lies dormant within her until she is called upon by a worthy hero. It is widely speculated that the Oracle is immortal; however, this fact has never been investigated.

Queen Thalia the Wise - Queen Thalia is credited for the implementation of Gareth's ferry system. It was her idea to link the islands of her kingdom with ferries that would operate from port town to port town efficiently and safely. Throughout her rein, the ferry system was perfected and refined. She came to be called the Wise.

Regent - In the absence of the King and Queen, the Regent will step down from her traditional role as Chief Adviser and become the guiding hand for the Crown Prince or Princess. Regents are given the same powers as their Co-Regents; the are to steer the young monarch-to-be in the right direction.

Reina - The smallest ship of the Pirate King's fleet, but no less of a threat. The Reina, or "Queen," is crewed with the most vicious and unrelenting thieves in the Pirate King's ranks. Its figurehead is a young girl holding a crown in her hands.

Rose Maze - The beautiful Rose Maze of Asphel Castle was engineered by an enterprising gardener in the early days of the castle's construction. As the towers and battlements were built, so too was the Rose Maze. From the air its pattern is that of a giant rose. In the past, it has been used by the Royal Family to hide from marauding forces, for it is impossible to negotiate the Rose Maze unless you have known it all your life.

Summer Festival - Arholt's Summer Festival is held annually to celebrate the most abundant fishing season. The entire town goes on holiday, and its ferry shuts down for three days as the festivities are held in the square.

Tāvaiki - The native inhabitants of Gareth are known as the Tāvaikians, who once called the entire kingdom their home. King Theo III called the King's Army into being and sent it to drive the Tāvaikians from their lands. This has caused much tension between the two groups ever since. The last true tribe of Tāvaiki now inhabits an island due south of Harnedd, ruled by King Iatona Bukuroa.

The Green - The Green is a large expanse of lawn in front of Asphel Castle which is used for ceremonies, festivals, and the Army's exhibitions. Coronations, when they occur, are also held there.

Trade Delegation - The Trade Delegation is based in Gareth Kingdom and oversees all international and local trade between nations. Committees administer to various branches of the Delegation, such as the supervision of ports and the conditions of the shipping lanes.