'Not special enough,' said Ramachni. 'None of us are, alone.'
Appendix
THE CHATHRAND
The IMS Chathrand has seven decks. From high to low, they are the topdeck (open to the sky), main deck, upper gun deck, lower gun deck, berth deck, orlop deck and mercy deck. Beneath the mercy deck is the hold.
Highest of all are the forecastle (at the bow or front of the ship) and quarterdeck (at the stern or rear), both of which are reached by ladders from the topdeck. Captain Rose's cabin is beneath the quarterdeck. The Isiqs' stateroom is located two decks directly below, at the stern of the upper gun deck.
The masts of the Chathrand, bow to stern, are the foremast, jiggermast, mainmast, mizzenmast and spankermast.
TIME IN ALIFROS
The twelve months of the Western Solar Year are Halar, Fuinar, Sultandre (the spring months); Vaqrin, Ilqrin, Modoli (summer); Teala, Freala and Norn (autumn); and Umbrin, Ilbrin and Cadobrin (winter).
Each month has exactly thirty days. New Year's Day is the first day of spring (i Halar). Once every seventeen years, a four day Baalfьrun ('Carnival of Madness') precedes the New Year. These four days are not part of any month.
KEY DATES IN THE HISTORY OF NORTHWEST ALIFROS:
— 1231 Old Faith born when Mдsithe of Ullum builds the Black Casket.
— 501 Shattering of the Black Casket.
— 500–489 The Worldstorm rages throughout Alifros; most societies collapse; the Lost Age begins.
— 220 Erithusmй takes the Nilstone from the Ice Caves of Nohirin, becomes the greatest mage in Alifros.
— 167 Lost Age ends with the defeat of Hurgasc the Torturer.
1 Rinfaith born when the Ninety Rules are collected in a single tome. Empire of Arqual proclaimed after Battle of Ipulia. Shards of the Black Casket recovered and placed in the Towers of the Kings; birth of the Mzithrin Pentarchy.
755 Magad I crowned Emperor of Arqual. Year of Regicides in Dremland, Westfirth, Opalt, etc.
839 The Thirteenth Edition of The Merchant's Polylex published in Etherhorde.
860-867 First Sea War (Arqual vs. Mzithrin).
883-887 War of the Tsцrdon Mountains (Arqual vs. Mzithrin).
892-901 Second Sea War (Arqual vs. Mzithrin). Rise of the Shaggat Ness and the Heresy of Gurishal; civil war cripples the Mzithrin. The Shaggat, defeated, flees east. His ship the Lythra sunk by Arquali navy off the Haunted Coast, ending both wars.
898-899 Sugar War in the Nelu Rekere (Arqual vs. South Isles Alliance).
913 Magad V crowned Emperor of Arqual after strange death of Magad IV.
933 Assassination of Ulmurqat, one of the Five Mzithrin Kings, nearly triggers a fourth war between the empires.
936 'Rescue' (invasion) of Ormael. Pazel Pathkendle made a prisoner of Arqual.
941 Chathrand launched from Etherhorde on 9th day of summer (9 Vaqrin). 7 Teala chosen as date for signing of the Treaty of Simja and the start of the Great Peace.
