Under the Surmante Emperors (3619-3941), the Nansurium enjoyed its greatest period of growth and military ascendancy, culminating in the rule of Surmante Xatantius I (3644-93), who subdued the Cepaloran tribes as far north as the Vindauga River, and who even managed to capture the ancient Nilnameshi capital of Invishi, thus very nearly restoring all the so-called Western Empire that had once belonged to Cenei. But his practice of debasing the talent in order to finance his endless wars fairly wrecked the empire's economy. By the time Fan'oukarji I embarked on his White Jihad in 3743, the empire still had not recovered from Xatantius's excesses. His Surmante descendants found themselves embroiled in never-ending wars they could ill afford, let alone win. Scarce resources and an intransigent commitment to the Ceneian model of warfare, which seemed incapable of coping with Kianene tactics, conspired to render the empire's decline an inevitability.

The dynasty of the most recent claimants to the Imperial Mantle, the Ikurei, arose as the result of a coup brought about by the turmoil following the loss of Shigek to the Kianene in 3933 (in the so-called Dagger Jihad of Fan'oukarji III). A former Exalt-General, Ikurei Sorius I reorganized both the Imperial Army and the empire, changes that allowed him and his descendants to defeat no fewer than three full-scale Fanim invasions. The Nansur Empire has enjoyed a precarious stability ever since, though it remains continually fearful of the prospect that the Scylvendi tribes might unite once again.

Nansurium-See Nansur Empire Nansur Empire.

Narradha, Hringa (4093-4111)-The youngest brother of Prince Hringa Skaiyelt, slain at Mengedda. (4093-4111)-The youngest brother of Prince Hringa Skaiyelt, slain at Mengedda.

Nascenti-The nine primary disciples of Anasurimbor Kellhus, the so-called "Thanes of the Warrior-Prophet."

Nasueret Column-Also known as the "Ninth Column." A Column of the Nansur Imperial Army, traditionally stationed on the Kianene frontier. Their device is the Black Imperial Sun halved by an eagle's wing.

Nau-Cayuti (2119-40)-"Blessed Son" (Umeritic) The youngest son of Celmomas II and the famed "scourge of Golgotterath." Nau-Cayuti is famed for his heroism and martial brilliance during the dark days after the fall of Aorsi (2136), when Kuniuri stood alone against Golgotterath. Many of his exploits, such as the Slaying of Tanhafut the Red and the Theft of the Heron Spear, are recounted in (2119-40)-"Blessed Son" (Umeritic) The youngest son of Celmomas II and the famed "scourge of Golgotterath." Nau-Cayuti is famed for his heroism and martial brilliance during the dark days after the fall of Aorsi (2136), when Kuniuri stood alone against Golgotterath. Many of his exploits, such as the Slaying of Tanhafut the Red and the Theft of the Heron Spear, are recounted in The Sagas The Sagas.

Naures River-An important river system in eastern Nilnamesh.

Nautzera, Seidru (4038- )-A senior member of the Mandate Quorum. See (4038- )-A senior member of the Mandate Quorum. See Mandate, School of Mandate, School of.

Near Antiquity-Sometimes called the Ceneian Age. The historical period beginning in 2155 (the end of the Apocalypse) and ending with the Sack of Cenei in 3351. See Far Antiquity Far Antiquity.

Neleost Sea-A large inland sea located in northwestern Earwa that formed the traditional northern frontier for those nations arising from the Aumris River Valley.

Nenciphon-The administrative capital of Kian, and one of the great cities of the Three Seas, founded by Fan'oukarji I in 3752.

Nergaota-A semi-mountainous fiefdom in northwestern Galeoth, renowned for the quality of its wool.

Nersei, House-The ruling House of Conriya since the Aoknyssian Uprisings of 3942, which saw the entire line of King Nejata Medekki murdered. The Black Eagle on White is their device.

Nerum-A minor port city and the administrative capital of Jurisada, located on the coast just south of Amoteu.

Neuropuncture-The Dunyain art of producing various behaviours by probing the exposed brain with fine needles.

Ngarau (4062- )-The Grand Seneschal to Ikurei Xerius III. (4062- )-The Grand Seneschal to Ikurei Xerius III.

Nil'giccas (?- )-The Nonman King of Ishterebinth. (?- )-The Nonman King of Ishterebinth.

Nilnamesh-A populous Ketyai nation on the extreme southwest edge of the Three Seas, famed for its ceramics, spices, and stubborn refusal to relinquish its exotic versions of Kiunnat either to Inrithism or to Fanimry. Primarily for geographical reasons, the fertile plains to the south of the Hinayati Mountains have long enjoyed cultural and political independence from the Three Seas. Casidas was the first to remark that the Nilnameshi were an "inward people," both in the sense of their obsession with the plight of their souls and in their utter disdain for outland Princes. Only two periods in their history cut against this tendency. The first is the Old Invishi period (1023-1572), when Nilnamesh was united under a series of aggressively expansionist Kings based in Invishi, which is now the traditional spiritual capital of Nilnamesh. In 1322 and then again in 1326, Anzumarapata II inflicted crushing defeats on the Shigeki, and for some thirty years compelled tribute from the proud river kingdom. Then, in 2483, Sarnagiri V, leading a coalition of Princes, was routed by Triamis the Great, and Nilnamesh found itself a province (albeit an unruly one) for more than a thousand years.

The era following the collapse of the Ceneian Empire is commonly called the New Invishi period, though none of the ancient city's Kings has been able to hold more than a fraction of Nilnamesh for more than a generation.

Nimeric, Anasurimbor (2092-2135)-The High King of ancient Aorsi before its destruction in the Apocalypse. See (2092-2135)-The High King of ancient Aorsi before its destruction in the Apocalypse. See Apocalypse Apocalypse.

nimil-The Nonmen steel forged in the sorcerous furnaces of Ishterebinth.

Nincaeru-Telesser ( (c. 549-642)-The fourth G.o.d-King of the Umeri Empire, and famed patron of the ancient Gnostic Schools. 549-642)-The fourth G.o.d-King of the Umeri Empire, and famed patron of the ancient Gnostic Schools.

Nin-Ciljiras (?- )-The last surviving Nonman King. (?- )-The last surviving Nonman King.

Nine Great Gates-The epithet given to the main gates of Sumna.

Nirsodic-The language group of ancient Norsirai pastoralists ranging from the Sea of Cerish to the Sea of Jorua.

No-G.o.d-Also known as Mog-Pharau, Tsurumah, and Mursiris. The ent.i.ty summoned by the Consult to bring about the Apocalypse. Very little is known about the No-G.o.d, save that he utterly lacks remorse or compa.s.sion and possesses terrible power, including the ability to control Sranc, Bashrag, and Wracu as extensions of his own will. Because of his armour (the so-called Carapace), which eyewitnesses describe as an iron sarcophagus suspended in the heart of a mountainous whirlwind, it is not even known whether he is a creature of flesh or of spirit. According to Mandate scholars, the Inchoroi worship him as their saviour, as do-according to some-the Scylvendi.

Somehow, his mere existence is ant.i.thetical to human life: during the entirety of the Apocalypse, not one infant drew breath-all were stillborn. He is apparently immune to sorcery (according to legend, eleven Chorae are embedded in the Carapace). The Heron Spear is the only known weapon that can harm him.

See Apocalypse Apocalypse.

Nomur (?-?)-One of the Chieftain-Kings named in the Tusk. (?-?)-One of the Chieftain-Kings named in the Tusk.

Nonman King-The poetic name of Cu'jara Cinmoi in the High Norsirai bardic tradition.

Nonmen-At one time the pre-eminent race of Earwa, but now much reduced. The Nonmen call themselves ji'cunu roi ji'cunu roi, "the People of Dawn," for reasons they can no longer remember. (They call Men j'ala roi, j'ala roi, "the People of Summer," because they burn so hot and pa.s.s so quickly.) "the People of Summer," because they burn so hot and pa.s.s so quickly.) The Chronicle of the Tusk, The Chronicle of the Tusk, which records the coming of Men to Earwa, generally refers to Nonmen as Oserukki, the "Not Us." In the Book of Tribes, the Prophet Angeshrael alternately refers to them as "the Accursed Ones" and "the sodomite Kings of Earwa," and he incites the Four Nations of Men to embark on a holy war of extermination. Even after four millennia, this xenocidal mission remains part of the Inrithi canon. According to the Tusk, the Nonmen are anathema: which records the coming of Men to Earwa, generally refers to Nonmen as Oserukki, the "Not Us." In the Book of Tribes, the Prophet Angeshrael alternately refers to them as "the Accursed Ones" and "the sodomite Kings of Earwa," and he incites the Four Nations of Men to embark on a holy war of extermination. Even after four millennia, this xenocidal mission remains part of the Inrithi canon. According to the Tusk, the Nonmen are anathema: Hearken, for this the G.o.d has said, "These False Men offend Me; blot out all mark of their Pa.s.sing."

But Cunuroi civilization was ancient even before these words were carved into the Tusk. While the Halaroi, Men, wandered the world dressed in skins and wielding weapons of stone, the Cunuroi had invented writing and mathematics, astrology and geometry, sorcery and philosophy. They dredged mountains hollow for the galleries of their High Mansions. They traded and warred with one another. They subdued all Earwa, enslaving the Emwama, the soft-hearted Men who dwelt in Earwa in those early days.

Their decline is the result of three different catastrophic events. The first, and most significant, was the so-called Womb-Plague. In the hope of achieving immortality, the Nonmen (specifically, the great Cu'jara Cinmoi) allowed the Inchoroi to live among them as their physicians. The Nonmen did in fact attain immortality, and the Inchoroi, claiming their work done, retired back to the Incu-Holoinas. The plague struck shortly after, almost killing males and uniformly killing all females. The Nonmen call this tragic event the Nasamorgas, the "Death of Birth."

The following Cuno-Inchoroi Wars further sapped their strength, so that by the time the first Tribes of Men invaded, the Nonmen had not the numbers or, some say, the will to resist their advance. Within the course of a few generations they were nearly exterminated. Only the Mansions of Ishoriol and Cil-Aujas survived.

See Cuno-Inchoroi Wars Cuno-Inchoroi Wars.

Nonmen Tutelage-The great period of Norsirai-Cunuroi trade, education, and strategic alliances, beginning in 555 and ending with the Expulsion in 825 (following the famed Rape of Omindalea).

Norsirai-The typically blond-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned race predominantly concentrated along the northern fringe of the Three Seas, although they once ruled all the lands north to the Yimaleti Mountains. One of the Five Tribes of Men.

noschi-A Kuniuric term meaning "source of light," but used in the sense of "genius" as well.