The Legendsong Saga encompasses the novels Darkfall and Darksong written by Australian author Isobelle Carmody, which centre on the adventures of Glynn and Ember Flanders in a parallel universe.
Terms
Holder the king or ruler of all of Keltor, chosen by Darkfall.
Chieftain the ruler of a particular sept. The chieftaincy is inherited.
Mermod the chosen future Holder, by Darkfall.
Stranger the name given to those who come through Lanalor's portal from our world to Keltor.
Unraveller this is the believed hero, supposed to come to free the Unykorn or the Firstmade.
Shadowman a Robin Hood type figure, working for Darkfall and against any followers of the Draaka cult. The Shadowman and his agents are not endorsed by Darkfall, however.
Silfi are a deadly sort of sea serpent who infest the waters of Keltor, the sense the movement of the water and are attracted unless a wavespeaker is aboard (or awake) to calm the seas.
Septs
These are like the countries of Keltor. They are each distinctive, in what they produce, whether or not they cleave to Darkfall and the peoples who come from them. Also, each sept has their own specific talent.
Fomhika
Second largest island, with "immense tracts of pasture and crop lands" (p. 207) It is also tropical, hence the crops, etc. Fomhikans often have the ability to plantsing, enhancing their growth.
Acantha
Chieftain is Jurass; allied with the Draaka. Some Acanthans have the ability to levitate.
Myrmidor
"... half the size of Fomhika ... very mountainous"; there is a difference between those from Myrmidor and myrmidons, the protectors of soulweavers; however, many myrmidons are in fact originally from Myrmidor.
Darkfall
The smallest island, which is situated within Myrmidor's bay. This geographical situation suggests the protection of Darkfall by Myrmidor, just as myrmidons protect soulweavers. Described as a "tiny misty smudge" (p. 207)
Vespi
"... shaped like the head of a sickle", and closest island to Ramidan. Vespi owns and provides captains for all the ships in Keltor, as Vespians are the only ones able to 'wavespeak' a ship around the deadly silfi.
Ramidan
The second smallest island on Keltor. This is where the palace of the Holder is situated.
Iridom
The largest island, "more than ten times the size of Ramidan", with "a huge population" (p. 207).
Medicines and sweeteners, healing salves and poisons are predominantly manufactured on Iridom. As Feyt points out, the Iridom olfactors are too preoccupied with producing pleasure drugs and poisons to produce important medicines.
Sheanna Isles
The Sheanna isles are on basically the opposite side of Keltor to all the other islands. Little travel is done to Sheanna (for obvious reasons). Many Sheannites have the ability to visionweave.
Characters in Darkfall
Main
Glynn Flanders The main character of Darkfall. An incredibly strong character, able to look after herself alone, in a foreign world (whose people luckily enough speak her language) - she listens carefully to conversations around her. Her passion is to go on protecting the vulnerable Ember.
Her experiences as a girl provide her with the character to survive the trials of Keltor. Her mother never loved her, despite her athleticism and physical strength. She has long blonde hair and is physically different from Ember - the only similar physical characteristic is their "honey-coloured eyes" (p. 4).
The best student of the karate instructor, Wind, a young but wise Chinese man, Glynn has exceptional skill in tackling much stronger or experienced attackers. The two were in love, though Glynn's adoration for Wind was much more obvious. Wind eventually committed suicide, which Glynn never forgot or accepted.
Ember Flanders Delicate and physically beautiful with long red hair, Ember is a talented musician and the favourite daughter of her mother.
Due to her cancer fear enforced her emotional withdrawal from everything and everyone. Even her most treasured talent goes to waste when she starts selling her compositions to a modern rock band. She has neither the physical or emotional strength of Glynn, and thus it is fortunate that she is the one rescued by a soulweaver and her myrmidons.