A glossary of people, places & objects in Earthsea

Now showing glossary items relating to occupations

Archmage

Titles: Warden of Roke

The head of the School of Wizardry on Roke, and the most powerful mage in the Archipelago, as well as exerting considerable political influence. Chosen by the nine Masters of Roke on the death of the former holder. The first archmage was Halkel of Way in 730, some eighty years after the founding of the school; subsequent ones include Nemmerle, Gensher of Way and Ged. No new archmage is chosen after Ged loses his power and the kingship is revived

Sources: The Masters of Roke, FS; A Description of Earthsea, TfE

'Their master, the warden of Roke, the Archmage, is held to be accountable to no man at all, except the King of All the Isles: and that only by an act of fealty, by heart's gift, for not even a king could constrain so great a mage to serve the common law, if his will were otherwise. Yet even in the kingless centuries the Archmages of Roke kept fealty and served that common law.'

[The Masters of Roke, FS]

Bagmen

See Weatherworkers

Bailiffs

Also known as: Bailies

Along with sea-sheriffs and officers of the peace, carry out law enforcement on Gont, reporting to the mayor of each district and to the village councils. They receive a wage derived from local taxes

Sources: Home, T; Winter, T; The Master, T

Beggary

Beggary is said to be uncommon in the Archipelago during the main period of the Earthsea cycle, though the existence of itinerant beggars is mentioned, eg on Gont and Semel. Wandering wizards own few possessions and often beg for food and shelter, though this seems to be closer to an informal trade of services for hospitality; other itinerant professions may operate in a similar fashion. Beggars, sometimes violent, become common on Gont during the few years of unrest immediately preceding the restoration of the Archipelagan monarchy; they were also common on Havnor, and probably elsewhere, during the Dark Years

Sources: The Shadow, WoE; The Western Mountains, ToA; Going to the Falcon's Nest, T; The Finder, TfE; On the High Marsh, TfE

Changer

See Master Changer

Chanter

See Master Chanter

Council of Roke

See Council of the Wise

Council of the Wise

Also known as: Council of Roke

Formal council of the nine Masters of Roke, for example, when they meet in the Immanent Grove to choose the new Archmage; at other times, the Archmage may be included in the number

Sources: The Dolphin, T

Crafty men

Early term for wizards, used during the Dark Years

Sources: The Finder, TfE

Curer

Sorcerer or witch who heals animals. Unlike healing humans, animal healing is considered one of the base crafts of magic, though the mage Ged is happy to earn his lodging by curing goats. Curers are often itinerant, using remedies, spells, salves and balms. Examples are Irioth, who cures cattle of murrain by laying on hands, and Ayeth

Sources: The Western Mountains, ToA; On the High Marsh, TfE; A Description of Earthsea, TfE

'All those that came to him [Irioth] could cure. He laid his hands on them, on the stiff-haired, hot flanks and neck, and sent the healing into his hands with the words of power spoken over and over. After a while the beast would give a shake, or toss its head a bit, or step on. And he would drop his hands and stand there, drained and blank, for a while. Then there would be another one, big, curious, shyly bold, muddy-coated, with the sickness in it like a prickling, a tingling, a hotness in his hands, a dizziness. "Ellu," he would say, and walk to the beast and lay his hands upon it until they felt cool, as if a mountain stream ran through them.'

[On the High Marsh, TfE]

Related entries: Disease; Healing

Dragonlord

One to whom dragons will speak. At the start of The Farthest Shore, Ged is said to be 'the only living Dragonlord'^a; later Lebannen and Tenar also speak with dragons. Historical dragonlords include Morred and Erreth-Akbe

Sources: The Great Treasure, ToA; The Rowan Tree, FS (a)

'"One whom the dragons will speak with … that is a dragonlord, or at least that is the centre of the matter. It's not a trick of mastering the dragons, as most people think. Dragons have no masters. The question is always the same, with a dragon: will he talk with you or will he eat you? If you can count on his doing the former, and not doing the latter, why then you're a dragonlord."'

[The Great Treasure, ToA]

Dyers of Lorbanery

Family of sorcerers that superintend the making of dyes on Lorbanery, consisting of Akaren and her son, Sopli

Sources: Lorbanery, FS

Eunuch

Eunuchs serve in the temples at Atuan, but do not exist within the Archipelago. On Gont, the practice of castrating men appears to be unheard of; Ivory (from Havnor), however, disparagingly refers to the wizards' practice of celibacy as turning them into eunuchs, castrating themselves with spells to be holy

Sources: Bettering, T; Dragonfly, TfE

Finder

See Master Finder

First Priestess

See One Priestess

Godking

Titles: Divine Emperor of Kargad, Emperor of the Kargad Lands, Lord Who Has Arisen, the Man Immortal

Ruler of the Kargad Lands. His court is at Awabath on Karego-At. The first Godking reigned around 150 years before The Tombs of Atuan (in the year 840); before that the Kargad Lands were ruled by Priest-Kings. At the time of ToA, the Godking is around 50 and bald. The Godking is deposed by High King Thol from Hur-at-Hur in a civil war in around 1061 (ten years after the restoration of the Archipelagan monarchy), and flees to the Place of the Tombs on Atuan, to be murdered by a priest-eunuch

Sources: Dreams and Tales, ToA; Palaces, OW

'"…Am I supposed to feel so much awe and so on about the Godking? After all he's just a man, even if he does live in Awabath in a palace ten miles around with gold roofs. He's about fifty years old, and he's bald. You can see in all the statues. And I'll bet you he has to cut his toenails, just like any other man. I know perfectly well that he's a god, too. But what I think is, he'll be much godlier after he's dead."'

[Dreams and Tales, ToA]

Godking's soldiers

Also known as: Soldiers of the red helmet

Soldiers in the Godking's service in the Kargad Lands, distinguished by red-plumed helmets. Apparently distinct from the temple guards of the Place of the Tombs, their duties include taking prisoners to the Place of the Tombs, accompanying priestesses of the Tombs when they travel, acting as gate guards for Kargish towns and, presumably, guarding the Godking and his palace in Awabath

Sources: The Wall around the Place, ToA; The Prisoners, ToA; The Western Mountains, ToA

Gont, Lord of

See Lord of Gont

Grey wizard

Another name for wizards trained at the School of Wizardry on Roke

Sources: Mending the Green Pitcher, OW

Guards

See Soldiers

Hand

See Master Hand

Hand, the

See Women of the Hand

Herbal

See Master Herbal

High King

Also known as: High King of the Four Kargad Lands

Ruler of the Kargad Lands after the Godking is defeated in a civil war in around 1061

Sources: Palaces, OW

Islandmen

See Isle-Men

Isle-Men

Also known as: Islandmen, Isle-Women, Islandwomen, Islemen, Islewomen

Rulers of some islands in the Reaches and the Ninety Isles, as well as other small islands

Sources: The Dragon of Pendor, WoE; The Open Sea, WoE; A Description of Earthsea, TfE; The Dragon Council, OW

Related entries: Government

Isle-Women

See Isle-Men

Jugglers

Itinerant entertainers on many islands of the Archipelago. Juggling and sleight of hand are among the arts taught by Master Hand at the Roke School of Wizardry. Kossil and Thar of Atuan mention 'jugglery', so the art is at least known in the Kargad Lands

Sources: Dreams and Tales, ToA; Darkrose and Diamond, TfE

King's guards

Part of the guards of Havnor City during the reign of Lebannen; their organisation is unclear, but a gate captain and lieutenants (including Yenay) are mentioned. Their uniform includes a fine harness, and they are armed with swords and bows

Sources: The Dragon Council, OW

Related entries: Soldiers

Kurremkarmerruk

See Master Namer

Lord of Gont

Also known as: Gont, Lord of, Prince of Gont, Lord of the Isle

Ruler of the island of Gont, his seat is at Gont Port. The Lords of Gont are associated with piracy. The old Lord of Gont held Ogion the Silent in great respect because of his taming of the earthquake which saved Gont Port from destruction. The new Lord of Gont visited Ogion in Re Albi for advice about a piratical venture in the Andrades, but Ogion would not speak to him

Lord of the Western Land

Also known as: Western Land, Lord of the

Lord of the Western domain of Havnor island, his seat is near Glade

Sources: Darkrose and Diamond, TfE

Lords of Way

Also known as: Way, Lords of

Rulers of the island of Way; their courts are at the capital Shelieth. Includes the Lord of Wayfirth. In The Masters of Roke [FS], Way is said to be one of the principalities, but the Ruling Prince is not mentioned

Sources: The Masters of Roke, FS; Dragonfly, TfE

Mages

Undefined term referring to particularly powerful or wise wizards. Some examples include Morred, Ath, Erreth-Akbe, Ogion, the Archmage and the Masters of Roke

Sources: A Description of Earthsea, TfE

'Highdrake's mastery of spells and sorcery was not much greater than his pupil's, but he had clear in his mind the idea of something much greater, the wholeness of knowledge. And that made him a mage.'

[The Finder, TfE]

Master Changer

Also known as: Changer

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he teaches spells of Shaping and Change.

In The Farthest Shore & 'Dragonfly', he is grey-haired, stocky, fairly short, gentle, kindly man from eastern Enlad; by The Other Wind he's very frail, using his wizard's staff as a walking stick

Sources: The Loosing of the Shadow, WoE; The Masters of Roke, FS; Dragonfly, TfE; Rejoining, OW

Master Chanter

Also known as: Chanter

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he teaches the Deeds of heroes and the Lays of wisdom.

In The Farthest Shore, he's a Havnorian and a monarchist, described as 'deep-chested, solid as an oaken cask, he sat by the fire, and the voice came from him soft and true as the note of a great bell.'^a

Sources: The School for Wizards, WoE; The Masters of Roke, FS (a)

Master Doorkeeper

Also known as: Doorkeeper

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he guards the doors of the Great House, allowing entry as student only to those with skill or power in magic who will give their true name; he is therefore one of the few who know Ged's true name. To leave the Great House, one must speak his name.

The inventor of the office and its first incumbent was Medra. The same man may hold the office in the period of over 50 years from A Wizard of Earthsea to The Other Wind, without apparent ageing. He has a smooth ivory or yellow-brown face, almond-shaped eyes, a quiet, pleasant voice, and is described: 'A little man of no age… Young he was not, so that one had to call him old but the word did not suit him. His face was dry, and coloured like ivory, and he had a pleasant smile that made long curves in his cheeks.'^a He bears a light staff of greyish wood.

It may or may not be coincidental that 'Doorkeeper' is a name for Segoy in the Creation of Éa

Sources: The School for Wizards, WoE; The Rowan Tree, FS (a); The Finder, TfE; Dragonfly, TfE; A Description of Earthsea, TfE

'"I'll keep the door," Medra said. "Being lame, I won't go far from it. Being old, I'll know what to say to those who come. Being a finder, I'll find out if they belong here." … "I'll ask them their name," Medra said. He smiled. "If they tell me, they can come in. And when they think they've learned everything, they can go out again. If they can tell me my name."'

[The Finder, TfE]

Master Finder

Also known as: Finder

One of the nine Masters of Roke when the School of Wizardry was first founded, teacher of spells of finding, binding and returning. The first holder of the office was Medra. In 730, the office of Finder was abolished by the first Archmage, Halkel of Way, to be replaced by the Master Chanter

Sources: The Finder, TfE; A Description of Earthsea, TfE

Master Hand

Also known as: Hand

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he teaches sleight of hand, juggling and the lesser arts of Changing, including spells of illusion.

The first Master Hand was the sorcerer Hega of O. In A Wizard of Earthsea, he's described as 'a gentle and light-hearted old man'^a. In The Farthest Shore, he's 'a slight, quick man, modest of bearing but with clear and seeing eyes'^b; 'Dragonfly' describes him as wearing a red tunic

Sources: The School for Wizards, WoE (a); The Masters of Roke, FS (b); The Finder, TfE

Master Herbal

Also known as: Herbal
Titles: Lord Healer

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he teaches the ways and properties of things that grow, and also healing.

The first Master Herbal was the young woman Dory of Pody. In Tales from Earthsea & The Other Wind, he's named Deyala

Sources: The School for Wizards, WoE

Master Namer

Also known as: Kurremkarmerruk, Namer

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he lives in the Isolate Tower and teaches the names of things in the Old Speech. One of the few who knows Ged's true name. The Namer is always called Kurremkarmerruk, a name with no meaning in any language.

The first Namer may have been the book collector, Crow. In The Farthest Shore he is described as 'a big, thin, old man, white-haired under his dark hood'^a; 'Dragonfly' adds that he's 'rawboned, and crag-faced'^b. In The Other Wind, he's around forty, with a calm, closed face and a level, toneless voice

Sources: The School for Wizards, WoE; The Rowan Tree; FS (a); Dragonfly, TfE (b); Rejoining, OW

Master Patterner

Also known as: Patterner
Titles: Lord Patterner, Master of the Grove

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he lives in the Immanent Grove; what is taught there is not spoken about outside the Grove.

The first Patterner was Elehal. Nemmerle was the Patterner before he was chosen as Archmage. In The Farthest Shore, 'Dragonfly' & The Other Wind he is named Azver, and he hails from Karego-At

Sources: The School for Wizards, WoE

Master Summoner

Also known as: Summoner

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he teaches the summoning of spirits, energies and forces.

The first Summoner was 'a grey-haired mage from Ilien'^a. In A Wizard of Earthsea, he's described as 'a stern man, aged and hardened by the deep and sombre wizardry he taught.'^b In The Farthest Shore & 'Dragonfly', he is a tall young man named Thorion. In The Other Wind, he is a big, deep-chested man named Brand

Sources: The Loosing of the Shadow, WoE (b); The Finder, TfE (a)

Master Windkey

Also known as: Windkey

One of the nine Masters of Roke, he teaches weatherworking, the arts of wind and weather, and governs the weather on Roke.

In Tehanu, he is described as 'an elderly, lean, narrow-eyed man'^a. In The Other Wind he's a young man named Gamble

Sources: The School for Wizards, WoE; The Dolphin, T (a); Rejoining, OW

Masters of Roke

Also known as: Roke, Masters of
Titles: The Nine

Nine mages who, with the Archmage, govern the School of Wizardry on Roke and teach those who come there: Master Changer, Master Patterner, Master Summoner, Master Namer, Master Chanter, Master Hand, Master Windkey, Master Herbal and Master Doorkeeper. They are considered equivalent in status to the princes of the Archipelago. The formal meeting of the nine Masters is sometimes called the Council of the Wise; among their responsibilities is the selection of the new Archmage. At the founding of the school (in 650), the Chanter did not form part of the nine, being replaced by the Master Finder. In 730, the office of Finder was abolished by the first Archmage, Halkel of Way, who established the office of Chanter to replace it. At the time of founding and for the first eighty years, the masters included women, but Archmage Halkel excluded women both from becoming masters and also from the school

Sources: The Masters of Roke, FS; The Dolphin, T; A Description of Earthsea, TfE

Further information on Masters of Roke

Mayor

Various towns and districts are governed by a mayor, including Sosara on Lorbanery and Valmouth on Gont

Sources: Lorbanery, FS; Home, T

Related entries: Government

Namer

See Master Namer

Officers of the peace

Along with sea-sheriffs and bailiffs, carry out law enforcement on Gont. It's unclear whether they receive any wage

Sources: Home, T; The Master, T

One Priestess

Also known as: First Priestess, Priestess of the Tombs, Arha
Titles: The Eaten One, Priestess Ever Reborn, the Reborn

Priestess of the Nameless Ones at the Place of the Tombs on Atuan; associated with the Tombs of Atuan, Hall of the Throne, Undertomb and Labyrinth. Nominally the senior priestess of the Kargad Lands, though her influence diminished after the rise of the Godking. Believed always to be reincarnated as herself; her name, Arha, means 'the eaten one' or 'the one who was devoured'. Her traditional accoutrements include a horsehair belt, a ring of keys and a ceremonial dagger

Sources: The Eaten One, ToA; Dreams and Tales, ToA

'"O let the Nameless Ones behold the girl given to them, who is verily the one born ever nameless. Let them accept her life and the years of her life until her death, which is also theirs. Let them find her acceptable. Let her be eaten!"'

'It still made her feel strange when Thar and Kossil spoke to her of things she had seen or said before she died. She knew that indeed she had died, and had been reborn in a new body at the hour of her old body's death: not only once, fifteen years ago, but fifty years ago, and before that, and before that, back down the years and hundreds of years, generation after generation, to the very beginning of years when the Labyrinth was dug, and the Stones were raised, and the First Priestess of the Nameless Ones lived in this Place and danced before the Empty Throne. They were all one, all those lives and hers. She was the First Priestess. All human beings were forever reborn, but only she, Arha, was reborn forever as herself.'

[The Eaten One, ToA/Dreams and Tales, ToA]

Related entries: Reincarnation; Tenar

Patterner

See Master Patterner

Piracy

Appears to be a relatively common practice in the Archipelago, increasing in the years immediately preceding restoration of the Archipelagan monarchy. The islands of Gont and Wathort are famous for their pirates, and the Lords of Gont, as well as the former Lords of Pendor, are said to engage in piracy. Egre and the wizard Hare are mentioned as a famous pirates

Sources: Magelight, FS; Mice, T

Priestess of the Tombs

See One Priestess

Priest-eunuchs

See Wardens of the Place of the Tombs

Priest-Kings

Before the first Godking, 150 years ago, the Kargad Lands were ruled by Priest-Kings descended from Intathin of the House of Tarb. The Priest-Kings seized power from the secular kings of the House of Hupun in around 440

Sources: Dreams and Tales, ToA; Voyage, ToA; A Description of Earthsea, TfE

Puppeteers

Itinerant entertainers on Havnor, and probably other islands of the Archipelago

Sources: Darkrose and Diamond, TfE

Queens

The ancient western monarchy traced descent through both male and female lines. Eight queens ruled from Havnor and an unknown number from Enlad; the best known is Queen Heru

Sources: A Description of Earthsea, TfE

Roke, Masters of

See Masters of Roke

Royal sheriffs

See Sheriffs

Seamasters

Also known as: sea-master

The Seamasters appear to act as one of the trade guilds, teaching members skills relating to ships, such as making a compass needle point at will rather than to north, and protecting such trade secrets from non-members. The word is also used more generally for wizards skilled in such magic, apparently as a distinct branch of magic from weatherworking; some of the skills of a Seamaster, in at least the latter sense, are taught at the Roke School of Wizardry. Also used still more generally for a sailor, for example a peddler in Hort Town calls Lebannen a seamaster

Sources: The Shadow, WoE; The School for Wizards, WoE; Hort Town, FS

Sea-sheriffs

See Sheriffs

Servants

Wealthy castles and palaces, such as the imperial court on Havnor and the Court of the Terrenon on Osskil, are run by servants. The Kargish High Princess Seserakh is accompanied by numerous veiled female attendants. The School of Wizardry on Roke employs cooks in the kitchens, and there is a cook at the Place of the Tombs on Atuan. Lesser households in the Archipelago might also have servants; for example, Vetch (Wizard of Iffish, whose father was 'a sea-trader of some means'^a) employs a couple of old servants on Iffish, the wealthy merchant Golden's house has servants on Havnor, and the Master of Iria employs a housekeeper on Way

Sources: Iffish, WoE (a); The Hawk's Flight, WoE; Darkrose and Diamond, TfE; Dragonfly, TfE

Sheriffs

Also known as: Royal sheriffs, Sea-sheriffs

Royal sheriffs are officers of the King of All the Isles after the restoration of the Archipelagan monarchy; they superintend local law enforcement and hear grievances from common people. Sea-sheriffs are involved in law enforcement on Gont; presumably their major role is to patrol shipping to prevent piracy

Sources: Home, T; The Master, T

Soldiers

Also known as: Guards

A masculine occupation in the Archipelago and probably in the Kargad Lands. Cities of the Archipelago are guarded by soldiers, who may be employed by the regional lord or prince (as in Gont Port) or by the king (the king's guards of Havnor City). In the Kargad Lands at the time of the Godking, temple guards defend the Place of the Tombs, and even a relatively small town on Atuan has watchtowers and gate guards drawn from the Godking's soldiers. Little about military organisation is detailed; the Atuan temple guards are led by a captain, and a gate captain & lieutenant are mentioned among the king's guards

Sources: The Shadow, WoE; The Western Mountains, ToA; Bettering, T; Finding Words, T; Palaces, OW

Related entries: War; Weapons; Armour

Soldiers of the red helmet

See Godking's soldiers

Sorcerers

Also known as: Witch-men

Male practitioners of magic, both the base crafts and some of the high arts, including some knowledge of Old Speech. Their main skills are stated as windbringing/weatherworking, finding and binding. Distinguished from wizards in that sorcerers are not trained in the art magic, do not carry a wizard's staff and often do not practise celibacy. Usually train each other, with no formal succession as for wizards

Sources: The Loosing of the Shadow, WoE; A Description of Earthsea, TfE

Sorceresses

See Witches

Summoner

See Master Summoner

Teller

Person who tells (rather than sings) the tales of the history of the Archipelago. The examples mentioned appear to be itinerant, but it is possible that tellers, like chanters, might also be attached to courts

Sources: On the High Marsh, TfE; Dragonfly, TfE

Wardens of the Place of the Tombs

Also known as: Priest-eunuchs

Ten eunuchs at the Place of the Tombs on Atuan, the only men serving in religious roles there. Dedicated to specific gods/temples, they include Manan, Duby, Uahto and Punti. In addition to caretaker roles, they appear to function as minor priests (though they are never referred to as such in The Tombs of Atuan); for example, Manan plays an active role in Arha's dedication ceremony; their functions are subsidiary to the High Priestesses and the One Priestess. The Other Wind mentions 'priest-eunuchs' in the service of the Godking at the Place of the Tombs

Sources: The Eaten One, ToA; The Wall around the Place, ToA; Palaces, OW

Way, Lords of

See Lords of Way

Weatherworkers

Also known as: Bagmen, Windbringers

Sorcerers or wizards with power over the weather, commonly employed to work wind on ships, or by farmers to protect crops. Sometimes called bagmen; originally carried a leather sack in which they supposedly trapped the winds

Sources: The Shadow, WoE; Lorbanery, FS; The Finder, TfE

'Weatherworkers used to carry a leather sack in which they said they kept the winds, untying it to let a fair wind loose or to capture a contrary one. Maybe it was only for show, but every weatherworker had a bag, a great long sack or a little pouch.'

[The Finder, TfE]

Related entries: Magewind; Seamasters; Weatherworking

Western Land, Lord of the

See Lord of the Western Land

Windbringers

See Weatherworkers

Windkey

See Master Windkey

Witches

Also known as: Sorceresses

After the time of Halkel (730), all female practitioners of magic were denoted witches, and all their practices were denoted base crafts, even when they included things that would be considered high arts in the hands of a man. The arts of witches include 'The care of pregnant beasts and women, birthing, teaching the songs and rites, the fertility and order of field and garden, the building and care of the house and its furniture, the mining of ores and metals---these great things had always been in the charge of women. A rich lore of spells and charms to ensure the good outcome of such undertakings was shared among the witches'^a; finding, mending, healing of humans & animals, bonesetting and herblore are elsewhere mentioned. Witches also prepare bodies for burial. Taught informally by other witches and sorcerers, they often know nothing of the Equilibrium, and rarely practise celibacy. Some witches/sorceresses, for example Serret, call on magic relating to the Old Powers, though many do not. Witches usually live on the margins of society, rarely respected and often feared; children's tales on Gont often include a wicked witch archetype as the villain

Sources: Warriors in the Mist, WoE; Ogion, T; Kalessin, T; The Finder, TfE (a); A Description of Earthsea, TfE

'Now the witch of Ten Alders was no black sorceress, nor did she ever meddle with the high arts of traffic with Old Powers; but being an ignorant woman among ignorant folk, she often used her crafts to foolish and dubious ends. She knew nothing of the Balance and the Pattern which the true wizard knows and serves, and which keep him from using his spells unless real need demands. She had a spell for every circumstance, and was forever weaving charms. Much of her lore was mere rubbish and humbug, nor did she know the true spells from the false. She knew many curses, and was better at causing sickness, perhaps, that at curing it. Like any other village witch she could brew up a love-potion, but there were other, uglier brews she made to serve men's jealousy and hate. Such practices, however, she kept from her young prentice, and as far as she was able she taught him an honest craft.'

[Warriors in the Mist, WoE]

Related entries: Midwifery; Curer; Mining; Death-related customs

Witch-men

See Sorcerers

Wizard of Gont Port

Ogion was the wizard of Gont Port before the death of Heleth. At the time of Tehanu, 'a stout middle-aged man with a short yew staff'^a

Sources: Ogion, T (a); The Bones of the Earth, TfE

Wizards

Also known as: Crafty men

Practitioners of magic, especially the high arts and the art magic: changing, naming, summoning and patterning. After the time of Halkel (730), the term was restricted to men. In modern times, wizards are denoted by a wizard's staff, conferred by their teacher; in the case of those trained at the Roke School of Wizardry, this would usually be the Archmage. Wizards usually practise celibacy. Particularly powerful or wise wizards are termed mages

Sources: A Description of Earthsea, TfE

Women of the Hand

Also known as: Hand, the

Community of women and men concerned with the ethical use and teaching of magic, established during the Dark Years around 150 years after the death of Maharion. Centred on Roke, but with an extensive network of secret cells on other islands around the Inmost Sea, including Havnor and Hosk; members identified each other by a secret hand gesture involving raising the first finger and then the other fingers, clenching the hand into a fist and finally opening it palm outwards. In around 650, members of the group, including Elehal, Yahan and Medra, founded the School of Wizardry on Roke

Sources: The Finder, TfE

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