| PRIMARY |
| Uruna Kumta |
(oo-ROO-nuh KOOM-tah) queen of Nippur, seeker of The Sight, keeper of Serpenthood; also Entu, or high priestess |
| Anu |
(AH-noo) hunter, fighter, man or myth. Uruna’s renegade lover, Hanza scion |
| Rahnee |
(RAH-nee) mystic, witch, ancient seer, ghost, Anu’s ally |
| Enguda |
(en-GOO-duh) also Bull Priest, or “the Bull”; corruption of Sumerian en (king), gud (bull or ox); also guda ’abzu |
| Arn-Gar |
(a.k.a. Gar) Nord blacksmith and Uruna’s devoted bodyguard |
| Retha |
Gar’s spunky teenage daughter, Uruna’s faithful servant in serpent lore |
| Shua Kinar |
(SHOO-uh ki-NAHR) Uruna’s close friend and mentor, once high priestess; also Kinar or Kikki |
| SUPPORTING ROLES |
| Borok |
(BORE-awk) Enguda’s brutal Nafti henchman, captain of Uruk’s Gunzek army |
| Enshiggu |
(en-SHIG-oo) Deity behind Uruna’s ascension to prophecy. Her spiritual guide and advisor. |
| Heganna |
(hey-GAH-nuh) from Sumerian heĝal [PLENTY], richest woman in Sumer, Anu’s mother |
| Jabali |
(jah-BAH-lee) marsh dweller headman of Kudu Mahti |
| Jebbut |
(JEB-but) Heganna’s houseman of Egyptian heritage. |
| Kukhmet |
(kook-MET) Uruna’s king cobra, Serpenthood gatekeeper and spiritual channel |
| Lasheen |
(lah-SHEEN) Anu’s savior nurse, Borok’s victim; a Bedouin ancestor. |
| Lilla |
Anu’s sister, councillor at Eanna temple in Uruk, Heganna’s envoy |
| Milsah |
(MILL-suh) Gar’s Sumerian wife, Retha’s mother |
| Nabi Gahn |
(NAH-bee GAHN) Iconoclastic master hunter and combatant who runs a camp to turn boys into soldiers. Perhaps also a killer for hire? |
| Nashi |
(NAH-shee) Uruna’s early mentor from the plantations, mystic desert crone |
| Niccaba Seddua |
(NICK-uh-buh SED-oo-uh) Temple power broker, stalwart keeper of tradition. |
| Pana |
(PAH-nuh) Hani orphan boy, Anu’s helpmate in the ghana |
| Suba |
(SOO-buh) Uruna’s first love and mate, her half-Nord consort and would-be husband, a loyal defender and protector |
| Udea Seddua |
(oo-DEE-uh SED-oo-uh) Queen of Eanna temple at Uruk, aged weakling |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
| Hanza |
(HAHN-zuh) northern clan of landowners centered around Nippur |
| Seddua |
(SED-oo-uh) southern landowners based around Uruk |
| Hani |
(HAH-nee) aboriginal marsh dwellers; “Old Ones” |
| Gunzek |
(GUN-zek) insurgent race of brutal savages; Enguda’s soldiers. |
| Kurg |
Invading savages from the northern steppes; fearsome fighters |
| PLACES |
| Aniginna |
(ah-ni-GHINN-uh) Immense government complex inside the Nippur environs. |
| Eanna |
(ee-AH-nuh) Uruk’s temple. |
| Ekur |
(ee-KOOR) Inanna temple in Nippur. |
| Euphrates |
(yoo-FRAY-teez) Greek name for the main river dividing the Fertile Crescent. |
| Nippur |
(ni-POOR) Sumerian sacred city, home to gods and Goddess Inanna. |
| Uruk |
(OO-ruck) Larger rival city further south on Euphrates. |
