Jera Skyspear

Willow's End - Jera Skyspear
Elvish words/phrases linked to Glossary OR hover mouse to see translation.

Jera Skyspear
elvish script ('yera')

or rune (jera)

Her given name comes from the rune 'jera' (pronounced 'yeh-rah'). The rune looks like arrows pointing in opposite directions, indicating that in all things the end is the beginning and the beginning is the end, a perpetual cycle. It's a word for 'year' and associated with [good] harvest, the culmination of the growth cycle. It represents hopes and expectations of peace and prosperity, the promise of success, and a time when the results of earlier efforts are realized. It also relates to justice.

This rune reflects the natural cycles of Wyrd. The essence of Wyrd is that we reap what we sow (ala karma, hence justice). The laws of Wyrd govern the growth of plant life, the endless cycle of death in the Fall and rebirth in the Spring. The lesson of Jera, of the yearly cycle, is that no state is eternal. The world is ever changing. There is no set uniform universe, only the uniform laws of cyclical [and perpetual] change which govern it.

The recognition of this, or sometimes the struggle with it, is definitely part of Jera's character. Because she is elven though, she is likely to abide and respect these truths of life and nature. Jera is a Sithryn elf, based on Bill West's concept as written in the Blackthorn Chronicles.

Given Name: Jera
House/Clan Name: Hyandakalan (Blade of Light)
Seat of the Clan: Raumo Korda (Storm Temple)

Hyandakalan would be pronounced "hYahn-dah-kah-LAHN" with the HY combination being a sort of breathy Y, not a whole syllable.

Jera's full formal introduction would be...
Jera of the Clan of the Blade of Light from the Mountain of the Storm Temple ...or... Jerasahyandakalan en Raumo Korda.

~ Family ~

Her brother's name, Dagaz (dah-gahs'), is a variation of the rune for Day or Dawn. His mark (on bow etc) was the rune dagaz with the rune sowilo which looks like a symbol for lightning and means victory or success.

Father - Uuringar (ooo'-reen-gahr - "cold fire", named thus for his eye color described as "embers of cold fire")
Mother - Kumori (coo-moh'-ree - dark of the crescent moon, ie, the part which cannot be seen)

In Tolkienish elf lore, Uuringar and most of the clan are sylvani/Mith'quessir or silver type elves. Kumori is technically a ithilani/Ithil'quessir or moon type elf, although the difference is through prior clan associations, habits and gift preferences more than sub-race, breeding, or physical characteristics. Jera and her family are Sithryn.

Incidentally, Jera was born a fortnight before Midsummer (June 23rd that year, which would make her birthday June 9th to be exact :) and in the way of elves per my theories, her conception date was the same, two years earlier. So either reckoning points to that date.)

And, this little tidbit... Chervil is what Jera was searching for when she discovered Ashe telling stories to the Blackthorn children. Chervil is a very rare herb to find and dangerous to pick in the wild because it looks much too much like poisonous hemlock. Chervil's flavor is a mild hint of licorice and especially suitable for creamy soups (ala potato) or as an addition to fish or salads. Although it is useful for many ailments, Jera would most likely use it against bad dreams, if for any reason other than flavoring her soup.

Another name... She did not have a Naming Day. Reasons to be explained later. However, due to those reasons, the day was postponed and Jera forgot what name she had chosen. It was 'tinwe (sparkle) something'. However, also as a result of the interim event, another name arose - Niquess'na meaning 'frost-pattern-feathered'. Yes, there's a story, or will be. Jera's closest friend did have a Naming Day and that's when she became Telvea. She took it from 'elvea' meaning 'starlike'.