A Partial Encyclopedia of Narnia

Lands of Narnia

Archenland

The Archenlanders live a mountainous life, and enjoy deep forests, steep slopes, hunting, and mead. They have always been on good terms with Narnia, and on cautious terms with their Calormene neighbors across the desert to the south. For some reason their women bear twins an awful lot, which they always same similarly: Cor/Corin, Tar/Taren, etc.

Bism

Bism is the mysterious land of salamanders and other fiery beings, far below the earth. It is very mysterious and has had almost no contact with Narnia at all. Jewels and fiery gems grow there as if on trees, and can be plucked just as easily. It is a place that pulses with its own strange sort of life and energy.

Calormen

Theirs is a great empire of many provinces, lush vistas, huge trade, magnificent palaces, harrowing stories. For all that, they can be very dangerous to others. Their society is strict and hierarchical, obtuse and elegant. Of course Lewis says it best: "the Calormenes have dark faces and long beards. They wear flowing robes and orange colored turbans, and they are a wise, wealthy, courteous, cruel, and ancient people."

Ettinsmoor

Ettinsmoor is the long, lonely land north of the River Shribble. It is mainly populated by giants. Long gullies, sometimes as much as fifty feet deep, crisscross its surface. The giants that do live there don't seem to have any sort of organization amongst themselves. It is generally considered a dangerous and wild place. There are a few scattered Talking Beasts there. There are also various scattered ruins of old, old times. And old, slippery bridges.

Galma

Galma is the island nearest of Narnia. Its people, like all islanders, love the sea and all travels on it. Their island is ruled by Duke Bozquam and is a peaceful place, for the most part. They enjoy jousts and the like, there, and have a chivalrous court. Galmians excel most of all at navigation on the high seas.

Harfang

Harfang is the great city of the far northern giants -- the civilized ones. Although, of course, they're not quite so civil to everyone. They have a large castle and a king and queen and enjoy going out to hunt. They also enjoy feasts, for the which one of their chief delicacies is human flesh, cooked in a variety of ways. It is just as well, then, that they are far, far away, and don't seem to have too much of an inclination of moving south over Ettinsmoor into Narnia.

Lone Islands

The Lone Islands are the most populous and busiest of the islands in the Eastern Ocean. There are three of them: Doorn, Avra, and Felimath. Felimath is a quiet, rural island of pastures, mostly used for grazing sheep. Avra is the home of Bernstead, Duke Bern's estate (as well as others). It is a slightly more mountainous island, famous for its vast vineyards. Doorn is the largest island and also the most important, for its main town of Narrowhaven. Narrowhaven is the largest island nexus of trade in the whole of the Ocean. Merchants and goods pass through its harbor and its streets from all the mainland kingdoms and all the islands. There is a unique intersection there between Narnians, Calormenes, and Islanders. The Lone Islands have only recently been restored to their proper Narnian rule, by Caspian himself on his voyage to the end of the world. Prior to that they were overseen by Gumpas, and were a great center of the slave trade. The Calormenes are still bitter about that loss, and it is unclear what they will do. The Lone Islands are now ruled for Caspian by Duke Bern.

Narnia

The humans of Narnia are not directly native to that area. Most of the human stock in Narnia now are the Telmarines who elected to stay in Narnia after Aslan awoke the spirits and brought the Talking Beasts out of hiding. They have acclimated well by this point, and there has been interaction between them and the humans from other nations. The men and women of Narnia are in a peculiar position, being either the people or the children of those who elected to remain in the face of great change and, more importantly, Aslan. It means that as a whole they are a good bunch, though of course it does not exempt them from the especially human trait of varying widely from person to person, and even from time to time within a single person.

Seven Islands

The seven islands are precisely that: Seven. They are diverse, and in some ways each island's people are far different from the others. It is known that some of those islands (and parts of all of them) are mysterious and unknown, and Seven-islanders never seem to have trouble adjusting to bizarre situations.

Telmar

The men and women of Telmar have returned to the world from which they came. Those that have remained have, for the most part, become citizens of Narnia. If there are 'old school' Telmarines left, who knows what they might be up to? The land of Telmar is now occupied primarily by centaurs.

Terebinthia

Terebinthians are quintessential islanders, always preferring to live within sight of the ocean. As shipwrights they are unparalleled in the whole ocean. They are also great fishermen. They have a deep sense of honor and are loyal to Narnia and its king. A good number of minstrels come from Terebinthia, as well.

Creatures of Narnia

Animal

There are numerous sorts of talking versions of the variety of animals that would be found in our own world, as well as the non-talking variety to be found in Narnia as well. However, when Aslan breathed upon the first animals pairs, some not only gained thought and speech, but changed in size as well. Talking Beasts can be divided into four main categories: Avian, Hoofed, Mammal, and Reptile. They have life spans corresponding to that of humans. There are no talking fish or insects.

Ape

Apes in Narnia are some of the most clever of the Talking Beasts. They can come up with the most complex of plans, the only problem being that too often those plans are for the good of only themselves. They enjoy bananas, which are extremely hard to get.

Avian

Of the sub-groups of Talking Beasts, sizes are the most varied. Owls and Eagles may be 4 to 5 feet tall, large enough to carry a human child, while songbirds, robins, crows, and other small types are indistinguishable from their non-talking counterparts unless they speak. They do not usually wear clothes.

Badger

Badgers are large, intelligent, and generally friendly. they can be very dangerous due to their strength and sharp claws. They are extremely loyal and independent creatures as well. They have their opinions, usually good ones, and will stick to them, all else fail. The biggest of them are almost human-sized.

Bat

Narnian bats are rare. They are agile, active creatures, though only at night, for the most part, though they can move about in the day if they must. They speak in high-pitched chirps.

Bear

Bears are large and strong, and have a long and noble history in Narnia. One of them is traditionally always one of the Marshalls of the Lists. They all love honey very much, and also sleep.

Beaver

Beavers are some of the most industrious, practical, social creatures in Narnia. They are constantly found in charge of all manner of construction projects and the like, and are known to have a network of useful holes and hideaways throughout the countryside. They remain for the most part quite busy, always up to something.

Black Dwarf

Black dwarves are very similar to the red dwarves (qv). They are, however, more selfish, more untrustworthy, and more warlike. Many of them sided with the White Witch in those days, and continue to sulk in the mountains and hills and plot who-knows-what.

Boar

Boars are loud, rambunctious, fast, and violent creatures. They are easy to anger and hard to calm down once they are angry. Fortunately, they are fanatically devoted to Aslan and protecting the forest, and so their ire is usually directed in the right places. They fight with their vicious tusks.

Boggle

Boggles are nasty humanoid creatures that served the White Witch. They are thin, almost skeleton-like, with claws. Some of them were viciously clever and led the other creatures in their terrible plans.

Cat

Cats are aloof, intelligent, graceful creatures. They maintain a strict sense of decorum amongst themselves, and are always prim and proper, and a bit condescending to others who aren't the same. They are, most of all, very self assured. It takes a very great deal indeed to rattle a cat's nerves.

Centaur

Centaurs have the head and chest of a human, but the body of a horse. They can be either male or female, though males are far more common. They live a very long time, sometimes up to two hundred years. They are stern, beautiful, and wise. They eat, principally, oaten cakes, apples, herbs, wine, and cheese. They use their swords and hooves in battle, and are noted as excellent strategists. It is said in Narnia that no one ever laughs at a centaur, and that no one who values his life would ever try to put a saddle on one. They are knowledgeable of wilderness and the stars above. Of all the creatures in Narnia, they may be the most respected. Many of them now live in Telmar.

Cow

Cows are slow, patient, grazing animals. Talking cows are fairly rare, but when one finds one, one has found a conversational partner for life. They love to talk. However, they are remarkably slow and thoughtful talkers. Perhaps the word 'slow' describes them best in many ways. Naughty satyrs are occasionally known to steal upon them in their sleep and push them over.

Crow

Crows, or jackdaws, are some of the most numerous birds in Narnia. They are active, talkative, but easily embarrassed creatures. It was a Jackdaw who made the first joke in Narnia...or rather, *was* the first joke. Crows have had a tendency to fall into embarrassing situations ever since, but they are generally good-humored enough not to mind.

Cruel

Cruels are short, hairy, ugly creatures. There are very few of them left. They have extraordinarily long teeth which they use for biting, and enjoy torturing their victims. They are cowards, though, when facing anyone stronger than they are.

Deer

The deer are, for the most part, gentle creatures of the forest. They are extremely fast and hard to catch. A smaller number of them are related by blood to the White Stag, and these are fiercer, nobler, and faster than any other Talking Beast in the whole forest.

Dog

Dogs are honest, humble, and rather stubborn creatures. They are extraordinarily good at tracking scents. They are extremely loyal and sometimes a little *too* enthusiastic to help even where help may not be needed. But no one can question their vivacity.

Donkey

Whether well-intending or not, most donkeys end up being very foolish. The best of them are gentle as well, while the worst add stubbornness to their foolishness, and can be rather abrasive. But good or bad, they are all rather hungry rather often.

Dragon

They are extremely mysterious creatures. A certain very dangerous breed of them proliferated in the islands of the Eastern Sea a long time ago, and these were the sorts that gathered hoards of treasure and terrorized men. These sorts of dragons, though fairly smart, did not speak and were generally animal-like in nature. There are other kinds of dragons as well, and they do not seem to fit into the regular scheme of things. Some say they have a special purpose saved for the end of the world.

Dryad

They are the spirits of the trees. Each has a tree that is its own, and when the tree dies, the dryad dies as well. They have physical bodies, of course, and these closely resemble the trees that they are: a birch "has a soft voice and looks like a slender girl", an oak "is a wizened but hearty old man with a frizzled beard," etc. They love to dance, and often dance with fauns. They are attuned to the movements and natures of the wood.

Eagle

Eagles are quick, keen flying hunters. Their eyes are the sharpest of any Talking Beast, and their insight is such that they can often see into the hearts and intentions of others, in addition to seeing far distances. They are extremely formidable opponents in combat.

Efreet

They are Calormene creatures, windy spirits, genie-like. Very little is known about them in Narnia. They are terrifying and powerful, and various Tarkaans and Calormene nobles variously fear them or deny their existence. The ones who deny very often live to regret that decision, but not much longer.

Elephant

Elephants are, of course, the very largest of the Talking Beasts, usually 8 to 10 feet tall at the shoulder. Like horses, they do not wear clothes or stand on their hind legs. The first He-Elephant sat at the First Council of Narnia, and as a result elephants, though rare, have been held in very high esteem since then. They are bold, curious creatures. They never forget.

Ermine

Weasel-like, though of course not so vicious as weasels. They are quick-eyed, slightly mischievous creatures. They can be just a little absent-minded, at times.

Ettin

Ettins are giant-like creatures, though not as large or as stupid as giants proper. They also fight with clubs. Some of them have two heads, others four arms, but never both.

Faun

Woodland human-like creatures with legs and hooves of goats, characteristically curly hair and small horns. Their faces are simultaneously 'mournful and merry'. They are masters of the dance, and rare is the faun who hasn't a musical instrument to play. They are associated sometimes with Bacchus, which means they can be gleeful and yet just a little dangerous. There are only male fauns.

Fox

Foxes are wily, intelligent creatures. They are extremely good at turning circumstances to their favor, which is a good thing when the fox in question is concerned about more than himself. Some foxes are known to aspire toward epic poetry.

Ghoul

Ghouls are terrible creatures that come from the darkest places of the night. They move in silence and grab unsuspecting people from the shadows. They perish at the sight of daylight. Physically, they resemble corroded, old humans.

Giant

Giants are tall, ugly, and relatively dim-witted creatures. The smallest of them are around ten feet high, but some grow to fifty or higher. They tend to come from the North, where there are good giants; the wild, bad giants; the more civilized (but still bad) giants from Harfang; and other types such as the Ettins that fought on the side of the White Witch. No giants are very smart. Most are fairly troublesome, but there is an occasional good-natured giant to be found in Narnia. They fight with clubs and often wear knee-high spiked boots.

Gnome

Gnomes are creatures that live below the earth in the Underworld. There are a good many of them there, but their ways and customs are largely unknown. Still further down (and more unknown) is the land of Bism with its fiery salamanders and other creatures. Gnomes do not like the light and openness of the surface world very much at all.

Hag

Hags always appear as ugly old women, with warts on their noses and hair growing out of the warts. Usually they have come to look like this because they have dabbled in Black Magic, such as the kind that Jadis used. They hope to make use of the power they get this way, but they are never happy. They excel at making potions.

Hedgehog

Hedgehogs are prickly, underground, but for all that, very friendly creatures. They have come into much greater renown in Narnia, what with one of their number being knighted. They are some of the most steadfast creatures in Narnia.

Hoofed

Hoofed Talking Beasts are, except for the intelligence and ability to talk, indistinguishable from their non-talking counterparts. A horse looks like a horse, a deer like a deer, and so forth.

Horror

They are creatures that are entirely black in color, and sometimes cannot be seen at night. They are not stealthy, however, for they prefer making loud, terrifying cries, and jumping into battle with their vicious claws.

Horse

Horses are wonderful creatures. They have extremely sharp hearing, and love sugar cubes (or a good rub-down even better). The horses of Narnia are only ridden on the most important occasions, such as ceremonies or wars. When they are ridden, however, it is a very different sort of thing from riders in Calormene, who treat their horses as beasts and slaves. A horse is, after all, the best person to teach someone how to ride. Horses have an extremely wide variety in their personalities.

Incubus

Another of the evil creatures that serve the White Witch. Incubi have bat-like wings that grow out of their backs, and can appear as extremely handsome males, if they choose. They cannot fly very far, however, and a true heart will see through their guise.

Lamb

Lambs are gentle, kind, quiet, and innocent. Perhaps the best that can be said of them is this: even after Caspian returned from the seas, and told how Aslan had appeared in the form of a lamb, they experienced no pride whatsoever.

Leopard

Leopards are fast and dexterous; some of the most valued fighters in Narnia's army. Leopards also have the honor of being bearer's of Aslan's crown and scepter on such formal occasions as they are needed. They are fiercely loyal to Aslan.

Lion

They are the kings of beasts. Aslan is one of them. Until you know one (and even a little then), lions are creatures that always inspire fear. They are the noblest of all creatures, and sometimes the fiercest as well. But in any lion you will also see a bit of sadness, because in addition to being great it falls to them to always remained concerned for the plights of all other creatures above themselves.

Mammal

Mammalian (perhaps one could say 'pawed') Talking Beasts tend to be closer to human size than their non-talking counterparts. When the first pairs were breathed upon by Aslan, creatures larger than men became somewhat smaller, and those smaller became somewhat larger. For example, talking mice are about 2 feet tall as adults, talking foxes are around 4 feet tall -- far closer to man size than real life ones would be. They usually walk around on their hind legs, and their paws are just as versatile as hands. Though some live in burrows, a number of talking beasts live in towns and wear clothes like people do.

Marshwiggle

They are tall, thin, human-like creatures. They have rubbery skin and live in the marshes, in wigwams far spaced from other abodes. They smoke pipes with thick tobacco, drink extraordinarily strong liquor, and eat lots of mudfish. They have webbed hands and feet. They are the masters of marshes and waterways in Narnia. If you wanted to make an understatement about them, you could say that they were a little depressing. "Mournful and pessimistic" might be closer to the truth.

Minotaur

Horrible creatures, with the bodies of men and the heads of bulls. They are the deadliest warriors of the White Witch's army, and charge ruthlessly into battle. When not fighting in such ways, they enjoy sitting in the middle of labyrinths.

Mole

Of all the creatures that can live above and below the ground, they are the ones that prefer below the ground best. They are also the ones that dig the best, and can dig faster and deeper than any other Talking Beast. They have a very good sense of smell, but can see only very poorly, especially in daylight. They live a very long time.

Monopod

Creatures of the far eastern islands that have a single leg with an enormous single foot beneath it. Otherwise, they closely resemble dwarves, though not as stocky. When they sleep they put their respective feet above them and resemble nothing more than large toadstools. They are frivolous, fun loving, and irresponsible. They have a penchant for following after charismatic leaders of their own kind.

Mouse

There were no Talking Mice at Narnia's beginning. As mere animals, they had the courage and care to free Aslan from his harsh ropes on the Stone Table. It is no surprise, then, that they have proved the very bravest of all Talking Beasts. They are loyal to each other and to Aslan, and were once all willing to cut off their tails because Reepicheep had lost his. Though some have taken to a quieter life, settling in meadows and the like, a good number still roam the land, seeking out and scaring away injustice and evil wherever they can find it.

Naiad

Enchanted creatures of the water, just as dryads are with the forests. Naiads, however, are not bound as closely to any particular body of water. They are all sisters, with Achelous, the river god, as their father, though some of them inhabit pools and wells. They are a varied bunch, but all good-natured and friendly, and often curious about the world beyond the rivers. Their appearance varies widely -- they are usually clothed when venturing beyond the rivers, and many have skin in shades of blue, green, and grey.

Ogre

Ogres are tall, hairy, unfriendly creatures with very large noses. They are fighters in the White Witch's army. Probably the most shocking thing that can be said about them is that they are even stupider than giants.

Orkny

Orknies are short, thin, pointy-nosed, very mischievous creatures. Their mischief, however, is never friendly or good-natured. They serve the white witch, and sometimes come to live in the basements of people who have become too selfish and ill-natured themselves.

Otter

Otters are the most playful creatures in Narnia. They never cease to delight in fun, or in energy. They sometimes have difficult knowing when it is time to be serious, however.

Owl

Owls are flying creatures of the night. They are very, very wise, though often slow about dispensing their wisdom. A He-Owl was present at the first Council of Narnia. When matters of import arise, they gather in a Parliament of Owls and discuss things, and their decisions are very important to anyone who cares about the best thing to do.

Panther

Like the leopards, panthers are extremely well-trained in combat and serve as a backbone to Narnia's army. They do not have the patience to serve as attendants to Aslan as the leopards do, but can serve better as scouts and spies.

Pegasus

Pegasi are horses with great wings rising from their flanks. They are glorious and majestic creatures, and also extremely rare. The first pegasus in Narnia, Fledge, was made so by Aslan himself, and in the process became much nobler and wiser. Thus all pegasi take it upon the themselves to care for and be kind to other horses.

Pelican

Pelicans are sea-birds, mostly, and live near Cair Paravel and Glasswater Creek. They can carry enormous amounts of things in their bills, if the mood suits them. Some of the strongest of them can even fly all the way out to Galma without resting.

People of the Toadstool

Very short, very evil creatures that live among enchanted mushrooms of the very worst kind. They are cruel beyond cruel, but can only work in groups because of their small size.

Rabbit

Rabbits are cautious creatures. They are extraordinarily hard to catch. They have the best hearing of all the Talking Beasts and can easily hide and disappear in Narnia's thick forests. When among friends, they are always fun-loving and jovial.

Raven

Of the seven who sat at the First Council of Narnia, two of them were ravens. They are the watchers in the trees, who see and know more than anyone suspects. They enjoy being very mysterious. But if you get one talking, you may find it rather difficult to get them to stop. They often live for a hundred years.

Red Dwarf

Dwarves in general are short, stocky, bearded, eminently practical creatures. They are often short tempered and have a tendency to watch out for themselves more than anyone else. The red dwarves are so named because of the color of their beards. They are more good-natured than the black dwarves, and more ready to follow Aslan. Dwarves are excellent blacksmiths and craftsmen and live underground, though they are not afraid of the surface world like gnomes.

Reptile

There are very few talking reptiles in Narnia. Those that do exist tend to be like birds in that their size can vary greatly, and they do not usually wear clothes.

Robin

Robins are some of the happiest birds in Narnia, especially in spring, when their songs can be heard everywhere. There is nothing like a robin to restore one's spirits when times are down.

Satyr

Satyrs are wild forest creatures, part man, part goat. They are similar to fauns, except that they are wilder, less patient, and more goat-like. They party more often but aren't quite as adept at music. They enjoy large banquets especially.

Sea Person

Aquatic creatures that inhabit the Last Sea. Unlike the merpeople who leave near Narnia, they are not amphibious, though in most ways they resemble humans. Their society is like a mirror image of normal society underwater. They are mysterious, defensive, and occasionally fierce.

Spectre

Of all the terrible creatures that Jadis called up for her evil deeds, spectres are the worst. They are ghosts, spirits, unholy summons from places where things never ought to be touched. They have all the powers of ghouls and wraithes, and more.

Sprite

Sprites are tiny, imp-like creatures that fly on very small wings. They do not grow longer than one foot in wingspan. They cause a great deal of mischief, and though they are not friendly at all, they are not as dangerous as orknies because they are not as powerful. They love to eat the leaves of trees mercilessly, and for this reason are especial enemies of the dryads.

Squirrel

Squirrels are very, very, very flighty. They speak very quickly, and have a good deal to say. They have the solemn role of official messengers throughout Narnia, and take the job very seriously. They are extremely self-conscious about their responsibility concerning the mingleberry plague. They love to collect . . . well, anything.

Unicorn

A unicorn is a horse with a single, usually blue-indigo horn on its forehead. They are extremely noble and delicate beasts, not quite so wise as centaurs, but gentler. The unicorns have more recently gathered into a land of their own. They tend to name themselves after stones and gems. They are respectful and loyal to their own kind, and defer their authority to the eldest unicorn present. For all their glory, unicorns do not use magic or have magical powers. They use their horns in battle, and may be ridden when necessary.

Vulture

Vultures are rare; at least talking ones. They often find it difficult to deal with other creatures, not being very talkative and more concerned with carcasses. Naturally, they only eat the carcasses of dumb beasts.

Water Rat

Water rats are larger than Talking Mice, certainly a good deal gruffer and hairier. They often operate on small riverboats of their own manufacture. A number of them made their way, through various circumstances, to Tashbaan, where there are still a number of them living beneath the docks.

Werewolf

Extraordinarily terrible and terrifying creatures. Part man, part wolf. Listen: "I'm hunger. I'm thirst. Where I bite, I hold till I die, and even after death they must cut out my mouthful from my enemy's body and bury it with me. I can fast a hundred years and not die. I can lie a hundred nights on the ice and not freeze. I can drink a river of blood and not burst. Show me your enemies." Werewolves exist as they are, and do not take different forms by the phase of the moon. Nor are they vulnerable particularly to silver.

Witch

The White Witch was the worst of them, but her past is shrouded in mystery. They can be very beautiful, which is a good part of the problem. But they are invariably rotten to the core. The worst of them is that, by one means or another, they have access to the Dark Powers of the world, and use these powers to their own ends. They draw other evil towards them like moths to a flame, and have incredible charisma, and are thus able to wield great power, both through themselves and those who serve them. It is suspected that their kind usually involve giantish blood (they are always tall and imposing) along with the blood of spirits of great evil power.

Wolf

They are wilder, fiercer, faster, and stronger than dogs. They do not have quite as good a sense of smell, though their is formidable. Unfortunately, many of them fell into the service of the White Witch in old times, which has been a taint on their name. There have been since, however, a large number of intelligent and responsible wolves in Narnia. Many inhabit an area known as the Wolf Wilds.

Woose

Wooses are medium-sized, very fat creatures. They are also very nasty. They are grey and have no hair at all, so that when they close their eyes and sit very still, they are sometimes mistaken for large stones.

Wraith

Wraiths are wispy, ghost-like creatures that are very difficult to see in clear daylight or especially at night. Only when there is mist or fog or rain do they become more easily visible. They are some of the most dangerous of the White Witch's creatures, because they can sneak upon people at night and suck their breath away from them.