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In the "Welcome to the Seven Worlds" I explained the basics of spiritual hierarchy for all seven worlds, but here I will go a little more in depth, and more particular for the Red World.
Beneath the "Kings" are the thanes. Thane is an old English word for an earl or low-ranking nobleman, but I have never seen it used elsewhere so I took it and used it here. There are many different classes of Thanes, but only a few are very active in the Red World. The first three detailed below (Modrii, Ueentii, and Tyyrii) are common to all the worlds. Those after (Lairii and below) are mostly active in the Red World.
Modrii: The plural of Modre (Messenger). The Modrii have little strength in any regard compared to other thanes, but have a few advantages. Firstly, invisibility and stealth are easy for them, and, more importantly, they can navigate between the worlds without difficulty. Other thanes must avoid the Fires of Passage or amass enough strength to survive them, but the Modrii can pass between worlds almost effortlessly. This is why they are the thane of choice for carrying messages. They have enough strength to convince men to cower before them, but wizards, dragons, and other thanes could give them a run for their money in a battle.
Ueentii: The plural of Uentien (Watchman). These are essentially nature spirits, often entering into natural things (trees, rocks, mountains, rivers, lakes, you-name-it) and giving them an appearance of life. These are exceedingly rare in the Red World, which accounts for the lack of talking trees and walking stones.
Tyyrii: The plural of Tyyrien (Guard, or Power-Wielder). Terrifyingly powerful, devastatingly destructive, all the thanes fear these masters of warfare. Only the most advanced of craft-wielders could ever seek to fight against one of these, and indeed, most hope they never will fight one.
Laiirii: The plural of Laiir (unknown roots). Perhaps the spookiest of thanes, all also the least balanced in their skills. They are very weak to other thanes, even the Modrii could hope to undo one of these. Against craft they have fair defenses, but have no craft of their own. However, against physical attacks, they are invulnerable (unlike other thanes). In the days when these thanes were still active, it would not be common for one to walk through enemy lines to target a specific commander, impervious to the blows put on him.
The Laiirii, though, have one weakness. In their wars with other thanes, and with each other (for some joined each side), they forged weapons of great strength, capable of destroying other thanes and other Laiirii. In the ages to come, some of these blades found their way into the hands of men. Terin carries one for over half of In the Red Days: The Great City.
Astueii:The plural of Astien (Blackness Worker). The origin of these thanes is unknown. It is suspected that they are actually demons imported to the Seven World by the power of Narok. Their power seems to be unlimited, only stopped by the limitations of their thoughts and wills, and the resistance of others. It would scarcely surprise another thane to see one of these level a mountain with as sweep of his arm. Mysteriously, they disappeared about the time of Aerykun's imprisonment, lending credence to the theory that they were brought in to serve him. It is rumored that, somehow, these may have interbred with the tri-part demons of the Red World, being the ancestors of such demons as Nastar and the Nitrox.
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