Choths And Wyvans

"The Problem of Pain" concludes by telling us about the Ythrian New Faith but nothing about choths which have been mentioned only once in this story. In his next interstitial passage, Hloch informs us that he aims to present:

"...nothing more than an account of certain human events which helped bring about the founding of the Stormgate Choth." (p. 55)

In fact, the Earth Book imparts considerably more information than just that. However, "The Problem of Pain" recounts a human-Ythrian interaction on Avalon which is where Stormgate will be founded.

By the time of the concluding story, "Rescue on Avalon," Stormgate has come into existence:

"Choths differed as much in their ways as human nations did, and Jack remembered hearing that the Stormgate folk who would be moving into these parts, were quite reserved."

-Poul Anderson, "Rescue on Avalon" IN Anderson, The Earth Book Of Stormgate (New York, 1978), pp. 380-389 AT pp. 380-381.

Despite his resentment of Ythrians, Jack Birnam will be obliged to come to the rescue of:

"'Not just any Ythrian... Ayan, the Wyvan of Stormgate.'" (p. 383)

Jack's informant, Ivar Holm, explains:

"'"Wyvan" comes as close to meaning "Chief" or "President" as you can get in their language.'" (p. 383)

We will learn in The People Of The Wind that "Wyvan" comes closer to "Judge." Nevertheless, the High Wyvan of Ythri will be the opposite number of the Terran Emperor, the highest ranking public official in the Domain of Ythri as the Emperor is in the Empire.