Glossary








Spoiler warning: The following is a master glossary for all the books in this series.
Reading beyond specific word or phrase searches could result in spoilers.

Adad Sunal – EEtah war collage belonging to House Bran, specializing in conducting internal security for House Bran.
Agress – A green Etheria Crystal with red striations which opens and closes doors, windows and hatches, negating any locks but not traps or wards.
Aiken – Semi-sentient clouds sent out across the Annigan from Mount Ghas-Tor, recording everything they witness on the ground and in the air. They are indistinguishable from other clouds against the backdrop of a blue sky. Aiken constantly send visuals back to the mountain, but recent images remain in their limited memory. Those possessing psychic abilities can access their recent memories by flying through and communing with them.
Akina – Humanoid fox creatures native to the Barrens in the Twilight Lands. Often sly and excellent thieves.
Amarenian – Female human race formerly noted for their hatred and slavery of men and piracy.
Angona – Roasted eel on a stick. Sold from vendors' carts all over the City of Immor-Onn.
Annigan – The name of the world which is the setting for the various stories in the Tales of the Annigan Cycle. It includes the two hemispheres of Lumina and Nocturn separated by the Twilight Lands.
Anointed Sister – The title for the Amarenian Queen.
Aquamarine – Pale blue Etheria Crystal which reveals something’s true nature.
Ara-Fel Party – Political party of Amarenian farmers.
Arapa Fish – A large fish native to the back waters and tributaries of the Otoman River. Their tough scaly skin is coveted among the Dreeat as armor. The scales by themselves are so abrasive they are also sold as nails.
Ash-Ta – Avion term (winged monster) for the widespread colonies of humanoid bats inhabiting the rocky crags stretching across of the Spine of the World. Avion scholars record six tribes: the Molossi, Acero, Chiro, Ptero, Diaemus and Desmodus. The Ash-Ta allied with the Tiikeri due to their shared enemy, the Do-Tarr.
Astute Sister – Amarenian title for high level politician.
Aur-Quaz – Iridescent Etheria Crystal stimulating energy.
Available Regions – Uninhabited areas of Immor-Onn waiting for the residents displaced by the recent Black Pearl Revolution to return and inhabit.
Avion –Proud sentient rulers of Lumina’s sky. Incredibly beautiful and graceful to behold and unabashedly elitist, especially towards their distant cousins, the Humans. Avions refuse to wear any armor and yet have led the way in almost every major war fought. Their scholars contributed a great deal to the knowledge of Lumina. Their four Great Houses occupy the airspace and mountain tops of the Goyan Islands.
Avion Great Houses:
House Azar - Avion House inhabiting the City of Mitar, on the Island of Dal, in the Tellasian chain, ruled by Queen Averin. Their territories include the skies over the Tellasian Chain, Otomoria, Zer-Tal Twins, and the Zerk Atoll. They are known for their healing Clerics of Neami and their beautiful music.
House Eacher - Avion House inhabiting the Island of Wou, City of Picon & surrounding airspace. Ruled by King Sindil.
House Solas – Smallest of all the Avion houses. They inhabit the city of Adean on the Island of Temil in the Outer Zerians and control the surrounding airspace.
House Pyre - Eldest, largest, and most powerful of all the Avion Houses. They inhabit the skies above the Island of Goya. Their city stronghold, Darmont Keep, sits on the north face of volcanic Mount Goya. Unlike the other Avion Houses who utilize Air Magic, they mastered Fire Magic drawing their power from the volcano.
Awal – First of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Spring.
Azurite – Purple Etheria Crystal which connects to the Middle realms.
Bailian – Predominate race of the western Twilight Lands. Descended from the Piceans, they are a beautiful humanoid race with pale blue skin and large eyes.
Banja – The seventy-seven Amarenian noble families, eleven for each of the various seven provinces called Dors.
Banok Atoll – Island ring in the Southeastern Ocean of Lumina housing one of the largest permanent Flavian portals. Its psionic ripples extend out hundreds of miles and affect the entire southeastern Deep Ocean of Lumina.
Banok Run – The final test for admittance to the elite Brightstar Sailors where they must navigate a tight circle around the turbulent seas surrounding the Banok Atoll without being pulled into its giant Flavian portal.
Bespoke Lords – Members of prominent families who have Bespoke Names and serve as advisors to the sovereign in a respective noble human house in the Goyan Islands.
Bespoke Names – Honorary family names only bestowed by a Goyan Island governor or higher as reward for exemplary service to the crown.
Black Mural – A magical record of the Annigan located deep in the Rod-Ema Trench in the Ocean Deep of Nocturn. It slowly grows in size as it records every act of imbalance on the planet. If it grows too large, it will penetrate into the planet's core, killing all life and allowing it to start anew.
Black Talon – Special forces of the Aramos Army, the Fosvara Guard.
Boustian Mage – Bards who perform magic by singing, playing music and storytelling, found predominantly in the larger cities of the Goyodian Chain of islands.
Brightstar – Elite sailors of House Calden qualified to sail the Deep Oceans and the storm-tossed seas of the Twilight Lands. Captains in the Calden Navy must be Brightstar qualified. Brightstar only allows acceptance to their ranks upon completion of the treacherous Innaca or Banok Runs.
Brom – Horse size dragonflies inhabiting the steep southern foothills of the Amaren Mountains.
Calcite – Clear Etheria Crystal which aids in navigation.
Caldani – Privateers hired by Human House Calden to patrol their waters.
Calden Intelligencer Service – House Calden’s elite spy agency and secret police. They draw recruits mostly from the Calden Maritime Legion.
Calden Maritime Legion – Marines for House Calden
Calisma – Main library in the University of Marassa.
Cali – Branch libraries and scriptoriums in the five Human capital cities in the Goyodian Island Chain.
Carbana – Chewing tobacco rolled into a tight tube.
Cavernite – A pale green Etheria Crystal with pink striations that can increase the physical dimensions of the interior of any structure it is placed within. The size increase depends on the amount of Cavernite used and the level of PSI used to power it. Without a constant supply of PSI power, the dimensions revert back to their original size. Often used with an Obsidian PSI battery backup.
Centi Elipse – Called a Centi for short. Unit of time in the Goyan Islands equaling a minute.
Celot – Amarenian term for a priestess.
Cevot – Large sentient spider creatures known for their silk, inhabiting the Os-Oni Mountains of the Twilight Lands.
Ched – Seventh of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Autumn.
Chanakans – An ancient race of sentient octopoids dwelling in vast underwater cities in the Ocean Deep of Nocturn. They worship the ancient ones of the abyss and practice a powerful water magic.
Cluster – The name for ten cycles, the Annigan's version of a week. There are five clusters to a Quinte (month).
Cobalcite – Deep pink Etheria Crystal used for healing.
Code of Tisina – Mobster code of silence in the City of Zor. Because of Zor’s zero tolerance for organized crime, the various independent criminals adopted a “no cooperation” rule with city officials. The slightest violation of this code is punishable by death.
Common – The Common Tongue, a spoken only language used mostly by humans and those in business with them.
Cocoonessa – Cocoon city of the Tinian Moth people on Mount Natal in the Land of Mists. Also called the Silk City.
Corporal Reach, The –The prime material plain of the middle realms where the Annigan resides.
Coxeter – Both the language and magic system of the Tinian race based on a complex form of three-dimensional geometry. The written language is made up of cryptic mathematical notations using lines and dots. Tinian minds perceive all math as the three-dimensional mapping, best displayed in their silk weavings of intricate geometric patterns. When combined with Etheria Crystals, these patterns can be used to perform spells.
Croquis – Magitech mapping devise projecting a scalable three-dimensional holographic image of a desired location, including the other planes of the multiverse.
Cub Prince – A rare black tiger heir to the throne of the Tiikeri Empire. Once every generation, the Tiikeri king must breed an heir. All prominent Tiikeri families offer their most eligible daughters for breeding, but only one will conceive of a black tiger. All other cubs produced from this royal union are killed at birth. They move the complete family of the female who gives birth to the Cub Prince into the palace and considered them nobility. They immediately begin grooming the Cub Prince for the throne, and, when he comes of age, he must kill his father to take it.
Cul-Ta – Humanoid rat creatures found in almost every City in Lumina.
Cycle – Time period equivalent to a day.
Dag – Amarenian term for a common slave. A derogatory slang word for a male.
Darek Witch – Amarenian earth shamans acting as midwives and performing other shamanistic duties.
Darian Silk – High quality silk spun by the Cevot Spiders traded to the On’Dara.
Darwan – A cross between the Balians and the Fudomi, this race is the most prolific humanoid native to the Barrens. They situate their villages around Ghorn temples and must pay tribute to the Onay hordes of the region. Villages close to the borders of the hordes remain under constant threat. Darwans raise a herd animal called the Ng’Ombe which provides the major staple food in the Barrens.
Dasam – Tenth of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Winter.
Deci – Time unit equivalent to one hour.
Derde – Third of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Spring.
Diamond – Clear Etheria Crystal which transfers power.
Doggin – Derogatory term used for slave dock workers in the city of Aris.
Dolin – Etheria gem hunters, mostly of the Gila race, traveling the Barrens in small caravans and harvesting raw Etheria Crystals to sell to the Zadim lapidaries of the Oasis in the Dark Waste Desert.
Dor – Title of the seven various provinces in Amarenia. Taia-Dor, Denat-Dor, Mivira-Dor, Amoso-Dor, Kinning-Dor, Rackam-Dor, Durik-Dor.
Do-Tarr – Sentient, hive-minded mantid creatures from the Land of Mists in Nocturn. They comprise two large hives in the north and south with precise subterranean tunnels connecting them. They are expert builders and remain neutral in all forms of politics.
Dreamer in the Lake – Demi-God of the Os’Tor Forest and a Harbinger of Balance. She rests at the bottom of a large lake encased in mud and manifests herself on the lake's surface as a multicolored lotus. Her accolades, sentients from every race, sleep around the lake's shore, sending their ethereal bodies out into people’s dreams and guiding them.
Dreeat – Humanoid crocodilians inhabiting the end of the western fork of the Otoman River in Otomoria. They grow sugar cane and make magical healing candies from it. They harvest river fish as a major part of their diet. For thousands of grands, ever since the arrival Human race, the Human families have tried to eradicate them.
Dronning Mare – Female horse chosen to breed with the On’Dara chief.
EEtah – Large, powerful and aggressive sentient humanoid shark creatures trained in martial schools known as Sunals to become the professional warriors of Lumina. After their egg birth in the hatcheries and their first year in the nursery, they are sorted into one of the various Sunals of their House. Females enter House Nur and the males go through a highly competitive Sunal scouting and recruiting process with the nursery’s called the Garess. Sunals hire out bodyguards, sentries, mercenaries and virtually anything martial. This, along with weapon manufacturing and sales, provides the main revenue stream for the great houses.
EEtah Great Houses:
House Nur – This Noble house is female only. Co-ruled by a secular Queen Mother and spiritual High Priestess. Temple of Drulain headquartered in the High Holy City of Zor. Specialty: Scribes, Clerics, Healers, Politics, Domestics.
House Crom – Three Sunals in the Tellasian Chain. Sedar Sunal on Roe Island.
Specialty: Bodyguard. Boril Sunal on Uma Island. Specialty: Crom Internal Security. Zorod Sunal on Tel Island. Specialty: Castle and Town Defense.
House Bran – Four Sunals in the Goyodian Chain. Garf Sunal on Quell Island.
Specialty: Long term inland duty. Tukk Sunal on Mobis Island. Specialty: Shipboard Security. Adad Sunal on Creos Island. Specialty: Bran Internal Security. Farak Sunal on Roust Island. Specialty: Bounty Hunter, Vengeance.
House Zed – Three Sunals in the Wouvian Islands. Dakor Sunal on Owling Island. Specialty: Shock Troops. Jut Sunal on Tor Island. Specialty: Zed Internal Security. Morrak Sunal on Billow Island. Specialty: Police, Executioners.
Elipse – A unit of time equaling a second.
Ellie – Slang and abbreviation for an Ellipse.
Esteemed Sister – Amarenian title for Ambassador.
Etheria Crystal – Crystals containing magical properties mostly found in crystal trees in the Barrens of the Twilight Lands. Residents of the Dark Waste Desert harvest and process the oases’ crystals. These crystals provide the primary form of magic in Nocturn.
Flavian Portals – Portals through space making different points in the Annigan instantaneously accessible by passing through the inter-dimensional Middle Realms. Each portal is different. There are several large, fixed portals on both Lumina and Nocturn and hundreds of smaller dedicated Flavians. Certain animals, intoxicants and magical items can open smaller portals.
Frozen Sea – The vast expanse of ice flows covering the majority of Nocturn and the largest centrally occupied area in all of Annigan. The ice ranges from a slushy mixture with icebergs near the land masses to several hundred feet thick in the eastern areas.
Forsvara Guards – A rank-and-file foot soldier army of House Aramos.
Fudomi – Sentient humanoid ram creatures inhabiting the western Os-Oni Mountains of the Twilight Lands. They steal and sell the Cevot Spider broods’ silk and eggs, which they consider a delicacy.
Galeb – Sea Gulls with a psychic connection to a handler. They are used to transport messages across Lumina.
Garf Sunal – EEtah War college belonging to House Bran. Their specialty is long term inland duty.
Gar-Kal – Fish head humanoids living on the ocean floor of Nocturn. They are of low intelligence and aggressive.
Geta – Amarenian title for a master at a skill or craft, especially if they teach it.
Ghas-Tor – This is the tallest peak on the Annigan. It reaches upward 32,000 feet in the Os’Ani Mountain range of the Twilight Lands. More than a mountain, it is a sentient being and the epicenter of Air Magic in the world.
Ghorn – Necromancers of the Barrens in Twilight Lands.
Ghost Suit – A gray, skintight jump suit used mostly by Valdurian forces to blend into the Kan fog.
Ghosts of the Kan – Mariner’s term for Rayth raiders. Due to their ghost white chalk covering their bodies and acting as camouflage when they attack during the Kan fog.
Gila – The main sentient race populating the Dark Waste. Hybrids comprising Bailian pilgrims and a now long-gone sentient lizard native to the region. They are an advanced race occupying the three large oases of the desert.
Golden One, The – Otick term for the Golden Avatar.
Goy-Ardia – Goyan fire mages trained at the University of Marassa.
Goyan Calendar – Method of time keeping found only in the Goyan Islands. It consists of a Grand Cycle (year) which is comprised of ten Quinte (months) named; Awal, Teine, Derde, Kvara, Peto, Sesto, Ched, Merve, Tisa and Dasam. Each Quinte is divided into fifty Cycles (days) with each cycle being divided into fifty Deci (hours) twenty-five in sunlight and twenty-five in Kan. Ten cycles equal a Cluster (week) with five Clusters per Quinte.
Goyan Rise – A 300-mile-wide sea mount in central Lumina acting as the floor of the Shallow Sea. Its volcanic vents fuel the volcano of Mount Goya.
Grand – Short for Grand Cycle. Unit of time equivalent to a year.
Grass Eater – Singa insult
Gustare' – Amarenian bath house and tavern.
Hackney – Etheria driven floating carriages found throughout the major cities of Lumina.
Hand of the Wind – The Assassin’s Guild of Annigan. All members worship Orad, goddess of death. The upper levels are clerics of Orad.
Hakim – A judge in the High Holy City of Zor.
Harbingers of Balance – Sentient creatures of all types called to a secret society monitoring the balance of the Annigan and warning when something upsets it.
Hasteen – City of the Dreeat crocodile people.
Hill Sister – Hermaphroditic warriors inhabiting the northern foothills of the Amaren Mountains in Amarenia. Though they possess both male and female sex organs, they cannot procreate. Popular with Amarenian nobility as seneschal/bodyguards partly because they can have sex with them and not violate their “no man” pledge.
Hoon – Word used in Zor to denote a pimp or the manager of a brothel.
Howlite – Gray Etheria Crystal used for glamour, disguise and polymorphing.
Humans – The Human race descended from the Avion race. In 5070 PA, the rebellious Avions which joined Xandar the Mad’s doomed Great Kraken Incursion had their wings severed as punishment before being banished and scattered to the Goyodian Chain. 171 years later the Seventh Avatar sang the “Song of Rebirth” evolving them into a separate race. They formed their Great Houses, spreading out across the Goyan Island Chain and beyond the Shallow Sea.
Human Great Houses:
House Aramos –The largest and wealthiest of the great human families directly descended from the First Men. The capital city of Aris is located on the Island of Vakai in the Goyodian Chain of Islands in the Northern Shallow Sea. They control banking and finance in Lumina and constantly hatch Machiavellian plots to expand their power over the other houses.
House Calden – This great house controls the seas with the largest military and commercial fleets. Their Capital City of Nader is on the Island of Tarla in the Goyodian Chain, but they command the island chain of the Zerk Atoll where their sailors are trained.
House Eldor – This great house controls virtually all the agricultural islands of the eastern Goyan Islands. Their Capital City of Rophan is on the Island of Tolle in the Goyodian Chain of Islands in the Northern Shallow Sea.
House Valdur – This house is known for their incestuous practices to keep the family bloodline pure. Their capital city of Dryden is on the Island of Atar in The Goyodian Chain of Islands in the Northern Shallow Sea. All but destroyed in a surprise invasion by House Eldor called the Unification War, only the discovery of lighter than air travel and a fleet of war balloons saved their home island. They lost the rest of their agricultural lands to Eldor. Their entire culture revolves around their powerful air guild, the Valdurian Air Service.
House Whitmar – This family runs the organized and sanctioned slave trade on Lumina from the City of Nier on the northern Goya coast. Their Capital City of Brinstan is located on the Island of Umin in the Goyodian Chain in the Northern Shallow Sea.
Immor-Onn – Large city known as “the Shining Jewel of the East” located on the western coast of the Twilight Lands. Home of the Bailian Empire.
Idonian Philosophy – The Avion prejudice that Humans are a scourge which should be wiped out. The driving belief of the Idonian Cabal of Avion House Pyre and Solas.
Innaca Deep – Giant whirlpool in the Northwestern Ocean of Lumina housing one of the largest Flavian portals. Its psionic ripples extend out hundreds of miles.
Innaca Run – The final test for admittance to the elite Brightstar Sailors where they must navigate a tight circle around the turbulent seas surrounding the Innaca Atoll without being pulled into its giant Flavian portal.
Ironmark – Brutal enforcers of the Quartermasters in the Goyan Islands of Lumina. Each island chain has their own Ironmark specializing in their own unique form of torture.
Itori – Insect Shamans found throughout the agricultural western Goyan Islands. Although they control mostly locusts, they can command any insect and are immune to all insect venoms and stings.
Jangwa – Elite desert commandos defending the outer parameter of the two civilized oases in the Dark Waste Desert. Capable of traveling under the sand and rapidly over the surface of the desert, they make frequent scouting missions to the untamed Qua-Raman Oasis and the Buried City of Nof-Saloom.
Kaefom – Traditional Amarenian breeding ritual overseen by the Darek Witches.
Kan – Period of the day in the Goyan Islands when the thick sea fog rises blotting out the sun, used mostly for sleep. It is an effect caused by geothermal activities only found in the Goyan Islands and Shallow Sea.
Kel – Flying lizards bred and tended by Avions for food and as beasts of burden.
Kharry Institute – Tiikeri medical facility located outside the Tiikeri capital city of Hai-Darr and run by the brilliant and ruthless Dr. Met-Ge. Specializes in crossbreeding Mawl races to produce Mongrels for specific duties. Created Cheepas and the Ves-Lari.
Kinjuto Dominator – Sex mage using BDSM techniques.
Konaleeta – Called the Island of the Lost. The entire island is caught in a permanent Flavian Loop. It bounces around from location to location across any of the planes of the Middle Realms, never staying in anyone place for very long.
Kusars – Mawl bandits from the Dasos region in the Land of Mists.
Kvara – Fourth of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Summer.
Ky-Awat – Sentient rat creatures of the Dark Waste Desert. They have bred them up from the Cul-Ta and are larger and more aggressive, but no smarter. Various factions use them as cannon fodder. They breed quickly and are plentiful, especially around the three main oases.
Land of Mists – The largest land mass in Nocturn. So named due to the mixture of cold temperatures in the air combined with ground warmth, resulting in a uniform constant low hanging fog over the entire continent. Three distinct landscapes cover the surface of the land, separated by the Kel-Raku Mountain range and dimly illuminated by bioluminescence, outcroppings of Etheria Crystals and the moon and stars. The thick rainforest of Arboro lies to the north, and the vast savannah of Rovina runs to the south. They’re connected by the Bor-Kaa Pass. The dense jungles and swamps of Dasos lie to the east.
Landagar Group – Research and Development Division of the Valdurian Air Service located in the balloon city of Landagar high in the mountain peaks of the Valdurian home island of Atar.
Larimar – The “Talking Stone,” a milky white Etheria Crystal with blue striations, used for psychic communication between parties within proximity of the gem.
Learned Sister – The title given to Amarenian teachers, scribes & academics.
Legates – Suicide messengers hired through House Whitmar. Candidates are usually elderly or terminally ill. Upon their death, House Whitmar agrees to care for their surviving family for their remaining lifetimes.
Lor-Danta Oasis – The eastern most major oasis in the Dark Waste Desert. The large Obsidian field stretching from its shore contains six Tanum Charts of the skies used by the Arron-Nin Astrologers dwelling there.
Lumina – The hemisphere of the world in constant sunlight.
Luna – Term for the lunar cycle used by every culture in the Annigan except the humans in the Goyan Islands, who cannot see the moon.
Luroh – Bolo/sash weapon used by the Mahilia. The sash contains the person's rank and record. The two metal balls at either end become an effective weapon when twirled.
Magitech – The fusion of magic and technology. Mostly referring to the use of Etheria Crystals and specific mechanical items. i.e., Airship engines.
Mahilia – City guards in Mostar, the capital of Amarenia.
Makari – Inter-dimensional race of sentient spiders from the Pasture Plain of the Middle Realms. They seeded the Cevot race in the Os'Tor Mountains in the Land of Mists. The males resemble hairy wolf spiders, the females resemble black widows. The females have been known to allure any male of any race. They compulsively kill after sex.
Malachite – Light green Etheria Crystal, absorbs energy.
Marassa – A professor at the University of Marassa.
Masha – Amarenian for master.
Maudo Grass – Tall grass with a bright blue flowering tuft growing in the Land of Mists. The flowers are a favorite intoxicant for Mawls and especially coveted by the Tiikeri.
Mawl – Overall name for the humanoid cat races of the Land of Mists. It is also the term used for the common language they share.
Medikua – Medical officer aboard Calden naval vessels.
Merve – Eighth of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Autumn.
Middle Realms – Constantly shifting inter-dimensional plane between worlds. Sometimes referred to as the Fairy or Dream Realms.
Mongrel – The product of cross breeding between the Mawl races found all over the Land of Mists. Pure breeds mostly shun them and the Tiikeri use them for slave labor.
Moonfall – Period of the cycle when Nocturn’s main illuminating body, the moon, dips below the horizon issuing in the Moonless
Moonless – The “night” period of the cycle when Nocturn’s main illuminating body, the moon, orbits around to the Lumina side of the Annigan.
Mora – Term used for teacher or master in the Whovian Sword Schools of Rohina Takki.
Morasian Puff Boy – Male prostitute from the Port City of Moras on Goya's west coast. Known for their distinctly feminine demeanor.
Mostas – Capital City of the Amarenian Empire on the western shore of Amarenia.
Najuka – Amarenian emasculation ritual performed on all males except those used for breeding purposes in the Kaefom Ritual.
Na-Kab – One of the three insectoid groups originating from below the Land of Mists. They occupied the easternmost hive closest to Mount Natal. Their exoskeleton is made up of fire magic. Their tail has a penis shaped stinger capable of impregnating any living thing they sting.
Namesake – Term used for spouse when they share a bespoke last name.
Narrows, The – Remnants of an old iron mine forming the slums of the Hidden City of Toriss in Otomoria.
Nocturn – The hemisphere of the world in constant night
Nolton Boat – Ships made of Ukko wood in a secret shipyard on the Island of Zer, mostly used by Brightstar sailors. Hovering less than an inch above the water, their Ukko rudder guides and propels. The specific construction of the hull makes the boat unsinkable.
Noma – Poison from the Noma Viper.
Nurian Edicts – EEtah rules of conduct set down by House Nur forming the basis for all Sunal laws. The various Sunals add their own individual laws to this baseline.
Nyanja – Large seahorses ridden as sea cavalry by the Calden Navy.
Obsidian – Black Etheria Crystal storing psychic energy.
Ocean Deep – Name referring to any of the deep oceans of Lumina or Nocturn.
Ol'daEE – Person able to cast spells while having sex under the influence of Oldust.
Oldust – Hallucinogenic powder derived from the spores of the rare Impia Mushroom, increasing magical abilities and is essential for individual travel to the Middle Realms.
Onay – Humanoid wolf men of the Barrens, banding their various packs together in three distinct hordes.
On'Dara – Sentient horse creatures living on the Plains of Taka-Vir in the southeastern Twilight Lands. They raise and train horses, trading them for silk with the Cevot Spiders and selling them to the rest of the Annigan.
ooD – Shell worn on the back of the male Otick warriors as armor. They mark the warrior's rank and house on the outside of the shell and inscribe a record of their deeds on the inside. They place the ooD over the entrance to their homes in the sand.
Oracle of the River – Demi-God who dwells in the cypress swamp at the end of the western fork of the Otoman River for thousands of grands. It appears as a partially submerged giant catfish with its many whiskers sunken into the water. These whiskers perceive anything happening in, on, or around the waterway.
Orad – Air goddess of death and predominate deity of the assassin’s guild, the Hand of the Wind. Her creed: She comes as the wind. And takes whom she wishes. Her name is Orad. And she is death.
Orad Dex – Initiates to the Orad priesthood. Street/entry level assassins.
Orad Con – (Taker of the Divine Wind) These are full priests of Orad. Their special skills are the Kiss of Death, the Poison Breath and the Phantom Dagger.
Orad Sto – (Giver of the Divine Wind) High priests of Orad who can also restore life.
Otick – Humanoid crab people inhabiting the Shallow Sea. Among the first sentient creatures to rise from the ocean floor they evolved into a proud, deeply spiritual and noble race. Goya’s volcanic warmed waters provide home to the Otick’s prolific oyster beds littering the floor of the Shallow Sea. From these beds arose the five great Pearl Avatars, creation gods whose songs brought life and sentience to Lumina. Otick society is divided into a highly structured caste system: Worker Class, Warrior Class and Mother Class, and organized into two main categories: domestic and military. The Shelled Triad, the three Otick Great Houses, tend their own oyster beds and compete for the birthplace of the next Avatar.
Otick Great Houses:
House Awa – Home of the last two avatars. Located in the Tellasian Chain, in the capital city of Hidet on the Island of Zod. Mother Class specialization.
House Pewa – Located in the Goyodian Chain, in the capital city of Oniack, on the Island of Zak. Worker Class specialization.
House Sensu – Located in the Otoman Group, in the capital city of Sunico, on the Island of Lakia. Warrior Class specialization.
Otomoria – Large Island continent in the western Goyan Islands. The main grain producing agricultural island.
Outer Clan EEtah – Humanoid shark creatures smaller in stature than regular EEtahs and cast out from the three great EEtah Houses hatcheries. The survivors band together into loose clans, contracting themselves out as deck hands or recently volunteering in the Valdurian Marines.
Padi – Regional demi-god of water worshiped in and around the High Holy City of Zor, associated with the peace and calming effect of water and represented by a calm pond.
Palu EEtah – Rare hammerhead EEtahs. They are as big as the Outer Clan EEtah but extremely intelligent. They tend to be reclusive loners.
Pappia – Members of the child street gangs of the Hidden City of Toriss in the slum section of The Narrows.
Pa-Waga – Lawful evil god of greed worshiped mostly by the Tiikeri. Its clerics practice binary blood rune magic comprised of the letters “X” and “I.”
Peace Babies – Children born of a union between any of the five major Human noble houses.
Peto – Fifth of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Summer.
Piceans – Humanoid fish people of Lumina. Capable of breathing above and below the water and impervious to the ocean’s depths. They have gill flaps large enough to fold over their ears and when the vocal sound waves pass through the membrane, it translates it. This makes them valuable translators in the seaports of the Goyan Islands.
Piety Watch – Militant, religious police faction of the Pa-Waga church. They arrest anyone caught begging, idle, or not being productive. Minor offences are punished by a beating with thin cane rods. They wear red shirts under black capes with high pointed collars resembling cat ears.
Pisar – Bailian title for a scholar.
Pomaku – Humanoid leopard people (Mawl) native to the Arboro region in the Land of Mists, Nocturn.
Protocol 13 – EEtah House Nur code phrase requesting a meeting between an intelligence asset and their handler.
Qua-Raman Oasis – An oasis in the central Dark Waste Desert. Due to its location just south of the Tur-Qua Pass, it serves as a major trading post for gems harvested in The Barrens to the north.
Quartermaster – Collector of taxes and tariffs in the Goyan Islands who use the Ironmark to enforce their rule.
Queen's Envoy Service, The – The Amarenian Empire’s spy service and member of the Society of Whispers.
Quinte – Time period equivalent to a month.
Ramu – A gambling dismemberment game banned everywhere in Lumina, except the Free City of Tannimore.
Rayth – Pirate faction of the Amarenian people in open revolt and attempting to form their own nation.
Rod-Ema Trench – Massive abysmal fissure running along the equator in the western ocean floor in Nocturn. At its head is the Agar Goyot and the Black Mural is found on its north wall dipping into the ocean depths.
Rohina Takii – Sword school originating on the Island of Wou. Known for its strike while drawing technique.
Sardor – Amarenian title for a female warlord.
Salar Winds – Turbulent winds surrounding the peak of Mount Goya which must be navigated to enter the Avion City of Darmont on the mountain's northwestern face. Avion term of exasperation, “By the mighty Winds of Salar!”
Secor – Street name for the Imperial Gold Ingot equivalent to ten struck gold coins.
Sesto – Sixth of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Autumn.
Shallow Sea – The body of water surrounding the greater Goyan Islands covering the Goyan Rise. The depth is no more than thirty feet deep at its lowest point.
Si – The term for “mister” in the Common Tongue spoken in the Goyan Islands.
Sikari – Female Singa hunter/killer squads, traveling in groups of two or more. They arm themselves with crossed bandoleros covering their chests and filled with sickle shaped throwing blades.
Silent Partner – Seven cabals of organized crime families in the Goyan Islands.
Simikort – Round engraved coin acting as an Amarenian noble's calling card.
Singa – Humanoid lion people (Mawl) inhabiting the southern Rovina area of the land of Mists.
Skirting the Upwinds – Dangerous maneuver practiced by few airship pilots. It involves taking the airship up to the edge of the atmosphere and then plummeting down to your destination. Allowing long-distance travel in a short period.
Society of Whispers – The general intelligence cooperative of the five Human noble houses, the Zorian Spymaster, the Calden Intelligencer Service, Suusho, and the Queen's Envoy Service.
Spice Rat – Smugglers operating in the Spice Islands chains (Zerian Reef Chain and Outer Zerians) and occasionally in the entire western side of the Goyan Islands.
Spooks – Street term for spies and operatives in the Society of Whispers.
Strasta – Ancient prophet in the folklore of the Cevot spider people of the Os-Ani Mountains.
Sunal – EEtah war college specializing in martial skills.
Suusho – The Bailian Empire’s spy service and member of the Society of Whispers.
Szoldos Mercenaries – One of several small private armies for hire on the Goyan continent.
Taking it Upstairs – Airship slang for skirting upwinds
Tanum Charts – Six maps of Nocturn’s night sky. The Arron-Nin Astrologers use them for divination and sometimes the opening of Flavian portals.
Teine – Second of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Spring.
Ten/Fifty— Cliché phrase in the Goyan Islands referring to the ten cycles (days) in the cluster (week) and fifty decis (hours) of the cycle (day). The equivalent of 24/7.
Tenable Sister—Title given to Amarenian lawyers.
Tiikeri – Sentient humanoid Tiger creatures of the Dasos region in the eastern Land of Mists.
Tisa – Ninth of the ten Quinte Grand Cycle, Winter.
Trinilic – Orange Etheria Crystal, fire magic connection.
Turine – Tidal clocks used in the Goyan Islands.
Twilight Lands – Area between Lumina and Nocturn in constant state of Twilight. Due to converging hot and cold air masses its weather remains perpetually stormy.
Ukkonite – Bronze Etheria Crystal with natural repellant properties. It is the crystal equivalent to Ukko wood found only in Nocturn.
Ukko Wood – Magical wood from the World Tree, harvested only on the Island of Zer in the eastern Goyan Islands. Its natural repellant properties are used in shields, weapons, Brightstar Nolton Boats and used as currency.
Ulana – Chaotic evil sea goddess worshiped by a small sect of Amarenian Rayth in the province of Durik-Dor
Unification War – Conflict started by House Eldor in 2 P.A. against the eastern agricultural islands of House Valdur. It ended as quickly as it began when House Aramos forced them to the negotiating table by threatening to freeze both houses’ accounts in the Imperial Bank.
Valorous Sister – Amarenian title for heroic acts which affected the realm.
Vedette – Small fast Nolton Boats crewed by a single ex-Brightstar sailor and used for fast, anonymous travel around the oceans of Lumina.
Velocomite – Pale blue Etheria Crystal with red bands, increases or decreases an object’s speed travelling.
Veros Pearls – Highest quality pearl cultivated in the Otick oyster beds. They are capable of holding a magical charge.
Ves-Lari – Mawl mongrels bred by the Tiikeri for rowing and poling. They are a combination of Pomaku (leopard) and Duma (Cheetah). Crews can pole or row for hundreds of miles at a time without stopping.
Vurr Carts – Carts used by the Vurr Clerics to collect the City of Zor's dead and garbage. There are two types: stationary carts situated on every major street where citizens can deposit their waste and roving carts mostly dealing with collecting the bodies of the dead.
Vurr Clerics – Accolades of the Free God Vurr serving as waste disposal in the City of Zor. Once maintaining constantly pyres burning everything from corpses to ordinary refuse. The city upgraded the pyres to full crematoriums. Vurr clerics smell of smoke and generally work nude, wearing only a simple cloak.
Wraith – Deep cover agents for House Aramos drawn from the elite Black Talons unit.
Yagur – Humanoid jaguars (Mawl) from the Arboro region of the Land of Mists. They are seers, healers and shamans, serving all the various Mawl races.
Yudon – Harpoon with a rifled the shaft for throwing accuracy. The standard weapon of every Sunal EEtah.
Yupik – a.k.a. the Ice Clans, one hundred and sixty-five clans divided into three major groups. The nomadic wanderers of the Western Flows compete for resources while the Ash-Ta constantly hunt them as prey. The largest group inhabits the vast Eastern Flows with semi-permanent settlements surrounding the Ice City of Mos-Agar’.
Zadim – Lapidaries operating in the Dark Waste Desert.
Zerian Rangers – Woodsmen fighters belonging to any of nine different clans occupying the forests of the Island continent of Zer in the Goyan Islands.
Zoldak Group – A private mercenary army comprised of former Black Talons of House Aramos.
Zorian Monetary Council – A ruling body founded in 3850 P.A. controlling all banking in the High Holy City of Zor. The council coordinates with the Calden Commodities exchange to regulate the exchange of money, goods and services, and uses the Quartermasters Guild for the collection of taxes and tariffs.
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