The Prey
Page 27
GRAMAGANDAR
An ancient weapon, also known as the Breath of the Wolf, the fire of which is capable of dissolving all false flesh. This weapon is anathema to all djinn and its use is forbidden. It was created and deployed by the last ur-humans, and for this crime they were destroyed, their fallen and debased descendants, the barbarian humans, banished for all time to Midgard, the place within the Barrier.
GUNGARA
Gungara form the third component of all high djinn. These gungara are winged and are used to devour and absorb the mind and tissue of enemies or other creatures in need of study and/or reanimation by means of thewurde and the shatek. Gungara were not created by ur-humans and are a prime example of djinn self-directed evolution.
HOB
It is believed that Hob is a rogue djinn who remained within the Barrier when barbarian humans were sealed within it. He preys upon humans, taking their blood and sometimes their minds. He occasionally fights withinArena 13 from the mag position.
HUMANS
Humans are the ur-race of creatures that created the language called Nym, thus constructing the first djinn and preparing the way for those which would supersede them. Outside the wurde, they are termed ur-humans,whereas their fallen and debased descendants are called barbarian humans. These latter are closest in form to the type of singletons known as lacs, though without their strength, speed and coordination. Their strengthcomes from their ability to cooperate and combine forces for a common purpose. It may also spring from the fear of death, having only one self which can easily be snuffed out in battle.
INDEX
The catalogue of lacs, souls bound within false flesh, and wurdes offered by the Trader on his twice-yearly visits to Midgard. The Index exists only within the mind of the Trader and there is no written record of itscontents.
KRANSIN
This is a substance used to coat the blades of lacs for contests in Arena 13. It is a combined coagulant and an intensifier of pain. Thus the ritual cut suffered by the loser is agonizing. That pain must be faced withcourage, as the spectators watching from the gallery judge how the losing combatant conducts himself.
LAC
This is an abbreviated form of simulacrum. Lacs are born of a shatek for the purposes of arena combat of various types. Although shaped to resemble barbarian humans, they have a throat-slit which, once penetrated bya blade, brings instant unconsciousness, the state called by the wurde endoff. They also have long arms to aid fighting in Arena 13.
LUDUSA
A type of binary djinn who share a gorestad equally. Sometimes, having no apparent connection in either appearance or role, they were created by ur-humans for the purpose of espionage.
LUPINA
A category of djinn which take on a variety of wolf shapes. Werewights are a debased and fallen form of this djinn category; they are instinctual rather than rational. However, true Lupina are the most intelligent of alldjinn.
MANUAL OF NYM, THE
A detailed guide to the patterning language known as Nym and of the wurdes contained in its two dictionaries (known as Fat Nym and Slim Nym). The latter is a basic reduced version of the former, which is continuallyextending.
MAORI
These are the ancestor gods of the Genthai, who are believed to live in the sky on a long white cloud.
MEDIE
The Medie is a small river that flows out of the Genthai lands and meets the sea not far north of the Sea Gate.
MIDGARD
From Norse mythology, it means the Place Where Men Dwell or the Battlefield of Men. It is the zone allocated to the barbarian humans, the survivors of the fallen empire.
MUSEUM OF LIGHTS
This museum is reputed to hold a record of images and items from the human civilization that preceded the Fall. Its location is unknown but some believe it is to be found within the Protector’s palace.
NEWT
An analytical wurde-tool used by an artificer to explore a wurde-matrix and, if necessary, penetrate defences set up by the original creator of that system. It is far more sophisticated than either poke or peek.
NYM
Nym evolved from a primitive patterning language called FORTH. It is the language that enabled the creation of the first djinn. All djinn are the wurde made flesh.
OBUTAYER
The Obutayer is the matriarch who rules the Genthai in times of peace. When the tribe are on a war-footing their leader is a male warrior.
OMPHALOS
This is the centre post of the Wheel. Cut from a tree of great height and girth, it is considered by some to be the very centre of Midgard and the hub of the Wolf Wheel.
OTHER
The ‘Other’ is the term used by djinn for those not numbered amongst its own selves. Only by protocol can djinn achieve cooperation. Only by combat can they know their position.
PEEK
A basic Nym wurde-tool which is used to read elements of patterns and work out how they are linked.
POKE
A basic Nym wurde-tool which is used to insert other wurdes or primitives into a pattern.
PRIMITIVES
Primitives are the building blocks from which a wurde is constructed.
PROTECTOR, THE
The ruler of Midgard. He was placed there by the djinn from beyond the Barrier and is answerable to them. His role is to keep order, and for this he has an armed guard of several thousand men who mainly confinethemselves to the city of Gindeen and the surrounding area.
Some believe that the Protector is the same one who was appointed when the Human Empire fell and the remnants were placed within the Barrier. Others believe that he is a djinni.
PROTOCOL
Protocol is the name for the rituals, both physical and of the wurde, by means of which djinn coexist without constant bloodletting. Protocol, once completed successfully, is known as a handshake.
QUEUE
This is a long sequence of wurdes held within the mind of a lac. Called by a single wurde, this can result in highly complex behaviour which has been determined in advance by the patterner.
RASIRE
A type of low-level singleton, approximately human in shape, used by other djinn as beasts of burden. Having offensive capabilities, they are also used in battle, but mostly held in reserve. They are difficult to controland are inclined to rebel against authority.
RECARDA
Recarda are warrior djinn developed by ur-humans for combat in cold climes. They have six legs and can run on ice or snow at great speed. Their triple-hinged jaws are capable of extreme leverage so that no armour isproof against them.
ROMANA
This is the name given to the Second Epoch of the Human Empire. Gladiatorial combat between djinn became the chief form of mass entertainment, and it became fashionable to associate it with the forms, names andbehaviour of an ancient primitive human nation called Rome which spoke a language known as Latin. Thus many high-born families adopted Roman names. The terms Trigladius and Gladius are typical Latinateconstructs.
SECOND INSURRECTION
The Second Insurrection was a co-ordinated surprise attack upon humans by all djinn. Human civilization fell, but a few thousand survivors were allowed to live and breed within a specially designated area surroundedby a Barrier. This reserve was designated Midgard.
SELF
A sentient component of a djinni; it is a host of false flesh born of a shatek.
SHALATAN
A second-rank djinni just below an asscka. The number of a shalatan is 713 and it has only one large shatek. Consequently, it takes time to regenerate selves slain in battle. This military djinni, created to wage war, isalways ruled by a self which takes the human female form. If favoured, such a ruler becomes the concubine of an asscka. A shalatan has great skill in generating selves to perform particular tasks. One such self is knownas a peri, which functions as ambassador to other djinn. A peri is skilled in understanding the ‘Other’ and is proficient in languages.
SHAPE-
SHIFTERS
This is a category to which all high djinn belong. To change the form of a self takes time, ranging from hours to weeks depending upon the degree of change required. Preceding this process, high intakes of food arenecessary, the most useful being blood taken directly from living creatures. The more usual method of shape-shifting is through use of the wurde and the shatek to generate selves for particular tasks.
SHATEK
A shatek is the mother of a djinni. The midwife is a Nym artificer who shapes the offspring using wurdes of Nym.
SINGLETON
A singleton is a djinni with only one self. This is the lowest form, a being superior to the barbarian human only in speed, strength and reflexes. Yet some singletons have great intellectual capacity and can, by disciplinedstudy of the wurde elevate themselves to higher forms. A sub-form of singleton is known as a lac.
STACK
The stack is a defensive tri-glad tactic in which the human combatant is sandwiched between two defending lacs which rotate like a wheel according to the dictates of combat.
The stack is also the term for a sequence of Nym code to which a patterner might add or subtract. New code is always placed at the summit of a stack.
SYCODA
These are djinn with multiple selves but a limited capacity to generate more. They are shape-shifters and have skills which make them good interrogators. Spying and torture are their main functions. Hob belongs to thiscategory.
TASSELS
This is the name given to those who dwell on the fringes of Hob’s citadel and sometimes within it, serving his needs. Some are related to Hob’s victims and serve him hoping for news of their loved ones; some belong toa cult which worships Hob, hoping that one day he will return their wives, daughters or sons to them in perfect new bodies. Others are spies who scratch out a living by supplying Hob with information or acting as go-betweens in contacts with certain citizens of Gindeen.
It is the behaviour of this last group which resulted in the name tassels, which are fringed knots on the hem of Hob’s cloak. The name was given in mockery because they are a fallen and degraded group, but the ideaof knots is appropriate because they are also part of the tangle of conspiracy and counter-conspiracy as the various groups within Midgard struggle to achieve their goals.
TESTIMONY OF MATH, THE
A book written by Math, the hero of Arena 13. It documents his early training and deals at length with each of his contests against the djinni Hob.
TRADER
The Trader is Midgard’s only source of lacs and new wurdes of Nym to enhance the patterning of lacs. He usually visits the Sea Gate twice a year: before the season begins and then halfway through it.
TRIGLADIUS
This is fought within Arena 13, the highest level of combat within the Wheel. Three lacs face a lone lac in a contest where victory results from the spilling of human blood. A human combatant stands behind the three inwhat is known as the ‘mag’ position; his opponent stands behind the lone lac in the ‘min’ position. They present themselves as targets for their opponent’s lacs. Victory is marked by a ritual cut to the arm of the defeatedcombatant. Although the intention is not to kill, accidents do happen. In addition, grudge matches are fought which end in the decapitation of the loser.
ULUM
This is a sound-code used within the Trigladius Arena to communicate with and direct a lac, delivered by taps of the combatant’s boots on the arena floor. Each combatant develops his own version of Ulum and keeps ita secret.
WEREWIGHT
This is a creature with four selves but a high mind. Three take the form of wolves, but the fourth stands upright and is a mixture of human and wolf. The Genthai fight this creature in ritual combat every thirteen years.Some believe it to be a type of fallen, degraded djinn. Others think this might well have been the origin of Trigladius combat in Arena 13.
WHEEL
The Wheel is situated in the barbarian human city of Gindeen, within the Barrier. It is a building where gladiatorial contests take place between lacs. It has thirteen combat zones, and the highest and most skilful of theseis the Trigladius, which is also known as Arena 13.
WHEEL DIRECTORATE
The Directorate has a membership of five, composed of representatives of the gambling houses and headed by Pyncheon, the Chief Marshal. Its primary jurisdiction is over the Wheel, but it has wider legal powers. In thecity of Gindeen it is second only to the Protector, but concentrates mostly on the business of the Wheel. For example, a killing in the streets in which a combatant or ex-combatant is involved would fall under its remit.
WURDE
The wurde is the basic unit within the ancient patterning language called Nym. Wurdes contain other wurdes, and to call one wurde is to call all that is embedded within it, both manifest and hidden.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Joseph Delaney is a retired English teacher. He has three children and nine grandchildren and is a wonderful public speaker available for conference, library and bookshop events. His home is in the middle of Boggartterritory and his village has a boggart called the Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church.
Most of the places in the Spook’s books are based on real places in Lancashire. And the inspiration behind the stories often comes from local ghost stories and legends.
Also by Joseph Delaney
THE SPOOK’S SERIES
The Spook’s Apprentice
The Spook’s Curse
The Spook’s Secret
The Spook’s Battle
The Spook’s Mistake
The Spook’s Sacrifice
The Spook’s Nightmare
The Spook’s Destiny
I Am Grimalkin
The Spook’s Blood
Slither’s Tale
Alice
The Spook’s Revenge
The Spook’s Stories: Witches
The Spook’s Bestiary
The Seventh Apprentice
A New Darkness
The Dark Army
THE ARENA 13 SERIES
Arena 13
The Prey
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First published Red Fox, 2016
This ebook published 2016
Text copyright © Joseph Delaney, 2016
Cover illustration copyright © James Fraser, 2016
The moral right of the author has been asserted
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978–1–448–19535–0
All correspondence to:
RHCP Digital
Penguin Random House Children’s
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL
Table of Contents
RULES OF COMBAT
PRIMARY RULES
SPECIAL RULES
SECONDARY RULES
PROLOGUE
THE MIDGARD GLOSSARY
ABOUT THE AUTHOR