Bright Star
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Consortium: An association of individuals or enterprises assembled for a specific commerce endeavor.
Crevasse (singular/plural): The deep fissures or canyons from which Vistrite is mined.
Crevasse-crawler: A terrier-sized rodent that resides in the Crevasse.
Crevasse-wallower: A chemically addicted inhabitant of the Crevasse.
~D~
Discipline Master: A prelate skilled in the martial discipline of a Warrior Sect.
Doxy: A sex worker (derogatory).
~F~
Final Draught: The lethal poison administered for the execution of criminals.
Five Warriors: The deities of the Twelve Systems. These five warlords rose to prominence in the final years of the Anarchy and established order. See Order of the Five Warriors.
(The) Fifth Warrior: See Standingbear, Sinead.
(The) First Warrior: See Omsted, Socraide.
(The) Fourth Warrior: See Metricelli, Jonathan.
~J~
Jonathan Metricelli: See Metricelli, Jonathan.
~K~
Keeper: See Shrine Keeper.
~M~
Metricelli, Jonathan: The Fourth Warrior. His dominion was Metricelli Prime and Deuce in the Third System—the Vistrite worlds. After the Order of the Five Warriors was established, Jonathan added Desperation in the Sixth System to his holdings. It is the only other Vistrite world in the Twelve Systems.
Monsignor: The dominant seigneur of a cartouche. The monsignor controls and directs the cartouche. Only the monsignor can license a new seigneur.
Mulan Tsao: See Tsao, Mulan.
~O~
Omsted, Socraide: The First Warrior. His dominion was three of the four habitable planets in the First System. His obsession with Adelaide Warleader turned the Three Systems from anarchy to order.
Order of the Five Warriors: The Twelve Systems’ structure of law and custom. It is based on the Code of Engagement and governing protocols as established by the Five Warriors in the final years of the Anarchy.
~R~
Rimon Ben Claude: See Ben Claude, Rimon.
~S~
Sect: See Warrior Sect.
Sect Chapter: See Warrior Sect Chapter.
(The) Second Warrior: See Ben Claude, Rimon.
Seer: A seer of visions sent by one or more of the Shades.
Seigneur: The elite of the elite. These ranked warriors form the small group that governs the commercial interests that control the Twelve Systems.
Shade: A spirit or ghost.
(The) Shades: The manifestations of the Five Warriors and Adelaide.
Shade Prelate: Senior Prelate for a Warrior Sect. Alternate: Lord or Lady Prelate.
Shade Patron: The secular authority of a specific sect. The office is determined by commercial rank. Alternate: Lord or Lady Patron.
Shade-ridden: Deranged through service to the Shades of the Five Warriors.
Shade-touched: Exceptionally gifted or mildly physic due to a gift from the Shades of the Five Warriors.
Shrine: A place of worship dedicated to one of the Five Warriors.
Shrine Keeper: The senior prelate of a particular shrine.
Signet: A symbol of rank. A seigneur’s signet is a gold oval the size of an adult thumb. It is incised or inlaid with the symbol of the seigneur’s cartouche. A monsignor’s signet is platinum, indicating the ability to create or destroy seigneurs.
Socraide Omsted: See Omsted, Socraide.
Standingbear, Sinead: The Fifth Warrior. Her dominion was the one non-Vistrite world in the Third System.
~T~
(The) Third Warrior: See Tsao, Mulan.
Tsao, Mulan: The Third Warrior. Her dominion was Artesia, a planet in the First System.
(The) Twelve Systems: A technologically advanced society dominated by powerful commercial interests.
~V~
Vistrite: A naturally occurring semi-liquid crystal that is essential to all advanced technology in the Twelve Systems.
~U~
Universalist: A follower of the Universal Way.
Universal Way: A remnant of the spiritual discipline of the enlightened society that preceded the Anarchy. A minor segment of Twelve Systems’ society, the Universalists challenge many warrior beliefs.
~W~
Warleader, Adelaide: Ancient hero. During the Anarchy, she was Jonathan Metricelli’s chief retainer and possible consort. During the early years of the Order of the Five Warriors, she was Socraide Omsted’s consort and possible spouse.
Warrior: The dominant class in the Twelve Systems. Its members can prove direct genetic descent from the Five Warriors and their retainers.
Warrior Litany: A popular prayer commonly considered to have its origin in Jonathan’s Metricelli’s warrior code. The sect of Sinead Standingbear contends that the origin is with the Fifth Warrior due to its references to ‘ancestors.’ Sinead was the only one of the Five Warriors descended from the pre-Anarchy rulers of the Three Systems.
Warriors’ Queue: Hairstyle where the hair is pulled tight to the head and arranged in a tail down the back. A hair style common in martial arts training and combat.
Warrior Ring: An arrangement of shrines in a ring that includes all Five Warriors.
Warrior Sect: A spiritual institution dedicated to one of the Five Warriors. Short form: sect.
Warrior Sect Chapter: A subset of a Warrior Sect, commonly defined by system. Example: Socraide’s Third System chapter. Short form: sect chapter or chapter.
Acknowledgements
This novel would never have made it to publication without the support of my dear husband, Mike Courts. Thank you to Carolyn Manetti at CommonMarket Films for her brilliant insights into story telling; to Jim O’Connor Photography for the cover photo and design; and Elizabeth Nover at Razor Sharp Editing for putting the commas where they belong.
About the Author
The Twelve Systems Chronicles are EG’s first published works. She works in IT and writes as often as possible. When neither goes well, she cooks exceptionally and gardens adequately. EG resides on the East Coast of the USA with her beloved (and often confounded) husband and their severely OCD Jack Russell Terrier.
Table of Contents
Prologue – The Twelve Systems
List of Characters
1. Shrine Beggar
2. Bright Star
3. Odds Management
4. Shades’ Grace
5. Governance and Intrigue
6. Warrior Pride
7. Canon Recitation
8. Recovery
9. The Luck of the First
10. Formation Plans
11. Milord’s Will
12. The Consortium
13. Correction
14. Traps and Triumphs
15. Changing Seasons
16. A Thorn in Sebastian’s Side
17. Revelations
18. Respite
19. Governance
20. Preeminence
21. The Five Warriors’ Festival
22. Festival Brawl
23. Warrior Signet
24. Ravens and Warriors
25. Wagers and Traitors
26. Warbelt
Transgressions: The Apprentice, Volume 3
The Apprentice Protocol
Devotional Litanies
Glossary of the Twelve Systems
Acknowledgements
About the Author