by E G Manetti
o Driver Mr. George
Seigneur Marco – Blooded Dagger Special Projects
Seigneur Rachelle – Serengeti & Blooded Dagger Research & Development
o Protégé Irina
o Apprentice Chrys
o Senior Associate Simon
o Associate Magnus - Synthetics
Master Associate Trevelyan – Security & Privilege for Cartouche
Seigneur Hadrian - Cartouche Financials *
GREY SPEAR CARTOUCHE – LOGISTICS & DISTRIBUTION
Monsignor Sebastian Mehta – Preeminence of Grey Spear *
o Protégé Martin Argon
Seigneur Damocles – Serengeti & Grey Spear Security & Privilege *
Seigneur Thorvald – Serengeti Training & Militia
Associate Roger Macomber – sycophant to Martin Argon
Associate Ann Hunter – sycophant to Martin Argon
Associate Shoshanna Leovtali – sycophant to Martin Argon
IRON HAMMER CARTOUCHE – CONTROLLER MANUFACTURING
Mon. Elenora Odestil – Preeminence of Iron Hammer *
Seigneur Herman – Legalistics Lead Cartel & Cartouche/Socraide *
SERENGETI
Associate Master Straus
o Cartel Apprentice Rebecca – Data encryption and communications
o Cartel Apprentice Clarice - Legalistics
Archive Master Liger
Crevasse City
Helena Faesetili, Lilian’s mother and Sinead’s Seer
Katleen Faesetili, Lilian’s sister
Lady Estella, Lucius’ wife
Socraide’s Keeper Virgil *
*Referenced
Glossary of the Twelve Systems
A
Adelaide Warleader: See Warleader, Adelaide.
Acolyte: Junior prelate.
Anarchy: Three centuries of warfare that almost destroyed the Three Systems that are the foundation of the Twelve Systems.
B
Ben Claude, Rimon: The Second Warrior. His dominion was the two habitable planets of the Second System.
C
Cartel: A powerful commercial interest that controls a significant aspect of commerce to the exclusion of all others.
Cartouche (singular/plural): The device or ‘coat of arms’ representing a warrior ‘family.’ A warrior family that can create ranked members also known as ‘seigneurs.’
1. Cohort: A commerce enterprise that controls a particular industry or market in a geographical region or stellar system. Example: Agri-cohorts dominate the agrarian enterprises in specific systems. No single Agri-cohort controls sufficient systems to dominate the entire industry as would a cartel.
Consortium: Association of individuals or enterprises assembled for a specific commerce endeavor.
Crevasse (singular/plural): A deep fissure or canyon from which Vistrite is mined.
Crevasse-crawler: Terrier sized rodent resident in the crevasse.
Crevasse-wallower: Chemically addicted inhabitants of the crevasse.
D
Discipline Master: Prelate skilled in the martial discipline of the Warrior Sect.
Doxy: Sex worker. Derogatory.
F
Final Draught: Lethal poison administered for execution of criminals.
Five Warriors: The deities of the Twelve Systems they were five warlords who 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: 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. A ‘ranked’ warrior is part of the small group that controls the commercial interests that control the Twelve Systems.
Shade: Spirit. 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 for a given sect. The office is determined by commercial rank. Alternatively, Lord or Lady Patron.
Shade-Ridden: Deranged through service to the Shades of the Five Warriors.
Shrine: Place of worship dedicated to one of the Five Warriors.
Shrine Keeper: The senior prelate of a particular shrine.
Signet: 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 advance technology in the Twelve Systems.
U
Universalist: Follower of the Universal Way.
Universal Way: 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 Olmsted’s consort and possible spouse.
Warrior: Dominant class in the Twelve Systems, its members can prove direct genetic descent from the Five Warriors and their retainers.
Warrior Litany: Popular prayer it is 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.
Warrior Ring: Arrangement of shrines in a ring that includes all Five Warriors.
Warrior Sect: Short form, Sect. The spiritual institution dedicated to one of the Five Warriors.
Warrior Sect Chapter: Short form, Sect Chapter or Chapter. A subset of a Warrior Sect; commonly defined by system. Example: Socraide’s Third System Chapter.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Prologue
Cha
pter 1: The Cartel
Chapter 2: The Penthouse
Chapter 3: Correction
Chapter 4: Disdain
Chapter 5: Fraud
Chapter 6: Seventh Day
Chapter 7: Scoring
Chapter 8: Intrigue
Chapter 9: Red Ear Gems
Chapter 10: Synthetics
Chapter 11: Contrition
Chapter 12: Counterfeiters
Chapter 13: Cartouche and Cartel
Chapter 14: Trials and Taunts
Chapter 15: Traitor
Chapter 16: Settlement Day
Chapter 17: The Household of a Seer
Chapter 18: Ritual and Protocol
Chapter 19: Caning and Assault
Chapter 21: Conservator Status
Coming in 2013– Bright Star
List of Characters
Glossary of the Twelve Systems