Awakening
The process whereby a person is given the potential to connect with the consciousness and power of Īa, as well as gaining the ability to access the unbroken line of their Ancestors in living memory. An Awakened rahn is able to affect the weather, see and hear vast distances, increase the speed crops grow, see through the eyes of birds and beasts, etc in their Prefecture. The process is solidified, and made stable, through the drinking of the Water of Life in the Communion Ritual, and the process of Unity.
Catechism
The governing body of the witches, represented by the Mother Superiors and Father Superiors of the various covens. The Catechism works closely with the ruling class of the Golden Kingdom of Manté and is reputed to have significant influence in setting policy across the Human nations of the Iron League.
Communion
The ritual whereby a rahn, who has passed the Sēq testing for their
Ritual
eligibility, enters the Ancestor’s Heart under World Blood Mountain and drinks the Water of Life.
Daikajé
Travelling warrior-ascetics, thinkers and monks of the various orders of philosophy across South Eastern Īa.
Daimahjin
A warrior-mage who is no longer a member of the Order that trained them. Such people have been released from service and given the freedom to exercise their skills on behalf of suitable employers, though are forbidden to pass on their teachings to others. Most are also highly sought after nahdi.
Daul
An esoteric pain amplifier and concussion weapon favoured by Sēq Inquisitors.
Dhar Gsenni
From the High Avan term for the good of all, the Dhar Gsenni are an ancient sect of Ilhennim that work within the Sēq.
Dionesqa
High Avān word meaning ‘great wave.’ From dion (great) and esqa (wave). The name for the Pashrean and Shrīanese recurved double-handed sword. It is a rare weapon, generally used by select members of the heavy infantry trained in its use.
Disentropic
The discoloration of an Ilhennim’s aura as the result of their
Stain
training.
Disentropy
The power of creation, manipulated by scholars using the formulae of the ahmsah, or by witches using their own arcanum. The use of disentropy is known to cause rapid decay of those materials that it comes in contact with, including living flesh. Metals that decay slowly are generally used in the construction of arcane devices powered by disentropy.
Drear, the
The darkest and most malign depths and reaches of the ahmtesh. Source of dark desires and dreams, as well as the dwelling place of ancient beings from the old world. A place where one forgets all the good things about themselves, and sees only the dark, bitter, melancholy that pooled in the most hidden depths of the soul.
Ebrim
Nomads who take artificial simulacra in which to interact with the world.
Ephael
The purest of the Nomads, who exist as pure spirit.
Ephim
Nomads who exist symbiotically with a host.
Eshim
Nomads who take possession of others against their will.
Esoteric Doctrines
Various schools that articulate how the Ilhennim perceive and stimulate natural energy to supernatural outcomes.
Exalted Name
Famous people who have gained a name, epithet, or other title as the result of their actions.
Extrinsic Precept
Within the Esoteric Doctrines, a method of mysticism that uses external forces as a conduit. The method has little restraint, or control, and is not as reliable as the Intrinsic Precept.
Fayaadahat
Books of Sēq mystic teachings.
Font, the
Central point from which the ahm flows. Theorised by scholars to be the centre of all the worlds in space and time.
Gnostic Assassins
A group of highly trained assassins of the Mar am’a Din. Highly sought after as killers for hire, the Gnostic Assassins are taught a series of physical, mental, and other disciplines which makes them formidable spies and killers. Also known as the Ishahayans.
Grieve, the
Also known as the Erebon-sûk, or the Stallion School of warrior-poetry. Currently under the governance of Master Delfyne of the Zam’Haja.
Habron-sûk
The Heron School of warrior-poets of Avānweh. Currently under the governance of Master Nirén.
Hazhi’shi
The complex language of the Dragons.
Houreh
Versatile entertainer companions.
Huqdi
From the High Avān term, street dog. The huqdi are generally common bravos, freebooters and soldiers of fortune, sometimes criminals, without the sense of professional ethics of a nahdi.
Ilhennim
The illuminated, a general term used to describe the various types of mystic.
Intrinsic Precept
Within the Esoteric Doctrines, the way power is channelled, focussed, and exercised from within. Based on the repeatable, predictable effects of formulae.
Ishahayans
Gnostic Assassins.
Jhah
High Avān word for Master.
Jhi
The stigma which identifies the most powerful of mystics. It is a physical phenomenon which appears when their power is used to a greater degree.
Jombe
Tau-se warrior who has chosen to travel beyond the protection and guidelines of their tribe. Generally outcasts who have committed crimes of honour, in search of redemption.
Jûresqa
High Avān word meaning ‘short wave.’ From jûr (short) and esqa (wave). The name for the Pashrean and Shrīanese recurved short sword.
Kaj
High Avān word for soul.
Kaj-adept
A scholar who has mastered a suite of complex spiritual disciplines.
Karia, the
The elite military force of Mediin, comprised of both living and Nomad warrior-poets, warrior-mages and other soldiers.
Kherife
An enforcer of the law.
Khopesh
The long Tau-se sickle sword.
Kirion
A rare metal smelted from meteors, also called star metal. It is usually black in colour, shot through with a rainbow hue when seen in direct sunlight.
Krysesqa
High Avān word meaning ‘quick wave’. From krys (quick) and esqa (wave). The name for the Pashrean and Shrīanese recurved long-knife.
Lament, the
Also referred to as the Näsé-sûk, or the Phoenix School of warrior-poets, from Narsis in Näsarat Prefecture. Currently under the governance of Master Bensaharēn of the Näsarin.
Lion Guard
The elite Tau-se companies in service to the Great House of Näsarat.
Lore Master
A mystic who has been appointed to a Great House or Family as advisor to a mahj, rahn or sayf. Traditionally Lore Masters have been members of the Sēq Order of Scholars, though it is not unheard of for Zienni Scholars, Nilvedic Scholars or witches to assume the role.
Magistratum
Senior officials who represent the holistic interests of the Crown and State, led by the various Officers Marshall. The Magistratum is a neutral body, with a number of portfolios created to represent the common good, each managed by a senior officer. Examples of portfolios in the Magistratum include education, law, the military, finance, trade, etc.
Mahj
An Awakened emperor, generally one who is a fully trained Sēq Scholar. The last Mahj was Mahj-Näsarat fe Malde-ran, currently known as the Empress-in-Shadows, in Mediin.
Mahjin
Title or honorific given to one of the Ilhennim. Usually only used by scholars.
Mahjirahn
A rahn who is also a trained mystic. These were quite common in the Awakened Empire where the Mahj was also a fully trained s
cholar, generally of the Sēq Order.
Mah-Psésahen
A dead school of the Esoteric Doctrines, which sought to teach higher mental functions without the need for disentropy.
Mahsayf
A Coven trained witch who is the leader of a Family.
Maladhoring
The arcane language of the Elemental Masters.
Marmûn
The elite warriors of the Rōmarq and Bey Prefecture. Most are graduates of the Marmûn-sûk.
Marmûn-sûk
The Marsh Hawk School of warrior-poets, from Bey Prefecture. Currently under the governance of Master Indera.
Master of Arms
The highest ranking military officer and strategist in a Great House or Family.
Master of Assassins
The commander of the assassins assigned to a Great House, or Family. This role will include the responsibilities of the Master of Spies.
Master of Spies
The commander of the spies assigned to a Great House, or Family. Generally used when a House or Family does not usually have assassins in their permanent employ.
Master of the Fleet
The highest ranking naval officer of a Great House, or Family.
Master of House
The role of managing all the financial , mercantile and other administrative tasks required to run a Great House, or Family. Quite often the role is also that of Secretary to a rahn, or sayf. Sometimes the role also assumes the responsibilities of a rajir.
Nahdi
From the High Avān word meaning iron dog, a nahdi is the name for a mercenary or other professional soldier unaffiliated with a Great House or Family. Nahdi generally operate with a strict code of professional ethics.
Näsé-sûk
Also known as the Lament.
Nayu-adept
A scholar who has mastered a suite of complex physical disciplines.
Nemembe
Tau-se belief that a person gets back from the world threefold what they give it, both in kindness as well as suffering.
Nemhoureh
Gold Companion of the House of Pearl. A prized courtesan and entertainer who engages only with the upper castes and the most affluent members of society.
Nomad
The Avan term for the undead.
Officers Marshall
The most senior officials in the Magiustratum. Some are representatives from the Hundred Families or the Great Houses, though many are representatives from the merchante-caste, warrior-caste or the freehold-caste which inclides artisans, farmers and other trades people.
Pah
High Avān word for the child of a rahn.
Pahavān
The highest ranking members of the Avān in a country where there are no Awakened rahns.
Poet Master
The head of a Poet Master academy, teaching the ancient arts of the warrior-poet.
Prefect
The appointed ruler of a city. A Prefect is always a rahn, or sayf, where the title is inherited. Where a Great House or Family is Exiled, or otherwise removed from the roles, a new Prefect from a different House or Family will be appointed.
Psé
High Avān word for mind.
Psé-adept
A scholar who has mastered a suite of complex mental disciplines.
Psédari
High Avān word meaning mind blade. From psé (mind) and dari (blade). Used by some Sēq Knights and Sēq Masters who have the skills and disciplines for creating such weapons. A psédari can only be wielded by the person who made it.
Pséja
The marriage of minds, used by mystics to work in concert and maximise effectiveness.
Qua
Also referred to as the Font.
Rahn
Leader of one of the Great Houses. A member of the royal-caste.
Rajir
Closest advisor to a rahn, or sayf. Usually a Lore Master, Master of Arms, Master of Spies or other senior officer in a household.
Rōm
The Time Masters, a long declined civilisation which predates the Elemental Masters. They are known only through the minimal footprint of relics and ruins found on Īa.
Sahai
High Avān word for teacher.
Saidani-sûk
The Four Swords warrior-poet academy of Sûn Prefecture. Currently under the governance of Master Jarrah.
Sayf
Leader of one of the Hundred Families. A member of the elite-caste.
Sende
The collection of policies, codes, measures, and other behaviors that the Avān use to regulate their social interactions.
Sēq, the
Scholastic order that teaches a combination of physical, mental and spiritual disciplines.
Serill
The drake fired glass of the Seethe. Serill is lighter and harder than steel and can be made into almost any shape. Often coloured, serill is popular with the Seethe in the making of armour and weapons.
Shamshir
The typical weapon of the Avān. It is a long, single edged curved weapon with a hilt long enough to use in either one or two hands.
Shan
The unofficial title used by the heads of influential tribes or clans. Generally used by the mountain peoples of the Mar Jihara, the Mar Ejir, the Mar Siliin, the Mar am’a Din, and the Mar Shalon. It is also sometimes used by affluent families with a military tradition. Generally members of the warrior-caste.
Sifr Hazhi
The collected mystic teachings of the Dragons.
Speaker for the People
The third highest ranking person in Shrīan, elected as the voice of the State, as opposed to being a representative of the Crown. In some cases, a rahn will be elected to this role, though their mandate is to serve the will of the people.
Sûk
A school.
Teshri
The government leaders, representatives of the Crown and State. Members of the Teshri are sayfs and rahns, though senior members of influential consortiums are also appointed such the leaders of the House of Pearl, the Banker’s House, the Mercantile Guild, Alchemists Guild, etc.
Unity
The process whereby an Awakened rahn travels their prefecture, communing with the consciousness of Īa. Successful Unity provides the Awakened rahn with the ability to share, harness and leverage from the vast natural forces of Īa.
Vayen-sûk
The Lotus School of the warrior-poets, from Myr in Selassin Prefecture. Currently under the governance of Master Tarshin.
Yourdin
The elite heavy infantry of the Great House of Kadarin.
Warrior-poet
Arguably the most dangerous weapon masters in the world, a warrior-poet is trained in various weapons, strategies, unarmed combat and military history and philosophy. They are also trained in the creative arts of writing, poetry, painting, sculpting, etc as a means to off-set the violence of their core teaching and to gain an understanding of the value of life. A warrior-poet lives according to the tenet ‘the one will fight, so the many do not have to.’
Water of Life
Also known as the World Blood, the Water of Life is a rare and vital source of water, enriched with a high content of disentropy from where it has flowed through areas where the border between the physical world of Īa, and the ahmtesh, are tenuous.
Witch
The first group of the Ilhennim, mystics who are able to harness a vast array of natural forces to affect a supernatural outcome. A more dangerous, and less predictable, set of practices than those used by scholars. The first scholastic orders were created by witches.
The Obsidian Heart Page 48