The Accidental Archmage

by Edmund A. M. Batara

  “Welcome to Adar. Dumping ground of our non-monotheistic gods and beings, beasts, and creatures of all kinds. A repository of magical and esoteric learning, a wondrous and perilous world.”

  – the Gothi of Maljen (TAA, Book I)

  Adar – Fictional? The world where the epic takes place. The name itself is Sumerian in origin and also refers to a month in their calendar. A twin of Earth, born of the echo of the primordial explosion which created the universe. Unlike Earth, however, it had not undergone tectonic upheavals and retained a Pangea-like form.

  It is said that they were the first civilization in our recorded history to settle this world. Well, my guess would be that explains why they got naming rights. But from what is recorded, they thought this world was a part of Earth. Why they named this place Adar is beyond me. It’s the name of a month on their calendar. It could be the time when they first arrived. Unfortunately, even if I were back on Earth, I wouldn’t be able to get the true meaning of the word. Scholars of my time never had a Sumerian dictionary. Even if it is the oldest known language, distinct and separate from the Assyrian and Babylonian languages. Adar is a world. A planet. From my readings and other information, its land area is immense. Nobody has mapped it yet. So, I have no idea where the other visitors from Earth are. Or how many there are. Curiously, the deities refuse to provide information about the planetary land masses. Or even the names or nature of other civilizations we haven’t discovered or have not been in contact yet. Adar appears to have a single massive continent, with numerous islands around it. I hear some of these islands are also continental in scale.”

  – The Gothi of Maljen (TAA, Book I)

  Aesir – Norse mythology. Another group of gods associated with the Nordic pantheon. After a war with the Vanir, the Aesir became part of the Vanir. (TAA, Book I)

  Aettir – Old Norse. Meaning “families.” In Norse mythology, nature spirits, like humans, also have clans and families. (TAA, Book I)

  Akrotiri – Greek/Minoan. The name of a Minoan settlement on the Greek island of Santorini. Destroyed by a volcanic eruption around 1600 B.C. In the story, the name of an Ionian city. (TAA, Book II)

  Alfar – As used in the story, short for “Alfheimr.” Meaning “light elves.” (TAA, Book I)

  Alfheimr – Old Norse. Meaning “light elves.” (TAA, Book I)

  Algeir – Old Norse. A particular kind of deadly polearm similar to a halberd. (TAA, Book I)

  Antistrophe – Greek. A stanza in ancient Greek dramas, usually tragedies, where the chorus moves in a direction opposite the one they took during the strophe. (TAA, Book II)

  Anyas – Quechua word meaning “a skunk.” (TAA, Book III)

  Archiereus – Greek. Meaning “high priest.” (TAA, Book II)

  Archigos – Greek. Meaning “leader.” (TAA, Book III)

  Aptrgangr – Norse. Meaning “again-walker,” its plural form is aptrganga. More commonly known as draugr (plural form “draugar”), it refers to a kind of undead creature in Norse mythology. There are sea and land aptrgangr. The modern equivalent of the term would be a revenant since they are known to stay in tombs to guard wealth interred with the dead though the creatures are said to have the ability to venture from such places. Some beliefs hold that a bite from an aptrgangr will turn the victim into one of them. (TAA, Book III)

  Apuskispay – Quechua. Meaning “the head of an army.” (TAA, Book III)

  Aztecah – Nahuatl. The word “Aztecah” is the plural of the word “aztecalt”. Now anglicized as “Aztec”, the term actually applies to a group of allied city-states who formed the Aztec Triple Alliance. Variations on the word exist such as Aztecha and Aztecan. (TAA, Book II). The term also means “people from Aztlan”. At times, the more common word “Aztec” will be used to refer to the Aztecah. This story adopts the Nahualt version as the name of the Aztec Empire. (TAA, Book III)

  Aztecah Empire – Properly referred to as the Triple Alliance, the Aztec empire on Earth was one of the largest during its time. Created from an alliance of three city-states, it dominated that part of the world. However, some argue that in terms of territory, the Incan Empire was bigger. By the time the Aztecs were established on Adar, the alliance of peoples from three city-states had grown to a confederation of five nations. It now included their erstwhile enemies, the Tarascans, and the Tlaxcalteca. Other Mesoamerican tribes who found themselves in the strange realm became tributaries of the new empire. Fear of an unknown new world does make strange bedfellows. The new alliance was still dominated by the Tenochtitlan elite, though tribal distinctions have already been eroded by intermarriages and a common religious belief. The Aztecah dominated the southeastern part of Adar (TAA, Book III)

  Aztlan – Nahuatl. The term refers to the legendary home region of the Aztecs. According to myth, the term means “paradise” but there are other opinions on the matter. Even the location of Aztlan is a debated topic among scholars. The Aztecs, according to legend, were originally a grouping of seven tribes. Used in this story to refer to the primary territorial region of the Aztecah Empire. (TAA, Book III)

  Bakhold – Old Norse. Meaning “ambush.” (TAA, Book I)

  Barren Lands, The – Fictional. A vast, desolate and dangerous area in the middle of the continent. Rumored to be the site of an ancient but mysterious civilization which predated the arrival of deities on Adar. (TAA, Book I)

  Battle chants – Discussed in reference to the Aztecah warriors. It is not known whether the Aztecs used battle chants, but they have been recorded to rush into battle shouting the names of the places where they came from. (TAA, Book III)

  Batur – Old Norse. Meaning “a boat.” Also used to refer to a fighting unit of thirty-six to forty men. (TAA, Book I)

  Bastjan – Old Proto-Germanic. Meaning “binding, tie.” One theory holds that the term Bastarnae is derived from the word. The Bastarnae (a word of Greek or Latin origin) refers to an ancient people who occupied parts of modern-day Russia down to Eastern Europe. They comprise many tribes such as the Sidoni, the Peucini and a host of other groups. (TAA, Book III)

  Belfry – Clarification. Siege towers, or breaching towers as some call them, are also referred to as belfries. The term describes the enclosed and protected housing at the top of the siege equipment. (TAA, Book I)

  Bergbui – Old Norse. Literally “rock-dweller.” A kind of landvaetter which likes to make its abode in mountains and rocky terrain. (TAA, Book I)

  Bildsfell – Fictional. A town in Skaney near Scarburg. Sacked by Ymir’s forces (TAA, Book I)

  Birds of Ares – Greek. Mythical birds with arrows for the wing feathers. Mentioned in the legend of the Quest for the Golden Fleece. (TAA, Book II)

  Braves of the Pharaoh – An elite warrior group in the Pharaoh’s army, usually retained as royal bodyguards. (TAA, Book III)

  Bunchum – Another Arabic word “coffee.” Derived from the ancient Ethiopian word for the coffee plant (bun or bunno). It is believed that the coffee plant itself is indigenous to Ethiopia and Yemen. (TAA, Book I)

  Cahokia – Term used to refer to the site of a pre-Columbian Native American civilization found near St. Louis, Missouri. The original name of the inhabitants, as well as that of the city, are unknown. It was abandoned sometime during the 13th century. It was called Cahokia after the Native American tribe which moved to the area around the 17th century. For this story, the civilization as found on Adar is also called Cahokia. The reason for this will be revealed in a later Arc. (TAA, Book I)

  Champions of the Oak – Fictional. A group of warriors who have pledged themselves to Thor. (TAA, Book I)

  Chasqui – Quechua. A term for “royal messenger.” (TAA, Book III)

  Chavin – Another South American civilization considered to be the most advanced during its time (900-100 B.C.). (TAA, Book III)

  Chicha – A South American fermented or non-fermented beverage. Made from corn, fruit, or maize. The way it is made vary from region to region. (TAA, Book II)

  Chicimeca – Nah
uatl. Meaning “barbarian, foreign, or uncivilized.” (TAA, Book III)

  Chimaira – Greek. The term means “she-goat.” Anglicized as “chimera” or “chimaera”, it is usually depicted as a hybrid of several animals, usually a lion, a goat, and a snake. However, other variations may exist and the term is now also used to refer to a fictional animal made up of parts from various beasts. The classic depiction of a chimera comes from its earliest mention in Homer’s writings. Homer’s version breathes fire. What Mr. West faced was one of Homer’s version. (TAA, Book II)

  Chiton – Classical Greek. A simple linen tunic worn by both men and women. Tubular in design, it is secured by fasteners along the shoulders and upper arms. Typically reaching down to the ankles of the wearer though shorter chitons are also available (TAA, Book I). Worn by men in Ancient Greece, there were two kinds, the Doric, which is simpler and had no sleeves, and the longer Ionic chiton. (TAA, Book II)

  Chlamys – Ancient Greek. A rectangular piece of cloth usually worn as a cloak. Fastened at the right shoulder. (TAA, Book II)

  Chontalli – Nahuatl. A foreigner. (TAA, Book III)

  Cortana – Greek/Pelasgian word though it has Albanian roots. The name of an ancient city in Tuscany, Italy, believed to have been founded by the Pelasgians. In the story, it is the name of a prosperous settlement near the Barren Lands, in an area settled by the Pelasgians. (TAA, Book II)

  Creating a Fiery Effect on a Desired Area Subject to Given Parameters – Fictional. The Elder description of a fireball spell. (TAA, Book I)

  Crucible steel – A particular kind of steel made out of iron and other materials. Challenging to forge even with modern methods. But a few swords dating back to the Viking Era have been discovered to have been made from this material. (TAA, Book I)

  Cthulhu Mythos, The – Public Domain. Some phrases and creations have been trademarked for use in game products by Chaosium. H.P. Lovecraft himself was extremely generous with his own works and actively encouraged others to borrow ideas from his stories, particularly with regard to his Cthulhu Mythos. By “wide citation” he hoped to give his works an “air of verisimilitude” and actively encouraged other writers to reference his creations. From: (https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.wikia.com/lovecraft/Copyright_status_of_works_by_H._P._Lovecraft) . (TAA, Book II)

  Cualli tonalli – Nahuatl. Meaning “good day.” (TAA, Book III)

  Davre – Old Norse. Meaning “day-meal.” The Norse usually only have two regular meals in a day: the day-meal and the night-meal. (TAA, Book I)

  Dokkalfr – Old Norse. Meaning dark elves. Dwells within the earth and mostly swarthy. (TAA, Book I)

  The night-mage was tall and slim for a dokkalfr but, true to form, he had dusky skin, almost grayish. His eyes and mouth were open, though Tyler noticed the face was heavily tattooed with runic symbols up to his bald pate.

  “Not your typical dokkalfr?”

  “Yes, my lord. Tall for one. Must be a noble,” answered Jorund, wiping his weapon on the dead man’s robe.

  – Aftermath of the hilltop battle. Scarburg. (TAA, Book, I)

  Dorata – Ancient Greek. The plural of “dory” or spear. The term “dorata” was also used by Homer in one of his epics. A “dory” is the typical phalanx spear, but it is shorter than the spear used in a Macedonian phalanx which is called a “sarissa.” (TAA, Book II)

  Drakes – Mythical creatures similar to dragons but a lot smaller in size. In legend, there were numerous kinds, some were linked to elementary forces like fire and ice. (TAA, Book I)

  Then, from the tall weeds on the right side of the road, he saw a winged creature rise, the size of a large horse and which looked like a small dragon. The tall vegetation must have hidden it while it was lying in ambush. A small humanoid creature, holding a short spear, was riding on its neck. Both beast and rider were covered in frost while two other similar creatures, also with riders, rose from further back. (TAA, Book I)

  Einherjar – Old Norse. In Norse mythology, these are the ones selected to go to Valhalla and fight as Odin’s army when Ragnarok comes. (TAA, Book I)

  Eir – Old Norse. A Norse goddess associated with healing. Some believe her to be a Valkyrie. (TAA, Book I)

  Eisagogi – Greek. Meaning “introduction” or “insertion.” (TAA, Book II)

  Ekdromos – Greek. Ancient Greek light hoplite. Plural – Ekdromoi. (TAA, Book II)

  Eleusinian mysteries – Greek. One of the major secret religious rites of ancient Greece. Held by the worshippers of Demeter and Persephone, it celebrates life as represented by the abduction, the search for, and finally the ascent of Persephone from the underworld. The worship of Dionysus is included in the rites. (TAA, Book II)

  Elevating Material Objects as An Area of Effect Ability or As a Precision Spell in a Limited Field – The Edler description of a lifting spell. (TAA, Book I)

  Ellri – Old Norse. Meaning “ancient.” (TAA, Book I)

  Empusa – Greek. A Greek mythological creature. Half-woman and half-snake. (TAA, Book II)

  “Because it’s called the Empusa Foothills, you dolt, that’s why!” shouted Dionysus.

  “Call me ignorant. But I don’t understand your reaction. What’s wrong with the Empusa Foothills?”

  “Are you serious? You haven’t heard of the empusa?” The deity took another long drink. Tyler believed the god had already drained the jug by half in those two gulps.

  “No, what’s an empusa?”

  “A beautiful woman,” Dionysus snickered. “Who seduces lone travelers and then eats their flesh and drinks their blood. Turns to a horrible looking hag too.”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve met one?”

  “The mother of them all,” said the deity as he involuntarily shivered. “Nearly got me when I went to visit Hades. If not for the wine she partook… no, I am not going to that memory.”

  – Conversation between Tyler and Dionysus (TAA, Book II)

  Enuma Elish – Babylonian/Sumerian. The Babylonian creation saga, based on Sumerian myth. The phrase is taken from the first words of the saga: “When on high.” (TAA, Book II)

  Epilogos – Ancient Greek. Meaning “a conclusion.” (TAA, Book II)

  Ergi – Old Norse. Meaning “unmanly.” A social taboo and an insult. In Nordic mage, the term is usually used to refer to seidr mages. A baffling practice as Odin, the primary Norse deity, is considered to be the foremost practitioner of seidr magic. (TAA, Book I)

  Exode – Greek. Meaning “Exit Ode.” It refers to the song sang by the chorus in a Greek play after the last episode is performed. (TAA, Book II)

  Fascine – A bundle of wood or other material used to cover gaps and ditches. (TAA, Book I)

  Flower battle – Story term. Derived from the “Flower Wars” the Aztec and its enemies sometimes practice. Parties meet at a designated time and place and engage in ritual warfare. However, until now, scholars still debate on whether such ritual wars are really for securing human captives for sacrifice and training in battle. The book adopts the usual meaning of the phrase. (TAA, Book III)

  Focale – A scarf worn around the neck to prevent armor chaffing. (TAA, Book II)

  Forad – Old Norse. Meaning “monster.” (TAA, Book I)

  Fossegrim Forest – Fictional. An ancient forest near Maljen. It borders a much smaller woodland called the Forest of Maljen. Before the Divine Wars and human settlement of the region, its area extended all the way north, with only the Gap of Telemark and the Dokkalfr Mountains separating it from the now extinct vast forest in what is now known as Ymir’s Domain. (TAA, Book I)

  Gaidaros – Greek. A donkey. (TAA, Book III)

  Giant tribes – Giants have always been a part of legend and myth across numerous cultures. In many instances, classification of giants was related to their abode or their elemental affinity.

  The giants among them especially caught his attention. They were walking to and fro, some glittered, so he assumed those were ice giants while the others were of some type unknown to him. Some looked
like men, blown up to ridiculous proportions. The non-human looking giants were of all sorts and sizes, some with two heads, some bearded, some looked cyclopean. Most wore loincloths adorned with dangly straps of leather and iron. Others had more decorations on their tattooed bodies, the most popular being a spiked collar. Some had very crude helmets, adorned with animal bones. They didn’t bother with shields.

  – (TAA, Book I)

  Gigas – Ancient Greek. Giants are called “gigantes” in Greek mythology. They are depicted to be at war with the deities of Olympus and sometimes confused with the Titans. Greek mythology is replete with giants though they appear to be of various kinds. One of the terms used to refer to Greek giants, particularly those in the North is “gigas.” The word is adopted in this story to mean a certain tribe of giants – younger and more barbaric. (TAA, Book III)

  Gjenganger – Norse. A type of undead. (TAA, Book III)

  The dead coming to life. For many reasons. But it is believed by some that they need to drink the blood of the living or use their energy to continue existing.

  – Eira’s description (TAA, Book III)

  Goetes – Classical Greek. Refers to individuals who portray themselves as magoi but are mere parlor trick practitioners. Also means a charlatan or fraud. (TAA, Book I)

  Gothi – Old Norse. A term meaning “priest” or a “shaman.” (TAA, Book I)

  Great Migration, The – Fictional. The movement of Earth’s magical beings and their followers to Adar due to diminishing magical energy on what the called the First World and the rise of monotheism. It took place across a long period of time. (TAA, Book I)

  Greek expressions – Cited phrases: I’ll throw you an X or go to the lake to see if the boats are moving. Meaning “no” and “go jump in the lake”. (TAA, Book II)