The Accidental Archmage

by Edmund A. M. Batara

Gungnir – Old Norse. Meaning “the swaying one.” In Norse mythology, the spear of the deity Odin. Believed to have the power to strike any target. (TAA, Book I)

  Havamal – Old Norse. A collection of Norse poems. Deemed wisdom sayings attributed to Odin. (TAA, Book I)

  Heila – Old Norse. Meaning “heal.” (TAA, Book I)

  Heill og saell – Old Norse greeting. Meaning “healthy and happy.” (TAA, Book I)

  Hellas – Ancient Greek. The term refers to the homeland of the Greeks. Taken from the mythological patriarch named Hellen from whom the ancient Greek tribes descended, such as the Aeolians, Dorians, Achaeans, and Ionians. (TAA, Book I)

  Hirdmadr – Old Norse. A combination of the word “hird” which usually refers to the informal personal guards of leaders and the word “madr,” also an old Norse term which means “man.” As used in the story, it is a term used in Adar to refer to trainees. Literary liberality claimed by the author in his defense. (TAA, Book I)

  Huskarl – Old Norse. A warrior in personal service to someone. Anglicized as “housecarl.” (TAA, Book I)

  I Komandi – Old Norse. Meaning “incoming.” (TAA, Book I)

  Illyrian helmet – A type of helmet which differed from other Greek helmets by leaving the face open. No nose guard. Worn by Astrid. (TAA, Book II)

  Ismenian drakon – Ancient Greek. Drakon means “dragon.” In mythology, the Ismenian drakon was a giant serpent belonging to Ares who he assigned to guard his sacred spring near Thebes. (TAA, Book II)

  “There is one question I would like to ask. That Ismenian drakon told me his race was an ancient one. But bound by Ares somehow.”

  “Older than me, actually. That race is old. Really ancient. If you noticed, I said race. Not creatures. Nobody knows how Ares was able to bind them. Some trickery, I suppose. Wouldn’t put it past him. And with a buffoon holding them by their tails, they’ve fallen far from what they were.”

  ‘What do you mean?”

  “Let me answer that this way. Kekrops, the first king of Athens back in the First World, was a boon to mortals. He taught reading, writing, and a lot of other things which gave rise to this civilization. And according to legend, he was half-serpent.”

  “Oh.”

  “But Zeus was angry with him as he forbade the sacrifice of any living thing to the gods. So, you have Ares and the Ismenian race.”

  “I think I understand.”

  “And you wonder why I drink too much. Sometimes knowing too much is a curse, young mage.”

  “And what does the term transcendental mage mean?”

  “A mage who doesn’t drink enough. No, don’t know the answer to that one.”

  “Why did that general call me a High Mage?”

  “Because I have graced you with my presence. Such stupid questions. Better pick them well, young man.”

  “How do you feel about the gods?”

  “They drive me to drink. Next stupid question.”

  – Tyler and Dionysus. (TAA, Book II)

  “In our language, our name for ourselves is different, of course. It is impossible for human voices to replicate our speech. But it does not matter. Ismenian they called us, so Ismenian we remain.”

  – Anemothýella (TAA, Book III)

  Jaguar and Eagle military societies – Elite military societies which existed in the Aztec empire. (TAA, Book III)

  Jarl – Old Norse. Norse chief or a title designating lordship over a particular territory. (TAA, Book I)

  Jormungandr – Old Norse. A major figure in Norse mythology. Also known as the Midgard Serpent. The arch-enemy of the Norse god Thor. (TAA, Book I)

  Jotnar – Old Norse. The plural of jotunn. A mythological race living in Jotunheimr, one of the Nordic nine worlds. Usually enemies of both the Vanir and Aesir but instances are recorded of non-hostile interaction. (TAA, Book I).

  Kamayuk – Quechua. Meaning “officer.” (TAA, Book III)

  Kaneis – Greek. Meaning “a nobody.” (TAA, Book III)

  Kassandra, Prophecy of – Fictional. A divination uttered by a daughter of King Priam of Troy. Also spelled Cassandra, but Kassandra is the ancient Greek form of the name. Her curse came about because of the Greek god Apollo. Originally a gift from the deity, given in an effort to seduce her, Apollo transformed it to a curse when Kassandra rejected him – she could give prophecies but nobody would believe her. (TAA, Book II)

  Ω Έλληνες

  Όταν έρχεται ο Λύκος

  Προσοχή στο σκυλί

  Oh Greeks

  When the Wolf comes

  Beware the Dog

  Kerasti – Old Norse. Meaning “beloved.” (TAA, Book I)

  Keres – Greek. Mythological creatures personifying violent death. They roam battlefield by the thousands, feasting on the flesh and blood of the slain. These creatures have been mentioned as allied or have rendered service to Eris, the Greek goddess of discord. In this story, they are given various forms and some do serve the goddess. (TAA, Book III)

  Khaire – Ancient Greek. Meaning “hello.” (TAA, Book II)

  Khopesh – Egyptian. A sickle-shaped sword that evolved from battleaxes. The tip of the weapon is usually hooked and used to pull down an opponent’s shield. (TAA, Book III)

  Kohl – The origin of the word is claimed by Hebrew, Biblical, Egyptian, and other ancient sources. It refers to an eye cosmetic similar to mascara and applied to the eyelids and around the eyes. (TAA, Book II)

  Kriti – Fictional. The region of Hellas dominated by the Dorians. (TAA, Book II)

  Kunna – Old Norse. Meaning “to know, to understand.” Sometimes used to refer to knowledge of the workings of magic. (TAA, Book I)

  Kveldulfr – Norse. Meaning “evening-wolf.” A womanizer. (TAA, Books I and III)

  Lamia – Greek. The word “lamia” was the name of a queen who became a child-eating demon. Myth mentions Lamia as a mistress of Zeus who became the target of Hera’s anger. Differing versions of her creation exist. One being she was transformed by Hera and another mention that her children were stolen by Hera, maddening her into eating children. Eventually, she did turn into one. There are several, and widely different, descriptions of lamias. Some credit lamias with serpent’s tails, like empusas. Others make lamias out to be similar to vampires. The version in this story adopts features from the various depictions of the creature. (TAA, Book III)

  Landvaetter – Old Norse. Meaning “land spirits.” Sometimes considered to be nature spirits with a preference for unsettled or unpopulated land. (TAA, Book I)

  Laverna – Roman/Etruscan. An old Italian divinity. Goddess of thieves, cheats, and mischief. (TAA, Book I)

  Leukrokottai – Greek mythological creature. See below.

  “I think they’re leukrokottai, sire. Legendary wild beasts. Usually preys on hunters and woodcutters. Reputedly can imitate human voices. Sometimes referred to as the kynolykos, or dog-wolf. Adults are the size of a small horse, with a lion’s neck, a badger’s face and temperament. Fast bastards. Instead of teeth, they have jagged bones lining their jaws, all along its length. Very big jaws too.”

  – Astrid’s description (TAA, Book III)

  Lochos – Greek. A subunit of ancient Greek armies. The use of the term and the number of men assigned to it vary from city-state to city-state. But it is usually composed of 640 hoplites. (TAA, Book II)

  Lorica segmentata – Roman armor. A laminated-strip cuirass. (TAA, Book II)

  Lotus fighting art – An ancient Egyptian martial art which focuses on hand-to-hand combat. It has variations for weapons. (TAA, Book III)

  Macuahuitl – Nahuatl. A traditional Aztec weapon. A wooden club with sharp obsidian blades. Records tell of the sharpness of such blades, enough to cut off a horse’s head with one blow. (TAA, Book III)

  Maenads – Ancient Greek. Female followers of Dionysus. Meant “raving ones.” Practicing strange rites, combined with intoxication, maenads are known for entering into a state of murderous frenzy, tearing apart a
ny living thing they come across. (TAA, Book II)

  Magic – Fictional? On Adar, it is a form of energy. Natives of Adar have an inborn capability to use or manipulate it in varying degrees. Visitors from Earth, having grown up in a world bereft of magic, don’t have the ability to use it. As with any energy, it is governed by rules and limitations as to its use. (TAA, Book I)

  “Interested, are you? I’m not surprised. It has been called many things, mana, akasha, and the like. But it would be better to describe it as remnants of the divine creative energy used to create a world. Adar and Earth among them. Think of it as the sawdust remaining after a plank of lumber had been made, only it remained with the plank and not dusted off. As for the relationship between Adar and Earth, that would be for you to discover,” smiled Odin. (TAA, Book I)

  Magical exhaustion – Fictional. See below. (TAA, Book I)

  Magical exhaustion is a condition which is common knowledge even to apprentice mages. It is one of the principal dangers of spell casting. Casting spells mean forcing magical energy through a mortal vessel. It is draining, exhausting, and if uncontrolled, dangerous to the mind and body. During our training for combat magic, we lost two men due to magical exhaustion. One became mad, and the other died when the magical energy burned his innards and left him a husk.”

  – Jorund (TAA, Book I)

  “About this magical exhaustion thing, what do I need to know about it?”

  “As I said, we are but mortal. Hence magical ability differs from person to person. Magical exhaustion is identified by three progressive stages. The first is the feeling of slight physical and mental exhaustion. The second is manifested by extreme dizziness and headaches. In some instances, nausea. The most dangerous stage which may lead to death or madness, is extreme body weakness, inability to think, continued dizziness, increasing pain of the headaches, and mental exhaustion. The mind starts to find it very difficult to think. If the body shuts down and the person loses consciousness, his body may have already incurred some damage. If the brain is severely damaged, then madness results. If mind and body are both damaged too much, then the person may not awaken anymore. Death may occur even before these occurrences when the mortal vessel cannot handle or control extreme magical energies passing through it. As I said, I have seen a man burned from the inside by the magical energies he couldn’t control.”

  – Conversation between Tyler and Jorund. (TAA, Book I)

  Magoi – Greek term for a magician. Unlike many cultures, the ancient Greeks tend to look down on magic practitioners unless they were directly affiliated with temples. Plato himself described magicians as a low order of humanity. (TAA, Book I)

  Maljen – Fictional. One of the principal settlements of Skaney. A major trade hub, it has one of the two trade ports of the kingdom. The other port being in Akbanes though Maljen dominates trade with other realms. (TAA, Book I)

  Manarga – Greek. An ancient settlement site in present-day Anatolia, Turkey. Believed to be one of the early settlements belonging to the Ionians. Used in the story as the name of an Ionian city in Hellas. (TAA, Book II)

  Map, Dionysus’s Old – (TAA, Book III)

  Map, Hal’s Reconstructed – (TAA, Book II)

  Map, Master Dio’s Hellas Trade – (TAA, Book II)

  Mercenaries – Swords for hire can be found in all civilizations of Adar. Their varied services are usually limited to a specific kingdom or area. In Skaney, mercenaries are organized as a guild and provide security and similar services. During times of war against external threats, the mercenaries of Skaney are called upon by the High King to fight for the kingdom. For the appropriate fee, of course. (TAA, Book I)

  Miletus – Greek. The name of an ancient Greek city located in present-day Anatolia, Turkey. At its height, it was considered to be the greatest and most prosperous Greek city. Used in the story as the name of an Ionian city in Hellas. (TAA, Book II)

  Minotaur – In ancient Greek mythology, the Minotaur was a huge monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. In the story, minotaurs are portrayed as a race. The second-in-command of the Greek forces attacking Akrotiri was a minotaur. (TAA, Book II)

  A minotaur warrior

  Mjolnir – Old Norse. In Norse mythology, the hammer of the deity Thor. Depicted as one of the most powerful weapons in existence. (TAA, Book I)

  Moche – A Mesoamerican civilization located in Peru (100 B.C. – 700 A.D.). (TAA, Book III)

  Nagual – An Incan myth. A man who has the power to transform into a certain animal – a puma, jaguar, coyote, donkey, among others. (TAA, Book III)

  Nahualli – Nahuatl. A warlock or a witch. (TAA, Book III)

  Namdalen – Fictional. A large peaceful region of Skaney, bordering the Barren Lands and the Dry Plains. Heavily populated compared to other regions, it serves as a buffer against possible incursions from the northwest and the southwest of Skaney. (TAA, Book I)

  Nea – Greek. Meaning “new.” (TAA, Book II)

  Nextltaoalli – Nahuatl. The closest term to the word “sacrifice.” It means “paying of the debt.” It arose from the belief of the Aztecs that man must return to the gods some of the essences expended for the creation and maintenance of the world (for example, the rising and setting of the sun). However, this creed is not limited to the Aztecs. Most ancient Mesoamerican cultures practiced it. Women are usually sacrificed by beheading. (TAA, Book III)

  Occeppa – Nahuatl word meaning “again, or once more.” (TAA, Book III)

  Olmecs – A culture believed to be the oldest Mesoamerican civilization (1700-200 B.C.). (TAA, Book III)

  Opa! – Greek. An exclamation of joy. Usually accompanied by plate-smashing. (TAA, Book III)

  Othismos – Greek. One of the stages of phalanx warfare. Comes when both sides have exhausted their supply of spears. Effectively, a shoving match. (TAA, Book II)

  “No questions asked? Or protests, in the event I ask you to wage war differently?”

  “Nope. A different way of war? That would be interesting! I am tired of that othismos. One side pushes, and the other side pushes back. Can go on for a very long time,” the King replied.

  – Conversation between Tyler and the King of Akrotiri. (TAA, Book II)

  Otomies, the Shorn Ones – Among the highest warrior societies in Aztecah society. The Shorn Ones were considered to the elite of the elite and usually open only to the nobility. Below them were the knights of the Jaguar and Eagle societies. The Jaguar society worshipped Huitzilopochtli and the Eagle society had Tezcatlipoca as its primary deity. Other deities who have something to do with war also have smaller warrior societies. (TAA, Book III)

  Paititi – Quechua. A long-lost Incan settlement called the legendary city of gold. The Spanish looted only a small amount of gold in the capital and suspected that the gold must have been hidden somewhere. Paititi was the place they suspected it to be as it was considered as the last refuge of the Inca. But they didn’t know its location. Some allege that the Vatican knew where it was since the 1600’s but kept it secret. The word “Paititi” is used in this book as the name of an Incan city in Adar. This version of Paititi serves as the religious center of the Inka Kingdom. (TAA, Book III)

  Pappo – Greek. From the Ancient Greek term “pappos.” An affectionate term for elderly men. (TAA, Book II)

  Parabasis – Greek. A stage in ancient Greek comedies. Usually after the Prologos and the Agon (contest). It means “coming forward” and is a stage where the chorus leader addresses the audience. (TAA, Book II)

  Parode – Greek. The entry chant in ancient Greek dramas. Also referred to as the entrance ode. TAA, Book II)

  Pelasgoi – Ancient Greek. Anglicized as Pelasgians. A term used to refer to people deemed to be the ancestors or forerunners of the Greeks. However, some classical writers oppose this view, deeming the Pelasgoi as a separate and barbaric people. Some believe that the Etruscans and the Sea Peoples of antiquity, among others, are Pelasgoi (TAA, Book II). Opinions vary, but it is believed that the vario
us tribes of the Pelasgians either merged with the rising Hellenic tribes or formed their separate tribes elsewhere under a different name. (TAA, Book II)

  Pentekostyes – Greek/Spartan term. Refers to a military unit of 160 men. (TAA, Book I)

  Petteia – Greek. An ancient Greek board game, similar to checkers. The objective being to catch an opponent’s piece between two stones belonging to the other player. (TAA, Book II)

  Presenning – Norwegian/Swedish. The word is of Latin origin, meaning “tarpaulin.” It is made of cloth, treated fabric or other material intended to protect against the elements or provide concealment. Plural – presenningar or presenningane. (TAA, Book I)

  Prophecy, Ancient standing stone – Fictional. Found inscribed on an ancient standing stone. The Barren Lands. (TAA, Book I)

  To know thy power,

  Harken to your will.

  Pschent – Ancient Egyptian. Also termed as Psjent. A Pharaonic headdress which had a combination of the colors of upper and lower Egypt. (TAA, Book II)

  Pteruges – Part of an armor set, used in ancient civilizations. A skirt of leather strips worn around the waist. (TAA, Book II)

  Qahwah – Arabic word for coffee, but the term was traditionally held to refer to a type of wine. The word led to the Turkish kahve which in turn gave rise to the modern term “coffee.” (TAA, Book I)

  Quinametzin – An Aztec myth. A race of ancient giants who opposed the Aztecah gods. They were said to possess magical abilities. Lore mentions they were believed to be the builders of Teotihuacan, an ancient city in South America. The Teotihuacan civilization predated most of the civilizations known as the Maya, the Olmec, and related tribes. (TAA, Book III)

  Quipu – An Incan device made of knots and colored cords. Used to record information. (TAA, Book III)

  Quiver – The term for a group of cobras. (TAA, Book II)