AKKADIAN—an ancient language used prominently by the Akkad people in Mesopotamia, circa 2334–2154 BCE. While it is considered an extinct language, many of the immortals in Kurnugia primarily spoke Akkadian before being sent to the underworld.
ALKONOST—winged immortals, similar to sirens, with the heads of women but also the feathers, wings, and other parts of a bird. They have beautiful singing voices, but unlike sirens, their voices and songs do not have any power over anyone. They most commonly live in Northern Asia.
AMRITĀ—beverage of the gods, believed to grant renewal or peace. It is made from churning the salty river that flows through Kurnugia. Slightly syrupy with a sweet but earthy taste. Also referred to as “nectar” or “ambrosia.”
APOTHECARY—originally a person who dispensed medical advice and medicine, the term has shifted to mean a person or place that sells various herbs, potions, and crystals with alleged medicinal value. An apothecary may also dabble in thaumaturgy as well as more alternative medical treatments.
APSARA—beautiful, divine Hindu female spirits of clouds and dancing who often inspire others to create and do good works in the world.
ARMARRIA INCANTATION—a protection and cloaking spell that works best in conjunction with the armarria potion. The incantation is: “Ez geala, ba geala, kalte seguru, geala” which means “we aren’t, we are indeed, safe from harm, are we,” in the old Basque language, derived from the songs and spells of the Sorginak (a Basque witch).
ARMARRIA POTION—a potion made of mugwort, obsidian flakes, and water from the Bidasoa River, among other more mystical ingredients. Armarria means “shield” in the Basque language. Used in conjunction with the armarria incantation. It must be applied directly above the heart to be most effective.
ASAKKU—evil demons from ancient Sumeria. According to Odin’s letter to Baldur, they fought against Gugalanna in the great battle that left thousands dead, buried in mass graves in the city of Nawar.
ASWANG—ghoulish, vampiric immortal demons with huge mouths full of teeth. Originally from the Philippines, there is a growing population living in the Aizsaule District.
AVONDMARKT—a large black-market bazaar in Chicago, where any number of supernatural items can be procured—for the right price. From the Danish, literally meaning “night market.”
BABA YAGA—an immortal being and birdlike witch from Russia.
BAIÃO DE DOIS—a Brazilian dish made of rice and beans, mixed with curded cheese.
BARARU MUTANU OSSUARY—an ossuary is the final resting place for human and immortal remains, similar to a crypt. Unlike a crypt, an ossuary is usually decorated with (if not entirely made out of) bones as a way to honor the dead. The Baruru Mutanu Ossuary is one of the oldest ossuaries in the world, dating back several thousand years, and it is located in the Gates of Kurnugia in Central America. Many of the remains there have been calcified to such a degree that they have an appearance of being crystalized, which is how it was given its name. Bararu Mutanu translates to “Crystal Death” in Akkadian (the language of ancient Babylonians). Babylonian historians were determined to mark out all the most mystical places on earth, and this particular ossuary is located right outside the entrance to the underworld. Before the Babylonians named it, it had been used as a place to sacrifice to the gods in Kurnugia or to honor the dead.
BEBEYAZ PANIR—a popular Turkish cheese similar to feta.
BELIZE—an independent coastal country in Central America. It is most well known for being the home of the Gates of Kurnugia, which has led to a diverse, global society. It is particularly popular among immortals, with the densest population of immortals in the western hemisphere. As of the year 2137 CE, the total population was more than 9.3 million on only 8,800 square miles. The official languages are English, Spanish, German, and Sumerian.
BELMOPAN—the second largest and capital city of Belize. It is located 20 miles (31 km) NE of the Gates of Kurnugia, separated from the immortal-controlled city by the shantytown El Noveno Anillo. Belmopan is an affluent and beautiful city with a bustling tourist industry.
BIGUOL EN FRIIA—loosely translates to “encharment of Frigg” in Old Germanic. It is both the name of the ceremony and the incantation. The incantation is as follows: “Gang ût/ût fana themo margę an that bên,/ ût fana themo bêne an that flêsg,/ût fana themo flêsgke an themo hûd,/ ût fana themo hûd an that lebēn /ût fana themo lebēn an that tōd /ût fan themo tōd an thesa strâla/uuodan, uuerthe so!” In Old High German, this translates to: “Get out, away from the marrow to the bone, away from the bone to the flesh, away from the flesh to the hide, away from the hide to life, away from life to the death, away from death and into the atmosphere. Odin, make it so!”
BOAL MADEIRA—a sweet, fruity wine from Portugal with high alcohol content.
BORNITE—a gemstone with an iridescent finish, which gives it the name “peacock ore.” Crystal shards are used to enhance joyfulness and ward off negativity. A bornite crystal is inlaid in the cover of the Sorcellerie Grimoire.
CAANA CITY—a city in Belize, nestled along the Caracol National Park. It gets its name from the nearby Mayan temple of Caana (the name of which means “the Sky Palace”). It is 40 miles (65 km) SW of the Gates of Kurnugia, traveling over jungle roads.
CABRIOLET—light carriages, usually drawn by a horse. In Kurnugia, they are drawn by Kting Voars. The name is often shortened to “cab” in the mortal world.
CACHAÇA—an alcoholic drink distilled from sugar cane, similar to rum.
CAMAHUETO—immortal, unicorn-like calves born with a single platinum horn that lived among the Chilote people in South America. The horn was virtually indestructible and was the strongest material on earth, which led to the camahuetos being hunted to extinction on earth in the 1600s CE.
CAMBION—the mortal children of either a human and a demon, or two demons of differing species (i.e., an incubus and a Pishacha). They inherit some of their parents’ characteristics, such as horns or powerful sexuality, but as they are mortal, they are not subject to the law of Valkyries from the Evig Riksdag.
CARPE NOCTEM—a dive bar located on the Chicago mainland, near the edge of Lake Michigan before the water district of New Edgewater. The name means “Seize the Night” in Latin.
CE/BCE—CE stands for Common Era, which is a name for the current calendar era used around the world today. BCE stands for Before Common Era, the era preceding Common Era. The current year 2137 CE goes back two thousand one hundred and thirty-seven years, when time is referred to as BCE and counts back from one, so year 100 BCE is one hundred years after 200 BCE, and so on. The Common Era notation system can be used as an alternative to the Dionysian era system, and both notations refer to the Gregorian calendar.
CHERUBIM—immortal angels with four flaming wings and skin that glows brightly. They are able to read auras for impurities or evilness, and they guard the entrance to Zianna. Singular is “cherub.”
CHICAGO—a megacity located on the lake in Illinois. According to the 2135 CE census, the dense city has a population over 31 million. It is divided into many boroughs, such as New Edgewater, Aizsaule District, and the Gold Coast. It is known for its vibrant night life and cuisine, as well as being home to the American headquarters of the Evig Riksdag. However, it is also known for its pollution, overpopulation, and crime.
CHUPACABRA—a medium-sized reptilian immortal animal. Its face has been compared to an “alien hyena.” They have leathery green skin, quills all down their backs, and legs like a kangaroo. They are carnivorous, and they primarily live in the forests and jungles of Central America.
CODEX AETERNA—an ancient Norse book made of 50 vellum leaves, each covered in songs and limericks. The name means “The Eternal Book” in Latin. It is thought to have been written in the 1270s CE. The poem “Friggadraumr” is located within it.
THE COURT OF ZIANNA—the court of divine immortals that make decisions for the citadel of Zianna. The leader as well as the members are democratically elected a
nd serve for a hundred years at a time. The current leader is Sedna, and her court consists of Bastet, Aphrodite, Apsu, Yemaya, Tsukiyomi, Altjira, Bochica, Danu, Hi’iaka, and Gersemi.
CRYPTOMERIAN FOREST—a dark underworld forest that surrounds the exit to Kurnugia. It is home to many aggressive cannibalistic plants, most notably the Cryptomeria vorax (Latin “hidden parts” + “devouring”) trees, a subgenus of the trees known for the Yakushima forest in Japan.
CYCLOPS—a large humanoid immortal with only one eye in the center of their head, typically of Grecian ancestry.
DANTE’S LAGER—cheap terrible beer infused with ghost peppers.
DEVI/DEVA—Hindu celestial immortals that commonly take a human form to do good works on earth. They are divine beings, known for helping others and encouraging compassion and love. “Devi” are female, and “Deva” are male. Their name comes from the Sanskrit word for “shining,” referring to the light of goodness that glows within them.
DILLINGER’S CORNER MARKET & APOTHECARY—a corner market in New Edgewater that sells basic groceries and a few supernatural items. Owned and managed by Fufluns Dillinger.
DRAUGR—an immortal that a Valkyrie has failed to return. The name comes from the Old Norse word for “undead.” They are a very rare, dangerous occurrence.
DYRNWYN—a magic flaming sword created in fifteenth-century Wales. It only burns when the wielder’s quest is true. It is an arming sword with a black blade, deep red hilt, and the cross-guards shaped to look like flames coming out of the grip. Roughly thirty-six inches in length.
EARTH—planet where all known life exists. Immortal and mortal beings have coexisted together for more than ten millennia, and by the year 2137 CE the population will have skyrocketed to 24.28 billion. Approximately 25 percent of that is composed of immortals, or 6.07 billion.
EIR—a Valkyrie sword in the possession of Quinn Devane. It has a black handle and blade of blue. It once belonged to one of the original nine Valkyries, Eir. Name roughly translates to “help” or “mercy” in old Norse.
EL NOVENO ANILLO—a shantytown-like suburb outside the Gates of Kurnugia. The name translates to “the Ninth Ring” in Spanish, alluding to Dante’s Inferno. To the NE, it connects the Gates of Kurnugia to Belmopan. To the SW (toward Caana City), it’s even more rundown. It is part of the Belmopan metro area population of 2.1 million, with roughly 1 million of those residents living in El Noveno Anillo.
ẸMÍ—the Yoruba word for “spirit” or “life” or “soul.” It is the thing that gives one the ability to execute magic, whether the being is mortal or immortal.
EMMANUEL WOODED GARDEN—a forest and garden in Skarpåker Park. Named after twentieth-century Chicago activist Dr. Fannie Emmanuel.
ENOCHIAN—the original language of angels, based on Dr. John Dee’s sixteenth-century occult writings.
ENOCHIAN MAGIC—a system of ceremonial magic with the invocation and commanding of various spirits. It is based on the sixteenth-century occult writings of Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley, who claimed that their information, including the revealed Enochian language, was delivered to them directly by various angels.
ĒOSTRE’S LAGOMORPH CHOW—a perfectly balanced diet for jackalopes, wolpertingers, rabbits, pikas, and colugos.
ERALIM—the immortal beings that tell the Valkyrie where to go and who to kill. They work as intermediaries between the Vanir gods in Vanaheimr and the Evig Riksdag on earth. They are the offspring of Valkyries and Seraphim, and they cannot have children themselves. Their blood is slightly thinner than human blood and is dark purple in color.
ESHIK MITU—a geyser in the Gates of Kurnugia behind the Merchants of Death. It connects to the underworld, but it is filled with scalding water, sulphuric sludge, and a magic that makes it impossible for immortals to pass through, and nearly impossible for mortals. The name comes from Sumerian. Eshik means “door” and Mitu means “death.”
ET INGRESSUS EST PRAETORIUM CANERET—a room in Sacrorum library devoted to epic poems and songs. The name means “The Hall of Minstrel and Adventure” in Latin. This is where Codex Aeterna is stored.
ET VIRGINES IN MORTE—a room in the Sacrorum library devoted to Valkyries. The name means “Death and the Maidens” in Latin.
EVERY FEELING ACT—a federal law in the United States that makes it illegal for any sentient being to consume the flesh of another sentient being. The drafted law frequently quotes eighteenth-century philosopher Jeremy Bentham, particularly the argument “The question is not Can they reason? nor, Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?” This law was acted in the mid-twentieth century, when genetically modified substitutions were created that allowed carnivorous immortals to eat and survive without relying on living flesh. While the consumption of nonsentient flesh is still allowed, rigorous testing is done to ensure that only approved beings are slaughtered. It is a controversial law, with the Kurnugia Society often pushing back against it to no avail.
EVIG RIKSDAG—the global office where the Eralim work. The name means “Eternal Parliament.” Of the 215 countries on earth, 172 of them have their own Evig Riksdag office that works in conjunction with their individual governments. Some countries refuse to acknowledge the laws of the Vanir gods, but Valkyries are still sent from other offices to return the immortals. They are often accompanied by armed Vörðr guards for missions in hostile countries. Each office is overseen by an Arch Seraph, who works directly with a Vanir god (each Vanir god oversees a specific country or occasionally several smaller countries). Working beneath the Arch Seraph are other lower-level seraphim who solve the Mortal Equation. Directly beneath them are the Eralim, who train and handle the Valkyries, and the Valkyries themselves are the lowest-level officers of the Evig Riksdag. The United States Evig Riksdag is located near the center of the country, in Chicago, Illinois. It is in the State District, only a few blocks from the Willis Tower.
EXOUSIA—warrior angels that make up a divine protection service in the citadel of Zianna in Kurnugia. They venture beyond the walls to help those in dire situations, but only at the behest of the Court of Zianna. They also defend the citadel—and the Court in particular—if there are any attacks on Zianna. Their name comes from the Greek, meaning “authorities” or “powers.”
FEAST OF THE DEAD—a day to celebrate and remember the many gods and goddesses that have returned to Kurnugia. Over time, it has become a wild party where it’s customary to dress up and gorge yourself on libations and food. In North America, it is celebrated on the first Saturday in October.
FOUNTAIN OF FATES—a fountain in Skarpåker Park that incorporates sculptures of the trio of Greek Fates.
FRIGGADRAUMR—a prophecy that is sometimes quoted in the Norse poem “Völuspá.” The name translates to “Frigg’s Dream” or “The Dream of Frigg.”
GATES OF KURNUGIA—an independent sovereign entity in Belize. It is governed—in a very limited capacity, that is—by demons and other impious immortals. When it was first settled ten millennia ago, it was called In Sabatu Kurnugia, but around 1500 BCE, it was mislabeled on an official record as Baba Kurnugia (Baba meant Gates). In the fifteenth century, during the English conquest, the name was officially changed to the English translation. In Sabatu—the original name—meant rings, since they didn’t have a different word for labyrinth, and was a reference to the maze of walls that surround it. The city itself encircles the Bararu Mutanu Ossuary, which houses the carefully guarded and supernaturally locked entrance to Kurnugia. The walls are instilled with magic to keep in those that cannot leave (many immortals are exiled there as punishment, while some demons choose to give up their freedom willingly to enjoy the more depraved life in the city). It is surrounded by the shantytown El Noveno Anillo. The Gates of Kurnugia is 20 miles (31 km) SW of Belmopan, and 40 miles (65 km) NE of Caana City. It’s approximately 2,080 miles SE of Chicago. It is part of the Belmopan metro area population of 2.1 million, with roughly 400,000 of those residents living in the Gates of Kurnugia.
GOLD COAST—an
affluent neighborhood in northern Chicago, with high-end commercial and luxury residential properties. It is also home to one of the most prosperous and lavish gentlemen’s clubs in the world, Nysa.
GÖNDUL—one of the original nine Valkyries created by Odin; also the name of her amber sword. Name roughly translates to “spear-wielder.”
GORGON—immortal women with snake hair and scales on their skin. They can also turn a person to stone just by looking at them, but it is a power that they have control over.
GUNGNIR—Odin’s spear that was created as the only true way to destroy an immortal forever. The materials to make it were gifted to Odin by other Vanir gods: the dark silvery-blue shaft is made of camahueto horn gifted by Auchimalgen, the brassy red tip is made of orichalcum gifted by Poseidon, and the tip was dipped in glowing poison Halāhala gifted by Brahma.
HAKAWAI—large immortal raptors, similar to a Haast’s eagle, known for their distinctive call.
HALĀHALA—the most vicious venomous poison in the world. The tip of Gungnir is dipped in it, after it is gifted to Odin by Brahma.
HANNUNVAAKUNA—sometimes referred to as a “looped square.” It’s an ancient Finnish symbol of good luck.
HARIRA—a Moroccan soup made of tomatoes and tomato concentrate, lentils, chickpeas, onions, rice, herbs (celery, parsley, and coriander), spices (mainly saffron, ginger, and pepper), and a teaspoon or two of olive oil.
HEGEWISCH—an older community on the southside of Chicago. It is almost an hour and a half south of New Edgewater.
HEMATITE—a gemstone with a mirror-like finish. Crystal shards are used in various protection spells, most notably the armarria incantation.
HILDR—one of the original nine Valkyries created by Odin; also the name of her crimson sword. Name roughly translates to “battle.”
HUBUR RIVER—a river that flows through Kurnugia, from under the Eshik Mitu geyser, straight through the underworld and past Zianna, before connecting with the Cryptomerian Forest. The width varies, and the water is dark blue and salty.
From the Earth to the Shadows Page 36