Glossary

Vocabulary

Ahmah (Myanai)

Informal term for ‘mother’. 

Ancients (Yceltic)

A race predating the Ycelts. Lore describes their unique colouring: moonbeam pale skin, midnight hair, and midday eyes, compared with the ancient Myanai described as having midnight skin, moonbeam pale hair, and twilight eyes.

A.S. (Yceltic)

‘After settlement’. Used when denoting dates. Refers to the number of summers (i.e. years) elapsed since Ycelt’s founder, King Myrhan, declared his right to be recognised as Ycelt’s supreme monarch and ruler.

Yceltic people typically note the passing of time by season (i.e. marked by the sun), with significant events, such as noteworthy anniversaries or births, being celebrated on the nearest equinox or solstice, and/or via the moon’s cycles, where Yceltics mark time by the relevant phase of the moon, or number of moon phases that have elapsed.

Ballad of Fyora and Zar (Yceltic)

A popular but lengthy ballad often used to denote the passage of time.

Braies (Yceltic)

A type of undergarment made from linen or wool, traditionally worn to cover the privates from waist to knee, though some Yceltics choose more or less coverage to suit their taste and modesty.

Cleansing (Yceltic)

A ritual to burn heretics. Believed to cleanse their souls and restore purity. Used as a remedy against Xenon’s Curse.

Cult of the Dark Sun (Yceltic)

Ycelts consider Elnora’s worshippers as members of this religion or cult. Elnora’s priestly class typically excludes women from its ranks.

Cursed Land of Ycelt (Yceltic)

According to ancient lore, following the Great War, Xenon cursed all Ycelt to remain at war (Ycelt’s curse). Hierarchies that once relied on strength of magic, now relied on might. This is used to explain the constant state of political and military unrest throughout the High Realm. Xenon spared his followers from Ycelt’s curse by placing His curse (‘the Curse’) on any individual who raised a hand against them.

Cynnelic (Yceltic)

A minor (low-ranking) lord. An archaic term, no longer in common use.

Dearling (Yceltic)

Form of endearment, often used by commoners to refer to children.

Dorj (Myanai)

Literally a palace, but used colloquially to mean household, or home.

Dosha (Myanai)

A husband and overlord. Head of a Myanai household.

Dryhten (Yceltic)

The highest-ranking lord beneath a prince. Distinct from an ordinary lord (‘cynnelic’).

Elnora (Yceltic)

Goddess of the Dark Sun, commonly referred to as Our Dark Lady, or Our Lady of the Dark Sun. The Cult of the Dark Sun is the mainstream religion throughout Ycelt. Also used to describe the sun.

Eventide (Yceltic)

Evening. The period of the day when Elnora begins Her descent below the horizon.

Foresight (Yceltic)

An elaborate game of strategy. Game pieces represent different hierarchical roles laid out across a board, which describes the territory of play. A player may only move each piece within certain limitations, depending on rank, while each move influences the other pieces on the board. The object is to embed yourself as monarch of the territory, while maintaining control over the priesthood and subjects.

God-Body (Myanai/Yceltic)

A person’s simulacrum or ethereal form. Those gifted with Travelling can move via their ethereal form, or ‘God-Body’.

God-Sight (Myanai/Yceltic)

Also called Vision. Using magic (ethereal sight) to perceive. Ethereal perception.

Hallit (Yceltic)

A type of grain that only grows in the central-western provinces. Prized for being nutrient dense and versatile. Used as human and animal feed, as a substitute for straw and hay, and fermented as a popular and potent alcoholic spirit.

Henad (Yceltic)

Henads are religious spies granted specific rights to investigate, arrest, interrogate, and sentence individuals for heresy against the doctrine of Elnora’s Cult of the Dark Sun. Henads are distinct from, but work alongside, Elnora’s priesthood. Followers of the Dark Sun deem practising magic (sorcery/witchcraft) heretical, for they consider mages touched by the heretical god, Xenon of the Black Moon. The typical punishment for heresy is to Cleanse the soul by fire.

High King (Yceltic)

The most senior ranking secular ruler in Ycelt. The king of kings.

High Priest/High Priestess (Yceltic)

The most senior ranking post in the holy class.

High Realm (Yceltic)

All land under jurisdiction of the High King of Ycelt.

Ilak (Yceltic)

A domesticated ruminant mammal, similar to a sheep or goat, used for their meat, milk, skin, and wool. Ycelts also use ilak fat to make butter and candles.

Kordra (Myanai)

A full-bodied robe worn by women in Myan.

Lan-Dosha (Myanai)

A castrated male chaperone, hired to accompany women in public spaces.

Mageesta (Myanai)

A title given to a mage or scholar.

Marked Prince (Yceltic)

A title given to the eldest male child in a royal dynasty, marked to inherit the throne.

Mayora (Myanai)

Mother.

Moonbelt (Yceltic)

A belt worn to contain menstrual rags.

Moontime (Yceltic)

Menstruation.

Moonsworn (Yceltic/Myanai)

A person touched by the god Xenon and blessed with His magic.

Musolano (Myanai)

A place to house and study objects. Often contains Anciet relics. A museum.

Neophyte (Yceltic)

A lower ranked priest, often still in training, or holding a serving position below a standing priest.

Noontide (Yceltic)

Noon. Midday. The time of day when Elnora reaches Her zenith.

Novice (Yceltic)

A lower ranked priestess, often still in training, or holding a serving position below a priestess.

Princess Elder (Yceltic)

A title bestowed when the first-born child in a royal dynasty is female, not male. The title holder may inherit a plot of land and retain the title even after marriage.

Rimyan (Myanai)

The Mountain: a genderless deity for whom Myan is named.

Salvees (Myanai)

A crier’s call to attract buyers. Literally, a sale.

Scry (Yceltic/Myanai)

Ethereal Perception. Using magic to spy on distant subjects, for example, people and objects, via a charged surface. The strength of the vision and distance over which a mage can view their desired subject are relative to the power of the scrying source and the intensity of the connection between mage and subject. Therefore, it is only possible to scry on subjects the mage has experienced in the flesh.

Shrillan (Yceltic)

A prohibited plant known for its effects on the mind and body, including changes in perception and mood. When smoked, induces mild euphoria and relaxation. When fermented and chewed, acts as a stimulant to keep the user awake. A common side effect of chewing fermented shrillan is hallucinations. Used in religious rituals and to inspire visions in those with magic.

Shyarma (Myanai)

A derogatory slur. Denotes a person (usually a woman) deemed to have poor morals, who behaves promiscuously, or transgresses cultural mores.

Soup of the Gods (Myanai)

Colloquial description of the ethereal currents through which magic passes.

Taya menel (Myanai)

A request for someone to move out of the way. Literal translation is ‘Move, let me pass.’

Thukran (Myanai)

My thanks.

Tiles (Yceltic)

The informal name for a set of oval game pieces, commonly shaped from wood, polished stone, or clay. Each tile is graved or painted with a symbol to mark its order and suit. Most games involve multiple players building runs of tiles of either order or suit or both, by drawing and discarding tiles through a combination of strategy and luck, as distinct from Foresight, whose play involves elaborate drawn-out strategy between two players. The player with the highest tile sequence wins. To up the stakes, players typically lay wagers on whose hand will win.

Torja (Myanai)

First wife. The most honoured rank afforded a woman in a Myanai household.

Uhtan (Yceltic)

The false light before dawn.

Xenon (Yceltic)

God of the Black Moon (formerly, Silver Moon). Xenon’s followers are often called ‘Moonsworn.’ Ycelts consider the Moonsworn heretics. Also used to describe the moon.

Xenona (Myanai)

A sorceress. Believed to be touched by the god, or ‘moonsworn’. 

Xenona-ran (Myanai)

Magic employed by a Xenona, or sorceress. 

Xenon’s Curse (Yceltic)

The ‘Curse’. Xenon’s Curse befalls anyone who touches a Sworn Priestess in violence or in lust. According to Ancient Yceltic lore, Xenon’s Curse brings horror thrice over. Yceltics believe Xenon Curses any individual who defies His sacred laws.

Glyphs/Sigils

Blood

Lifeforce