Ravenous (Taint of the Gods #1)

Glossary of Terms

ACENSION - An annual three-day religious festival held in Deos culminating in select individuals chosen by the gods themselves to join them in The God’s Sphere. During a secret ascension ceremony performed by the gods themselves these individuals who have been deemed worthy of the Celestials' grace, become stars in the heavens.

AR’U - Lycoan rune for Strength in Perseverance.

ARASHON - Kanahari term for a southerner. Someone who lives below The Hetra.

AREDYN - Capital of the Republic of Kensilla

ARIDICAN - A plant only native to the Kensillan Republic and the poison of choice for Kensillan Purists who participate in the Kensillan Territory Rail Hunts.

ARONBOK - Capital of Deos

ARTISAN CASTE - One of the Six Castes of Deos. Ranked third in society. They are valued for their dedication to the creation of religious artifacts and artistic expression. So long as it doesn’t go against the values of the nation.

ASTRAL - The brightest stars in the God Sphere. Former Treasured Ones who were awarded for their devotion.

ATHUS (A-Thus) - One of the five kingdoms of Prea and a member nation of the Prean Union. They are an absolute monarchy that is subject to the edicts of the Imperial City. They are the centre for Prean Progressivism. Its citizens are known as Athusians .

ATHUSIAN TIMARS - The currency of Athus. Gold circular coins.

BESPELL - What occurs when T'eiryashta speaks Gods’ Tongue, causing an unknowable amount of change in the world around them.

BIO-ARCHITECTURE - A taboo practice where an Organic designs and constructs a living organism that didn’t exist previously. Typically, plant-based, it has been known to include animals or worse. Considered to be on the cusp of Necrotics.

BLESSED ( BLESS-ED) - The Deogn term for Devolved Humans.

BLESSING - The Deogn term for Taint. When referring to someone’s Taint, they say, “Wolf-Blessed“ or “Bear-Blessed.”

BLISS - A drug taken in liquid form which induces a state of euphoria. Bought on the black-market. Highly Addictive. Illegal in most of the continent.

BLOODHOUND - A profession found only among Hemopaths. They hunt and track anyone for money and can do so with a single drop of blood. Hated and feared by everyone. Considered traitors amongst Devolved Humans.

BLOODWORK - When a Hemopath uses their taint. Other Hemopaths can detect when this is occurring.

brIGHT-LIGHT - A light source produced when a Bright produces luminos and it is stored in a vessel. They come in all sizes and never extinguish.

brIGHT SHARD - Luminos that has been physically extracted from a Bright’s body and hardened like a dagger or sword.

CELESTISUM - The Deogn religion based on the principles that the Servitors are the intermediaries between mortals and the Celestials, the Gods of Deos.

CELLSHAPING - The Organic practice of manipulating and shaping cells in humans and animals. Typically used to heal wounds. A black-market trade when used in more extreme ways.

CIVIC DUTY - The position a citizen of Deos is given within society. The position is awarded based on merit through religious devotion and public service.

CLEAVING - The act of cutting an T'eiryash tongue from their mouth to stop them speaking Gods’ Tongue.

CLEAVING PARTY - A group of people gathered together who intend to remove the tongue of a T'eiryash by force. They believe the tongue is the source for their ability to speak Gods’ Tongue and removal prevents their ability to Bespell the world.

COLLARLESS - A term used to refer to passengers who were born on the Kensillan Territory Rail and were therefore never forced to wear a collar.

CRIMSON BLADES - Blades made of blood that has been crystalised by a Hemopath. Can slide through flesh better than any steel blade. Made from a Hemopath’s own blood.

DANA (DAH-nah) - The Lycoan term for one's chosen life partner.

DEOS (Dee-OS) - One of the five nations of Idica, it is ruled by the Celestial Priesthood who are in direct communication with the Deogn Gods. A citizen’s position in society is based on their contributions to the religious and political systems. Also known as the Deogn Ecclesiarchy. The citizens are known as Deogns .

DEOGN SWEET LIMES - A red-skinned citrus fruit that only grows in Deos. It is similar to a blood orange and has a very distinct scent.

DEVOLVED HUMANS - The Prean term given to the descendants of those who were blessed with gifts by the gods. Those who are considered tainted by their association with the gods. They possess taints. Known as DEVOS for short.

EBONMAS - The darkest night of the year. On the 12th Day of Frostfall, a feast is thrown during the day, gifts are given in celebrations and to prevent the God Aubryn from stealing your love, you light bonfires to warm his heart, and offer him a plate of food. Celebrated all over Idica.

ECHO’S CRY - A high-frequency sound emitted by certain Echoes. If recorded, it can be used as a weapon by another person.

ELDERTIDES - Believed by the Kanahari to be the spirits of all living things, from rocks to mountains to trees and the rivers and the wolf. They believe that when one dies their spirit leaves the body and becomes an Eldertide which can be called upon for guidance in life. They claim the Eldertides can choose when and in what form they return to the living world.

ENIBON ISLANDS - A series of small islands off the coast of Torvar, inhabited by Terrestrial Brutes. Each island is home to a commune of a specific breed. Pacifists by nature.

ETRINA - Rieka’s black-handled dagger.

FARBOR ICE MINES - Ice mines owned by Athus. They mine the ice to provide water to certain parts of Prea, in particular Halinon. Utilised in a similar way to store-bought spring water.

GAAKRIIK - God's Tongue for Spell. The natural word for a T'eiryash to use when referring to the words in their heads, separate from the language itself. Gaakriikta is plural meaning spells.

GODS’ TONGUE - The language of the Gods. Written in a circular script, the language was purged from written records when the gods fell. What little knowledge is left exists in small parts. Archaic terms for taints, and carvings in architecture. The only known fluent speakers are The Gods Hold and T'eiryash .

HALINON - One of the five kingdoms of Prea and a member nation of the Prean Union. They are an absolute monarchy that is subject to the edicts of the Imperial City. They are in a constant state of war with The Gods Hold. The citizens are known as Haltians .

HELUM ROOT - A medicinal plant that is poisonous to all but Hemopaths.

IDICA - The continent containing Kensilla, Deos, Pazgar, Prea and The Gods Hold.

IMTA - The homes that Kanahari build. A hollow hut built to accommodate up to five generations of a single family. They are typically made from three substances, ice, stone and wood based on their geographic locations in The Hetra.

KANAHARI (CAN-ah-HAH-ree) - Humans and Devos who have called The Hetra home for thousands of years. They are a tribal people who live in village communities surrounding The White. They are pacifists and worship spirit entities called Eldertides.

KELTJAR - A mountain town in The Hetra, home to The Old Man’s Hearth and hot springs. Where Rieka has worked for the last six months.

KENSILLA - One of the five nations of Idica. It is a militant theocracy that claims to be a republic. Ruled by the Venerable Council under the guidance of the Kensillan Gods, The Core. They are known as the Kensillan Republic. Closed border nation. Devos are known to not exist within its borders. Citizens are known as Kensillans.

KHAREE - A dark brown liquid beverage made from bitter beans grown in Raysem, on the island of Pazgar. Similar to coffee.

KINDLING ORB - A spherical device used to provide warmth. When the two halves are rotated in opposite directions oxygen is sent through to a central hollow which fuels a small Kindling spark contained in the centre. The orb emits heat which the metal has been engineered to remain cool to the touch.

KYTON THE RED - One of The Nine. Believed to be the god who bestowed humans in Prea with the ability to wield blood.

LESAN - An annual procreation festival in Deos where citizens are encouraged to participate in sexual revelry. Aid in population growth. Prospective parents participate when struggling with infertility.

LIMINAL - A living statue. The result of an Alchemist transmuting a living organism into their element. They are alive, frozen in a moment.

LUMINOS - The light that Brights can emit from their bodies, often used as permanent light sources. Can be extracted and hardened.

LYCOA - One of the five kingdoms of Prea and a member nation of the Prean Union. They are a feudal monarchy that is subject to the edicts of the Imperial City. Encompassing mostly rivers and forests, they are a highly agrarian nation with their philosophical views divided between Prean Progressivism and practices taken from their former worship of The Nine. Citizens are known as Lycoans .

MARIAN 1 st MASSACRE - An event in Kensillan history that saw the extermination of all devolved humans in Kensilla, including the nobility and royal family.

ME’LAI - Lycoan rune for Unbound(unmarried).

ME’LAINA - Lycoan rune for Bound(married).

MENDING - The term used when an Organic uses their taint to heal a living organism.

METAMORPHIC STATE - The physical change a Brutes undergoes when using their Taint. A hybridised state where they appear more predator than human. They can call it on at will in part or whole. Can be externally induced through fear and violence.

MILITARY CASTE - One of the Six Castes of Deos. Ranked fifth in society. They are responsible for safeguarding the temples, maintaining order and defending the realm against external threats. They are highly disciplined and loyal to the priesthood. Predominantly Brutes.

NAVEN - The highest rank of society in The Republic of Kensilla. Identifiable by the gold brooch they wear. They receive their rank through either military accomplishment or via the possession of Thralls.

NOMEN - The lower working class of the Republic of Kensilla. Identifiable by the green brooch they wear. Nomen cannot normally afford the cost to own a Thrall so they lease them from Charter Companies.

NYAR - The General of Generals. She is the leader of The Core, the Kensillan Pantheon of Gods.

OLTISE - A former kingdom of Idica. It collapsed after the God Fall when their pantheon of gods, The Cardinals usurped power and chose to rule over the entire nation. They are now known as The Gods Hold .

PAZGAR - One of the five nations of Idica. It is an island nation ruled by seven powerful Devo families who formed The Pazgari Covenant to rule according to their own laws within their own cities. Citizens are known as Pazgari .

PESAI - An eyeshield worn in Deos to honour the Celestials. The material and colour dictate one’s caste and civic duty. Warriors pesai are painted, whilst others wear sheer fabrics. The highest-ranked citizens wear Fabricant-made silk lace. One must always be carrying it if not wearing it.

PHYTOTECHNICS - A skill possessed by Organics whereby they manipulate and control the living cells of plants.

PREA - The southernmost region of Idica. Home to the kingdoms of the Prean Union and the Imperial City. Citizens of Prea are known as Preans .

PREAN PROGRESIVISM - The scientific-based philosophical belief among the Kingdoms of the Prean Union that only through science can humanity progress. Practitioners pay homage to The Engineers, human scientists who aided in their societal progress.

PREAN UNION - A confederation of the kingdoms of Prea, formed as a result of The God Fall to protect their borders against those who would blame them for the Fall. All kingdoms retain their sovereignty but are bound by law to the rule of the Imperator.

PUPPETING - A Hemopath practice that grants them control over the body of another person, even against their will. Some are skilled enough to puppet an entire group of people.

RABID - Brutes who have lost all rational and reasoned thoughts and have grown wild, led only by their predatory instincts. Dangerous. Irreversible.

RINNISAR (Isle of the Mist) - The largest mine in Athus, the former God Isle of The Nine. It presided over Prea before the God Fall.

RUNES - A component of the Lycoan language. Used ceremonially, particularly as part of their Tattoo culture. Each Rune holds meaning and a reverse.

RUNNERS - Collarless passengers of the Kensillan Territory Rail who have sworn an oath to remain on the train and aid the passengers.

SCHOOL OF GEOMECHANICS - One of the nine Schools of Engineering. Where students study and create systems to control and manipulate the environment.

SCHOOL OF HYDROMECHANICS - One of the nine Schools of Engineering. Where students study the fluids of motion and create technology designed to use water as a fuel and an energy source.

SERF - Thralls of the Venerable Militar of the Republic of Kensilla.

SERVITORS - The Priests of the Deogn religion of Celestisum.

SEJA - The native language of the passengers of the Kensillan Territory Rail. The verbal components incorporate words from Old Prean and Old Kenar. It can also be spoken entirely with hand gestures.

SETRIA - One of the five kingdoms of Prea and a member nation of the Prean Union. They are an island ruled by four queens who are subject to the edicts of the Imperial City. They are a matriarchal society with a highly monitored class and marriage system that is extremely ridged over their borders. Citizens are known as Setrali .

SHADOWPORT - One of the seven major cities of Pazgar. Famous for their black market.

SHOCKLANCE - A technological weapon made using Spark electricity. The baton holds a permanent electric charge which will shock those who come into contact with it.

SPECTRAL - The term Rieka uses to refer to the visual images she sees when she converses with Tiny.

STILLED - A punishment enacted by a god upon a devolved human that makes them unable to use their taint.

SUL - The runic chest tattoo that Lycoan men and women receive during their life. It grows as they age due to adding and altering the runes. Only intimate eyes are permitted to see it, but only a Dana may touch it.

SUMMASAR (Isle of the Rising River) - A crater in The Republic of Kensilla, where the God Isle of The Core crashed. It presided over Kensilla before the God Fall.

SUNDERING - The voluntary act of a devolved human physically or chemically inhibiting their taint. Considered an extremely radical custom only practiced in Deos. Acts include snipping the webs of fingers and the amputation of wings. One is considered Sundered.

SYN CITY - One of the seven major cities of Pazgar. Famous for their gambling houses.

T'EIRYASH (t'eiryashta . plural) - A term used to refer to devolved humans whose biology doesn’t abide by lore. They are considered outcasts due to the unpredictable nature of their taints. They are born with the innate ability to affect the world through the use of Gods’ Tongue, causing humans to fear them. The Gods refer to them as " Mosla mi lushag" , meaning "One who steals from the divine."

TAHZI - A tribesmen of the Green Waste of Deos. They are considered heathens by the Celestial Offices since they don’t practice Celestisum.

TAINT - The gifts that devolved humans possess that make them “other” than human. These gifts were inherited from ancestors who were blessed by a god, and passed down choose.

TAOM THISTLE - A plant used in archaic medicine as a blood coagulant. Applied topically.

TERRA - Situated between the God’s Sphere and the Dark Sphere, this is the realm the gods built for humanity.

THATCHER’S WART - A flower that can be used to induce a coma.

THE BASTION - Headquarters of the Venerable Council and The Core.

THE BOROUGH - A neighbourhood in Aronbok used solely to house the military families of The Celestial Guard of Deos. Similar to terraced houses with internal courtyards.

THE CANTINA - A gambling and bar compartment on the Kensillan Territory Rail.

THE CARDINALS - The gods and absolute rulers of The Gods Hold. Total power over the nation.

THE CELESTIAL GUARD - The armed force that protects Deos, particularly in the capital.

THE CELESTIAL LIbrARY - A library inside the Celestial Offices of Deos boasting the most comprehensive collection of books on the continent. Exclusively used by Servitors and the Scholar Caste. Contains books and audibles

THE CELESTIAL OFFICES - The government headquarters for the Ecclesiarchy of Deos. Exclusively made up of the Priesthood.

THE CELESTIALS - The twelve gods of Deos. They rule from the Citadel in Aronbok. They represent the 12 major constellations. Each one is known by the golden mask they wear. Worshipers wear eyeshields to emulate them.

THE CHOSEN - Blessed of Deos selected to join the Gods in the God Sphere during Ascension. Selected between the ages of 18 - 20, a period known as a Cycle.

THE CITADEL - The central complex of the Celestial Offices. Home to the Celestials.

THE CITY WATCH - A contingent of the Celestial Guard whose duty is to protect their city. There is a unit in every town and major city of Deos including the capital.

THE CORE - The ten Gods of Kensilla. Militaristic. Also known as The God-Kings.

THE DARK SPHERE - The afterlife, a place where souls who failed to be raised to the God Sphere as stars go to, forced to serve VELIAH in the Necropolis.

THE DEEP WATERS - The river of light that runs through the Necropolis. It is the only source of light in the DARK SPHERE and must be collected daily by souls in service to VELIAH .

THE DEVOUT - One of the Six Castes of Deos. Ranked second in society. They are deeply religious and actively seek the favour of the gods. Considered to have unwavering faith in The Celestials. The Chosen are all members.

THE DISAVOWED - Citizens of Deos who have been deemed by the Celestial Offices and by Deogn law as unfaithful to the teachings of the Celestials. Punishment is banishment.

THE ETERNAL - One of the Celestials. Represented by the Hourglass constellation. Keeper of Time, Fate and Endings. Only god known to frequent the Dark Sphere. Associated with moths.

THE GOD FALL - An event which caused all the God Isles to fall from the sky and crash. After which the Gods ruled in person.

THE GOD ISLES - The former homes of the various pantheons. The five islands once floated in the God Sphere before falling to the earth during The God Fall.

THE GODS HOLD - The easternmost nation of Idica, neighbouring The Hetra and Halinon. It is ruled in totality by The Cardinals. The population is majority Devolved Human. They are in a constant state of war with Halinon. Humans are a minority species.

THE GOD SPHERE - Everything from the sky to the heavens. The realm of the gods and the former location of the God Isles. Belongs to the Gods.

THE GREEN WASTE - A vast grassland in the centre of Deos, home to the wandering Tahzi tribes.

THE HETRA - The tundra that surrounds the border of the arctic north. Home to the Kanahari.

THE IMPERATOR - An elected position, created by the Prean Union for a time when all the kingdoms of Prea should unite to protect the region. The Imperator serves a life term and resides in the Imperial City.

THE IMPERIAL CITY - A sovereign city-state, ruled by the Prean Imperator. A dangerous city.

THE NINE - The former Prean Pantheon. They disappeared after the God Fall. Believed to have lost their power during the rise of Prean Progressivism and now wander Prea disguised as humans.

THE OLD MAN’S HEARTH - The Inn where Rieka worked as a baker. Owned by Engar.

THE PRIMES - The former Gods of Pazgar.

THE RED GUARD - The personal guard of the current serving the Imperator. Made up entirely of Hemopaths.

THE SCHOOLS OF ENGINEERING - The nine Prean schools of science, founded by the Nine Engineers who served to further Prea’s societal progress.

THE SHADOW WEAVER - One of the Celestials. Represented by the Skull constellation. Keeper of Secrets and Master of Transformation. Believed to be the god who bestowed humans in Deos with the ability to wield blood.

THE TORPOR - A state that occurs when a Kindling exhausts their heat production or absorption capabilities and falls into a deep sleep state. Its purpose is to allow their body to heal. Time unconscious is dependent on the extent they used their taint.

THE VENERABLE COUNCIL - The leadership of The Republic of Kensilla. Made up of Military Generals and Admirals from the Army, Navy and Air Corps. Each one serves as the voice of a particular member of The Core.

THE VENERABLE MILITAR - The military of The Republic of Kensilla. Army, Navy and Air Corps. Made up of humans and devo serfs.

THE WHITE - The arctic north of Idica. Made up of ice and snow.

THRALL - Slaves of the Republic of Kensilla. Made up entirely of Devolved Humans.

TORBERRIES - A purple berry used to make wine and as an ingredient in pies.

TORVAR - One of the five kingdoms of Prea and a member nation of the Prean Union. They are a Diarchy, ruled by a King in the north and a Queen in the south of the Peninsular Nation. Their main technical advances are Hydromechanically based. Citizens are known as Torvians .

TOXICANT VAPOUR - The aerosol chemical some toxicants can produce. Predominantly extracted from Charmers and Voids.

TRAILMEN - Travellers of the safe paths through The Green Waste. They do so in wagons pulled by bio-engineered oxen.

TREASURED ONE - The voice of the Gods of Deos. A member of The Chosen who is awarded for their pure devotion to the Gods and ascends to the God Sphere as an Astral.

VELIAH - The Goddess of The Dark Sphere. Rules from the Necropolis. Rules over the souls of the dead.

VOID TRAPS - Mechanisms built using the chemicals produced by Void Toxicants , which are used to trap, capture and inhibit a devolved human from using their taint. Popular in the Republic of Kensilla.

WORSHIP SQUARE - A central gathering place situated outside the Citadel in the Deogn Capital of Aronbok, where citizens spread news of righteous achievements and immoral ones. Considered part of one’s daily activities.