Swarm and Steel, page 42
Fregolist (Fregoli Delusion): Believe various people are actually the same person in disguise.
Gefahrgeist (Sociopath): Sociopaths lack empathy (the ability to feel for the pain and suffering of others) and morality. They are driven by their need to achieve and rule in social circles.
Geisteskranken (Delusionist): Reality is responsive to the beliefs of humanity. Under normal circumstances it requires large numbers of people—all believing the same thing—to affect change. The more people who believe something, the more real their belief becomes. Geisteskranken are capable of believing something so utterly and completely—are insane enough—to affect noticeable changes in reality all by themselves. Most are only mildly neurotic and can cause minor or subtle changes. The truly powerful are also that much more deranged.
Getrennt: (Depersonalization Disorder): Disconnected from one’s body, detached from own thoughts and feelings. Disconnected from reality. These folks often feel as if they live in a dream state (some will deny reflection in a mirror is theirs, and can be confused with Mirrorists. Some have out-of-body experiences. Depression, low self-esteem, panic attacks, self-harm, and extreme phobias often result. Some feel as though time is ‘passing’ them by and they are not in the notion of the present. Getrennt are also often comorbidic and suffer from Unwirklichkeit (Derealization).
Halluzin (Hallucinations): These folks are capable of manifesting hallucinations in one or more senses. Minor Halluzin might just cause people to smell whatever the Geisteskranken is thinking about. Powerful Halluzin can hallcinate in all five senses and twist local reality.
Hassebrand (Pyromaniac): Set fires as an outlet for their repressed rage and loneliness.
Intermetic (Syndrome of Intermetamorphosis): Believe people swap identities with each other while maintaining the same appearance.
Inverse Square Law: (Inverse Square): The further one gets from a Geisteskranken, the weaker the effect of their delusions. Stand next to a Gefahrgeist, and you’ll soon be desperate to be their best friend. View that same Gefahrgeist from a safe distance, and you’ll see them for the manipulative arse they are. As a Geisteskranken’s mental state decays—and their delusions gain in strength—the range of that power increases, but the inverse square law still applies. There are rare exceptions, where the Geisteskranken’s delusions pertain specifically to distant objects.
Kleptic (Kleptomaniac): Are compelled to steal things (usually of little or no value). They are often not even aware they’ve committed the theft.
Körperidentität: Body Integrity Disorder: The belief life would be so much better as an amputee. The feeling is accompanied by the actual urge to amputate one or more healthy limbs to actually follow through on those feelings.
Krankheit: (Somatoform Disorder): Believe they are always sick and or injured to the point that they are. Extreme cases believe they have lost bodily functions—they might become blind, deaf, numb, or paralysed due to their delusions. These folks are often comorbidic and Dysmorphic as well, believing a limb is particularly weak and withering.
Macropic: (Macropsia): Objects are perceived to be larger than they are … and so they become larger. This could apply to a person, limb, or object of any type. A spider can be seen to be the size of a house. Run! These folks are responsible for many of the world’s monsters. This is sometimes combined with Micropesia.
Mass Delusion: Some Geisteskranken are capable of convincing the sane masses of all manner of craziness. Typically the stolid beliefs of the sane masses counteract the delusions of the insane. There are however exceptions to that rule. If a Geisteskranken gains followers at a slow enough rate, they can effectively create a new normal. The beliefs of the Geisteskranken become the beliefs of the masses. This is particularly common with the smarter Slaver-type Gefahrgeist. Erbrechen Gedanke (Beyond Redemption) is a perfect example. In these cases, the belief of the masses actually supports the Geisteskranken increasing their ability to twist reality and the range of that ability.
Mehrere (Schizophrenic): Are so sure they are more than one person … they actually are! The various people they become can have wildly varying physical and mental traits. The truly deranged can be an entire crowd of people; either one at a time, or all at once.
Micropic: (Micropsia): Objects are perceived to be smaller than they are … and so they become smaller. This could apply to a person, limb, or object of any type. These folks can shrink you down to the size of an ant or turn your home into a doll-house. This is sometimes combined with Micropesia.
Mirrorist (Eisoptrophobia): Some believe the reflection in a mirror is someone other than themselves. Some Mirrorists believe their reflections know things, can see the future, or travel freely between different mirrors (useful for long distance communication). Others believe mirrors are portals to other worlds or dimensions. Some Mirrorists fear their reflections are trying to escape where others fear their reflections are trying to drag them into the mirror.
Narcisstic: (Narcissism): A personality disorder where the patient has an exaggerated sense of self-importance and individuality. The excessively crave attention and admiration and tend to be preoccupied by grandiose fantasies about themselves. They find interpersonal relationships difficult and tend to exploit others and lack empathy.
Phobic: Anyone suffering a strong phobia.
Somatoparaphrenic (Somatoparaphrenia): Believe one or more limbs (sometimes an entire half of their body) belongs to someone else. Often this means they have no control over that limb. In extreme cases the limb develops a ‘mind of its own’ with its own agenda.
Synesthesia: (Synesthesia): is a disorder resulting in the sufferer experiencing an alternate sense as a result of the first sense. Ex: experiencing the sense of sight as the sense of taste.
The Pinnacle: The ultimate leveller of the playing field. Embracing one’s delusions comes with a price. Sure, holding one’s emotional scars tight and constantly picking at one’s mental wounds might cause a Geisteskranken to grow in power, but embracing insanity is not healthy. As a Geisteskranken loses their grip on reality they become stronger, more able to utterly believe all manner of insane shite. As their sanity crumbles apart the range and strength of their delusions increases. Eventually, however, those delusions come to completely define that Geisteskranken’s reality. They take over. That moment, that teetering instant when delusion crushes sanity, is The Pinnacle and, for a brief instant, the Geisteskranken might become so powerful as to challenge the gods. Unfortunately, (at least for them) they are no longer sane enough to do anything with that power. What happens after depends on the delusions in question. A Mirrorist might be dragged into the mirror by his reflections. The Doppelgangist might be replaced by a Doppel. The Hassebrand might incinerate themselves in an orgy of flame.
Therianthrope (Therianthropy): Believe they are possessed by (or sometimes were born with) animal spirits. Many believe they can transform partially (or completely) into their animal form.
Trichotillic: (Trichotillomania): a disorder resulting the urge to pull out hair (facial or otherwise). The ritual activity brings comfort to the afflicted.
Unwirklichkeit: (Derealization): The external world seems unreal, lacking spontaneity, depth, or emotional impact. This is most commonly a comorbidic disorder and occurs as a symptom of other disorders. This can manifest as something separating the Geisteskranken from the rest of reality. A wall of glass, thick fog, or gauzy veil are common manifestations of that separation. Sometimes the sufferer believes reality is actually just a particularly intricate play they are watching.
Wahnist: (Schizophrenia): A Form of Schizophrenia (false beliefs): Includes: believing people can hear your thoughts, that you are famous, or (falsely) believing the Geborene are out to get you.
Wendigast: (Wendigo Psychosis): An insatiable craving for human flesh. Typically the person will become a demonic monster, but still recognizable from human origins. This is more common in the tribes to the far north where every winter starvation becomes an issue. In appearance they combine the emaciation of severe starvation—along with open sores—with demonic strength. They also stink of death and decay. Some turn into massive giants, growing in strength and size as they eat. These guys have nothing to do with Chuck Wendig. I have no idea if he eats human flesh.
Wütend: (Amok, or Militant Explosive Disorder): Periods of brooding followed by a berserker killing frenzy (usually armed with a sword or knife) against people or objects. Most Wütend are killed during their frenzy or commit suicide after, but the few who survive typically have no memory of the event.
GLOSSARY
Abgeleitete Leute: Semi-mythological city populated solely by copies of a single Mehrere. This Mehrere is said to believe that he is many different people and that no two of his copies look or act the same.
Albtraum: The nightmares of man given flesh. These creatures take shapes relevant to those they haunt. They feed off the delusional and mostly attack Geisteskranken.
Aufenthalt: Independent city-state.
Auseinander: A kingdom defeated by the Sieger Clans. A Sieger Geisteskranken lost control during the Battle of Sinnlos after raising an army of the dead. The Kingdom is now populated by the raised undead and ruled by what was the strongest of the Geisteskranken’s inner demons.
Basamortuan Desert: East of the city-states.
Befallen: (Ekbom’s Syndrome): Believe they are infested with parasites, bugs, or insects crawling on or under the skin.
Bide Sinple (In the ancient and long dead language of the Basamortuan tribes): A Basamortuan philosophy routed in the idea that the simplest path is usually the correct one. This isn’t just a case of choosing the path of least resistance, but also of achieving one’s goals with the least fuss and effort.
Bizkarrezurra erantsita (In the ancient and long dead language of the Basamortuan tribes): The ultimate trophy is to collect an opponent’s head with the spine still attached. The complete version of the ritual involves forcing the victim’s soul from the belly—where it resides—into the skull by filling the belly with sand. For best results, this must be done while the victim is still alive.
Blutblüte: Zerfall’s rather plain looking sword. She believes it is unbreakable and that Wahrergott gave it to her. It never dulls, never needs sharpening.
Borrokalaria: Harea’s Hall of Blooded Warriors in the Afterdeath.
Buruzagi (In the ancient and long dead language of the Basamortuan tribes): Basamortuan for Chief of the tribe.
Düster Snake: Deadly poisonous snake found in the Basamortuan desert.
Etsaiaren: Tribe of the Basamortuan desert, sworn enemies of the Hasiera tribe.
Flussrand River: The physical boundary defining the border between the Kingdom of Gottlos and the Theocratic Kingdom of Selbsthass.
Folgen Sienie: Small city on the eastern border of Reichweite.
Geborene Damonen: Believe that the universe was not created by the gods, that somehow it came before them, and that humanity created the gods with their desperate need to believe in something.
Ausgebrochene : Tribals living on the edge of the Gezackt Mountains, north of Auseinander. The tribal wisemen—Salbei—practice the art of moving their souls and possessing inanimate objects.
Geldangelegenheiten: Extremely prosperous city-state, commonly referred to as Geld by its inhabitants. Centre of the Verzweiflung Banking Conglomerate. Centre of the Täuschung.
Geld Guard: City guard of Geldangelegenheiten.
Geldwechsler: Hats worn by members of the Verzweiflung Banking Conglomerate. Colour and size denotes rank. The darker and more somber, the larger and more uncomfortable, the higher the rank of the wearer.
Gottlos: Grubby little Kingdom run by King Dieb Schmutzig who had been the previous king’s greatest general. Dieb is a fairly powerful Gefahrgeist.
Selbsthass City: Capital of Selbsthass. Home to Konig Furimmer, High Priest of the Geborene Damonen.
Grenzstadt: Walled city on the eastern edge of Geldangelegenheiten. Stands between the city-state and the tribes of the Basamortuan desert.
Grunlugen: Independent city-state ruled by a family of petty Gefahrgeist.
Harea: God of the desert, worshipped by most tribes of the Basamortuan Desert.
Hasiera: Jateko’s tribe.
Heriotza: Basamortuan goddess of death.
Hildako (In the ancient and long dead language of the Basamortuan tribes): The wandering spirits of those who have died and have neither been accepted by Harea or Ascended into some local watering-hole godling.
Hilen deabru (In the ancient and long dead language of the Basamortuan tribes): The undying, whose souls have been rejected by Harea, god of the Basamortuan Desert. Linked with Cotardists.
Hil Ostean: The Basamortuan Afterdeath. Ruled by Heriotza, goddess of death.
Hiria ero (In the ancient and long dead language of the Basamortuan tribes): Dismissive/insulting term for the people of the city-states.
Kälte Mountains: Mountain range to the north of Geldangelegenheiten.
Karpan: Tent, large enough for an entire extended family. Plural is karpa.
Krieger: The warrior sect of the Geborene Damonen.
Leichtes Haus: Tavern in Selbsthass City
Menschheit Letzte Imperium: The last of humanity’s great empires to fall. This entire continent had once been united under a single despotic ruler, perhaps the greatest Gefahrgeist ever to live.
Mitteldirne: Capital of Gottlos.
Müll Loch: Birthplace of Stehlen.
Neidrig: City just beyond the north-western border of Selbsthass.
Oihal: Long flowing robes worn by most tribes.
Pozoia: Cured nuggets of cactus guts. Highly hallucinogenic.
Rand: City belonging to the Auseinander Kingdom
Reichweite: Small kingdom west of Selbsthass, beyond the free cities (including Neidrig).
Ruchlos Arms: Inn located in Neidrig
Salbei: Witch doctors of the Ausgebrochene tribes. They practice the art of moving their spirits into inanimate objects and possessing them.
Santu Itsasoa (In the ancient and long dead language of the Basamortuan tribes): The Sea of Souls. Where souls rejected by Harea are taken to wait out eternity.
Schatten Morder: Cotardist assassins of the Geborene Damonen.
Schlammstamm: Nomadic grassland tribes whose society is based around who owns the most horses. At the centre of each tribe is a deranged shaman who thinks he can control the weather and talk to tribal ancestors.
Schlangenbeschwörer: Therianthrope snake charmers of the SumpfStamm swamp tribes found at the mouth of the Wüten River.
Schwarze Beerdigung: Tavern in Neidrig
Selbsthass City: Capital of Selbsthass.
Selbsthass: Theocratic kingdom. Ruled by a reflection of Konig Furimmer, High Priest of the Geborene Damonen. Originally an independent kingdom with its own royal family, Selbsthass long ago fell under the sway of the Geborene. The strength of the religion’s faith conquered the Kingdom in a bloodless coup and the royal family stepped down.
Sinnlos: Small city located on the border of Auseinander and the lands held by the Sieger Clans. Famous only due to the fact that the final battle between the Sieger and the Auseinander occurred here.
Sorgin (In the ancient and long dead language of the Basamortuan tribes): Shaman, witch doctor, healer, wise-one
SumpfStamm: Snake-worshipping tribes found in the swamps at the mouth of the Wüten River.
Swarm: The hallucinated hell of the Täuschung.
Täuschung: A dark cult worshipping deception and illusion. The ranking priests are powerful Geisteskranken, most being Halluzin.
Traurig: City in the Kingdom of Geldangelegenheiten. Birth place of Wichtig.
Unbedeutend: Backwater kingdom that’s been at war with itself for three generations.
Unbrauchbar: Small city just within the borders of the Kingdom of Gottlos.
Verrottung Loch: The worst tavern in all of Neidrig.
Verschlinger: A tribe of savages in the far north who believe they gain strength and wisdom by devouring their foes. The Verschlinger do not believe in an Afterdeath.
Verteidigung: Garrisoned city to the north of Selbsthass City.
Verzweiflung Banking Conglomerate: Organized banks/money lenders based in the kingdom of Geldangelegenheiten.
Wahnvor Stellung: The largest and most powerful religion. They believe the gods are crazy. Crazy enough, in fact, that through sheer divine belief, they created the universe and everything within it. Only truly insane creatures could believe strongly enough to create something this complex. They worship the old gods that pre-date recorded history.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AS ALWAYS, FIRST I must thank my wife and daughter. You keep me grounded, you keep me sane. You are the lights of my life and the centers of my universe. All I am orbits around you two. Hmm. Kinda want to write some science fiction now.
My agent, Cameron McClure, deserves a special thanks for this one. Long before you, the reader, gets to see any of this, before the publisher sees the first manuscript, Cameron reads my books. She critiques them. She is honest, and sometimes blunt to the point where I flop about the floor hemorrhaging blood. Ok. Slight exaggeration. When Cameron read Swarm and Steel she sent back several pages (soooo many pages) of notes and suggestions. There was one suggestion in there—a question, really—that triggered a landslide. The book changed. The characters changed. The ending changed. I suddenly saw everything in a different light (there was a lot more red). The rewrite was massive and the end product is something I could not have achieved without her input. This book is so much better than the one I first wrote. Thank you!
There are so many amazing fantasy-related communities online and I’d love to a part of all of them, but if I did that I wouldn’t have time left for writing. There are three where I spend most of my time. If you’re unaware of them, look ‘em up and you’ll find me there. The Grimdark Fiction Readers and Writers Facebook group is friendly and supportive and awesome. Marc Aplin’s Fantasy-Faction is a champion of all things fantasy. Whenever I’m trying to decide what to read next, FF is my first stop. And finally, the r/Fantasy subreddit. A great community and an excellent place to find fantasy-related topics and discussions.
