Season of the Dragon, page 37
Bíduan (BEE-do-wahn): An ancient language spoken in the Pillars and by mages for spellwork.
Bivet: Gondola driver in Qülla. Sister of Caz and Luz.
Boy: Mishny’s kopek mount.
Brothers: The two suns of Menauld’s star system, Hiyadi and Niyadi.
Bruxia (BROO-zhee-uh): Usually women, a town’s healer and wise woman. Skilled in herblore. May have some knowledge and skill with Menaris, but most do not.
Castor (CAST-er): Warehouse owner in Qülla.
Chasm of Nil: The place one must cross to gain entry to the Val’Enara.
Cinwa (SIN-wah): Head Reeve of Qülla prison.
Conclave: The inner council of the Kovan Dynasty. Historically comprised of the master of each Māja and the Prelates of each Pillar. Exulted Héru, Xa’Vatra’s grandsire, dropped all Pillars from the Conclave except for Vatra Pillar. Later, Surya, Xa’Vatra’s father, dropped all but two of the major merchant houses (Māja Neyda and Māja Wix). The current Exulted, Xa’Vatra, kept her husband, Asar, on the Conclave as representative of Māja Neyda (he is her maternal cousin and Xa’Vatra’s mother was from Māja Neyda). Xa’Vatra further consolidated power by removing Māja Wix. The current Conclave consists of Xa’Vatra’s family (sisters, brothers, husband), and Prelate Vidar representing Vatra Pillar.
Corner: In the dominant theology in Indrasi, there are four elemental Corners, or “Ways” to which people belong. The two most popular are Enara (Water), and Vatra (Fire). The other two are Qüira (Ground/Rock), and Doka (Wood). A person that follows none of these is referred to pejoratively as “Cornerless.”
curd head: A derogatory term, referencing a person’s brain is like curdled milk.
Dajianta Forest (dah-ZHEE-ahn-tah): A dense temperate forest of mixed conifer and deciduous trees in the south/southeastern portion of Vindaô Province. The Dajianta is known to be haunted and cursed, so people rarely go there and the area around it is very sparsely populated. Though people could conceivably travel from Vindaô Province to the Sulmére in the south, the Dajianta Forest, the Lenxofré geyser fields, and Volenex create a nearly impenetrable barrier. Thus all trade between Vindaô and Sulmére goes north through the Suab’hora and Tikli, thus funneling trade through the taxation stations the Dynasty tightly controls.
dar: A unit of Indrasian money, worth ten pits.
darmanitong (dar-MAN-i-tong): A type of Nixan. Ugly, bottom feeding lake and river creatures.
Dauer (DOU-er): Druvna’s gaunt old kopek mount.
Djeuthui (ZHOOTH-wey): Xa’Vatra’s brother and a member of the Conclave.
Doj’Anira (DOHZH ah-NEAR-ah): “Twice Blessed.” A term that refers to people with eyes of two different colors, such as one green eye, one brown. The term originated in the Suab’hora Province, first used by Archon Altair of Val’Qüira Pillar. Originally used as a term of respect for people born with a spirit containing equal parts of two Corners, the terms was co-opted by the Kovan Dynasty and twisted to ugly purpose.
Doj’Badi (DOHZH BAH-dee): “Blessed Father.” The masculine aspect of the creator godhead.
Doj’Enara: “Blessed Waters.” Not to be confused with Doj’Anira (see Doj’Anira entry), Doj’Enara is busy trading port in the southern bay of Bardivia. The name “Blessed Waters” refers not to the literal water in the bay, but to the prized wines from the region.
Doj’Madi (DOHZH MAH-dee): “Blessed Mother.” The feminine aspect of the creator godhead.
Doka (DOH-kah): One of the four elemental corners, Doka represents wood, but more generally plants, growth, healing, and renewal.
Drago’Sorceri (DRAGOH sor-SAIR-ee): A sub-type of Rajani shapeshifter, these Rajani have skill and powers of both sorcery and dragomancing.
dragomancer: A person who can control dragons with a skill known as the Rend. All dragomancers are Rajani, but not all Rajani are dragomancers.
dragos (DRAG-ohs): Translates roughly as “of dragons.” Can refer to dragons, or anything relating to dragons.
Dragos Sol’iberi (SOHL-i-bairee): Dragon cult in Indrasi.
Dragos Teplo: “Age of Dragons.”
drey (DRAY): A herd animal throughout Indrasi. Dreys have horns like goats, long hair that can be sheered like alpaca, and are squat like sheep. Prized for their meat and milk (used primarily to make cheese), their hides are more supple than thukna hides and often used for clothing items.
Duple di Marc (DOOP-l dee MARK): A gambling gamed played with cards and domino-sized tiles. A favorite pastime in Qülla.
Earnôt (air-NO-eet): A human trafficker in the Tikli Province.
Embrir (EM-breer): Small village in Suab’hora Province, north of the Niri Bridge, on the Trinity road.
Enara (e-NAIR-ah): On of the four elemental corners, Enara represents water, ice and steam. Patron goddess is Lumine.
Fano (FAN-oh): A traveling blacksmith and Quen’s friend.
Finira (fin-EER-ah): Proprietor of the Exulted Inn in the town of Embrir in the Suab’hora Province.
First Kin: In the Sulmére, the relative responsible for the family. Primarily the father, but if the father is deceased, then the mother, and if she is deceased too, then the oldest child. First Kin make decisions for “unbound” family members, i.e. people who are not bound to a herdclan or have a family of their own. A First Kin could also be named for an incapacitated adult.
gib-rig (jib-rig): Flying gondolas found in the capital.
Ginarli (JIN-ar-lee): Town in northwest portion of Suab’hora Province, near Val’Qüira.
gliniri (glin-EER-ee): A type of reedy grass that grows during wet season along rivers in the Sulmére Province.
Hauké (HOW-kay): Xa’Vatra’s brother and a member of the Conclave.
heja (HAY-jah): A smokeable herb used in pipes. Calming. Not a hallucinogen.
Hem: A guard who works for Anu’Bida.
Hiyadi (hee-YAH-dee): The larger sun in Menauld’s double star solar system. It is approximately the same size and brightness as Earth’s sun.
Hooxaura (who-ZHOR-ah): The guardian spirit that guards the Chasm of Nil and protects the path to Val’Enara.
huson pine (HUSS-on): Not truly a “pine.” A reedy plant that grows during the wet season. Prized for its pleasant but strong-smelling oil used to mask the pungent odor of kopeks. The oil is also a powerful anti-bacterial.
Ilkay/Saga of Ilkay: A fictional character. The Saga of Ilkay is a popular heroic saga, first an epic poem told by bards, and more recently one of the first books in Indrasi. The story tells of a young woman’s heroic battle to rescue her aging father from a dragon’s lair.
Indrasian Dakon Kovan: A great warrior, credited with killing the Winter Dragon which ended the first Dragos Teplo and ushered in the Nemo Teplo. He united much of the continent under a common language and rule. Indrasian’s reign began what is commonly referred to as the First Era, or Dakon Era (0-1022 NT). Indrasi is now in its third era.
Ishnay ôhmla cureā: A spell to calm a beast or person. The language is ancient Bíduan (see Bíduan entry).
Ishnay recine: A spell to still someone or freeze them in place.
Ishtu Era (ISH-too): The second era of the Kovan Dynasty, it lasted from 1022-1267 NT. A proto democracy and loose republic of the four provinces. The Ishtu government proved weak as wealthy merchant families in Qülla and Bardivia had already created dynasties of their own. The result was chaos with varying laws, decrees, and edicts depending on which family ruled a particular area. These dynastic families united and ousted the Ishtu government in 1267 when they installed the Kovan dynastic government (though they did not intend the Kovans to usurp the level of power the family has today).
Jagaru (JAG-ah-roo): Vigilante justice groups that patrol the Sulmére Province.
Jijig (ZHEE-zhig): A dragon.
Jima Clan (JEE-mah): The largest and most prosperous herdclan in the Sulmére. Liodhan bound into this clan.
Juinar (JOO-in-ar): A small village in Tikli Province and on the Trinity Road. Two days south of Tilaj Gate.
Juka (JOO-kah): Goddess of wind, air, and æther. Unlike the other elementals, Juka is unaffiliated with a Corner. Known as a trickster and unpredictable, people should pray to Juka with caution as one never knows how she’ll answer prayers. Helpful and antagonistic toward humans in equal measure.
Juka-jod: Jagaru members who use wind magic to track people. Druvna’s small Jagaru pod doesn’t have a Juka-jod.
kabu stalk (KAH-boo): A sugary reed that grows by rivers. Sweet and a powerful stimulant. Jagaru and others suck on the stalk to stave off hunger and given energy on long rides through the Sulmére.
Kensai (KEN-sahy): Designation for a person who has achieved mastery of the novice stage at one of the Pillars (also called Ascended, especially within the Pillars). One can achieve Kensai level without taking vows at a Pillar. All levels after Kensai require vows of commitment to a Pillar.
Kentaro (KEN-tar-oh): A level above Kensai at the Pillars. Kentaros take vows to a Pillar, but some work outside the Pillar (for example, Kovatha mages that work for the Dynasty, most of whom have taken vows at Val’Vatra Pillar.
kopek (KOH-pek): The preferred mount animal in the Sulmére Province and unique to the continent of Indrasi. Hairless, skin pigments range from dark tan to nearly black. Like a hairless cross between a horse and camel.
Kovan Dynasty (KOH-van): The current ruling Dynasty. The current Exulted, head of the Kovan Dynasty, is Xa’Vatra.
Kovan Era: The current era that began in 1267 NP. The five most powerful Mājas in Suab’hora Province, with the backing of the Mājas in Bardivia, ousted the Ishtu proto democracy. The Kovans, descended from Indrasian Dakon Kovan, first ruler of Indrasi, garnered a vote to install their patriarch as the first Exulted. Notably, Bardivia did not agree to this new arrangement, and has been an independent city-state operating within Kovan Dynasty territory (though treaties manage a tenuous arrangement for Kovan border defenses in exchange for levies). The Cadre became the Conclave, the inner counsel to the Exulted. Raj’jin di Kovan was the first Exulted and is Xa’Vatra’s great grandfather. With golden amber eyes, he was said to be blessed by Hiyadi.
Kovar (KOH-var): A unit of money. Silver Kovars are a similar unit of measure to a dollar or pound Stirling. Gold Kovars are worth anywhere from five to twenty times a silver Kovar, depending on the area of Indrasi and economy.
Kovatha (koh-VAH-tha): Mages that work for the Dynasty as tax collectors and the long arm of the law throughout Indrasi.
Lakmi River (LAK-mee): Large river on the eastern edge of Solia.
Lenxofré (LEN-zhoh-frey): A region of geysers and sulfurous hot springs in the Vindaô Province, northeast of Volenex and south of the Dajianta Forest.
ligos (lee-gohs): A strategy game played with runed stones and molded leather game pieces on a leather “board” (which doubles as the carrying case). A favorite game in the Sulmére. A battle game, the “sides” can be any faction the players choose, such as opposing herdclans, or Bardivia vs Qülla.
Linzaô: A small town in Tikli Province on the coast.
Lumine: The moon in the Menauld solar system. Lumine is part of the Trinity, along with the "Brothers," the two suns (Hiyadi and Niyadi). Lumine is also known as the Sister, and the Watcher of the Night. She is the patron goddess of Enara Pillar/Corner, and is associated with water.
Lyas (LAHY-uhs): A gib-rig operator in Qülla.
Madi (MAH-dee): “Mother,” especially in reference to the “Great Mother,” the feminine aspect of the Creator godhead.
Māja (MEY-zhah): Merchant houses and guilds found in Qülla, Bardivia, and Partha. Mājas rule the cities Partha and Bardivia, while in Qülla, the Mājas have lost power over the past two generations as the Kovan Dynasty has grown in power.
Māja Wix: One of the oldest Mājas in Qülla, formed at the same time as the Kovan Māja formed (later to become the Kovan Dynasty, ruling family of Indrasi).
Menaris (men-AIR-is): A term for magic, but refers specifically to human magic as mediated through elemental gods and spirits and the planet, Menauld.
Menauld (MEN-ahld): The world on which the story takes place.
Mistress Idaya (AHY-day-ah): Matron of Māja Wix.
Mitosh River (MAHY-tosh): A river that runs southwesterly in the Suab’hora Province.
Morana: Xa’Vatra’s sister and a member of the Conclave.
moss-brained squib: An insult, and one of Druvna’s favorites for the young members of his Jagaru pod.
Mt. Néru (NEY-roo): An odd land formation in the capital resembling a spoon hovering over the city, location of the Palace di Solis.
Nabu (NA-boo): Quen’s kopek mount.
Naja (NAH-zhah): A dragon.
Niezhan (NEE-zhahn): A great white dragon with yellow eyes.
Nilva (NEEL-vah): Sulmére rite for the dead and pyre.
Niri Bridge (NEER-ee): Bridge over the Suab’hora River chasm that spans the border between Tikli and Suab’hora provinces.
Niyadi (NEE-yah-dee): The smaller of the two suns in Menauld’s solar system. About the size of Earth’s moon, when in close Menauld orbit, the same brightness as Earth’s moon. Niyadi’s orbit, however, is elliptical and it currently is on its journey to the outer Menauld solar system. The full orbit takes two generations. When Niyadi travels to the outer solar system, people believe he goes to Vay’Nada, the shadow realm.
Nojyro (NOH-zheer-oh): Nixan shapeshifters and members of the Dragos Sol’iberi cult, but not Rajani (i.e. they do not have dragomancing abilities). Beast form not limited to avian.
Nomo Teplo (NOH-moh TEP-loh): “Age of Man.” Abbreviated as NP.
nys’t (NIST): A powerful narcotic and painkiller, derived from the Nystrem plant, a river’s edge flower.
Nyx: Xa’Vatra’s sister and a member of the Conclave.
O’Dishi/O’Dishi Chants (OH-DEE-shee): Healing prayer spells performed by Bruxia.
Orrokan Arts (OR-oh-kahn): Martial and defensive training taught at the Pillars, including training in use of weapons such as bow, swords, daggers, and staff. Val’Vatra Pillar focuses almost exclusively on Orrokan teachings, while Val’Enara and Val Doka focus on defense and Orrokan training to strengthen the mind.
Owaanir (oh-WAHN-eer): A dragon.
Palace di Solis: The home of the Exulted, ruler of Indrasi and head of the Kovan Dynasty.
Partha: A prosperous city-state in Tinox, across the Straits of Minea from Qülla.
Path of a Thousand Waters: The stone stair path that leads up the mountain to Val’Enara. Guarded by a spirit, Hooxaura.
Phisma Tar Pits (FISH-mah): Tar pits south of Val’Vatra Pillar and north of Volenex.
Pillar: The place where people study Vaya di Menaris (“The Way of Magic”), Vaya di Solis (“The Way of the Gods”), and Vaya di Orrokan (“The Way of War”), together known as “The Way.” There are four Pillars in Indrasi, one for each elemental Corner, or “Way.”
pit: A unit of Indrasian money. A base unit similar to a cent or pence.
prelate: Administrator at a Pillar, second to the Archon.
Promena (proh-MEE-nah): A Nixan shapeshifter’s first metamorphosis from human to beast form, and when the exact beast form is known. For the Dragos Sol’iberi, time when determined whether the Nixan is gifted with the Rend dragomancing ability.
Quipwi (KEEP-wee): Seasonal village on the Lakmi River, north of The Staves.
Qüira (KOO-EER-ah): Elemental earth, ground, soil, and stone.
Qülla (KOO-lah): Capital of both Suab’hora Province and of all Indrasi. Seat of power for the Kovan Dynasty.
Rajani (rah-JAH-nee): A specific type of Nixan shapeshifter, Rajani always take avian form when they shapeshift, and they have the gift of the “rend,” which allows them to control dragons. Some Rajani are blessed with sorcery as well, and they are referred to as Drago’Sorceri (see Nevara).
ranju (RAN-joo): Huge tortoise-like creatures in the Sulmére. Herdclan children often ride juvenile ranju as the creatures are docile and well adapted to the desert.
ranka (RANG-kah): A unit of Indrasian money worth twenty-five to thirty pits, depending on region. (See entry for pits.)
rend: Ability used by Rajani dragomancers to control dragons.
Rising: A novice at a Pillar. Juveniles from wealthy or noble-born families study at the Pillars, and most go no further than the novice designation. If one chooses to continue study at the Pillar beyond the Rising level, the person is tested and if they pass, will be designated Ascended, also known as Kensai.
