Fantasy novels have a tendency to generate a lot of wacky nouns. As I release The Childseeker's War, I'll also update, organize, and maintain this glossary of terms to help folks who want some reference points.
[ List of Parts ]
People
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Frix of Bit All-bit-tel | ⭐ Protagonist / MC1 / POV1. Frix for short. Member of the All-bit-tel triadic families. Tail-runner (sentry) of Mossa's Seedwind unit. |
| Junelight Re'Sha | ⭐ Protagonist / MC2 / POV2. June for short. Magic user. She is the eponymous 'childseeker,' for her son Uliyah was kidnapped by a Soulcrafter named Plasivé the Poacher. She has entered a tenuous alliance with Bettine of All to track down her mark and rescue her son. |
| Mossalea of Ran Got-ran-pal | Mossa for short. Frix's love interest and technically his superior officer. Shoot-lead (leader) of a Seedwind unit. |
| Dreff of Tel All-bit-tel | Salty older member of the Seedwind. Nose-runner (scout). Swinn's older brother. |
| Swinn of Tel All-bit-tel | Chill younger member of the Seedwind. Nose-runner (scout). Dreff's younger brother. |
| Bettine of All All-bit-tel | Head of Spark for the All-bit-tel triad. She also wants to find Plasivé the Poacher, but for different reasons—to recover a powerful enchanted weapon. |
| Turner Vetteris | A boy from the "witch" village. Atrocity's younger brother. |
| Atrocity Vetteris | A girl from the "witch" village. Sometimes goes by 'City. Turner's older sister. |
| Zoey-Lee Vetteris | A young girl from the "witch" village. The third Vetteris sibling. |
| Drigg of Tel All-bit-tel | Head of Seed All-bit-tel. Likely related to Dreff and Swinn. |
| Ottrah of Bit All-bit-tel | Head of Root All-bit-tel. Likely related Frix. |
| Tanggo of Bon Hel-hos-bon | Head of Root for the Hel-hos-bon triad. |
| Japper | Minor character. Spoke out of turn before we knew his full family association. Was silenced by Bettine. |
| Plasivé the Poacher | Junelight's mark. Xey kidnapped her son. |
| "Lefty" aka Pell | One of Junelight's bodyguards. |
| "Righty" | One of Junelight's bodyguards. |
| Ennie of Bit All-bit-tel | Frix's mother. Wife to Barrod of Bit. |
| Barrod of Bit All-bit-tel | Frix's father. Husband to Ennie of Bit. |
| Callum of Bit All-bit-tel | Frix's younger brother. |
| Uliyah Re'Sha | Junelight's son. Kidnapped by Plasivé the Poacher. |
| Vebba of Tel All-bit-tel | A cousin of Dreff's, about Callum's age. |
| Hobb of Bit All-bit-tel | A cousin of Frix's, about Callum's age. |
| Mill of Pal Got-ran-pal | A cart driver with a bad leg. |
| Roddem of Fal | Sentry, crossdart wielder |
| Viktor Velessi | Torchkeeper ("mayor / leader") of Wood Ribbon South. |
| Kelron Doci | Town Anchor ("chief of security") of Wood Ribbon South. |
| Luminary Drageling-la | Junelight's superior officer in the Ghost Tide. |
| Boyd | A citizen of Wood Ribbon South. |
Places
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Royth | The larger country (also called an Aspect) in which the story takes place. |
| Firelock Region | A province in Royth which contains the Callipsus |
| Callipsus Forest | An area in Royth. Distinct geography: a lush forest in a valley between two large mountain ranges. Low population, largely unsettled, with the major exception of the Pinedeck metropolis. |
| Pinedeck | One of Royth's most important cities, especially in the time period during The Childseeker's War. It is Royth's only operating Keynode City (the other two were lost to a major catastrophe), causing it to become a massive trade nexus. |
| The River Rainroot | A key river in the Callipsus forest region. Revered and considered sacred by the triadic peoples. |
| Wood Ribbon South | "The Witch Town" to the triadic people. This is Atrocity and Turner's home. |
| Wood Ribbon North | Another witch town. |
| Point Starfire | An outpost used by the triadic peoples. It is the muster point closest to the Witch Town. |
| The Worldspun Archipelago | The only continental area of Culdur. It is located opposite the Heirbrosse supercontinent. |
| Fosterly Isles | Junelight's home, presumably. |
Things
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Witch | Derogatory term for magic users, used by the triads. |
| Falsesparker | Derogatory term for triadic people, used by the magic users. Fun fact: this novel's working title was Falsesparker until it was completed. |
| Seedblessed | A ritual and marking used on weapons and objects, classifying them as sacred to a particular family. Also works as a mild curse word! |
| Seedwind | A military unit used by the triads to conduct stealth, scouting, and sabotage missions. |
| Shoot-lead | Seedwind commander. |
| Sparkcamp | A temporary campsite. |
| Rockpunch | Explosive powder, analogous to gunpowder. |
| Bole-marshal | Leaders in the triadic military. Shoot-leads report to them. |
| Head of Spark | Highest rank in a triad, the leader. |
| Head of Root | Second in command of a triad, along with the Head of Seed. |
| Head of Seed | Second in command of a triad, along with the Head of Root. |
| Nose-runner | Scouts and point persons within a Seedwind. |
| Tail-runner | Sentries and rearguards within a Seedwind. |
| Bloodlight or witchlight | What the triadic people call the red glow associated with the "witches." Most are deathly afraid of it. |
| Bloodlight pyre | Large, wooden pyramids that sit in the middle of most witch towns. Built in response to increased raids, the townspeople will light the pyre to temporarily enhance their powers so as to better fend off attackers. |
| Witchstone | What the triadic people call the magical gems/stones that power aspectral peoples' technology. See also: communal stone. |
| Winged hornrat | A critter from the Callipsus. Its cry is used as a signal by Seedwind units. 🎨 Potential art opportunity! |
| Sirenfly | A critter from the Callipsus. Its cry is used as a signal by Seedwind units. 🎨 Potential art opportunity! |
| Bog hog | A critter from the Callipsus. A hog that lives in a bog—who woulda thought? 🎨 Potential art opportunity! |
| Steelbarch | A large, sturdy tree with a greyish bark. |
| Demontrunk | A large, sturdy tree with dark bark and thin green filaments in its grain. |
| Lorruspine | A thinner, wispier tree with dense foliage. |
| Shortsharp | A common weapon used by the triadic peoples. Essentially a stone dagger. |
| Slinger | An uncommon weapon used by the triadic peoples. Essentially a slingshot. |
| Crossdart | A rare weapon used by the triadic peoples. Essentially a crossbow. |
| Sparker | An extremely rare weapon used by triadic leaders and elite. Looks and sounds like a gun... |
| The Torch | The Roythan term for the sun. |
| Rendering | A general purpose word that means "to destroy." Used mainly by aspectral people. |
| Wonderment | A show of sorts. Has flexible meaning: could refer to a literal piece of entertainment, a farce, a joke, etc. |
| Wardensquad | A Roythan military detachment. |
| Bayth | A banished land. It is not polite to say its name aloud. |
| Soulcrafter Sect | A Culdurian group defined by combining a Culdurian and Daxish crystal. No longer supported by the wider elements of society, entry into this Sect is extraordinarily difficult. |
| Chillcrafter Sect | A Culdurian group defined by combining two Culdurian crystals. It is by far the most common Sect in Culdur, representing the bulk of their society. |
| Ghost Tide subsect | The intelligence branch of the Culdarian Chillcrafter sect. One of the most effective and well-resourced agencies in Heirbrosse, though they keep a very low profile. |
| Puresear Sect | A Roythan group defined by combining two Roythan crystals. It is by far the most common Sect in Royth, representing the bulk of their society. |
| Stateguard subsect | A division of the Roythan Puresears, Stateguards are Royth's main defensive force and all around security officers. |
| Torchkeeper | A leader of a town, akin to a mayor. Responsible for the security of any temple and communal stone. |
| Town Anchor | A high ranking town official, charged with general security, safety, and military matters. |
| Town Guide | A high ranking town official who takes care of cultural and educational duties. |
| Luminary | A sect leader. Magic user with three crystals, hence quite powerful. |
🔮 Magic System
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| ✨ Artwork | This is what the aspectral peoples of the world call "magic." Different "spells" are referred to as specific kinds of 'Artwork,' e.g. Bodyanchor Artwork |
| Aspect | Many meanings: refers to major geopolitical regions, religious or tribal association, classification of magic. Aspects are a central concept to all things in this world. There are currently six canonized Aspects, with four dominating at the time that The Childseeker's War takes place. |
| Aspect of Royth ☀️ | Major Aspect. Associated with: the sense of sight, the element of fire, the colour red, the sun, the day, leadership, exploration, conquest. These associations are not definitive, but generally guide the culture as a whole. |
| Aspect of Culdur 🌊 | Major Aspect. Associated with: the sense of smell, the element of water, the colour blue, the ocean, science, experimentation, secrecy, nomadic lifestyle, sailing. These associations are not definitive, but generally guide the culture as a whole. |
| Aspect of Massus 🌳 | Major Aspect. Associated with: the sense of taste, the element of earth, the colour green, the earth, stoutness, tradition, collectivism, agriculture, mountaineering, mining. These associations are not definitive, but generally guide the culture as a whole. |
| Aspect of Iskonn 💨 | Major Aspect. Associated with: the sense of sound, the element of wind, the colour yellow, the sky, creativity, individual expression, entertainment, flying, dancing. These associations are not definitive, but generally guide the culture as a whole. |
| Aspect of Daxill 👾 | Minor Aspect. Associated with: the sense of feeling, the element of night, the colour purple, the stars, mystery, occult, dark arts, shadows. These associations are not definitive, but generally guide the culture as a whole. |
| Mindtether | The general name for the interconnected flow of magic between stones and crystals. Not unlike the Internet, in many ways. |
| Cycle, cycled | Many meanings. Technically refers to the flow of magical energy between two or more focal points. Casually could refer to being ready, awake, charged up, etc. |
| Downcycle | Many meanings: could mean formally cycling down power of a person or system, going for a nap, the day ending, etc. |
| Crystals (body) | Bodily implants that facilitate the user of magic. Positioned in the upper chest. Junelight has two. |
| Communal stone | Connects to magic users' crystals, imbuing them with power. |
| Shardtrade | A form of psychic communication that uses the mindtether. All forms of sensation can be woven into shards. |
| Birthright crystal | The first crystal a magic user soulbinds, on the left side of their chest. This happens at a young age. The Aspect is determined by an appointment process based on parentage and the most proximate communal stones. |
| Scholarright crystal | The second (and usually last) crystal a magic user soulbinds, on the right side of their chest. This typically happens as a young adult. The choice is up to the user, and determines their Sect within Heirbrosse—a lifetime appointment. |
| Guidegift crystal | A third crystal that is soulbound to the forehead, given only to Luminaries. |
| ✨⚓ Bodyanchor Artwork | A general system of magic that almost every person learns. Keeps a person's light under control, their senses sharp, etc. Advanced users can spin it into further defensive techniques. |
| ✨💨 Distanska Artwork | A repelling force, can shove things around, etc. Fairly common. Most folks can manage a mild version of it. With training, it can be dangerous. |
| ✨🧊 Icevein Artwork | Causes immobility in organic targets. Highly specialized skill, quite rare. Also illegal in many jurisdictions. A Culdarian specialty. |
| ✨🌊 Seapath Artwork | Allows the user to move through water with agility. Mildly rare as it is tough to master. A Culdarian specialty. |
| ✨🦊 Furblend Artwork | Manipulates fur and hair into various shapes and forms. Typically used for fashion, but also has camouflage and sheltering uses. An Iskonn specialty, quite common. |
| ✨🚿 Pureskin Artwork | Used for cleaning oneself without the use of water or other physical means. Very common, especially outside of Culdur. |
| ✨🍎 Cropforth Artwork | Creates simple food and water on demand. Very common throughout Heirbrosse. Advance users can generate more complex consumables. |
| ✨👯♀️ Prism Artwork | Creates a mirage of a duplicate self. Highly advanced Artwork. |
| ✨🥶 Thermaya Artwork | Creates a drastic temperature reduction. Common in the Chillcrafter Sect, mildly uncommon elsewhere. |
