a

Amsherrat The capital city of Kitiven, situated in the northern desert on the bank of the Katani river. Cupped by mountain ranges in the north and east. Arboretum (The Holy Arboretum) A tower situated in Amsherrat, the capital city of Kitiven, that is the residence of the Archon Camille. So tall that it reaches into space, it is visible from long distances and full of wonderful things. Archon Aurholm's demigods. Born as regular humans in Aurholm, all were promoted into immortality and godhood through a pact with the Demiurge Camellia. Extremely powerful and extremely unhinged, even the nice ones. arete One of the central virtues of self-exaltation in Kitiven's religion. The virtue of achieving perfection according to one's highest potential; the virtue of a thing most embodying itself. argent One of the two foundational spiritual elements in the forming of material in Aurholm. Argent is the 'specified' element to which specific concepts are bound, mainly used in names. Highly volatile in its pure state and prone to rotting. Asphodel (The United Kingdoms of Asphodel) The country that occupies the western continent of Aurholm. A coalition of several hundred ancient kingdoms who have sworn their fealty to the royal house Asphodel, whose bloodline descends from the Demiurge Camellia, as this family's blood can cure soul rot. The souls of Asphodel's subjects are purified in this fashion in exchange for their service. Aurholm The name of the landmass & universe Camellia created after the destruction of the Prime Universe. Disconnected from Pleroma, effectively functions as Camellia's soul-prison. Where most of the story takes place. Landmass is a single flat continent shaped like a four-pointed star, with the bottom point slightly distanced from the rest, with a massive hole in the centre that breaks the four 'arms' into four separate continents. aurum One of the two foundational spiritual elements in the forming of material in Aurholm. Aurum is the 'generalised' element that underlies everything. A concentrated lump of Camellia's altered soul in its pure state.

b

birds The root language of all conception; the language of pure logos. What Camellia and Camille speak. Black Thorns An organized gang that is a major pillar of Ordanz's criminal underworld, loyal to Seacrest Enterprises and operating out of the underground vault of East Welding. The gang the Archon Raum was born into. bout A 1v1 duel called between two willing partipants who compete as to who can most elegantly, creatively, and perfectly destroy their opponent, with the winner securing authority over the loser. The centrepiece of High Terran, Glennite, and Palidan politics.

c

camellia (wish camellias) Camellia flowers, which can perfectly grant any wish, shed by the tree in Nix that is the Demiurge Camellia's corpse. Cardinal House (The Cardinal House/The Tyrant's Haunt) What was once central palace of the Asphodelean royal family, situated in the former capital of Sebilles, that is now the residence of the Archons Phoenix and Raum. Mostly dilapidated as Sebilles has been abandoned for centuries except for the Archons. Cautenlla A Coreti-owned trade planet in the Prime Universe that was implicated as a hotbed of organised Low Terran abuse and destroyed by Verticillaster in a psychotic rage. Drew the Thrax's attention to the existential threat High Terrans posed. cognizance The ability to percieve concepts in Pleroma that Kenoma does not express; a sense for observing spiritual and metaphysical things, like thoughts and emotions. Includes mind-reading, clairvoyance, psychic empathy, and psychometry. All advanced races in the Prime Universe had cognizance, as there it was the criterion to be legally considered 'a person', which High Terrans had but Low Terrans didn't. Some humans manifest it in Aurholm. Cornucopia An invention made by Verticillaster to bring intergalactic peace that can infinitely generate any object the user desires. Was exploited by Verticillaster's friends as a war device and destroyed. Coreti An amphibian race in the Prime Universe reknowned for greed, backstabbing, and perfidy. One of the founding races of the Interstellar Union and one of its more influential factions. Czjeir The Kitt name of the Demiurge Camellia.

d

Demiurge A title for the creator of the universe, specifically for Camellia as the creator of Aurholm. demon A fragment of the legion of corrupted, severed souls in Aurholm that has stabilised with a consistent name and ego. Malevolent, disembodied entities that mostly inhabit Nix, but can possess certain corrupt things and people.

e

East Welding A subterranean city in Ordanz run by the criminal gang Black Thorns. Corrupt with extreme exploitation and violence, but richer than most Ordish cities and allows greater prospects for personal success too. The birthplace of the Archon Raum. External Affairs Caste The second-highest of the four High Terran birth castes. Its members are the diplomats, politicians, and interstellar ambassadors in High Terran society, who manage all affairs with outside races. The caste Verticillaster belongs to.

f

familiar An individual in Aurholm who has died and had their soul bound back into a material vessel via soulsmithing. Typically slaves of witches bound under many geas commands.

g

geas An unnatural effect imposed upon a soul during the process of soulsmithing. Effects can be keyed to trigger under certain conditions and abate under others, for example, a permanently induced feeling of agony or conditionally induced death if the subject takes a particular action. ghoul A monster produced by soul rot. Mindless and always hostile to humans in some fashion. The Glen An Edenic land where the Demiurge Camellia lived while making Aurholm. Was formerly situated in the centre of Aurholm, but has since been cast into Nix.

h

Hatchery Caste The lowest of the four High Terran birth castes. Its members are the teachers, astrologers, and biogeneticists in High Terran society, who manage the manufacture and schooling of new High Terrans. The caste Camellia was slated for. High Executor The highest ranking member of a High Terran caste. There is one High Executor for each of the four castes, who confer among themselves on issues that affect multiple castes, and manage the largest responsibilities of their caste. High Terran A subset of humanity artificially evolved into existence by the Quee'lee'lo. Designed to serve as custodians for earth until humanity naturally developed cognizance, but this never occured. Are themselves cognizant and powerful reality warpers. LOVE humans and HATE things that threaten humans. Members of the Union. Camellia and Verticillaster's species. human The collective term for High Terrans and Low Terrans, as well as everyday homo sapiens. It's you! Human Relations The highest of the four High Terran birth castes. Its members are the guardian angels of humanity in High Terran society, who directly coddle and dote upon humans. Camellia's caste.

i

Internal Affairs Caste The second-lowest of the four High Terran birth castes. Its members are the inventors, engineers, and domestic security of High Terran society. invocation A form of reality warping in Aurholm wherein an individual synchronises their self-concept with either the unnamed 'background noise' of reality, whereupon they may alter the world around oneself (generalised invocation), or with a specific named entity, whereupon they may secure traits of or coucil with that entity (specified invocation).

k

The Katani A large river that runs south-to-north through the western span of Kitiven. Kitiven's primary water source around which most of its settlements are situated. kenoma One of the two basic forces that forms all of existence. The primal force of nothingness, separation, and individuation that reads fragments of Pleroma and individuates them into physical reality; the space between objects. Kitiven The country that occupies the northern continent of Aurholm. A strict theocracy that worships the Demiurge Camellia and often invokes him for miracles and council; have been promised by Camellia that the world will be reborn into a paradise inhabited by well-judged souls. Kinesis (BQ-0758 Kinesis) A planet made by High Terrans as a perpetual energy generator for use on earth, which the Union legislated instead must be shared with all its members. A dismally boring place occupied by representatives of every Union race who are there purely for political purposes, though the planet itself remains a Terran holding under the office of External Affairs. Kuanehe A small island atoll in Palida that is the residence of the Archon Lisbet. Its general location is known, but exact position seems to shift.

l

Lacren An ancient western kingdom in Aurholm that is the historical birthplace of the Asphodelean monarchs and the central founding nation of Asphodel. Also the birthplace of the Archon Renard. legion The agglomerated mass of severed human egos that sinks into and inhabits Nix. Millions upon billions of conflicting psyches that have been corrupted into one wicked mass with no higher self or uniformity. Hateful, chaotic, and typically restricted to Nix. Low Terran What homo sapiens evolved into after/alongside severe coddling from High Terrans. Basically normal people but happier, dumber, and more trusting.

m

mana (esteem) In Palidan theology, the innate presence of Camellia's soul within something. Things with mana are successful and effective, things without mana are not. Has a natural flow as things and people lose and gain mana constantly. magic Supernatural powers that operate by, or were acquired through, soul rot. Uniformly regarded as evil. The Masked Coven The national witch coven of Miulu whose members' souls are sacrificed to the Archon Mephi. Treated as royalty until then. The only sane witches in Aurholm, as Mephi twists only superfluous sections of a sacrificiant's soul for the witch ritual. miracles Supernatural powers that operate by, or were acquired through, invocation. Also the term for synchronised expressions of the Demiurge Camellia's will. Miulu The country that occupies a chain of four islands floating around the continent of Aurholm. A small, dark, and barren land dependant on its patron god, the Archon Mephi, for basic food and resources. Operates by state-sanctioned voluntary human sacrifice to in turn feed Mephi, who subsists on sinful souls.

n

names One of the elements of a human being in Aurholm. A yoke for a bundle of concepts that are tied through the soul to the body, so as to allow people to have their own psyches rather than all simply manifesting Camellia's. The 'kernel' of a person. Everyone knows their name from birth. Nine Columbines Sanatorium The oldest, largest, and most prestigious medical facility in Kitiven, situated in the western hills just outside of the capital Amsherrat. Formerly an abbey commune, but still maintains strong ecclesiastical ties. Long-time residence of the pilgrim Zachary. Nix The name of the massive hole in the centre of Aurholm's continent, as well as all the space that encompasses Aurholm, which is all laced with corrupt kenoma. Contains the shattered remnants of The Glen, which have been twisted into hellscapes rife with monsters and spacial distortions, growing more dangerous and hostile the deeper one goes. Residence of Arsene. nuku (defilement) In Palidan theology, the abject lack of Camellia's soul within something. A thing that saps mana but cannot secure it for itself. Synonymous with evil in Palida.

o

Ordanz The country that occupies the southern continent of Aurholm. A brutal oligarchy divided between the rich, who live aboveground, and the poor, who live belowground. Outside is a harsh antarctic environment with food security being a serious issue for everyone but the most wealthy.

p

paganism Archon-worship. Practiced in Palida and outlawed in Kitiven. Palida The country that occupies the eastern continent of Aurholm. A tribal society that venerates primal archetypes of bloodlines, Archons, and constellations, with strong investment in spreading Camellia's philosophies and decoding the 'mystery of creation' written in the stars. Tropical island nation on a poisoned sea. Pleroma One of the two basic forces that forms all existence. The primal force of conception and fullness, which contains all concepts of everything that could possibly exist in one massive undefined spiritual mass. The source of all things; never changes in 'mass', and is mirrored in physical reality. pleromic state shift The process of Pleroma alterting the state of the world so as to equalise itself after a massive change to physical reality. Usually just means Kenoma's interpretations shift a little, constantly and imperceptibly, but can be much larger than that. Pontifex The title of the leader of the Church of Kitiven. Kitiven's leader. Must be able to invoke Camellia on command. Prime Universe The universe that existed before Camellia broke everything. The normal state of things. It's where you are!

r

rot (soul rot) An affliction upon the air in Aurholm that infects human souls upon contact with air, which typically occurs upon death, to painfully transform the soul into a ghoul. Death system instated by Arsene to make all human deaths agonizing.

s

Seacrest Enterprises An Ordish corporate conglomerate that owns landlord rights to most underground vaults, smelters, food production firms, ventilation systems, and holds a monopoly on Ordanz's water supply. The richest and most powerful entity in Ordanz. Owned by members of the Seacrest family. Sebilles The former capital of Lacren and former capital of Asphodel as a whole. Presently abandoned and overgrown as the prison of the Archon Phoenix. severance (soul severing) The practice of destroying a soul in Aurholm once it has died, but before it has rotted, to prevent the formation of a ghoul. Damns the severed soul to instead join the legion in Nix. Shevra Baht The enforcers of the cult to the Archon Mephi in Miulu. Manage affairs between the populace and Mephi, keep Mephi's systems running, and ensure Mephi is fed. Very duty-focused. soul One of the elements that makes a human being in Aurholm. A conduit for the name to link to the body; a vessel for the name. Have no form while the person is living, but become corporeal and dislodge from the body once the person is dead. soulsmithing The ability to bind loose souls to matter, and alter the way the soul binds to matter. Basically necromancy. Typically an evil practice with a history of being abused, as only those with magical powers can do it, and those with magical powers are almost always insane witches. The Spring of Life The name of the lake in the Glen in Aurholm that Camellia and Arsene's house is built on. The source of all water in Aurholm. Currently extremely poisoned at the bottom of Nix, making most all natural water in Aurholm deadly for humans.

t

Terra The legal name for the planet Earth. Where you live! Terran The term for a person or thing that comes from Terra. Generally used to mean 'Low Terran and High Terran' specifically, or more often just 'High Terran'. What you are, technically! Thrax An alien species in the Prime Universe. Soul parasites who take over their hosts and accumulate them into their hivemind, which is ruled by their single Queen. Members of the Union who are terrified of Terrans.

u

Umestos A union-aligned planet in the Prime Universe that was destroyed by saboteurs who sourced a lucdicrous number of weapons from Verticillaster's Cornucopia. Prompted harsh demands for reparations on Terrans. The Union of Interstellar Cooperation and Interests (UICI/The Union) An intergalactic federation of alien societies in the Prime Universe, of whom High Terrans are a member. The Union seeks to mediate affairs across the whole of the universe under a fair rule of law, and curb vicious wars going on across the galaxies, but serious political tensions remain within and between its own members.

Q

Quee'lee'lo A telepathic avian species in the Prime Universe who are unmatched sonic mimics, but cannot comprehend spoken language. Very friendly and whimsical by nature. One of the founding races of the Union and one of its more influential factions. Creators of the High Terrans.

V

Vamu A tiny nowhere farming village in rural Kitiven that is the birthplace of the Archon Mephi. A hotspot for occult tourism nowadays.

W

The Warrens The collective name for the tunnel systems that connect subterranean Ordish city-vaults. Absolutely massive in their sprawl, and in many places unregulated or abandoned, communes in the Warrens are where the poorest dregs of Ordanz wind up. The birthplace of the Archon Cassandra. witch An individual in Aurholm who severs a portion of their soul, allows it to rot by exposure to air, and eats the rotten fragment to reintegrate it with their self. This ritual confers the practitioner with ghoulish traits, the faculty of soulsmithing, and personalised magic power, whilst retaining their mind and sense of self. The corruption of the rot, however, drives most every witch insane in an inevitably malicious fashion. Identifiable by the stain of rot in their eyes. Universally killed on sight. witchbane A specialised type of argent that frustrates, reverses, and nullifies magic. Can be applied to objects to permanently enchant them with antimagic properties. Indispensible for anyone who would face ghouls or witches, but difficult to reliably produce.

y

yazata A catch-all term in Aurholm for an individual with an inborn supernatural constitution, but who did not acquire this constitution from soul rot. Extremely rare and almost always have some association with the Demiurge Camellia, so yazata are respected, if not revered. Examples include the Asphodel royal family and the Archon Camille.