Glossary

A

acoleh — A young zehli in training, usually with one of the companies riding the Humming Downs. agave silk — A silk-like textile made from agave, a succulent. This was inspired by a textile made thus in Morocco. Atalah — A title for the leader of the Vuusah. It is a traditionally a spiritual role, closely connected to the land and ellir.

B

barkwrens — Small woodland birds. bladekor — Highly skilled warriors trained at the Bladekor Academy in Monysai (the nation of Kestale). Bladekor Guard — A contingent of bladekor warriors assigned to keep the peace in Dohni. Blue Fox circah — The first Vuusah circah to have been assigned to Dohni. Its leader is Tallah. Bridge Gate — A city gate opening from the Old Merali Quarter onto the Lokk Janikk Bridge. brizah grass — One of many grasses found on the Humming Downs. Broadwater — The common name for the inland sea near Tarsah. Known by the Fiugreh as Kansiah (which means Broadwater).

C

circah — A group (circle) of six Vuusah zehla (exhorters) who have been trained to wield blades ad work together to form a resonant mesh. claith — A rare and expensive steel alloy bearing high quantities of ellir. Claith’s special properties allow its energy to be aligned with its individual bearer (requiring a zehli to participate in the forging process). Claith was discovered by the Kestali and its creation remains a secret of that nation. In appearance it gleams faintly purple. claithwielder — An elite bladekor warrior who wields a blade made of claith. The properties of the blade, when aligned with its bearer, bestow certain enhancements.

D

dampah bread — A simple doughy bread cooked over a fire on the Humming Downs. Inspired by Australian ‘damper’ (made from flour and water). Dancing Owl — One of the Vuusah circahs of exhorters in Dohni. Only named member is Grendah, its leader. darkbirds — Ground-dwelling birds that wail at night on the Humming Downs. Inspired by the bush stone curlew. davinna — A spirit tasting of plums, made in Serekka. It’s based on my favourite gin: Davidsonia gin from Animus distillery, no longer with us, alas. The real-life gin was infused with Davidson plums, a native Australian fruit grown in the tropical north. Davrayn Trade Hall — An enormous building that’s the Dohni headquarters of the vast trade empire of the Merali House Davrayn. The trade hall lies on Donellon Plaza. deadlands — Vast swathes of the continent that are completely devoid of ellir/energy and thus life. Most are older than time and are treacherous, barren wastelands scourged by erosion. The Fiugreh word for deadland is gahmniu. Divine Cadence — This is how the Sevikks refer to the world’s energy (ellir). Dohni — A bustling trade port and the largest city in Baljehni. It grew up on two sides of a natural harbour — one of the Fiugreh clans settled first on the western shores, then the Merali traders arrived and settled the eastern shores as a base for trading with the Fiugreh. Over centuries, the city has been fought over and occupied by different nations. It’s currently governed by the Four Nations Council, which has representatives from the Merali Demesnes, the Kestali, the Fiugreh and the Sevikks. Dohni People’s Body — An assembly of influential Dohni citizens that advises the Four Nations Council. Donellon Plaza — An ancient plaza in the Old Merali Quarter of Dohni. It is the commercial centre of the city and bordered by the most consequential guild buildings. doyen — A senior rank among the Vuusah. Doyens typically lead companies of Vuusah riders on the downs but may also take on senior administrative roles. Doyi — Term of address for a doyen.

E

ellir — The Fiugreh name for the rhythmic energy of the world. It is present in rocks, minerals and all living things in varying quantities. In Baljehni, the word ellir has been adopted widely. Ellirisi — A cabal of scholars who study different aspects of ellir at Heights University in Dohni. empathiser — A zehli who can read and influence the emotions of living creatures. exchange ceremony/songs of — A Kestali birthing ritual involving the transferral of a soul into a newborn. (From the old Senn belief that every death occurs to make way for a birth.) Sometimes, a person bequeaths their soul to preserve its pedigree. In such cases, the person bestowing their soul is called the rei-tarn, and the birthing ceremony is proclaimed by a series of bells to bring witnesses. exhorters — Zehla who have been trained to wield swords and work in circahs. Their role is to ensure kalkah zehla are adhering to Vuusah precepts, intended to prevent zehla from overreaching with their abilities and protect people from being exploited.

F

farsenser — A zehli able to read the influences of ellir across great distances. It’s an advanced limnor ability that enables detection of people, animals or geographical features such as water reservoirs or outcrops of heartrock. firehead trees — Trees with vibrant red flowers that bloom in summer. Fiugreh (Fiugreh clans) — One of the indigenous peoples of Baljehni. The Fiugreh clans originally occupied about three-quarters of the continent, living in clan groups in loosely defined territories. Fiugreh was actually the name of the clan occupying the lands around Dohni. When the Merali arrived, they called all the clans by this name, which has been widely adopted. Fiugreh means children of wind. Fiugreh Settlement District — A district on the western shores of Dohni Harbour. Long before the Merali arrived, the Fiugreh clans had settled these shores, and for centuries this district was independent of the town growing on the eastern side of the harbour. Most of the buildings are only a couple of centuries old, having been constructed after the city–state’s unification. flah (spiced flah) — A beverage made from fermented flankah. May be spiced and served warm. flankah — Flankah is a strappy plant prevalent on the Humming Downs. The Fiugreh clans have long used various parts of the plant for textiles and food. Four Nations Council — A council formed to govern the city–state of Dohni, after the Four Nations Treaty was signed between the leaders of the Merali Demesnes, Kestale, the Fiugreh clans and Sevikkland. Four Nations Plaza — A large, open air plaza in Dohni commemorating the formation of the Four Nations Council. Relatively new by Dohni standards, Four Nations Plaza lies on the western side of the harbour at the foot of the Lokk Janikk Bridge and is bordered inland by administrative buildings.

G

gaerah cycle — A Vuusah training exercise for learning how to control one’s own llirah (rhythm/energy). Gahmniu — Means dead land in the old Fiugreh tongue. Also the name given to the deadland in the western shadow of the Lightrise mountain range. gierfeh — A word used in Dohni for someone with affinity for ellir, regardless of lineage. In the old Fiugreh tongue it means soul spark. gobeila — A woman’s garment worn in Dohni. It drapes elegantly from the shoulders and is cinched at the waist. Goldayn Rise — The craggy hill and escarpment below Heights University. Gorannen Rise — A line of hills east of Dohni where some wealthy residents have estates. goreyah chant / circle / ritual — Used when multiple zehla meld together to form a resonant mesh of ellir that can be wielded by a single zehli, enhancing their power. gravohl — A derisive name for anyone not born of the Fiugreh clans. In the old Fiugreh tongue, it means child of elsewhere. Great Market — A large undercover market in Dohni. Green Falcon — One of the Vuusah circahs of exhorters in Dohni. The named Green Falcon members are Chah, Ninah, Dorteh, all originally from Gentah’s company.

H

Haiffin wine (also Haiffin red) — A renowned red wine made in the village of Haiffin, near Port Monys in Kestale. heartrock — An igneous rock bearing higher than usual quantities of ellir. heartstorm — The Fiugreh name for the wild, chaotic rhythms of ellir resounding from the heart of the world. Heights University — A university in Dohni and the oldest and most revered in Baljehni. hookbeaks — Colourful parrots plentiful on the Humming Downs. hooters — A derisive name for exhorters by the citizens of Dohni. Hyoggi — A Sevikk goddess known as the mother of the world.

I

injaleh — Meaning heart or core bound, this is a Fiugreh word to described those who are soulmelded.

J

jaleh — Term of endearment for one’s injaleh. Jendeh — Means Humming Downs in the old Fiugreh tongue.

K

kalkah — The name given to zehla who choose not (or are not permitted) to ride with the Vuusah. They hire out their services for coin and are generally despised by the Vuusah. Kansiah — The name given by the Fiugreh clans to the inland sea near Tarsah. It’s now more commonly referred to as the Broadwater, which is its meaning in the Merali tongue. karv — A Sevikk beverage described as a dark-brown concoction smelling of soil and spices and made from ground karvva nuts. Inspired by coffee. Obviously. Kestale — The nation between the Humming Downs and the Merali Demesnes. It was founded by Senn fleeing the arrival of the Merali almost a thousand years ago. Kestali Prayer Hall — Temple to the Kestali (and Senn) god, He-Beyond. Also known as the Prayer Hall for He-Beyond. Konnor Bridge — A bridge across the Talsiah River in Tarsah.

L

legah leaves — One of many wild foods found on the Humming Downs. limnor — A zehli who is skilled at reading and affecting the ellir within inanimate objects. They’re able to read the history of some objects and force impressions into others, especially rocks and minerals. llirah — The name given to the rhythmic energy (ellir) within an individual. Each individual’s rhythm is unique to them. Only those with affinity for ellir can feel and engage with their llirah, which is what makes them a zehli (with training). Lokk Janikk Bridge — The only bridge across Dohni harbour, a feat of Sevikk engineering. loophorns — Herd beasts roaming the Humming Downs. Their appearance is left to the imagination.

M

mahgan — The traditional garment of the Fiugreh clans, particularly favoured by the Vuusah. It features a folded front section with a pocket, laced fastenings near the shoulder, and flares below the waist to allow for horseback riding. The length may vary, but most riders wear leather breeches with a mahgan to mid-thigh or just above the knee. Usually worn with a samah (waist sash). This garment was inspired by the Mongolian deel. meld — see resonance Merali — A people who came to Baljehni from across the sea around a thousand years ago. They were fleeing their homeland, which was transforming into a deadland. They settled the southern shores of what is now the Dawning Sea, displacing some of the indigenous Senn (who fled east and founded Kestale) and becoming overlords of those Senn that remained. Merali Demesnes — A collection of independent but loosely aligned provinces, each one ruled by one of the Merali Houses that arrived from across the sea approximately 1000 years ago. moonah trees — Scraggly coastal trees inspired by the Australian tea tree (melaleuca).

N

nedoyen — A rank among the Vuusah akin to deputy leader. Companies may have more than one nedoyen mentoring zehla and assisting the doyen. Nedoyi —Term of address for a nedoyen. noumenor — A zehli who can permanently adjust or affect another’s llirah (from noumenon: psyche, inspiration, energy). Most often used to reinforce someone’s rhythm (e.g. a child who can’t control their llirah), perform alignment rituals such as soulmelding, and quelling children not permitted to be trained as a zehli.

O

Old Kestali Quarter — Founded by the early Kestali traders, this sector was, for many years, working classes providing services and agriculture for the Merali traders. However, the sector grew in size and stature during the later Kestali occupation of the city. These days it’s more respectable than wealthy and dominated by Kestali cultural landmarks. Old Merali Quarter — The commercial centre of Dohni, founded by the Merali trading houses Davrayn and Auwyn nearly 1000 years ago when they settled the eastern shores of the harbour. It’s one of the oldest and wealthiest parts of the city and dominated by Merali cultural landmarks.

P

pidakah — A Fiugreh word meaning tainted blood. Someone who is of mixed Fiugreh blood. Pioneer Gardens — One of several gardens in Dohni. It straddles the boundary between the Old Kestali and Merali Quarters in the oldest part of the city. Prayer Hall for He-Beyond — Temple to the Kestali (and Senn) god, He-Beyond. Also known as the Kestali Prayer Hall.

R

ravakah — Grey, communal herbivores living on the Humming Downs. They are inspired by Australia’s iconic marsupial, the kangaroo, and ravakah means big foot in the old Fiugreh tongue. There are a few tiny clues, but I didn’t want to transport readers to Australia by making it too obvious. realignment — A serious ritual for changing the intrinsic rhythm of someone’s llirah. Generally affects personality and is used, although rarely, to rehabilitate criminals. resonance — This is when individuals (such as zehla) manipulate their inner cadence/llirah to blend or resonate (or meld) with currents in the heartstorm. rosy parrots — These are quite possibly inspired by the Australian galah. Rungakk — A lost city at the feet of the mountains in Sevikkland, north of Dohni. Once a thriving industrial city due to mining, Rungakk was lost four decades ago when a deadland formed around it. The Sevikks have declared it a forbidden zone.

S

samah — A waist sash worn by the Vuusah, usually with patterns denoting clan and zehla abilities. Sarkk — The Sevikk god of the sun. Sarkkhous — A temple to the Sevikk god, Sarkk. Senn — One of the indigenous peoples of Baljehni. The Senn were communal village-dwellers and farmers and occupied the fertile lands south of the two inland seas and down the western coast. Sevikk / Sevikkland — Sevikkland is the nation north of the Dawning Sea and west of the Windwilds. shaggybark — A tree with shaggy bark, inspired by certain eucalyptus trees. Shining Gate — An ornate gate at one of the corners of Donellon Plaza. Shrouded Sea — A inland sea south of the Broadwater. It lies off the north coast of Kestale. silverbark — A tree with pale bark, inspired by certain eucalyptus trees (not birch trees). Silver Wolf circah — A unit of Vuusah exhorters (Dinah, Ketahl, Minuh, Bortoh, Eranah, Ahro) Singing Canyon — A sacred location on the Humming Downs. soulmeld — A bond created when the llirah (rhythms) of two people are aligned. It usually involves a ritual but occasionally occurs spontaneously. srih — Bands woven from spun flankah and leather and threaded with decorative beads, usually worn around the forearms. They are made by Fiugreh girls, with one ultimately bestowed upon a future life-partner. Summit Library — The main library at Heights University. It’s the most expansive library on the continent of Baljehni and hence the known world. summersdawn — The spring equinox. Summersdawn Conclave — An annual gathering of Vuusah doyens at Summersdawn.

T

Tarsah — The largest city of the Fiugreh clans, founded when the Merali first began trading for horses and flankah products with the local Fiugreh. The city lies at the mouth of the Talsiah River, and is governed by an elected Administrator. The Vuusah order has no formal influence but is funded by the city. tibbi / tibbies — Black-and-white birds with a warbling song; widespread on the continent, although the ones in Dohni look smaller than the ones on the Humming Downs and their song is slightly different. They are inspired by the Australian magpie (which is different from other magpies). Name is from the latin Gymnorhina tibicen. ti-rei — A Kestali person whose birth was not honoured with songs of exchange. They are believed to have tainted souls and are marked with scars on their cheeks. tohba — A spirit distilled from tohroot. tohroot — A tuber found in the Humming Downs, not unlike a carrot. As well as eating it, the Fiugreh people distill it into a spirit (tohba). tolkai — A small sign with designs made from a mosaic of coloured tiles, found in Dohni. Used to identify locations etc. tomatai — A tangy red fruit, not unlike a tomato. Yes, OK, it’s a tomato. toolkah geese — large, grey birds that are mostly land-based. Inspired by the Cape Barren Goose, which is called toolka by the indigenous Jardwadjali people of western Victoria. Traders Gate — An old city gate between the Dohni port and the oldest parts of the city.

U

Urgreh — One of the original Fiugreh clans, indigenous to the Tarsah region.

V

velinkah beads — Hair beads worn by both men and women of the Fiugreh clans. Often made of decorative stones, metals and ceramics. Vuusah — The Vuusah are the spiritual leaders among the Fiugreh clans, riding the Humming Downs, connecting with ellir and the land. They are responsible for the training of all zehla and hold on to many of the traditional ways. The Vuusah exists outside the governance of both Tarsah and Romanah, although they take tithes from both administrations.

W

Wild Colt — A lodging house / accommodation in the Old Kestali Quarter of Dohni. Wilderlands — A secluded pocket of high downs beyond the vast deadland known as Gahmniu and the Lightrise Range; located in the far east of the Humming Downs. Wintersmorn — The autumnal equinox. Also may refer to a Fiugreh festival occurring on this date.

Y

Yellowbrush Lodge — A residential lodge at the Vuusah compound in Tarsah.

Z

Zehla Guild — The guild overseeing all kalkah zehla in Dohni. The guild building lies on Donellon Plaza. zehli (singular) / zehla (plural) — Fiugreh people who have natural affinity for ellir and have been trained by the Vuusah. They either belong to the order of Vuusah, or they are kalkah (freelance).