​​Glossary

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Actaeon Guard, name of the Legionary Guard. From a standard-bearer named Actaeon who centuries earlier died protecting the body of his Imperator (see also, Greencloak)

Adalalcas, the northern continent (see also, Imperium)

Adalcis, ocean to the east

Aidari, regarded as fanatics and terrorists, they are a group who study ancient magic, in service to the undead

Angels, considered divine by humans, they are spirit guardians of the Spectrum. Legend and the White Daemoni suggest they once took fleshly bodies and walked among humans

Angelborn, angelic spirit reborn as a flesh and blood human, retaining angelic powers. They are oblivious as to their nature until they Awaken

Atlantian, people of vanished Atlantis, the survivors believed scattered across the world

Atlantis, a vanished island to the east, it was the centre of great wonders and technologies. Its people were secretive, although they did trade with the imperium

Awakening, Awakened, an event in the life of an Angelborn, when they become aware of the angelic spirit within, when both human and angelic soul truly become one

Balax, a fortress in the Grimstyx where the Fetch resides, claimed by Manic and Mania as having one been their home

Bent, refers to magical ability (see also, Talent)

Black Palace, palace in the capital, Icarthya, and home to the Imperial Family

Book of Chains, the, zorast holy book, it is a mysterious text believed by the faithful to have been written by the Grim himself

Breathers, a name used by virals to refer to anyone living

Byrsa, second largest city in the imperium, now ruled by crime lords since the Nephilim invasion (see also, Primes)

Chancel, a part of the zorast temple reserved for the highests

Chimera, a low rank of Fallen Ones, capable of shapeshifting (see also, Fallen Ones)

Church, Imperial, the, the foundation of the imperial faith, which worships the divine angels of the Spectrum. It sees the undead as the enemy

Cleansing, the, a future extermination of those who do not serve the Grim. Foretold in the Book of Chains (see also, Zorast, Book of Chains)

Conclave, consisting of the nine original families, which ruled pre-imperium, the conclave is the political arena and a check on the imperator’s power

Conclavist, a member of the imperial Conclave

Dalba, a full body cloak with a thick gauze face veil once worn by the Imperial Family when beyond the palace. It once denoted divinity and sacredness. While this used to be imperial law, it became customary, and often only used for ceremonial occasions. It used to be a crime for anyone not of the Imperial Family to wear the dalba.

Darken, an imperial bodyguard assigned to each member of the Imperial Family. It was custom for the identity of a Darken to be known only to the imperator and the one protected

Darklight, volcanic glass used with spectralic magic to trap reflections. Was also used to create the Fetch

Dralans, monetary unit of the Icarthian Imperium, denominations of gold, silver, bronze, and copper

Eladaldor, the southern continent (non-imperium)

Endor, a ruined city with the Grimstyx, once inhabited by kobolds

Ewsannec, Tribes, mountain tribes to the west of Adalalcas who are in constant rebellion. Region known as the Borderlands, though it is within imperial territory

Exemplars, formerly the elite imperial bodyguard, considered separate from the legions. Known to harbour fanatical views (see also, Redcloaks)

Fallen Ones, corrupted, evil, angels. Although not mentioned in the White Daemoni, the Fallen Ones have taken more notice of humans since the discovery of the Shathra Stone

Ghouls, a form of viral, more beast in nature despite their human appearance, they have the unique ability to pass between the human world and the Grimstyx. They are also relentless hunters. Rumoured to be several types, although Threadfin Todder only encounters the one.

Gog of Magog, eldest of five sons of the infamous Nephilim King, Og of Bashan, Gog is next in line to rule. Magog is the name of his kingdom (see also, Nephilim)

Gorgons, large and muscular, sabre-toothed creatures used by harpies as mounts. Origins unknown. Mentioned twice in the White Daemoni, and also in legend with reference to the Grim (see also, Harpies) Several got loose into the world after Liviana Avitus opened a rift in reality with the Shathra Stone

Governor, ruler of any imperial city save the capital where the imperator/imperatrix sits

Greencloaks, refers to regular legionaries of the Actaeon Guard

Grim, the, evil character in folklore, and the White Daemoni, who occupies Hell

Grimstyx, the Styx, also known as Hell, it is the world of the Grim mentioned several times in the White Daemoni

Grolg, a relative of the Skunk and the common cow, often used for hauling wagons and carts

Guck, a seaweed concoction eaten by virals (Name invented by Threadfin Todder)

Gulley, a fortified, narrow strip of land joining the northern and southern continents protected by double walls and forts

Havari, the people who occupy the city of Shamar, and the surrounding areas. Once a war-like tribe who conquered the city in ancient times

Hell’s Teeth, a fabled fortress of the underworld, guarded by Cerberus, a two-headed gorgon. It is the abode of the Grim (see also, Grim)

Highest(s), a position of higher authority held among the priests and priestesses of the zorast faith, and believed by the faithful to have direct access to the will of the Grim (see also, Zorast)

Icarthian, both official nationality and language of the imperium

Icarthya, capital city of the imperium located on the north-eastern coast of Adalalcas

Imp, a misnomer referring to young Nephilim (an imperial historian is believed to have named them, alluding to a demonic creature in the White Daemoni, and not in reference to their size)

Imperator/imperatrix, ruler of the imperium

Imperial Marshal, commander of all imperial legions, excepting the exemplar guard. Usually, a member of the Imperial Family though exceptions exist historically

Imperium, an empire, which encompasses the entire northern continent, so named as to set it apart from other empires on the southern continent

Kecci, a small dog-like animal, the result of mixing slinkt and dog. Its whine is not as dangerous as a slinkt’s (see also, Slinkt)

Kobolds, a race of short, shark-toothed bald people who once inhabited the Grimstyx

Lame, imperial city on the edge of what is called the borderlands (see also, Borderlands)

Mammon Quarter, (Byrsa City) wealthy merchants, churches, and libraries

Mongrels, small and deformed but intelligent beings of mysterious origin often used as scribes or servants

Muck Quarter, Muck, often said in a derogative manner, it refers to the poorest areas of any imperial city. The poor, or Muckers, often bear the name with pride

Nalrost, Rasnal, ancient human high mage or spectral mage (non-viral)

Narthex, antechamber of the zorast temple

Natron, a chemical salt found in the southern arid regions of the imperium. The undead use it to keep their bodies from rotting too much

Necros, these are paid guards of the zorast priests. Their ancestors once served the undead within the Necropolis of the Aidaril Islands before the purges. They have since fallen from what they were, and are nothing more than common religious thugs in armour. (see also, Purges, Zorast)

Nephilim, race of giants on the southern continent of Eladaldor (see also, Gog of Magog)

Noy, a broad river flowing northeast to southwest through the imperium

Oblivion Chains, rare angelic objects used to bind the soul (see also, Soul Shard)

Paytor, educator and clergyman

Plagues, a series of devastating outbreaks, which have spread throughout the known world for centuries. Believed by many to have only begun two hundred years ago (see also, Virals)

Primes, crime bosses who rule the underbelly of any imperial city, often at war with one another

Prole Quarter, (Byrsa & Icarthya) factories, stonemasons, artisans, and (Icarthya) port

Purges, an extermination of virals in history, lasting several years and spanning continents. Little is known of what happened, or why

Redcloaks, refers to exemplars who wore red. Colour said to symbolise life, the blood of the living (see also, Exemplar Guardians)

Red Prince, the, a mysterious character prophesied in the Book of Chains, who will one day rise to devour the faithful and the faithless (see also, Book of Chains)

Revenants, believed to have been ordinary people kidnapped by the Fetch and turned into something neither living, dead, nor undead. Forming the bulk of the Grim’s army, they have no eyes, and their mouths are magically sewn shut. They have no minds of their own, and are vicious when they attack

Scrips, once was a form of money introduced by Imperator, Olen Quintus, to improve the lives of the poor. Accepted only by the Church in exchange for food, clothing etc., it became the main currency among all Muckers

Shathra, a Nephilim graveyard of legend

Shathra Stone, a powerful stone sphere worshiped by the Nephilim. Believed a myth by many

Shraeds, winged entities of Tartaros, and enemies of existence

Slinkt, a sleek and vicious predator occupying forests. It emits a high-pitched whine that knocks smaller animals dead. Can render a grown man unconscious. Crossbred with dogs to produce kecci

Soul & Fury, a board game played by the rich elites

Soul Shard, an angelic weapon forged in the mortal realm. Imbued with a portion of an angel’s soul, which gives it great power, but weakens the giver. To give an entire soul to a shard is taboo (see also, Angels)

Spectral, Spectralic, considered the opposite to viralic magic, and a power linked to the Spectrum, it is a form of power accessible to the living. However, for centuries there had been no known spectral mages

Spectrum of Existence, is everything in existence both seen and unseen, flesh spirit and all other forms of reality. Believed to contain hundreds of millions of other worlds

Sydarag, a lizard-like creature, which runs on two legs with a long neck and snaking tail. Used by the imperial legions as mounts, because of their great endurance

Talent, a name used to refer to magic. It is Threadfin’s belief that only virals have talent, but evidence now suggests the living do too (see also, Bent, Viralic, Nalrost)

Tartaros, name given to the Darkness devouring the Spectrum of Existence. Possibly the White Daemoni’s version of Hell. Sometimes referred to as Oblivion

Tharoni, Tharonis, people of the city of Tharonis who have a long tradition of slavery, and have a reputation for being both tough and ruthless

Thraels, humans enslaved by Fallen Ones (see also, Fallen Ones)

Tystria, third largest city of the imperium

Vampires, an ancient type of viral believed imprisoned below the sands of the south

Viralic, name given to magical power used by virals (see also Talent)

Virals, often called Plagueborn, deaders or undeaders, virals are born dead and always after a plague outbreak. Regarded as lower than animals, few remain since the purges. Some think them a myth. As they grow older, their bodies decompose faster. Legend suggests there were several types once

Volg, a ruined fortress in the Grimstyx, claimed by Manic and Mania as their home

Warg, powerful wolf-like predator from the southern continent. Often found in company of Nephilim. Imperial historians have suggested they are a cross between black wolves (now extinct), and an unknown creature

White Daemoni, ancient holy text of the Imperial Church and source of all holy doctrine. Said to have been written by an ancient angel who wore flesh. The name of that angel is a matter of contention, as the author is unknown (see also, Angels)

Zorast, referring to both members and religion, it is sometimes known as, the Faith. It is a religious cult with mysterious beginnings sweeping across several continents, including Adalalcas. Fanatic worshipers of the Grim, they are known to practice ritual sacrifice. They believe their master, the Grim, will return to Cleanse the world of the faithless