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A
"Afternoon Bather". Imperial slang referring to a tomboyish or masculine woman. From the bathhouse tradition where afternoon sessions are reserved for men.

Akt. A city in the Ashoyin Protectorate. Loyal to General Chandrat's forces.

Aldith. Capital city of Denra-Lyr.

Ampash. Tributary river of the Anhui. Borders the Plains of Pesh.

Anhui. (1) A wide river that once formed the eastern border of the Empire of Splendour. (2) The name of a race of people who settled there (distinguished by dark curly hair and chubby faces). (3) Name given collectively to the nations along the Anhui River.

Arai. A city in the Ashoyin Protectorate. Loyal to General Chandrat's forces.

Arasheng. One of the Three Mountain Sisters.

Ardrul. Winged and feathered lizards that are tamed as mounts in Dronistor.

Arganshur the Builder. Emperor famous for the large number of public works commisioned during his lifetime.

Arjenchashur. A Magister Administory from Utushar explaining life to his son.

Arketes. Sage and founder of the Collegium Arketium.

Arvia. Navigation beacon in City of Ten Thousand Ships, named after a legendary Imperial princess.

Ascension Day. Imperial festival on the last day of Victory Over Fear (fourth lunar month), celebrating the crowning of the Celestial Emperor. Effigies of traditional enemies are burned as part of the celebrations.

Ashara. One of the four main human races that live in the heartland of the Empire of Splendour. Tall, tan-skinned, the Ashara are traditionally the ruling class of the Empire.

Ashoyin. (1) Nominal capital of the Ashoyin Protectorate. Loyal to Minister Es-Gadar. (2) Name given to the land between Llaza and Nyerdhan where city-states are engaged in a bloody civil war.

Atheroma. A city in the Ashoyin Protectorate. Loyal to Minister Es-Gadar's forces.

B
Banarjahab. Elephant-headed Immortal, responsible for teaching the craft of building. Patron of roads and public works.

Bearer of the Undying Flame of Heaven. Honourific title given to the ruler of the Empire of Splendour.

Beltavia Keep. A borderland settlement on the shores of the Far Anhui inhabited primarily by settlers from Vaarta. Famed for its horse market.

Bestowing Justice, Emperor. Former ruler of the Empire of Splendour.

Bhaarsh. Part of the Way of Six Energies. Focused energy.

Bitesh. Part of the Way of Six Energies. Moving energy.

Birds of Tyannah. See Tyannah, Birds of.

Bitter Tea. A contraceptive herb grown in Obrenaja.

Black Dragon. A creature in the Unwashed Horde who found enlightenment after devouring the head of Juiza of the Three Mountain Sisters.

Black River Society. Criminal cartel, originating in Llaza, but now widespread.

Blue Jays, City of. City in the south-east of the Empire of Splendour famous for its silk.

Boiling Ocean. A region of great Chaos at the edge of the world, where the seas boil and dreams become reality.

Boyar. Title given to a hereditary class of mounted warriors in Vaarta.

Braashak. Tall trees that propogate by sending down flying roots. Cultivated by Salsham'ai to live in.

Bright Vitality, Emperor. Former ruler of the Empire of Splendour.

Bronze Porpoise. One of the geomantic animals. Bronze Porpoise lives in the south. She is the patron of artisans, builders and inventors.

Butterfly Style. An unarmed fighting style from the Empire of Splendour, created for women. It is a relaxed, flowing technique that uses the opponent's strength against them. Northern style is more violent, Southern Style emphasises meditation over combat.

C
Celestial Emperor. Title given to the supreme deity in the official religion of the Empire of Splendour.

Chaltekan, General. Leader of the garrison in the City of Blue Jays.

Chandrat, General. Rebel leader in the Ashoyin Protectorate. Chandrat control the cities of Akt, Arai and Galis.

Chaos. One of the driving forces behind the universe. Chaos gives possibilities but not definition. See Concordance.

Children's Festival. The last day of the Victory Over Solitude (sixth lunar month), celebrating the marriage of the Celestial Emperor and Lady East. During the Children's Festival, children are put in charge of the adults for the day.

Clerk of the Emerald Seas. See Emerald Seas, Clerk of.

Clerk of the Five Scrolls. See Five Scrolls, Clerk of.

Clerk of the Fragrant Hills. See Fragrant Hills, Clerk of.

Clerk of the Glittering Waters. See Glittering Waters, Clerk of.

Clerk of the Golden Disk. See Golden Disk, Clerk of.

Clerk of the Morning Snow. See Morning Snow, Clerk of.

Collegium Arketium. College on the outskirts of Llaza that teaches the classics. Founded by the philosopher Arketes.

Concordance. One of the driving forces behind the universe. Concordance (or Law) gives definition and order, but it cannot create new things. See Chaos.

Considered Knowledge, Emperor. Previous ruler of the Empire of Splendour.

Corapeti. An archipeligo at the southern tip of the Necklace of Plenty.

Cormu. Financial unit in the Empire of Splendour. Reckoned as the amount of rice one man can harvest in a day. A notoriously unstable measurement.

Cosanq. Mythical guardian of Heaven and source of iron.

Cosanq's Heart. Range of hills in Fnoi Province, rich in iron.

Crafts Day. Festival on the last day of Victory Over Toil (seventh lunar month), celebrating the time when the Celestial Emperor passed on knowledge of the arts of civilisation to mankind. Crafts Day is a day of country fairs and contests of skill and craftsmanship.

Crane Style. A fighting style from Nirhamsa using wooden staves. Crane Style is fast and violent, designed to disarm and cripple opponents.

Cult of the Morning Star. See Morning Star, Cult of.

D
Dailat, Bandits of. Marauder gang found in the Wasted Lands.

Dailat Forest. Wooded area in the Wasted Lands, inhabited by the Bandits of Dailat.

Dansho. Pole arm with heavy chopping blade, traditionally from Fnoi Provonce.

Dar Fly. Creature native to the Empire of Fon, responsible for pollination of Sickle Root.

Darvisha. Bull-headed Immortal, one of a group of fertility gods.

Dawn and Birds, Magister of. Title of the first (lowest) rank of Magister Administory.

Dawn Feast. Ritual breaking of a fast that can occur at the start of some years by the Imperial calendar.

Day of Quiet Contemplation. See Quiet Contemplation, Day of.

Day of Wings. See Wings, Day of.

Deep Wisdom, Sea of. Sea to the south of the Empire of Splendour.

"Delicate Flower". Euphemism for prostitute.

Delicate Fortitude, Empress. Former ruler of the Empire of Splendour from one thousand years ago. She is accredited with creating the Official Calendar.

Denik, Kizen. Ruler of Beltavia Keep.

Denra-Lyr. (1) Large island nation south-west of the Empire of Splendour. Also known as Denralia. (2) The people of this land. Literally means "People/Land of God", or "Blessed People".

Dhalooth. Long-suffering salsham'ai companion of Rishta Vallans. Dhalooth is a chamion matoo jockey in his own right and enjoys some fame in Llaza, but also enjoys adventuring with his human friend.

Divine Minister of Green Abundance. See Green Abundance, Divine Minister of.

Divine Minister of the Iridescent Pearl. See Iridescent Pearl, Divine Minister of.

Divine Minister of the Nine Arts. See Nine Arts, Divine Minister of.

Divinely Chosen. First ruler of the Empire of Splendour.

Dosha. The name given to a school that teaches fighting techniques.

Dragon Scales. Gaming pieces common in the Empire of Splendour. A set consists of five coloured suits of eight triangular tiles each. There are additional "power" pieces as well, which vary from place to place. Many different games are played with dragon scales.

Dron. One of the races of humans found in the Empire of Splendour. Dron originate from Dronistor. They have blond hair, blue eyes and bright orange skin - these characteristics tend to breed true even in mixed parentage Dron.

Dronistor. Western province of the Empire of Splendour. A land of deep canyons and religious strife.

Durdn. Humanoid folk from the land of Vorsheeva. They are tall, shy, and have prehensile noses. Most are citizens of the Empire of Splendour.

Dusk and Diamonds, Magister of. Title given to the fourth rank of Magister Administory.

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