GLOSSARY

Acadians - The scholarly residents of the Acadium; often, they are wardens. While not all Acadians are wardens, any warden caught are forced to become an Acadian, or face the penalty of death.

The Acadium - Nominally, the center of learning and education within Oedija. The Acadium serves a dual purpose, however: the reeducation and containment of wardens.

Archon - The representative of the Despot or Despoina within the People's Conclave and Demos Council. Their powers are primarily limited to moderation, except when a member is missing on the Demos Council or a tie vote must be broken.

Avvad, or the Avvadin Imperium - The ever-expanding empire that lies to the south of Oedija.

Bali - The people who reside among the plateaus to the east of Oedija.

Buyujinn - The great spirits of the Avvadin people.

The Confessionary Tribunal, or the Tribunal - The judicial branch of Oedija's government, they are responsible for enforcing the rule of law, including the containment and punishment of rogue wardens. They are not elected, but are recruited by their own.

Daemons - Spirits who are considered evil or mean-spirited; also a derogatory term for wardens.

Damask Esir - The elite warriors of Avvad; said to be controlled by daemons called Qarin.

Demes - Districts of the city of Oedija.

Demos Council - The ruling council within the People's Conclave. Traditionally, it numbers eleven Low Consuls, with the Archon acting as a moderator, though often, the eleventh seat is disputed. Their responsibilities largely lie in determining the agenda within the larger Conclave. In times of strife, however, they are granted powers of military action and broad budgetary powers.

Demotism - A system of democratic republicanism in which representative officials are elected by citizens, or landowners, into a legislative ruling body.

The Despot/Despoina - The Ruling Wreath; a symbolic ruler who acts as a figurehead for Oedija. Small powers as the official emissary of Oedija and the nominal leader of Oedija's militia (when marshaled).

Eidola - The gods of the Eidolan religion.

Eidolanism - The religion of the original settlers of Oedija, in Airene's time, it is a fading religion, with many of its beliefs considered antiquated. 

Energetic elements - The forms of energy present in the Pyrthae. Three energetic elements are commonly known: radiance, or heat and light; kinesis, or force; and magnesis, or the fields of magnetism. A fourth form of energy, catalysm, is also known to manifest in rare individuals. Other energetic elements are believed to exist, but are unconfirmed.

Finches (as a title) - Hunters and peddlers of secrets. While in purpose, their mission is to expose wrongdoing and uncover hidden truths, in practice they often perform small jobs recovering and threatening others with incriminating information for those who will pay.

First Laurel - The leader of the laurel guard, the soldiers defending the Laurel Palace and other Wreath properties.

The Four Realms - Considered the last bastions of civilization in a backwards world, four nations are united in peace by a concordance. These nations are: Oedija, the Bali ishakas, the Qao Fu jaitin, and the Avvadin Imperium.

Guilders - People who work on behalf of the Underguild. 

Hilarion - The jester to the Despot or Despoina. Hilarion is always chosen from among Oedija's male wardens. Traditionally, he wears a crown of wheat, sackcloth clothes, and sandals bound with rope. Hilarion's nominal purpose is to entertain at the whim of the Ruling Wreath, but his true purpose is understood to be to diminish fear that people hold for wardens by making him an object of laughter and ridicule.

Honors - The lowest caste of Oedijan society. They are not permitted to own property, including money, nor choose their own employment, and are often housed and work within the estates of patricians. Honors are the descendants of the Kalthuae, the native inhabitants of the lands Oedija now claims, before settlers sailed from the west to found the nation.

Ishakas - The tribal kingdoms of the Bali people.

Jaitin - The matriarchal groups of the Qao Fu people; grouped by the caves in which they reside.

Low Consuls - The members of the Demos Council. Low Consuls are elected from the Conclave, requiring the support of ten of their fellow Servants to gain a seat.

Oedija - The "Pearl of the Four Realms"; the primary location of the story. A republican society undergoing significant turmoil, with threats from within and without. 

Order of Verifiers - A branch of Oedija government tasked with routing out corruption. It was disbanded a few years after its founding, and a century before Airene of Port fashions herself after them.

The People's Conclave, or the Conclave - The legislative body of Oedija. Within their parameters lies the making and governance of laws, the taxing and determination of the treasury, the governance of commerce, and the defense of the nation.

The Peninsula - A rural area of Oedija to the north of the city of Oedija.

Prefectures - Areas of governance across Oedija's countryside.

Pyr - Spirits who are considered either benevolent or innocuous.

Pyrkin - A moss-like substance that is considered somewhere between plant and animal, it is supposed to have a connection to the Pyrthae, on account of its bioluminescence.

The Pyrthae - The plane of spirits, which is said to run parallel to the material plane, Telae.

Qao Fu - The people who reside among the desert caves to the northeast of Oedija.

Quintessence - The soul when it is used by channeling as an energetic element. 

Servants - The elected leaders of Oedija, with semi-proportional representation from across Oedija's ten demes. They number one-hundred and twenty-one, minus those Servants who are elected to the Demos Council. They are responsible for legislative actions.

Shepherds - Members of the Confessionary Tribunal, they act under the guidance of a Tribune to contain or punish any rogue warden.

Stratechons - The five permanent military leaders of Oedija. Responsible for the city guard and the taxoi (when they are gathered).

Taxoi (s. taxos) - The militia of Oedija. As Oedija has no standing army, the taxoi are organized and financed by patrician households whenever the need arises.

Tefra - Priests of Avvad who use Silks, or bound spirits, to fight on their behalf.

Telae - The material plane; or, the world as it is known, including The Four Realms.

Tribunes - Members of the Confessionary Tribunal, they act as arbiters of Oedija's justice.

The Underguild - A semi-legitimized criminal organization. Overseen by five Guildmasters, the Underguild has a great hold over criminal activity in Oedija, and is largely responsible for its relatively low crime.

Verifiers of Truth, or Verifiers - Members of the Order of Verifiers, who were tasked with routing out corruption in Oedija's government, and were met with often violent resistance.

Wardens - People who are attuned to the Pyrthae and are able to manipulate forms of energy as magic. Across the Four Realms, they are forced into hiding, killed, lauded, and enslaved, depending on the nation. In Oedija, they are feared and kept to specific roles, such as Acadians or Shepherds, that suppresses their freedom and use of their abilities.

The Wreaths - The royal family of Oedija, formerly the true rulers of the nation when it was a monarchy.

Valemism / The Valemish - Worshippers of the volcanic god Valem, the religion of Valemism began in Avvad. It is considered a strict religion with a heavy emphasis on subjugation and obedience to authority, and the punishments for disobedience.