Glossary

Airlock gates

Biological organisms draped across pinch points in spacefaring structures. Upon dramatic drops in air pressure, will immediately seal to prevent transfer or loss of atmosphere from one compartment to another.

Andelic

Planet upon which Fhiro was born and raised. All the major continents are joined by the vast ice sheets spreading from each of its poles. The eastern seaboard of Washerall – the most populated continent - is where the vast majority of its starfaring inhabitants live. It is from this continent that the names of the great oceans (Western and Eastern) are referenced. Being so far from the galactic core, its native flora and fauna are poorly studied.

Andric

Bodyguard to the Histhostun ambassador, Ambassador Winle.

Avithen

Most recent prophet to be recognised by the Church of Elders. Spiritual guide of the religion of The Calling until his death.

Baworl

Niquani nation. Beside its two home planets, its territory includes another which it shares with Hithostun.

Borlin

One of very few archaeologists from Kartna with an interest in The Ancients (Poshokans). Connected Cerilina’s team with Kartnan Senate to facilitate collaboration on journey to Pelorn.

Bumentin Empire

The empire that rose from the ashes of the Great Dying and came to dominate the galaxy for centuries. Disintegrated long before the events in Gravity’s Arrow.

Calagan

Star port between Andelic and Nyfua.

Calthorn

Pelorn general in charge of excavation site.

Cerilina

Leader of the archaeologists from the Magellan Cloud, brought to Pelorn by Valachrad.

Chinda

Fhiro’s sister, three years younger than him.

Chenessa

Daughter of Reshna (Creedate Ambassador). Similar age to Fhiro.

Church of Elders

The authority, recognised by orthodox Followers of The Calling, tasked with identifying new prophets sent by Aten, and promoting their teachings to the peoples of the galaxy. Previous prophets have affirmed the role of the Church of Elders, thus enabling the Scriptures of the Prophets to be amended so as to identify the Church as Aten’s blessed tool with which his messages might be amplified to all ears ready to listen.

Crystals

Millennia ago earthen discovered a type of crystal capable of strange properties. When active, close-by equipment powered by sorcery will suffer from interference, failure, permanent damage or even destruction. Different crystals have different properties. Lumia-crystals provide a source of light when activated, blaster/crystal-fire crystals produce dangerous bursts of energy, navigation (or navigator) crystals can be programmed by instronavia-crystals to coordinate teleportation of a defined volume of three-dimensional space to another location, gravity crystals provide an artificial gravitational field, and tele-crystals can be used for communication. Besides interfering with sorcery, crystals also interferer with the activity of each other to some extent. A navigation crystal attempting to teleport a spaceship will only make such a jump after it has accommodated for the nearby crystal auras. The distance at, and extent to which, sorcery and teleportation are affected depends on the nature of the crystal and the energy it is expending. Disrupter crystals are used specifically for this purpose, and are a defence mechanism that prevents attack from enemies using sorcery, and also prevents enemy ships from teleporting too close.

Curuski

Upright carnivorous creatures native to Pelorn. Approximately same height as an earthen, yeal or hegel.

Dorrick

Fhiro’s older brother by two years.

Earthen/Earthpeople/Earthmen/Earth-women

The species of sentient creatures that evolved on earth and reached the stars.

Ereput

(Yeal) Scientist working at the same ISNAS laboratory as Fhiro and Oljon, studying the native, sentient, aquatic species of Andelic.

Evix

Ambassador to Pelorn from Norio, a local Niquani nation.

Fhiro

Twelve years old at start of story. Son of Oljon and Hanu, middle child between Dorrick and Chinda. Trained by his parents since young in a variety of survival and combat skills.

Gedrillan republic

One of the greater powers of the Near Quadrant following the disintegration of the Bumentin Empire.

Ghorad

Kartnan secret service agent, veteran of the First Legion, and bodyguard to Imial and Valachrad.

Graveling

Eight metre tall, flesh eating creatures, native to Pelorn.

Great Dying

An event over two thousand years ago in which nearly the entire population of the galaxy was wiped out. It was particularly thorough in all worlds controlled by the Poshokans Empire.

Gully-hawks

Six eyed birds capable of carrying groups of people.

Halbat

Ambassador from Jashpur to Pelorn. Knowledgeable about the ancients/Poshokans

Hanu

Fhiro’s mother.

Haven / Shrouded Haven

Location where sorcery takes place. Usually hidden and a great distance from the nearest habitation where crystals might normally be in use. To protect the sorcery from damage by crystals, a fleet of ships forms several barriers around it to prevent crystal-powered teleportation being used to bring crystals close to the haven.

Hegel

Humanoid but bird-like starfaring species. Capable of speaking interspecies galactic without an accent, they have come to live alongside earthen and yeal. The vast majority of hegel are ‘toolers’ – unable to fly, but capable of making and using heavier tools unlike the ‘flyers’ from which the toolers evolved. However, though there is extreme variation among them in terms of physical traits, the elite Hegel athlete will typically outperform an elite earthen in any physical activity where gaining or maintaining height off the ground is required. The average hegel also has better distance sight than the average earthen, though there are examples of earthen with long distance sight to rival those of the most farsighted hegel. They match earthen for speed, but the elite earthen strength athletes typically exert greater force than the equivalent hegel athlete.

High Priest

Four supreme religious leaders of The Church of Elders, who live and meet in the high tower on Indin. They oversee the deliberations and councils of the Church of Elders. Subordinate to a prophet when one has been found, but otherwise their council is the supreme authority in The Calling.

Hithostun

Most powerful nation in the vicinity of Pelorn. The Niquani culture dominates, though as with all the nearby nations, there are Followers of The Calling, and a small minority who believe in the Elements.

Hockers

Large, strong, bipedal creatures capable of following orders. Used for building, demolition, transport and other heavy manual labour tasks.

Hoppers

Spacefaring species of intelligent creatures that evolved in a high gravity environment. Their build allows them to jump far and high. The anatomy and innervation of their vocal systems does not lend itself to easily producing the sounds used in interspecies. To date they usually live in their own communities, having historically integrated better with populations of Recci than they have with the interspecies galactic fluent species (hegel, yeal and earthen).

Hussuf

(Hegel) Creedate bodyguard to Reshna and Chenessa.

Iap

Two-planet nation local to Pelorn

ISNAS / Institute for the Study of Native Andelic Species

Organisation studying the fauna and flora native to the planet Andelic. Its base was set up in Talucia, on the east coast of the continent of Washerall, and evolved alongside the embassy docks situated there for trade with the Pichis of the Eastern Ocean.

Imial

Son of Valachrad. Same age as Fhiro.

Ishthen

Kartnan General, Tetrarch-legate during The Martial Uprising (an attempted coup by rogue Kartnan military forces, 37 years before the events described in chapter one of this book). Veteran of the Second Legion – the most elite special forces unit of the Empire. A convert to The Calling at the age of eighty-seven, he was rejuvenated and went to work with the Creedate. He left the Creedate twelve years later, and has been a fugitive of the regime since.

Jashpur

Powerful republic, further from Pelorn and the Creedate than Kartna. On good trade and diplomatic terms with Kartna.

Jeberrel

Countess of Pelorn. Sent to greet the Kartnan diplomatic mission upon its arrival.

Larif

Ambassador to Pelorn from the Niquani nation of Timale

Lizardmen

Starfaring species that evolved on the far side of the galaxy from earthen. There have been many wars between the lizardmen and the other starfaring species. 

Marallel

Supreme commander and de facto ruler of the Creedate.

Marcrows

Large birds capable of carrying groups of people and cargo.

Near Quadrant

The quadrant of the galaxy which humanity came to dominate in ancient times. So-called because space within the Near Quadrant was ‘near’ to earth. Earthen constitute the majority of people .

Niquani

The culture/religion of the majority of those who live on Pelorn, Hithostun, Iap, Norio, Baworl, Vinara and Timale describe themselves as Niquani. The belief system of the Niquani attributes divine attributes to the herbivorous fauna of Pelorn (such herbivores having now been exported across the Niquani heartworlds where they predominantly live in the wild). Adherence to what might be described as strict Niquani beliefs and customs is variable, and many Niquani hold alternative beliefs (for example, they might also Follow The Calling). There is no singular Niquani religious authority, though each Niquani nation supports religious organisations that offer guidance and instruction on matters relating to Niquani beliefs. The rulers of most Niquani nations describe themselves as both Niquani and adherent to the Elements belief system.

Norio

Niquani nation, single planet, local to Pelorn.

Nyfua

A star system between Kartna and Pelorn, under the influence of Kartna.

Olita

The ambassador from Baworl, another local Niquani nation, to Pelorn.

Oljon

Fhiro’s father.

Professor Millorn

Chief scientist of the ISNAS Western Laboratory

Palis

Elite guard to the Royalty of Pelorn. Charged with security of the international delegations to Pelorn.

People

Anyone belonging to a starfaring/spacefaring species.

Pichis

Sentient aquatic creatures which evolved on Andelic. Two populations were separated by the formation of deep ice-sheets at the poles. In the East of Washerall the pichis have developed strong trade connections with the people inhabiting the land above. In the West of Washerall, where there are few land-dwellers, there has been little contact with the aquatic pichis. The Eastern population paid ISNAS to facilitate an expedition of a number of pichis to the western seaboard of Washerall.

Poshokans / the Ancients

A culture/empire that dominated the galaxy for millennia prior to the great dying.

Pral

Kartnan soldier accompanying Ambassador Valachrad to Pelorn.

Prelate elder

Senior leader of call to worship and the worship congress for Followers of The Calling.

Recci

Multilimbed starfaring species that, following the Earthmen-Recci wars during expansion of Earthen into the Near Quadrant, and subsequent conflicts involving the Bumentin Empire, have limited their galactic territory to a volume of the galaxy at the borders of the Near Quadrant. However, they do travel and trade, and live among other species though, when doing so, always conscious to demonstrate integration to avoid misinterpretations of their intentions. Though Recci mothers give birth to numerous offspring, very few Recci newborns survive the first stages of life, and thus are not considered to be ‘alive’ until they have managed to do so. Like other starfaring creatures, they possess an organic ‘code’ (different to but similar to DNA, with parts that function as genes with exons, introns, and amplifiers and suppressors) to instruct how a Recci might develop physically. However, there is a strong element of chance that determines the development of their limbs and organs, so two genetically identical twins could develop very differently. One might possess exceptional strength and intelligence, while another might grow organs in a fashion that are incompatible with life, and fail to survive once born. With regards to integration with the interspecies galactic speaking species, some Recci may have vocal organs with which to speak it flawlessly, but many may not be able to at all. Exposure to the phenomes of interspecies galactic, mandatory in Recci education, means that nearly all Recci are capable of recognising and understanding the language used in the galaxy.

Reshna

Creedate ambassador to Pelorn. Mother of Chenessa.

Shali

Vinaran ambassador to Pelorn. Vinara is a Niquani nation local to Pelorn.

Sorcery

A mysterious power used by sorcerers to create new creatures and produce high quality instruments and items, such as space-worthy ship hulls. The aura from an energised crystal can interfere with and even damage a device powered by sorcery.

Space port

Any significant off-world structure where craft may resupply or trade.

Star port

A space port orbiting a star, harvesting solar energy which it channels to the craft docked at the port, facilitating faster charging of craft crystals.

Starfaring/spacefaring species

Those species that evolved intelligence and travelled into space and between stars. Current species so identified include earthen, yeal, hegel, recci, hoppers, lizardmen.

Suloa

King of Pelorn.

The Calling

The dominant belief system in the Near Quadrant. The singular God worshipped by Followers of The Calling is referred to as Aten. Archaeological evidence supports the theory that this was one of the most ancient names attributed to the god of a monotheistic religion on earth. Non-Creedate scholars attribute the adoption of ‘Aten’ as means to distinguish the subject of worship by Followers of The Calling from other false gods such as those of the Christians, Jews and Muslims to which the origins of The Calling can be traced. A reason for its endurance and success has been its ability to adapt. Though the ‘Scriptures of the Prophets’ (SOP) is its religious text, the SOP itself has, as its most fundamental rule, an acceptance that Aten continues to remodel the fabric of the universe to his liking, and will forever send prophets to guide his people along the ever-changing path of righteousness. The majority of Followers recognise new prophets when these are identified by the Church of Elders. Such Followers are orthodox Followers of The Calling, and consider other interpretations to be heretical.

Theon

Creedate priest. Tutor of Chenessa, and advisor to her mother Reshna (Creedate Ambassador to Pelorn).

Thurgon

Leader of the Creedate during the time Ishthen fought for them. Succeeded by Marallel.

Timale

Single-planet Niquani nation, local to Pelorn.

Tubrin

Creedate veteran warrior, and bodyguard to Reshna.

Valachrad

Kartnan Ambassador. Father of Imial.

Vinara

Single-planet Niquani natin, local to Pelorn.

Windeater

Flying creature, native to Andelic.

Winle

Ambassador to Pelorn from Hithostun – the most powerful Niquani nation in the vicinity of Pelorn.

Woada

Giant flying beasts used to transport cargo and people. Not feathered, so presumably conjured by sorcery from the essence of non-avian species.

Yeal

Starfaring species most similar to earthen. The scales of their skin can adjust to facilitate heat loss or retention and protection from sunlight. Similar in height and stature to earthen. At the extremes of physical stress, the most elite earthen athletes will typically outperform the elite Yeal on land, while a yeal athlete will perform, generally, better in aquatic environments. However, the species are very closely matched and to assume a given yeal is slower than any given earthen would be as foolish a conclusion to reach as it would be offensive.

Yetco

Leader of the Eastern Pichi expedition to the West.

Zakil

Ambassador to Pelorn from Iap, a Niquani nation near to Pelorn.