The Eyes of a Doll (The World of Shijuren Book 2) (42 page)

Achrida
(a-KREE-dah): Large trading city north of Basilopolis in the Empire of Makhaira. It sits upon two large trade routes. One route heads north from Basilopolis to Brunanburh in the Seven Kingdoms, passing through several Kreisen and western Periaslavl. The other route takes as much advantage as it can of the lakes in the middle of Shijuren. It starts at Lezh in the Empire of Makhaira and ends at Anzhedonev on Lake Kopayev in Periaslavl. From there, several other large trade routes lead farther eastward.

Anzhedonev
(AN-zhuh-DOE-nev): A large trading city located on Lake Kopayev. Most trade routes from the east of Shijuren come here before heading westward over the lakes.

Bardheküülle
(BAR-da-KOOL-ah): Old Lezhan for ‘White Tower.’ It is a nuraghi on the Bujerruge.

Basilopolis
: Capitol city of the Empire of Makhaira. Largest city in the world. Also called the Great City.

Biljana’s Springs
(bil-JA-na): A small spring fed of mountain runoff water that leads into Lake Achrida.

Brunanburh
(BROO-nan-burg): Refers to both the largest city and smallest kingdom in the Seven Kingdoms. The city sits upon the main trade route from the Seven Kingdoms to the rest of the world. As such, it is also the richest city. In the 11
th
Century, the burhealdor, or mayor, of the city managed to use its size and wealth to claim the small area around the city and raise it to the status of a kingdom.

Bujerruge
(BOO-zha-ROO-ga): A side road off of Crownstreet. Though shorter and easier than the main route of the Crownstreet, it is almost never used because of the Bardheküülle.

Crownstreet
: The main road between Achrida and Lezh.

Dassaretum
(das-sa-RAY-tum): A province in the Empire of Makhaira. It was originally the region where the tribes of the Dassaretae settled.

Empire of Makhaira
(mah-KY-ra): The successor to the Old Empire, built around some of the Old Empire’s daughter trading emporia such as Basilopolis and Achrida.

Golden Sea, The
: An inn in southern Achrida.

Haapavesa
(ha-ah-pe-VAY-sa): City in the farthest north of Periaslavl.

Hafron River
(HAV-ron): A river in the Seven Kingdoms.

Heartsquare
: Central square of Achrida. On its corners are the main administration buildings of the Empire and the city. Also, many of the wealthiest merchants of the Empire have offices for their factors within a block.

Horse and Moon, The
: An inn in Lezh.

Hydra’s Way
: A street leading out of the Square of Legends heading to Lake Achrida. The Achridan Reader’s Library is along Hydra’s Way.

Kalajavaros
(ka-LIE-a-VAIR-ose): The remnants of a town that once mined tin and gold on the Kopayalitsa.

Kopayalitsa
(ko-PIE-ah-LEET-sa): The old caravan route that leads east from Achrida. Rarely used since the trading routes across the lakes from Achrida to Anzhedonev were created.

Lake Achrida
(a-KREE-dah): The westernmost of five large lakes stretching across the central portion of Shijuren. Rivers and relatively small portages make up a busy east-west trade route. The city of Achrida is its primary port.

Lake Kopayev
(koe-PIE-ev): The easternmost of five large lakes stretching across the central portion of Shijuren. Rivers and relatively small portages make up a busy east-west trade route. The city of Anzhedonev is its primary port.

Lezh
: City in the Empire of Makhaira. It is located just to the west of Achrida on the coast of the Middle Sea.

Lezhum
: Province in the Empire of Makhaira. Its capital is Lezh.

Markanda
(MAR-kan-da) A trade city in the east. Known for making paper.

Matara
(ma-TAH-ra) A kingdom far to the south, known for its cotton and textile production.

Metodi Mean
: A short street, more of an alley, in the Stracara of Achrida. It starts at Samiel’s Way and ends at Gibroz’s main office.

Medusa’s Way
: A road leading out of the Square of Legends.

Middle Sea
: A sea that lies west of the Empire of Makhaira. Lezh is its easternmost port.

Middlemarch
: One of the Seven Kingdoms.

Old Empire
: Remnants of the first major Empire of the west. Originally built around the three main hotbeds of human revolution against the Giants in the west.

Old Road
: A road around the west of Achrida connecting Crownstreet to the Trade Road south of Achrida.

Periaslavl
(PEAR-ee-ah-sla-vel): Country laying to the north. Ruled by the Velikomat, the Great Mother who lives in Medvedgorod. Consists of 12 oblasts, or provinces.

Periferiea
(PEAR-ah-fa-REE-ah): A neighborhood immediately south of the Stracara in Achrida.

Plucked Owl, The
: An in the Periferiea neighborhood of Achrida.

Samiel’s Way
(sa-MEEL): A street running through the Stracara in Achrida.

Seven Kingdoms
: A group of small kingdoms of similar culture and language situated in the northwest.

Shijuren
(shee-YOU-ren): The Imperial and Old Imperial word for the world. In Sevenish, the word is spelled Sciuren. There is a cognate of this word in every major language in the world.

Square of Legends
: A square in Achrida. The Trade Road goes through it. Medusa’s Way and Hydra’s Way lead out of it.

Stracara
(strah-KA-rah): An extremely poor area of Achrida, filled with crime and violence. Gibroz has his main office here.

Svellheim
: An area between the Seven Kingdoms and Periaslavl. The people here share cultural similarities with both, though they are not politically organized more than regional chieftains. Also called the Northlands.

Westering Winds, The
: An inn in the city of Lezh. Run by Dardan. Also known as the Westie.

Trade Road
: The road leading north from Basilopolis through Achrida to Periaslavl.

Tresinova’s Treasures
: A bordello slightly to the outside of the walls of Achrida owned by Katarina.

Zabad Oblast
: The northwesternmost oblast of Periaslavl. Home of Ivan Yevgenich.

Aesc
(ash): One of the letters of the Sevenish alphabet. Also used as a token to represent all the gods in the Sevenish pantheon of gods.

Aetheling
(EH-tha-ling): A prince or noble in the Seven Kingdoms.

Allfather
: An epithet for Woden, the king of the gods in the Sevenish and Svellheim pantheon.

Aoidos of the Dead
: An epithet for Hades, the god of the underworld in the Old Imperial pantheon.

Baka
: Imperial term for grandmother. Connotatively, it implies also the matriarch of a clan or family.

Bencriht
(BENCH-rikt) Literally Sevenish for “bench-right.” An agreement in the Seven Kingdoms and Svellheim between a lord and a retainer. The retainer promises his service to the lord in whatever capacity they agree, while the lord in return promises a seat on the benches in his hall. This also implies that the lord will feed, clothe, and shelter those who have sworn to him.

Berzeti
(ber-ZAY-tee): A group of horse nomads who crossed the steppes from west to east. In the 13
th
Century, leaders of Achrida sent Naum as a diplomatic envoy to these nomads. His mission was so successful that they entered into the Enchelei en masse as a clan. Many Berzeti serve in the Pronaiars, the military company of Achrida that serves as the city’s cavalry.

Blazevics
: A family of criminals and thugs in Achrida.

Boyar
: A Periaslavlan nobleman.

Bukavac
: A creature out of Imperial mythology. It has six legs and a head of a goat. It is known for its evil and cruel disposition.

Clikurios
(klee- KOO-re-ose) (Plural: clikurioi):  The Imperial word for a practitioner of Lore Magic. The Sevenish term is “wyrdwita.” The Old Imperial term is “wizard.”

Dassaretae
(DAS-sa-reh-tie):  One of two competing tribes in Achrida and the surrounding environs. They compete against the Enchelei. The tribe has lived in the area of Achrida for at least two millennia. They lent their name to the Imperial province of which Achrida is the capitol, Dassaretum. Their primary clan is the Mrnjavcevic family.

Decarch
: A military rank in the Empire. The word literally means “leader of ten,” and is given to those who lead a unit of approximately that size.

Dinar
(DEE-nar): A silver coin and the main unit of currency in the Empire.

Drowned God
: An epithet for Poseidon, the Imperial god of the sea.

Dux
: Imperial governor of a province.

Enchanter
: The Imperial word for a practitioner of Love Magic. The Imperial term is “erkurios.”

Enchelei
(en-KA-lie): One of two competing tribes in Achrida and the surrounding environs. They compete against the Dassaretae. Though they arrived in the area in the 2
nd
or 3
rd
century, they arrived after the Dassaretae. Their primary clan is the Gropa family.

Erkurios
(air-KOO-re-ose) (Plural: erkurioi): The Imperial word for a practitioner of Love Magic. The Old Imperial term is “enchanter.”

Feroun
(FAY-roon): Literally Imperial for “The Bears.” One of six military companies in Achrida. Most of its members are from one of the families of the Dassaretae.

The Five Streams
: The most common metaphor used to describe magic in Shijuren is that of a river fed by five streams. The Five Streams refer the five methods of magic: Life Magic, Love Magic, Lore Magic, Land Magic, and Line Magic. Life Magic manipulates the energy of living things. Love Magic manipulates human emotions. Lore Magic manipulates knowledge. Land Magic manipulates unliving energy and matter of the universe. Line Magic manipulates runes, writing, and symbols. 

Fjolnir
: An epithet for Woden, the king of the gods in the Sevenish and Svellheim pantheon.

The Fourteen Holy Helpers
: A group of gods and goddesses known for the ability to heal.

Gekurios
(gay-KOO-re-ose) (Plural: gekurioi): The Imperial word for a practitioner of Land Magic. The Sevenish term is “stonelord.”

Gestriht
(GUEST-rikt): Literally Sevenish for “guest-right.” It is the implied agreement in the Seven Kingdoms and Svellheim between a lord of a hall and a guest in that hall. Like many such agreements in that part of the world, it implies many responsibilities upon both sides. A guest must act respectfully to his host and his people, goods, and gods. A host must in turn protect the guest against any harm, whether from the host’s retainers, someone else, or forces beyond the host’s control.

Giants
: A race of beings who kept humans in slavery until defeated more than seventeen centuries ago. The current era, MG, dates from the time years after their defeat when humans had recovered some semblance of civilization. Giants, as their name implied, were physically larger than humans. Nearly everything else that was once known about Giants has faded with the centuries, with the possible exception of records held by the Readers.

Gimerrai
: A group of criminals mostly from Basilopolis. They are known for their violent tactics. Their symbol is the bukavac.

Gospadar
(go-spo-DAR): Imperial for “Lord.”

Gospadarica
(go-spo-da-REEK-ah): Imperial for “Lady.”

Gropa
(GROW-pa): The most powerful of the clans within the Enchelei tribe. Nearly all of the leaders of the Enchelei have come from this clan. 

Gulyas
: A thick stew-like dish heavily spiced with peppers uncommon in western areas such as the Seven Kingdoms, Svellheim, the Old Empire, and the Kreisen. 

Hecatontarch
: A military rank in the Empire. The word literally means “leader of one hundred.” It usually is given to the highest non-commissioned officer in a company-sized unit.

The Helpers
: See the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Imperial
: The language spoken in the Empire of Makhaira.

Izba
(EEZ-ba): A small community in Periaslavl. Generally it consists of a lord’s hall, family homes, and communal production facilities such as a smithy or farming fields. These tend to be tight-knit communities because of the harsh winters in Periaslavl. 

Judge of Princes
: An epithet for Woden, the king of the gods in the Sevenish and Svellheim pantheon.

Kacamak
(KAH-kuh-mak): A plain dish consisting of gruel fried in olive oil.

Kentarch
(ken-TARK): A civilian rank in the Empire. It is applied to a relatively low-level but nonetheless vital member of a particular bureaucracy. A real world equivalent would be a Sergeant on a police force or the administrative assistant of a major bureaucrat.

Koryfoi
(ko-re-FOY): People of Achrida who are not affiliated with a kral.

Kral
(krawl): A major criminal gang in the Empire.

Kraljevic
(KRAWL-ya-vich) Essentially Imperial for “Prince of Crime.” These are the bosses of krals. As of 1712, there are two kraljevics in Achrida (Gibroz and Katarina).

Kreis
(krise): This is a vague term that refers to a tribe or region of essentially the same clan or culture in the broader area known as the Kreisen. There are hundreds of separate Kreis of various power, each controlling whatever area they can.

Kreisarchs
(KRY-sarks): A lord or chieftain of a Kreis. Each Kreisarch competes constantly against his neighbors, routinely raiding each other or making alliances of convenience as seems practical.

Kreisen
(KRY-zen): The overall name for all of the regions and tribes called Kreis. Because of the constant competition between Kreisarchs, the area is known for its conflict and strife. Travel through the Kreisen is sometimes difficult, and the road from the Seven Kingdoms to the Imperial High Road is often patrolled by Imperial companies. 

Kreisic
(KRY-zic): The language of the Kreisen.

Kurioi
(KOO-re-oy): Imperial word for a person who can use magic, no matter which of the Five Streams he or she uses.

Lakewardens
: One of six military companies in Achrida. Most of its members are from the Enchelei tribe.

Leorner
: The Sevenish word for a practitioner of Line Magic. The Imperial term is “symkurios.” The Old Imperial term is “runelord.”

Lezhans
: People from the city of Lezh.

Liffrea
: Literally Sevenish for “Life-lord.” This is the Sevenish name for any practitioner of Life Magic. The Imperial term is “zokurios.” The Old Imperial term is “sorcerer.”

Luckbringer
: An epithet for Hermes, the god of luck in the Imperial pantheon.

M.G. or MG
: Dating of the current era. It is an abbreviation for the Imperial words “meta gigantes,” which means “After the Giants.”

Mavric Iron
: A refined version of pitchblende. Used to greatly enhance the power of spells. Unfortunately, it is deadly to all who use it.

Mithra
: A major god of the Empire. Most soldiers worship Mithra to some degree or another.

Mousai
: A trio of gods who are worshiped by artists.

Mrnjavcevic
(murn-yav-CHEH-vich): The most powerful of the clans within the Dassaretae tribe. Nearly all of the leaders of the Dassaretae have come from this clan. 

Nobilissimi
(no-be-LIS-se-me): Literally, Imperial for “most noble.” This is the Imperial class of the greatest and most powerful nobles in the Empire.

Nuraghi
(noo-RAG-hee): The Imperial term for an ancient ruin. Many nuraghi are thought to have existed since the time of the Giants. Some are speculated to be even older.

Oblast
: The term for province in Periaslavlan.

Old Imperial
: The language that was once spoken in the Old Empire. Its descendants are spoken in various areas that the Old Empire controlled. It is also used in the Empire of Makhaira primarily as a language of the intellectuals and aristocracy.

Pathfinder
: One of six military companies in Achrida. Most of its members are from the Dassaretae tribe.

Pronoiar
(PRO-noy-ar): One of six military companies in Achrida. Most of its members are from the Berzeti. It is the cavalry of Achrida, and its members are known both for their horsemanship and arrogance.

Proreus
(pro-RAY-us): A naval rank in the Empire of Makhaira. It is the term given to the bow officer, whose primary responsibility included organizing the watch for other ships.

Protokarabos
(pro-to-KA-ra-boess): A naval rank in the Empire of Makhaira. It is the term given to highest ranking non-commissioned officer on a ship.

Quaesitor
(KWAY-za-tore): A member of the Imperial bureaucracy. Quaesitors are tasked with investigating and eliminating crime within the Empire of Makhaira. Also known as queasies.

Rakija
(RA-key-ya): A distilled beverage in the Province of Dassaretum. It is a type of brandy that can be distilled from many different fruits.

Reader
: Not simply the noun for a person who reads, rather it is the proper noun for an order of lorekeepers and Lore Magicians. The Order always strives to learn everything it can. It will dispense that information to anyone who asks as long as doing so does not violate their complex oath. Essentially, they will not tell anyone any information that gives the recipient an “unfair advantage.” The definition of “unfair advantage” is entirely up to the ranking Reader available at any given moment. The goal of the Readers is to gather knowledge, not to influence events. Not every Reader is a practitioner of Lore Magic, but many are.

Revithia
: A soup common in Basilopolis made from chickpeas.

Runelord
: Old Imperial for a practitioner of Line Magic. The Sevenish term is “leorner.” The Imperial term is “symkurios.”

Saex
(sax): Its basic meaning is a type of knife in the Seven Kingdoms. However, the saex is also a symbol of a free man in the Seven Kingdoms, and its bestowal and ownership is surrounded by many customs and traditions.

Scop
(shope): The Sevenish word for “performer” or “bard.”

Selsko Meso
: A baked dish of meat, onions, and mushrooms in a wine sauce and covered with cheese.

Sevener
: The epithet used to denote someone from the Seven Kingdoms.

Sevenish
: The language spoken in the Seven Kingdoms.

Sfagi
(sva-GEE): Literally, the Imperial word for “slaughter.” In Achrida, it is also the name for a particularly bloody moment in the competition between the Dassaretae and the Enchelei. Nearly every leader of both sides ever since has attempted to avoid a recurrence.