Glossary of Terms

  -singer - occupational suffix for craftspeople, e.g. “threadsinger”

  -smith - occupational suffix for tradespeople, e.g. “orchardsmith”

  -wife - occupational suffix for servicepeople, e.g. “cookwife”

  Agora - old Velan word meaning forbidden, used informally to mean unacceptable or inappropriate, formally refers to the Rule of Agora, the ancient cultural tradition surrounding masculine and feminine roles in magic and war

  Baxes - the capital city of Velan

  Blackplate - a rare form of plate armor forged with magic, identifiable by a black color that appears iridescent in direct sunlight

  Capra, Baran - the only child of the deceased Emperor Rhodon Grana and his widow Kara Capra, third prince of Velan

  Capra, Kara - the only wife of the deceased Emperor Rhodon Grana, mother of third prince Baran Capra

  Ciltigan - a village in the far west of Velan, known only for its apple orchards, hilly landscape and sink holes

  Damask Blade - a rare type of metal blade forged with magic, identifiable by the signature floral pattern of its individual maker; see witch-forger

  Emperor Leopardus Grana - reigning monarch of the kingdoms of Velan, younger brother to the late Emperor Rhodon Grana, paternal uncle of Baran Capra

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  Emperor Rhodon Grana - deceased 687, former reigning monarch of the kingdoms of Velan, elder brother of Leopardus Grana, father of Baran Capra

  Gale - see nightingale

  House Capra - one of the seven noble houses of Velan, identifiable by their four-horned ram sigil, their iris patterned damask blades, and black heraldry

  House Grana - one of the seven noble houses of Velan, identifiable by their two-headed lion sigil, their rose patterned damask blades, and crimson heraldry

  Nightingale - a common nickname for vestal nuns, due to the sandy brown cloak and white underdress that makes up their uniform; see gale

  Sept - old Velan name meaning seven, given to orphans born during the seventh month; also given to orphans born during the sixth month to avoid the unlucky number six

  Solisdae - the seventh day of the Velan week, considered auspicious, nationally decreed as rest-day in accordance with the White Tower

  Sparehouse - Velan name for an orphanage, so called due to the spare mouths abandoned there

  Velan - the name of the empire ruled by House Grana, consists of seven formerly disparate kingdoms

  Vesta - honorific name for vestals, e.g. Vesta Enna

  Vestal - the name for the nun-priests that operate up the administrative arm of the White Tower, see nightingale

  White Tower, the - the religious arm of the Velan monarchy, responsible for public works, education, and enforcing Agora

  Witch-Forger - a blacksmith trained to harness the inherent magical abilities found in the bloodlines of the noble families, most commonly women; makers of damask blades