by Cam Baity
Cyclewynder a sleek Foundry racing vehicle with a flexible body atop a row of sharp wheels, used in Mehk to navigate difficult terrain.
cyndrl tumorous growths that are cultivated on the backs of freylani. These organic weapons can be harvested and used as grenades.
The Depot the Foundry’s central transportation hub in Mehk, located at the mouth of the tunnel that leads back to Albright City.
Dervish rifle a silent Foundry-made firearm with four rapidly spinning barrels and an internal solenoid that heats bonding rounds to the melting point.
Dialset a Foundry-made telephone.
directors Foundry supervisors and representatives of the Board. They have immense power in overseeing day-to-day operations, especially in Mehk, but answer directly to the Board.
Divine Dynamo a holy name for Makina.
Durall a durable metallic fabric of many uses, derived by the Foundry from the mehkan textile known as chusk.
Dyad Project a top secret Foundry project focused on creating a human-mehkan hybrid. Kaspar is the sole surviving experimental test subject.
dynamo symbol of the Way, a circle bisected by a jagged line like the teeth of a gear.
Dynapak Foundry waste disposal unit, consisting of a polished chrome shell and a powerful built-in trash compactor.
Dyrunya a mehkan river city of meticulous pipework architecture that extends both above and below the river surface. Home to the lumilow.
edict one of many verses in the sacred accords of the Way.
ember according to the traditions of the Way, embers are the sparks of life in every living thing. When a mehkan dies, its ember travels beyond the Shroud to be judged by Makina.
Emberguard a term for the revered Aegis.
Emberhome secret sanctuary of the Ona, thought to have been destroyed long ago.
ember-reaper a term for the feared Uaxtu.
Ephrian Mountains a massive range of living mountains on the eastern continent that disappears into the Shroud.
Ephrian plains a wild mehkan province on the eastern continent that remains undeveloped by the Foundry. It is said to be home to many species of mehkan that are otherwise considered extinct.
Erghan an ancient mehkan language.
ettik a brusque mehkan species that typically dwells in arctic regions, recognizable by their stout, tripod legs and their dense, bristle-haired carapaces.
Everseer a holy name for Makina.
The Expanse a term used by the Way to refer to the course of all time, as created by Makina.
ferro-crotic pertaining to the liquefaction and decomposition of metal, especially as resulting from exposure to CHAR.
Ferro-nomic Treaty the trade agreement that ended the Alloy War. It permitted, for the first time, international distribution of Foundry products. The terms were favorable to Meridian, imposing strict guidelines on the kind, quality, and price of materials that could be sold to other nations.
firkin pipework dwellings of the lumilow.
flux a toxic liquid metal that makes up mehkan oceans. In its solid state, flux falls from the clouds as bullet rain.
The Forge a celestial furnace in the afterlife, which Makina uses to judge the embers of the dead, according to the Way. They claim She douses the wicked, stirs the imperfect to be reborn, and blazes the righteous to live in harmony with Her for eternity.
The Foundry the world’s largest and most profitable corporation, established centuries ago by Creighton Albright. Due to its clandestine operations in Mehk, it is the foremost manufacturer of metal and technology.
Foundry Central an extensive complex located on an island in Foundry Bay, home to the Foundry’s primary research, manufacturing, and distribution hubs.
freylani (e.g., “The Mercanteer”) a physically ponderous mehkan species that has a talent for commerce and trade. Their hunchbacks are fertile biomes used to grow a staggering variety of goods, from which they always seek to profit.
function mehkans who adhere to the Way believe this to be their spiritual purpose in life, a unique reason for every individual’s existence that, if discovered and pursued, will lead to enlightenment.
Fuselage a langyl settlement in the Chusk Bowl that has been destroyed by the Foundry.
fusion mehkan term for midday, when the ring of rising suns coalesces in a singular zenith.
gauge mehkan currency of metallic rings. The worth of individual units, or “tinklets,” is indicated by the size and color of the ring.
Gauge Pit a black market in the mehkan city of Sen Ta’rine, featuring an auction house that specializes in slave trade.
gears of fate a term used in the Way, referring to the aspect of Makina’s plan that influences the lives of all sentient beings and how they impact one another.
Ghalteiga a squalid mehkan settlement on the Inro Coast with a reputation for lawlessness.
gha-tullei a mehkan word for “sanctuary.”
gohr a physically imposing mehkan species with crane-claw hands that honors warriors above all else. Known for their brute strength.
Gorgon 4 a Foundry armored vehicle, identifiable by its arsenal of eight artillery batteries mounted on adjustable, tiered platforms.
The Grand Mark a prominent landmark in the mehkan city of Bhorquvaat, from which the city derives its name. It is a massive crater surrounded by concentric rings of white petrified waves of ore. The Waybound claim this is an impact crater formed when Makina smote the wicked mehkans who once lived there.
The Great Decay an era that began with the appearance of humans in Mehk. The Waybound claim that the Great Decay is a result of mehkans losing faith in Makina, which led to the decline of the Way, widespread enmity among mehkan species, the dissolution of mehkan society, and the rise of the Foundry’s power.
The Great Engineer a holy name for Makina.
Greinadoren a human nation that is a prominent member of the Quorum with a sophisticated military and an agency known for espionage.
Haizor a prominent mehkan language.
The Heap a mehkan ghetto in the city of Sen Ta’rine, home to refugees displaced by the Foundry’s incursions.
Hearth a secretive method of communication used by the Covenant, in which remote individuals can speak and be seen through surfaces of specialized molten metal.
hiveling (e.g., “Tchiock”) a rare and reviled mehkan species that is said to have been bred as slaves for the ancient megalarchs. These amphibious monstrosities are cruel and fearsome, almost never seen outside the lagoons of dead lands.
hohksyk (e.g., “Korluth”) a gentle race of mehkans that can eject a self-propelled liquid metal, which acts as a remote sensory organ. This ability makes them experts of surveillance.
hoistvyne a sturdy mehkan ivy that functions like an organic block-and-tackle pulley system, used in lifts and elevators.
Housing a temple of the Way.
Housing of the Broken temple of the Way that serves as a sanctuary and hospital to mehkans with handicaps or deformities.
Hy’rekshi jungle a lush and expansive region of Mehk known for its staggering biodiversity.
ichor the viscous, dark brown life essence of many mehkans.
indruli a trained, nocturnal mehkan beast, known for its aggression if roused from sleep.
Inro Coast the craggy western shoreline of the Mirroring Sea in Mehk.
interval mehkan term for “season.”
jaislid (e.g., Axial Phy) a populous species of mehkan that commonly works as drones and laborers, often considered second-class citizens.
jelyp oceanic mehkan critters with tubular shells that emit jets of pressure for locomotion.
kailiak (e.g., Orei) a harsh and solitary mehkan species, whose bodies are precise instruments of measurement, allowing them near-psychic mathematical insight. They are averse to emotion, which can inhibit their ability to measure, thereby putting them at risk of physical harm.
Kallorax an ancient mehkan megalarch, notorious for his sadism and delusions of being a sun
god.
Kappermane a northern state in the nation of Meridian, home to Albright City and famous for its natural beauty.
kav’o living mehkan weapons rumored to be bonded to and wielded by the Aegis.
Kholghit a mehkan city that has banned the consumption of viscollia, leading to a ruthless black market in illicit liquor.
Kijyo Republic a human nation in the Far East that is a founding member of the Quorum, openly hostile toward Meridian.
knurler a small oceanic mehkan scavenger known for its impervious grip when it clings to surfaces.
kulha a peaceful mehkan species with a nomadic tribal culture.
lacepetal frilly mehkan vegetation used for decoration and tribute.
langyl, aka “lang” an industrious mehkan species notable for their bizarre sheet-metal appearance. They tend grundrulls and harvest chusk fiber from their excrement to make textiles.
Lateral Provinces the larger, western mehkan continent and its various principalities.
liodim giant mehkan beasts with segmented shells and tank tread feet. They live in herds and are routinely hunted by the Foundry.
Loaii honorific term for a Waybound who is chosen to serve Makina for a specific purpose. Named for a mythical mehkan saint.
Lodestar XC-8 non-lethal Foundry weapon, a baton topped by a powerful magnetic coil that can repel and attract.
lumilow, aka “lumie” (e.g., The Marquis) an advanced race of mehkans who have bodies of prehensile tubing and communicate using a visual language of light. Their insular culture is renowned for discoveries in science and engineering and has a reputation for arrogance.
Maddox popular Televiewer show about a heroic soldier from Meridian. “No guts, no glory” is the title character’s catchphrase.
Makina a mehkan god worshipped by the Waybound, believed to have created the universe and said to have abandoned Mehk because Her followers strayed from the righteous path.
megalarch title for ancient mehkan emperors.
Mehk a mysterious realm of living metal and organic machines. It is connected to our world by an underground portal, which is hidden and controlled by the Foundry.
mehkans, aka “mehkie” term for all the creatures of Mehk, both sentient and non-sentient.
Meridian the most prosperous nation in the human world, due entirely to the wealth and success of the Foundry.
Mirroring Sea a vast ocean of flux that surrounds the two main continents of Mehk.
Moalao a third-world nation of the human world, active member of the Quorum.
Mother of Ore a holy name for Makina.
Multi-Edge a Foundry-made survival knife with a versatile blade that can transform into multiple practical tools with the turn of a dial.
needlekey a mehkan syringe device used to undo a bond knurler lock by injecting food into the creature, thereby releasing its grip.
NET system a lattice of magnetic cables and tubes suspended over the Depot to prevent aerial attacks.
Newscam drone remotely operated flying cameras used exclusively by the news media.
Nhel K’taphen mine a mehkan ore quarry on the eastern continent, now under the control of the Foundry.
nozzle the spinning, cylindrical organ that gives balvoors their advanced sense of smell.
Occulyth a mysterious object sought by the Ona to save Mehk.
ohneshalo a mehkan device that emits a distinctive moan, used during the funeral ceremonies of the Waybound.
Olyrian Isle an opulent and isolated community where Foundry employees who were stationed in Mehk retire. Though they live their remaining years in luxury, communication with the outside world is strictly prohibited to protect company secrets.
The Ona fabled prophet of the Way, she was Makina’s messenger and the living interpreter of the sacred accords. The Ona was renowned for her wisdom and strength as leader of Mehk until she was supposedly killed by the Foundry in a surprise CHAR attack.
onkutu an especially bitter type of mehkan fruit that grows in the Chokarai.
opticle versatile sensory organ of the lumilow that can both receive visual information as well as project various wavelengths of light.
ore the primal mehkan substance that all living metal comes from. It is thought by the Waybound to originate from the physical body of Makina.
Overguard military commanders in the Covenant.
Panzamine medication for managing motion sickness and nausea.
phase a mehkan unit of measuring time, roughly equivalent to a year.
pinpod small mehkan critters that burrow into surfaces and pucker to take in air.
Plunge-o-matic automated toilet plunger manufactured by the Foundry.
Primal Age a mythical era the Waybound consider the beginning of time.
puddlemudge a mehkan expletive.
quadrit a mehkan unit of measurement, roughly equivalent to two meters.
The Quorum an alliance among several nations of the human world that feel threatened by Meridian’s supremacy and vehemently oppose its trade policies.
Radial IR-17 Industrial Generator an extraordinarily powerful and efficient electricity source built by the Foundry, discontinued because of high manufacturing costs.
ragleaf a common mehkan weed that is highly reflective, though it degrades rapidly when trimmed or plucked.
Rathskellar an ill-reputed tavern in the seaside settlement of Ghalteiga.
Rattletrap the most common language in Mehk.
Razorback common fighter jets used by the Meridian Air Force.
Rekindling a mehkan astronomical event involving swirls of colored starlight. This spectacle has religious significance to the Waybound.
Rodeau dam an innovative structure in central Vellaroux that provides hydroelectric power for more than half of Trelaine.
rot-pox a gruesome, degenerative mehkan disease that causes premature decomposition among tchurbs.
rust the mehkan term for “death.”
Rust Risen fabled home of the ancient and dreaded Uaxtu.
rustgut a mehkan ailment caused by the consumption of water.
rusting rites funeral ceremony for the Waybound.
sacred machine all of Makina’s creation, the entirety of the universe, according to the Waybound.
salathyl a peaceable, sentient mehkan species that is subterranean and massive in size, used by the Covenant as a secretive method of travel.
salathyl prong a mehkan device shaped like a spike that emits a signal when planted in the ground in order to summon a nearby salathyl.
Scrollbar a handheld tablet Computator made by the Foundry.
Sea Bullet a high-powered Foundry speedboat that can be retrofitted with a magnetic operating system for use in flux.
Sen Ta’rine, aka “The Living City” one of several mehkan metropolises constructed out of the towering sendrite growths that give these cities their “Sen” prefix.
sendrite a gigantic species of mehkan vegetation, cultivated as living architecture in major cities.
The Shroud the afterlife, according to the Way. It is a physical place in Mehk, a wall of dense, obscuring fog where Makina is said to reside and judge the embers of the dead. It remained unexplored by both humans and mehkans for decades.
silver steppes a mehkan region of barren plains that conduct heat in such a way as to be impassable during the day.
Sliverytik a mehkan gambling game. Players assemble a set of curved rods marked with symbols into a formation that rearranges itself as new rods are added.
span mehkan term for “lifetime.”
sungold a brilliant, extraordinarily reflective mehkan material, so rare it is thought to no longer exist. It was once used to create religious artifacts for the Way.
tahnik bulbous mehkan vegetation with branching tendrils, capable of growing to tremendous size.
The Talons a harrowing, spiky reef in the Mirroring Sea that is infamous for destroying ships.
tchurb a pathetic species of diminutive mehkan, regarded as th
e untouchable bottom-feeders of society. The arrival of humans in Mehk introduced rot-pox, a contagious genetic scourge that afflicts only tchurbs.
thiaphysi a sophisticated, highly empathetic race of mehkans who prize artistic expression above all else. By touching their hands to the moving, helical bands that surround their sprocketed bodies, thiaphysi can create both speech and music.
tick a mehkan unit of measuring time, roughly equivalent to a minute.
tinklet an individual unit of mehkan currency.
Titan giant military automaton made by the Foundry with advanced intelligence and powerful cannons.
tiulu an intimidating mehkan race with chainsaw forelimbs on bodies reminiscent of praying mantises. Although they are farmers and vegetarians, they are fiercely competitive and known to subjugate jaislids for slave labor.
torch bloom colloquial term for a carnivorous mehkan plant with flowers that burst into flame when their stamens are touched.
Trel slang for a person from Trelaine.
Trelaine proud human nation that is a founding member of the Quorum and has been in protracted peace talks with Meridian for years.
Uaxtu, aka “ember-reaper” a mythical cult of ancient mehkans, rumored to have conducted unspeakable rituals to resurrect the dead. It is said their spirits were cursed to wander for eternity like ravenous ghosts, devouring life to feed their empty souls.
vaptoryx a flying mehkan predator that snares its prey with musical tripwire.
Vellaroux capital city of Trelaine
vesper an oily orange liquid found in streams, rivers, and lakes throughout Mehk, as vital to mehkans as water is to humans.
viscollia a popular mehkan liquor distilled from augurweed.
vital component a term used in the Way to refer to those who have pursued their function to the fullest and have become enlightened.
volmerid, aka “vol” a gruff mehkan species covered with shaggy steel wool, distinguished by their oversized right arms and prehensile chain fingers. This species has earned a reputation of being grunts and thugs.
VooToo, aka “Vesper to H2O Conversion Unit” a Foundry-made device used to convert vesper to water.
Vo-Pykaron Mountains a prominent range of living mountains in the Lateral Provinces of Mehk.
