by Jim Melvin
Akando (ah-KAHN-doh): Eldest brother of Takoda.
Akanittha (AHK-ah-NEE-tah): A being that is able to feed off the light of the sun. Means Highest Power in the ancient tongue.
Akasa Ocean (ah-KAH-sah): Largest ocean on Triken. Lies west of Dhutanga, Jivita, and Kincara.
Ancient tongue: Ancient language now spoken by only Triken’s most learned beings, as well as most Tugars
Anna: Tent City of Tējo. Home to the Tugars.
Arupa-Loka (ah-ROO-pah-LOH-kah): Home of ghosts, demons, and ghouls. Lies near northern border of the Gap of Gamana. Also called Ghost City.
Asamāna (ah-sah-MAH-nah): Senasanan bride of Invictus.
Asava (ah-SAH-vah): Potent drink brewed by Stone-Eaters.
Asēkha (ah-SEEK-ah): Tugars of highest rank. There always are twenty, not including Death-Knowers. Also known as Viisati (The Twenty).
Asthenolith (ah-STHEN-no-lith): Pool of magma in a large cavern beneath Mount Asubha.
Avici (ah-VEE-chee): Largest city on Triken. Home to Invictus.
Avikkhepa (ah-vih-KAY-puh): King of Jivita during the war against Slag.
Badaalataa (BAD-ah-LAH-tuh): Carnivorous vines from the demon world.
Bakheng (bah-KENG): Central shrine of Dibbu-Loka.
Bard: Partner of Ugga and Jord, trappers who lived in the forest near the foothills of Mount Asubha.
Barranca (bah-RAHN-chuh): Rocky wasteland that partially encircles the Great Desert.
Bell: Measurement of time approximating three hours.
Bhacca (BAH-cha): Chambermaid assigned to Laylah.
Bhasura (bah-SOOR-ah): One of the large tribes of the Mahaggata Mountains.
Bhayatupa (by-yah-TOO-pah): Most ancient and powerful of dragons. His scales are the color of deep crimson.
Bhojja (BOH-juh): Mother of all horses. Magical being of unknown origin or lifespan.
Black mountain wolves: Largest and most dangerous of all wolves. Allies of demons, witches, and Mogols.
Cariya River (chah-REE-yah): Largest river west of Mahaggata Mountains.
Catu (chah-TOO): Northernmost mountain on Triken.
Cave monkeys: Small, nameless primates that live in the underworld beneath Asubha.
Chain Man: Another name for Mala.
Chal-Abhinno (Chahl-ahb-HIH-no): Queen of the Warlish witches.
Che-ra (CHEE-ruh): Svakaran name for a fat possum.
Churikā (chuh-REE-kah): Female Asēkha.
Cirāya (ser-AYE-yah): Green cactus that, when chewed, provides large amounts of liquid and nourishment.
Cubit: Length of the arm from elbow to fingertip, which measures approximately eighteen inches, though among Tugars a cubit is considered twenty-one inches.
Dakkhinā (dah-KEE-nay): Sensation that brings on the urge to attempt Sammaasamaadhi. Means holy gift in the ancient tongue.
Death-Knower: Any Tugar—almost always an Asēkha—who has successfully achieved Sammaasamaadhi. In the ancient tongue, a Death-Knower is called Maranavidu.
Deathless people: Monks and nuns who inhabit Dibbu-Loka. Called deathless people because some of them live for more than one thousand years. More commonly known as noble ones.
Death Visit: Tugar description of the temporary suicide of a Death-Knower wizard.
Dēsaka (day-SAH-kuh): Famous Vasi master who trained The Torgon.
Dhutanga (doo-TAHNG-uh): Largest forest on Triken. Lies west of the Mahaggata Mountains. Also known as the Great Forest.
Dibbu-Loka (DEE-boo-LOW-kah): Realm of the noble ones. Means Deathless World in the ancient tongue. Originally called Piti-Loka.
Ditthi-Sagga (DEE-tee-SAH-gah): Jivitan captain who battled druids during war against Slag.
Dracools (drah-KOOLS): Winged beasts that walk on hind legs but look like miniature dragons. Taller than a man but shorter than a druid.
Druids (DREW-ids): Seven-cubit-tall beings that dwell in Dhutanga. Ancient enemies of Jivita.
Dukkhatu (doo-KAH-too): Great and ancient spider that spent the last years of its life near the peak of Asubha.
Ekadeva (ay-kah-DAY-vuh): The One God worshipped by the Jivitans and many other inhabitants of Triken.
Elu (EE-loo): Miniature Svakaran who is an associate of Rathburt.
Eunuch (YOO-nuk): Castrated male slaves who reside within the fifth wall of Kamupadana.
Fathom: Approximately eleven cubits.
Gap of Gamana: Northernmost gap of the Mahaggata Mountains.
Gap of Gati: Southern gap that separates the Mahaggata Range from the Kolankold Range.
Golden Road: Road paved with a special golden metal that connects Avici and Kilesa.
Golden soldiers: Soldiers of Invictus, mass-bred in his image.
Golden Wall: Oblong wall coated with a special golden metal that surrounds Avici and Kilesa.
Gray Plains: Arid plains that dominate much of the land east of the Ogha River.
Green Plains: Lush plains that surround Jivita.
Gulah (GOO-lah): Stone-Eater who became warden of Asubha. Son of Slag.
Gunther: Son of Vedana, father of Invictus and Laylah.
Hakam (huh-KAM): Third wall of Nissaya.
Henepola III (HEN-uh-POH-lah): King of Nissaya during war against Slag.
Hornbeam: Ancient trees whose twisted lust for life causes madness. Called Pacchanna in the ancient tongue.
Ice Ocean: Ocean that lies northeast of Okkanti Mountains.
Iddhi-Pada (IDD-hee-PUH-duh): Series of four roads that leads from Jivita to Avici, passing through Lake Hadaya, the Gap of Gati, Nissaya, and Java.
Invictus (in-VICK-tuss): Evil sorcerer who threatens all of Triken and beyond. Also known as Suriya (the Sun God).
Izumo (ee-ZOO-moh): Dracool from Mahaggata.
Jhana (JAH-nah): Father of Torg.
Jivita (jih-VEE-tuh): Wondrous city that is home to the white horsemen. Located west of the Gap of Gati in the Green Plains. Also called the White City. Known as Jutimantataa (City of Splendor) in the ancient tongue.
Jord: Mysterious partner of Ugga and Bard, trappers who lived in the forest near the foothills of Mount Asubha.
Kalapa (kuh-LUH-puh): Powerful Asēkha chieftain during war against Slag. Grandfather of Kusala.
Kamupadana (kuh-MOO-puh-DUH-nah): Home of Warlish witches and their lesser female servants. Also called the Whore City.
Kauha Marshes (COW-hah): Deadly marshes that lie between Avici and Kilesa.
Kilesa (kee-LAY-suh): Sister City of Anna.
Kincara Forest (KIN-chu-ruh): Large forest, though not as large as Dhutanga, that lies south of the Green Plains.
King Lobha (LOW-bah): Sadistic king who built Piti-Loka.
Kojin (KOH-jin): Enormous ogress with six arms and a bloated female head. Almost as large as a snow giant.
Kolankold Mountains (KO-luhn-kold): Bottom stem of the Mahaggata Mountains, located south of the Gap of Gati.
Kuruk (KERR-uck): Traitorous Ropakan who desired Magena.
Kusala (KOO-suh-luh): Second most powerful Tugar in the world next to Torg. Also known as Asēkha-Kusala and Chieftain Kusala.
Lake Hadaya (huh-DUH-yuh): Large freshwater lake that lies west of the Gap of Gati.
Lake Keo (KAY-oh): Large freshwater lake that lies between the Kolankold Mountains and Dibbu-Loka.
Lake Ti-ratana (tee-RAH-tuh-nah): Large freshwater lake that lies west of Avici.
Laylah (LAY-lah): Younger sister of Invictus.
Long breath: Fifteen seconds. Also called slow breath.
Lucius (LOO-shus): General of Invictus’ legions before the creation of Mala.
Magena (mah-JAY-nah): Name given to Laylah by the Ropakans.
Mahaggata Mountains (MAH-hah-GAH-tah): Largest mountain range on Triken. Shaped like a capital Y.
Mala (MAH-lah): Former snow giant who was ruined by Invictus and turned into the sorcerer’s most dangerous servant. Formerly called Yama-Deva.
Majjhe Ghamme (Mah-JEE GAH-mee): Means midsummer in the ancient tongue.
Mogols (MAH-guhls): Warrior race that dwells in Mahaggata Mountains. Longtime worshippers of the dragon Bhayatupa and the demon Vedana. Ancient enemies of Nissaya.
Moken (MOH-kin): A chosen leader of the boat people.
Mount Asubha (ah-SOO-buh): Dreaded mountain in the cold north that housed the prison of Invictus.
Namuci (nah-MOO-chee): Magic word that summons the efrits from the Realm of the Undead.
Nirodha (nee-ROW-dah): Icy wastelands that lie north of the Mahaggata Mountains.
Nissaya (nee-SIGH-yah): Impenetrable fortress on the east end of the Gap of Gati. Home of the Nissayan knights.
Noble ones: Monks and nuns who inhabit Dibbu-Loka. Also called deathless people.
Obhasa (oh-BHAH-sah): Torg’s magical staff, carved from the ivory of a desert elephant found dead. Means container of light in the ancient tongue.
Ogha River: (OH-guh): Largest river on Triken. Begins in the northern range of Mahaggata and ends in Lake Keo.
Okkanti Mountains (oh-KAHN-tee): Small range with tall, jagged peaks located northeast of Kilesa.
Pabbajja (pah-BAH-jah): Homeless people who live in the plains surrounding Java. Little is known of their habits.
Pace: Approximately 30 inches, though among Tugars a pace is considered 36 inches.
Paramita (puh-ruh-MEE-tuh): Magnificent sword made by a Tugar master. Contained a dragon jewel on its pommel.
Peta (PAY-tuh): Ghost girl of Arupa-Loka. In life, she was blind.
Piti-Loka (PEE-tee-LOH-kuh): Original name of Dibbu-Loka. Built by King Lobha ten thousand years ago as his burial shrine. Means Rapture World in the ancient tongue.
Podhana (POH-dah-nuh): Asēkha warrior.
Porisāda (por-ee-SAH-dah): Most dangerous of all Mogols. Are known to eat the flesh of their victims.
Raaga (RAH-gah): Magic word from the Realm of the Undead that causes humans to experience a drug-like high.
Rathburt (RATH-burt): Only other living Death-Knower. Known as a gardener, not a warrior.
Ropaka (row-PAH-kah): One of the large tribes of the Mahaggata Mountains.
Salt Sea: Dead inland sea south of the Okkanti Mountains.
Sammaasamaadhi (sam-mah-sah-MAH-dee): Supreme concentration of mind. Temporary suicide.
Sampati (sahm-PAH-tee): Giant condors crossbred with dragons by Invictus. Used to transport people and supplies to the prison on Mount Asubha.
Sāykans (SAH-kuns): Female soldiers who defend Kamupadana.
Senasana (SEN-uh-SAHN-ah): Thriving market city that lies north of Dibbu-Loka.
Short breath: Three seconds. Also called quick breath.
Silver Sword: Ancient sword forged by a long-forgotten master from the otherworldly metals found among the shattered remains of a meteorite.
Simōōn (suh-MOON): Magical dust storm that protects Anna from outsiders.
Sister Tathagata (tuh-THUH-guh-tuh): High nun of Dibbu-Loka. More than three thousand years old. Also known as Perfect One.
Sivathika (SEE-vah-TEE-kuh): Ancient Tugar ritual. Dying warrior breathes what remains of his or her Life Energy into a survivor’s lungs, where it is absorbed into the blood.
Slag: Stone-Eater defeated by Torg outside of Nissaya. Father of Gulah.
Snow giants: Magnificent beings reaching heights of 10 cubits or more that dwell in the Okkanti Mountains.
Sōbhana (SOH-bah-nah): Female Asēkha warrior.
Span: Distance from the end of the thumb to the end of the little finger of a hand spread to full width. Approximately nine inches, though among Tugars a span is considered 12 inches.
Stēorra (STAY-oh-rah): Wife of Gunther, mother of Invictus and Laylah.
Stone: Equal to fourteen pounds.
Stone-Eater: Magical being that gains power by devouring lava rocks.
Svakara (svuh-KUH-ruh): One of the large tribes of the Mahaggata Mountains.
Takoda (tuh-KOH-duh): Adoptive father of Magena.
Tanhiiyati (tawn-hee-YAH-tee): Insatiable craving for eternal existence suffered by some long-lived beings.
Tāseti (tah-SAY-tee): Most powerful female Asēkha in the world.
Tējo (TAY-joh): Great Desert. Home of the Tugars.
Tent City: Largest city in Tējo. Home to the Tugars. Also known as Anna.
The Torgon (TOR-gahn): Torg’s ceremonial name. Also Lord Torgon.
Torg: Thousand-year-old Death-Knower wizard. King of the Tugars. Means Blessed Warrior in the ancient tongue.
Triken (TRY-ken): Name of the world. Also name of the land east and west of the Mahaggata Mountains.
Tugars (TOO-gars): Desert warriors of Tējo. Called Kantaara Yodhas in the ancient tongue.
Uccheda (oo-CHAY-duh): Tower of Invictus in Avici. Means annihilation in the ancient tongue.
Ugga (OOO-gah): Human-bear crossbreed who was a partner of Bard and Jord, trappers who lived in the forest near the foothills of Mount Asubha.
Undines (oon-DEENS): Creatures of the demon world who—when summoned—can infect living bodies and turn them into flesh-eating zombies.
Uppādetar (oo-pay-DEE-tar): The God of Creation worshipped by the Nissayans.
Urbana (oor-BAH-nah): Mistress of robes assigned by Invictus to attend Laylah. A vampire.
Ur-Nammu (oor-NUH-moo): High priestess of Kamupadana.
Uttara (oo-TUH-ruh): Specially made sword wielded by Tugar warriors and Asēkhas. Single-edged, slightly curved.
Vasi master (VUH-see): Martial arts master who trains Tugar novices to become warriors.
Vedana (VAY-duh-nuh): One-hundred-thousand -year-old demon. Grandmother of Invictus and Laylah. Mother of King Lobha.
Vinipata (VEE-nee-PUH-tuh): Central shrine of Senasana.
Warlish witch (WOR-lish): Female witch who can change her appearance between extreme beauty and hideousness.
Wild men: Short, hairy men who thrive in the foothills of Kolankold. Their women do not fight as warriors and are rarely seen. Longtime enemies of Nissaya.
Worm monster: Nameless beast with more than a thousand tentacles that lives beneath Asubha. Largest living creature on Triken.
Yakkkkha (YAH-kuh): Magic word from the Realm of the Undead that brings corpses and skeletons temporarily back to life.
Yama-Deva (YAH-muh-DAY-vuh): Ruined snow giant that became Mala.
Yama-Utu (YAH-muh-OO-too): Snow giant. Brother of Yama-Deva. Husband of Yama-Bhari.
Ziggurat (ZIG-guh-raht): Nine-story temple located within the first wall of Kamupadana.
Acknowledgments
Dennis Chastain supplied the beauty.
Keith W. Davis and Joe Rao supplied the physics.
And Margo McLoughlin continued to be the true master of the ancient tongue.
Thanks also to Robin Brethwaite and Rick Humphrey for their support.
And a final thanks to my wife, Jeanne Malmgren, for all of her help—and wisdom.
About the Author
Jim Melvin is the author of the epic, six-book epic fantasy The Death Wizard Chronicles. He was an award-winning journalist at the St. Petersburg Times for twenty-five years. As a reporter, he specialized in science, nature, health and fitness, and he wrote about everything from childhood drowning to erupting volcanoes. Jim is a student of Eastern philosophy and mindfulness meditation, both of which he weaves extensively into his work. Jim lives in Upstate South Carolina in the foothills of the mountains. He’s married and has five daughters. Visit him at:
www.jim-melvin.com
and
www.deathwizardchronicles.blogspot.com.
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