by S. K. Benton
Cannibal – Infected normal (human) with desire to eat human brains. Nearly complete loss of sapience. Body is in constant state of cooking itself from over amped metabolism. Runs and attacks until it suffers complete burnout and system failure. No cure available, except by Prīmulī. Traits: Mindless, brain-eating marathon runners. Cannot reproduce. Infection only occurs when both blood and saliva enter into victim’s body.
Cantus – Verbal or mental command used to manipulate magic particles. Can be simple, such as a levitation cantus, or extremely complex, such as a combination of individual healing and DNA altering cantuses, enabling regeneration of missing limbs, organs. Minor-mages must verbalize, while Prīmulī and Archangels (and their offspring) can use mental commands. Beings with no genetic predisposition to magic can use cantuses on a limited scale as long as they have a magically-enabled object, such as a wand or other special piece of equipment. Alternately: (verb) to cantus a spell.
Castilian – Spanish language. Used on Azul in conjunction with English and Swiss-German. English is predominant on Azul, but many idioms and slang terms on Azul are in the Castilian language.
Examples:
Bacho(a) – Slang term used to describe a Caucasian – gender-specific
Chino(a) – Slang term used to describe anyone of Old-Earth Asiatic descent – gender-specific
Dego(a) – Slang used to describe one of Old-Earth South American descent who has dark skin and eyes - gender-specific
Desa – short for desayuno – breakfast
Fritas – French-fried potatoes
Poto – Buttocks, derrière, a person’s butt
Rey de Roma! – Speaking of the devil… (idiomatic phrase)
Exodus – Secret fleet of spacecraft that left Earth for Azul in mid 22nd century, funded by a corporate consortium. Journey took almost 300 years to arrive at destination. Emigrants travelled in state of suspended animation.
Gauntlet – Magic-enabled object that is basically a spiked, metal glove through which cantuses can be channeled.
The Hub – Place outside the realm of Time/Space where Prīmulī usually reside.
Infoscreen – Semitransparent, tangible, holographic computer used by Prīmulī, Archangels and their offspring.
Jah – God
Kamiliak Equation – Mathematical calculations required for 4D slip. Created by the Primulus named Kamiliak when the universe expanded and travel outside The Hub was required.
Katana – a single-edged sword of Japanese origin, known for its extremely strong metal and sharp cutting surface
Lycan – Homo Sapiens Canis.
Enhanced humans with recessive or active canine genes.
On a magic-enabled world they have enhanced healing, speed, strength and senses.
Traits: Moral, noble.
Susceptible to intoxication from any metal in the platinum family
Three transformation modes:
Day Mode (phase 1) – appearance is human, but they retain enhanced senses and strength is roughly 150% of normal human of equivalent size and build – platinum causes mild stinging sensation.
Battle Mode (phase 2) – appearance is slightly canid, with elongated teeth and limbs, slightly hairy, double lycan’s normal strength – platinum causes 3rd degree burns on exposed area, extreme weakening, rhodium is deadly if introduced to the bloodstream
Death Mode (phase 3) – full werewolf. Most lose sapience in this mode. Look like giant, semi-bipedal wolves, 250% over battle form strength – platinum causes 3rd degree burns on exposed area plus causes unconsciousness if exposed to blood. Rhodium can be deadly if introduced to the bloodstream.
Lycans can reproduce. Can also turn normals by introducing lycan virus into subject’s system via blood exchange.
Notable Lycans: Krynos, Donus, Jennifer Escalante, Luigi Bagatelle, Max Gunnarsson (hybrid), Alea, Liliana
Mage – Broad term used to describe one who can naturally manipulate magic. Minor-mages can perform basic skills while the immortal Prīmulī can affect worlds.
Notable minor-mages: Siegfried, Dom Van Alder
Magic – Term used to describe organo-technical sub-atomic particles (also called magic particles) that naturally occur in all living things, or the manipulation of said particles (to perform magic). Under extreme magnification they appear to be mechanical spheres with numerous appendages. Operate on vibrational frequencies that enable attuned enhanced beings to avail themselves of extra-normal abilities such as strength, healing, vision, etc. Mages can manipulate these particles using cantuses.
Meter/Readout/HUD – an organic display in the peripheral vision (and also inner left arm) of lycans and vampires. Has three lines – red for health, green for strength and blue for stamina. Max Gunnarsson also has yellow line for magic timeout. Enables a being to monitor their system resources and adjust accordingly.
Normal – a human with no enhanced abilities. Comprise of roughly 99% of the global population. Their blood is the food source for vampires. Their brains are the food source for cannibals. Usually desire to live under the protection of lycans. Some may learn limited magical skills via magic-enabled objects.
Old-Earth – Planet in the Sol System - World of Mankind’s origination. Planet nearly dies from Vrol attack when virulent amoeba infests air and global water supply in late 23rd century. Magic was active from time of first sapient hominids to roughly the year 600 CE. Magic re-enabled by Prīmulī after planet healed from Vrol invasion.
Prīmulī – (sing. Primulus) Immortal beings, the seraphim - created in the beginning of time by Jah (colloquially known to humans as God). The fathers of the archangels.
Notable Prīmulī: Draagh, Marnn, Kamiliak
Rhönen Dominion - A lycan kingdom ruled by Krynos. Named for the nearby Rhön Mountains.
Side Space – extra dimensional space that exists outside the realm of normal space
Socrates - Sentient mage intelligence access portal. Appears as a floating mask. Appears on demand to Prīmulī, Archangels and their offspring. Assists in Kamiliak Coordinate calculations. Originally was an acronym – Sentient Organic Computerized Request and Tracking Equation System.
SSCC – side space carrier currents – Currents that exist and flow within side space. Proper machinery allows a connection to a specific current and thus drags anything attached at incredible speeds many thousands of time the speed of light.
SSCC Hook Drive – Machinery developed to enable FTL in side space
Taxiarch – The highest ranking, most powerful archangel. Mankind calls him Michael - Son of Draagh, biological father of Max Gunnarsson.
Taxiarch/Lycan Hybrid – Born of lycan mother and Taxiarch Michael. Has most abilities of a Primulus and Taxiarch plus all lycan abilities. Is immune to platinum metal-family intoxication. Only known hybrid – Max Gunnarsson
Vampire – Homo Sapiens Mortuus.
Enhanced humans with perverted recessive or active genes.
On magic-enabled world they subsist on normal (human) blood. Health particles barely keep them alive – in constant state of fending off decomposition. Emit strong rotting smell. Extremely strong, but overexertion causes rapid decomposition.
Traits: Amoral, sociopathic, power-hungry, devious
Susceptible to intoxication from any metal in the platinum family. Platinum contact with skin causes intense burning. Contact with blood causes vampire to self-immolate and turn into a pile of ashes.
Vampires can reproduce. Can also turn normals by introducing vampire virus into subject’s system via blood exchange. Frequently turn humans to replenish their numbers due to short lifespan.
Notable Vampires: Vladros, Ladros, Ryder Johnson, Len Johnson
Vrol – Alien race. Insect-like. Hive mind. Varying castes or species. All technology is organic, including spacecraft. Mother ship called Brood Carrier (Vrol language name not known). No FTL. Ground troops resemble bipedal praying mantises, having clawed appendages and compound eyes. Flyers resemble giant demonic bats with four l
imbs and compound eyes. Vrol do not like open water and certain frequencies cause them pain. Vrol invaded Old-Earth in late 23rd century, looking for unknown resources. Currently on their way to Azul.
