Circle of Nine: Circle of Nine Trilogy 1

by Josephine Pennicott

  GLAMOUR or GLAMOURING

  Protective magical camouflage. Used throughout several of the known worlds. Used either for aesthetic reasons, i.e. to appear more beautiful, to disguise ageing, or for reasons of survival or treachery.

  GLAZRMHOM

  The second to be hatched from a clutch of Azephim eggs. Both the Ghormho and the Glazrmhom are highly regarded and the Azephim Hatch Mother will not eat them.

  GLOMX TEXTS

  Alternative term for chapters of the Tremite Book of Life that are concerned with ancient prophecies.

  GREAT OCEAN

  The divine fluids of Lepso, both tears and body fluids, that surround the Dreamers in the Shell, according to Eronth mythology.

  GREAT SHELL

  The home of the Dreamers, the three sisters who lie sleeping in the Shell which is comprised of the bones of their murdered brothers, dreaming all the known worlds into existence.

  HEADHUNTERS

  Only three now remain in Eronth, sisters, the Triple Crones. At the Dark of the Moon they rise and hunt for heads. Favoured victims are small children and the elderly. Will also take the heads of flowers, and domestic animals such as ilkamas and meerwogs. Long banished to the Wastelands, they remain highly regarded throughout Eronth by all races, despite their bloodthirsty tendencies, due to their ancient origins and their close connection with the Dreamers. Many offerings are therefore left for the Triple Crones and many power rituals performed to honour them.

  HEZTARRA GALAXY

  Galaxy of exalted light beings, where Angels, Great Masters and exalted Crossas have their origins.

  ILKAMA

  A magical animal, gold with black stripes. Similar to a zebra. Used throughout Eronth for transportation and as household pets. Azephim have only recently begun to hunt them for their distinctive hides.

  IMOMM

  Ancient Faery tribe in Eronth. One of only two pure-blood Faery tribes remaining. Feared by many Eronthites due to their extraordinary powers of enchantment, their bloodthirsty tendencies, in particular their love of the Dances of Death, and their fondness for stealing Changelings.

  ISLAE

  Faery creature. Tall with a large, bulb-like, pink head and three large violet eyes. Gentle, peaceful, filled with wisdom and knowledge, their numbers are now gravely threatened along with their natural vegetation, which is being destroyed by the Azephim expansion into the Wastelands. Offspring are called Islaets.

  JANUSITE

  Two-headed being, extremely rare. Mainly located in Faia. Both blessed and cursed with an ability to see the past, the present and the future.

  KEEPERS OF THE SHELL

  Legendary protective custodians of the Dreamers in the Shell. Many poems and songs of Eronth feature the Keepers. Although no Eronthite has claimed to see them, it does not diminish their popularity.

  KONDOELL

  Region of the Web. Original home of the Azephim.

  KYLON

  Azephim penis

  LIGHTCASTER

  A witch-hunter. A negative energy that lives off prejudice, misogyny, superstition and hatred. Mainly located in the worlds dominated by patriarchal religions. Shunned in many of the known worlds including Eronth. To all outward appearances the Lightcasters are charming, well educated and slightly dandyish in appearance. There has been no recorded evidence of female Lightcasters. Parasitical and cunning, they are masters of psychology and can arouse a mob in seconds. They tend to work alone and are immortal. They could only ever be destroyed if there was no discrimination or hatred remaining in any of the known worlds, which seems a highly unlikely event, for as Khartyn points out, ‘In the heart of the bright mother lies the dark mother, in the heart of the dark mother, is the bright mother.’

  LOOZ DREM

  Children who have died suddenly or under violent circumstances. Unable to accept their deaths, they become trapped in the known worlds. Sometimes referred to as demon children.

  MASACHINONEAF

  Second stage of Webx development. Equivalent to puberty in human terms.

  MAJA

  Enormous tarantula-like spider found throughout Eronth in rapidly decreasing numbers, although still common in the Glade of the Almost Were. Loved by the Faery tribes as a beast of burden, though they are put to other uses as well. Easily trained to follow orders due to its placid nature.

  MAUG

  Azephim delicacy. Consists of Bluite ears and eyes in a marinade of coconut and lime juice, pan-fried with garlic and chilli.

  MEERWOG

  Popular pet in several of the known worlds, a hybrid monkey crossed with a dog. They are enormously loyal, intelligent beings. Meerwogs have electric-blue eyes and a red stone in the middle of their forehead, and are the size of a small dog. Legend records the meerwog was the Dreamers’ original chosen companion in the Great Shell, but as the devoted, loving animal could not attain a state of detachment set by the Dreamers, it was therefore banished into the known worlds.

  MERMAIN

  Mermaid siren who is lethal. Entices victims with her extraordinary beauty, and consumes them. The Book of Life states that to die by the Mermain is to die in eternal ecstasy. The ocean is her natural home, but she can exist for short periods on the land. There are many historical accounts of Eronthite men sacrificing themselves willingly to the Mermain’s mouth.

  THE MYSTERIES

  Hidden knowledge. Spiritual truths beyond understanding in Eronth.

  MYSTIC OCEAN

  Ocean formed from the blood of the giant Amira.

  NEREID

  A sea nymph.

  OOOTSA

  Magical term for a conch shell.

  OUTEREZT

  Aged Azephim outpost. Too old to continue to use Glamour, they are banished from the Web. Most of them die attempting to cross into other worlds. The remainder have formed a small outpost colony in the Wastelands. Tolerated (barely) by Ishran.

  PANCHION

  Azephim castle

  PANTEHLUM

  More affluent area of Faia. The market square where ceremonial festivities are held.

  PROTECTORS

  Protectors are to be found in several of the known worlds. Often referred to as guardian angels, they carry amulets of various colours, commonly blue, that contain powerful binding and repelling spells. Protectors are not infallible, and there are several recorded cases of them failing to protect their charges. All beings from all species have Protectors, although the quality of the Protector can vary dramatically. Protectors are more prevalent in worlds where magical skills are underdeveloped, such as Earth.

  RATSI

  Extinct animal of Eronth, a Faery familiar.

  SALHMAIN

  A mischief night. A night of primordial chaos. The astral is less firmly bound to the worlds and it becomes easier to cross. This is a time when we can best communicate with our dead. The Phooka is believed to rise and spend the night destroying and contaminating everything in sight. A night which belongs to neither past nor present, nor to any world. The veil between worlds is at its thinnest and fear and uncertainty grip the land.

  SANTAL

  Azephim term for servant.

  SAP-SPAWNED

  Early stage of Webx life. Equal to birthing in human terms.

  SEA HAGS

  A group of sisters living under the ocean under rulership of the Warrior Queen Shambzhla. Hags normally hate all land dwellers, as they believe the land to be their natural territory, having once been under water. Sea Hags are covered in poisonous spines along the back and arms. They have a split brain: the right side is under their chin and the left side is on top of their head. They have crusher claws for hands. Their teeth are inside their stomach, which opens out. There are twenty pairs of gills over their body, and black seaweed. They are highly skilled in magical arts.

  SHELKA

  Gold coins, minted in New Baffin but used throughout Eronth.

  THE SHINING

  Emma’s term for her psychic ability, which includes clairvoyance and c
lairaudience.

  SHOOTLING

  A Webx in the infant stage of development.

  SIBLROT

  Derogatory Azephim term for young ignorant being.

  SNAKE CRONE

  A shaman from the snake people. The Snake Crone crosses continually between worlds, giving aid and healing where it is needed.

  SNAKE TONGUE POISONING

  Poison extracted from deadly vipers from the desert outside of New Baffin. A common method of sailors hunting Mermains with blowpipes.

  SOLUMBI

  Evil manifestation that feeds on blood and internal organs. Has its origins in negative thought patterns from all known worlds. Solumbi often attach themselves to their creators, hence the vast numbers in the Wastelands. They have evolved into expert Crossas in their lust for blood.

  SO MOTE IT BE!

  Witch’s saying which concludes a spell or ritual, similar to the Christian ‘Amen’.

  SPITREES

  Tiny spider Faery that lived in trees in Eronth. Now extinct, although there are rumours of recent sightings of Spitrees near Faia.

  TONGUE OF ALL WORLDS

  Common language which flows easily from the tongue with the realisation that all worlds and languages are one.

  TREMITE SCRIBES

  Based in New Baffin, the faithful recorders of the Book of Life. There are eleven Scribes in all. They are rarely seen but their words are read and interpreted and misinterpreted by the entirety of Eronth.

  TURN OF THE WHEEL

  The phrase ‘Turn of the Wheel’ refers to the cycle of eight Sabbats recognised in Eronth. The Sabbats are spaced at equal distances from each other, and they refer to the celebration and acknowledgment of agricultural and astonomical events. The eight Sabbats are Salhmain, Yule, Candlemas, Ostara, Belthane, Litha, Lammas and Mabon. There are many myths surrounding the Sabbats. Many Eronthites recognise the Sabbats as being a meditation on the totality of life. All that is without lies within. The Turn of the Wheel reflects our own inner cycles.

  THE WASTELANDS

  Home for the Azephim angels who migrated from the Web-Kondoell. Originally the Azephim attempted to settle in Moon Valley, but they were banished to the Wastelands. There are many unexplored regions of the Wastelands. The Outerezt, the outpost for aged Azephim, is located within the Wastelands.

  THE WEB

  Native place of the fierce Azephim angels, in the same dimension as Eronth. Otherwise referred to as the Web-Kondoell.

  WEBX

  Reclusive, tree-like race of beings based in Zeglanada. According to the myth of Lepso, sons and daughters blew breath into an ash and an elder tree. These two trees became the early ancestors of the Webx tree race. Webx are multi-incarnational and live simultaneous lives in parallel worlds. Webx Elders like to claim that their early ancestors came from the Dreamers’ Shell, from the salt water tipped from the Shell. This claim is disputed by the Tremite Scribes, who say the Webx crossed from the Heztarra Galaxy and that the earliest Webx ancestors migrated to other worlds. In some worlds they solidified their energy and became trees, shrubs, mountains and rocks. The original Webx Elders were 500 feet high. They decreased in size with each generation, but increased in magical powers. They are a peaceful, highly sensitive race, skilled in telepathy, root communication, rock splitting and shape-shifting. They make excellent healers due to their empathetic natures. Webx obtain their nutrients from the soil. It is possible for them to take food orally, but many have died attempting to do so.

  WEZOM

  Ancient Faery tribe of Eronth. One of only two pure-blood Faery tribes remaining in Eronth. Slightly more thickset in appearance than their counterparts, the Imomm; they are also more peaceful, although still widely feared in Eronth.

  WILLO’WICKS

  Flying mosquito-like beings that inhabit the Glade of the Almost Were. They have minute human heads attached to their bodies. They give a burning sting to their victim’s body, which, if not extracted, leaves thousands of eggs hatching flesh-eating maggots which can devour the host-victim alive in seconds.

  WINGED ONES

  Slang for Azephim angels.

  WINSKI

  Tiny Faery race. Mischievous and bordering on cruel, Winskis love to torment. They enjoy petty theft. The Winskis spend their time among the Imomm and the Wezom tribes, but a Winski remains true to himself/herself and answers to no lore but Winski lore.

  XON

  Ancient Faery language

  ZEGERIST

  Demon protective thought pattern often used by Azephim.

  ZEGLANADA

  Tropical island inhabited by the Webx people. The term Zeglanada is a Webx word for New Dawn.

  Characters

  ALECOM

  Dark Lord, negative energy. Anti-witch. His power is often called upon by the Azephim and the Lightcaster.

  ANO

  Janusite. Chief Counsel to Mary High, Priestess of Faia.

  APHRODITE

  The love goddess. Erotic, beautiful and uninhibited, Aphrodite is always connected with the sea, which is an archetypal symbol of womankind. She is the essence of feminine beauty.

  ARTEMIS

  The goddess of magic and enchantment, protector of women. Independent and wild, Artemis lives her life surrounded by her beloved animals and nymphs. Artemis is multi-breasted, as she nourishes all forms of life.

  BAMBI

  Maid to Mary, High Priestess of Faia. In reality, a Sea Hag disguised by Glamour.

  BLACK ANNIS

  Queen of Hags. Cannibalistic, with a taste for the flesh of young children. Due to her great age she is unable to cross as freely between the worlds as she used to.

  BRIGHID

  The goddess of inspiration, healing and fire. A Triple goddess, also patron of smithcraft. Often seen in the form of a beautiful white swan. So popular that even the Catholic Church was unable to suppress her totally, as they did with so many other gods and goddesses, Brighid became a Christian saint.

  BWANI

  One of the original Wizards who abducted the Eom from the Azephim inside the Web. Bwani incurred the wrath of the goddesses and was transformed into stone and is known as one of the Blest Circle of Nine.

  CHARMONZHLA

  Legendary Azephim angoli. The persecution angel.

  THE CHOSEN ONE

  Maya. According to the Tremite Book of Life, the child born of the Crossa who is Bluite-Bindisore is the Chosen One. The Chosen One is believed to have legendary powers, including the power to reactivate Eom, and to be able to enter the Great Shell and influence the Dreamers.

  CITTI

  One of the triple Headhunter Crones.

  DEMETER

  The goddess who represents the fertile earth and the ripened grain of harvest. Beautiful, with hair like ripened grain.

  DIOMONNA

  Queen of the Imomm Faeries.

  DREAMERS

  Three women, sisters who lie inside the Great Shell dreaming the known worlds into existence.

  EMMA DEVELLE

  A Bluite Crossa, niece of Johanna Develle.

  EPONA

  The horse goddess. Also a fertility goddess.

  ESMIR

  One of the triple Headhunter Crones.

  EZIHHIAM

  Legendary angel of false prophets.

  GELDOZ

  Hybrid bull man of the Weldon race. Mary’s assistant in Faia.

  GREAT MOTHER

  According to Eronth mythology, the Great Mother was Lepso, the wife of the giant Amira. As Lepso, she belched forth all the suns, planets and moons, creating countless worlds. Great Mother is also slang in Eronth for the earth, for the divine feminine force within everything.

  GWHYZEMONNA

  Legendary angel of war and organised crime.

  GWYNDION

  Webx. Shootling of Tanzen and Rozen.

  HADES

  Dark Lord of the underground. Third brother of Demeter and abductor of Persephone.

  HECATE

  The goddess of th
e moon and of the underworld. Dwelt in the underworld beside Hades and Persephone, Hypnos, Thanatos and Morpheus. A triple goddess, she is also the goddess of purification. None dare to gaze upon the face of the Dark Mother who is Hecate.

  HERMZEZA

  Legendary angel, a slaughterer of the innocents. A child killer and fetus destroyer.

  THE HORNED ONE

  Alternative name for the Stag Man.

  HYPNOS

  Deity of sleep.

  ISHRAN

  Dark Angel Lord. Son of Seleza. Ishran is the Ghormho.

  JABI

  Ilkama belonging to Khartyn.

  JAMIS

  One of the triple Headhunter Crones.

  JIG BOY — SON OF ELVEN FOOT

  A Winski scribe who records the Winski Book of Life.

  JOHANNA DEVELLE

  Emma’s aunt, a renowned Crossa and a children’s book illustrator.

  KHARTYN

  Highly respected Crone of Faia village.

  KING PYSPHORRUS

  Great-great-grandfather of Diomonna, Queen of the Imomm. The next Pysphorrus, ‘the first’, was Diomonna’s grandfather. Pysphorrus the Second was Diomonna’s father. Their names are used interchangeably in the world of the Imomm. Over time they have merged into one Pysphorrus in the Immon’s mind.

  KORE

  Alternative name for Persephone, used specifically to refer to her inherent regenerative power.

  KRYSSTI

  Maid to Mary, High Priestess of Faia. In reality, a Sea Hag disguised by Glamour.

  MARY

  High Priestess of Faia. A Crossa hailing from the Blue Planet, Mary’s true origins lie in the Heztarra Galaxy.

  MAYA

  The Chosen One, daughter of the Stag Man and Emma.

  MORPHEUS

  Deity of dreams.

  NARZIEL

  The blind toll-keeper who guards the border between Faia and the Wastelands.

  PERSEPHONE

  Queen of the Underworld, beloved daughter of Demeter and abducted wife of Hades. Also known as the Maiden or Kore.

  PHOOKA

  Malevolent energy that resides in the Wastelands, hibernating for the year. Walks on the night of Salhmain, creating death and destruction.

  PYSPHORRUS

  See King Pysphorrus.

  RACHEL

  Demon child. One of the Looz Drem.

  RASHKA

  The Glazrmhom. Ishran’s second-hatched sister.

  ROSEDARK