Into the Shadows

Story Guide

The lives of the people in our book differ drastically from that of our own. As you read, pronunciations as well as background on places, money, languages and more can be found here. If you have any additional questions, let us know in the comments!

Roman Numerals

Roman numerals mark the chapters, so here is some background.

I = 1

IV = 4 

V = 5

IX = 9

X = 10

XX = 20

XXX = 30

XL = 40

L = 50

Money

The money system in the book is different from that in our world. They pay using coins; copper, silver, and gold. Often, if paying in large amounts of money, gold will be melted into larger gold bars. A typical bar is worth approximately 100 gold coins, or 10,000 American dollars. However, you can find bars worth up to over a million American dollars.

For reference: 

Copper Coins - No multiplication necessary

1 copper coin=1 American dollar

100 copper coins=100 American dollars

Silver Coins - Multiply by 10

1 silver coin =10 American dollars

100 silver coins=1,000 American dollars

1,000 silver coins=10,000 American dollars

5,000 silver coins=50,000 American dollars

Gold Coins - Multiply by 100

1 gold coin=100 American dollars

100 gold coins=10,000 American dollars

1,000 gold coins=100,000 American dollars

5,000 gold coins= 500,000 American do

Places

The City of Iltahämärä

Language(s): Adaption/Combination of 1)Õhtuhämarus and 2)Iltahämärä in 1)Estonian and 2)Finnish

Definition(s) in English: 1)Evening twilight and 2)Twilight, dusk or nightfall

Pronunciation: eel-tah-HAH-mah-rah

A city south of Audax, Iltahämärä is a few miles below ground in a large cave-like place. The tunnels are only lit by dim torches. Audaxians tend to call it the "City of Secrets" and very few outsiders can speak the Iltahämärän language. Niyuki was raised in Iltahämära, and Kailani's mother was born and raised there. Both Niyuki and Kailani can speak Iltahämärän, and Amari is learning it.

Audax

Language: Adaption/Combination of 1) Aurum and 2) Madax in 1) Latin and 2) Somali