Heir of Cinders [FADING EMBERS #1] - ON HOLD

Glossary

Due to popular demand, we have decided to make a glossary for this book to explain some of the unique terms. You do not HAVE to read this, as we will try to do our best to explain things as we go along, but if you come across any unfamiliar terms and feel like what's provided in the narrative does not clear things up, feel free to refer to this guide.

We may also have a full companion book about the world of Jordarys in the works, though this glossary will have to make do for now ^^

More things will be added as we progress.

General Terms

Jordarys: The continent that this story takes place in. It is believed to be the only surviving bastion after the apocalyptic war of the gods (named the World's End) destroyed the world.

Mist: A dangerous, gaseous substance that surrounds the continent of Jordarys. All who are swallowed by the Mist are said to never return, and the Mist seems to give birth to giant monstrosities with the capability of massive destruction. The Mist is cold to the touch, to the point that being in close proximity to it is able to cause great physical (and mental, too, in many cases) pain. It can be warded off by physical and magical means, though the only true way to stave it off is through the Primeval Flames.

Primeval Flame: Crimson fire of a blood-red hue that is believed to be everlasting, though there is a prophecy that says that one day, these flames shall fade. It is bestowed to the inhabitants of the continent by the fire god Hyrresh, and has now been split up among the nine races.

World's End: The legendary war among the gods that was believed to bring about the destruction of the rest of the world and the existence of the Mist.

Races

Thieran: Human. Unlike the other races, they live in separate nations, though they share the same worship of the earth god Thieros. Their Primeval Flame is held by the thieran nation of Halimun to the very east of the continent, though word has been going round that Halimun had lost it.

Rodent: A relatively new race in the evolutionary scale, rodents are anthropomorphic; rodents that have grown to a much larger scale than their presumed feral ancestors. Chipmunks can grow up to the waist of a grown thieran. They live in the nation of Roditerre, although they are not uncommon to find spread out across the entire continent as they are mercantile people. They do not worship a specific god, though some individuals have adopted faith of their own.

Hyrrean: Dwarven people that live around the landlocked mountains in the middle of Jordarys. They usually have stocky, muscular builds and are excellent blacksmiths. They are most famous for their exquisite craftsmanship. They worship the fire god Hyrresh.

Yildean: Tall vampiric people with lifespans that stretch centuries. They are believed to be an off-shoot of the aerhyans, sharing the same ancestors. They are notable for their deathly pale skin, tall height, sharp fangs, and developed thirst for blood. They worship the primordial star goddess Yildeza.

Aerhyan: People with elvish qualities. They are notable for their combat prowess and their boisterous nature, as well as notorious for their love of alcohol. They are nomadic beast-tamers, though they are mostly confined to a certain area with a single capital as its core. The capital is also where their Primeval Flame is kept. They worship the wind god Aerhytus.

Orkhus: Orc-like people that are famous for their breadth of knowledge. They live in the landlocked nation of Southcliffs, which is believed to be the center of research and information for Jordarys. The findings of orkhus scholars have shaped the continent's understanding of the world around them. However, despite their impressive academic achievements, orkhus are believed to have lost much of their knowledge of their patron god. Orkhese (the language of the orkhus) is the common tongue of Jordarys.

Stygenian: Amphibious tribal people. They are mostly anthropomorphous, with facial features being a mix of a humanoid and an amphibian. However, their skin are usually slimy and colored like the amphibians they share traits with. They are split into three tribes: frogs and toads, newts and salamanders, and caecilians. The three tribes live in separate parts of Jordarys, settling in swamps. Their Primeval Flame is currently held by the salamander tribe. They worship Stygenum, the sea god.

Faerie: Insect-winged people. They are highly religious, their faith being their most defining feature. They are split in two, though they coexist within the boundaries of a single nation. The Solain faeries have moth-like wings and usually do their rituals in the daylight, being worshippers of the primordial sun goddess Solaith. The Lucan faeries have butterfly-like wings and usually do their rituals at night, being worshippers of the primordial moon god Lucanor.

Calaian: Shapeshifters who live in the landlocked deserts in the middle of the continent. They are classified into different types based on their other forms. Their humanoid forms retain the animalistic qualities of their other forms. Most of them are now united under the tyrannical rule of the platinum draconic calaians, though there are, of course, those who attempt to rebel against the dictatorship. They worship the sky god Calais.

The calaian types and their corresponding other forms are: platinum draconic calaians (platinum dragons), red draconic calaians (red dragons), azure draconic calaians (azure dragons), canid calaians (dogs), feline calaians (cats), ursine calaians (bears), ornith calaians (various birds), corvid calaians (crows), and accipiter calaians (hawks).