Lexicon & Lore
Minor spoilers ahead!
Some entries describe adult content.
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Terms appear alphabetically and with pronunciation shown where applicable (capitals mark the stressed syllable; g is always hard) — this is a work in progress because I spend most of my time writing 😉
287 terms from the world of MOTHS — Books One through Five and the After Dark books. Pick a category, jump to a letter, or press Ctrl+F to search the page. Entries marked Spoiler stay hidden until you tap them.
All 287 Peoples & ranks Places Substances, materials & objects Body Flora & fauna Concepts
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Ō
A
abdication Concepts
A breach of the Sacred Ethos — anything from theft or a breach of consent to a capital crime
Aevum Namurei (AY-vum nah-MOO-ray) Substances, materials & objects
The Awakener’s world-seeding artifact
age of consent Concepts
“different for everyone, but never younger than eighteen“ — a threshold with a floor, not a fixed birthday
Airtender Peoples & ranks
A Cloudweaver trained to tend and steer the air. Crews ships alongside the wind; the best can move an eleven-masted ship six hundred kilometers a day
alula Body
The small thumb-joint feather group on a Sestra’s wing; erogenous
andromeda Flora & fauna
Cascading flower of Corestone’s chamber walls; intensely scented at dawn
angsanga (ahng-SAHNG-gah) Flora & fauna
A tall tree; a unit of height comparison; grows thick around Yo’uwn
angsanga oil Substances, materials & objects
Oil pressed from angsanga trees; green and faintly bitter. Worked through the feathers with a distributor before the sealingstones, and also used as a massage oil
animalistening / Animalistener Concepts
Communicating with animals; an Esoteric Art. An Animalistener asks a hemsari or other pack animal whether it will carry a load
annum Concepts
A year — thirteen cycles of twenty-eight days; each cycle is four sevenspans
The Arches Places
Five natural eroded stone spans at the end of Corestone’s beach, opening onto Lah Cove
ar’la (AR-lah) Flora & fauna
A flowering tree
Art of Presence Concepts
The Fa’loom skill of reading a woman’s body and emotions
ashlore / ash-luck Concepts
Idioms — “Well! Ashlore this certainly is not!” · “Of all the ash-luck—”. Ashlore = fake history; superstition
asikol (ahs-EE-kohl) Body
The genderfree genital organ — “The thick pebble nestled there is much larger than the nub between your legs—yet it is nothing like a varapos.” Swells; silky; highly responsive
avodea (ah-voh-DAY-ah) Substances, materials & objects
Thick-leaved plant of warm dry regions; fermented into a liquor
Awakener designation Concepts
Awakeners are addressed by a three-part code, such as 001.535.shSpoiler — tap to reveal
azurestone Substances, materials & objects
Blue gemstone
the Aëlavar (ah-eh-LAH-var) Places
An eleven-mast vessel of the Empress’s fleet, built for deep-sea crossings; rigging “so intricate it looked almost like lace.” The name means “long, deep breath.”
B
bando leaf Flora & fauna
Color reference: “silent green”
bando-root extract Substances, materials & objects
A concentrated painkiller that eases pain of all sorts, strongly, without causing drowsiness — five drops ease wingroot spasms. Carried in a mineralshaped vial
baorgip (BOR-gip) Flora & fauna
A dangerous animal of the Groveholds, akin to a wild boar
belaruhse crystal (beh-lah-ROOZ) Substances, materials & objects
Soul- and memory-holding crystal
Beloved Peoples & ranks
Address used only between close Sestra friends
biolumen (by-oh-LOO-min) Substances, materials & objects
Living light; the substance of Nuama itself
biosilk Substances, materials & objects
Translucent film used to screen a skygate; can be woven into colored mosaic; also used in clothing and other items
Bloodletting Concepts
A male-led rebellion. The first followed Enlieanu’s betrayal; nearly all males in Nuama were killed. Plural is a school subject
bogne (BOG-nee) Flora & fauna
Spiced fen-hare cooked over an outdoor fire, then simmered in sauce. The Undershelf Hall’s is the best in Corestone
branchleaper Flora & fauna
Small long-limbed canopy-dweller of the kuujia forests; leaf- and stem-eating, curious — akin to a bonobo
byostea (by-OH-stee-ah) Flora & fauna
Deep-purple fruit; its root is a natural antiseptic
C
cedarsalts Substances, materials & objects
Bathing salts scented with cedar
celdona (sel-DOH-nah) Flora & fauna
Flower eaten fresh, dripping with nectar
chainsmithery Places
A Da’reth workshop; Yaneah’s dwelling is tucked in beside one
cindersmoke Flora & fauna
A scent used in body oil
cleft Body
The clitoral area; the nub is nestled inside it. core is a casual equivalent
Closed Conclave Concepts
A closed meeting, held anywhere — generally among Haporai, Ensheduana, Stewardas and/or the Empress and her family and advisors
Cloudweaver / Weaver Peoples & ranks
Elite flyer; transport, escort, courier, enforcement
communal Fa’loom Peoples & ranks
A Fa’loom who serves a duug or gathering place rather than a Keeper
completion Concepts
Orgasm
Consort Peoples & ranks
A woman or genderfree person in training under a Guide for any purpose, such as animalistening, Ensheduana training, etc.
Controlled/No Release Concepts
“One or more Fa’loom pleasuring you… withholding their own release until/unless you tell them to”
conuta (koh-NOO-tah) Flora & fauna
White hollow fruit with soft pulp, similar in flavor to a coconut with a hint of pineapple; juiced
Conven (of Haporai) (KON-ven) Places
The Haporai governing body and its archive; seats include Talmare Basin and Temple Vipera
core Body
The soul / irreducible self; also slang for a woman’s pleasure-center
Creatress Peoples & ranks
The Awakener, as a Nuami explains her to a woman newly out of Da’reth — “Nuama was built by our Creatress, who is known as The Awakener”
crystal missive / crystalline missive Substances, materials & objects
A rare, tamper-proof record carried on a crystal, which projects its message through internal biolumen; Nuami use both terms interchangeably
curcubita (kur-koo-BEE-tah) Flora & fauna
A cucumber-like food
D
Da’reth (DAH-reth) Places
What the people of Ihatithre call their own world
darkmint Flora & fauna
A scent Lireah half-remembers from Da’reth, and cannot place
days of blood Body
Menstruation
day-wages Concepts
A Da’reth person’s earnings, distinct from a joint coffer — i.e., a man or woman may or may not add their earnings to the joint coffer, but if a man and woman share a joint coffer, he controls it
The Destroyer Peoples & ranks
The Awakener’s name for Enlieanu
dewfruit Flora & fauna
Sliced fruit, juice “spilling across her tongue”
dihge (dih-GEE) Flora & fauna
A fruit, eaten out of hand
distributor Substances, materials & objects
A wide, flat, very fine-toothed comb for coating each feather barb with oil
doshee (DOH-shee) Flora & fauna
A thick dark drink similar in taste to coffee, taken iced and laced with cream
duug (DOOG) Places
Male training complex and community
E
eivooa (EE-voo-ah) Flora & fauna
A breakfast food
Elderess Peoples & ranks
Direct address to a senior woman — “Yes, Elderess Ensheduana” or “Thank you, Elderess”
Ellgish (ELL-gish) Places
A Mamlakah with an artisan community
emberfruit Flora & fauna
A berry often made into jam, similar in taste to raspberry mixed with cherry and blackberry
Endurance Offering Concepts
“One Fa’loom. One goal. As many completions as your body can handle.”
Enqa (EN-kah) Flora & fauna
Tree of the Groveholds, broad iridescent leaves
Ensheduana (en-sheh-doo-AH-nah) / Enshe (EN-sheh) Peoples & ranks
A teaching order whose women are also the healers and midwives of Nuama. Those are the only areas they officiate in — only the Haporai officiate across Nuama
eritra (eh-REE-trah) Substances, materials & objects
Thelyrah’s favorite drink — fermented avodea cut with limeion juice, pink sea salt dissolving down the vessel; similar in taste to a margarita
Esoteric Arts Concepts
Mineralshaping, plantspeaking, firesinging, waterwhispering, dreaming, animalistening, biolumen communication — Sestras only
Evermate Peoples & ranks
Bonded life partner — only between women and genderfree people. The bond between a woman and a Fa’loom is called a Keeper and her Fa’loom
evince Body
To manifest in core form in Ihatithre
F
falei (fah-LYE) Flora & fauna
Otherworldly blossom with stamen that drip molten honey; known only from the oldest archive entries
Fa’loom (FAH-loom) Peoples & ranks
Male servant trained in domestic and sensual arts, claimed by a Keeper or serving at a communal duug
father god Peoples & ranks
What Da’reth calls Enlieanu, in the mouths of his own believers — lowercase, and never named
feathered Concepts
To run with the assistance of one’s wings
featherplay Concepts
Sex
Fela (FAY-lah) / nightblooms Flora & fauna
A vine whose flowers “open for a few hours each night. Then they close again before first light”
Femaau Bay (FEM-oo) Places
The water Corestone’s sunsprawl faces; the sun sets toward it
fen-hare Flora & fauna
Game animal, trussed with biosilk cords for roasting; the meat tastes like a cross between rabbit and chicken
Festival of Soluné (soh-loo-NAY) Concepts
An annual celebration; the date changes, but it usually falls during the warmest months
fiera (fee-AIR-ah) Substances, materials & objects
Thick blood-red drink; the medium of connection to the world’s stored knowledge. Life-giving. Forbidden to males. “True fiera” is a restricted preparation
fiera nymphaea (fee-AIR-ah nim-FAY-ah) Substances, materials & objects
The blossom fiera comes from; grows in sacred pools and in cultivated groves. Harvesting it is low-status male work
firesinging / Firesinger Concepts
The fire art, and those who practise it. Firesingers tend Aruma’s everlasting tower flames
firma (FEER-mah) Substances, materials & objects
The substrate/boundary beneath reality
fleshhouse Places
Da’reth brothel. Vutze claimed Yaneah out of oneSpoiler — tap to reveal
foodstick Substances, materials & objects
A carved two-tined eating tool
G
genderfree Peoples & ranks
Person not clearly/fully male; ~1 in 20 Nuami; called Sestra
ginadenaw (gee-nah-DEH-naw) Flora & fauna
A game animal; fatty deep-red meat
glowberry / glowberries Flora & fauna
Raspberry-ish berries, sprinkled on yogurt or served at first meal beside sliced ōlara
glowlace Substances, materials & objects
Canopy material, often hung with scented flowers
golden frond Substances, materials & objects
An object The Awakener holds; a symbol on Vorahni’s shard; the subject of an ancient verseSpoiler — tap to reveal
Good morrow Concepts
A morning greeting
gown-room Places
Wardrobe chamber
Grovehold Places
Abundance-grove, lightly maintained by Plantspeakers
Guide Peoples & ranks
A Sestra mentoring a Consort
H
hafoda (hah-FOH-dah) Flora & fauna
Akin to avocado; made into a paste, eaten on rootbread or fried root strips similar to corn/potato chips
hailue crystal (hye-LOO-ay) Substances, materials & objects
A type of crystal
Hall of Empresses Places
Corestone corridor lined with mosaic portraits of every past Empress
ha’luneafe (hah-loo-NEE-ah-fay) Flora & fauna
Giant tree clinging to the bluffs above Talmare Basin on huge roots
Hands of Pleasure Concepts
“No mouths. No varapos. Just hands.”
Haporai (ha-po-RYE) Peoples & ranks
The governing body of Nuama — manages the temples and records, holds esoteric knowledge, and leads the search for The Awakener
Head Cloudweaver Peoples & ranks
Commander of a Cloudweaver contingent
Healer Peoples & ranks
A Sestra who performs procedures; works from a Healers Bay under the double-helix sign
Healers Bay Places
A procedure chamber, found in temples, Mamlakahs, Corestone and elsewhere. Larger Mamlakahs and Corestone each have several, and a large temple complex might have four to six
hemsari (hem-SAR-ee) Flora & fauna
Tall grazing pack animal found in various parts of Themias and Danuē, though not Kitsua or Isïn — long gangly legs, “ridiculous lashes” and a small hump; similar in appearance to a camel mixed with a giraffe. Kneels to be loaded, and is asked by an Animalistener whether it will come on a journey
hepalor (HEP-ah-lor) Flora & fauna
Golden-petaled blooms, woven into archways with tesha; the scent “almost dizzying”
hide-and-find Concepts
A game like hide-and-seek, played among Sestras of all ages; flying is optional
Hila’s First Meal Places
A Corestone meal hall for first meal; a favourite of many who live there
Hollowed Souls Concepts
The souls Enlieanu captured when he made Ihatithre — nascent, winged souls The Awakener had grown from her own essence. Joy and abundance in Nuama are what draw them home, and the series is named for them
honeyroot Flora & fauna
Bark that scents bathing steam
honeywax torch Substances, materials & objects
A light source made from the wax left behind by bees, with oil from various plants to extend its burning time — a cross between a candle and an object that simply glows with inner light. Once lit, it stays lit for anywhere between one and ten days, depending on its size; water can put it out
honeywine / muwsah (moo-WOO-sah) Substances, materials & objects
Fermented honey. Muwsah is the proper name; weaker than fiera and suitable for males
Honored Peoples & ranks
Formal address
Horhad (HOR-had) Places
Da’reth port city — “one of the largest ports in all of Da’reth”; Lireah is from its uppers
hungalu (hun-GAH-loo) Flora & fauna
An animal roasted or dried for meat
hungalu-horn coral Flora & fauna
Pale pink branching coral of the Southern Shoals
Hushwater Hold Places
Where a woman in Da’reth is sent for reporting that she hears a voice, fancying other women, being disobedient toward the males in her life, etc. — similar to the insane asylums of the past
husla (HOOS-lah) Flora & fauna
A cold, creamy sweet dish similar to ice cream or thick Greek yogurt
I
Ihatithre (ee-HAH-tith-ray OR eye-AHT-it-here, depending on regional variations throughout Nuama) Concepts
The hellrealm
iltharin (IL-thah-rin) Flora & fauna
A fruit-and-honey confection, sometimes laced with crushed nuts — a Nuami person would consider it candy
in the quill Body
Actively molting, which happens once per annum
ismaoa (is-MOW-ah) Substances, materials & objects
A sweet, lightly floral smoking herb, taken in litsticks; calming. Similar to CBD/cannabis
J
jacintha (jah-SIN-thah) Substances, materials & objects
Sunset-tinged gemstone
joined / lifelong bond Concepts
Akin to marriage in Da’reth: a father gives his daughter to a man, for a price, for life
junbrew Substances, materials & objects
Sparkling fermented berry drink, akin to agua kéfir in taste
K
Keeper Peoples & ranks
The Sestra who holds a Fa’loom
kinka (KEEN-kah) Flora & fauna
Eaten honeyed — “bright, tart, awakening, a stimulant for clarity and sensual focus”
kiss of clear voice Concepts
A kiss below the chin above the throat; marks deep respect
kuujia (koo-JEE-ah) Flora & fauna
Tall tree bearing hanging clusters of golden orbs; “even tastier than byostea”
L
Lah Cove Places
Corestone’s harbour, deep enough for eleven-masted ships
laiokin (LYE-oh-kin) Substances, materials & objects
An outer/warm garment
laminar flow Body
The smooth airflow a properly sealed feather produces; the goal of preening
landing arena Places
Woven-branch flight platform atop a tree or outcropping
larkivite (LAR-kih-vite) Substances, materials & objects
Violet-speckled gemstone
lastial (las-tee-AHL) Substances, materials & objects
Nuama’s steel — extraordinarily condensed, incredibly strong rock; rarely found above ground. Used for tools
launch ledge Places
A mineralshaped tongue of rock jutting from a sunsprawl, sited to catch updrafts
leafite Substances, materials & objects
Sparkling green gemstone
liantra (lee-AHN-trah) Flora & fauna
Blossom whose scent is heady and used to scent baths
liaspure (lee-ahs-PYOOR) Substances, materials & objects
Silken oiled wooden tool shaped like the inside of a woman; used for male endurance practice. Liaspure also refers to the actual inside of a woman
lilacah (lye-LAH-kah) Flora & fauna
Intensely fragrant flower; white, pale fuchsia, deep purple; similar in appearance to a lilac, but droopy like the blooms of the jade vine. There is also a “frond lilacah” in the jungle
limeion (LIM-ee-on) Substances, materials & objects
A small green citrus
lineage-stone Substances, materials & objects
An heirloom stone worn on leather at the heart, laced with scent-binding; given by elder Motherline women
litstick Substances, materials & objects
A rolled smoke, usually of ismaoa
liuen (lee-OO-en) Substances, materials & objects
A wool; soft and thick, made from a creature similar to a silkworm
living chamber Places
Living quarters of a dwelling
loam digesters Places
Composting installations outside a Mamlakah, similar to an algae pit, where healthy bacteria eat the rotten foods
loloa (loh-LOH-ah) Flora & fauna
Berries similar to blueberries in taste, but shaped like a strawberry
The Lower Keeps Places
Corestone’s store of gifts and offerings sent to the Empress, kept there until she can look at them
Ludelan (LOO-deh-lan) Places
The northeastern continent of Da’reth — the first named landmass of the hellrealm
Luminariume (loo-MIN-ar-ee-uhm) Places
The Awakener’s world-creating place; its inner sanctum held the Aevum
lunasilk Flora & fauna
Otherworldly vine with translucent, pulsing leaves
M
malave (mah-LAHV) Flora & fauna
A flowering plant with leaves similar in taste to tarragon, sometimes worn in the hair; also burned as incense
Mamlakah (MAHM-lah-kah) Places
Settlement / town / city, headed by at least one Stewarda, ranging in size from fifty or fewer individuals to over fifteen thousand. Corestone isn’t a Mamlakah, though around nine thousand or more live or stay there during various parts of the annum
mark of The Awakener Concepts
Wrist marks denoting authorization to hold restricted knowledge
mercy house Places
Da’reth home for parentless children — “a mercy house, they called it, and the name was not fitting”Spoiler — tap to reveal
mineralian light Substances, materials & objects
Light that wakes in response to someone nearby and twists away ahead of a walker to show the way, made of biolumen and tiny phosphorescent creatures
mineralshaping / Mineralshaper Concepts
Speaking to stone and asking it to move, part, shape or absorb; also used for writing on stone walls or similar materials
moon cycle / sister moon cycle Concepts
A month — twenty-eight days, or four sevenspans
moon lily Flora & fauna
Scented flower found in various parts of Nuama
Moreton (mor-TON) Places
A tiny Da’reth village “far from any place of interest”
Motherline Concepts
Matrilineal descent line
N
naknoki (NAHK-noh-kee) Flora & fauna
Rinded fruit similar to an orange or grapefruit in taste
Nammu (NAH-moo) Peoples & ranks
An ancient name for The Awakener, given by the first Conven of Haporai; its meaning is forgotten
Nauciti (naw-SEE-tee) Peoples & ranks
Male trainee at a duug. When he completes his training he becomes a Fa’loom — either at Zaht’eve, by being chosen by a Keeper, or by being assigned to a communal duug. Nauciti who do not pass their training become servants
nectarfruit Flora & fauna
Dripping fruit, sometimes served glazed alongside figs or other sweet, rich fruits
Nifin (nee-FEEN) Places
Da’reth village with a Hushwater Hold just outside it
nightbird Flora & fauna
Trilling night caller; also a comparison for an awkward youngling who hasn’t fully learned to fly
nirath (NEER-ath) Substances, materials & objects
A deep aged ferment — molten-garnet crimson, night-blooming florals, dark berries, smoke and charred sweetness, similar in taste to fine aged whisky
nivien / niviens (NIV-ee-en) Substances, materials & objects
Stone pillars designed to hold a Sestra’s wings still while they are preened
Nuama (noo-AH-mah) Concepts
The world
Nuami (noo-AH-mee) Peoples & ranks
The people of Nuama
nub Body
The clitoris itself, nestled inside the cleft
nylashark Flora & fauna
Similar to a shark; a predatory fish of the shoals
nylet (NYE-lit) Flora & fauna
Red meat, served in thick chunks; similar in taste to fatty beef
O
obsidianite Substances, materials & objects
Black stone of trade value
opalite Substances, materials & objects
Polished stone sometimes worn as fine body chains by Fa’loom or Sestras; shimmers as the person moves
Oracula (of the Haporai) (or-AH-kyoo-lah) Peoples & ranks
Etan’ash’s formal designation; holder of an authorised lifelong mission
ostve (OST-veh) Flora & fauna
A bird whose eggs are eaten — akin to an ostrich
outerchamber Places
The entry room of a dwelling, like a mudroom — waste is kept here until it can be dealt with, along with dirty garments and outer garments
P
palosona (pah-loh-SOH-nah) Flora & fauna
An incense scent
parchment Substances, materials & objects
A little-used writing material every youngling learns to make in courses
pashdios (pash-DEE-ohs) Flora & fauna
A pistachio-like nut, sometimes chopped over glazed yiv or other foods
pathoa (pah-THOH-ah) Flora & fauna
A leaf; a color reference for wings
pebble Body
Same as nub — “the pebble nestled inside her cleft”
pidares (pih-DAR-aze) Flora & fauna
Shadow-loving arachnids that spin webs
pinfeathers Body
New growing feathers
plantspeaking / Plantspeaker Concepts
Speaking to plants to ask them to grow a certain way, not choke out other plants, etc.
Playards Places
Where younglings run loose and play
pleasure chambers / featherplay chambers Places
A term for a room used primarily for sexual adventures
pleasure stones Substances, materials & objects
Vibrating, tone-resonant tools used in Pulseplay. One must know how to use mineralshaping, or have a Mineralshaper there, to make the stones vibrate
pleasure viewing Concepts
Exactly what it sounds like
plumaria (ploo-MAR-ee-ah) Flora & fauna
A scented flower
plumgrass Flora & fauna
Thick-blooming grass of the Lirien Drifts
Pouri (POH-ree) Peoples & ranks
“Grieving little Sestra”
primary pinions / primaries / primary feathers Body
The outermost flight feathers. Used as the anchor for tension-beats to strengthen wings
procedure Concepts
A healer’s intervention on a living body — bone regrowth, feature reshapingSpoiler — tap to reveal
promise on The Awakener Concepts
A Nuami oath — a way of swearing that something is true
pruned / fully pruned Body
Pruned: removal of the yezari. Fully pruned: removal of the yezari and varaposSpoiler — tap to reveal
Q
quuila (koo-EE-lah) Flora & fauna
A bird whose eggs are eaten — like a quail, but bigger
R
reedmats Substances, materials & objects
Woven mats; Folinaem’s main export
Relic Peoples & ranks
A woman’s animal companion (leopardess at Corestone; honey-colored maneless lioness at Hagate)
retnim (RET-nim) Flora & fauna
A shellfish found only in Lake Tiv’esh, tasting something like shrimp or lobster; one of Piarta’s main trades
ribbon-eel Flora & fauna
Emerald-and-star-white banded eel of the shoals
Rite / Rites Concepts
The four trials to become Empress
Rite of Acceptance Concepts
The fourth Rite
rootbread Flora & fauna
Nuama’s staple bread — can be eaten many ways: by the slice with hafoda paste, dressed with herbs and a runny yolk, stuffed with sweet nut & fruit paste, etc. It comes in all shapes and sizes; some are sweet, some are savory
Rs’vie (ers-VYE) Places
Mamlakah very close to Corestone with a trade market, across Lah Cove; walkable from Corestone
S
Sacred Ethos Concepts
The scripture/legal code, in Verses and Lines — Nuama’s version of a “bible”
scent pavilion Places
An outdoor pillared area strung with biosilk lines, dedicated to aromatics and fragrant blooms; bedding and clothing often hang here to absorb the scents when guests are not present
sea nymphaea (nim-FAY-ah) Flora & fauna
Fiera-nymphaea analogue growing on submerged rock, similar in appearance to an anemone
sealingstones Substances, materials & objects
Paired stones run down a feather shaft to re-link the barbs, for laminar flow
season Concepts
A quarter of an annum — ten seasons = two and a half annums
Serpentine Service Concepts
An offer of sexual fulfillment, if the woman is willing — it can be offered on a ribbon, parchment, or any other way
serpentwife Peoples & ranks
Da’reth’s sacrilegious word for a woman “who had given herself over to powers other than those of father god”; also a synonym for priestess or Ensheduana/Haporai
Sestra (SES-trah) Peoples & ranks
Winged woman; also used for genderfree people
sete (SET) Substances, materials & objects
Writing surface; because it’s made of crystal, it can also hold information
sevenspan Concepts
A unit of time equal to seven days
shaemoss (SHAY-moss) Substances, materials & objects
The softest, silkiest moss in Nuama
shard-name Concepts
An affectionate nickname any Nuami may give or be given — such as the private name a Keeper gives her Fa’loom. Thelyrah calls Tuheru “Turu”
Shoan’s Teeth Places
A jagged line of black rocky islets “like the spine of something buried”; the passage through saves a day’s sail and is less dangerous than it looks
Shud’arah (shood-AH-rah) Concepts
Funeral rite
siagor (sigh-GOR) Flora & fauna
A predator, a cross between a lion and a wolf; the standard comparison for a man about to strike
si’hushu (see-HOO-shoo) Flora & fauna
Minah’s favourite flower; grows only in the isles of Kitsua
silkenpup Flora & fauna
A dog-like companion animal — yips, tail-thumping, carriable in flight
silkmoss Flora & fauna
Moss that thickens in response to increasing light
Sinewsands Places
Outdoor strength/speed/endurance arenas — “located in every Mamlakah where males of all paths train”
skygate Places
Round opening in a wall or cliff-face — the Nuami equivalent of a window, though at least large enough for a woman with her wings fully opened to move through, and some are much bigger
skypaths Places
Flight routes with their known currents and eddies. Maintained, and rough when little-used
skypod Substances, materials & objects
Woven biosilk bag with straps, carried in tandem flight by two Cloudweavers, for cargo or passengers; rarely used because it’s dangerous
slahel (sla-HAL) Flora & fauna
A flowering vine; stunning but far less fragrant than lilacah
solar return Concepts
Birthday
Songwriter Peoples & ranks
Directs music at a gathering; also writes music and usually plays several instruments
soothsnake Flora & fauna
Snake whose venom is a gentle euphoric and enhances fiera; used ritually, for post-Rite relief, and as the trigger in the Visitation formula
spollcas (SPOHL-kahs) Flora & fauna
Raw ocean delicacy, pale pink as the inside of a sea-snail shell; a Babilone speciality, similar to scallops in taste and appearance
Spollcas & Yiv Places
Corestone seafood hall that has the freshest spollcas and other seafood
squirperl Flora & fauna
Small squirrel-like nesting creature; lives only in the southernmost parts of Nuama
star jasmine blossom Flora & fauna
A flowering plant with an intoxicating scent, often used in body oil or perfumes
starflower Flora & fauna
A flower that can be used as a sedative, and also the measure of the deepest blue — “a blue so deep it looked like starflower poured from a goblet”
starflower essence Substances, materials & objects
Sedative; turns fiera deep blue. Starflower-infused fiera is given to Mothers post-birth and those who are convalescing
Stem Places
Poles set against Corestone’s face — like columns, but thinner — each spanning one to three levels; servants and Fa’loom grab on and slide down. Also the middle part of a Corestone address: section, stem, chamber — “Aruma Lodgings, Stem Thirty-Five, Chamber Ten”
Stewarda (stoo-AR-dah) Peoples & ranks
Someone in charge of something (a manager or head), whether of a Mamlakah, a temple or a temple department
studyhold Places
A Sestra’s private working chamber — ledgers, missives, records
suneater Flora & fauna
Otherworldly flower with petals like molten gold
sunsprawl Places
Sun-facing ledge/terrace outside a skygate; also a landing platform
sunstone Substances, materials & objects
Gemstone that glows like ripples of ocean before dusk
sun-turtle Flora & fauna
Large sea turtle of the Southern Shoals
Supplication Concepts
A major festival — endless fiera and honeywine, vast food, sensual delights. The Empress receives supplication from pre-chosen Nuami of any gender (they attend to her pleasure), is cleansed and oiled, then takes to the skies so all can hear her speak
swallowhorn Flora & fauna
A bird; its beak shape names a rock outcropping in the Lirien Drifts
sweetgrass Flora & fauna
Scent reference
sweetling Peoples & ranks
Warm address between women — “you are the choicest fruit here, sweetling”
sweetroot Flora & fauna
Root, sometimes toasted and spread with thuma; a favorite snack for many Sestras
T
temorrah (teh-MOR-ah) Flora & fauna
A sweet-scented flowering tree of the jungles
Temptress Peoples & ranks
Sestra serving in pleasure-arts training at a duug
tension-beats Body
Wing-strength training against the resistance of a biosilk band hooked to the primary pinions
tesha (TESH-ah) Flora & fauna
Violet flowering vine, often grown above archways and entries to dwellings
thuma (THOO-mah) Substances, materials & objects
A nutty-tasting paste spread over sweetroot toasts, often served at first meal or as a late-night snack
the Tilted Path Concepts
Domination play that runs only from women to men; some men like it quite rough
timepiece Substances, materials & objects
A Da’reth device for telling time. Nuama has none
Tor Ama Una Navari (TOR AH-mah OO-nah nah-VAR-ee) Substances, materials & objects
Meaning unknown
travelsack Substances, materials & objects
Pack for a journey
true fiera Substances, materials & objects
Fiera in its most potent form — far stronger than the everyday drink, and used as what we would call a psychedelic
U
Ubuaurea (oo-BOO-oo-ray) Concepts
The afterlife with The Awakener; paradise
Uksilasha Duugsiga (ook-see-LAH-sha doog-SEE-gah) Places
The long, formal name for a duug
Undershelf Hall Places
A communal hall at Corestone — “They have the best bogne in Corestone”
the uppers Places
The wealthy upper quarter of a Da’reth port city
uru (OO-roo) Body
The womb
use-caste Peoples & ranks
The formal caste system: Fa’loom, Servant, + two unnamed
V
varapos (VAR-ah-pohs) Body
Penis. Slang: “snake,” “serpent,” “shaft,” etc.
veilor (VAY-lor) Flora & fauna
A needled tree; its crushed needles are used to scent oils, incense, and scent pavilions
velnum Substances, materials & objects
Bush whose bark yields deep red-to-plum pigment used to stain lips or cheeks
Visitation / Visitant Concepts
Core-travel to Ihatithre to comfort and recover souls; a Visitant is the person who performs a Visitation
voebei (VOH-eh-bay) Flora & fauna
A tree growing in various parts of Nuama; often grows alongside angsanga
voidlily Flora & fauna
Otherworldly flower that blooms in shadow instead of light
Vêhlsan (VEL-san) Places
A Mamlakah on Weverta; its harbor is a crescent-shaped bay on the isle’s southeastern coast
W
wastewell Substances, materials & objects
A toilet
waterwall Places
A curtain of cool mist at a dwelling’s entrance; often used in hot areas as a cooling measure
waterwhispering / Waterwhisperer Concepts
Esoteric water art used for what we’d call plumbing, along with other uses such as asking water to go elsewhere, asking it to become ice (it doesn’t like to do this, because it must be still), or asking it to heat up (some water is okay with this; sometimes it doesn’t want to). Water can be very stubborn
a welcome Concepts
A welcome that some temples provide to visitors, which involves one or more public acts of featherplay in various configurations of women and/or males
wingbuds Body
An infant’s undeveloped wings
wingroot scar Body
The healed site of an infant de-winging
wingroots Body
Where wings are rooted into muscle on the back, near the spine — highly erogenous on Sestras; phantom ache/itch in wingless males
wing-stays Substances, materials & objects
The ties at the back of a gown that hold it without pinching the feathers; most Nuami gowns and garments close at the back
Writbearer Peoples & ranks
The Haporai formally responsible for a particular male asset
X
Xul’shuda (zool-SHOO-dah) Concepts
Annual pruning ritual
Y
yezari (yeh-ZAR-ee) Body
Testes
yiv (YIV) Flora & fauna
Tiny crunch-shelled sea creatures, flesh palest pink. Akin to shrimp. Amaz’s favorite
yulaina (yoo-LAY-nah) Flora & fauna
Vine bearing a purple-black blossom, deep and narcotic in scent, “said to bloom only in response to arousal”
Z
Zaht’eve (ZAHT-eev) Concepts
The Fa’loom choosing ceremony
zenith Concepts
One day, reckoned by the sun
Ō
ōlara (oh-LAR-uh) Flora & fauna
A large round fruit that can be peeled in one motion by someone skilled; tastes similar to an orange but with undertones of blackberry and mango
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