Agemonia: The magical world where nihteegris, pattangans, korallians, and many other peoples live. It is orbited by the two moons Ata and Eti. Parallel to it exists the dimension of the Breach.

Agur: One of the four kinds of magic in Agemonia, considered to be magic in its purest form.

Agura: The azure magical crystal which is used to operate the magicanisms of the ancients and which grows on the backs of agurians.

Agura Anvil: A blacksmith’s shop in Runedale.

Agurian: Agurians are creatures of stone, never ageing, never procreating, never being born. They just are. They mostly reside in Agemonia’s mountainous north-west beyond the Mutelands, but small groups exist all across the world. They grow precious agura crystals in their backs, which makes them valuable trading partners and also targets for raids. Many agurians are deeply ashamed of the reign of the dictator Xotho. Main agurian cities are Lok Torr, Lok Omox, and the holy city of Lok Turan. Agurians are often seen as powerful warriors, wizened travelers, potent geomancers, or talented architects.

Aiun: One of the four kinds of magic in Agemonia, tied to light, healing, and blessings.

Aiun Tear: The stories say there is a magical pendant sporting a moonstone from the Breach which has powerful healing powers but can’t be used by those who deal with aox.

Aiunin: This strongly built and squat blue-green reptile is said to be somehow connected to Eti, the smaller of the two moons. Aiunin are rare and valued due to their calming aura, which boosts the meditative and restorative capabilities of nearby beings.

The Altar: A high-class restaurant in Runedale set in a former pagan temple.

Ambergate: The city is named after and built around a massive circular passageway, half submerged in the sea. None dare go through it, but its runes and magical properties are often studied. The Benemite city itself is built on small islands connected by rivers, canals, bridges, boats, gondolas, and piers. Ambergate is ruled by House Dengault in Dock Castle, but merchants, criminals, cosmographers, and warlocks also have a stake in how the city is run. For as long as anyone can remember, the Gate of Amber had lain dormant, but it has recently opened, spewing enough water to flood the entire city.
Amethyst Order: Not just the largest merchant guild in all of Agemonia, The Amethyst Order is also a bank, a mercenary corporation and a trading emporium. Originally it was a guild of gemcutters led by one Grand Magister Haclar who was tasked by the Council of Eight to supervise the trade of agura crystals. The Amethyst Order has since grown vastly bigger and superseded the Council of Eight as the supreme economic actor in all Agemonia. The Order’s capital is the city of Copperton. In Runedale, the ignisaur Hemet One-Flame, is the Regional Magister, whose office is in Cadfael Fortress. His right hand woman is Otava Shamiel.

Amon Pennark: The Magus of House Pennark and user of evil aox magic. He is the mortal enemy of Shantor Three-Birds and secretly a former Keeper of the Breach who betrayed his own order.

Ancients: A legendary people who inhabited Agemonia before the modern peoples. No one knows who they were or what they were doing but their legacy remains hewn into the living machines and magicanisms they have left all across Agemonia. The Cult of the Fifth Eye is trying to uncover their secret. Old inscriptions and mosaics can occasionally be found in ruins but so far they remain a mystery.

Aox: One of the four kinds of magic in Agemonia, tied to darkness, pain, and curses. The demons of the Breach are creatures of aox, and this magic can sometimes grow into blood crystals.

Aox Flask: A legendary bottle used to bind aox demons but all who open it die under mysterious circumstances.

Arcana Golem: A magicanism of the ancients, a living statue capable of following one or two simple commands.

Asputil: An acid-spewing plant with hypnotic powers, native to Gnatmarsh and other swamps in Benem and the Mutelands.

Ata: The larger of the two moons of Agemonia.

Ata Cahay: A magical glass pyramid in the midst of the Mutelands. A glorious and mysterious relic of the ancients.

Azimut Tower: A once important center of learning in Durgane province, now overtaken by the fungal jungle.

Ban’Daryan Hebath: The pattangan Moving City is built on the backs of enormous gunbanjar lizards who migrate around the Mutelands following their own progression. The city and the clan are ruled by the Painted King and his many children who include the Shaman Prince, the Warrior Princess, the Merchant Princess, the Judge Prince, and many others. Soldiers ride on smaller lizards, constantly patrolling the perimeter of the gunbanjar pack.

Bekora: Chief among the old deep sea gods of the korallians, the god of merchants, who appears in the guise of an armored whale.

Bekora’s Hoist: A free city between the Republic of Benem and the Thalassocracy of Zheebul, home to both nihteegri and korallians.

Benaethid: Massive beasts with many heads which grow back in greater numbers if cut. Benaethid bile is valued by toxicologists.

Benem: The Republic of Benem is the homeland of nihteegri as well as minority groups of pattangs, korallians, and quothians. It was founded 160 years ago after a civil war after which the Electoral College was established and science and cosmographers replaced the pagan religion and priestesses. Main cities include Runedale, Orrery Hill, Ambergate, Kyther Point, Waneford, and the capital Starhaven.

Bitajin Amulet: Made exclusively by the Bitajin clan of Pattangans, these amulets are tied to their guardian spirits. When a pattangan sees someone wearing one it means they are considered their friends.

Bladethorn: A large shrub with strong, sharp leaves. It has recently made travel difficult as it spreads even on highways. Perhaps connected to the fungal forests and the growth of aox magic.

Blightcap: A large purple mushroom that grows small magical flowers on its cap. While the flowers are strongly hallucinogenic, they are used by alchemists in elixirs that restore stamina, or even consumed as they are when found in the wild. Breathing through the cap of the mushroom offers protection from noxious gases, providing good protection against various breathable toxins.

Blood crystal: A magical crystal connected to evil aox magic, used to amplify spells, and to help weaker demons exist in Agemonia.

Blood powder: An illegal drug made from grinding blood crystal. Terribly addictive and very illegal.

Blood ruby: A powerful aox diamond of a similar mineral as blood crystals, but larger and better cut. Capable of causing great harm when equipped into a magical weapon.

Bluefire: A monorail built by the ancients which runs through Benem from Strongmaw Fortress in the west to Fort Reezil in the east.

Boryot: A furry people in the north-east of Agemonia, their homeland is Veletia in the Vorskal Mountains. Most follow the Church of the Reformed Hearth, which teaches that that boryots should share all things equally. Some boryots, like Garuk, are afflicted with a shape-changing curse and are considered abominations.

Breach: A strange, dream-like dimension parallel to Agemonia, home to the aox demons, but perhaps not still entirely dominated by aox. It is connected to Agemonia through many portals and ancient artifacts.

Bryndelion: A Benemite noble house who rules over Glammet province from their seat on Orrery Hill. The house Magus has recently been killed and her daughter Star Lunara Bryndelion suspected of her murder. The house is known for its wise cosmographers.

Bulbous Disgorger: A flesh-eating plant in Benem’s swamplands, often considered an apex predator. They expel sporal podlings which float, spreading seeds and acid.

Burning Sun: The god of the ignisaur religion, venerated in the Solar Temples of the Megeian Empire.

Cadfael Fortress: The headquarters of the Amethyst Order in Runedale.

Caillon: Leader of the Sable Crown in Runedale.

Celestor: The leading cosmographer in charge of a town’s observatory. The cosmographers in Runedale are led by Celestor Rhaenna.

Cestrig: Nasty snails only the size of a finger, sometimes following ustrigs around.

Chest of the Gods: A mysterious house inside Slugvale, built by the ancients. Rumored to look different from the inside every time it is visited.

Clacker: A pattangan castanet, often played four-handedly.

Chirelid: Large stone worms that grow agura crystals in their bodies, like agurians. They can tunnel through stone, and consume rare moonsilver which metabolizes into agura crystals.

Church of the Reformed Hearth: The most common religion among the boryots which teaches seven sins and seven virtues, which boil down to the central wisdom: “All should toil as much as they are able and receive as much as they need.” Priests of the Reformed Hearth are called Skolders and the church is an off-shoot of the now smaller Church of the Orthodox Hearth. The Church was reformed by the prophet Velyuk.

Copperton: The formerly independent city state of Copperton has become the capital of Amethyst Order where the order runs the whole city.

Cosmographer: The nihteegri of Benem love the night sky, and ever since they abandoned their pagan gods they have looked to cosmographers to explain the universe in a scientific manner. A person who takes on the starry caftan of a cosmographer officially leaves their family and takes a vow of celibacy.

Council of Eight: An Agemonia-wide cabal of warlocks who used to be very influential, overseeing the peace and prosperity among all peoples. Now they sit in their libraries in crumbling towers, reluctant to share their great wisdom with others. They have a long-standing feud with the Amethyst Order whom they consider to have usurped their place in controlling trade networks.

Council of the Dead: Heartwood’s government, where seven quothian elders consult the skulls of their long-dead foremothers.

Creator: The leader of a korallian corporation who typically commands powerful magics which allow them to control a vast work force for their own benefit. Some Creators are rumored to be in alliance with aox-bound sea monsters.

The Cult of the Fifth Eye: Some decades ago a new religion or philosophy called The Cult of the Fifth Eye started to spread. Its adherents seek out relics of the Ancients, trying to understand more about those who inhabited Agemonia before the modern peoples. The Cult of the Fifth Eye was seen as a fringe group until a dozen years ago when the devices of the Ancients started powering up. Since then, there has been an influx of worshipers in their temples.

The Dancing Ustrig: A tavern in Runedale, frequented by artists, rebels, pagans, and students.

Dastro Gramask: The progenitor of House Gramask and a rebel leader during the War of Liberation. Considered the hero of Runedale whose statue stands in Victory Park.

Day of the Living: A nihteegri pagan holiday still celebrated across Benem, with grudging approval of the cosmographers.

Days of Covenant: The nine holiest days of the year for xi-noqs.

Doom Knight: Twisted, mindless, and powerful warriors created from agurians with aox magic.

Durgane: A province and a large island in the east of Benem, ruled by House Wrathclaw in Waneford. Suffers heavily from the spread of the fungal jungle.

Echo Mountain: A mountain in Benem, rumored to contain an ages-old magicanism which radiates power.

Electoral College: The parliament of the Republic of Benem, sitting in the capital Starhaven. Each province names an Elector, typically a member of the ruling noble house. The Electoral College votes on the Supreme Arch-Magus, who is the formal leader of The Republic of Benem.

Elemental gem: A potent piece of elemental jade cut into a shape that can be slotted into magical weapons.

Elemental jade: The naturally found form of magical gemstone powered by ferox magic. Elemental jade can be worked into elemental gems or essence of nature.

Essylit the Unerring: Warlock of the Inner Circle, and leader of the Council of Eight in Runedale’s Tower of the White Circle.

Eti: The smaller of the two moons of Agemonia. According to the cosmographers, Eti orbits around Ata and Ata orbits around Agemonia. The nihteegri believe it’s a sign of good luck when the three are in conjunction.

The Feather: A famous assassin who always left a bright plume in the grasp of their victim. Their identity was never uncovered, though the tales talk of a beautiful young girl just past the threshold of adulthood.

Ferox: One of the four kinds of magic in Agemonia, tied to animals and plants.

Fiendstalker: A monster-hunter trained in Tabbart Castle.

Fifth Eye: No one knows what the Fifth Eye is except perhaps some high-ranking priests of the Cult of the Fifth Eye. It is the central mystery of their religion which many adherents contemplate.

Figurine of Lanimora: According to nihteegri legends, a single figurine of their chief goddess was made which could be used for direct contact with the divine. Figurines and statues of Lanimora are not uncommon so who can tell which one holds such powers?

Fivemaw: A legendary benaethid monster kept in shackles in the cellars of the Pit in Runedale.

Fort Pennark: The ancestral castle of House Pennark, built on a rocky island near Kyther Point.

Fort Reezil: A harbor town in Benem’s Durgane province, controlled by the Amethyst Order.

Ghost lichen: A magical herb which often grows near corpses.

Giz: The jungle realm of the xi-noq, mostly conquered by the Megeian Empire. Their chief cities are Nniq and the capital Ri-Giz.

Gleamwood: Gleamwood is beautiful and that is why it is so dangerous. The magical trees collect sunlight and at night communicate with hypnotic lights. It is wondrous to behold, and causes euphoria, sleepiness, and addiction. The glowing forest is contested between houses Maddarch and Bryndelion. Both would like to claim ownership of Gleamwood because of the expensive star lotus that grows wild in the forest.

Gnatmarsh: River Throyle gets its start in the large swampland of Gnatmarsh in Throyle province. Pagans used to believe the seven ponds flowing into the river represent the seven stars in goddess Sominai’s constellation. The marshland is rich with herbs and mushrooms, but plagued by weird monsters and pestering bugs. These creatures present a constant threat to house Tabbart who rules over the province.

Goblet of Thaxo: The agurian city of Lok Turan had enchanters who could enrich minerals and smelt lanium. The most powerful of them, so the agurians say, was Thaxo who could turn base materials into magical essences. Few remember what powers his goblet had.

Gramask: The ruling family of Runedale, House Gramask is weak. Once great, the old and proud House Gramask is struggling to hold onto its influence against the Amethyst Order, the crime gangs, and rivaling noble houses. In the Gramask Palace, Bo Gramask is the official ruler of Runedale, but everyone knows the true powers of the family are off in the capital Starhaven.

Graznak: A powerful aox demon, a lusar and a prince. The Jade Tendril worships him.

Gric: Colorful and cute grics are popular pets, kept as much for their endearing wide-eyed appearance as their keen noses, since they are masters in finding magical herbs, sensing their mystical energies even through soil. Grics also act as domestic pest control, since they eat insects and other small critters.

Guivren: These magnificent beasts fly over Benemite skies and nest on mountaintops. Of old they have been symbols of valor and honor, and one features in the coat-of-arms of House Bryndelion.

Gunbanjar: A pattangan clan which shares the name with the enormous lizards on which their city of Ban’Daryan Hebath is built.

Heartwood: The forest realm of the quothians. Its main cities are Blightwood, Blindgrove, and the capital Marrowdeep.

Hemet One-Flame: The ignisaur in charge of the Runedale branch of the Amethyst Order.

High Celestor’s Robes: The leader of the Order of Cosmographers is called a High Celestor. Rumor has it that the ceremonial robes have gone missing and that they contain properties which can be unlocked by the power of reason.

Howell: A Benemite noble house from the south of Benem.

Hyperion Gramask: A witch and the son of Dastro Gramask, buried in the crypts under Runedale.

Ignisaur: Ignisaurs are easily recognized for their burly physique, their smooth scaly skin, and their horned heads. It is said they are born as neither male nor female and shed their skin periodically. Upon the third shedding they are expected to choose their own sex. Most ignisaurs are subjects of the Megeian Empire and venerate the Burning Sun. Most of the other peoples of Agemonia fear ignisaurs and consider them cannibals, slavemasters, and conquerors, yet Megeian gold is still valuable.

Jade Tendril: A secret, illegal cabal of demon worshipers, sometimes disguising themselves as traveling healers. They particularly worship the lusat demon Graznak.

Keepers of the Breach: Long ago when the Ancients were leaving Agemonia and the new peoples were emerging, a select few were chosen from each new tribe to keep alive the legacy of the original inhabitants of the world. The Keepers of the Breach have been so clandestine that today they are almost forgotten.

Korallian: Most korallians live in capitalistic underwater city states which form a loose league called the Thalassocracy of Zheebul. These societies are driven by the pursuit of profit and a strict loyalty to the rich Creators, who are seen as the source of jobs and wealth. All korallians can communicate telepathically, but the most powerful can use the powers of their mind to subjugate others or read their thoughts. These korallians typically end up as Creators or members of the psionic police force The Shiver. The other peoples of Agemonia see korallians as ruthless and greedy dandies, and their hapless victims as slaves of propaganda or sometimes romantic freedom fighters. The Creators and The Shiver are feared everywhere.

Kyther Point: A coastal town ruled by House Pennark, but because of a recent revolution, a free republic controlled by its people. How long the Pennarks will tolerate this remains to be seen.

Lanimora: The most prominent of the nihteegri pagan goddesses, the goddess of the sea. Old statues of her can still be found all around Benem even if their worship is forbidden.

Larva peoples: A korallian derogatory term for all other peoples.

Lightbearers: A group of agurians who stood in resistance against the reign of Xotho.

Lok Torr: Centuries ago an evil agurian named Xotho tried to conquer the whole world with his army. No one knows just how the army was defeated, but according to rumor it was locked inside the Agurian city of Lok Torr, waiting to return. The stone face on the gates may be a depiction of Xotho, or it may be Xotho himself!

Luawa: Small beasts covered in colorful fur, luawa are the most common domestic animal in the Benem area. Used as sentries due to their sharp eyes and hearing, they are surprisingly intelligent, and can be taught many complex tasks.

Lugat: Aox demons who act as lieutenants, managers, and mercenaries, larger than lumins, smaller than lusars. Many can use aox magic to leech the life out of their opponents.

Lumin: The smallest aox demons, able to exist on Agemonia for short times only, unless assisted by blood crystals.

Lusar: The largest aox demons, often leading their own armies in the Breach.

Maddark: The Benemite noble house which rules the province of Uladur. Led by sister-Maguses Desilla and Lughiss Maddark who are rumored to be using aox magic.

Maddark Seat: A castle built on top of a bridge, seat of House Maddark.

Magicanism: A device combining mechanical engineering and magical power. Most of them have been created by the ancients thousands of years ago. Sometimes they require agura crystals to power or runic plates to operate.

Magus: The powerful magic-user at the head of a Benemite noble house.

Mazurak: The nihteegri pagan goddess of death and war. Some connect her to demons and evil aox magic, but it’s probably just Cosmographer propaganda.

Megeian Empire: Ignisaurs consider the Megeian Empire, like the Burning Sun itself, to be never-changing. Right now, it seems larger and more powerful than ever, ruling the seas, and having conquered both boryot cities to the north and xi-noq islands to the south. Large cities include Vesheia, New Shansol, Amesheia in Dreams, Shemet in Fire, and the capital Kruesol.

Moonegg: A delicate flower of purple and pink known for its healing properties.

Moonsilver: A valuable metal which is used for forging magical weapons. Major mines exist in the Vorskals and the Reflection Range.

Mossport: An important harbor town in the east of Benem, ruled by Prince Walon Yorel.

Moving City: See Ban’Daryan Hebath.

Mutelands: A large steppe north of Benem and home to most pattangan clans. Its best-known landmark is the glass pyramid of Ata Cahay.

Naedel Falls: Naedel Falls are magnificent waterfalls flowing into the Ulad River. The cliffs from which they start used to be a rich source of moonsilver, creating the base of house Maddarch’s vast wealth. It is said even the water itself had glistened in tones of silver. Now the mines are abandoned, but the caves provide shelter for beasts and outlaws.

Nazag: Nazags, native to the arid Megeian Empire, are ill-tempered toxic centipedes. Nazag toxins can also be milked to create poisons. Nazags are illegal in Benem.

Nihteegri: Nihteegri are humanoids with the agile tails and sharp teeth of predators. They are born with a love of the stars, which forms a basis for their shared language and customs. Most nihteegri live in the Republic of Benem or the free cities of Mossport and Bekora’s Hoist.

Ophira: Large butterflies which are employed to deliver messages. In pagan times they were considered to be sacred to the love goddess Sominai. Benemites still believe that killing an ophira brings a year of bad luck to whomever is responsible for the heinous deed.

Orb of Power: These masterwork objects of power were created by the ancients long ago, and contain vast amounts of magic bound inside them. Their main use is in powering beacons, which exist both in Agemonia and in the Breach. Each Orb of Power is bound in one of the four primal types of energy.

Order of Cosmographers: A monastic order that welcomes all sexes and peoples, although almost all of them are nihteegri. Each observatory is led by a Celestor, under whom serves the Prior, a group of cosmographers, novices and candidates. Usually they take care of all the chores of the observatory, but sometimes practical tasks are given to hired servants.

Otava Shamiel: The Runedale Manager of the Amethyst Order, second to Hemet One-Flame.

Pattangan: Four thin arms, two legs, a long tail, and dorsal fins are the distinctive characteristics of a pattangan. In the Mutelands they live as five clans each with their own customs and territories. Pattangans worship the totems and other spirits that protect them, their tribe, and their surroundings. The largest pattanan town is the Great Moving City of Ban’Daryan Hebath, home to the Gunbanjar clan. Other important cities are Hutapan, Lepas’Huru, Bulapin, and Stimantai. The pattangans who live outside the Mutelands are often poor refugees and victims of racism.

Pennark: This noble house of immense magical and military power controls much of North-eastern Benem. Before the Benemite Civil War, the Pennark Empire was a large independent realm of which Runedale was a part. Some suspect the Pennarks might want to conquer Benem again. Lady Pennark rules the family in Fort Pennark aided by her husband Amon Pennark. Amon’s brother Wollyon lives in Runedale.

Pennark Province: A province in north-eastern Benem, ruled by House Pennark.

Phrenipede: Strange and powerfully magical predators usually found near areas where Agemonia merges with the Breach. They feed on magic and are said to be able to translocate short distances since they exist both in Agemonia and in the Breach at the same time.

Pinnacle: Runedale’s observatory and center of learning, home to the cosmographers.

The Pit: A tavern of ill repute in Runedale, rumored to house the sale of contraband drugs and poisons, as well as illegal gladiator fights. The latter are openly advertised with posters. Possibly connected to the Shroud. See also: Five-Maw.

Pledge of Prosperity: Korallian oath of fealty to the Creators.

Puzzlebox of Xi-Sai: Magical puzzleboxes are rare items created by xi-noq artificers. Only the most clever are able to open them.

Quothian: Quothians are a secluded people from the nocturnal woodland realm of Heartwood. These corvine women who live in moonlit tree houses, have since time immemorial been tasked with keeping the demons of the Breach at bay. They have large white eyes which see in the dark, their body covered in black feathers which easily blend into shadows. Male quothians are seen as chattel that live in pens and are used as slave soldiers or tasked with milking the speendles or other menial labours. The other peoples see quothians as witches dabbling in dark magic, dangerous assassins and thieves, or suspicious traveling silk merchants with ulterior motives.

Quothian silk: The quothians farm giant arachnids known as speendles, who weave expensive silk which is Heartwood’s main export. Quothian silk is used for magical scrolls and for the finest clothes and tapestries. Obviously, many quothians are employed in the silk industry.

Rakka’s Wand: The quothian toxicologist Rakka is said to have used her wand to make everlasting poisons and to amplify her magic.

Ravenous Guivren: A tavern in Runedale.

Redskulls: Elite legionnaires in service to House Pennark, rumored to be somehow enchanted.

Reflection Range: The crystal mountains of Reflection Range mirror and enhance the light of the sun, making it almost painful to approach them on a bright day. In time of the ancients the whole range consisted of the magical agura crystal, but since they left it became as unmagical as it is beautiful. Yet Reflection Range carries one of the strangest sights in all of Agemonia: the gates of Lok Torr.

Revenant: Ghosts of the dead turned into tormented undead whose faces reflect whoever they meet. Any wound made on a revenant appears also on the attacker.

Rhaenna: Runedale’s Celestor, or leading cosmographer.

Riabo: A xi-noq merchant in Runedale, purveyor of strange and magical objects. Unlike most xi-noqs, it does not seem to be a part of a triad.

Roglu: These ancient automatons were crafted ages ago, and legends say one can control them with the correct combination of runic knowledge and agura crystals. Powerhouses of brawn, Roglu are capable of busting down walls, moving large objects and protecting their controller through dangerous situations.

Rotwood: A cursed, cancerous forest in the west of Benem. Most who go there never return and those who do, are forever changed for the worse, hailing something called Hur-Ishtanim.

Runedale: The greatest town in North Benem, was originally two warring towns, one on each bank of the river, worshiping a different pagan god. Over time these settlements grew and eventually combined into what is now Runedale. These days it is ruled by House Gramask, although with many of the key personalities in the capital Starhaven, the noble house’s grasp on the town is growing loose.

Runic diamond: A potent aiun gem with a glowing rune inside it, used for healing.

Runic plate: Curious artifacts of the ancients, often used as keys or ciphers.

Runic quartz: An uncut of form of a runic diamond, perhaps naturally crystallized around a magical rune.

Sable Crown: The criminal organization robs from the rich with a lofty goal: to remove Benem’s magical noble families and blasphemous cosmographers from power, and institute a proper democracy under the watchful eyes of the old gods. The Sable Crown is in a gang war with the assassins of the Shroud. Runedale’s Sable Crown is led by a brigand called Caillon.

Sapfir: A blue tree whose ample branches are often used as nests or hiding places by animals.

Shadow Goggles: A red-lensed mask which belonged to a famous hired killer in Benem, only known as “The Feather.” Said to contain wondrous powers, they came with a note saying the Feather would hunt down anyone who dared wear them.

Shantor Three-Birds: An ignisaur Keeper of the Breach and the mentor to the Heroes of Agemonia. She also stars in the Agemonia story the Dark Bargain.

Shiver: The psionic secret police of the Thalassocracy of Zheebul, working for the Creators, and employing the strongest korallian telepaths. They are feared everywhere.

Shiver Retreat: A pirate town, where korallians consider having escaped the might of the Creators and the Thalassocracy of Zheebul and to live lives of independence and solidarity. Other korallians consider them parasites and criminals.

Shroud: The most notorious criminal organization in Agemonia employs assassins, smugglers, spies and drug dealers. When they want to openly declare their affiliation, Shroud members hide their faces with veils of blue and yellow. But if they want to operate in the shadows, they are quite adept at concealing their identity, as well. It is said they have a secret base in every major town in Agemonia, and ties to leaders everywhere.

Sinkerton: A korallian half-underwater city and home to Zuva’Sai.

Skitterer: See Venorian skitterer.

Skolder: Priests, storytellers, preachers, and bards of the boryot Church of the Reformed Hearth. Some of them are Flamekeepers who stoke the physical flame in the hearths (churches) and also the metaphorical flame inside each worshiper.

Skyfford: A fallen Benemite noble house, who used to rule the province of Ythmer before it was taken over by Rotwood.

Skyfford Ruins: The remnants of the Skyfford Castle, destroyed long ago in a great magical cataclysm. It is now a thaumaturgical wasteland of strange and alien perils.

Skyrender: A mysterious tower in Runedale, shrieking with a horrible voice. Unbeknownst to most Runedalians, it is a beacon of the ancients.

Slugvale: An area in Benem’s Throyle province, overtaken by the fungal forests, ustrigs, and cestrigs.

Smack: A korallian worker.

Song of the earth: An agurian chant.

Soladin: An ignisaur religious soldier in service to the Church of the Burning Sun, and a feared sight everywhere.

Solar Temple: A church of the Burning Sun where ignisaur priestesses oversee elaborate ceremonies and often sacrifice slaves to their cruel sun god.

Sominai: The nihteegri pagan goddess of love, fertility, and the stars.

Sporal Podling: See Bulbous disgorger.

Ssulen’n: A Warlock of the Second Circle in Runedale, second in command to Essylit the Unerring.

Staff of Phaedra: Phaedra was an old aox witch who used to terrorize the marshlands. They say she wielded a staff bound with a demon soul, only controllable by the one who knew its true name. The demon would bestow immense power to the wielder of the staff, and from what I have heard of Phaedra, she certainly was that and more.

Star Lotus: The beautiful white flower of a star lotus emanates a faint blue glow, hinting at its magical nature. The flowers can be crushed and the milky sap rubbed rubbed onto wounds to heal them, or used as an alchemical ingredient for potions and scrolls.

Star: The currency in Benem, typically uses moonsilver coins. One star is enough to buy a nice meal or lodging for the night.

Starhaven: The capital city of the Republic of Benem, and seat of the Electoral College.

Supreme Arch-Magus: The formal leader of The Republic of Benem. The post has been occupied by Hinwiss Highweld for the past eighteen years.

Tabbart: A Benemite noble house which has allied itself with the Council of Eight.

Tabbart Castle: The Tabbart Castle is a black fortress in the middle of the monster-infested woods, sheltering most of the commoners of Throyle Province in times of trouble. The castle is known to attract purveyors and purchasers of magical items. Fiendstalkers are trained here.

Tentacle: A bubbling bitter and sweet drink made from nihteegri fruit and korallian liqueur. Popular in Benem’s coastal towns.
Thalassocracy of Zheebul: See Zheebul.

Three Queens Period: Three centuries ago the Magusdom of Benem broke into three queendoms, the eastern Durgane Queendom, the Southern Queendom, and the northern Pennark Empire. The pagan priestesses supported the queens and the nobility who brutally oppressed the regular people. The Three Queens Period ended with the War of Liberation.

Throyle: A province in central Benem, ruled by House Tabbart.

Togrel: Perhaps the most useful of all the beasts of Benem is the togrel. These large, furry mammals act as steeds and beasts of burden, and are considered something of an unofficial emblem of the Republic and the nihteegri. In Veletia the boryoti make cheese of snow togrels’ milk.

Togrelbridge: A university town of the cosmographers, connecting Durgane to Benem’s mainland.

Togsbane: A dangerous red flower which emits toxic fumes. If gathered, it can be used as an ingredient in poisons.

Tower of the White Circle: The Runedale headquarters of the Council of Eight, where rules Essylit the Unerring.

Trinity: In the xi-noq religion a triad of gods which represent creation, growing, and withering.

Uladur: A province of Benem which suffers heavily from the spread of the fungal forests and ustrigs. Ruled by House Maddark.

Ustrig: Massive fire-breathing snails who live in the fungal forests.

Vault of Time: A long-lost tower in Ythmer where visitors of old claimed to have seen the past or the future.

Veletia: The boryot homeland in Agemonia’s north-east. Much of it is located on the Vorskal Mountains, but it reaches to the shores of the

Burning Sea. The southern cities of Gorskow and Sholek are occupied by the Megeian Empire. Independent cities include Vortak, Yaskow, Dovak, and the capital Velek.

Velyuk: A prophet who founded the Church of the Reformed Hearth and whom the boryot venerate.
Venorian skitterers: Large bugs, psionically connected to their Hive Mother, acting as her eyes and ears.
Venorian hive mother: Vile, gargantuan creatures of vast intelligence and twisted desires, something between insects and spiders. They cover their prey in webbing and telepathically control their skitterer offspring. They have formed an alliance of sorts with the Benemite noble house of Wrathclaw.

Vespir: Flying predatory lizards who live in the Reflection Range and hunt animals and nihteegri alike. Long ago, House Skyfford used them as steeds.

Vevak: A hard cheese the boryot make of the milk of snow togrels.

Voidrender: This mythical sword was forged in the Breach, and the crystalline blade is said to drink the energy of anyone struck down with it.

Void revenant: An undead monstrosity, much larger and more dangerous than other revenants. Possibly formed from the corpse or spirit of a magical monster.

Vorskals: A snow-capped mountain range in the north-east of Agemonia. See also: Veletia.

Waneford: The main city of Durgane province and the seat of house Wrathclaw.

War of Liberation: Benem’s third civil war which ended the Three Queens Period and gave rise to the republic. The liberal noble houses, cosmographers, and the people joined in rebellion against the three queens and the pagan priestesses. When the Council of Eight chose to align with the rebellion, the tide turned, and the war was soon over. Large temples were turned into mercantile palaces ruled by the Council of Eight, but most have now been turned over to the Amethyst Order. In Runedale the rebellion was led by Star Dastro Gramask.

Wisptree: A tree which is considered sacred by pagan nihteegri.

Wollyon Pennark: A wealthy collector and sorcerer, lives in Runedale. Brother of Amon Pennark.

World Egg: Quothians believe the world exists inside an egg.

Wormweed: When chewed, the bitter roots of this orange plant are said to give one the speed of a flying vespir.

Wrathclaw: A Benemite noble house known for its witches, which rules Durgane province in the city of Waneford.

Wyldkin: A group of experimental sorcerers in the Three Queens Period. Their aim was to bend the wild and untamed ferox magic under their will, though ultimately, they failed and were annihilated by the Council of Eight.

Wyldkin Band: A ring rumored to have belonged to the Wyldkin who were rumored to turn their adversaries into objects to retain their power but keep it bound and accessible.

Xi-noq: A diminutive people who mostly live in the islands of Giz in the south-east of Agemonia. They are closer to plants than beasts and live in triads which are intimately connected to one another. Most xi-noqs are a part of a hivemind called the Song of the Xi-Noq.

Xirion: The nihteegri pagan goddess of magic and trade.

Xoa: Blue xi-noq coffee.

Xotho: An agurian dictator who tried to conquer the whole world, subjugating all the other peoples under him. During his reign some 300 years ago, the Sign of the Anvil was a feared sight. How Xotho was defeated is not known but suddenly his armies simply disappeared. Everyone knows agurians live forever, but somehow everyone claims they have no memory of these events, or if they do, they had no part in them.

Ythmer: A former western province of Benem, now overgrown by Rotwood. Only a few coastal villages of the beautiful garden province remain. Ythmer is, in theory, ruled by House Skyfford.

Zheebul: The Thalassocracy of Zheebul is an underwater alliance of corporations, which is what many korallians consider their homeland. The word “thalassocracy” means a maritime empire. Their main cities are Vann’ti Shan’n’aiz, Sinkerton, and the capital Sharzh’su Vachz.

Zlohian: Formless, slimy predators which can split into parts or combine again to bigger creatures. Their slime is corrosive and paralytic.