Pillars of the Kingdom

Glossary of Terms


Index of Emorian terminology

For when it just gets to be too much.

Arcanic: Those who are born with innate magical powers capable of effecting the outside world are dubbed Arcanic, and the energy they manipulate is called “Arcane.” While many can only think about such things, they can cause changes in the world around them simply by thinking. This does not necessarily make them a match for a Ranked Warrior; effecting the outside world is not always as handy as effecting one’s body.
Aqui: Second ranked warrior - Most Aqui have been in military service for a number of years or are exceptionally gifted in the fields of strategy and man to man combat. (Derived from the Spanish word “here.”)
Coaslund: Situated along the eastern sea-board of the Kingdom, Coaslund is a small yet wealthy Principality of fishermen, traders and, ironically enough, scientists. They have taken the second position of scientific Principalities, choosing to work with Yenohar rather than try to supplant them. They have a few issues with corruption, especially in its capital of Rhinegold, but unlike Yenohar they have avoided a massive drug culture from forming.
Conflagration: Eons ago, it is said that a giant fire scorched the Earth and that the survivors founded the various Principalities of Emor. Very little scientific evidence has arisen to attribute a cause to the flame, but it is certain that long ago a people arose with no real knowledge of where they came from.
Crystal: A vital resource to the technological development of places such as Yenohar, Crystal is obtained through the oftentimes oversimplified act of killing Monsters. Weaker demons yield lower grade resources, while large hauls can make an adventurer rich. Gemstones like Dragonite, an exceedingly rare form of mineral, can fetch upward of 10,000 gold an ounce. Crystal is used to power all sorts of devices, from gigantic power plants to small radios. The fusion of two crystals creates a terrible, mystical force of destruction known as a Tero-Nuclear blast. Furthermore, Crystal can be used to make the will of a human into reality, allowing complex rituals to permit normal humans to manipulate (and, it is said, become part of) the Arcane.
Emor (Castle): The term for the governing district of Emor. Originally an independent country, Emor was talented enough at diplomacy that it forged the loose confederation of the Kingdom of Emor. Later renamed Newcastle.
Emor (Kingdom): The Kingdom’s political structure is very democratic, depending on councilors who rise in status to serve as advisors to a King who may be elected and removed from office as the citizens need. The nuances of the Emorian constitution are constantly in debate, making a day-to-day judgement practically impossible. The king during the 18^th generation is Anatoly Tevalain, and the among likely successors to his throne are his son, Kendrick Tevalain, Branden Frost and Rayne Castrell.
Fecha: The Fourth rank of warrior, Fecha are oftentimes so in tune with their spiritual power than they are faster than ordinary men can react, capable of evading weapons fire from both physical projectiles and crystal-based energy weapons. They can leap incredible distances, yet are still one step short of being an ultimate combat monster. Some, but not all Fecha have names. (Derived from the Spanish “date”)
Gam: Roughly forty years ago, the monastic region of Gam felt it right to throw off the shackles of Emorian rule. This action precipitated a war between the Monks of Gam and the Kingdom, a war Gam lost badly. Men like Serge “Scarred Peace” Lenkmen and the present King Anatoly Tevalain fought in this war, and to this day Gam remains somewhat subjugated. It is on the north-west border of the Kingdom, and attributes much of its culture to the Shaman people in the west.
Gammin Monk: The Gammin Monks have four principle schools of martial arts that they study called the Quadragammin. These four arts are focused around the four classical elements of Water, Fire, Lightning and Earth. Each of these schools confers abilities to the Monk which make him, essentially, a Fecha or Hora level opponent. The stances each have attributes which make them unique and formidable, especially to those who have never seen them, while each school carries a definitive secret technique that has as much power as ten ordinary attacks. These combat monsters are truly feared in battle.
Gatamene: A democratic Principality in the very center of the Kingdom, this locale is a farmland for both food and Monsters. A leading Crystal exporter, Gatamene has frustratingly chosen not to overuse its technological resources in favor of a more agrarian lifestyle. The reasons why are numerous - Their economy is not set up for, nor does it depend upon, having anti-gravity pads on every vehicle as some characterize Yenohar. They have electricity, lights, and refrigerators to keep food fresh, so why jump into a more tech-dependent lifestyle?
Hora: The highest of the Ranked Warriors and the most frequently Named ones, the Hora is a rank often only obtained through some form of trial, be it a duel in an Arena or a high-risk mission for the good of the Kingdom. Most who obtain this rank do so between the ages of thirty and forty five, however some have reached the equivalent strength at very young ages. Many times, Horas exhibit some of the abilities of an Arcanic, although they often require more focus and time to prepare then a spell ever does. These superhuman powers are to be feared, for they can manifest in the form of running faster than a plane can fly or leaping into the air to slash the contraption out of the sky with a sword. (Derived from the Spanish “hour”)
Media: The Media is the third, or middle rank of warrior. At this point in a soldier’s career, he is developing an ability to defend against mystical attacks by willpower alone, though he often cannot do much more than this. An ordinary soldier is likely to be no fair match to a Media, but boy do they have a long way to go. (“Media” is often used in Spanish to reflect half-hours.)
Monster: These creatures are inexplicably alien to the natural course of things. From Goblins and the gigantic Raptors to elemental creatures and, rarely seen, Dragons, these anomalies of creation have two things in common; they both produce the rare resource Crystal in varying strength and color, and they are all extremely dangerous.
Named Warrior: To hear the name “Clarice Saffron” might mean little, but to hear the title “Blind Justice” is enough to scare most criminals into begging for mercy before the battle has begun. A Named Warrior has usually accomplished a feat so great that she is assigned a title reflecting their personality. Serge “Scarred Peace” Lenkmen has a scar along his left arm, yet is known for advocating peaceful resolution to all conflict, thus his name. Very few other then Horas carry this honor, Clarice being one of those exceptions, yet some Horas choose not to take a name, such as Branden Frost. Some, such as Frost, claim their real names speak for themselves.
New Presia: Not much can be said for this branch of the older Theocracy of Presia, for it is a relatively new social revolution. South of Gam and west of Presia, this border-state has inflamed tensions with the Shaman tribes living there while attracting the attention of barbarians and monsters alike. Its political future is certainly to become a Principality, but will it ever be truly independent?
Noche: The lowest rank of warrior, a Noche is hardly more skilled then a common soldier. The differences are noticed when a Noche is placed in direct combat against one; the Noche knows how to handle his weapon as a second nature, rather than simply relying on training. Furthermore, even Noches have obtained a small amount of superhuman awareness, giving them an edge.
Presia: The largest, southernmost, and often most belligerent of the Principalities, Presia was established as an independent kingdom long ago and joined the Kingdom of Emor more out of force of arms than of joy. The overwhelming majority of Presians believe in the demi-god Sheng-Li, a man who once walked the Earth as a human and could perform miracles. Needless to say, the Presians have many radical views on both technology and Arcanics, and the current second ranked Arcanic in the Kingdom, Cassandra Retholden, was nearly burned at the stake as a teenager. Currently, Presia faces barbarian hordes on its southern border and a rapidly escaping populace that has different views than the “Holy Kingdom”’s leadership.
Principality: The basic, self-sufficient governing body of the Kingdom, each of these has a large degree of autonomy and a unique nature and culture. Gam, Presia, Ralase, Gatamene, New Presia, Castle Emor, Yenohar and Coaslund make up the Kingdom of Emor.
Ralase: The Principality of Ralase has chosen to retain a Monarchy and often acts independent of its own. The Castrell family has traditionally ruled, prospering under the rule that only a master Swordpriest may become the king. In the past, Ralase’s military often acted as Emor’s, fighting two ears against Presia and winning both. Today, Rayne Castrell rules over Ralase with a gentle hand, his elder brother Aubrey having been deemed unable to master the Swordpriest school of combat.
Ranked Warrior: The five ranks have a clear advantage over an ordinary footman. What makes a soldier a Ranked warrior as opposed to an ordinary one is a matter of something insubstantial, at first; unadulterated talent. A Noche might be mistaken for one, an Aqui less so, but nobody would mistake a Media for an unranked warrior in the heat of battle. It’s a combination of speed, strength, skill and thought which makes the Ranked the backbone of the Kingdom.
Solasce: This legendary island is associated with every tale of missing treasure and every story of a ship that was wrecked. They supposedly have high technology and unlimited resources, supposedly predate the Conflagration and supposedly stand ten feet tall. This island is always dismissed as an urban legend on the sheer premise that all who have claimed to have been there were found to be liars. Some still believe, but Solasce’s existence has never been proven or even given strong evidence.
Swordpriest: Neither a clergyman nor a weapon, the Swordpriest is something of a misnomer. Swordpriests frequently wield broadswords and must be of the Aqui rank or higher to obtain an official title. They possess a number of unique attacks, the least of which is the Void Slash and Vortex Thrust, two sword techniques that invoke spiritual powers to do serious damage. It is said that a number of skills are restricted to the Castrell Family alone - And considering that the Swordpriest school is the most often copied, that is probably a good thing.
Yenohar: The northernmost principality of the Kingdom, this Principality is virtually dependent on technology. Often criticized as “on the liberal side of an anarchy,” its Capital city Yenohs has over one million residents - Roughly a tenth of the population of the Kingdom. The population of Yenohar has four categories: The upper class, which rules through the Gold Coin, the lower class which serves for that Gold Coin and spends it far too often on drugs, the Military that stays fairly clean and has a relatively decent lifestyle, and the Biker Gangs who rage from drug pushers to noble vigilantes. Yenohar’s high technology comes at the price of economic domination, and some have said this principality is just as bad for the Kingdom as Presia, an irony of ironies as the two are as dissimilar as they can be.