Glossary

Definitions for game-specific terms, both relating to parts of the game's setting, and game mechanics and roleplaying. This page is intended as a reference, rather than something you should actually read all the way through, as the terms are also generally described on their relevant pages.

Out Of Character Terms





  • [ ]: often used to mark out-of-character text embedded in otherwise in-character text
  • Ballgowning: roleplaying in-character romances
  • CAMPO: Campaign Organiser, the head(s) of the GM team
  • Debrief: an extra meeting at the end of the game where we discuss what happened and reveal secrets
  • Downtime: the part of the game in between sessions, involving written rather than live roleplay
  • Eternity: an extra, public turnsheet at the end of the game about the rest of the character's life
  • Fluff: aspects of the game's storytelling not represented by game mechanics
  • FOIP: “find out in play”, i.e. the GMs aren't going to tell you now but perhaps you'll find out later
  • GM: the people who plan and run the game
  • IC / in character: part of the fiction of the game
  • Metagaming: a player using OC knowledge to decide their character's actions, where the character does not have access to that information, especially in cases where this is inappropriate (it isn't always)
  • NPC / non-player character: character played by the GMs
  • OC / out of character: real, non-fictional
  • PC / player character: character whose part a player plays
  • Physrep: costume and props
  • PvE: “player vs. environment”, situations where PCs are in competition with NPCs or the world at large (e.g. monsters in the Labyrinth)
  • PvP: “player vs. player”, situations where PCs are in competition with each other, either directly or indirectly
  • Quirk: a game-mechanical trait describing an aspect of a PC's circumstances and plot
  • Rank: a numerical representation of skill, magic or social status level
  • Session: the part of the game involving physically meeting and acting (synonymous with “uptime”)
  • Skill: a game-mechanical trait describing a PC's ability to do certain categories of task
  • Turnsheet: a written description sent to the GMs of a player's plans for a downtime, and the GMs' response describing how those plans go
  • Uptime: the part of the game involving physically meeting and acting (synonymous with “session”)

In-Character Terms Alphabetically





  • Alasset: a major province, the breadbasket of the Southern Empire
  • Altalyria: a major province, the breadbasket of the Northern Empire
  • Arbiter: soldier of the 13th Legion's 2nd Cohort, administers law
  • Arshabeya: the Purdanist goddess of darkness and good
  • Calling: the particular criterion Sathists believe is used to evaluate each person's success in life
  • Centurion: mid-rank military leader of the 13th Legion
  • Chapter master/-ess: leader of a chapter within a holy order
  • Church of the Guardian: The organised church following the Unspoken Word religion
  • Clan: a group of related Gentens with similar designs
  • Cohort: major division of the military of the 13th Legion (1000 soldiers)
  • Corpunia: a major province of the Northern Empire, harsh but rich in resources
  • Creed of Moderation: a common part of almost all Gentens' designs, forbidding excess proliferation
  • Crown of Horns: the crown of the Tharenan Empire, now lost
  • Custodian: soldier of the 13th Legion's 1st Cohort, guards the city
  • Damya: title of the Ezu merchant caste
  • Delegate: members of the ruling council of Dolom
  • Delegation: the ruling council of Dolom
  • Design: the basic desires chosen for a Genten by their parent
  • The divine medium: a rare substance used in the spiritual practices of the Ezu priest caste, also known as ether
  • Divine Mysteries: the religion of the Ezu Plateau
  • Divine servant: members of the Ezu servant caste who serve the priests directly
  • Dominion: major ecclesiastical province of the Church of the Guardian
  • Dragon's ichor: an oily gel produced by Dragonblooded, highly flammable on contact with the air
  • Dragonblooded (pl. Dragonblooded): people with variably draconic features, often nobles
  • Eosena: the Eastern continent
  • Ether: a rare substance used in the spiritual practices of the Ezu priest caste and the forges of the 13th Legion
  • Eyestone: the Slimefolk's eyes, which can be added, removed and re-used
  • Fist art: Ezu unarmed martial arts styles
  • Fixed clan: Genten clan with a written specification for a design which all members must follow
  • Flame sac: small organ in the neck of Dragonblooded that produces and expels dragon's ichor
  • Forgemaster prime: head forgemaster of the 13th Legion
  • Forgemaster: high-rank civilian leader of the 13th Legion
  • Fre: a tall, thin Ssar morph, with larger skulls
  • Fusion: either the process of Slimefolk combining together, or the resulting merged individual
  • Gatekeeper: tribune of the 13th Legion's 1st Cohort, in charge of guarding the city
  • Genten: people with bizarre desires and hard shells
  • Grandmaster/-ess: leader of a holy order
  • Great House: the noble houses descended from Kallia's companions, second only to the imperial house
  • The Guardian: the god followed by the Unspoken Word religion
  • Guildmaster: guild members with an administrative/leadership role in the Allied Guilds
  • Helat: a major province of the Southern Empire, Kholeis's hinterland
  • High arbiter: tribune of the 13th Legion's 2nd Cohort, in charge of law
  • High custodian: centurion of the 13th Legion's 1st Cohort, in charge of guarding the city
  • Holy order: a sort of organization within the Church of the Guardian which performs some specific charitable purpose
  • Inner Gods: a 3-part goddess of the Divine Mysteries, who creates the world, guides it, then destroys it
  • Inner Sea: the sea at the centre of the known world
  • Kanuum: a mountainous border region of the Northern Empire
  • Kholeis: a major province of the Southern Empire, highly urban
  • Kythara: the island where the Labyrinth is located
  • Labyrinth: an enormous network of strange and often inhabited underground chambers
  • Lav: a broad, stocky, short-snouted Ssar morph
  • Legate: ruler of the 13th Legion
  • Livery: distinct clothing styles which mark guild membership in the Allied Guilds
  • Lord captain: A high-ranking governor in the Southern Empire
  • Lord governor: A middle-ranking governor in the Southern Empire
  • Lord prefect: A low-ranking governor in the Southern Empire
  • Lyrian Empire: Tharena's ancient rival, long since defeated
  • Master of the inner territories: tribune of the 13th Legion's 3rd Cohort
  • Master of the outer territories: tribune of the 13th Legion's 4th Cohort
  • Mentor: a Wildborn who acts like a surrogate parent to another Wildborn they discovered, teaching them to change form, and bringing them into civilisation
  • Mithura: the Purdanist god of light and evil
  • Morph: one of the specialized varieties of Ssar, with different physical traits
  • Most Eminent and Reverent Order of Word-Keepers of the Temple of the Scale of the Guardian: the holy order which rules Kythara and runs the base camp where sessions take place
  • Muella (pl. Muella): mushroom people
  • Muella Circle: group of Muella raising their children communally
  • Nanteia: a major province of the Southern Empire, important for trade with the West
  • Northern Empire: one of the successor empires to the Tharenan Empire, styles itself The Divine Empire of Tharena
  • Overworld: the world outside the Labyrinth
  • Palonia: a major province of the Northern Empire, notable for its art and age
  • Path of the Crucible: the field of magic for creating specific substances and compounds
  • Path of the Earth: the field of magic for creating solids in bulk
  • Path of the Hammer: the field of magic for creating detailed objects and tools
  • Path of the Heavens: the field of magic for creating fluids in bulk
  • Path of the Moon: the field of magic for growing plants and influencing the weather
  • Path of the Mountain: the field of magic for enhancing strength and toughness
  • Path of the River: the field of magic for enhancing agility
  • Path of the Sun: the field of magic for creating fire, light, etc.
  • Pathaan: an ethnic group which remains somewhat unassimilated in the Northern Empire
  • Praetorian guard: the 13th Legion's legate's personal guard
  • Pree: title of the Ezu warrior caste
  • Principia (pl. principiae): leader of a dominion, the highest rank in the Church of the Guardian
  • Public servant: members of the servant caste who govern the Ezu Plateau
  • Purdanism: a dualistic religion popular in Altalyria
  • Roshi: title of the Ezu servant caste
  • Sathi: an ethnic group which remains somewhat unassimilated in the Northern Empire
  • Sathism: a religion of ambition, popular in Corpunia
  • She Who Lights the Fire: the first of the Inner Gods of the Divine Mysteries, the creator
  • She Who Smothers the Flame: the third of the Inner Gods of the Divine Mysteries, the destroyer
  • She Who Stokes the Flame: the second of the Inner Gods of the Divine Mysteries, who guides the Ezu people
  • Slime: synonym for Slimefolk
  • Slimefolk (pl. Slimefolk): people made of amorphous goo
  • Spawning: group of Ssar siblings born together
  • Ssar (pl. Ssar): cold-blooded people with lizard-like features
  • Supreme duke/supreme duchess: the successor and junior partner in governance of the Southern Empire's emperor.
  • Surimutum: a hotly contested border region of the Northern Empire
  • Tharenan Empire: the old empire which divided into The Northern and Southern Empires
  • Thengi: an ethnic group which remains somewhat unassimilated in the Northern Empire
  • Thyslann: the world where Labyrinth is set
  • Tik: a short, lithe, long-snouted Ssar morph
  • Tribune: high-ranking military leader of the 13th Legion, in charge of a cohort
  • The Unspoken Word: the state religion of the Tharenan Empire
  • Weapon art: Ezu martial arts styles using weapons
  • Wildborn (pl. Wildborn): animals who randomly developed sapience
  • Word-Keepers: the Most Eminent and Reverent Order of Word-Keepers of the Temple of the Scale of the Guardian
  • Yama: title of the Ezu priest caste
  • Yulaia: the heartland of the Northern Empire surrounding the ancient city of Tharena
  • Za-Rin: a nature-worshipping religion of the Land of Endless Sky
  • Zong-Di Shao: the Western continent

By Location





The World

  • Eosena: the Eastern continent
  • Inner Sea: the sea at the centre of the known world
  • Kythara: the island where the Labyrinth is located
  • Northern Empire: also called the Divine Empire of Tharena
  • Overworld: the world outside the Labyrinth
  • Southern Empire: also called the Tharenan Empire
  • Thyslann: the world where Labyrinth is set
  • Tharenan Empire: the old empire which divided into The Northern and Southern Empires
  • Zong-Di Shao: the Western continent

13th Legion

  • Arbiter: soldier of the 2nd Cohort, administers law
  • Centurion: mid-rank military leader
  • Cohort: major division of the military (1000 soldiers)
  • Custodian : soldier of the 1st Cohort, guards the city
  • Ether: a rare substance used in the forges of the Legion
  • Ether Forge a forge which uses ether to reach temperatures capable of working with metals unique to the Labyrinth
  • Forgemaster: high-rank civilian leader
  • Forgemaster prime: head forgemaster
  • Gatekeeper: tribune of the 1st Cohort, in charge of guarding the city
  • High arbiter: tribune of the 2nd Cohort, in charge of law
  • High custodian: centurion of the 1st Cohort, in charge of guarding the city
  • Judge: centurion of the 2nd Cohort, in charge of law
  • Legate: ruler of the Legion's Military
  • Master of the inner territories: tribune of the 3rd Cohort
  • Master of the outer territories: tribune of the 4th Cohort
  • Praetorian guard: the legate's personal guard
  • Tribune: high-ranking military leader, in charge of a cohort

Allied Guilds

  • Guildmaster: guild members with an administrative/leadership role
  • Livery: distinct clothing styles which mark guild membership

Ezu Plateau

  • Damya: title of the merchant caste
  • Divine servant: members of the servant caste who serve the priests directly
  • The divine medium: a rare substance used in the spiritual practices of the priest caste, also known as ether
  • Fist art: unarmed martial arts styles
  • Public servant: members of the servant caste who govern the Ezu Plateau
  • Roshi: title of the servant caste
  • Pree: title of the warrior caste
  • Weapon art: martial arts styles using weapons
  • Yama: title of the priest caste

Free City of Dolom

  • Delegate: members of the ruling council
  • Delegation: the ruling council

Kythara

  • Labyrinth: an enormous network of strange and often inhabited underground chambers
  • Most Eminent and Reverent Order of Word-Keepers of the Temple of the Scale of the Guardian: the holy order which rules Kythara and runs the base camp where sessions take place
  • Word-Keepers: the Most Eminent and Reverent Order of Word-Keepers of the Temple of the Scale of the Guardian

Land of Endless Sky no specific terms

Northern Empire

  • Altalyria: a major province, the breadbasket of the empire
  • Corpunia: a major province, harsh but rich in resources
  • Kanuum: a mountainous border region
  • Lyrian Empire: Tharena's ancient rival, long since defeated
  • Palonia: a major province, notable for its art and age
  • Pathaan: an ethnic group which remains somewhat unassimilated
  • Sathi: an ethnic group which remains somewhat unassimilated
  • Surimutum: a hotly contested border region
  • Thengi: an ethnic group which remains somewhat unassimilated
  • Yulaia: the heartland surrounding Tharena

Southern Empire

  • Alasset: a major province, breadbasket of the empire
  • Great House: the noble houses descended from Kallia's companions, second only to the imperial house
  • Helat: a major province, Kholeis's hinterland
  • Kholeis: a major province, highly urban
  • Lord captain: A high-ranking governor
  • Lord governor: A mid-ranking governor
  • Lord prefect: A low-ranking governor
  • Nanteia: a major province, important for trade with the West
  • Supreme duke/supreme duchess: the Emperor's successor and junior partner in governance.

By Species





  • Dragonblooded (pl. Dragonblooded): people with variably draconic features, often nobles
  • Genten: people with bizarre desires and hard shells
  • Muella (pl. Muella): mushroom people
  • Slime: synonym for Slimefolk
  • Slimefolk (pl. Slimefolk): people made of amorphous goo
  • Ssar (pl. Ssar): cold-blooded people with lizard-like features
  • Wildborn (pl. Wildborn): animals who randomly developed sapience

Dragonblooded

  • Dragon's ichor: an oily gel, highly flammable on contact with the air
  • Flame sac: small, muscular organ in the neck that produces and expels dragon's ichor

Gentens

  • Clan: a group of related Gentens with similar designs
  • Creed of Moderation: a common part of almost all Gentens' designs, forbidding excess proliferation
  • Design: the basic desires chosen for a Genten by their parent
  • Fixed clan: clan with a written specification for a design which all members must follow

Muella

  • Muella Circle: group of Muella raising their children communally

Slimefolk

  • Eyestone: the Slimefolk's eyes, which can be added, removed and re-used
  • Fusion: either the process of people combining together, or the resulting merged individual

Ssar

  • Fre: a tall, thin morph, with larger skulls
  • Lav: a broad, stocky, short-snouted morph
  • Morph: one of the specialized varieties of Ssar, with different physical traits
  • Spawning: group of Ssar siblings born together
  • Tik: a short, lithe, long-snouted morph

Wildborn

  • Mentor: a Wildborn who acts like a surrogate parent to another Wildborn they discovered, teaching them to change form, and bringing them into civilisation

By Religion





  • Divine Mysteries: the religion of the Ezu Plateau
  • Purdanism: a dualistic religion popular in the Altalyria region of the Northern Empire
  • Sathism: a religion of ambition, popular in the Corpunia region of the Northern Empire
  • The Unspoken Word: the state religion of the Northern and Southern Empires
  • Za-Rin: a nature-worshipping religion of the Land of Endless Sky

Divine Mysteries

  • Inner Gods: a 3-part goddess, who creates the world, guides it, then destroys it
  • She Who Lights the Fire: the first of the Inner Gods, the creator
  • She Who Smothers the Flame: the third of the Inner Gods, the destroyer
  • She Who Stokes the Flame: the second of the Inner Gods, who guides the Ezu people

Purdanism

  • Arshabeya: the goddess of darkness and good
  • Mithura: the goddess of light and evil

Sathism

  • Calling: the particular criterion Sathists believe is used to evaluate each person's success in life

The Unspoken Word

  • Chapter master/-ess: leader of a chapter within a holy order
  • Church of the Guardian: The organised church following the Unspoken Word religion
  • Dominion: major ecclesiastical province
  • Grandmaster/-ess: leader of a holy order
  • Guardian Goddess: the god followed by the Unspoken Word religion
  • Holy order: a sort of organization within the Church of the Guardian which performs some specific charitable purpose
  • Principia (pl. principiae): leader of a dominion, the highest rank in the Church of the Unspoken Word

Za-Rin no specific terms