The centuries-long spread of the Illumin Empire, along with its policy of forcing subject states to adopt the Illumin language, led to the spread of a common, unified speech. While some people retain particular jargons or phrases, most people across the continent can recognize and understand each others’ discourses.
Aswahi (as-wa-hee): The hot, steamy jungles of the equator; also, the tribal people who live in those jungles.
Bech (besh): Harsh, mountainous land claimed by the Bechans, a militant people.
Candlepenny: A small bronze coin, imprinted with a candle, used by the Illumin Empire. Simply “penny” for short. A candlepenny can buy a few days’ worth of food. Ten candlepennies equal one oildraught. In accounting, this is noted as 1 p.
Circadia (sir-kay-dee-uh): An archipelago of large mountainous islands with many small river valleys, inhabited by a philosophical and worldly people.
Culberon (cul-bur-on): A land of damp heath and rolling hills, claimed by scattered barbarian clans.
Elf: A nonhuman elder race, largely gone from the world, known for magic, wisdom, and grace.
Guilder: A nickel coin with a silver wash, imprinted with the symbol of the Verrakan trade guilds. Used almost exclusively by those guilds, thereby forcing other empires to adopt it as currency for important dealings. The guilder and the draught have roughly equivalent values.
Grimjaws: Tusked, ugly, and primitive creatures from another plane.
Ha’penny: A half-penny, an unofficial denomination observed mostly through barter. A ha’penny can purchase a simple meal (maybe two). Rarely actually used; in some cities, people will literally snap a candlepenny in two to make a pair of ha’pennies.
Ikhten (eek-ten): Desert land of nomads, villages, and tombs.
Illumin (il-yu-min): The Illumin Empire, or its remnants; once the greatest empire of the world, now a shadow of its former self.
Ma’nakhtuf: The Necromancer King known as the Stealer of Dreams. Defeated in AN 409 at the Battle of Heiratis by a coalition between the Ikhten Tribal Alliance and allies from neighboring nations.
Oildraught: A silver-washed coin of the Illumin Empire, of middling value. Simply “draught” for short. A skilled common laborer can earn an oildraught in a month. Ten draughts equal one solarum. In accounting, this is noted as 1 d.
Sauren: Colloquially, lizardfolk; a nonhuman species of reptilian humanoids, known for their insular natures and territoriality.
Scrip: A heavy piece of stamped paper backed by the Verrakan whitesmith’s guild. Because the paper is a note for exchange of currency to the bearer, and stamped, signed, and issued by the guild, it is generally accepted currency, although the further one travels from Verrakis, the less likely it is to be accepted. Scrip comes in many denominations.
Solarum: A gold-washed bronze coin, imprinted with a starburst, used by the Illumin Empire. In accounting, this is noted as 1 s.
Troll: A nonhuman species of hulking carnivores (and sometimes cannibals) that thrive in swamps and mountains, known for great strength and rocklike skin.
Tugha: A land of fierce, nomadic horsemen situated between the nations of the west and Xiao in the far east.
Verrakis (vur-ah-kis): Free city of; a trade port and home to the (notably corrupt) trade guilds. Destroyed in AN 411 by an onslaught of Grimjaws.
