GLOSSARY OF TERMS
- Abbot/Abbess – a Prelate of the Sacellum. The most senior Servant of Alanor located at the Priory of Alanor.
- Adept – a female Servant of Alanor, found at most Sacellum sites located throughout the Northern Kingdom. More senior than a Novice.
- Adjutor – a Prelate of the Sacellum. One of the Prelature. Reports to a Procentor.
- Alanor – The chosen prophet of the God, Vestus founder of the Sacellum.
- Anchorite – a penitent. One who has chosen to suffer for the transgressions committed during their life. Typically, they are housed within a tiny cell in the undercroft of a Sacellum and live out their days there as a penance for those same transgressions. (See also Penitent)
- Apta – The head of the Royal College, based in Lunnarch. Most senior of all the Ashuri and Leechmen. Sits on the Privy Council of Lords and advises the King. Typically chosen for their Political savvy.
- Armsman/Armsmen – Soldiers of the Kingdom. Warriors, swordsmen, scouts and bowmen, these men have the duty of defending the Northern Kingdom from outside invaders. (See also Trooper.)
- Ashuri - a discipline of the Royal College. Ashuri are worldly men who study politics and mysteries, and sometimes act as advisers to the Nobility. Some have the ability to cast cantraps, devoting a lifetime to learning their craft. These latter are quite rare, however. Most Ashuri tend to choose a path of learning and follow that for their entire life. Many never leave the Royal College, choosing to study there permanently.
- Aspirant - a male Servant of Alanor, found at most Sacellum sites located throughout the Northern Kingdom. More senior than a Postulant.
- Bear, The - The chosen prophet of the God, Pomunus.
- Cankour, The - a rare and deadly disease that eats away the flesh of humans. Also known as the Red Cankour due to the coloured pustules the develop on the victim’s skin
- Cantrap – an incantation, that allows its caster to direct a form of energy, whether for destruction or healing. Typically cast by Ashuri or Gifted Ones of the Sacellum. An exceedingly rare ability.
- Cardinus - a Prelate, one of the Prelature, a senior Servant of Alanor, an officer of the Sacellum. Reports to the High Curate.
- Cerebite – a separate sect within the Sacellum. Highly devoted order of men who take a vow of silence for life in supplication to Alanor. (See also Silent Brothers)
- Chamberlain – the King’s personal aide and advisor. A manager of his chambers. Similar in nature to the High Curate’s personal Seneschal.
- Chancel - a place to offer benedictions and supplications to Alanor. A shrine or altar to Alanor where people can make votive offerings. Typically found within a small village or town. (See also Sacrarium, Chancel, Sanctum/Sanctus Inner)
- Chantry - a place to offer benedictions and supplications to Alanor. A shrine or altar to Alanor where people can make votive offerings. Typically found within a tiny village or Croft. (See also Sacrarium, Chantry, Sanctum/Sanctus Inner)
- Clerics of the Skull – the followers of Feredin, Prophet of Mortus the God. Also known as Death Dancers, they are robed in black and offer sacrifices to Feredin and his powerful artefacts; the twelve Skulls. Using the Skulls, they have the power to return the dead to life.
- Crofter – a simple farmer. A worker of a croft.
- Curate - The senior most of all Prelates in the Sacellum. A shortening of the full title, High Curate. Afforded the honorific, Eminence. The ranking Servant of Alanor. (See also Provost, High Curate.)
- Deacon - a Prelate, one of the Prelature, a senior Servant of Alanor, an officer of the Sacellum. Reports to an Adjutor.
- Dwyndolin – one of the creations of the God, Vestus. Fey creatures with advanced skills in cantraps and the creation of powerful artefacts. They have hidden themselves away from man and when travelling among mankind, will usually take the form of simple animals.
- Eminence – the honorific bestowed upon the High Curate, the ranking Servant of Alanor in the Sacellum.
- Feredin - The chosen prophet of the God, Mortus. Founder of the Clerics of the Skull and creator of the twelve Skull artefacts.
- Fey - having supernatural powers of clairvoyance.
- Gift, The – a rare ability to cast cantraps that heal and protect. At first bestowed by Alanor on his followers, later some few were born with the ability.
- Gifted One – one who has received the Gift, and ability to cast cantraps that heal and protect. At first this was bestowed by Alanor, and later some few were born to it. Now it’s an extremely rare ability.
- Greenskins/Groblek – a ferocious creature, known as Groblek, which inhabits caves, typically in the wastes north of the Kingdom. They stand at no more than three feet, are cunning and savage. They have been known to eat human flesh, and that of their own kind. The have green skin and blood, hence the nomenclature, Greenskin.
- High Curate – The senior most of all Prelates in the Sacellum. The ranking Servant of Alanor. (See also Provost, Curate.)
- Hobelar – The most senior non-commissioned officer rank of the Armsmen. Can command up to twenty or so Troopers. An Under officer. Patrol Leader.
- Hospus – a place of healing, of treating wounds and illnesses, where traditional, more conservative healing practices take place rather than the more modern views used in leechcraft. Typically staffed with Servants of Alanor, rather than Leechmen. The latter view Hospus’ as an aberration. There is one in the Sacellum in Lunnarch. One also can be found in the Priory of Alanor.
- Leechman – a discipline of the Royal College. Leechmen study healing, and the use of herbs and cantraps to remove illness. Some act as advisers to the Nobility. There are no formal Leech-women as the College does not allow females to study within its walls. Any Leech-woman will typically have taught herself or learnt from another woman who has knowledge of the craft.
- Legate – a senior officer of the Armsmen. The ranking Armsmen, reporting directly to the Paravant.
- Librus – a place to store collections of books, tomes and scrolls. A store of history, or a place for study and learning.
- Millenar - The second most senior non-commissioned officer rank of the Armsmen. Reports to a Hobelar. Can command up to ten or so Troopers. An Under officer. Squad Leader.
- Mortus - one of the three Gods, with the power to bring death to all beings. An envious deity. His chosen Prophet was Feredin. (See also Vestus, Pomunus.)
- Novice – the junior most female rank within the Sacellum. Typically, the rank of the newly initiated or the least skilled in a craft and given the most laborious of tasks and duties.
- Paravant - The senior most officer of the Armsmen of the Northern Kingdom. Reports to the King.
- Pastor – one of the most junior ranks of a Prelate, one of the Prelature, a senior Servant of Alanor, an officer of the Sacellum. Reports to a Rector.
- Pelartus - an ancient Gifted One of the Sacellum. Long dead, but his spirit and consciousness live on in an amulet of Dwyndolin creation.
- Penitent – an Anchorite. One who has chosen to suffer for the transgressions committed during their life. Typically, they are housed within a tiny cell in the undercroft of a Sacellum and live out their days there as a penance for those same transgressions. (See also Anchorite)
- Pomunus – one of the three Gods and credited with the creation of all animals and plants. His chosen Prophet was The Bear.
- Postulant - the junior most male rank within the Sacellum. Typically, the rank of the newly initiated or the least skilled in a craft and given the most laborious of tasks and duties.
- Prelate – A senior Servant of Alanor, an officer of the Sacellum
- Prelature – The body of Prelates, the entire group of the Sacellum’s Prelates
- Prior/Prioress – the second most senior rank within the Priory. Reporting to the Abbot or Abbess, this person is typically responsible for the Scribes in the Librus, and the Adepts and Aspirants who labour within the Hospus.
- Priory, The – a massive old edifice, standing on Green Finger Point, first built to house the collected books, tomes and history of man. Staffed by the Sacellum of Alanor, it now houses the Kingdom’s largest Librus, as well as a renowned Hospus.
- Privy Council, The – the convocation of Lords and nobility of the Kingdom. Originally created to act as an advisory body for the King, it comprises the collected nobles as well as the heads of both the Sacellum and the Royal College.
- Procentor - a Prelate, one of the Prelature, a senior Servant of Alanor, an officer of the Sacellum. Reports to the High Curate.
- Proctor – The senior most of the Armsmen of the Sacellum. Typically selected for their skill with weapons, leadership and devotion to the Sacellum and its teachings. Reports to the High Curate.
- Prophet – The chosen followers of the Gods, Vestus, Pomunus and Mortus, after they departed. The three were chosen to continue the work of the Gods and to preach their wisdom to their respective followers. The Prophet of Vestus was Alanor. The Prophet of Pomunus was The Bear. The prophet of Mortus was Feredin.
- Provost – The less formal name given to the High Curate, the most senior of the Servants of Alanor. (See also High Curate, Curate)
- Reavers - the name given to the dead who have been raised and who serve the Clerics of the Skull.
- Rector – a Prelate, one of the Prelature, a senior Servant of Alanor, an officer of the Sacellum. Reports to a Procentor.
- Reverence - the honorific bestowed upon any of the Prelature who is not the High Curate.
- Royal College, The – the training establishment for both Ashuri and Leechmen. Ruled by the Apta, it is a university of sorts that explores the mysteries of man and the world.
- Sacellum - 1/. An entire entity of faith, a group of followers, comprising all Servants of Alanor and their respective buildings.
- Sacellum - 2/. The grand edifice of Alanor within a city or citadel, where supplications and benedictions to Alanor take place.
- Sacrarium – a place to offer benedictions and supplications to Alanor. A shrine or altar to Alanor where people can make votive offerings. Typically found within a grand Sacellum. (See also Chantry, Chancel, Sanctum/Sanctus Inner)
- Sanctuary - a place of worship for the Clerics of the Skull and the many followers of Feredin. Each was hidden and had one of the twelve Skulls placed within. Typically, a place for human sacrifice and also the raising of the dead.
- Sanctum/Sanctus, Inner – a holy shrine or chamber within a Sacellum, it houses an altar and is the specific place to offer benedictions and supplications to the Prophet, Alanor.
- Scribe – as person who writes or copies out information into books or tomes.
- Seneschal – the personal aide to the High Curate, the senior most of the Servants of Alanor. Typically chosen from more subordinate ranks, the Seneschal is selected for their administration skills, diligence and political adroitness. Reports to the High Curate alone.
- Servant of Alanor – the collective name given to any person who labours for the Sacellum, regardless of their rank or importance.
- Silent Brothers, The - a separate sect within the Sacellum. Highly devoted order of men who take a vow of silence for life in supplication to Alanor. (See also Cerebite)
- Skull – an artefact created by Feredin, Prophet of Mortus the God. Imbued with significant power, they require human sacrifice to unlock. Twelve were made from such things as Stone, Wood, Ivory, Amber and Jade. There are also rumours of a Diamond Skull and one made from Ebony. They were gifted to the followers of Feredin for their loyalty and service, and each was taken to a Sanctuary to further Feredin’s work. Long believed lost or even destroyed, a few have been found in recent times.
- Trooper - Soldiers of the Kingdom. Warriors, swordsmen, scouts and bowmen, these men have the duty of defending the Northern Kingdom from outside invaders. (See also Armsman.)
- Urud - a race of warlike beasts, standing at ten feet with matted fur and jutting tusks from lower jaws. Savage creatures who delight in feasting on flesh, be it man, Groblek or other Urud. They live in fortified villages far to the north.
- Vespars – a service of the Sacellum, held at midday.
- Vestus – one of three Gods is credited with the creation of life -mankind and the fey Dwyndolin. Vestus chose Alanor to be his Prophet when the Gods
- Vigilia – men of the watch. Typically, those who have failed selection for the Arms. Paid a pittance, they act the role of keepers of the peace in most villages, towns and cities.
Version: 20240320