The Book of Rites: Afterword

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A List of Terms Which You May Wish to Know.

Page 161 - Afterword
As an Exile of the Downside, as Reader of this Book, and as Conductor of the Rites, you are engaged now in a cycle which has lasted since the dawn of this age.

Here, within this part of the Book, is offered summary of all key figures, locales, terms, and astral phenomena you shall encounter, either first-hand or in passing, on your path.

To know the history of the Downside and the Rites is to prepare yourself to walk the path toward Enlightenment, and then, to Liberty itself!

Should you be free again, remember: Reveal not the Rites themselves, nor the existence of this Book!

Page 163 - Rites Terms
Adversary: The opposing band of Exiles you stand against during the Rite.

Aura: One's solitary weapon in the Rites; one's inner strength made manifest.

Banishment: A fleeting sense of nothingness induced by contact with an opposing Aura.

Book: This very tome, or any of the precious copies which we together crafted.

Casting: The art of projecting one's Aura toward the adversary.

Enlightenment: Understanding gained after conducting a Rite.

Expulsion: A state of eternal banishment.

Glory: A measure of one's worth; affects the Pyre.

Hope: One's capacity to see the light in things; influences banishment.

Inspiration: Capacity to gain Enlightenment quickly; gained from witnessing the Rites.

Liberation Rite: The last Rite in a cycle, in which an Exile at last regains his or her freedom.

Mastery: A blessing bestowed on enlightened conductors of the Rites.

Orb, Celestial: A key object in the Rites. Exiles vie for it, and use it to prevail.

Presence: One's inner and outer strength combined; influences Aura.

Pyre: A key object in the Rites. Exiles vie to extinguish one another's flames.

Page 165 - Rites Terms, Cont.
Rites: A celestial cycle through which the worthy can regain their freedom.

Raiments: Flameproof masks and robes fashioned for the Rites.

Rank: A measure of a Rites conductor's experience in such matters.

Reader: One who can decipher text, or oversee a triumvirate in the Rites.

Rite: A ceremony through which worthy Exiles may re-gain their freedom.

Stamina: A measure of an Exile's physical exertion. It gradually recovers.

Sigil: A symbol representing each triumvirate, set where the Pyre shall burn.

Talisman: A trinket bestowing mystic power unto those who believe it can do so.

Triumvirate: A band of three Exiles, striving together to be free again.

Quickness: A measure of one's swiftness in the Rites.

Shimmer-Pool: A mystic means to return to freedom; only the worthy can enter.

* * *

Page 167 - Eight Scribes
Gol Golathanian: known as the Master-General, and the Nomad Scribe. He wields the legendary tower shield, Oathtaker.

Ha-ub the Swallow: known as the Accursed, and the Imp Scribe. He possesses the legendary Wings of Misfortune.

Jomuer Many-Mane: known the Alpha-Chief, and the Cur Scribe. He wields the legendary jawblade, Kneebender.

Lu Sclorian: known as Hundred-Minds, and the Sap Scribe. He wields the legendary staff, the Genealogy of Sclorian.

Molten Milithe: known as the Wild Witch, and the Crone Scribe. She wields the legendary lantern, Flame of the First Hag.

Soliam Murr: known as the Last of His Name, and the Demon Scribe. He possesses the legendary Black Nails of the Fallen Emperor.

Triesta Tithis: known as the Blessed-Born, and the Harp Scribe. She wields the Holy Scepter of the Sahrian Empire.

Underking Ores: known as the Sea-Sojourner, and the Wyrm Scribe. He wears the legendary bladed mail, Silverfish.

* * *

Page 169 - Triumvirates
The Accusers: triumvirate formed by the Nomad, Gol Golathanian. Founded on justice and loyalty. Sigil: Shattered Scale.

The Beyonders: eternally expelled; not a true triumvirate. Sigil: Forked Star.

The Chastity: triumvirate formed by the Sap, Lu Sclorian. Founded on integrity and modesty. Sigil: Bloomflower.

The Dissidents: triumvirate formed by the Imp, Ha-ub the Swallow. Founded on difference and conviction. Sigil: Leering Maw.

The Essence: triumvirate formed by the Harp, Saint Triesta Thithis. Founded on liberty and piety. Sigil: Empress Tear.

The Fate: triumvirate formed by the Cur, Jomuer Many-Mane. Founded on faith and honor. Sigil: Awakened Eye.

The Nightwings: triumvirate formed by all Eight Scribes. Adversary against whom all other triumvirates are judged. Sigil: Cresting Moon.

The Pyrehearts: triumvirate formed by the Wyrm, Underking Ores. Founded on courage and passion. Sigil: Burning Heart.

The Tempers: triumvirate formed by the Demon, Soliam Murr. Founded on strength and mercy. Sigil: Black Nails.

The Withdrawn: triumvirate formed by the Crone, Molten Milithe. Founded on truth and knowledge. Sigil: Far Mountain.

* * *

Page 171 - Denizens of Sahr
Curs: Swift, dog-like creatures known for their loyalty, optimism, and appreciation for the simple things.

Crones: Heavy-set serpentine creatures, known for their bluntness, stubbornness, and penchant for mysticism.

Demons: Former men and women who have withstood exile in the Downside long enough to be transformed by it.

Empire of Sahr, The: Our nation, which thrived for an entire age; now, it is on the brink of ruin, as we remain imprisoned here.

Harps: Winged creatures from whom men and women are perhaps descended.

Highwing, The: A militant faction of Harps that has resisted the Empire's generosity with vicious force.

Imps: Ravenous creatures indigenous to the Downside; some possess a higher intellect.

Nomads: Men and women who venture to the Downside from the Empire.

Saps: Clever tree-like creatures, known for their ingenuity and ambition.

Sea-Dominion: The vast and war-torn undersea nation of the Underking.

Beyonders: Killers trained from birth to carry out their missions.

Wyrms: intelligent amphibians of the Sea-Dominion, known for their chivalry and determination.

Page 173 - Downside Regions
Black Basin: A land of black glass, searing vapor, and strangling forests. Single largest region in the Downside.

Deathless Tempest: A storm which perpetually rages in the Sea of Solis. Exiles of the Sea-Dominion claim responsibility.

Downside Prairie: One of the Downside's only verdant regions, although tempest-swept, and, overall, unlivable.

Flagging Hands: A gloom-filled, generally foul, and desolate region of the Downside, beyond which lies the sea.

Jomuer Valley: A sprawling, sand-swept fossil wasteland towards the south.

Mount Alodiel: The sacred mountain on whose summit the Rites were first ordained.

Sea of Solis: An impossible oceanic expanse pock-marked by crude little islets.

Sclorian Shore: A frozen oasis tucked between the chaos of Wakingwood and the sacred Mount Alodiel.

Southern Sandfolds: The southern edge of the Downside; an unlivable waste.

Wyrm Gulf: The tempestuous Sea of Solis lies beyond this stagnating body of water.

* * *

Page 175 - Celestial Landmarks
The Cairn of Ha’ub: Located in Jomuer Valley. Here, the Accursed Imp here felled the bone-titan, Shax Six Shoulders.

The Fall of Soliam: Located in Mount Alodiel. Here, the Eight Scribes gathered, and ordained the Rites; only from this point may worthy Exiles regain their freedom, at the base of the inverted fall.

The Glade of Lu: Located in Black Basin. Here, old Hundred-Minds himself vanquished the root-titan, Limbless Arizech.

The Hulk of Ores: Located in Sea of Solis. Here, the Underking felled the sea-titan, Unfathomed Plurnes, upon the carcass of the doomed exploring vessel Dazraban.

The Isle of Khaylmer: Located in Deathless Tempest. Here, fled the traitor Khaylmer Rope-Caller, and was vanquished by the imp-titan, The Tattered Mantle.

The Nest of Triesta: Located in Black Basin. Here, the Blessed-Born vanquished the nightmare-titan, Xilvias Horse-Headed.

The Pit of Milithe: Located in Flagging Hands. Here, the Wild Witch sealed the physical form of the Astral-Born.

The Ridge of Gol: Located in Downside Prairie. Here, the Master-General vanquished the serpent-titan, Lord Gandroth.

The Spring of Jomuer: Located in Jomuer Valley. Here, the Alpha-Chief vanquished the dreaded hive-titan, Bialanthius.

* * *

Page 177 - Greater Titans
Bialanthius: The hive-titan, vanquished by the Scribe Jomuer Many-Mane.

Dolnis the Locket: The ash-titan, routed by the Eight Scribes in Black Basin.

Endriga the Widow: The blood-titan, vanquished by the Scribe Underking Ores and the Sea-Dominion.

Limbless Arizech: The root-titan, vanquished by the Scribe Lu Sclorian.

Lord Gandroth: The serpent titan, vanquished by the Scribe Gol Golathanian.

Sung-Gries: The world-titan, slain by the Eight Scribes atop Mount Alodiel.

Shax Six Shoulders: The bone-titan, slain by the Scribe Ha-ub the Swallow.

The Tattered Mantle: The imp-titan, slain by the traitor Khaylmer Rope-Caller.

Time-Singer Harn: The sky-titan, routed by the Eight Scribes in Flagging Hands.

Unfathomed Plurnes: The sea-titan, vanquished by the Scribe Underking Ores.

Xilvias Horse-Headed: The nightmare-titan, vanquished by the Scribe Saint Triesta Tithis.

Y*****, Astral-Born: The star-titan, sealed away by the Scribe Molten Milithe.

* * *

Page 179 - Olden Stars
Aqueth: The star of the Song-Fisher. Those born under it are well-cultured and influential.

Arcae: The star of the Sand Runner. Those born under it are adventurous and outgoing.

Capriast: The star of the Moon Stag Hunter. Those born under it are ambitious though also discontented.

Casius: The star of the Seventh Jester. Those born under it are complicated.

Lenoriel: The star of the Silver Spear: Those born under it are devoted and faithful.

Librect: The star of the Black Saddle. Those born under it are skilled negotiators.

Geminian: The star of the the First Empress. Those born under it seek knowledge and new experiences.

Piscer: The star of the Wooded Watcher. Those born under it are mysterious and the alluring.

Sagithol: The star of the Whistling Prince. Those born under it possess a natural exuberance.

Scorpus: The star of the Old Cutter. Those born under it are wiser than most.

Torvand: The star of the Great Oarsman. Those born under it are cool, calm, and collected.

Virdan: The star of the Broken Bowyer. Those born under it are steadfast or narrow-minded.