All That Glitters - Notes

Laduq-SaqCombat tournament, similar to the medieval mealy tournaments of ancient Terra. A combat that younger adults enter into in order to increase in status and experience. It is literally a combat free-for-all where all participants battle for themselves.

Losing a tournament will not cost a young warrior anything. Winning one will gain status for a young warrior. The larger the number of wins a warrior can claim, the greater and faster their status will grow.

LinA level of significance among the Tech Class. It would be like a senior level doctorate in the Union.

Ma-AldaThe name of one of the ancient great stations in geosynchronous orbit of the new home world. Actually an ancient generational ship, it has been in continuous use since before the destruction of the original Piscium Home World. Now unable to move, it is being used as an orbital station. First seen in chapter 27.Man-JayLiterally 'Great Ship'. The large, multi-generational vessels used for interstellar travel by the people of both Piscium Societies. These ships are many kilometers in size and can hold up to 50,000 personnel. The also hold up to thirty vessels slightly larger than a Fairling Class Frigate, that they use as transport between the great vessels and planets, or against targets when they are at war in a space environment.

Mae(Female), member of the Merchant and Trades Services Class. They wear a Ge-Den in red-green colours.

MandThe basic unit of distance, equivalent to 1.125 meters the distance of the average pace of their society.

Mander100 x mand or 112.5 meters. As a unit, the mander is not used very frequently except for agricultural measurements, i.e. the size of a field that is less than a mindel in length.

Marat-ZamiThe Great Destroyer, the name given by the people of the original Piscium planet of the gas giant that wandered into its orbital plane, destroying the planet. The people held a lottery and one in ten million were saved, from two different factions of the people. These two different factions settled two nearby habitable planets with the admonition that they not interfere with each other. They became what is now known to Terrans as the Piscium A (Pod-Drran) and B Societies. First seen in chapter twenty-seven.

MartiLoosely translated it means 'Mother', however, there is no direct translation. The closest direct translation would be "Senior Bred Female". It is a term of affection provided only to the senior female of a House and only after she has produced a brood. There is no term for 'Mother' in the Pod-Drran culture which does not value the kind of family that human's do. Their 'family' is the greater family of the House.

Mindel1,000 x mand, or 10 mander, equivalent to 1.125 km.

Mon(Male), member of the Merchants and Trades Services Class. They wear a Ge-Den in red-green colours.

MurTheir version of a minute. It equates to one sixteenth longer than a standard Terran minute (1.0625 min). There are 20 Mur in their Nanton.

Na-Maj Se-lam RaieThe Empress of the Pod-Drran, mated to Se-Lam Roe. The dominant partner of the empirical couple, however, she is currently imposed with a young brood and indisposed to working directly from the thrown, thus allowing the Emperor to run the Empire unassisted by her.

Nal-Hut Sin-DaeMinisterial level member of the Medical Class, female and member of the Emperor's initial negotiation team. First seen in chapter twenty-eight.

Nam-Hur RoSenior Warrior, male, and member of the Emperor's initial negotiation team. First seen in chapter twenty-eight.

NantonTheir version of an hour, which is approximately 21.25 standard Terran minutes in duration. There are thirty Nanton in their planetary rotation (day), making their day equal to 26.56 Terran standard hours.

Rai(Female), female member of the Piscium A Society Warrior Class. The Warrior Class wear Ga-Den in the colours of green-gold and carry a sword reminiscent of the old Terran Great Swords, though not quite as long, at their left hip in place of the Pol-Mar. The females tend to be slightly taller and heavier than the males and are much fiercer fighters, however, their biological imperative means that they devote all to their brood (children) once the brood arrives, thus depriving themselves of all aspects of society for five years until the children leave home and go to school. Because of this, females cannot hold office alone as they would invariably abandon the office as soon as the brood arrives. The Females will often whelp four offspring at a time, but five or six is not uncommon. The females have four breasts, so the offspring of a large brood will be competing with each other right from the start unless a female is of high enough status to be able to keep a wet nurse.

The adjective Rai was applied to all levels of Piscium A Society warriors including the Kirlen, those who had been defeated in ritual combat or battle and who now served their conquerors, as all females can breed. Thus a defeated Sha-Het Rai, would be known as Sha Rai, though sometimes as Sha Kirlen Rai. Breeding normally is the prerogative of the senior Rai in a household, she can give the option to other Rai within the household, including (though very rarely) Kirlen, usually while she is tending a brood.

Ro(Male), a male member of the Piscium A Society Warrior Class. The Warrior Class wear Ga-Den in the colours of green-gold and carry a sword reminiscent of the old Terran Great Swords, though not quite as long, at their left hip in place of the Pol-Mar.

The adjective Ro is applied to all levels of Piscium A Society warriors except for Kirlen, those who had been defeated in ritual combat or in battle, and now serve their conquerors. The Kirlen will retain their given names but not their house names as they now belong to a new house as servants and their former house will reject them for their failure in ritual combat, thus a defeated Gad-Het Ro will be known simply as Gad or sometimes as Gad Kirlen.

PattaThe Pod-Drran term for 'father'. It does not translate well from their language, where the meaning is more like 'sire of the brood'. However, it is often used as a term of endearment by family members of an indulgent male.

PindarA pet often given to the young of the Piscium A Society. It is similar to a rather fluffy Terran rabbit and is non-aggressive. They make perfect first pets for children.

Pod-DrranThe name of the people of the Piscium A Society. It means 'the strong ones'. They are a warlike race with 25% of the people being members of the Warrior Class, the elite of society. There are several other classes in their society, each with the distinctive colours for the Ga-Den, the dress of the people.

Their bluish-green blood is cooper based rather than iron based which gives their skin a green-gold hue.

The Pod-Drran are tall, being from 1.8m to 2.2m in height on average. The females tend to be slightly larger than and much fiercer warriors than the males. The females biological imperative, however, is on the brood (children) and they will fiercely defend the brood until they reach the age of independence and enter school, around five of their years.

Females have four breasts and will normally have between three and four smallish infants, however, up to six is not uncommon. The children grow fast and are able to walk and run by age one, though they are still rather frail.

They are bipedal and have two arms similar in make-up to humans. They have hollow hair, similar to quills though it is much thinner, which reflects as white in strong light. They also have longer canines than humans, though those canines are not tusk like and remain hidden in the mouth. An open mouth display of canines is considered a threat move; thus the people tend to smile with closed mouths.

Pol-MarDevice of service, usually a flat pouch at the left hip that holds the basic equipment that is required by the user. The Pol-Mar is usually made of leather and has the seal of the service of the bearer and often the bearer's name. Positions within a service can be determined by looking at the seal on the Pol-Mar (distinctions between doctor and nurse, different classes of techs, etc.). Members of the Warrior Class do not carry a Pol-Mar, they wear a sword reminiscent of the ancient Great Swords of Terra in its place which they call a Kaldar.

SaiA level of status given to a member of the Pod-Drran Society who stood against the foes of the Empress in actual combat, killing said foes and in so doing protecting the Empress, or her family. In the current society, there is only one Sai, Sha-Ret Sai-Rai. Kur-Han Kai-Ro is hoping to achieve the title of Kur-Han Sai-Ro when he cleanses the home star of the latest infestation.

SanTerm for a Nurse, written within the name of a person and their class i.e. Sha-Het San-Dae, meaning Sha of the house of Het is a nurse and female member of the Medical Class.

Se-Lam RoeEmperor of the Piscium A Society. First Identified in chapter eighteen.

Sem-Hur Min-ConMale member of the Public Service Class, ministerial level administrator and a member of the Emperor's initial negotiation team. First seen in chapter twenty-eight.

Shae-Mun Min-CaeFemale member of the Public Service Class, ministerial level administrator and a member of the Emperor's initial negotiation team. First seen in chapter twenty-eight.

Shan-Ret Lin-TaeFemale member of the Technological Class, the term Lin indicating that she is a senior member of the class. A Ministerial Level Tae and member of the Emperor's initial negotiating team. First seen in chapter twenty-eight.

Shar-TergLiterally renaming of oneself. A form of asylum where the person requesting asylum gives up their family name and formerly takes the name of the family from which they are requesting asylum thus becoming a member of the protecting family. Originally intended for use by the Warrior Class, it has been used by many other Classes of workers but very seldom by the Warrior Class.

ShemAlternately used to mean 'follower' or 'the way' as in the proper way to live and follow the rules of their society. Also used for the name of the Emperor's Fleet (ot Shem) indicating servitude to the emperor to all who are part of the fleet.

SirshRoughly translates as 'Title' and refers to the name of the Class of an individual. The Sirsh of the Warrior Class is Rai or Ro dependant on male or female. When a Kisory becomes a young adult, they are presented their Sirsh, Ga-Den of the colours of their trade, and their Pol-Mar. A member of the Warrior Class will be presented their Kaldar in place of a Pol-Mar.

When a Kisory, a Pod-Drran teen, completes their studies, they are presented with their Sirsh. If a Pod-Drran becomes Kirlen, they lose their status within their Class and thus lose their Sirsh.

Kirlen is the only Sirsh that can be traded (given to another individual or house/family) without the consent of the individual. Thus control of a Kirlen can be moved from individual to individual and even between families at the whim of the title holder of the Kirlen. Kirlen is not considered a Sirsh and is not referred to as anything but Kirlen.

SinTerm for a Doctor, written within the name of a person and their class i.e. Sha-Het Sin-Dae, meaning Sha of the house of Het is a doctor and female member of the Medical Class.

Speaker, TheA position of extreme power. A Ro surrenders his/her name, house, and trade, to become a Speaker. From that time forward, the Speaker has no status. He/she is above and apart from all; he/she speaks for all but in particular for those who do not have a voice. Their principal role is to arbitrate between disputes, particularly in ritual combat. Their secondary role is to remind those in power of the consequences of their actions. Due to this secondary role, the person of a Speaker is inviolate, no person may harm a Speaker, not even the Empress or Emperor. Doing so would bring the wrath of the entire Pod-Drran Empire down on those who injure or kill a Speaker.

A Speaker is the embodiment of history and knowledge for the Pod-Drran Society. They are recognized by the Staff of Office they carry and the silver-bordered green-gold coloured Ga-Den they wear. They also wear a Pol-Mar with the seal of the speaker on it (the staff of office with three short, perpendicular branches near the top that hold rings that make a sound with the staff is struck on a surface, notification that a Speaker is formally speaking).

The staff is used to denote the status of a Speaker. The more senior a Speaker, the more branches at the top of their Staff of Office. New Speakers will have one cross branch, the more experienced Speakers will have up to three. Each branch will have rings of different metal that make a distinctive sound when the base of the staff is struck against the ground.

When a Speaker strikes the ground with their staff, all must cease their activities and listen to the speaker's pronouncements. They have the attention of all until they strike the ground a second time, ending the pronouncements. In the same way, a Speaker will adjudicate ritual combat, striking the ground once to start the combat and a second time to end the combat. In the ritual combat, a Speaker's word is law. The pronouncement of a Speaker can end the forward advancement of a Rai/Ro and turn them instantly into Kirlen.

Sun-Hur Sin-DonMember of the Medical Class, ministerial level male and a member of the Emperor's initial negotiation team. First seen in chapter twenty-eight.Tae(Female), member of the Technological Class. The Tech Class wear Ga-Den in the colours of yellow-blue.

Ton(Male), member of the Technological Class. The Tech Class wear Ga-Den in the colours of yellow-blue.

Tun-Mar Lom-MonMinisterial level member of the Merchant and Trades Services Class and a member of the Emperor's initial negotiation team. The Merchants and Trades Services Class wear Ga-Den in red-green colours. First seen in chapter twenty-eight.

Tur-Ron Lin-TonMinisterial level member of the Tech Class, male and member of the Emperor's initial negotiation team. First seen in chapter-twenty-eight.

Yudha-SeypecRitual Combat, also Trial by Combat. Ritual combat risks advancement against becoming Kirlen. Somewhat less than one sixteenth of society is Kirlen as many of the Warrior Class prefer to be killed in combat or die at their own hand rather than face the shame of becoming Kirlen. The majority of Kirlen are of the non-Warrior Class who were in the direct employment of the defeated Pod-Drran.

When a Warrior becomes Kirlen, they are required to present their sword to the one who has defeated them in a ritual presentation, thus cementing their status as Kirlen. The sword is the status of the Warrior Class, thus surrendering it is to surrender your status. The defeated will then have a Kirrass hung around their neck in a ritual ceremony.

Not all Ritual combats will result in death but those that do are referred to as Yudha-Seypec Kayl.

ZaeA female member of the Sanitation and Support Class whose duties it is to clean the common areas of the cities, to complete necessary sanitation support, such as working the water supply and cleaning wastewater. Their Ga-Den is yellow-black in colour.

ZonA male member of the Sanitation and Support Class whose duties it is to clean the common areas of the cities, to complete necessary sanitation support, such as working the water supply and cleaning wastewater. Their Ga-Den is yellow-black in colour.

- The Emperor's Fleet ShemOne of three fleet's in the Emperor's Gerlendie Guard Navy. The Fleet Shem consists of nine Man-Jay (great ships) and the Koh-Tan Se-Lam Roe ot Shem (flag ship), each of which carriers thirty combat ships, used to move warriors to attack their targets.

-- Koh-Tan Se-Lam Roe ot ShemEmperor's Flag Ship, command ship of the Shem Fleet. A great ship almost twice the size of the other great ships and holds 90,000 personnel. First seen in chapter eighteen.

Arl-Hal Sin-DaeA Pod-Drran doctor who assists Raymond with the Pod-Drran he brings into the House of Ur. She and her mate, Qan-Har Sin-Don, agree to accompany the former Kirlen to help in their recovery. First seen in chapter thirty.

Caye-Kirlen (Mae)One of the Kirlen that Raymond takes in Shar-Terg in combat from Kit-Zur Rai. A former member of the Merchants and Trades Services Class she suffers unimaginably under the hand of Kit-Zur. First seen in chapter thirty.

Ged-Han MaeA female member of the merchant class who trades with Kim for the extra Bento Boxes she brings with her. Kim does fairly well on the trade.

Gend-Kirlen (Zae)One of the Kirlen that Raymond takes in Shar-Terg in combat from Kit-Zur Rai. A former Zae, who worked as a sanitation expert, she was used for the same purpose in Kit-Zur's house. She was ill-treated by the former head of the Zur house. First seen in chapter thirty.

Hend-Kirlen (San-Dan)One of the Kirlen Raymond wins from the combat with Kit-Zur Rai. Mated to Kayl-Kirlen (Sin-Dae). This Pod-Drran was once a nurse employed in the house of Kit-Zur's rival Tin. First seen in chapter thirty.

Jonin-Tar RaiCommander of the lead ship of the fleet, the Mahl-Tar ot Shem. First seen in chapter twenty-six.

--Mahl-Tar ot ShemThe lead ship of the Fleet Shem, Jonin-Tar Rai, commanding. First seen in chapter twenty-six.

Koh-TanLiterally translates as flag ship.

Kayl-Kirlen (Sin-Dae)One of the Kirlen that Raymond takes as Shar-Terg in his combat with Kit-Zur Rai. Mated to Hend-Kirlen (Don) and once a Sin-Dae (doctor) in their house until the house was defeated by Kit-Zur Rai, she treated them with utter contempt and tortured them.

Kord-Kirlen (Ro)One of the Kirlen that Raymond takes as Shar-Terg in his combat with Kit-Zur Rai. Mated to Tin-Kirlen (Rai) and once the senior Ro in their house until they were defeated by Kit-Zur Rai, she treated them with utter contempt and tortured them to the point of death. First seen in chapter thirty.

Kur-Han Kai-Ro, JurteCo-leader of the Emperor's Fleet, Shem. By the Emperor's on hand, Jurte and commander of all he surveys. Sent with the fleet Shem to deal with the new 'infestation' at The Home Star (Piscium system). First seen in chapter eighteen.

Lent-Kirlen (Ton)One of the Kirlen that Raymond takes in Shar-Terg in combat from Kit-Zur Rai. A former Ton and a favourite of Kit-Zur who used him for her pleasures. He originally wanted to reject Raymond's offer but was enticed by the fact that there was a single Tae (Mind-Ur) as the head of Raymond's Pod-Drran house. First seen in chapter thirty.

Ma-Ret RaiSenior member of the Warrior Class and commander of the Flag Ship of Fleet Shem. She takes the first communications from the Terran's. commanders wear a special Gorget (neck shield) which signifies their status as commander. First seen in chapter twenty-six.