Glossary and Map
Regarding the calendar used by the Anvarai:
The common calendar used across Anvara was devised by the Sacred Twins following the reforms that ended the War of the Temples. Before this time, every region, and even individual cities and clans had their own system of reckoning when it came to the passage of time, which in turn was a cause of confusion and an obstacle to religious unity among the Anvarai. The solution was a new system that marked as its starting point the first Ovalia. It was a marked improvement over what came before, though fifty years passed before the new calendar gained widespread acceptance.
The common calendar divides the year in thirteen months, of which ten are thirty days long and three are twenty days long. These in turn are divided into ten day weeks, marked at the end by three days known as the Pevalia, which are reserved for worship of the gods and remembrance of the feranmiai. The Spring Equinox marks the beginning of each year, which is three hundred and sixty days in length, with an extra day added every four years.
The months of the calendar are as follows:
Elesirka (30 days)
Navekani (20 days)
Selaed (30 days)
Devalan (20 days)
Grevakun (30 days)
Gamaita (30 days)
Ilterva (20 days)
Kurnaman (30 days)
Ainarera (30 days)
Pavsinna (30 days)
Sevemata (30 days)
Vetaian (30 days)
Skovaian (30 days)
Age of the Mountain - In Anvarai mythology, the first age of the universe, named after the great mountain Tainara. Here the progenitor deities Alavret and Elavret arose from the primordial chaos to create the world and the feranmiai, before being betrayed by Karvik. From the blood of their death - the first murder - mingling with the common earth were born the first fathers and mothers of the human race. The death of Alavret and Elavret - the first murders - brought an end to the age. The violence of their end brought evil into what had been perfection, resulting in a Fallen World where death, sickness and evil afflict the living.
Anvar - legendary ancestor of the Anvarai. Fleeing the destruction of his homeland, Feduvalin, he and his hundred companions built the first ship that ever existed and after many adventures were brought by the gods to a new land, formerly ruled by the lineage of Havilnar. Here they encountered the monster Enkalavig, who waged war on the inhabitants, killing all who stood in his way, until only a hundred and one maidens remained, barricaded in a sacred grove. joining Anvar and his comrades, they make a sacrifice to the gods, and are told that Enkalavig is invulnerable on land, but loses this protection once he is in the ocean. Boarding the ship, the men and women alike taunt Enkalavig until, maddened with rage, he follows them into the ocean, where he drowns.
Anvar and his companions took the maidens as wives, and from them are descended the Anvarai.
avret (pl. avretiai) - signifies a person or family with a generally accepted claim of descent from a feran, and thus is entitled to add ‘avret’ before his or her family name. Families with this distinction comprise the aristocracy in cities and clans across Anvara, though their actual power varies depending on local custom, laws and traditions.
beir mokar - see ‘Mountain Sleepers.’
chevac - armor of leather or pressed linen, used by those unable to afford a voron made of kova
Children of Heaven and Earth - a poetic name for the Anvarai, being followers of Tomon (Heaven) and Earth (Naerta.)
daev - the spear wielded by sanvenai. It is usually 7 - 9 feet long, with a iron leaf-shaped head and a spike at the other used, used to brace it against the ground when needed, or as a secondary weapon if the main shaft is snapped.
donsurai (pl. donsuriai) - personage of noble rank in a clan (see ‘sura’).
elai - renown, the quality most revered by the Anvarai. Best understand as ‘the accomplishment of important deeds, which bring glory to the individual, and benefit to the community.’ In renown, a man may live forever.
feran (pl. feranmiai) - in Anvarai religion, a race of divine beings, below the gods but above mortals. Created by the Progenitor Deities during the Age of the Mountain, they are now spirits of wind, earth and wave, of nature in its bounty and cruelty, the embodiment of inspiration and fount of ideas, the patrons of cities and clans, the ancestors of noble avret families. Libations of water, milk or honey are offered to them in remembrance of their renown, and to ask for their favor and help. But they are never offered sacrifice, for that belongs to the gods alone. Mortals of exceptional renown can ascend to their number when their lives in this fallen world have ended; such individuals are often the patrons of cities and clans.
The feranmiai can be divided into two groups; those who sided with Tomon and Naerta in the Dawn War that ended the Age of the Mountain, and those who sided with Karvik the Betrayer. These, the dark feran, are bringer of misfortune, demons of sickness and deceit, bound with their master in the Abyss in torment until the Final Day.
geruka (pl.gerukiai) - the standard formation of Anvarai warriors in battle, in which spear-armed sanvenai will line up in ranks in close order, locking shields together, with the first few ranks beyond the first projecting their spears over the shoulders of those in front. The shield wall of the geruka was fearsome in both attack and defense, as long as it maintained its formation.
The word can also refer more generally to the armies bodies of men available for use in war by a community (for example, the citizen militias maintained by Anvarai cities.)
gotisam (pl. gotisamiai) - a foreigner or stranger who is not an Anvarai. Can also mean outlander, savage, or barbarian. In most Anvarai communities, they are denied the rights of citizenship and forbidden from attending services at the local temple. They are, however, tolerated because they perform tasks or work in professions that are otherwise forbidden (for example, the lending of money at interest.)
het - hail, greetings, hello. Used in formal occasions when addressing a person of rank or station.
hivoga (pl. hivogiai) -a foreigner or stranger of Anvarai origin, an Anvarai who is not a citizen or clan member of the community he is in. Though customs differ from one place to another, hivogiai have no claim on the rights of mereniai (citizens) and may face other restrictions as well.
hokoi - We kill. Part of the Anvarai battle cry. Hokoi! An Hokoi! We kill! may we kill!
itaeri (pl. itaeriai)
Karvik - The Great Betrayer, the Father of Lies, the Foul One, the Cause of all that is Evil. The eldest of the feranmiai, his jealousy and desire for power led him to murder Alavret and Elavret, ending the Age of the Mountain and bringing evil into the world. For his crimes he is bound in the Abyss with chains of fire along with the feranmiai who followed him, and the souls of those mortals whose crimes in life merit eternal damnation. There they will remain until the Final Day, when the Abyss will finally open, its denizens released to fight in a final great battle, where All That Is Evil will be finally destroyed, and restoring creation to its original, perfected state.
Kavril - The hegemon of Evrenna and greatest city in the south of Anvara. Founded by the sage Anlirov, who is honored to this day as its patron feran.
kerem - literal meaning ‘accounting.’ Originally referred to the written memorials dedicated in temples to the dead by their relatives, so their deeds and renown would be remembered (the reading of these memorials forms an important part of the rituals on the third day of each Pevalia.) Now is a general term for any work of history or recollection.
Kier - hegemon of Conretea and the greatest city in the north. Generally agreed by all to be the strangest place in Anvara. Its society is completely militarized, with family life forbidden except for the Kings, and men and women alike serving in companies, their children raised in communal creches. They dominate the region of Conretea, and hold many of its inhabitants in bondage, and are reckoned to be the best fighters in Anvara. Ruled by three Kings who share power between them.
kova - Plates of pressed leather and steel, sewn together and coated in lacquer, used as a component in Anvarai armor.
Kilevka (pl. Kilevkiai) - Literal meaning, ‘descended from Kilev,’ an ancient warrior whose skin was turned to stone, making him unkillable, but also very slow. "Stonebacks." Also, the name given to a conservative faction in Kavril in the years before the war with the Orzarai.
Kuravala - the sacrifice of the Bull of Kura. This is a sacred ritual, only done in times of great need, when a sacred bull descended from a legendary beast of the Odevala is sacrificed. A rare occurrence, most people will only see it once in a lifetime, if they are lucky.
manai (pl. manaiai) - a specific position among Anvarai cities and clans, held by a woman, signified by a purple sash worn over her sirab. Her person is considered sacrosanct, whose primary role is to settle quarrels and disputes with a community, as well as act as a sacred emissary in times of war. She will also have additional responsibilities, though these vary from place to place. To harm or insult a manai is considered a great crime by all Anvarai, sure to bring the wrath of Heaven and Earth alike.
meren (pl. mereniai) - a citizen of a pelvota (city-state) with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities this entails. Actual requirements can differ from one city and region to another, but in most places the status of a meren is restricted to those whose father was also a citizen, though in some places the status can also be passed down from the mother, while in others, (such as Kier) the restrictions are stringent, requiring both a mother and a father of meren status for at three generations.
The privileges of a meren are great; he can own land and pass it down to his heirs, can call upon the aid and support of the community in times of hardship, should such help be available, and has the right to vote in citizen councils and assemblies, though most cities restrict actual candidacy for positions to avret families.
A status of citizen also has requirements, chief among them the obligation for all to serve in the militia in defense of the city. Most cities require service for a set number of seasons during peace or on a campaign during time of war before men are fully reckoned as citizens; for women, their status as a citizen is confirmed upon the birth of their first child. This can make citizen assemblies noisy affairs, as young mothers will arrive with squalling infants as proof of their right to be there in the company of their fellow citizens.
mevik - cider that has been left outside to freeze during the winter, with the ice then skimmed away, resulting in a more potent drink. A favorite among highland clans.
Mountain Sleepers (beir mokar) - a dissident order of worshippers of Tomon. Their origins lie with religious scholars and believers who rejected the reforms to Anvarai religion by the Sacred Twins and were thus cast out as heretics. Since then they and the temples have made their peace, but they still maintain their separateness and independence.
The Mountain Sleepers are mystics who seek enlightenment as embodied by the Spear of Heaven. What this actual entails is subject to debate among the Mountain Sleepers, who hold that this sacred truth will manifest in different ways according to the individual. They believe that such wisdom can only be found by adherence to a strict moral code, seeking and overcoming challenges and accomplishing acts of renown, usually in the wilderness, though some will venture into settled lands as needed. Thus they have a varied reputation - some view them as heroes who single handedly defeat bandits and wild beasts troubling the poor, others as troublemakers who involve themselves in quarrels not their own.
The group as a whole has no leader, though certain members have greater prestige than others. Though they spend much of their time wandering, their primary home is a valley in the Kalyava Mountains. Here new recruits are trained, older members retire and others return from time to time to rest and recuperate. All Mountain Sleepers are bound by sacred oath to defend the valley should it come under attack.
Orza - a land of the Utter East, located on a plateau hard by the Pillars of Heaven. The horse-riding Orzariu tribes were first united under Zarthekiut, who led them in a righteous war against the last God King of Arbira, destroying the city and bringing an end to its cruel and bloody tyranny. One hundred and twenty six years later, a descendant of Zarthekiut named Darietelekh received a vision from the Virtues in the form of a sacred goshawk, commanding him to reunify the Orzariu and bring order to a world beset by chaos. He was the first Red King, and founded a dynasty that would go on to conquer the greatest Empire the world has ever seen. Todaym the Orzariu rule all lands between the Pillars of Heaven and the sea.
Ovalia - a great religious festival held every three years in the Arvanis, marked by athletic and artistic competitions, with renown gained by the winners and glory to their cities and clans. All Anvarai may send delegations to attend, and during this time a sacred truce is imposed, where no violence is permitted, the breaking of which is reckoned to be a crime not just against men, but against the gods.
Naerta - The Lady of Life, the Great Goddess of the Earth. She is the wife of Tomon, and one of the two gods to which the Anvarai give honor, sacrifice and obeisance. Farmers pray to her for bountiful harvests, women for healthy children, hunters for fields and forests full of game. All that comes from the green earth is hers, and thus the first fruits of every harvest are offered to her. She is depicted variously as a woman of matronly beauty, an old midwife, a young woman glowing with fertility, or an ancient tree whose roots are deep in the earth. Her priestesses are known as Naertani (pl. Naertaniai).
obod - the word for coins or currency among the Anvarai, with distinctions made based on the metal and place of origin (for example, a silver obod of Kavril, or a copper obod of Kavikam.)
pelvota - A city state in Anvara. Includes both the main city or hegemon, the surrounding countryside, and any subordinate or associated communities.
pori - 'son of.’
potisan - headman, leader of a village.
The Red King - The ruler of the Orzarai and chosen of the Virtues. The name derives from an incident in mythology, where Darietelekh was slashed on the forehead by the sacred goshawk as a mark of the Vistures favor, his blood staining his formerly pure white garments. Though he has many other titles (Lord of the Seven Directions, Favored of the Virtues, King of the World, King in Orza, etc) in person he is only ever addressed as ‘Red King’ as anything else ould be superfluous.
sanvenai - Anvarai heavy infantry, derived from the sanveta, the large round shield they carry.
servari - leader of a city’s army during time of war.
Spear of Heaven - images of Tomon show him wielding the Spear of Heaven, a mighty weapon which he used to defeat Karvik the Accursed in the Dawn War. It is also an alternative title for the god, who is often represented by the image of a spear.
Among others, such as the Mountain Sleepers, the Spear of Heaven is seen as the embodiment of enlightenment, knowledge or divine wisdom. ‘To seek the Spear,’ is to seek such things, and the renown that comes with them.
sura - clans, the other major form of state organization in Anvara (also used as a term for individuals who are part of a clan.)
Sura are generally found in mountainous or forested areas, away from those regions dominated by city-states, and consist of related families and kin groups that all claim descent from and profess loyalty to a patron feran who is usually considered its founder. They are led by chieftains known as serkars, who are elected from the clan’s nobility (donsura, pl. donsuriai), who rules from an acknowledged central stronghold. The territory of the clan, in turn, is divided between its various noble lineages, with the common sura holding small plots in long-term tenancies, in return for provided men to fight for the clan in time of war. Thus, despite their lack of wealth, clans are able tie field substantial armies of skilled warriors when called upon.
The divide between city and clan is one of the deepest in Anvara, with city dwellers viewing suriai as uncouth savages and clansmen viewing pelvotiai as effete snobs.
Tomon - The Divine Lord, Master of Sky, Wind and Sun, the Spear of Heaven. Husbands of Naerta and half of the sacred dyad worshiped by Anvarai. Warriors pray to him for success in battle, sailors for gods winds and protection from storms. He is the lord of the sky and the father of wisdom who teaches men to seek renown. He is depicted as an old man wearing a hooded cloak, a young warrior bright with renown, an old blacksmith who imparts wisdom, or a glowing divine spear. His priests are known as Tomonai (pl.Tomoniai).
Voron - Originally this referred t armor of overlapping kova plates, bound together with cords, along with the helmet and greaves, now a generic term for a suit of armor worn by a sanvenai
veri - ‘daughter of.’ Used only among women in the Long Coast.
The Virtues - The five chief gods of the Orzarai, who embody the qualities of Mercy, Truth, Courage, Wisdom and Hope. Though they have names, these are never spoken aloud save by the Arkitanu, and then only during the most sacred of rites (such as the enthronement of a new Red King.) Most simply worship them as the Virtuous Ones, alongside many other lesser gods and spirits.