ao Kenan Leoshine’s Guide to Myxolidia

Who lives beneath the Domes

People Groups

Myxolidian Mĭk-sō-lĭ-dē-ăn

Present-day dwellers and descendants of the first settlers under the Myxolidian Dome. Divided into two groups: Town dwellers and Oxikobh.

Oxikobh Ōk-sĕ-kōb

Myxolidian forest dwellers. They use primitive tools, live in compounds, hunt and gather with some small agriculture, and are at war with the town.

Town dwellers

Myxolidian town people, following the lead of Curtstas. They adhere more strictly to protocols and retain a greater memory of the technology and laws of the ancestors who established the Dome.

Aeolian Ăĕŏ-lĕāņ

Present-day dwellers and descendants of the first settlers under the Aeolian Dome. Progenitors of the Myxolidian Dome, now invaders on a mission to rescue it from collapse.

Woltreaders Ŵōľ-ţŗēďř Book 2

A community uniting town dwellers and Oxikobh under Wol’s leadership. Rebels against the Aeolian invasion.

Barrier Bandits Book 2

Outcasts of the Oxikobh living in the arid land between the forest and the edge of the Dome.

The people—and horses—of Leoshine

Characters

Leoshine Lēō-shēn or Ŀăŏ-šĥĕň

The youngest child of Curtstas. Mediary between the Aeolians and her own people of Myxolidia.

Avram Āv-rām

Also known as ao Kevath. Chosen leader of the Aeolian mission to regenerate the atmosphere of Myxolidia.

Resham Rĕsh-m

Valet to Avram. Also chief cultural advisor, bodyguard, priest, and physician. Taken from Myxolidia to Aeolia as a child and adopted by ao Kenan Iliana as a son and brother to Avram. Also known as Troxrac in Oxikobh.

Ao Kevad eye-oh Kĕ-văd

High King of Aeolia and Myxolidia. Instigator of the rescue mission.

Curtstas Kĕrt-stŭs

Leoshine’s father. Mayor of the only pre-Aeolian town under the Myxolidian Dome. He studied the Dome and invented a system to record its deterioration.

Mother

Leoshine’s mother, keeper of traditions. Wifeholder of Curtstas’ compound and expert spinner and weaver of linen.

Iliana Ĭl-ē-ăn-ă

Avram’s mother. Priestess, physician, and teacher. Daughter of a past Overlord of Aeolia. Widow of Avram the first.

Georg Ɣě-ørƔ

Leoshine’s oldest brother. Trained to lead. Brave, trustworthy, and dead.

Giffshine Ghĭff-shēn

Leoshine’s oldest sister. Deranged by several failed Rites of Womanhood. A rebel against the Aeolians.

Hillashine Hĭll-ă-shēn

Leoshine’s middle sister. Initiated through the Rite of Womanhood, she is pregnant at the beginning of this history.

Wol Wŏl

Leoshine’s nearest sibling in age. Leader of the Woltreaders. Intelligent, arrogant, and Mother’s favourite.

Gavin

Avram’s city general. Giant, gentle, and observant. His wife Heien and four children—Harlod, Patine, Issy, and Domanine—arrive with Iliana.

Uly Ūlē

Avram’s general and spokesman for the generals. Expert in transportation. Widower of Aluecia.

Dorim Dŏrĭm

Avram’s general and expert with energy forces. His wife, Crefar, refused to come to Myxolidia.

Kirim Kĭrĭm

Avram’s general and Dorim’s brother. They were abandoned to Iliana’s orphanages on Aeolia. He loves swimming and boating.

Lantro Lăn-trō

Avram’s general, quick with the sword. He grew up, studied, and trained as a soldier with Avram and the other generals.

Alan

Avram’s general. Tall and hawk-like. The most cynical and prejudiced of the generals.

Zolous Zŏ-lŏs

Gavin’s second-in-command.

Rasset Răs-sĕtt

The chief scientist responsible for the regeneration of the Dome. He dedicated his life to its study and maintenance even before the Aeolians landed.

Elego Ĕlĕ-gō Book 2

The Oxikobh wifeholder of a compound in General Alan’s province. She harbours Wol and his rebellion, and was Resham’s favourite mental sparring partner in childhood. Mother of Shua, Worest, and many others.

Shua Shoo-ă Book 2

Also known as Ent Willins. Oxikobh youth, Woltreader healed by Leoshine, servant of the Tassanara, and one-armed son of Elego.

Yebit Yāy-bĭt Book 2

Also known as Worest. Younger brother of Shua. Quieter and more suspicious than his brother, he assumes protective duties in Elego’s compound.

Paulos Păō-lŏs

Avram’s stallion. Imprinted on Avram and trained for war.

Gorphiline Gōr-fălēn

Leoshine’s servant before Avram arrives.

Byetoh Bī-tō Book 2

Giffshine’s failed Initiation partner.

Angkon Ăij-kŏñ Book 2

Hillashine’s successful Initiation partner. A Woltreader.

Son of Grithsitok Grĭth-sĭ-tŏk Book 2

Wol’s town-bred friend and second-in-command in his war camp. Son of one of Curtstas’ town councilors.

Chimerah Kē-mĕ-ră Book 2

Paulos’ sister, who remained in Aeolia. Known as a vicious, undiscriminating killer of her caretakers.

Mother Creehal Krē-hăll Book 2

One of the old women in Elego’s compound. She became a wifeholder when rain last fell from the Dome.

Mother Dergus Dĕr-gŭs Book 2

One of the old women who lives in Elego’s compound.

Sharnavart Shår-nă-vărt Book 2

The one who remembers. A mystic carrying the memories of his grandmother’s generation. He knows about the original Trickixim and the Tuss’ussrar—the Saviour Princess.

Places beneath the Dome

Geography

The Dome of Myxolidia

A generated atmosphere first established on a planetine by the Aeolians 1,000 years before Avram’s arrival. Her people suffered a tragic schism that led to the Dome’s neglect and deterioration.

Gavin’s Town

Once Curtstas’ Town, the only pre-Aeolian town under the Dome and the seat of government. Avram rebuilds its wooden structures with stone quarried while freeing the underground rivers.

Leoshine’s Family Compound

The home where Leoshine grew up. The women’s quarters are segregated from the men’s. Curtstas’ governing council chambers and the town’s only surviving well lie within its walls.

The Watch Tower

The town’s tallest building, used to scout for Oxikobh attackers and Leoshine’s favourite childhood escape.

The Bath House

Built by Curtstas when he returns from Aeolia. Only Leoshine takes up the new custom.

The Arena

Built by Alan shortly after the invasion. Used for Avram’s contests with his soldiers and generals.

The Cathedral

The Worship House where Iliana and Resham lead a ceremony to honour Ao Kevad. Home of the Crystal Altar. See Day of Worship.

Iliana’s Palace

Built by Avram to house his mother. A copy of her Aeolian home, with a chapel, a portrait of Ao Kevad, and a workshop for medicine and hospital equipment.

Gavin’s Palace

Built by Avram to house his city general and family.

TVH

Transport Vehicle Hangar. Storage for the only Aeolian transport under the Myxolidian Dome, with the pilot quarters.

Equine Pastures

Curtstas and his sons trained horses here and taught Leoshine to ride. Horses were a status symbol in his government.

The Orchards

Planted by Curtstas after his return from Aeolia, using wild stock from the forest that had been cultivated before the schism.

Dome Engines 1–4

Built by the original Trickixim to generate and sustain the atmosphere called the Dome. Self-sustaining for many generations.

Kaaiput Mountains Kī-ă-pöt

Mountains far from town where the Oxikobh try to mislead Aeolians.

Elego’s Compound

The Oxikobh compound where wifeholders and children gather to wait out the invasion.

Landing Site

Ancient touchdown site for Interdomiary Vessels, where the Aeolians continue to arrive in the Talon IDV.

Resham’s Workshop

Jail, prisoner-of-war camp, and torture chamber.

North Gorge

Far from town, where the Oxikobh try to mislead Aeolians.

Shua’s Waterfall

Where Shua encounters Avram after the Mercy Plea.

Wol’s Camp

Wol positions himself on a step in a cliff and waits with his Woltreaders for Avram’s attack.

Barrierlands

The outer perimeter of the Dome. Barren of vegetation but still within the atmosphere and able to sustain life. Populated by outcasts of Oxikobh society.

Tinamarrh Tēnă-mårh Book 2

The Dome mandated with the propagation and establishment of a human colony on Aeolia. Aeolia’s founding older sibling in the chain of Domes.

Iliatia Ĭlē-āshă Book 2

The second town in Myxolidia, established near the Interdomiary landing site. Named for ao Kenan Iliana.

Avramian-Myxolidia Ăv-rām-ē-ăn Mĭk-sō-lĭ-dē-ă Book 2

The era and geographic title of renewal and regeneration of the Dome—the period of ao Kevath Avram’s reign and rule.

Words, objects, and old stories

Dictionary

Military maneuvers

Bertrae Bair-trāy

A strategy for protecting the town. Four generals are posted to the points of the compass, Gavin remains in town, and the sixth general supports wherever needed.

Cortransa Cor-trăn-să

When two large bodies of soldiers meet outside town, this maneuver lets them mix without accident. Each leader swings their body around behind them, then converges on the other.

Phaev Gapoih Fāv Găpŏē Book 2

A giant black box converted from road making to energy-wave blasting. It unglues the pax phaevs holding membranes together and is used against the Woltreaders.

Medicine

L14

A hallucinogen found in the Myxolidian chackwood plant and refined to a purer form by the Aeolians.

M482

Muscle relaxant.

K12

Topical anesthetic.

Lightboots Book 2

Aeolian boots used in medical treatment. They use the same technology as the Dome to regenerate flesh and sterilize infection. See pax phaev.

Pax Phaev Păx Fāv Book 2

A binding molecule in mammalian nervous systems and the Dome’s atmosphere.

Neuclon Nēw-clŏn Book 2

The class of molecule to which pax phaevs belong.

Equipment

Teshaddar Tĕ-shĕ-ddahr

An electronic shield that secures Leoshine into her saddle.

Talon

Interdomiary Vessel that shuttles between Aeolia and Myxolidia.

Endearments

Aeolian

Tassanara Tă-ssă-nă-ră

Princess.

Obenici Ō-bĕn-ēssē

Oracle.

Ephitide Ĕff-ĭ-tyd

Treasure.

Whips-tarn Whĭsp-taarn

An Aeolian sprite—a character in a fairy tale.

Myxolidian

Epiphrondite Ĕp-ĭ-frŏnd-yte

Darling.

Sassnigor Săss-nĭ-gor

Someone who lags behind.

Tobera Tŏ-bear-ă

Diminutive slave.

Babim Bă-bim

Infant darling.

Snoriginund Snor-ĭ-ghĭ-nund

Sleepyhead.

Norfinoof Nor-fĭn-oof

Ninny.

Torpvehr Torp-fair

Beauty.

Kerickspee Kĕr-ĭk-spē Book 2

Brave one.

Dervic Pubiugh Dĕr-vĭk Pü-ĭgh Book 2

Gentle breeze.

Domestic titles

Wifeholder Book 2

The forest-dwelling Oxikobh live in pole-fenced enclosures. A man builds his primary wife a safe place to raise their children; a wife with more than four children is called a wifeholder.

Secondary Wife

A woman condemned as barren after failing to birth a live child following the Rite of Womanhood. Primary wives are required to share their men, but Oxikobh custom treats a secondary wife and any child she bears as cursed. The Dome’s depletion makes barrenness unpredictable and contributes to genetic mutations and unviable pregnancies.

Drevat Drē-văt Book 2

A very rare title used by a secondary wife’s children in place of “mother,” which is reserved for primary wives. Resham’s Myxolidian mother was a secondary wife.

Flora and fauna

Aeolian

Asced āth-sĕd

Plant species.

Pulimeit Pŭl-ĭ-mēt

Plant species.

Planetine Plă-nět-ēn

The perfect chunk of rock for building generated atmospheres.

Dophenus Skiralious Dŏff-ĭnŭs Skēr-ălēŭs Book 2

Called Skrallypike (Skră-lē-pīk) in Myxolidian. A squirrel-, ape-, and cat-like creature, very rare in the Myxolidian forest and hunted to near extinction.

Myxolidian

Chackwood Chăck-wüd

Twigs of a shrub that deliver small quantities of hallucinogen and are good for cleaning teeth. “To suck on chackwood” is to be part of the family.

Coeval Cō-ēvaal

A stream running past an Oxikobh compound. Rare and highly valued.

Gallalla Ghă-lă-ăh-lă

A tiny, fierce bird that hides its nest in hedges.

Insults

Codmockers Cŏd-mŏkk-ers

Aeolian insult.

Barskatrafing Squallywalker Bår-skătrā-fŋ Skwållē-wå-ker

Myxolidian insult.

Gol Monster Book 2

A term Wol invented for imaginary pig monsters with spears sticking from gaping wounds all over their bodies. Used by Oxikobh, especially Woltreaders, for ao Kevath Avram and the Aeolians.

Corsevagar Book 2

Lover; sexual predator.

Servants and slaves

Rachnorgat Raɣ-nor-găt

Victim of the Mercy Plea.

Rellogat Rěl-lŏ-găt

Household servant of Myxolidia.

Omaeulenen Ō-mæ-ü-lĕ-nĕn

Handmaid to Iliana. Plural: Omaeuli (Ō-mæ-ü-lē).

Household

Domelight

The light generated by the Dome for half of a calendar “day.” Used interchangeably with “daylight.”

Eqipgn Oil Ĕkwĭ-pĭdň Oil

Cooking oil.

Mother Cloth

Curtstas’ wife, Leoshine’s mother, was an exceptional weaver. All the family’s clothing was made from her cloth, as were blankets and sleeping linens.

Legend and myth

Alsabal ăl-să-băl Book 2

The Creators.

Aeok’n Ā-ō-kĭn

The Mother Dome.

Eaogk / Eogk’n Ē-ăō-gk-(n) Book 2

The Magic, or the Worm—the “gk” is a guttural sound in the back of the throat. In Myxolidian mythology, Eogk’n is Aeok’n’s enemy and slips under the Dome’s skin to make her sick.

Trickixim Trĭck-ē-ĭck-sēm Book 2

Initially, the Aeolian scientists who built the Myxolidian Dome. After the schism, the hunted remnant who knew how to maintain it. Wol revives their religion to bolster his power and rule.

Bethspall Bĕth-spaal Book 2

The first Trickixim of legend.

Grenlor Grĕn-lor Book 2

The second Trickixim of legend.

Dxsano’i Dksă-nō-ē Book 2

Derived from Oxikobh and pre-schism Myxolidian: the captive set free. Symbol of Myxolidian victory over oppressors; also the Sacrificial Princess or Princess Sacrifice.

Gol Gŏl Book 2

A pig-like monster with wooden stakes sewn through its skin, creating pus-filled wounds. Woltreaders use the name for Avram.

Sequeacght Sĕk-wē-Ɣt Book 2

An Oxikobh atoning ritual in which a victim is drowned in blood.

Tuss’ussrar Tŭß-őßrår Book 2

The Oxikobh conlang for Tassanara: the Saviour Princess prophesied by the Sharnavart.

Units of measurement

Rihg Reeg

Paces.

Lort Lort

Kilometers.

Titles of address

ao Kevath eye-oh Kĕ-văth

My lord.

ao Kenan eye-oh Kĕ-naan

My lady.

Tassanara Obenici Tă-ssă-nă-ră Ō-bĕn-ēssē

Princess Oracle.

Tassanara Eish Meih Noh Tă-ssă-nă-ră Āsh-Māy-Nōh Book 2

Princess who is pursued.

Customs beneath the Dome

Concepts, Rituals, and Protocols

Mercy Plea

When one Myxolidian wrongs another, they pay with their life unless they call “Mercy.” They then become a Rachnorgat—the lowest form of slave—and the wronged party becomes the Rachnorgain, or master.

Rite of Womanhood

Myxolidian Initiation for girls into childbearing. Her parents choose a man, and she must fall pregnant during the ritual and later birth a live child before joining him as a primary wife. Leoshine’s oldest sister, Giffshine, was given several Initiations before Curtstas returned from Aeolia and stopped the practice.

Day of Contest Book 2

Through the week, Avram holds combat, athletics, and strategy contests with regular soldiers. On the day before worship, his opponent is one of the generals while the soldiers watch and cheer.

Day of Worship

Aeolian and Myxolidian town dwellers gather in the Worship House to hear Iliana and Resham, or their replacements, sing the ceremony of dedication to Ao Kevad.