Glossary for Stories

Glossary:

Abstinence of Seasons – (colloq. ‘Seasoning’) Men Only: a 30 day ritualized abstinence from all forms of sexual contact, including masturbation, in addition to imbibing a concoction of blessed herbs. Purported to leech the body of demonic energy and to increase fertility and potency, its frequency is dependent on the amount of contact between the individual and Mamono, but is usually undertaken at least once a year by the pious on religious grounds.

Abbey of Blessed Innocence – The communal nurseries where babies are born and raised by the Clergy until they reach the age of ten, when they are returned to their fathers in the case of boys, pledged to the Cadethood of the Faith Militant in the case of male orphans, or begin their training for roles in the Magisterium or the Clergy, in the case of girls. By tradition, children are not told who their biological parent is, and are encouraged to call all women in the abbey “Mother”.

Astaropolis – the Capital of The Heavens

Baptism of Anima – (Colloq. ‘Having Annie over’ or ‘Speaking with Annie’) Women Only: A quarterly inspection of their menses by a wielder of the Benedictus. Women who have close contact with Mamono or who show traces of demonic energy during their inspection are required to imbibe a similar concoction to Men in order to purge the body of this taint.

Benedictus – A limited ‘Magical’ ability granted to Paladins and lower Clergy by a Triumvirate of High Priestesses (Ostensibly by the Authority of The God). Focused entirely around combat abilities and the detection and countering of demonic energy.

Brides of Tyris – The Highest order amongst the Clergy. Purportedly the mouthpieces of The God, they remain cloistered within the Sanctum Sanctorum of the Cathedral Solar.

Bulls - Male non-Incubus Mamono. These are extremely rare, only a tiny percentage of births amongst Mamono result in a Bull. Slow-witted and prone to violent and aggressive behavior towards outsiders, they are cloistered by necessity well away from civilization. The rate of pregnancy for Mamono who mate with a bull is hundreds of times greater than with a human, so regardless of their attitudes, Mamono who seek progeny of their own become more and more willing to cleave to a Bull's harem.

Cathedral Solar – the Highest Temple of Tyrisian worship, allegedly contains a gateway to The Heavens

Chancel of The Sun – Regional outposts of the Church, contain waygates.

Council of Matriarchs – An appointed Council of the most powerful Mamono still on earth. The Lilim preside by tradition, but this is not mandatory.

Demon Stone – Crystallized demonic energy, highly prized by Mamono for a variety of reasons, occurs naturally only in The Hells.

Faith Militant – Operating as standing army, police force, and martial arm of the Church and Magistorum, the Faith Militant is the only authorised armed force of humanity. Regional keeps and holdings may appoint unofficial citizen militias as need dictates, but these will be conscripted and absorbed into the Faith Militant should they deem their presence necessary.

High Priestess – Any Priestess awakened to Resonance is immediately granted this title, regardless of her rank upon awakening.

Holy Mother Church (colloq.) – The One Holy Church of Eternal Tyris. All Clergy, from the lowest Acolyte to the Brides of Tyris are female, which gave rise to the colloquialism.

Humanity – The native Sapient inhabitants of earth.

Magisterium – the Governing and Bureaucratic hub of humanity. All major powers in the world vie to have at least a representative on its council.

Maou – The Demon Lord, Sovereign and Supreme Authority over all Mamono. She is represented by the Council of Matriarchs.

Mamono – “Monster Girls”. The current incarnation of Demons, Beasts, Monsters and Magical Creatures due to the current Demon Lord’s influence.

Nulls - Asexual, non-motile Mamono which posses the physical aspects of their individual subspecies, but no inherent abilities. Due to their inability to absorb spirit energy, most Nulls do not live longer than about 35 years. The likelihood of a null birth is higher in a Human-Mamono pairing, but that likelihood decreases as the energic feedback loop of demonic and spirit energy between the couples is strengthened.

Pandemonium – The Capital of The Hells

Pax Deus – (abbr. Pax) The Peace of Gods, the truce between Humanity and Mamono and the law by which all interaction between them is governed.

Paladin –In terms of temporal authority, this is the highest rank a man may attain within the Church. Usually sons of Noble houses who have been pledged to the Faith Militant, though any man may attain the position through demonstration of ability.

Resonant – Any Human awakened to the ‘Logos of Resonance’, a series of words, symbols, runes and glyphs which have the ability to bend reality to the wielder’s will. Resonants maintain that this power is not their own, but exists ‘Without and Apart’ from them.

Resonance Matrix – A relatively sizeable crystalline structure of no fixed shape, recognizable by its unique energy signature, used to ‘awaken’ humans to Resonant ability. Discovered seemingly at random throughout the earth, these are jealously sought out and hoarded by the Ministorum.

Rite of Continuance – State mandated and administered copulation between humans for the purposes of eugenic procreation. Compulsory for all when ordered between the ages 16 and 40.

Tyris – The God, Sovereign and Sole recognised Deity of Humanity. Represented by the Brides of Tyris.

Waygates – controlled ripples in reality, maintained by highly skilled resonants, allowing instantaneous travel between them. Restricted for the sole use of the clergy and the Faith Militant by decree of the Pax.