Orlandi ca'Cellibrecca [Orh-LAHN-dee Kah-sell-eh-BREK-ah] One of the a'teni, and the chief traditionalist among them

Marguerite ca'Ludovici [Marhg-u-REET Kah-loo-doh-VEE-kee] The current Kraljica of Nessantico

Justi ca'Mazzak [JUSS-tee Kah-MAH-zak] (nee ca'Ludovici) The A'Kralj (Heir Apparent) to the Kraljica, the only surviving child of Marguerite ca'Ludovici

Dhosti ca'Millac [DOST-ee Kah-MEE-lok] The Archigos of the Concénzia Faith; a dwarf

Sergei ca'Rudka [SARE-zhay Kah-ROOD-kah] The Kraljica's head of security

Allesandra ca'Vörl [Ahl-ah-SAHN-drah Kah-VOORL] First daughter of Jan ca'Vörl

Jan ca'Vörl [Yahn Kah-VOORL] (nee ca'Belgradin) Hïrzg (King) of Firenzcia

Karl ci'Vliomani [Karhl Kee-vlee-oh-MAHN-ee] A Numetodo sent from the Isle of Paeti to Nessantico

Ana cu'Seranta [AHN-ah Koo-sir-AHN-tah] Daughter of Abini and Tomas cu'Seranta

Mahri [MAH-ree] A beggar in Nessantico

Ludwig ca'Belgradin [LOOD-vigh Kah-bell-GRAH-deen] Jan's older brother; died of Southern Fever

Karin ca'Belgradin [KAH-reen Kah-bell-GRAH-deen] Jan's vatarh, the previous Hïrzg of Firenzcia; died of Southern Fever

Estraven ca'Cellibrecca [Ess-TRAY-vehn Kah-sell-ee-BREK-ah] (nee ca'Seurfoi) Husband of Francesca ca' Cellibrecca; u'téni of the Old Temple in Nessantico

Francesca ca'Cellibrecca [Frahn-SESS-ka Kah-sell-ee-BREK-ah] Justi ca'Mazzak's lover

Colin ca'Cille [CALL-inn Kah-KEEL] A'Téni of An Uaimth on the Isle of Paeti, an ally of Archigos Dhosti

Alain ca'Fountaine [ah-LAIN Kah-fhon-TANE] A'Téni of Belcanto, Sforzia; an ally of Archigos Dhosti

Marcus ca'Gerodi [MARH-kuss Kah-ger-OH-dee] A relative of the Kraljica imprisoned in the Bastida for a time

ca'Marvolli [Kah-mar-VOH-lee] A'Téni of the city of Prajnoli in Nessantico; an ally of A'Téni ca'Cellibrecca

Hannah ca'Mazzak [HAHN-ahh Kah-MAH-zak] Justi's deceased wife

Henri ca'Mazzak [OHN-ree Kah-MAH-zak] Son of Hannah and Justi; deceased

Marguerite ca'Mazzak [Marhg-u-REET Kah-MAH-zak] Daughter of Hannah and Justi; deceased

ca'Miccord [Kah-me-CORD] A'Téni of Kishkoros, an ally of A'Téni ca'Cellibrecca

Safina ca'Millac [Sah-FEE-nah Kah-MEE-lok] The Archigos' niece, and an acolyte in Ana's class

Elia ca'Montmorte [Kah-mohnt-MOHRT] A'Offizier and chevaritt who led the Nessantico troops at Ville Colhelm

Bella ca'Nephri [BELL-lah Kah-NEFF-free] A chevaritt and confidant of Justi; owner of the Chateau Pré a'Fleuve

ca'Seiffel [Kah-SIGH-fell] A'Téni of Karnmor; an ally of A'Téni ca'Cellibrecca

Joca ca'Sevini [ZHAK-ah Kah-she-VEEN-ee] A'Téni of Chivasso in Il Trebbio; an ally of Archigos Dhosti

Ahren ca'Staunton [AHH-Rhen Kah-STAHN-tun] Starkkapitän of the Firenzcian army

Greta ca'Vörl [GREH-tah Kah-VOORL] Wife of Jan ca'Vörl, Hïrzgin (Queen) of Firenzcia, great-grand niece of the Kraljica

Toma ca'Vörl [TOH-ma Kah-VOORL] Son of Jan and Greta. Two years older than Allesandra; deceased

ca'Xana [Kah-ZAHN-ah] The A'Téni of Malacki, an ally of A'Téni ca'Cellibrecca

Dhaspi ce'Coeni [DHAS-pee Keh-KOHN-ee] A Numetodo and would-be assassin

ce'Falla [Keh-FAH-lah] Sergei ca'Rudka's aide; an o'offizier

Mika ce'Gilan [MEE-kah Keh-GHEE-ahn] A Numetodo serving with Karl ci'Vliomani

Gilles ce'Guischard [Gheeel Keh-goo-SHARD] A person on Renard's staff within the palais

ce'Naddia [Keh-NAH-dee-ah] An e'offizier with the Garde Bastida

Remy ce'Nimoni [RAY-mee Keh-nee-MOHN-ee] Retainer of the Chateau Pré a'Fleuve

Aubri ce'Ulcai [AHH-bree Keh-UHL-kie] A guard in the Bastida

Georgi ci'Arndt [Jhor-JHEE Kee-ARHN-t] An o'offizier in the Firenzcian army; Allesandra's tutor in the art of war

Parta ci'Doulor [PHAR-tah Kee-DOHL-orh] Capitaine of the Bastida

Kenne ci'Fionta [KENN-ah Kee-fee-ON-tah] An o'teni on the Archigos' staff; the Archigos' personal secretary

ci'Narsa [Kee-NAR-sah] An o'téni who is the Hïrzgin's personal téni

Edouard ci'Recroix [EDD-ward Kee-reh-KROI] A famous artist

cu'Bachiga [Koo-bah-SHE-gah] U'Téni of Passe a'Fiume

cu'Baria [Koo-BAR-ree-ahh] An a'offizier of the Garde Civile

Carlo cu'Belli [KAR-loh Koo-BEHL-ee] An agent of a'Teni ca'Cellibrecca

Renard cu'Bellona [Rehn-ARD Koo-behl-OH-nah] The Kraljica's aide

Bertran cu'Dosteau [BUR-trawn Koo-dhos-TOE] The u'téni in charge of teaching acolytes to use the Ilmodo; Ana's mentor, and also the person who found Dhosti ca'Millac

Bahik cu'Garret [Bah-HEEK Koo-GAIR-et] Head of the Garde Civile in Passe a'Fiume

cu'Helfier [Koo-HELL-fear] An a'offizier of the Garde Civile

Semini cu'Kohnle [SEH-meen-eh Koo-KOHN-lee] U'Téni, the leader of the war-téni with the Hïrzg

cu'Linnett [Koo-Lihn-AA] An a'offizier in the Firenzcia army

cu'Malachi [Koo-Mah-LAH-kee] An a'offizier of the Garde Civile

cu'Meridi [Koo-Mah-REE-dee] A family friendly with the cu'Seranta family

Markell cu'Minpali [Mahr-KEHL Kee-min-PAHL-ee] Hïrzg ca'Vörl's aide and confidant

Bernado cu'Montague [Bur-NARH-doh Koo-Mon-TAHG] An a'offizier in the Garde Civile who once served under Sergei ca'Rudka

Mara cu'Paile [MAH-rah Koo-PAHL] Mistress of Jan ca'Vörl

Abini cu'Seranta [Ahh-BEE-nee Koo-sir-AHN-tah] Matarh (mother) of Ana cu'Seranta

Tomas cu'Seranta [TOH-mas Koo-sir-AHN-tah] (nee cu'Barith) Vatarh (father) of Ana cu'Seranta

cu'Simone [Koo-see-MOHN] An a'offizier of the Garde Civile

Ammon cu'Varisi [EH-monn Koo-vah-REE-see] Chevaritt and diplomat based in Prajnoli

Georgi cu'Vlanti [JOR-gi Koo-VHLAN-tee] An u'téni who is also a war-téni in Nessantico

Sunna Hathiga [SOON-ahh HAH-the-gah] One of Ana's servants in the temple complex, and Watha's matarh

Watha Hathiga [WAH-thah HAH-the-gah] One of Ana's servants in the temple complex, and Sunna's daughter.

Kaitlin Mallaghan [KAIT-linn MAHL-ahg-inn] Karl ci'Vliomani's betrothed

Naniaj [NAHN-ee-ahzj] Allesandra's maidservant/nursemaid

Beida [BEE-dah] One of Ana's servants in the temple complex

Cassie [KASS-ee] A servant in Francesca's household

Darkmavis [Dark-MAY-viss] A well-known composer

Falla [FAH-lah] A servant in Francesca's household

Jacques [Zhawk] A servant in Abini cu'Seranta's household

Sala [SAH-lah] A servant of the cu'Seranta family

Stenonis [STEH-no-niss] A Numetodo scientist who lives in Wolhusen, Graubundi

Tari [TAH-ree] A servant of the cu'Seranta family

Varina [Vah-REE-nah] A Numetodo acolyte

A'Sele [Ah-SEEL] The river that divides the city of Nessantico.

Archigos [ARR-chee-ghos] The leader of the Concénzia Faith; the plural is "Archigi."

Avi a'Parete [Ahh-VEE Ah-pah-REET] The wide boulevard that forms a circle within the city of Nessantico, and also serves as a focus for city events.

Axat [Ahh-SKIAT] The moon-god of Mahri's people.

Bashta [BARSH-tah] A one-piece blouse and pants, usually tied with a wide belt around the waist, and generally loose and flowing elsewhere. Bashtas are usually worn by males, though there are female versions, and can be either plain or extravagantly ornate, depending on the person's status and the situation.

Bastida a'Drago [Bahs-TEE-dah Ah-DRAH-goh] The "Fortress of the Dragon," an ancient tower that now serves as a state prison for Nessantico. Originally built by Kraljiki Selida II.

The "ca'-and-cu' " [Caw-and-Coo] The term for the high status families in the Holdings; the rich.

The "Calls" In the Concénzia Faith, there are Three Calls during the day for prayer. First Call is in the morning, when the sun has risen above the horizon the distance of a fist held at arm's length. Second Call is when the sun is at zenith. Third Call is when the sun is a fist's length above the horizon at sunset.

Cénzi [SEHN-zee] Main god of the Nessantico pantheon, and the patron of the Concénzia Faith. 

Chevaritt [Sheh-vah-REE]

Chevarittai [Sheh-vah-REE-tie] The "knights" of Nessantico—men of the ca' and cu' families. The title of "chevaritt" is bestowed by the Kraljiki or Kraljica, or by the appointed ruler of the various countries within the Holdings; in times of genuine war, the chevarittai (the plural form of the word) are called upon to prove their loyalty and courage. The chevarittai will follow (usually) the order of the Commandant of the Garde Civile, but not particularly those of the common offiziers of the Garde Civile. Their internal status is largely based on familial rank. In the past, occasional conflicts have been decided by honorable battle between chevarittai while the armies watched.

Coinage There are three primary coinages in use in Nessantico: the bronze "folia" in tenth (d'folia), half (se'folia), and full (folia) denominations; the silver "siqil" in half (se'siqil) and full denominations; the gold "sola" in half (se'sola) and full denominations. Twenty folias equal a se'siqil; fifty siqils (or two thousand folias) equal a se'sola. The daily wage for a simple laborer is generally around a folia; a competent craftsperson might command four or five folias a day or a se'siqil a week. The price (and size) of a loaf of common brown bread in Nessantico is fixed at a d'folia.

Colors Each of the various countries within the Holdings retained their colors and flags. Here are the basic banner structures:

Comté [KOM-tay] The head of a town or city, usually a ca' and a chevaritt.

Concénzia [Kon-SEHN-zee-ah] The primary theology within Nessantico, whose primary deity is Cénzi, though Cénzi is simply the chief god of a pantheon.

Concord A'Téni The gathering of all a'téni within Concénzia—a Concord A'Téni is called to elect a new Archigos or to make changes to the Divolonté.

Cornet A straight wind instrument made of wood or brass, and played like a trumpet.

Days of the Week The six days of the week in Nessantico are named after major deities in the Toustour. The week begins with Cénzidi (Cénzi's Day), and follows with Vuctadi, Mizzkdi, Gostidi, Draiordi, and Parladi.

Divolonté [Dee-voh-LOHN-tay] "God's Will"—the rules and regulations that make up the tenets followed by those of the Concénzia Faith.

Family Names Within Nessantico and most of the Holdings, the family names follow the female line. A man will (except in rare cases) upon marriage take his wife's family name, and all children (without exception) take the family name of the matarh. In the event of the death of a wife, the widower will usually retain his wife's family name until remarried.

Fjath [Phiy-AHTH] The title for the ruler of Sforzia.

Garda "Guard" or "soldier" (used interchangeably). The plural is Gardai.

Garde Brezno [GAR-duh BREHZ-noh] The city guard of Brezno in Firenzcia.

Garde Civile [GAR-duh Sih-VEEL] The army of the country of Nessantico. Not the largest force (that's the army of Firenzcia), but the Garde Civile directs all the armies of the Holdings in war situations.

Garde Kralji [GAR-duh KRAHL-jee] The city guard of Nessantico. Based in the Bastida, their insignia is a bronze dragon's skull. The common ranks are "gardai" (ranging from a prefix of e' to a'), the officers are "offizier" (also ranging from a prefix of e' to a'). The highest rank in the Garde Kralji is commandant.

Gardes a'Liste [GAR-dess Ah-LEEST] The bureaucratic organization responsible for maintaining the rolls of family names, and for assigning the official prefixes of rank to them.

Généra a'Pace [Jhen-AH-rah Ah-pah-SAY] "Creator of Peace"—the popular title for the Kraljica. For three decades under her rule, there were no major wars within the Holdings.

Grandes Horizontales [GRAHN-days Hor-eh-ZHON-tah-leh] The term for the high-class courtesans with ca' and cu' patrons.

Greaves Leg armor.

Gschnas [Guh-SHWAZ] The "False World" Ball—takes place every year in Nessantico.

Hauberk A short chain mail coat.

Hïrz [HAIRZG (almost two syllables)] The title for the ruler of Firenzcia. "Hïrzgin" is the feminine form, and "A'Hïrzg" is the term for either the female or male heir.

Ilmodo [Eel-MOH-doh] "The Way." The Ilmodo is a pervasive energy that can be shaped through the use of ritualized chants, perfected and codified by the Concénzia Faith. The Numetodo call the Ilmodo "Scáth Cumhacht." Other cultures that are aware of it will have their own name. Mahri's people call it "X'in Ka."

Instruttorei [Inn-struh-TORR-ay] Instructor.

Kraljica [Krahl-JEE-kah] Title most similar to "Empress." The masculine form is "Kraljiki" [Kralh-jee-kee]. To refer to a ruler non-gender-specifically, "Kralji" is generally used, which is also the plural.

Kusah [KOO-sah] The title for the ruler of Namarro.

Marque The document given to an acolyte who is to be taken into the Order of Téni and placed in the service of the Concénzia Faith

Matarh [MAH-tarr] "Mother."

Moitidi [Moy-TEE-dee] The "half-gods"—the demigods created by Cénzi, who in turn created all living things.

Montbataille [Mont-bah-TEEL] A city set on the long slopes of a mountain in the east of North Nessantico; also the site of a famous battle between Nessantico and the province of Firenzcia, and the only good pass through the mountains between the Rivers Clario and Loi.

Namarro [Nah-MARR-oh] The southernmost province of the Holdings of Nessantico.

Nessantico [Ness-ANN-tee-ko] The capital city of the Holdings, ruled by the Kraljica.

Note of Severance A document that releases an acolyte from his or her instruction toward being in the Order of Téni. Typically! 10% or less of acolytes complete their training and are accepted into the Order. The vast majority will receive a note.

Numetodo A sect that believes that the manipulation of magical energy in the world does not come from Cénzi or any god, but instead only requires a "formula" to manipulate. They explain the world in humanistic terms, and are considered both heretical and dangerous by the Concénzia Faith.

Offizier [OFF-ih-zeer] "Officer"—the various ranks of offizier follow the ranks of téni. In ascending order: e'offizier, o'offizier, u'offizier, a'offizier. Often, an offizier in one of the armies also is a chevaritt.

Passe a'Fiume [PASS-eh ah-fee-UHM] The city that sits on the main river crossing of the Clario in eastern Nessantico.

Pontica a'Brezi Nippoli [Phon-TEE-kah Ah-BREHZ-ee Nee-POHL-ee] One of the Four Bridges of Nessantico.

Pontica a'Brezi Veste [Phon-TEE-kah Ah-BREHZ-ee VESS-tee] One of the Four Bridges of Nessantico.

Pontica Kralji [Phon-TEE-kah KRAWL-jee] One of the Four Bridges of Nessantico.

Pontica Mordei [Phon-TEE-kah MHOR-dee] One of the Four Bridges of Nessantico.

Quibela [Qwee-BELL-ah] A city in the province of Namarro.

Sakal [Sah-KHAL] The sun god of Mahri's people.

Sapnut The fruit of the sapnut tree, from which a rich yellow dye is made.

Scarlet Pox A childhood illness, often deadly.

Scáth Cumhacht [Skawth Koo-MOCKED] The Numetodo term for the Ilmodo.

Second World In the Concénzia Faith, an invisible "world" that surrounds that of Nessantico, from which magical energy emanates.

Sesemora [Say-seh-MOHR-ah] A province in the northeast of the Holdings of Nessantico.

Southern Fever An affliction that kills a high percentage of those affected—the fever causes the brain to swell, bringing on dementia and/or coma, while

the lungs fill with liquid from the infection, causing pneumonia-like symptoms. Often, even if the victim recovers from the coughing, they are left brain-damaged.

Starkkapitän [Starkh-KAHP-ee-tahn] "High Captain"—the title for the commander of Firenzcian troops.

Strettosei [STRETT-oh-see] The ocean to the west of Nessantico.

T'Sha [Ti-SHAH] The ruler of Tennshah.

Ta'Mila [Tah-MEE-ah] The ruler of Il Trebbio.

Tashta [TAWSH-tah] A robelike garment in fashion in Nessantico.

Téni [TEHN-ee] "Priest." Those of the Concénzia who have been tested for their mastery of the Ilmodo, have taken their vows, and are in the service of the temple. The téni priesthood also uses a ranking similar to the Families of Nessantico. In ascending order, the ranks are e'Téni, o'Téni, u'Téni, and a'Téni.

Téte [teh-TAY] "Head"—a title for the leaders of an organization, such as the Guardians of the Faith.

Toustour [TOOS-toor] The "All-Tale"—the bible for the Concénzia Faith.

Turn of the glass An hour.

Utilino [Oo-teh-LEE-noh] A combination concierge and watchman who patrols a small area (no more than a block each) of the city. The utilino—who is also a téni of the Concénzia Faith—is there to run errands (for a fee) as well as to keep order, and is considered to be part of the Garde Kralji.

Vajica [Vah-JEE-kah] Title most similar to "Madam," used in polite address with adults who have no other title, or where the title is unknown. The masculine form is "Vajiki." The plurals are "Vajicai" and "Vajik."

Vambrace Armor protecting the lower arm.

Vatarh [VAH-ter] "Father."

Verzehen [Ver-ZAY-hehn] Foreign term for a telescope.

Ville Colhelm [VEE-ah KOHL-helm] A town on the border of Nessantico and Firenzcia, at the River Clario.

War-téni Téni whose skills in Ilmodo have been honed for warfare.

Zinke A wind instrument similar to a cornet, but curved rather than straight.

Falwin (I) [FAHL-win] Hïrzg Falwin of Firenzcia led a brief, unsuccessful revolt against Kraljiki Henri VI, which was quickly and brutally put down.

Henri VI [OHN-ree] First Kralji of the ca'Ludovici line, from whom Marguerite I was descended.

Kalima III [Kah-LEE-mah] Archigos from 215–243.

Levo ca'Niomi [LEHV-oh Kah-nee-OH-mee] Led a coup in 383 and was Kraljiki for three days. Forcibly removed, he would be imprisoned for almost two decades in the Bastida, and there would write poetry that would long survive his death.

Maria III Kraljica of Nessantico from 219–237.

Pellin I [PEH-Lihn] Archigos of the Faith from 114–122.

Selida II [Seh-LEE-dah] Kraljiki of Nessantico. Finished building the city walls and the Bastida a'Drago.

Sveria I [seh-VERH-ee-ah] Kraljiki of Nessantico 179–211. The Secession War occupied nearly all his reign. He finally brought Firenzcia fully into the Holdings

    Within Nessantico, lineage follows the matrilineal line. A husband might, in rare cases, retain his own family name (especially if it were considered higher in status than his wife's), but the wife can never take his name. In the vast majority of cases, however, the husband will legally take on his wife's family name, thus becoming a member of that family in the eyes of Nessantico law—the husband will continue to bear that name and be considered to be part of that family even upon the death of his spouse, unless and until he remarries and thus acquires his new wife's name. (Divorces and annulments are rare in Nessantico, requiring the signature of the Archigos, and each divorce is a special situation where the rules are sometimes fluid.) Children are, without exception, given the mother's family name: "One always is certain of the mother," as the saying goes in Nessantico.

    The prefix to a family name can change, depending on the relative status of the immediate family within Nessantico society. The prefixes, in order of rising status, are:

    One of the functionary roles of the Kralji was to sign the official family rolls every three years wherein the prefixes are recorded, though the Kraljiki or Kraljica rarely determined any changes personally; that was the role of the bureaucracy within Nessantico known as the Gardes a'Liste.

    Thus, it is possible that the husband or wife of the ci'Smith family might gain status in some manner and be awarded a new prefix by the Gardes a'Liste. Husband, wife, their children and any surviving mater nal parents thus become cu'Smith, but brothers, sisters, and any cousins would remain ci'Smith.

    Various countries within the Holdings, not surprisingly given the variance of customs, have various rules of succession within their societies. This is especially true when those countries are independently ruled. For instance, in East Magyaria, the closest male relative of the previous ruler who is also not a direct child of that ruler is named as the successor. However, with the ascension of Nessantico and the Holdings, those countries within Nessantico's influence tend to follow the lead of the Kralji.

    For the royal families of Nessantico, title succession is normally to the Kralji's children by birth order regardless of gender. However, it is possible for the Kralji to legally designate a favorite child as the heir and bypass earlier-born children, if the Kralji deems them unfit to rule or if for some reason they fall out of favor. This is an uncommon occurrence, though hardly rare throughout history. For the Kralji, it means that his or her children will tend to curry favor so as to remain in good graces or perhaps to unseat one of their brothers or sisters from being named the a'Kralj.

    Some people have the ability to sense the power that exists all around us: the invisible potent energy of the Second World that surrounds us. In the Nessantico-controlled regions of the world, usage of magic has always been linked to religious faith, all the way back into prehistory. The myth of Cénzi extends deep into the historical mist, and it is the followers of Cenzi who have always possessed the power to manipulate the 'Ilmodo' through chants and hand motions.

    The chanting that binds the power of the Ilmodo is the "Ilmodo language" that all acolyte téni are taught. The Ilmodo language actually has its linguistic roots in the speech of the Westlands, though neither those of the Concénzia Faith nor the Numetodo realized that for centuries. Those of the Westlands also take power from the Second World via the instrument of religion, though through a different god and mythology, and they have their own name for the Ilmodo: X'in Ka.

    The Numetodo have taken the most recent path to this power: not through faith at all, but essentially by making a "science" of magic. The cult of the Numetodo first arose in the late 400s, originally from the Isle of Paeti, and spread mostly west and south from there, sometimes react ing violently with the culture of Nessantico and the Concénzia Faith.

    However the power is gained, there is a necessary "payment" for spell use: using spells costs the wielder physically; the greater the effect, the higher the cost in exhaustion and weariness for the caster.

    Different paths have resulted in different abilities—for Concénzian téni, there is no 'storage' of spells—their spells take time to cast and once prepared, they must be cast or they are lost. However, the téni of the Faith have the advantage of being able to cast spells that linger for some time after the casting (see "The Lights of Nessantico" or "The Sun Throne of the Kralji"). Téni who cast spells quickly and effectively are unusual, and have in historical times been suspected of heresy.

    The Numetodo, in contrast, have found a way to cast their spells

several turns of the glass earlier (though such spells can't be stored indefinitely). Like all users of this power, they "pay" for it with exhaustion but hold the power with their minds to be released with a single gesture and word. Their spells are generally longer and more arduous to create (even more so than those of the téni), but do not require "faith"—as is required by both the path of Concénzia and the Westlanders. All they require is that the spellcaster follows a "formula." However, any variation from the formula, even small, will generally ruin the spell.

    The Westlanders, following what they call X'in Ka, must perform the chants and hand gestures much like the téni, but they can also "enchant" an object with a spell (something neither téni nor Numetodo can do), so that the object (e.g.: a walking stick) manipulated in a particular way (e.g.: striking someone) can release a spell (e.g.: a shocking jolt that renders the struck person unconscious).

    In all cases and whatever the path of the spellcaster, the spells of the Second World tend to be linked to elementals in our world: fire, earth, air, and water. Most spellcasters have an ability sharply stronger in one element and much weaker in the others. Rarely does a spellcaster have the ability to handle two or more elements with any skill; even more rare are those who can move easily between any of the elements.

The Ranks of Téni in the Concénzia Faith: The téni are ranked in the following order, from lowest to highest:

• Acolyte—those who are receiving instruction to become one of the téni—generally, the instructions requires tuition be paid to Concénzia by the students' families. The Concénzia Faith brings in both male and female students to become téni, though realistically

the classes tend to be largely male, and there are fewer women

than men represented in the higher ranks of the téni. (There have been only six female Archigi in the long history of the Faith.) During the acolyte period (typically three years), the students serve within the Faith, doing menial tasks for the téni, and also begin to learn the chants and mental discipline necessary for Ilmodo, the manipulation of the universe-energy. Typically, only 10% or less of the acolytes receive the Marque of the Téni. There are schools for acolytes in all the major cities of Nessantico, each presided over by the a'téni of the region.

• E'Téni—the lowest téni rank for those brought into the service of the Faith. The acolytes who receive their Marque are, with

exceedingly few exceptions, awarded this rank, which denotes that they have some small skill with the Ilmodo. At this point, they

are generally tasked with menial labor that requires the magic of Cénzi, such as lighting the city lamps, and expected to increase

their skill and demonstrate their continuing mastery of the Ilmodo.

• O'Téni—an e'téni will be awarded this rank, generally after one to five years of service, at which point they are either put in service of one of the Temples, administering to the needs of the community, or they are placed in charge of one of the téni-powered industries within the city. This is where most téni will end their careers. Only a select few will pass this rank to become u'téni.

• U'Téni—u'teni serve directly under the a'teni of the region. An u'téni is generally responsible for maintaining one of the temples of the city, and overseeing the activities of the o'téni attached to that temple.

• A'Téni—the highest rank within the Faith with the exception of that of Archigos. The a'téni each are in charge of a region cen

tered around one of the large cities of the Holdings. There, they generally wield enormous power and influence with the political leaders and over the citizenry. At times this can be a contentious relationship; most often, however, it is neutral or mutually beneficial. In the year of Kraljica Marguerite's Jubilee, there are twentythree a'téni in the Faith, an increase of three from the time she

ascended the throne. Generally, the larger and more influential the city where they are based, the more influence the a'téni has within the Faith.

• Archigos—the head of the Faith. This is not necessarily an elective office. Often, the Archigos designates his or her own successor

from among the a'téni or even potentially a favorite u'téni. However, in practice, there have been "coups" within Concénzia where either the Archigos died before naming a successor, or where the right of the successor to ascend to the position has been disputed, sometimes violently. When that happens, those a'téni who aspire to the seat of the Archigos are locked in a special room within the Archigos' Temple for the Concord A'Téni. What happens there is a matter of great speculation and debate. One will, however, emerge as Archigos.

    At the start of all things, there was only Vucta, the Great Night, the eyeless female essence who had always existed, wandering alone through the nothingness of the universe. Though Vucta could not see the stars, she could feel their heat, and when she was cold she would come to them and stay for a time. It was near one star that she found something she had never experienced before: a world—a place of rocks and water, and she stayed there for a time, wondering and dreaming as she walked in this strange place, touching everything to feel its shape and listening to the wind and the surf, feeling the rain and the snow and the touch of the clouds. She hoped that here, in this strange place near the star, there might be another like her, but there were no animals here yet, nor trees, nor anything living.

    As Vucta walked the world, wisps of her dream-thoughts gathered around her like a mist, coalescing and hardening and finally growing heavy from their sheer volume. The dream-thoughts began to shape themselves, a white shroud around Vucta that grew longer and more substantial as she walked, heavier and heavier with each step until the weightiest part of it drooped to the ground and snagged on a rock. Eyeless, Vucta could not see that. She continued her walking and her thinking, and her dream-thoughts poured from her, but now they lay solid where they had fallen, stretching and thinning as she strode away from where they were caught. Vucta, in truth was already growing tired of this place and her search, and she desired the heat of another sun, so she leaped away from the world and the shroud of her dream-thoughts snapped as she flew.

    Vucta's dream-thoughts lay there, all of them coalescing, and when the sun shone on the first day after Vucta's departure, there was a form like hers curled on the ground. On the second day, the sun's light made the dream-thoughts stir, and the form moved arms and legs, though it did not know itself. The dreamthoughts that were the yearning of Vucta gathered in its head, and from Vucta's desire to know the place where she walked, they made eyes in the face.

and it saw the world. "I am Cénzi," the creature said, "and this place is mine." And he rose then and began to walk about. . . .

That is the opening of the Toustour, the All-Tale. In time, as the creation tale continues, Cénzi would become lonely and he would create companions—the Moitidi—fashioning them from the breath of his body, which still contained Vucta's strong power. Those companions, in turn, would imitate their creator and fashion all the living creatures of the earth: plant and animal, including the humans. The Moitidi's own breaths were weak, and thus those they created were correspondingly more flawed. But it was Cénzi's breath and the weaker breaths of the Moitidi that permeated the atmosphere of the world and would become the Ilmodo, which humans through prayer, devotion to Cénzi, and intense study could learn to shape.

    But the relationship between Cénzi and his offspring would always be contentious, marred by strife and jealousy. Cénzi had given his creations laws that they were to follow, but in time, they began to change and ignore those laws, flaunting themselves over Cénzi. Cénzi would become angry with his creations for their attitudes, but they were unrepentant, and so they began to war openly against Cénzi. It was a long and brutal conflict, and few of the living creatures would survive it, for in that past there had been many types of creatures who could speak and think. Cénzi's throwing down of the Moitidi as they wrestled and fought would cause mountains to rise up and valleys to form, shaping the world which had until then been flat, with but one great ocean. The final blow that destroyed most of the Moitidi would fracture the very earth, tear apart the land, and create the deep rift into which the Strettosei would flow.

After that immense blow that shook the entire world, those few

Moitidi who remained fled and hid and cowered. Cénzi, though, was haunted by what had happened, and he wished to find Vucta and speak with her, whose dream-thoughts had made him. Only a single speaking and thinking species were left of all of Cénzi's grandchildren, and he made this promise to them, our own ancestors: that if they remained faithful to him, he would always listen to them and send his power back to them, and that one day, he would return here and be with them forever.

    With that promise, he left the world to wander the night between the stars.

    In the view of the Concénzia Faith, Cénzi is the only God worthy of worship (Vucta being considered by the Concénzian scholars to be more an all-pervading spirit rather than an entity), and it is His laws, given to the Moitidi, that the Faith has codified and now follows. The gods worshipped by other religions within and without the Holdings are those cowardly Moitidi who came out of hiding when Cénzi left and have deceived their followers into thinking they are true gods. The surviving Moitidi remain in mortal fear of Cénzi's return and flee whenever Cénzi's thoughts turn back to this world, as they do, reputedly, when the faithful pray strongly enough.

    The truth of this is shown in that the laws of humankind, wherever they may live and whomever they may claim to worship, have a similarity at the core—because they all derive from the original tenets of Cénzi.

    The Divolonté is a loose collection of rules and regulations by which the Concénzia Faith is governed, the majority of which derive from the Toustour. However, the Divolonté is secular in origin, created and added to by the various Archigi and a'téni through the centuries, while the Toustour is considered to be derived from Cénzi's own words. The Divolonté is also a dynamic document, undergoing slow, continual evolution through the auspices of the Archigos and the a'téni. Many of its precepts and commands are somewhat archaic, and are ignored or even flaunted by the current Faith. It is, however, the Divolonté that the conservative element within the Faith quotes when they look at the threat of other faiths, such as that of the Numetodo.