The glossary from The Sword of Kaigen for reader reference.
Abiria a country occupying the southern part of the continent of North Baxaria, a former Yammanka colony populated by the descendants of indigenous Abirians, Yammanka colonizers, and the Hadean laborers they brought with them.
adyn a person with no telekinetic abilities or enhanced strength (by Earth standards, a regular human being).
Appa an informal Kaigengua noun and term of address meaning ‘Dad’ or ‘Papa.’
Arashiki the ancestral castle of the Tsusano family in Ishihama, Shirojima, Kaigen, also called the ‘Stormfort.’
awa a Yammaninke word meaning ‘so,’ ‘well,’ ‘okay,’ ‘good,’ or ‘um.’
ano a Shirojima Dialect word meaning ‘that,’ ‘um,’ or ‘so.’
Ba or -ba a respectful Yammaninke suffix for an important person.
Baba the Sizwean word for ‘Father.’
Baxaria the two continents encompassing the former Yammanka colonies of Carytha and Abiria, and the former Sizwean colonies of Malusia and Zandile, meaning ‘New World’ in Yammaninke.
bloodline technique a fighting maneuver or trade secret (usually necessitating specific powers) that is passed down through a single family line and kept secret from outsiders.
Blood Needle a jijaka bloodline technique unique to the Tsusano family, wherein the practicioner takes control of a small amount of the blood inside their victim’s body and freezes it in the shape of needle, which is used to strike pressure points or pierce vital organs, called ‘Chihari’ in Shirojima Dialect.
Blood Puppeteer a jijaka powerful enough to control another person’s entire body by manipulating their blood, thought to exist only in legends and ghost stories.
bogolan a traditional type of Yammanka fabric associated with wealth, status, and professionalism.
bokken a blunt practice sword with the approximate weight and dimensions of a katana, usually made of wood.
bound a Dunian measure of distance (roughly equivalent to 26.4 feet or 7.74 meters).
Carytha a country occupying the northern part of the continent of North Baxaria, a former Yammanka colony populated by the descendants of various indigenous peoples, Yammanka colonizers, and Hadean slaves.
-chan an informal Shirojima Dialect suffix used to address a close female friend and/or a female person of lower status than the speaker.
click a Dunian measure of distance based on how far the sound of a clicked tongue can carry (roughly equivalent to 1.75 miles).
Daybreak Academy a theonite academy in Livingston, Carytha.
dinma (pl: dinmanu) a Dunian measure of time (roughly equivalent to 0.43 seconds).
Disa a country on the continent of Namindugu, a former Yammanka colony populated by the primarily tajaka descendants of native Disankalu and Yammanka colonizers.
Disanka (pl: Disankalu) a person from Disa; an adjective describing a person or thing originating from the nation of Disa or its culture.
Disaninke the main language spoken in the country of Disa.
dojo a training space in Shirojima fighting tradition.
Donkili a song performed by finawu to teach others about the history of the world and its relationship to the religion of Falleya.
-dono a deeply formal Shirojima Dialect suffix (used to address a member of a high koro family).
Duna a planet that closely resembles Earth in a dimension that parallels ours, also used more generally to refer to the realm of the present and the living.
jakama (pl. jakamanu) a Yammaninke word meaning ‘teacher,’ ‘mentor,’ or ‘master,’ a formal address used by an apprentice to address their mentor.
fankatigi (pl. fankatigiwu or fankatiwu)a sub-theonite with physical strength equal to or surpassing that of the average theonite.
Falleke the holy union of God, Kiye, and Goddess, Nyaare, in the Yammanka-originating religion of Falleya.
Falleka a practitioner of Falleya.
Falleya a Yammanka religion centered on the Falleke (the marriage between God, Kiye and Goddess, Nyaare) practiced throughout Duna.
fina (pl: finawu) a member of the fina kafo; a prefix for a member of the fina kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
Firebird the crime-fighting alter ego Robin Thundyil.
fonya a shortened form of fonyoya the ability to control air.
fonyaka a shortened form of fonyojaka (pl: fonyakalu) a theonite with the ability to control air.
genkan the entryway of a traditional Shirojima house, typically where one takes off or puts on shoes.
Geomijul a Kaigenese tech company specializing in info-com device technology.
guli a Kaigenese unit of currency (roughly equivalent to 50 American cents).
gbaati a shortened form of kewaati or kettewaati (pl: gbaatinu) a Yammanka measure of time (36 minutes in Earth time).
Hades the westernmost country on the continent of Namindugu, a former Yammanka colony, the original homeland of most of Duna’s adyns.
Haijing a coastal city in the modern Ranganese Union, a major military stronghold of the Kaigenese Empire prior to the Keleba, meaning ‘Sea Capital’ in Rangagua.
hakama a traditional type of loose pants worn by swordsmen, archers, and other martial artists in Shirojima, Kaigen.
haori a traditional long coat, worn by men of status in Shirojima, Kaigen.
Heibandao a coastal city in Holangoku, Kaigen.
Ishihama a town in Shirojima, Kaigen, ancestral home of the Tsusano family.
Jali a prefix for a member of the jaseli kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
Jaliden a diminutive address for a young member of the jaseli kafo.
Jalike a respectful address for a male member of the jaseli kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘Sir.’
Jamu Kurankite a global peace-keeping and humanitarian aid force of highly trained theonites based in Yamma, meaning literally the ‘Peace Army.’
Jamuttaana (pl: Jamuttaananu) an agent of the Jamu Kurankite.
jaseli (pl: jaseliwu) a member of the endogamous Yammanka social class that specializes in speech, music, and dance.
jijaka (pl: jijakalu) a theonite with the ability to control water.
jiya the ability to control water.
Jungsan the capital city of the Kaigenese Empire, meaning ‘Middle Mountain’ in Kaigengua.
Kaa- a Shirojima Dialect prefix used when addressing one’s mother (typically combined with –chan or the more formal –san).
kafo (pl. kafonu)an endogamous occupation-based social class.
kafoka (pl. kafokalu) a Yammaninke word used to refer to people of a kafo other than the koro kafo and/or individuals outside one’s own kafo.
Kaigen a country occupying the easternmost part of the continent of Namindugu, the center of the Kaigenese Empire, home to most of Duna’s jijakalu.
Kaigengua the primary language spoken in the country of Kaigen and the Kaigenese Empire.
kallaana a racial slur used to refer to white adyns, meaning ‘corpse’ in Yammaninke.
Kama a respectful address for the head of the household (one’s fankama), one’s mentor (one’s jakama), or someone in a position of authority over the speaker, roughly equivalent to the English ‘Master,’ can be used as a suffix to a first or last name.
kamaya a term referring to traditional Yammanka social hierarchy, including but not limited to the practice of powerful koronu providing for members of other kafonu in exchange for their services, and young people serving and apprenticing with more experienced members of their own kafo.
katana a traditional Kaigenese sword.
kayiri synthetic material similar to paper but fireproof and sturdier.
Keleba the first and only open war fought between Duna’s theonite superpowers, precipitated in 5291 when Daybreak Academy principal Oyeda Biida was assassinated along with several students, meaning ‘Great War’ in Yammaninke.
Kiye God in the Yammanka religion of Falleya, typically associated with soul, vitality, and the sun.
Kolunjara the capital city of Yamma.
koro (pl: koronu) a member of the warrior or commoner class, also called ‘kele koro.’
Koro a prefix for a member of the manga koro or kele koro kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
Koroden a diminutive address for a young member of the manga koro or the kele koro kafo.
Koronkalo the fifth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for Queen Koronkan Wagadu, the third queen of Yamma (roughly coincides with Earth’s November).
koroyaa a respectful address for a female member of the kele koro or manga koro kafo, roughly equivalent to the English ‘ma’am.’
koyin (pl. koyinu) a Dunian unit of measure about the width of a grown man’s thumb (roughly equivalent to three Earth centimeters).
Kri a mythical figure in the religion of Falleya, the first female human ancestor and the mother of all tajakalu.
Kribakalo the last month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Kri from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s June).
Kudazwe a Dunian continent divided between two nations—the independent country of Kudazwe and Kaigenese Kudazwe, belonging to the Kaigenese Empire.
Kumono Academy a private high school for koro boys in an old temple on Mt. Takayubi in Shirojima, Kaigen, traditionally headed by the Matsuda family.
Kumono Lake a spring-fed lake on Mt. Takayubi in Shirojima, Kaigen.
-kun an informal Shirojima Dialect suffix, used to address a close male friend and/or a male person of lower status than the speaker.
Kusanagi a peninsula in Shirojima, Kaigen, called the ‘Sword of Kaigen’ for its history of cutting down would-be invaders.
Kyougetsu Yari the name of the white-lacquered katana forged by Kotetsu Katashi and wielded by Matsuda Takeru, meaning literally ‘Spear of the Mirror Moon’ in Shirojima Dialect, also called the ‘Moon Spire.’
Laaxara the realm of the afterlife in the religion of Falleya.
langa or lanya (pl: langana) a Yammaninke swear word meaning ‘curse’ or ‘malediction.’
Lazou Linghun a fonyaka bloodline technique, wherein the fighter vacuums the air from their victim’s body through the mouth, collapsing their lungs, meaning ‘Soul Pull’ in Rangagua.
Lindish a language originating on the western islands of Hades and spoken in some parts of Carytha and Abiria (nearly identical to Earth’s English).
littigi (pl: littigiwu or littiwu) a sub-theonite with the ability to control light.
Livingston the largest city in the country of Carytha.
The Longhouse Confederacy a coalition of Native Abirian tribes that banded together in an attempt to oust the Yammanka colonizers from Abiria and establish an independent nation once in 5135 and again in 5290.
manga koro (pl. manga koronu) a member of the ruling kafo.
Manga Koro a Yammaninke prefix for a member of the manga koro kafo, similar to English ‘Lord,’ or ‘Lady.’
mattaku a Shirojima Dialect expression of exasperation.
The Moon Spire the name of the white-lacquered katana wielded by Matsuda Takeru, called ‘Kyougetsu Yari’ or ‘Kyougetsu’ in Shirojima Dialect.
Na the Yammaninke word for ‘Mom’ or ‘Mother.’
Nadamui a town on one of the farthest southern islands of Shirojima, meaning ‘Hill of Tears’ in the local dialect.
Nagi a mythical deity from the Donkili, the founding male ancestor in Namindugu, conflated with God, Kiye, in Ryuhon Falleya.
Nagidon the first day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Nagi from the Donkili, a day of work.
nagiji a word used to refer to written characters of Kaigenese and/or Ranganese origin.
Nagimaru the name of the Kotetsu-forged katana wielded by the ambidextrous Matsuda Takashi (usually in his right hand), companion to the shorter wakizashi, Namimaru.
Nagino Falleya the prevailing denomination of Falleya in the Kaigenese Empire, which subscribes to all the main beats of the Yammanka creation myth.
Nami a mythical deity from the Donkili, the founding female ancestor in Namindugu, conflated with Goddess, Nyaare, in Ryuhon Falleya.
Namimaru the name of the Kotetsu-forged wakizashi wielded by the ambidextrous Matsuda Takashi (usually in his left hand), companion to the longer katana, Nagimaru.
Na-Nyaare or Na-Nyaxare a reverent address for Goddess, Nyaare, in the Yammanka religion of Falleya, meaning literally ‘Mother Nyaare,’ sometimes used as a mild oath.
ne a Shirojima Dialect particle indicating a request for confirmation, similar to English ‘no?’ ‘isn’t it?’ or ‘okay?’
nenneko a Shirojima Dialect nonsense word used as a soothing filler sound in lullabies.
Nii- a Shirojima Dialect address for one’s older brother (typically combined with the suffix –san or the more deferent –sama).
numu (pl: numuwu) a member of the endogamous Yammanka social class that specializes in the creation of tools, weapons, clayware, and machinery.
Numu a prefix for a member of the numu kafo, similar to the English ‘Mr.’ or ‘Ms.’
Numuden a diminutive address for a young member of the numu kafo.
Nyaare or Nyaxare Goddess in the Yammanka religion of Falleya.
nyama any active or potential energy in the universe.
Ranga a country on the continent of Namindugu, a former colony of the Kaigenese Empire, the current center of the Ranganese Union, home to most of Duna’s fonyakalu.
The Ranganese Union a collective of nation-states occupying most of the continent of Namindugu, populated by a mix of fonyakalu and jijakalu.
Rangagua the primary language spoken in the country of Ranga and most of the Ranganese Union.
Ryuhon Falleya the oldest Kaigenese denomination of Falleya based in the idea that all life originates from the ocean, defined by a belief that Nagi and Nami are the true form of the two founding gods of the world.
Ryuhon Falleka (pl. Ryuhon Fallekalu) a practitioner of Ryuhon Falleya.
Sabaisu a town on one of the farthest southern islands of Shirojima, meaning ‘Shark Coast’ in the local dialect.
-sama a formal Shirojima Dialect suffix, used to address someone of higher status than the speaker.
-san a somewhat formal Shirojima Dialect suffix, a polite way to address an acquaintance, friend, or someone of similar to or slightly higher status than the speaker.
Sasayaiba a jijaka bloodline technique, unique to the Matsuda family, wherein the practicioner turns ice into a bladed weapon hard enough for use in combat against steel weapons and theoretically able to cut through anything, meaning ‘Whispering Blade’ in Shirojima Dialect.
senkuli (pl. senkuliwu) a member of the endogamous Yammanka glass-working class that specializes in glasswork.
Senpai a Shirojima Dialect noun, suffix, and term of address meaning ‘upperclassman’ or ‘senior.’
Sensei a Shirojima Dialect noun, suffix, and term of address meaning ‘teacher.’
shimatta a Shirojima Dialect exclamatory curse word.
Shirojima a province in the Kaigenese Empire, comprised of a cluster of large and small islands.
Shirojima Dialect the native language of Shirojima, Kaigen.
Sibikalo the sixth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for the mythical human ancestor Sibi from the Donkili (roughly coincides with Earth’s December).
siira (pl. siiranu) a Dunian measure of time (roughly equivalent to 0.72 Earth minutes).
Sizwe the southernmost country on the continent of Kelendugu, populated mostly by tajakalu, a former imperial power and old rival of Yamma’s.
Sokolokalo the fourth month of the twelve-month Dunian calendar, named for Queen Sokolo Wagadu, the second queen of Yamma (roughly coincides with Earth’s October).
sondatigi (pl. sondatigiwu or sondatiwu) a sub-theonite with the ability to control sound.
sub-theonite a person who has special abilities but does not qualify as one of the original types of theonite (tajaka, jijaka, fonyaka, or the now extinct senjaka and kabaka) such as littigiwu, sondatigiwu, and fankatigiwu.
stride a Dunian measure of distance (roughly equivalent to a meter or 3.3 feet).
Suradon the seventh day of the eight-day Dunian week, named for the mythical human ancestor Sura from the Donkili, a day of rest and reflection.
tabi two-toed cloth shoes worn in Shirojima, Kaigen.
tajaka (pl: tajakalu) a theonite with the ability to control fire.
Takayubi a mountain on the tip of the Kusanagi Peninsula in Shirojima, Kaigen, home to a small cluster of villages that share its name.
Takayubi High School the public co-ed high school on Mt. Takayubi in Shirojima, Kaigen.
Takenagi the name of the ancestral Kotetsu-forged katana wielded by generations of Yukino swordsmen (the most recent being Yukino Dai), meaning ‘Bamboo Cutter’ in Shirojima Dialect.
tanto a traditional Kaigenese dagger.
taya the ability to control fire.
theonite a person with the ability to remotely manipulate their physical surroundings in the form of air, water, fire, or solid substances.
Thulanism an anti-imperialist ideology originating in Sizwe.
Tou- a Shirojima Dialect prefix used to address and refer to one’s father, usually combined with the suffix ‘-san’ or the more deferent ‘-sama.’
waati (pl. waatinu) a Dunian measure of time (one hour and 12 minutes in Earth time).
walla (pl: wallanu) a Yammanka unit of currency used throughout most of the world (roughly equivalent to two dollars).
wakizashi a traditional Kaigenese sword, shorter than a full-sized katana but significantly longer than a dagger, good for close-quarters combat where a katana is too long.
The Whispering Blade a jijaka bloodline technique, unique to the Matsuda family, wherein the jijaka turns ice into a bladed weapon strong enough for use in combat against steel and glass weapons, called ‘Sasayaiba’ in Shirojima Dialect.
xuro a strong Yammaninke swear word, similar in meaning and application to English ‘shit.’
Yamma a country occupying the central and northwestern part of the continent of Kelendugu, populated mainly by tajakalu.
Yammanka (pl: Yammankalu) a person from Yamma; an adjective describing a person or thing originating from the nation of Yamma or its culture.
Yammanka obsidian refers to a set of particularly sturdy types of glass developed by Yamma’s senkuliwu, including the industrial jonjo glass and the nearly impervious Zilazen glass.
Yammaninke the main language spoken in Yamma, the most widely-spoken language on the Planet Duna.