The Aeries Mountains – the central mine-rich mountain range that divides the largest continent on Precios from north to south; it becomes the Jaggedies to the west and the Kalans to the east; the High Aeries refers to the highest peaks in which Devil’s Crown is located
alat – a popular drink from Alat composed of two powders, purple and green, whose respective soothing and stimulating qualities are adjusted proportionately for the time of day or night
allstones – aka everystones, aubades, aka dawnstones; mythical living stones believed to be able to take on the properties of any gem
anodynes – gems with a numbing effect
appeteaser – gems or gem infusions or aperitifs served in gem glasses, used to stimulate appetite
Asteria – a mineral-rich land that stretches from the Aeries and Jaggedy Mountains in the south to the Chatoyant Sea in the north; also the name of the Asterian capital, home to the governing High Seat and the six wield halls which form the commonwield
Astrini – secretive Asterian spy wield
aubade – see allstones
backmarket – places to buy goods, often gems, for less than the prices set by the wields
banned gems – those most injurious, poisonous and dangerous of stones; includes but not limited to red adamantine, cianite, cinnabar, cobaltite, fangstone, orpiment, realgar
birthbound – those born to wields with the accompanying obligations and restrictions (birthbinds)
blotch – bad reactions between wearer and gem, usually involving contragems or counterfeits
Borosians – the inhabitants of Borosia who dominate the spice trade; known for their fierce merchant fleet
brightsilver – rare and precious silver that does not tarnish and enhances the properties of any gems it is near
Bringers – mythical beings who brought humans to Precios seven centuries ago
bugeaters – pejorative for Asterians, describing their custom of eating insects as part of their diet
calmstones – wello gems that reduce anxiety and agitation in some wearers (though not all), including jade, white opal, topaz
carobs – currency of Alat shaped like the edible seed pod of the same name
cobaline – a rare metal that dyes victims pierced by it blue; coveted for blades as it keeps its edge
colorchangers – aka vagaries; gems that change colors depending on the light and often produce a temporary change of eye color in user
commonwield – see Asteria
contragems – stones that are not compatible, the combination of which can produce unpredictable, unpleasant, dangerous, or even deadly, results
Culture Collectors’ Wield – a wield of historians and anthropologists that collect stories about outlanders
Darban – city-state strategically located along the eastern portion of the Gem Road
dawnstones – see allstones
deadlines – glowing green ropes crafted to enforce Asterian mine boundaries
Devil’s Crown – an ancient gem mine in the circular peaks of the High Aeries; inaccessible except by air; rich in seefires, rubilies, moonstones, and agyts, among other gems
diamant – aka diamonds; commonly used in energy transfer and other industrial capacities; colored varieties known to affect the wearer’s mental state; despite popular belief, colorless diamants, aka greasestones, have no known effects
digestgems – gems that aid in digestion or with digestion-related ailments
dogstones – extremely low-quality gems
Douarr – the inhospitable and volcano-ridden land of the Sea Hammers in the farthest north; also the name of the inhabitants and their language
Double Deaths – two deep and deadly gorges (the Fast Death Gorge and the Slow Death Gorge) that form the northwestern and southeastern borders of the woodwins’ Hidden Forest
dreamstones – gems and stones used for vivid and/or lucid dreams or dreamlike states
dupestones – gems used to trick their victims by making them gullible, talkative, inebriated, infatuated, and so on
Dyrian’s letters – Dyrian was a treasure hunter who believed in woodwilds, Bringers, allstones and other mythical phenomena; he left hundreds of letters and maps behind after his death, charting his research, rantings and expeditions
eartwisters – gems that amplify, distort or otherwise affect the perception of sound; often cause the wearer to hear sounds that no one else can
enhancers – gems, stones and metals that strengthen the effects of other gems
everystone – see allstones
eye-eyes – mythical large-eyed beings who watch humans, playing tricks and seeking vengeance when offended
eyestones – any gem affecting the eyes; confusingly, also any gem that looks like an eye, regardless of its effects
eyetwisters – gems that enhance, diminish or distort the wearer’s vision, sometimes to the extent of hallucinations
Fast Death Gorge – see Double Deaths
finder stones – gems and rocks that react to the presence of other minerals or substances, water being particularly useful; despite claims otherwise, not for the finding of most lost items—for that, try a memory stone such as a forget-me-not
first water – gems of excellent clarity and quality
flume – an alcoholic drink of the Lumi, distilled from rutabaga and juniper
footfighting – aka footboxing; combat done with legs and feet; created by sailors, so often incorporates surroundings for leverage
forget-me-not – a cornflower-blue seefire that improves memory and focus
freewielder – aka freewayers; those who believe that the wields should be free and open to all regardless of family lineage
Gelb – the desert that contains the mezmerald mines (Smeralgdus) and night-harvested obsydaline of the Lightning Sands
Gem Road – the caravan highway and trade route that transverses the north end of the Aeries and Jaggedy Mountains
gembane – gems used to harm or trick a victim, the most vile of which are banned
gembles – a game played on the ground with low-quality round gems of varying sizes; the objective is to toss your gem piece into the winning position by knocking out the competition
gemcrack – a counterfeit or fraudulent stone that appears of fine quality but is in fact worthless
gemists – experts in gemistry and gem rules; prescribers of gems
gemistry – the study of gems, their properties and effects and their interactions with other gems and sources of energy
gempendium – any encyclopedia of gems; usually includes an illustration, description, and rules of each stone, including contragems and warnings
gempox – see potch
gemshine – liquor or spirits infused with gems; usually of extreme potency
gim-gem – stones used for good luck or as talismans or amulets; often carried around the neck or waist with other artifacts
glossies – printed illustrated guides of current fashions and trends
Great Ship – a boat-shaped constellation
guidestones – waystars, lodestones, sunstrackers, other navigational gems
Hidden Woods – aka the Hidden Forest; the secret and inaccessible land of the woodwins; situated between the Double Deaths and the south side of Devil’s Crown
High Aeries – see the Aeries Mountains
High Seat – aka the common seat, aka the star seat; the residence and governing seat of Asteria’s rotating ruler
high wielder – aka the commonwielder; the leader of Asteria, a position which rotates between the six main wields every twelve years
hoopoes – a type of dupestone used to make the gemmed victim agreeable and/or gullible
Horsefly – a tiny constellation beneath the Wild Mare
hypnogogs – aka hoopoes, aka dupestones; stones used to hypnotize and thus affect the mind of the wearer, for good or for ill
Irsil – the mother of Precios according to Lumi lore; her steed was a large flying wolf
Jaggedies – spiky gem-rich mountain range that borders Asteria’s south end and the Sky Country’s north end
Jaggedy River – a small mountain river over which the Asterians built a bridge which was blown up
jump–jewel – a game played by capturing an opponent’s pairs of gem pieces
Kalans – a mountain range north of Lumi Land near Windmarket
keeps – a high-stakes betting game that involves luck and bluffing; usually played for gems
Kite – aka the Diamant; a kite-shaped constellation with a long tail; one of the largest in the southern sky
Last Lake – a small village in Lumi Land surrounded by lakes and forest; winter home of the Hayas
Lumi – the people of Lumi Land, mainly semi-nomadic snowdeer herders, silver workers, boat builders, and fisherpeople
Lumi Land – a snowy region in the far south, rich with lakes, snowdeer and silver
memluks – aka Sea Hammers; captured pirates from Douarr valued for their fighting and tactical skills; though prisoners in diplomatic terms, they are paid salaries, sometimes quite large ones, and sometimes advance to running their own businesses and even purchasing their freedom
mindturner – aka mindtwister; a gem that causes the wearer to see, hear or otherwise sense things that aren’t there
mindtwister – see mindturner
moons – unit of silver currency in Asteria; valued above stars and below suns
moontales – myths and stories told to children of wild and fantastic creatures and events
morrya – a finger-counting game
mudstones – extremely low quality gems with an especially murky appearance
nazir – an apprentice to a wield; a novice
Opaloosa – a wild and sparsely settled land in the far east, rich with volcanoes, lakes and opals
Orogaudi – a land of harsh mountains, large tigers and rich silver and gold deposits
ouroborus – the snake-shaped manacles worn by mine prisoners; blue diamant eyes
paffle – gems of such low quality they have not been separated out from the ore
Paragon – a port on east coast of Asteria, famous for alat and pearl trade
peskies – mythical mountain spirits blamed for stealing gems and tools and playing tricks on miners; there are also house peskies in towns, who similarly steal gems, keys, socks and sweets
potch – aka gempox, blotch; an affliction of spots or stripes and other ailments caused by a bad reaction to a gem or gems that are contraindicated; occasionally fatal, such as with Barthalow Damantine; also refers to low-quality conglomerate stones, which are common sources of blotch/pox
Precios – a mid-sized planet rich with life and minerals; home to five continents and countless islands surrounded by salt seas; orbits two suns and is orbited by five moons
Qalami or Qalamish Territory – forested land with access to two oceans and a tradition of fine boat crafting
rabu – prisoners of the wields of Asteria; sentenced for life, usually to heavy labor
ratters – captured children sent deep into Asteria’s gem mines to map deposits and plant explosives; valued for their small size and ability to reach difficult places
rumgem – rum infused with gemstones; unpredictable at best—drink at one’s own risk
Saltlands – uninhabitable salt flats to the west of Devil’s Crown
screwberyl – a peculiar variety of beryl that has the effect of the sourest of lemons on one’s countenance; beloved by children and pranksters
Sea Hammers – see memluks
Sea of Death – the desolate desert wasteland west of the Sky Country, traversed only by the Windtraders
Sea Throat – a silver port at the southern tip of Lumi Land
second water – lesser-clarity gems, below first water and above third
Silk Isles – the islands in the far west, known for their highly secret silk production (including spider silk)
Silk Seas – oceans around Borosia and the Silk Isles
Silk Sparrows – lady pirates of Silk Seas
Silver Narrows – the island- and rock-strewn channel in the far polar south; impassable in winter when iced in
Silver Throat – a large silver mine near the south coast of Lumi Land
Silverlands – the Asterian name for Lumi Land
Singing Sands – a phenomenon within the Sea of Death where the shifting dunes make musical notes and hum
Skerry River – the river that flows from the Aeries Mountains through the bottom of the Fast Death Gorge and into the Skerry Sea to the south
Skerry Sea – the sea of the polar south that includes the Silver Narrows
Sky, the – sacred origin of the Sky People; giver of life and light
Sky Country – an arid land of nomadic herders south of the Aeries Mountains and north of the Silver Narrows
Sky Steppes – see Sky Country
sleepstones – gems used as sleep or dream aids, such as cloudstone and moonstone, or calmstones like white opal
Slow Death Gorge – see Double Deaths
Smeralgdus – mezmerald mines in the Gelb run by the Mining Wield
Southern Glories – roll clouds south of the Hidden Forest
Star Throne – the seat of power in Asteria during the Age of the Allstones that was occupied by a series of leaders claiming royal dominion, each toppled in turn during the centuries-long wars between the wields; according to a popular children’s song, the Star Throne was literally toppled in a chain of events set off by a mouse
stars – unit of copper currency in Asteria; valued below moons and suns
Steering Star – the star that marks north
sthaga – bandits on Gem Road who strangle travelers in their sleep, then steal the entire caravan of animals and goods
sticks–and–sevens – a betting game with partners that uses numbered sticks instead of cards
striker – gem-powered personal weapons that shoot lightning-like bursts
suns – unit of gold currency in Asteria; valued above stars and moons
sweepstones – gems used for pausing a woman’s monthly sweep
sytranj – a strategy game involving carved pieces in the shapes of humans, animals and boats
taw – a large round gem used for shooting in gembles
third water – aka last water; stones of poor color and/or clarity though not as valueless as potch or paffle
toadstones – lumpy green stones secreted by toads; used to reverse poisonings
touchstones – gems used for marking the quality of precious metals or as a standard for measuring other gems
Trade Tongue – the language spoken by traders and merchants and all of Asteria
Troll, the – mythical Lumi monster who starts rockslides, avalanches and other natural disasters through his clumsiness
True Way, the – how inhabitants of Precios distinguish their own Way as the correct one, leading to infinite claims of the “True” Way
Unsinn – the city-state on the Unsinn River surrounded by the Qalamish Territory on the north, west and south and bordered on the east by Orogaudi
vagary – aka colorchangers; gems that cause changes in appearance, usually eye color, such as color-change seefires
verdant – green varieties of wello known for their healing and wellness properties, including jade, riverine and, falsely, mallowkite which is actually an anodyne
wakestones – gems that cause wakefullness, such as citrine, citronette, and certain jades
Way, the – the path of destiny or right living
waystars – see waystones
waystones – aka waystars; varied navigation stones used by caravaners, pilots and sailors; not reliable in certain geographic regions, such as Lumi Land
wellos – a class of gems that improve health and wellbeing, chiefly halestones and wellos, though sometimes stretched to included digestgems, eyestones, calmstones, sleepstones, and others; arguably the most most profit-generating gems on the planet
wield-bound – prisoners that are forced to practice a particular craft or trade for a wield’s profit; the state of being bound to a wield
wielder – the elected leader of each wield in Asteria; almost always a zenith
wields – the powerful collectives that form the basis of the Asterian social and economic hierarchy; there are hundreds of sub-wields, but the six main wields that run the country are: the Arts and Crafts Wield, the Green Wield, the Merchants Wield, the Mining Wield, and the Roads and Ways Wield
Wild Mare – a constellation of a bucking horse
Windmarket – a market town on the portion of the Gem Road that traverses the Kalans; home to the annual Winter Fair
Windtraders – traders from the west who ride the seasonal wind- and sandstorms across the Sea of Death in their sandships
Winter Fair – aka Winter Games; the annual winter market and sports competition in Windmarket, marking the start of trading and caravan season
wispers – people who abuse nepenthe, thereby losing their memory until they no longer remember who they are
woodwilds – aka yowis; mythical enormous manlike creatures with big feet and fur coats; in the tales they are infamous for eating small naughty children; not to be confused with woodwins
woodwins – a hidden race of sentient forest-dwelling beings
Wyn – the location of Asteria’s largest captured prisoner market
Yavani – an elite all-female fighting force that protects the high wielder and anyone else who can afford them
zenith – the highest rank attainable within a wield; ultimate master of a trade or craft
