Glossary

Nations/Continents

Erissat – (eh-riss-AT), the name of a Jhiriyan colony bordering Tizrak Yirda to the east.

Jhiriyah – (jih-REE-yah), the name of a continent (east of Soolaith), the single nation which populates the continent and the empire. Jhiriyah has twelve colonies, all of which are located in Soolaith.

Loyodz – (LOY-odds), a desert area, largely unmapped, located to the south of Tizrak Yirda.

Soolaith – (soo-LAYTH), the name of the continent on which City of Whispers takes place. Also called ‘the Continent’.

Tizrak Yirda – (tizz-RACK  YAIR-da), the name of the Jhiriyan colony in which City of Whispers takes place.

The Yarga – (YAR-ga), the name of the largest nation on Soolaith, spanning all 14,000 keloms of the mountain range of the same name in the continent’s centre. Home to the most feared people on the Continent, Yargans, who previously dominated most of Soolaith.

 

Places

Atoulibba – (at-TOO-lib-a), the industrial portion of Izurum, located in the city’s south.

Ciyurit – (chee-OO-rit), the section of Izurum where the Jhiriyan colonial administration and Ha’filu Region Command are located.

Faissa – (FYE-suh), an area in the eastern part of Izurum.

Geraktin – (geh-RACK-tin), a large area in the north-central part of Izurum; home to the city’s largest souk.

Istanakhand – (is-tana-KARND), the Tizraki capital, located on the western end of the Osmancik Sea.

Izurum – (iz-OO-rum) – a small city of approximately 40,000 people located in the southern-central part of Tizrak Yirda.

Koyulerin – (koy-OO-ler-rin), the shanty town located on the south side of Izurum, outside of its walls.

Mursik – (mer-SICK), the sector of Izurum where the wealthy live and often work.

Odesstra – (oh-DESS-tra), Tizrak Yirda’s second largest city, located on the north-western side of the Osmancik Sea.

Osmancik Sea – (oz-MAN-chick), a large, land-bordered sea in eastern Soolaith, like the Mediterranean in Europe.

Talmakhan – (tan-MACK-arn), the capital of the region in which Izurum is located.

Tergayit – (ter-GAY-it), a poorer area of Izurum, located in the city’s south.

Zidan – (ZEE-dan), the name of the river directly to the north-west of Izurum as well as a working class area in the city’s west.

Zidurat – (zid-OO-raht), the name of the central section of Izurum.

 

Titles

Jhaliaad – (ja-lee-ARD), the Jhiriyan word for emperor, used for both male and female occupants of the position.

Jhalifarriset – (ja-lee-FAR-iss-et), the Jhiriyan word for the heir to the empire (usually the Jhaliaad’s eldest child), used for both male and female occupants of the position.

Majapayit – (mar-jah-PYE-eet), the Tizraki word for the ruler of a city.

Papat – (puh-PART), the Tizraki word for priest.

Recip – (reh-CHIP), the Tizraki word for a junior priest.

Shalisar – (shall-ee-SAR), the Jhiriyan word for lord, used for both the female and male heads of noble houses and their firstborn heirs.

Shulim – (shoo-LEEM), the Jhiriyan word for earl, used for both the female and male younger children of a Shalisar. Unlike a Shalisar, a Shulim does not pass their title on to their children.

 

The Jhiriyan Castes

Jhiriyan society is divided in to five hierarchical sections, largely based on occupation. The system is called the Mawat (MAA-waht). The Shaliaat and Kishaat castes have strict written rules governing behaviour, dress, hair, marriage and duties.

Shaliaat – (shall-ee-ART), Jhiriyah’s noble caste, made up of seventy-eight families who rule the seventy-eight provinces of the Jhiriyan continent.

Kishaat – (kish-ART), the financial, wealthy mercantile/industrial and upper bureaucratic caste.

Vashatriya – (vash-at-TREE-uh), the bureaucratic (white collar), small business, skilled trade caste. Dhani is now considered a member of this caste.

Sastriya – (sas-TREE-uh), the working/farming caste.

Gishatriya – (gish-at-TREE-uh), the caste of unskilled labourers and petty criminals. Dhani was born into this caste.

 

General Terms

Ambituryan – (am-bee-TOUR-ran), a Tizraki religious text.

Aretellian – (a-ret-TELL-ee-UN), the name of the long extinct, godlike people who created Deenjah.

Askandhli – (as-KARN-dlee), the blue-coloured protecting Flame/the Flame of maintaining.

Ashishqa – (ash-EESH-kuh), opium smoked in a hookah or similar.

Besantrik – (bess-AN-trick), the name of the religious schools often found within Tizraki temples.

Bopa – (BOE-puh), the Tizraki word for great-grandfather.

Caravanserai – (car-uh-VAN-seh-RYE), a place where caravans made up of strings of camels, ponies, yak or other animals used to transport goods can gather and stay within a city or town.

Chhadi – (ch-haa-DEE), a kind of incense used by Yargan people.

Deenjah – (DEEN-jah), the name of the power/magic in the Imperial Assassin world.

Deenjahi – (deen-JAH-hee), the very rare individuals who are connected permanently to the Flames of Deenjah.

Deenjili – (deen-JEE-lee), anything powered by Deenjah, like the lamps in Mursik.

Deenjin – (DEEN-jin), any person of any race who can raise Deenjah.

Dewari – (de-WAH-ree), the name of the lettering used to write Massayalam, adapted from Yargan.

Dironi – (dih-RONE-ee), Jhiriyan currency, a gold coin.

Drukilyi – (druk-EEL-yee), the Tizraki word for a Deenjin healer.

Drukpa – (DROOK-pa), the Yargan word for a Deenjin healer.

Ha’filu – (ha*FILL-oo), the name of the Jhiriyan secret service.

Kaffai – (KAFF-aye), the universal word for coffee.

Kofte – (KOFF-teh), spiced lamb meatballs.

Kelom – (KEE-lom), the universal work for kilometre.

Massayalam – (mass-SAY-a-lam), a creole tongue first used by traders but now spoken widely across Soolaith (the Continent) between people of different races/languages.

Naan – (NAHN), the universal word for flatbread eaten in both Soolaith and Jhiriyah.

Peshak – (PESH-ack), a unit of Tizraki currency, usually a copper coin.

Shakandhli – (sha-KARN-dlee), the red-coloured killing Flame/the Flame of destruction.

Souk – (SOUWK, like ‘south’), a large marketplace.

Tabac – (ta-BACK), the universal word for tobacco.

Ta’Hafiq – (ta*HA-feek), the Imperial Assassins, a branch of the Ha’filu.

Taroch – (ta-ROCK), a game with 78 illustrated cards developed from ancient tarot cards.

Tarandhli – (tuh-RARN-dlee), the green-coloured healing Flame/the Flame of creation.

Ulaya – (ou-LAY-yuh) an oil Yargan people use in the ends of their hair.

Yevengik cu Bapa – (yev-en-GICK  CHU  bah-PUH), a Tizraki term meaning people and fatherland. The name of the nationalist cult in City of Whispers.