Jess Granger

Blackwine – Made from a very sweet Byralen fruit related to black currents, blackwine is a favorite libation for both the Byralen and the Yeshulen people. Due to the size of the fruit, blackwine is difficult to produce, and therefore highly valued.

Ciera vines – A native vine of Azra, these tenacious creepers feed off the decay of the forest floor to gain the resources needed to reach the top of the rain forest canopy. Once they are exposed to the right amount of sunlight they bloom with beautiful white, star-shaped flowers.

E.R.B – Pronounced like herb, these dry and tasteless cakes contain all the protein and carbohydrates a soldier needs for survival. Surviving off them for any length of time is no picnic and they tend to cause cotton mouth.

Falc blade – An ancient martial tradition on the planet of Ungahn, the falc blade is a sharpened hook of steal attached to a meter long staff. Falc blade tournaments usually use blunted instruments due to the danger of sparring with the deadly weapon, however, falc masters have been known to use sharp ones. The martial skill of using the falc blade is beautiful to watch, so long as the spectator is not within reach of the blade.

Felam beasts – Native to Azra, these enormous creatures lurk in the turbulent waters near the cliffs of the Azralen islands. With their long necks, these reptilian monsters of the deep snatch nesting birds off the cliffs. They have very tough skin to prevent injury amid the jagged rocks of their undersea world. Many a feat of Azralen valor revolved around hunting and killing felam beasts. On the islands, a kill meant a boon in resources. With modern technology and intergalactic trade, the Azralen women hardly ever take to the hunt, which has led to a rise in the population of these frightening, yet awe-inspiring predators.

Groslin – A native of Azra, this very fat sea bird has a rich and sweet tasting meat. While a common delicacy in the high cities, the consumption of Groslin is regulated by the high cities of Azra, making it rare in the mid-cities, and unheard of on the ground.

Guilla – Pronounced Geel-ya, this stringed instrument produces sound when its strings are plucked with tiny dull hooks. Requiring delicate dexterity, it is an instrument often mastered by the Byralen women, then taken up later in life by the men. Large in size, the sweeping frame for the strings makes the guilla part of the heart of the Byralen home.

High-hawk – An Azralen euphemism for a high-born man who travels to the ground to take advantage of low-born women.

Myhrat – Pronounced Meer-rat, this chipmunk sized animal is notorious for its stubbornness and surprising ferocity. Like a miniature badger, a myhrat will defend its burrow to the death. An entrenched myhrat is impossible to remove from a small space.

Karnul – A venom extract taken from a deadly scorpion, this favorite tool of assassins works as the perfect poison. While undetectable, it makes the victim die of what seem to be natural causes. Victims of karnul can be revived using an antidote.

Kiltii vines – A native of Makko, this remarkable little vine when steeped in water creates a medicine that forces the drinker’s body into hyper-active states of healing. It both bolsters the immune system and stimulates damaged body tissues to regenerate quickly. The main side effect is ravenous hunger and thirst.

Korcas cat – The traditional scout of an Azralen Elite warrior, the korcas is a powerful war cat. Capable of taking down prey far larger than its size, these smart and strategic hunters are both deadly and ferocious.

Mudbird – An Azralen euphemism that refers to low born women.

Mudbiter – A native of Makko, this nasty stinging insect causes painful boils on the skin. The only way to prevent getting bitten is to keep moving.

Mudrat – An Azralen euphemism that refers to low born men.

Nuta – A leather kilt worn by the men of Makko.

Pakka vine – A native of Byra, this irritating vine is usually considered a weed. With sharp thorns that can cause a rash, most Byralen seek to eliminate it from their gardens. However, its large blossoms are a feast to the senses and attract several species of pollen eating birds.

Pellay – A fluttering piece of colorful fabric attached to the top of a bending pole, the pellays are used for special celebrations on Byra. Adorned with feathers, and tied to the tip of the pole with a thin string, the twirling pellays are a beautiful addition to Byralen holidays and festivals.

Prickleback – A native Byralen animal, the prickleback is most closely related to a wild pig or warthog. Like a porcupine, the prickleback has developed sharp barbed hairs along its back and haunches to defend against predators. The quills combined with the animal’s cheery disposition makes the mating habits of the prickleback an amusing Byralen mystery.

Ralok – A game of deception and skill, people have been known to lose fortunes at the ralok squares. Ralok players also have to be masters of strategy and well versed in hand to hand combat. According to the rules, if a ralok player is accused of cheating, the winner of a hand-to-hand battle is the one who ends up in the right.

Ranock’s Feet – A common utterance on Yeshu, Ranock’s feet refers to a great Yeshu hero of legend who used to walk across the ice with no shoes.

Sarba – A native of Azra, this large rodent is similar to a capybara. With a limited ability to climb, but a remarkable resistance to poisons and irritants, the sarba is commonly hunted as food.

Shadowsuit – Union standard wartime uniform, a shadowsuit has the capability of blurring the profile of the wearer, making the soldier resemble a shadow.

Shakt – An Azralen expletive. The term shakt refers to the feeling of falling, and comes from an old expression for being out on a limb that is incapable of holding one’s weight. Linguists note that the phonetic sound of the word is reminiscent of a branch breaking.

Silka – A domestic animal on Byra, the silka looks a little like a white camel with long smooth hair and no hump. It has long hanging ears and a more elegant face and legs. Raised for their hair, silkas are the main source of most Byralen textiles. They are also used as draft animals, and trained to carry riders.

Skinboots – Union standard issue boots, skinboots have an an-grav skin on the soles, allowing soldiers to maintain traction in low gravity environments. When hacked, skinboots can also enhance the jumping and climbing abilities of the wearer.

Squira – An extremely foul smelling, but edible lizard. Squira mongers tend to take on the odor of their wares.

Tanro – An ancient art of the planet Levari, Tanro is the manipulation of the body’s neurological signals through systematic touch. While usually associated with the sexual arts, Tanro is also performed for people suffering from debilitating pain.

Trill cat – A smaller relative of the korcas cat, a trill cat is a native of the canopy of Azra. A sleek and agile bird hunter, the cat was named for its unusually musical purr.

Trillide – A sentient ore, trillide responds to certain stimulus by changing its properties. Inter-dimensional travel depends on trillide conductors within a ship’s converter, making trillide one of the most valued commodities in the universe.