GLOSSARY
OVERVIEW
An introduction to the places, gangs, ceremonies, customs, ranks, and miscellaneous terms as they have been defined so far.
Will grow and change and develop as more is revealed in the plot.
Press CTRL+F for a quick search.
BASICS
Ipsuren - A superior race of high intelligence beings. While they have the same physical characteristics as humans, they are far more attractive. Humans don’t know much about them.
Okji- a male Ipsuren (human equivalent would be “man”)
Prokji (plural: human equivalent would be “men”)
Ipsureni - Female Ipsuren. Have a much shorter lifespan than their male counterparts, although the reason is unknown.
Ohza - a single Ipsureni (human equivalent would be "woman")
Ohzai (plural: human equivalent would be "women")
Keinling (KINE-ling) - Ipsuren-born child.
Alorian - a superior race of Ipsuren. Those of highest caste who have ascended to Aethere.
Cronian - gang of Isudan mystics in Higher City. Yesung is their leader.
Taicara - Ipsuren language.
HISTORY
Senbelzhan (SHEN-bell-jarn) - The 50 year old massacre in which the majority of the human race was overpowered and destroyed by the Ipsuren and Jiscada was taken.
CEREMONIES&CUSTOMS
HUMAN
Rise Up - When a young human boy experiences his first ejaculation. Usually the beginning of puberty. A boy that has gone through this ceremony will be thought of as “Risen.”
Kojazi - The ceremony welcoming human boys of eighteen to manhood.
IPSUREN
Kani - Ipsuren term for a converting a human.
Kuwaru - The downtime before Inception where the human convert is held and monitored by Ipsuren guards, whose main responsibility is to humiliate and degrade.
Inception - Held on the Third Day of Kani, when an okji of Nokhiri caste
Transwalk - The ability to move from one point to another by thought alone. Limited to only what the Ipsuren can see in the immediate area and is thus not used for long-distance travel or to move from room-to-room. Once an Ipsuren has mastered Tseng (second level Kabai), they gain this ability.
GANGS&ORGANIZATIONS
GANGS
Pekas Geldina - brutal and feared by all, they are a violent, merciless gang of Ipsuren who thrive off of conflict and their hatred for humanity.
Eislinn (AYE-lynn) - allied with the Pekas Geldina, although less cruel.
ORGANIZATIONS
Alorian - Those of the highest caste who have ascended to Aethere.
Cronian - Isudan mystics in Higher City. Yesung is their leader.
Timefighters - controls all of Disanji. Adamantly against the Alorian.
TITLES&RANKS
Chosen - A term used to describe a human’s life partner. Only death can break the Chosen vow.
Tulana (too-LAR-na) - Ipsuren honorific. Used when speaking to someone of higher caste.
CASTE SYSTEM - every Ipsuren has a caste and caste progression consists of optional advancement through a 3-tier system. Upon conversion, each Ipsuren will become Khalasi (not to be confused with GRRM’s khaleesi. no seriously, this similarity didn’t occur to me until after I’d come up with this word. oops). The majority of Ipsuren never make it past Isai.
1. Nokhiri (spirit)
- Tarkinan
- Pajoyem
- Kajako
2. Isuda (mind)
- Tinri: ice
- Isai: fire
- Buomi: earth
3. Kabai (body)
- Jezben: telekinesis
- Tseng: seasonal awareness and understanding
- Khalas: physical strength
JISCADA: THE LADDER CITY
Above the Ladder: AETHERE - few have been there. It is considered a holy place.
First Wrung: SAISHO
Second Wrung: DUGAJI
Third Wrung: DISANJI
Fourth Wrung: HIGHER CITY
Fifth Wrung: LOWER CITY - humans and fallen Ipsuren outcasts, usually slaves or convicts.
Below the Ladder: LOWER CITY GUTTER - humans.
THE LIFT SYSTEM
Travel from one city plate to the next is conducted by a series of "lifts" located in various stations throughout the city, each one leading up to a different sect of the above level. The lifts themselves are constructed more or less the same regardless of where they lead, but some are more safe and well kept than others. Essentially, they are elevators made of resistant, protective glass that can withstand any amount of destruction and are large enough to hold up to 100 humans, 50 Ipsuren and 10,000 lbs. The lifts are monitored and run differently depending on the location, but they are always controlled by a guard at the destination. This way, who gains access to where can be regulated and limited when necessary. Obviously, the higher up you go, the more restricted access is.
Gutter Lifts - few and far between. One lift per slum and access is restricted only to descent for the lowering of care packages and other charities from Lower City. The exception to this is once a year, when the heads of select families will be permitted access to Lower City for a time, where they can engage in deals with the merchant towns. Usually, this is used for the buying/selling of slaves or when families wish to sell off their children or wives. Ipsuren have free access to the Lifts here, although that is never taken advantage of. Ipsuren have no interest in the Gutter.
LOWER CITY
The Bazaar - One of the smaller districts of the "Merchant City." Where unlicensed, unfunded, "free" merchants get together to buy and sell anything they want, however they want. The cheapest and most unorganized out of all the shopping districts in Lower City.
Garahim - Formerly a human suburb. Is now a small community of low class Ipsuren very loosely lead by Sungmin. Eunhyuk's current residence.
The Kuwaru House - once a human chapel, the Kuwaru portion of kani is held here along with the first day of a human convert’s Ipsuren education.
Anomaly - A particularly seedy town that houses one of Lower City's most used Lifts.
HIGHER CITY
Cronian outpost - Lavishly decorated town the Cronian have claimed as their own. Unnamed, it is known as the center for their study and practice. Most of the Ipsuren in Higher City are wary of it.
DISANJI
Altair - Timechaser Capital and where Kangin’s home resides.
An introduction to the places, gangs, ceremonies, customs, ranks, and miscellaneous terms as they have been defined so far.
Will grow and change and develop as more is revealed in the plot.
Press CTRL+F for a quick search.
BASICS
Ipsuren - A superior race of high intelligence beings. While they have the same physical characteristics as humans, they are far more attractive. Humans don’t know much about them.
Okji- a male Ipsuren (human equivalent would be “man”)
Prokji (plural: human equivalent would be “men”)
Ipsureni - Female Ipsuren. Have a much shorter lifespan than their male counterparts, although the reason is unknown.
Ohza - a single Ipsureni (human equivalent would be "woman")
Ohzai (plural: human equivalent would be "women")
Keinling (KINE-ling) - Ipsuren-born child.
Alorian - a superior race of Ipsuren. Those of highest caste who have ascended to Aethere.
Cronian - gang of Isudan mystics in Higher City. Yesung is their leader.
Taicara - Ipsuren language.
HISTORY
Senbelzhan (SHEN-bell-jarn) - The 50 year old massacre in which the majority of the human race was overpowered and destroyed by the Ipsuren and Jiscada was taken.
CEREMONIES&CUSTOMS
HUMAN
Rise Up - When a young human boy experiences his first ejaculation. Usually the beginning of puberty. A boy that has gone through this ceremony will be thought of as “Risen.”
Kojazi - The ceremony welcoming human boys of eighteen to manhood.
IPSUREN
Kani - Ipsuren term for a converting a human.
Kuwaru - The downtime before Inception where the human convert is held and monitored by Ipsuren guards, whose main responsibility is to humiliate and degrade.
Inception - Held on the Third Day of Kani, when an okji of Nokhiri caste
Transwalk - The ability to move from one point to another by thought alone. Limited to only what the Ipsuren can see in the immediate area and is thus not used for long-distance travel or to move from room-to-room. Once an Ipsuren has mastered Tseng (second level Kabai), they gain this ability.
GANGS&ORGANIZATIONS
GANGS
Pekas Geldina - brutal and feared by all, they are a violent, merciless gang of Ipsuren who thrive off of conflict and their hatred for humanity.
Eislinn (AYE-lynn) - allied with the Pekas Geldina, although less cruel.
ORGANIZATIONS
Alorian - Those of the highest caste who have ascended to Aethere.
Cronian - Isudan mystics in Higher City. Yesung is their leader.
Timefighters - controls all of Disanji. Adamantly against the Alorian.
TITLES&RANKS
Chosen - A term used to describe a human’s life partner. Only death can break the Chosen vow.
Tulana (too-LAR-na) - Ipsuren honorific. Used when speaking to someone of higher caste.
CASTE SYSTEM - every Ipsuren has a caste and caste progression consists of optional advancement through a 3-tier system. Upon conversion, each Ipsuren will become Khalasi (not to be confused with GRRM’s khaleesi. no seriously, this similarity didn’t occur to me until after I’d come up with this word. oops). The majority of Ipsuren never make it past Isai.
1. Nokhiri (spirit)
- Tarkinan
- Pajoyem
- Kajako
2. Isuda (mind)
- Tinri: ice
- Isai: fire
- Buomi: earth
3. Kabai (body)
- Jezben: telekinesis
- Tseng: seasonal awareness and understanding
- Khalas: physical strength
JISCADA: THE LADDER CITY
Above the Ladder: AETHERE - few have been there. It is considered a holy place.
First Wrung: SAISHO
Second Wrung: DUGAJI
Third Wrung: DISANJI
Fourth Wrung: HIGHER CITY
Fifth Wrung: LOWER CITY - humans and fallen Ipsuren outcasts, usually slaves or convicts.
Below the Ladder: LOWER CITY GUTTER - humans.
THE LIFT SYSTEM
Travel from one city plate to the next is conducted by a series of "lifts" located in various stations throughout the city, each one leading up to a different sect of the above level. The lifts themselves are constructed more or less the same regardless of where they lead, but some are more safe and well kept than others. Essentially, they are elevators made of resistant, protective glass that can withstand any amount of destruction and are large enough to hold up to 100 humans, 50 Ipsuren and 10,000 lbs. The lifts are monitored and run differently depending on the location, but they are always controlled by a guard at the destination. This way, who gains access to where can be regulated and limited when necessary. Obviously, the higher up you go, the more restricted access is.
Gutter Lifts - few and far between. One lift per slum and access is restricted only to descent for the lowering of care packages and other charities from Lower City. The exception to this is once a year, when the heads of select families will be permitted access to Lower City for a time, where they can engage in deals with the merchant towns. Usually, this is used for the buying/selling of slaves or when families wish to sell off their children or wives. Ipsuren have free access to the Lifts here, although that is never taken advantage of. Ipsuren have no interest in the Gutter.
LOWER CITY
The Bazaar - One of the smaller districts of the "Merchant City." Where unlicensed, unfunded, "free" merchants get together to buy and sell anything they want, however they want. The cheapest and most unorganized out of all the shopping districts in Lower City.
Garahim - Formerly a human suburb. Is now a small community of low class Ipsuren very loosely lead by Sungmin. Eunhyuk's current residence.
The Kuwaru House - once a human chapel, the Kuwaru portion of kani is held here along with the first day of a human convert’s Ipsuren education.
Anomaly - A particularly seedy town that houses one of Lower City's most used Lifts.
HIGHER CITY
Cronian outpost - Lavishly decorated town the Cronian have claimed as their own. Unnamed, it is known as the center for their study and practice. Most of the Ipsuren in Higher City are wary of it.
DISANJI
Altair - Timechaser Capital and where Kangin’s home resides.