Atharian Glossary

A

Ade’darens – small, long haired sheep-like animals with cloven hooves and white or brown coats
Agent - shorter and more common term for someone who works at the FRA
Agency - short hand term for the FRA
Akrium - a lightweight metal found on Atharia, typically used in ship construction
Arillira - a common plant
Arillira paste – a highly nutritional food item that tastes kind of like strong beans mixed with broccoli, made from the common Arillira plant
Atraya District - One of the seven planetary districts

B

Birani - a naturally occurring mineral
Bruff - a type of noodle

C

Central Medical Board (CMB) - the regulatory board for all things medical on Atharia. The regulatory board is staffed by both humans and Swimmers to ensure that the needs of both species are met.

D

DARD - data access and retrieval device. It's a portable computer with access to the central information database.
Datroya Plain – a large, mostly barren wasteland that was once full of life. The ground water there is highly toxic to human life.
Dariius - an infamous ship. Drianna’s aunt’s husband was one of the crew. He got hit pretty hard by the virus they brought back with them. If the crew had given themselves enough time to adjust to the environment it wouldn’t have been half as bad. As it was, they nearly managed to wipe out the entire population of Edelride and would have if the Central Medical Board hadn’t stumbled on the cause and come up with a vaccine. The loss of life was still staggering.
Diledd - Ship engine used in space travel
Dream sticks – made by wrapping a blend of cured herbs in a long, thin roll of brown paper, these are highly addictive and can have mild hallucinogenic effects. The best and most expensive ones are made with fire cured herbs while the cheapest are air cured. Use of these is highly frowned on by the Central Medical Board (CMB) as studies have proved that long term use has been linked to serious health problems. The Agency strictly prohibits use of this drug by any of its members though this policy is difficult to enforce; the herbs used are largely innocuous on their own and it’s only in this particular combination that they become dangerous. The standard forms of drug screening won’t pick up on it. If an Agent is caught using dream sticks, they will be fired. If the infraction is severe enough there may be a fine or even jail time involved.
Drylander - Swimmer term for humans
Dua - word meaning second, a unit of time

E

Enforcer - The job of the Enforcer comes into play once an Agent or team of Agents has recovered their target.

F

Fugitive Recovery Agency (FRA) - an arm of Atharian law enforcement tasked with bringing in fugitives. They employ two types of people: Agents and Enforcers. The FRA is called in when regular law enforcement is unable to apprehend a target. Funds are then allocated to the FRA to pay the bounty. Some targets are specified as needed alive, some may be brought in dead, others it doesn't matter so long as proof is provided.
Fugitive Recovery Agent – also known as a bounty hunter. Agents are tasked with the job of bringing in their targets. Agents are paid a specific bounty for their targets, hence their nickname.

G

Greenfruit – an oval shaped fruit that grows on trees. It’s similar to an apple in that its green peel can be eaten but on the inside it’s built more like a lemon. In taste, it’s like a watermelon.

H

Hebbiqor - (lit sea giant), a type of large sea dwelling mammal native to Atharia

I

Itlai - Atharia's single moon

J

Jahnaman - hell
Jannat - heaven

K

Karath’aann - a set of ruins, one of the great wonders of Atharia and well known as one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
Khollu - dangerous forest dwelling predator
Kilm - unit of distance roughly equivalent to a kilometer
Kru-shin – a form of hopscotch with very elaborate layouts

L

Lady - common term for the moon, Itlai. The Swimmers refer to the moon as Lady Itlai. Common expletives use the word lady in some manner.
Lirriro – multi-colored, polka dotted alien cow-things

M

Magcuffs – magnetically locking handcuffs used only by bounty hunters. Each cuff is assigned one controller and will only respond to it and the District’s master controller. Each Agent is assigned only enough cuffs to deal with their current assignment. When their target is apprehended, they turn him or her in with the cuffs attached. They turn over the remote as well as the target.
Maia Nebula - a stellar object visible from Atharia. It is known by the Horyinn nomads as the Tent of the Ancestors.

N

Nakrith - ship class; battlecruisers. These are the most powerful ships currently in service

O

Ome – a rice-like grain that is light cream in colour; grown by Swimmers

P

Prime Minister - leader of the Atharian Government

Q

Quela – A kind of shark that eats indiscriminately and has been known to turn cannibal. It’s regarded as more of a nuisance and being referred to as one is deeply insulting, especially to the Swimmers.
Qir - unit of measurement; inch
Quita - a small, flying, bloodsucking insect

R

Raebuck – a kind of large carnivorous animal whose meat is exceptionally tender
Rainbow fish – freshwater fish common to rivers in the western hemisphere
Rainbow gems – mined in the mountains
Rescher’s Syndrome – A fatal disease that causes numerous detrimental effects to many organs.
Rallavance - famous hotel on Atharia
Rekmar - Atharian standard currency. Plural: rekmars
Reye’s Disease - A disease that causes numerous detrimental effects to many organs, especially the liver, as well as causing hypoglycaemia.

T

Tagrith - ship class; typically used as retrieval ship, a type of vessel that had fallen out of use more than fifty years ago. Teardrop body shape, light in weight
Tassren Spire - the tallest object on Atharia

S

Scad - an expletive, short for schyadra
Schyadra - /scaˈdra/ nf. shit
Shallar - ship class; replaced the Tagrith, more powerful engine and more advanced armour, high top speed
Shrike - a type of bird of prey native to Atharia
Strabovirus Straythen - large, grey and brown birds of prey common to the coastal areas
Swimmer - the human name for the native people of Atharia
Swimmer fire - made when a specific blend of substances comes into contact with water. How to make it is a closely guarded secret.

W

Warosko – a type of local bird similar to a chicken (lit. mud bird)

Y

Yenal - ship class; personal cruiser equipped with decent weaponry, large engine
Yonarai - a ship who's crew was responsible for a disaster they caused by accident
Yucotzal - a predator

Z

Zatiin - a large species of octopus that lives in the deeper parts of the oceans