Stars Fall Out: The Glossary

Ailo (AI-loh) The somewhat hapless younger brother of Pinuar the Tavhathan glass merchant.

anchor A physical object used to tie oneiromantic manifests to the physical world. Anchors must be clear; glass beads and small, discreet gems are the most popular choices for oneiromancers, though it is also—technically—possible to use water, or even air. The destruction of the anchor will destroy the oneiromantic object as well.

anyinara (ONN-yin-ARR-uh) A Nirsuathuan wedding bun dusted with powdered sugar and containing a haphazard number of uncooked beans.The number of beans found in an anyinara by a bride on her wedding day is meant to indicate the number of children a couple will have. Presumably, breaking a tooth is bad luck.

Ardri (ARR-dree) Ardri Rill Ryin. Father to Tyatavar and Vilari; owner of the Rill Ryin Bakery; former librarian and current professor in Nirsuathu University’s Hall of Craftsman.

blackswords The Kirosz Empire’s most infamous infantry, credited along with oneiromancers for annexing the Northern Provinces. They are, unsurprisingly, named for the color of their swords, which are forged from a metal found in the Central Provinces

Briyar (BREE-yar) Briyar Wiragh. Wife of Logh Wiragh; cousin-in-law to Tirsan.

Briyar and Dunyar (BREE-yar / DUN-yar) A constellation known as “the twins.”

Brun Tezai (BROON TEH-zai ) A half-Kiroszan printing student at Nirsuathu University. Assists at the Hall of Craftsmen’s two printing workshops.

Buri (BURR-ee) A regular—perhaps the regular—at the Rill Ryin Bakery. Younger brother of Fyinna.

distillate A dark liquid used in the creation of “impressions” in Professor Ghordaa’s magic. What, exactly, has been distilled is a matter of some concern and great secrecy.

Doyna (DOI-nuh MOO-oh-GHEE) Doyna Muogi. A master printer, as well as a professor at Nirsuathu University’s Hall of Craftsmen. Native of Luntaburu.

Duarl (doo-ARL) One of the proprietors of the House by the Sea Inn.

excisor A device used in Professor Ghordaa’s new magic. What, exactly, it excises is a mystery for the privileged few to know.

fireglass An oneiromantic creation that traps fire within a piece of glass. Used for both light and heat. The creation of fireglass is a rarer skill than fire itself.

fori squash (FOR-ee) A sweet, nutty, and highly versatile squash, prized for its often overwhelming proliferation and pleasant orange color.

Fyaan/ Fyaan provinces (FEE-onn) The language and overarching cultural identity of most of the Northern Provinces, also called the Fyaan Provinces.

Fyinna (FEE-in-uh) A regular at the Rill Ryin Bakery. Elder sister of Buri. Reluctantly purchases currant loaves. May sneak felines into bread-baking establishments.

Fyuar River (FEE-warr) The Fyuar River cuts across the northern edge of Nirsuathu after making a broad swath through the continent.

Fyusin (FEE-oo-SIN) Nirsuathu University’s Grand Secretary. Also a lizard.

Geahtni (ghee-OTT-nee) A city of the Northern Provinces. They grow nice grapes there because the author wanted to say something about it besides that it exists and maybe isn’t that interesting.

Ghordaa (GOR-dah) Professor Siril Denyua Ghordaa. Professor at Nirsuathu University. Has multi-disciplinary interests which culminate in his creation of a new magic—the first one to rival oneiromancy in hundreds of years. This makes him both a genius and, crucially, quite self-important.

Ginaya (jin-AI-uh) A constellation depicting a mythohistorical figure and her famous necklace. You know it’s a big deal when a necklace gets famous.

gyadi (ghee-AH-dee) A one-horned herd animal prized for its silky hair. Resembles a cross between a goat and a llama with long, shaggy fur.

gyawery (ghee-OW-err-ee) A hooded sleep tunic. Comes in all fabrics for all occasions, but traditionally made from soft gyadi wool.

Gyunt (GHEE-oont) An assistant at the magic test.

Haltuin (HAL-too-inn) A ferry captain who plies his trade crossing goods and passengers from one side of the Fyuar to the other, yet also has a considerable amount of time to spend lounging in some bakery.

impression chamber A tool used in Professor Ghordaa’s new magic. By funneling the professer’s distillate into an impression chamber, objects can be modified to have new properties, frequently via intricate layering.

Intan (INN-tun) Magic test assistant and son of the proprietors of the House by the Sea Inn. Serves soup in silence.

Iyarnou, Giyil (GHEE-ill ee-ARR-noo) Professor Giyil Iyarnou. The husband component of a husband-and-wife team of animal husbandry professors at Nirsuathu University. Ready with fatherly wisdom if your own father is nowhere to be found.

Iyarnou, Nyori (NEE-orr-ee ee-ARR-noo) Professor Nyori Iyarnou. The wife component of a husband-and-wife team of animal husbandry professors at Nirsuathu University. Ready with a friendly quip and always happy to answer student questions.

katibos (KAT-i-bohs) Kiroszan bean buns made of—to be absolutely clear—fully cooked beans that will not break your teeth.

Kirosz/ Kiroszan (keer-OH-jzun) Of the Kirosz Empire. Literally translating to “The Ninefold Empire,” the Kirosz Empire spans most of a continent, thanks to strategic use of blackswords, oneiromancers, and jingoist rhetoric. Since the days immediately following the rule of its first emperor, Hinabo, the Kirosz Empire has been ruled by three emperors at once; Hinabo’s strength and wisdom were considered ninefold of other men, but nine emperors “felt like too many,” according to historians. Three exceptional individuals—elected by the Council of Oneiromancers and other powerful figures in the Kiroszan government—each serve a nine-year term. Presumably involving jingoist rhetoric.

Kralize (kruh-LEEZ) A city in the Central Provinces known as the “City of Bells” thanks to its bell-festooned main square.

kreihlet (KRAY-let) Literally translating to “little magic bird,” the kreihlet, or oneiromantic messenger bird, is known as a modern manifest. A relatively recent development in oneiromancy, the kreihlet’s utility is as a fast, secure, reliable, and far-reaching form of communication. Its invention allowed the Kirosz Empire to occupy the Northern Provinces two hundred years before the start of Stars Fall Out. Oneiromancers capable of the manifest tend to have signature styles and colors, in addition to officially designated messenger codes.

Lirghala (lerr-GAH-la) At the beginning of Stars Fall Out, Lirghala is the senior of the three Kiroszan emperors, finishing the ninth year of his term. Known for tax policies which, as tax policies tend to do, make people unhappy.

Logh (LOHG) Logh Wiragh. Cousin to Tirsan, keeper of the Nirsuathu University Lighthouse, husband to Briyar Wiragh.

Luntaburu (LOON-tuh-BURR-oo) A city in the Northern Provinces known for a festival in which lanterns are strung up and down the hillside.

lurapi (lur-AH-pee) A buttery pastry resembling a empanada stuffed full of nuts and dried fruits

manifest Used as a noun, a manifest is the physical product of an oneiromancer’s craft, e.g. a fire manifest or a kreihlet manifest.

Mihridatho (MEER-id-AH-tho) A city straddling the Northern and Central provinces, Mihridatho is known equally for its river pirates and factories. Either way, you can find work there.

Nirsua (NUR-soo-UH) Mythohistorical figure. The learned and masculine patriarch of Nirsuathu. Father of Rill, husband of Yinar.

Nirsuathu (NUR-soo-AH-thoo) A coastal city in the Northern Provinces known for its exceptional university and pathetic surrender to the Kirosz Empire. Named for Nirsua.

oneiromancy Literally “magic of dreams,” oneiromancy refers not to the practice of dream interpretation and prophecy, but to a primarily Kiroszan magic that uses small pieces of glass to create (or manifest) dream images in the physical world. In times past, the practice more closely resembled prolonged, intensive day dreaming.

Pinuar (PIN-warr) A Tavhathan glass merchant staying in Nirsuathu. Frequent taker of magic tests and recently converted aficionado of the gyawery.

Plonoan (PLUN-own) Yunri Plonoan. Known posthumously for his fanciful—and often ludicrous—romantic poetry, Plonoan lived during the onset of the Occupation, of which he was an outspoken political critic in his time. Of note are his poems “You and I” and “Stars Fall Out.”

Pon (PONN) The Great Pon. A figure of legend known as a paternalistic wanderer. The patriarch of the Fyaan pantheon, at least outside of Nirsuathu, where Nirsua holds that honor.

ptaporas (puh-TAH-por-uhs) A bun traditionally made with yeast slurry leftover from brewing. Whether or not the p is silent remains a matter of great contention in the Northern Provinces, and largely depends upon where one is from.

Rabula (RAB-yool-UH) A printing student at Nirsuathu University.

Rill (RILL) Rill Nirsua. The mythohistorical founder of Nirsuathu University and author of Treatises, the quintessential work of Nirsuathan philosophy. It’s as dry as it sounds, but also slightly more unhinged than you’d think.

Rill Ryin Bakery (RILL REE-in) A decade-old bakery in Nirsuathu, run by Ardri Rill Ryin according to the most venerable baking traditions of Nirsuathu.

Rushwall Wharf A wharf on the western side of Nirsuathu, along the coast and the south bank of the Fyuar River.

ryarir (REE-uh-reer) A horned bear found north of Nirsuathu.

sikrei (SIK-ray) A low demonination of Kiroszan currency, known alternately as a “bird coin.”

Sivinta (SIV-in-TUH) Sivinta Talovi Dacada. Nirsuathu University’s Master of Libraries, and therefore, one of the most powerful people in the city. Member of the prominent Dacada family, which has produced multiple Grand Secretaries of Nirsuathu University, one of whom is the namesake of Dacada Hall.

Skasehr (SKUH-serr) Professor Berkri Skasehr. A professor of literature at Nirsuathu University with an especial love for both melodrama and the works of Yunri Plonoan—if it can be said there is a distinction between those things. Also a member of the Council of Yinar.

Skirouinta Palace (SKEER-oo-INN-tuh) The famed royal palace of Yauglesk, which was gutted and burnt at the onset of the Kiroszan Occupation.

Spire Informal and mostly northern nickname for the Kiroszan imperial capital. Derives from an exceptionally long Kiroszan word that feels like spikes in your mouth.

Sunivar (SOON-uh-varr) Thiraziri Inupta Sunivar. Grand Provost Sunivar would be more properly known as Grand Provost Thiraziri. Half-Kiroszan by birth but Nirsuathan in upbringing, Sunivar nonetheless follows the Kiroszan convention of having her family name first. Tested as an oneiromancer in her youth, Sunivar maintains connections with powerful people in the heart of the Kirosz Empire and Nirsuathu alike.

taghale (TUH-gahl) Known also as “ihi taghale” when made the proper, Kiroszan way—with pears—taghale is a mustard-like condiment that spread to the north and lost itself along the way. Nirsuathans will make it out of any and every available fruit.

tasa (TAH-suh) A low denomination of Kiroszan currency. Has both a silver and copper version.

Tavhatho (TUV-ah-thoh) A hilly coastal city many miles south of Nirsuathu. Known for its pleasant weather, lavender harvests, and most notably, its role as a crossroads between the Northern and Central Provinces of the Kirosz Empire. Residents frequently have diverse heritage and speak multiple languages.

Tepyar (TEP-yarr) A printing student at Nirsuathu University.

Tirsan (TER-sun) Tirsan Fyin Wiragh. A Nirsuathan scholar specialized in animal husbandry, particularly gyadi. Legal husband of Tyatavar. Son of Pyari Wiragh.

Topra (TOH-pruh) One of the proprietors of the House by the Sea Inn.

Tyatavar (tee-AH-tuh-VARR) Ardritah Tyatavar Rill Wiragh, nee Ryin. Baker, printer, protagonist. You must have met by now. Pronunciation of Tyatavar’s name (and in general, Y following a consonant) varies by region. In some places, particularly north of Nirsuathu, it is more common for the initial T and Y to form a consonant blend: TYAH-tuh-varr. It is not uncommon for Tyatavar to hear her name pronounced with a very slight consonantal Y.

Vahouric, Ponfir (PONN-fur VUH-horr-ick) Professor Ponfir Vahouric. A natural sciences professor at Nirsuathu University with an extracurricular (wink-wink, nudge-nudge) interest in lizard tails. Professor Vahouric is—thankfully—not based on any of the author’s real-life colleagues at the college that employees them, a fact they have dutifully made sure to mention in the location where anyone is least likely to see it.

Vilari (VAI-larr-ee) Ardritah Vilari Rill Ryin. The first-ever student of Professor Ghordaa’s magic. Daughter of Ardri, sister of Tyatavar, reluctant employee of the Rill Ryin Bakery.

Weryuin (WERR-yoo-in) A semi-obscure member of the Fyaan pantheon said to keep weary workers and weary travelers going through difficult times, but also to release them to sleep when needed.

Yauglesk (YOW-glesk) A frigid city far to the north, where the Kiroszan Occupation never settled, and fighting still flares up with every generation. Famed for Skirouinta Palace, the Royal College of Yauglesk, and the Sky Tram, which scales the mountain. Setting of The Bookburner’s Tale and other Ninefold Empire stories.

Yinar (YINN-arr) Pontah Yinar Nirsua. Figure of legend married to Nirsua namesake of Yinar’s Law. Possibly enjoyed books more than was good for her.

Zanhrori, Master (ZAN-ror-ee) Master Sonos Zanhrori. Have you not heard of Master Zanhrori? Master Zanhrori and his three fearsome beasts? Many have heard of the empire’s most infamous oneiromancer. Few know his true story, or why he took “Sonos,” meaning “of one,” as his given name.