Demahnk Council/Demon Council: Comprised of the eleven demahnk ptarl/advisors of the lords. Holds power and influence that Kara is still discovering. Enforcers of Szerain’s exile.
Demonic lord: Half human, half demahnk hybrid. Able to monitor, maintain, and influence the potency flows of the demon realm.
Earthgate: One of eleven gateways between the Earth and demon realm. Defunct for thousands of years.
Eleven: A significant number in the demon realm in rituals, architecture, and managing potency. Also, the number of demonic lords (before Ashava).
Discorporeate: The immediate dissolution and disappearance of the physical form after death when the death occurs on the non-home world. A demon that dies on Earth will discorporeate with a chance of resurrecting in the demon realm, and the same goes for a human who dies in the demon realm. Death by blading precludes discorporeation.
Essence blades: Three knives created by Mzatal as artifacts of power. Khatur (Mzatal), Xhan (Rhyzkahl’s, but currently with Mzatal), Vsuhl (Szerain).
Lord headache: Excruciating head pain triggered by thoughts of topics deemed off limits by the demahnk council.
Manipulation: The altering of memories or controlling of actions through telepathic means. Utilized by demonic lords and demahnk.
Mutagen: Specialized rakkuhr that can cause mutations.
Mraztur: Derogatory demon word used by Kara and her allies to refer to the demonic lords unified against her personal interests and those of Earth. Rhyzkahl, Jesral, Amkir, and Kadir. Rough translation (per Seretis): motherfucking asshole dickwad defilers.
Nexus: A confluence of potency streams harnessed as a focal point of power in each lord’s realm. Universally marked by a platform of stone, wood, or crystal surrounded by eleven columns. Foundation for the most powerful rituals. Mzatal and Kara created a basic nexus in Kara’s back yard. Mzatal later amplified it by anchoring Rhyzkahl to it.
Plexus: The chamber in each lord’s realm where the arcane potency flows of the planet can be monitored, manipulated, and adjusted by a demonic lord. Used daily, often for many hours at a time. Most are furnished for comfort during long work sessions. Kara’s rough translation: a demonic lord’s man-cave.
Ptarl: The demahnk counselor and advisor to a demonic lord.
&n
bsp; Qaztahl: Demon word for demonic lord. Both singular and plural. The lords are human in general appearance, but have a palpable energy aura and are able to shape and wield potency. Mind readers. Fully responsible for maintaining the potency stability of the planet. It is the one matter they agree on without question.
Rowan: As yet enigmatic personality that Rhyzkahl intended to overlay on Kara. Demonstrated arrogance and sense of invulnerability. Seems to be familiar with Szerain.
The Cataclysm: Demon realm disaster that began in the 17th century and lasted nearly a century. Earthquakes, floods, fire rain, and rifts in the dimensional fabric. Started by a ritual performed by Szerain and Elinor.
The Conclave: An annual meeting of all qaztahl where global issues are addressed and plexus schedules for the upcoming year are confirmed. Outward hostility is frowned upon. Intrigue is rife.
The groves: Clusters of white-trunked trees that form a network of organic teleportation nodes, with one in each realm of the eleven qaztahl and a dozen or so more scattered across the planet. Animate and sentient. a.k.a. Rho. Kara has a unique relationship with the groves. Teleportation can only be activated by a lord, demahnk, or Kara. Each grove has a mehnta as its caretaker—a lifelong commitment.
The “others”: The vague designation given by Zack for ones he cannot speak of who, along with the Demahnk Council, hold and enforce ancient oaths.
The Three: Mzatal, Rhyzkahl, and Szerain when they each bore their essence blades. Dominated the demon realm unchallenged and unchallengeable for centuries.
Valve: An arcane conduit between the demon realm and Earth that acts as a potency pressure valve to help stabilize the demon realm.
Terms Related to Earth
Arcane Investigations: FBI special task force in charge of demon and arcane-related action and investigation.
Bertha: Cory Crawford’s 1976 Chevy Nova. Kitted out with ham radio equipment.
Bloodbath Summoning: An attempt over thirty years ago by Peter Cerise and five other summoners to summon Szerain. Rhyzkahl came through instead and slaughtered all the summoners but Cerise, (including Kara’s grandmother, Gracie Pazhel). Tessa witnessed.
DIRT: Acronym for Demonic Incursion Retaliation and Tactics. Special units on the frontlines of rift formation and invading demon suppression.
DNN: Demon News Network. Television network devoted to coverage of rifts and demon activity.
Federal Command Center a.k.a. Fed Central: Beaulac Ground Zero headquarters for DHS, NSA, CIA, and other national agencies, with the FBI Arcane Investigations task force taking the lead. Located in what used to be the Southern Louisiana Heart Hospital, now converted into a secure compound.
Kara’s Kompound: Nickname for Kara’s house and property.