Glossary
Aerthe A world recovering from a great war that occurred over a hundred years ago. All the cities were destroyed, the countries were obliterated, and many of the advances of civilization were lost when the Mekkers landed and invaded. The world is alive with a magic rooted in the world itself. Though Mekkers have tapped into this to power their swathes, the mechlings, and some later military tech, Aerthe is forever striving to eliminate them – much as a body would destroy a viral invader.
Doctor program A computer program that can be installed in mechlings and mechs. It enables advanced surgery if the correct tools are attached, as well as medical skills. The medical skills are designed for Mekkers, rather than Aerthe people or humans, and do not tap into the Aerthe ‘magic’.
DRAC missile A missile developed by the people of Aerthe to kill off Mekker swathes. The exact way they function has been lost. Mekkers believe them to have great explosive power. This is only partly true.
Factor H A substance said to be needed by only Mekkers that is depleted from their bodies merely by them living on Aerthe. It can be extracted from humans in quantities far greater than can be found in grounders or Scavs. Theories as to why it isn’t depleted in other people are many and as yet unverified. The Mekkers have not, yet, divulged such information.
Grounder One of the two major classes of peoples native to Aerthe. Grounder is a descriptive term for those living a static existence rather than a term for a specific race. A Scav could also be called a grounder if they chose to live in a town. Grounders mine, manufacture, trade and farm, and prefer to live in one place. There are more grounders than Scavs but they are less warlike. Most live in towns, some run trading caravans. They trade with Mekkers and Scavs.
Jagg Eight-legged beasts that go through several phases before becoming adults. Scavs use the adults as riding animals. When in the younger, carnivorous phase they are also used as guard animals.
JI-mech 34 A highly advanced military mech produced by Mekkers. None have been made since the Last Days of the War.
Jungle Swathe A swathe lost over a hundred years ago in a jungle area – rumored to have been destroyed by a plague.
Landship An enormous vehicle, as large as a sea-going ship or larger. A swathe is comprised of many landships travelling together.
Long gun Preferred weapon of the Scavs – powered by waik crystals, with projectiles powered by shoom. The metal used in their manufacture is mined by grounders and responds to thought and meditation. Decorations on the surface of such weapons emerge over time as the weapon gets to know its owner. Power, accuracy, and general specifications, improve with use.
Lilo The sound of a word meaning ‘a large snake’ in Mekkian.
Mechling A small Mekker robot powered by power cells that are a refined version of waik crystals. Though not manufactured to be sentient, some eventually go ‘sun-mad’ and become self-aware.
On the world of Aerthe, humans can ‘hear’ the thoughts of mechlings and mechs such as JI.
Mekker A space-faring race that invaded Aerthe, taking down all the major civilizations, destroying all cities. Neither side won the war – in reality all lost. Mekkers are seen as an invading foreign organism by the world of Aerthe. They travel and live in the swathes and must keep moving or the natural defenses of the planet gather and kill them.
Moons The world of Aerthe has two moons.
Physician A doctor who can use the magic of Aerthe to heal. They also use some of what would be called normal doctoring techniques.
Power Cell Manufactured from waik crystals by the Mekkers, these cells can power swathes, mechlings and mechs.
Ram A flying Mekker war vessel that is launched from a swathe. Larger than a Sniker, able to travel great distances, and more powerful than a Sniker.
Royal Swathe The swathe the Mekker king inhabits.
Scav A nomadic warlike race that lives from hunting, scavenges from the remains of the old civilizations, trades with grounders, and still hopes to defeat the Mekkers.
Shoom A material that provides explosive energy to projectiles.
Sniker A small hovering war vessel of the Mekkers.
Swathe – there are four living swathes – Royal Swathe, Lesser Swathe, Greater Swathe, and the Lost Swathe (which is no longer lost). These are comparable to a nomadic tribe, such as that of Attila the Hun on Earth. These moving cities are composed of several enormous wheeled and tracked landships, each containing thousands of people and each holds what a city needs – parks, theaters, homes, prisons, markets, courts, as well as engine rooms, command centers, and armed forces. They mine the surface as they travel and never halt unless compelled to do so.
Sun-mad When a mech or mechling becomes sentient aka self-aware.
Undercity A term used by Scavs to describe the space they inhabit when they travel beneath a destroyed city. This is always a dangerous journey, though explorers have been mapping out paths beneath these cities for decades.
Vican A purple crow-like bird. Scavs use them to carry messages.
Waik crystal A crystal mined from Aerthe and used to power vehicles, weapons, lights. Recharged by meditation, though the energy is sourced from Aerthe herself.
Warband A tribe of Scavs.
Yeger A spiritual sage attuned to waik crystals. Among other abilities, he can sense waik crystals and can charge them by meditation.