Glossary of Terms (Tales of Anosir)

affinity: The elemental affiliation of a mage's magic: earth, water, air or fire. Corresponds roughly to an ability to most easily influence solids, liquids, gases or plasma.

Anyis: The human language spoken throughout Anosir.

Caparo: A binding magical oath of familial devotion, requiring at least four participants, one or more of each magical affinity. It multiplies the raw magical power available to such participants and allows certain complicated spells to be completed more easily, while levying penalties should any participant in the oath betray, turn against or otherwise harm any other. The group thus bonded is also called a Caparo, which can be used as both singular and plural.

clevernut: A deciduous tree with oval leaves which bears a large, oil-rich nut strongly resembling a brain.

Darknight: The winter solstice. Celebrated in Anosir with bonfires, songs, and the burning of seaberry candles to bring luck.

Evennight: The equinox, whether vernal or autumnal. Celebrated in Anosir with games and athletic competitions.

Linmyra: The language of the lyrror. Literally means "old tongue".

orangeleaf: A deciduous tree with hand-shaped leaves which turn a bright orange in the autumn. In the springtime, orangeleaf trees yield a thin, sweet sap. This can be boiled down to produce a strongly-flavored sugar, also called orangeleaf.

resinwood: An evergreen tree with round, clustered needles.

seaberry: A small shrub which produces tiny, gray, waxy berries in the summer and autumn. These are the traditional source of the gray-green, scented candles burned in Anosir on Darknight to bring luck in the coming year.

Shiningnight: The summer solstice. Celebrated in Anosir with picnics, starwatching, and dances or pageants, often religious in theme.

Wicker tree: A deciduous tree with long, slender leaves and flexible branches. Its bark can be made into a tea, which has a bitter flavor but eases pain.