Matter

C: the Culture

HLI: High-level Involved (also MLI: Mid-level; LLI: Low-level)

L1S: level one of Sursamen (etc.)

S: Sursamen

Characters

Aclyn: the lady Blisk, mother to Elime and Oramen; banished

Aiaik: Towermaster of the D’neng-oal Tower, Sursamen

Alveyal Girgetioni: Acting Craterine Zamerin, Sursamen

Archipontine: head monk of the Hyeng-zharia Mission

Baerth: knight of Charvin, Sarl (Bower or Brower to Ferbin)

Bleye: one of tyl Loesp’s lieutenants

Broft: foreman, Nameless City dig, Ninth, Sursamen

Chasque: Exaltine, Sarl chief of priests

Chire: rail car driver, the Falls

Choubris Holse: Ferbin’s servant

Chilgitheri: (Morthanveld) liaison officer on “Fasilyce, Upon Waking”

Dilucherre: old master of painting, Sarl

Djan Seriy: Anaplian; princess, C SC agent

Droffo: earl, from Shilda; becomes equerry to Oramen

Dubrile: ex-soldier at Falls; becomes Oramen’s bodyguard chief

Elime: esk Blisk-Hausk’r; dead eldest son of Hausk

Everlasting Queen: Nariscene monarch; currently on 3044th Great Spawning

Fanthile: secretary of royal palace, Pourl

Ferbin: otz Aelsh-Hausk’r (Feri, as child)

Foise: general, Sarl army, attached to Falls contingent

Geltry Skiltz: C person, aboard MSV Don’t Try This At Home

Gillews: (Dr) Royal Physician to Hausk

Girgetioni: Nariscene family, Sursamen

Harne: the lady Aelsh; mother to Ferbin

Hausk: Nerieth (“the Conqueror”); warrior-king, Sarl

Hippinse: Pone; an avatoid of the Liveware Problem

Humli: Ghasartravhara; liaison officer, MSV Don’t Try This At Home

Honge: bravard of Pourl’s drinking dens

Illis: armourer, royal palace, Pourl

Jerle Batra: Djan Seriy’s SC Control/mentor; an Aciculate

Jerfin Poatas: in charge of Falls excavation

Jish: whore, Pourl

Kebli: child in court at same time as Djan Seriy

Kiu: (-to-Pourl) Oct Ambassador to Pourl

Klatsli Quike: avatoid of the Liveware Problem

Koust: Oct Tower under-clerk, Sursamen

Leeb Scoperin: another Special Circumstances agent on Prasadal

Leratiy: senior technician, Sarcophagus excavation, Falls

Luzehl: whore; sister to Paiteng

Machasa: Mrs; young Djan Seriy’s nurse and tutor

Mallarh: lady of the Sarl court

Masyen: Aclyn’s husband; becomes mayor of Rasselle

Munhreo: junior scholar, Hicturean-Anjrinh Scholastery

Neguste Puibive: becomes Oramen’s servant

Nuthe 3887b: Morthanveld greeting device, Syaung-un

Obli: Harne’s ynt

Omoulldeo: old master of painting, Sarl

Oramen: lin Blisk-Hausk’r; a prince, same mother as Elime

Prode the younger: ancient Sarl playwright

Puisil: servant in the royal palace, Sarl

Quitrilis Yurke: C traveller; finds Oct lying about ship movements

Ramile: lady of the Sarl court

Renneque: the lady Silbe

Savidius Savide: Oct Peripatetic Special Envoy, Sursamen

Seltis: old tutor of Ferbin’s — now Scholastery Head Scholar

Senble: Holse’s wife

Shir Rocasse: tutor to Oramen

Shoum: director general of Morthanveld Strategic Mission

Sinnel: ancient Sarl playwright

Skalpapta: Alien Greeting and Liaison Officer, GS Inspiral, Coalescence, Ringdown

Sordic: old master of painting, Sarl

Tove Lomma: childhood friend of Oramen; later his equerry

Tulya Puonvangi: C ambassador, on Inspiral, Coalescence, Ringdown

Tagratark: Towermaster of Vaw-yei Tower, Sursamen

Tareah: Sarl doctor

Tchilk: Nariscene Barbarian Relational Mentor, Baeng-yon Crater

Toark: child Djan Seriy rescues from burning city

Tohonlo: one of tyl Loesp’s lieutenants (also Toho, as child)

Truffe: second cousin to Ferbin

Turminder Xuss: (Handrataler) Djan Seriy’s drone

tyl Loesp: Mertis; Hausk’s 2nd in command

Utaltifuhl: Nariscene Grand Zamerin of Sursamen

Vaime: the lady Anaplia; mother of Djan Seriy

Vollird: of Sournier, knight of Sarl

Werreber: senior general; becomes field marshal, army chief

Wudyen: duke; Hausk’s brother

Xessice: whore, Hyeng-zhar Settlement

Xide Hyrlis: C outcast, military commander for Nariscene

Xidia: young lady at court (named after Xide Hyrlis)

Yariem Girgetioni: Deputy Acting Zamerin, Sursamen

Yilim: senior officer in Hausk’s army

Zandone: Sarl actor and impresario

Zeel: young Djan Seriy’s pet mersicor

Zourd: (Expanded Version Five) Cumuloform, 13th, Sursamen

Culture Full Names

Astle-Chulinisa Klatsli LP Quike dam Uast

Meseriphine-Sursamen/VIIIsa Djan Seriy Anaplian dam Pourl

Sholz-Iniassa Jerle Ruule Batra dam Ilyon

Stafl-Lepoortsa Xide Ozoal Hyrlis dam Pappens

Species

Aeronathaurs: Tensile; see Xinthia

Aultridia: upstart species that evolved from parasites living under carapaces of Xinthia; mat-like/Pelliform (also “Squirmiform”, term of abuse); LLI

Avians: bird species; L5S variety methane gas-going

Birilisi: Avian species much given to excessive narcoticism; MLI

Bithians: (L0S) gilled whale-size creatures, waterborne; HLI

caude: giant winged creature, tameable and rideable; L8&9S

choup: Sarl equivalent of dog; L8&9S

chunsel: warbeast, later of burden and traction; L8S

Culture, the: mongrel humanoid civilisation; HLI

Cumuloforms: cloudlike O₂ beings; L4S

Deldeyn: same species as Sarl, one level down; allied to the Aultridia, seen as antagonistic to the WorldGod and so enemies of the Sarl; L9S

hefter: beast of burden and traction; L8&9S

Hydrals: black hole smoker species; L13S

Iln: aero-spiniform HLI aeons ago; wrecked Shellworlds, destroyed Veil tombs; believed extinct/missing

Inheritors: see Oct

Involucra/Veil: Shellworld builders, HLI aeons ago

lyge: giant winged creature, tameable and rideable; L8&9S

mersicor: large quadruped, tameable and rideable; L8&9S

Monthia: pan-species very large ocean-going creature-type

Morthanveld: Nariscene mentors; spiniform waterworlders, HLI

Nariscene: Sarl mentors; insectile, MLI

Nuersotise: humanoid; one of the contending species on Prasadal

Oct/Inheritors: claim descent from Involucra; control (most) travel within Towers of Sursamen and many other Shellworlds; octal Waterworlders; LLI

ossesyi: quadruped warbeasts; L8S

Pelagic Kite: atmospheric waterworlders; sail air over water-worlds; term also used for surface-going kited bioships; L5S

rowel: quadruped pack beast; L8&9S

ryre: quadruped, equivalent of cat; L8&9S

Sarl: humanoid people exiled/interned within Sursamen; L8&9S

Seedsails: mirror-sailed seed carriers; L1S

spore-wisp: plasma seed of a stellar field-liner

Swimmers: beings from lower levels of gas giant planets; L12S

Tendrils: elongated gas giant species, L6 & 10S

Tubers: black hole smoker species; L13S

Tueriellian: (Maieutic) investigative Seedsail

uoxantch: quadruped warbeasts; L9S

WorldGod, the: being at Core of Sursamen; a Xinthian; L15 & 16S

Veil: see Involucra

Vesicular: surface waterworlders; having gas-filled bladder/sail; L10S

Xinthia: (Tensile Aeronathaur) an Airworlder; giant airships (smaller than dirigible behemothaurs); semi-adapted for high-pressure gaseous/liquid environments and space-capable. Now rare and generally Developmentally/Inherently/Pervasively Senile; see WorldGod, the

Xolpe: humanoid; Nariscene client species, at war

ynt: quadruped equivalent of small tame otter; L8&9S

Zeloy: humanoid, one of the contending species on Prasadal

General Glossary

34th Pendant Floret: region of space

512th Degree FifthStrand: Humanoid Guest Facility, Syaung-un

aboriginistas: those with obsessive interest in ‘primitives’

Aciculate: bush-like

afap: as fast as possible (C)

Altruist: a civilisation purposefully and consistently eschewing naked self-interest

Anjrinh: district in Hicture; home to a Scholastery

Aoud: star/system, home of Gadampth Orbital

aquaticised: (humanoids) fully converted to water-dwelling

Arithmetic: re a Shellworld, term given to one whose levels occur in simple multiples

Articles of Inhabitation: rules by which Shellworld inhabitants live

Aspirant: civilisations wanting to be Involveds

Asulious IV: Morthanveld planet, Lesser Yattlian Spray

autoscender: uncrewed transport within Shellworld Tower

backing: direction (opposite of facing)

Baeng-yon: Surface crater, Sursamen

bald-head fruit: edible by caude, common to L8&9S

Bare: places on Shellworld with no ground cover

Baron Lepessi: classic play by Prode the younger

Baskers: species type; absorb sunlight directly

bell-goblet: vibrating crystal container used when drinking Chapantlic spirit

billow bed: C bed with 99% AG, multiple soft wisps of material and smart “feathers” able to avoid being breathed in

Bilpier: Nariscene planet, Heisp system

black-backed borm: C animal

Botrey’s: gambling/whore house in Pourl’s Schtip district

Bowlsea: body of water filling Prime depression in Shellworld

brattle: bush, L8&9S, Sursamen

bravard: lusty, drinking, up-for-a-fight kind of man

Bulthmaas: planet in Chyme system where Xide Hyrlis found

camoufield: (C) projected field camouflaging objects

Chapantlic spirit: type of booze (see bell-goblet)

Charvin: a county of Sarl

Cherien: ridge, near Sarl city, L8S

Chone: a star in the Lesser Yattlian Spray

Chyme: stellar system, home of Bulthmaas

CleaveHull: type of Morthanveld ship

Clissens: a Rollstar of the Ninth, Sursamen

cloud trees: flora, L8&9S, Sursamen

Conducer: (species) those which make habit of taking over and (usually) exploiting structures, artefacts and habitats built by earlier civilisations — from ancients to the recently Sublimed

Core: solid centre of a Shellworld

crackball: C game played with solid wooden ball

Crater: re a Shellworld, a high-walled habitable area on Surface

crile leaf: cocoa-like drug, chewed; L8&9S

Curbed Lands: type of (originally Deldeyn) province

cut-rot: gangrene (Sarl term)

Dengroal: town, L8S, beneath the D’neng-oal Tower

deSept: Nariscene clanlet without a Sept or major clan/family

Despairationals: extremist group, Syaung-un

Dillser: ducal house by Boiling Sea of Yakid, L9S

director general: high rank of the Morthanveld

Disputed: re a Shellworld, one whose Towers are not all controlled by the same species

D’neng-oal Tower: Oct transport Tower, Sursamen

Domity: a Rollstar of L8S

Enabler: (machine) device used to find ways to communicate with alien species and artifacts

Evingreath: a town on the Xilisk road from Pourl

Exaltinates: elite troops under Chasque

Exaltine: top Sarlian religious rank; chief priest

Exponential: see logarithmic

facing: direction; from facing direction of world’s rotation (opposite of backing)

Facing Approach Street: near royal palace in Pourl

Falls Merchant Explorer: guild of merchants exploiting Falls

Falls, the: cataract on the Sulpitine river, L9S (aka the Hyeng-zhar)

Far Landing: peripatetic port on far side of Sulpitine from the Settlement

farpole: direction to pole of world furthest from Sarl heartlands (opposite of nearpole)

Feyrla: river, Xilisk, L8S

Fifth deSept: minor, unaligned clanlet, Nariscene/Sursamen

Filigree: complexes of Shellworld Tower ceiling supporting inverted buttresses

Fixstars: Shellworld interior stars, unmoving

floater: slightly derogatory term used for aquatic peoples by landgoing peoples

Foerlinteul: C Orbital

FOIADSFBF: First Original Indigent Alien Deep Space Farers’ Benevolent Fund (Morthanveld)

Forelight: pre-dawn light cast by Rollstar

Gadampth: C Orbital

Gavantille Prime: waterworld planet, Morthanveld space

Gazan-g’ya: a Crater of Sursamen

Gilder’s Lament, the: tavern, Pourl

Godded: a Shellworld with a Xinthian at its core

Grahy: Morthanveld planet, Lesser Yattlian Spray

Grand Zamerin: exalted rank of the Nariscene (see also Zamerin)

Greater Army: combined armies gathered by Hausk to resist Deldeyn and invade their level

Great Palace: Rasselle, L9S

Great Park: Rasselle, L9S

Great Ship: type of very large Morthanveld ship

Great Tower: one of six fortifications within Rasselle

Guime: a Rollstar of L8S

habiform: technically correct term for what is usually called terraforming; altering any already existing environment to suit it to the needs of one or more species

Heavenly Host: Deldeyn religious sect tyl Loesp empowers

Heisp: Nariscene colony system

Hemerje: ducal palace near the Great Park, Rasselle

Heurimo: a fallstar of L9S

Hicture: a region of L8S

Hicturean: Tower (L8S, not far from Pourl)

Hollow World: see Shellworld

House of Many Roofs, The: play by Sinnel

Hyeng-zhar: cataract on the Sulpitine river, L9S, aka the Falls

Hyeng-zharia Mission: religious order; controlled the Falls’ excavation

Hyeng-zhar Settlement: ever-temporary city, the Falls, Sursamen

Ichteuen: (Godwarriors) fight for Sarl; L8S

Illsipine Tower: Sursamen

Imperial Procreational College: on Nariscene homeworld; regulates Spawnings

Incremental: re a Shellworld, term given to one whose levels occur in exponential increments (hence aka Exponential)

injectiles: any organisms or mechanisms capable of being injected (usually into metre-scale entities, in context especially humans)

In Loco’d: placed under care (Morthanveld term)

Inner Caferlitician Tendril: region of space

interior star: artificial suns emplaced by secondary Shellworld species within these worlds; anti-gravitational, pressing against ceiling of given level; most mobile (Rollstars); some not (Fixstars)

Ischuer: city, Bilpier

Jhouheyre: city-cluster, Oct planet of Zaranche

Jiluence: a Monthian (megawhales) ancestral homeworld

Keande-yi: region near Pourl, L8S

Keande-yiine: Tower in region near Pourl, L8S

Khatach Solus: Nariscene homeworld

Kheretesuhr: archipelagic province, Vilamian Ocean, L8S

Kiesestraal: a fading Rollstar of L9S

Klusse: city, Lesuus Plate

krisk nuts: caude stimulant, L8&9S

Kuertile Pinch: region of space

Lalance: continent, Prasadal

lampstone: carbide

Lemitte: general, Sarl army

Lepoort: plate, Stafl Orbital

Lesser Yattlian Spray: region of space

Lesuus: plate, Gadampth

level: re a Shellworld, one of the world’s spherical shells

lifebowls: see mottled

Logarithmic: re: a Shellworld, term given to one whose levels occur in exponential increments (hence aka Exponential)

Machine Core/level: level immediately surrounding a Shellworld Core

Meast: water-nest city, Gavantille Prime

Meseriphine: star in the Tertiary Hulian Spine

MHE: Monopathic Hegemonising Event (usually runway nanotech)

MOA: Mysterious Object from Afar

Moiliou: Hausk family estate, L8S

Mottled: re a Shellworld, term given to one whose Surface is partially (mostly) free of atmosphere, with significant areas — within large, high-walled (normally original) Surface features — of nominally inhabitable pseudo-planetary environments, called Lifebowls

Multiply Inhabited: re a Shellworld, one with more than one intelligent species in residence

Nameless City: of L9S; long buried metropolis being uncovered by the Hyeng-zhar

nanorgs: nano-scale organisms; often aka injectiles (though this covers non-biological material too)

Natherley: a Rollstar of L9S

nearpole: direction (opposite of farpole)

Nearpole Gate: a main gate of Pourl city, L8S

Nestworld: usually, and always in context of Morthanveld, a type of artificial habitat composed of multiple twisting tubes, complexly intertwined and generally water-filled

Night: re a Shellworld, places within a level which are totally or almost totally dark, over the horizon from both direct and reflected sunlight or vane-blocked

Oausillac: a Fixstar of L9S, Sursamen

Obor: a Rollstar of L8S, Sursamen

Oerten: Surface crater, Sursamen

Optimae: name given to Culture, Morthanveld, etc. by more lowly civilisations; roughly equivalent to HLI

Oversquare: re a Shellworld, levels beyond which increasing separation of secondary supporting filaments branching from Towers no longer allows intra-filament inter-Tower travel (usually in top half of levels); opposite of undersquare

Pandil-fwa Tower: Oct transport Tower, Sursamen

Parade Field: Pourl, L8S

Pentrl: a Rollstar of L8S

Peremethine Tower: Oct transport Tower, Sursamen

Pierced: re a Shellworld, a level-accessible Tower

Placed: placed under care (Morthanveld term)

Pliyr: star, Morthanveld space

Pourl: region and capital city of Sarl, L8S

Prasadal: planet, Zoveli system

Prille: country on Sketevi

Primarian: type of large Oct ship

Prime: re a Shellworld, term given to structure of world as originally built by Veil

Quoline: river, draining the Quoluk Lakes

Quoluk Lakes: of L8S, near Pourl

Quonber: module platform, Prasadal

Rasselle: Deldeyn capital city, L9S

Reshigue: city, L8S

roasoaril: fruit plant, L8&9S (refinable)

Rollstars: Shellworld interior stars which move

roving scendship: (Oct) scendship air- and underwater- capable

Safe: (multi-million-year) re a Shellworld, term given to one with no recent history of world-caused gigadeaths

saltmeat: (Sarl) salted meat

Sarl: people and kingdom, L8S, Sursamen (also planet)

scend tubes: tubes scendships use

scendship: ship which ascends or descends within a Shellworld Tower

Scholastery: recessional university, like a secular monastery devoted to learning

Schtip: district of Pourl, L8S

scrimp: dismissive name for Falls workers

seatrider: C skeletal AG device; personal transport

Secondary: re a Shellworld, term given to structural additions to world added by later possessors

shade: areas on a Shellworld level without direct sunlight (effect severity varies with shell diameter, vane geometry, etc.)

Shellworld: artificial planet, part of ancient megastructure; also known as Hollow World and Slaughter World (archaic)

Shield world: see Shellworld

Shilda: province of Sarl, L8S

silse: collective term for class of Shellworld creatures which transport silt particles from seabeds and other aquatic environments to land, via hydrogen sacs, evaporation, clouds and rainfall

Sketevi: continent on Bulthmaas

Slaughter World: see Shellworld

SlimHull: type of Morthanveld ship

Sournier: county within Sarl, L8S

Spiniform: (world) a partially collapsed Shellworld

spiniform: applied to species, indicates a spiny, pointed body type

Stafl: C Orbital

Stalks: slightly derogatory term used for landgoing peoples by aquatic peoples

Starfall: (rare) phenomenon occurring when the remains of an exhausted Shellworld interior star fall from the ceiling of a level to its floor; generally catastrophic

Sterut: Nariscene Globular Transfer Facility

Sull: Deldeyn region, L9S

Sullir: Deldeyn regional capital, L9S

Sulpitine: river, L9S

Superintendent: judicial rank, Sursamen Surface

Sursamen: Arithmetic Shellworld, orbiting Meseriphine

Swarmata: the detritus of competing MHEs

SwellHull: type of Morthanveld ship

Syaung-un: Morthanveld Nestworld in the 34th Pendant Floret

Taciturn: of a species, one which is especially uncommunicative

tangfruit: C fruit, pan-human edible

terraf: short for terraformed; a planet so amended, or any other large-scale constructed environment (see habiform)

Tertiary Hulian Spine: region of space; location of Meseriphine

thin-film: screen; goes over eyes to show virtual reality (Morthanveld term)

Tierpe Ancestral: port, Syaung-un

tink: dismissive name for Falls worker

T’leish: sub-group of Morthanveld, on Gavantille Prime

Tower: re a Shellworld, a hollow supporting column or stem, normally with vacuum inside, also used as transport tube

Tresker: a Rollstar of L9S

tropel trees: C flora; common on ships

Twinned Crater: Surface crater, Sursamen

Uliast: general, Sarl army

undersquare: see oversquare

unge: drug, smoked; L8&9S

Upstart: (species) generally recognised if mildly pejorative term for (usually intelligent and even Involved) species which is regarded as having achieved such status by the exploitation of its relationship with another, already advanced, civilisation

Urletine: (mercenaries) fight for Sarl; L8S

Uzretean: a Rollstar of L9S

Vaw-yei: Tower, Sursamen

Veil World: see Shellworld

Vilamian Ocean: on L8S

Voette: country, L8S

Vruise: location of Falls, L9S

wallcreep: foliage, L8&9S

Wars of Unity: sequence waged by Hausk to unite the Eighth

Wiriniti: capital of Voette, L8S

Xilisk: region near Pourl, L8S

Xiliskine Tower: Tower nearest to Pourl, L8S

xirze: crop, common on L8&9S

Yakid: Boiling Sea of, L9S

Yakid City: on shores of above, L9S

Yattle: planet, Greater Yattlian Spray

Zamerin: high rank of the Nariscene (see also Grand Zamerin)

Zaranche: planet, Inner Caferlitician Tendril

Za’s Revenge: C cocktail

Zoveli: star and system, location of Prasadal

Zuevelous: Morthanveld family, Gavantille Prime

Zunzil Ligature: region of space; location of Iln home world/s

Ships

Culture

Don’t Try This At Home: Steppe-class MSV

Eight Rounds Rapid: Delinquent-class FP exGOU

Experiencing A Significant Gravitas Shortfall: GCU

It’s My Party And I’ll Sing If I Want To: Escarpment-class GCU

Lightly Seared on the Reality Grill: GCU

Liveware Problem: Stream-class Superlifter (modified Delta class, Absconded)

Now We Try It My Way: Erratic-class (ex-Interstellar-class General Transport Craft)

Pure Big Mad Boat Man: GCU

Qualifier: Trench-class MSV

Seed Drill: Ocean-class GSV

Subtle Shift In Emphasis: Plains-class GCV

Transient Atmospheric Phenomenon: GCU

Xenoglossicist: Air-class LSV

You Naughty Monsters: GCU

You’ll Clean That Up Before You Leave: Gangster-class VFP ex-ROU

Nariscene

Hence the Fortress: Comet-class star-cruiser

Hundredth Idiot, The: White Dwarf-class

Morthanveld

“Fasilyce, Upon Waking”: Cat.5 SwellHull

Inspiral, Coalescence, Ringdown: Great Ship

“On First Seeing Jhiriit”: Cat.4 CleaveHull

“Now, Turning to Reason, & Its Just Sweetness”: Cat.3 SlimHull

Sursamen Levels: Inhabitants

0: Surface; vacuum/habiformed: Nariscene/Baskers/others

1: Vacuum: Seedsail nursery

2: Vacuum: Baskers

3: Vacuum: Dark

4: O₂ ocean: Cumuloforms

5: Methane shallows: Kites/Avians

6: Higher Gas Giant: Tendrils — Naiant

7: Methane Ocean: Vesiculars — Monthian megawhales

8: Land — O₂: Sarl

9: Land — O₂: Deldeyn/Sarl

(Under-/Over square division)

10: Mid Gas Giant: Tendrils — Variolous

11: Methane ocean: Vesiculars — Monthian megawhales

12: Lower Gas Giant: Swimmers

13: Water/slush matrices: Tubers/Hydrals

14: Ice/water: Dark

15: Machinery: the WorldGod — a Xinthian

16: Core — solid: the WorldGod — a Xinthian

Time Intervals

aeon: 1 000 000 000 years

deciaeon: 100 000 000 years

centiaeon: 10 000 000 years

eon: 1 000 000 years

decieon: 100 000 years

centieon: 10 000 years

millennium: 1 000 years

century: 100 years

decade: 10 years

year: 1 year