Please note that these definitions are in character for the Trinitas Empire and do not necessarily reflect the ideology either of the main characters or the author. Most of this list appeared at the beginning of The Fool, but additions will be included to assist with future stories.

Austellus: The name used by the old world when speculating on what might exist in a fogged space that no technology could observe.

Canticalica: The smallest country in the Trinitas Empire. Ruled by the Dietrich family and mostly known for being cold and having quite good goat’s cheese.

Continent, the: The land mass that the Empress was guided to by the Trinity, home of the Trinitas Empire. It exists to the far south of the old world, further than any had dared travel before. Prior to the Empress landing, there was very little of value outside of its truly spectacular coastline.

Empress, the: The immortal woman who was kissed three times upon the lips by the Trinity, and blessed so that when she spoke, her words reshaped the world. Her magic passes down to her children and to their descendants in turn.

Fools: Compulsory entertainers at court, fools are not technically considered citizens while in service. They are not entitled to names, gendered signifiers or personal characteristics that might indicate humanity. Records of their births and deaths are erased. They are not beholden to any law of the land, but answer only to the Consortium of Fools. Their role is to humble monarchs and comment on their rule—and to entertain, of course.

Hebestag: A coming-of-age celebration for descendants of the Empress, taking place on or near their 12th birthday, which originally was the age that a person could be considered an adult. The centrepiece of the evening is a performance of magic that the young mage has worked on for many months. For royalty, this performance (if not the whole celebration) is open to the public.

Iridium: A very hard, very heavy and very brittle metal which nullifies magic.

Old world, the: The place and people who rejected the Empress, and who she rejected right back. The Empress closed a barrier around the Continent to keep the heretics of the old world from discovering her people.

Maforc Castle: The castle at the heart of Canticalica, home to the Dietrich family.

Magic: The force through which the Empress and her descendants can shape the world. There are many rules, but at its core magic works by conjuring the platonic idea of a thing by using words that inspire reverence in the individual user. Magic users are generally nobility, though over the centuries the bloodline has spread far enough that this isn’t always the case.

Monarchs: Ultimate rulers of countries, beholden only to the Empress. Generally referred to as kings or queens. Rule is passed down from parent to child in order of birth, unless the ruler does not have children, in which case it is passed to their next sibling or closest relative as appropriate. Most kingdoms are monarchies, though dyarchies still occur where the inheriting ruler is less confident/able but does not wish to formally abdicate, or when two rulers provide complementary skills. Dyarchies are often made up of married couples, siblings, or a child and their guardian.

Pedispass: A game played in the southern parts of the Trinitas Empire. A ball is conveyed into goals through the application of feet and general athleticism.

Praecentor: The capital city of Canticalica. It is bordered by the Fluvius River.

Prevenient: Those who came before; those who anticipated the empire. The prevenient people welcomed the Empress to the continent and were welcomed into the Trinitas Empire in return. When they had proven their devotion sufficiently, the Empress graciously elevated them to a status equal with the true citizens of the Empire. They can be most easily identified by their dark skin, unless their ancestry is diluted by repeated unions with the paler true citizens of the Empire.

Revenant: An image of a dead person, conjured with powerful, dark magic. In stories, mages capture the spirit of someone who has passed on like a butterfly in a net, but some scholars theorise that they’re pulled from the memories and imagination of those who look upon the magic instead of from the person themself. The Empress has so far neglected to confirm this one way or another.

Sommertide: A celebration that takes place on the longest day of the year, where all citizens are free from work and status.

Sword and Shield: The law enforcers and armed forces of Canticalica. Made up of Swords (predominately offensive), Shields (predominately defensive) and Helms (leadership). Members give up their right to marriage and inheritance, but children are not explicitly forbidden.

Trinitas Era: The current era, which began the day that the Trinity blessed the Empress. Each year consists of twelve months, three in each of the four seasons. The year begins with spring and proceeds as follows: Erstus, Duo, Trei, Vierus, Funque, Sechs, Siebten, Achto, Nonem, Tecem, Eltus, Zuolf. The Fool begins in 906 TE.

Trinity, the: The god with three faces, who casts a hidden shadow.

Vertling: A fortune telling game played with a three-sided spinning top. Each side represents a face of the Trinity. Players ask a question and the side it lands on indicates the answer, with the beginning representing yes, the end representing no, and the middle representing maybe. As with everything, the hidden god’s shadow casts doubt and exceptions to any fortune.