Alex in Wonderland: Appendix

 

Alex had a terminal Cancer diagnosis and thought she would die before she got to be the girl she always was inside. That all changes when she's in the wrong place at the right time and gets transported to another world and into the body of a girl. So what if she's not human, she's alive and a girl. Now if only she had her sister with her to navigate this new world and her new responsibilities. Wait, she's here too? The passage of their souls between worlds may have doomed the Earth to apocalypse, but Alex and Michelle won't be there to see it and they have enough problems on their hands.

 

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Author's Note: This is an appendix for terms and lore for Alex in Wonderland, to help make sense of the Greylands. This may contain some spoilers. Thanks to my readers and to BCTS for giving their support of Transgendered authors and fiction. ~Amethyst.
 

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Appendix/strong>

Humans: Much like humans on earth.

Zenin (Cat people): Roughly the same size as humans but with cat-like features: Tails, fur, cat ears and noses, fangs, slight muzzle, claws, walk on the balls of their feet. Good balance, speed and agility.

Jiquar (Four armed bear people): Furred people with bear-like ears, four arms and can get up to 8 feet tall. Omnivorous, but largely meat-eaters. Very strong with a lot of stamina but a bit slow.

Cinole (small winged humans): Human-looking with large leathery wings, pointed ears and get up to 4 feet tall. They are quick in the air and have very good eyesight. Their bones are hollow and very brittle though.

Rokin (lizard people): They live mostly in the great sand and prefer hotter temperatures. Some are known to leave as traders though.

Kyran: (aquatic humanoids) Humanoid looking with long powerful legs and arms with large webbed hands and feet. Their skin is composed of very tiny scales ranging in shades of blue and grey. Hair is often in corals blues, greens and silvers. They have large eyes in purples, ambers and normal human eye colors with an inner transparent eyelid that acts as a protective membrane underwater and allows them to see well in the dark or underwater. They have flared fin-like ears that resemble clamshells and gills along their ribs. On average they are shorter than the human norm. They are mostly isolationist and rarely seen outside their home in the Dacotis Islands, nor do they let many outsiders in.

Drakans: Telepathic dragon like creatures native to Gaje and now an endangered species hunted down by the Lharusian Empire. Azure tries to preserve them and coexist with them. Very intelligent and form a lifelong bond with their Chosen. Most Chosen are Gifted. It is ritual for the Chosen to say that they consent to being Chosen, thereby accepting the responsibility. Drakans reach their full size by one pass they can mate at five passes and have a mating cycle every three passes.

Radiant Drakan (iridescent): Winged Drakan with highly reflective silver scales that reflect light in rainbow colors. They have the ability to bend light to make themselves or others invisible and to create illusions. It is easier for them to bend light around others if the person is wearing a suit of Radiant Drakan scales. Radiant are the largest Drakans and can grow up to 65 feet long from nose to the tips of their tails with wing spans of up to 48 feet

Shadow Drakan (black): They have the ability to blend into the shadows or darkness and not be seen. They can also teleport from shadow to shadow or in dark places. They can grow up to 60 feet long from nose to the tips of their tails with wing spans of up to 45 feet. Their scales help the wearer blend into shadows or darkness.

Storm Drakan (gold): Have two large horns atop their heads which can produce electricity and fire it as lightning. They can grow up to 45 feet long from nose to the tips of their tails with wing spans of up to 30 feet. Their scales also help insulate against electricity.

Flame Drakan (red): They breathe fire. They can grow up to 45 feet long from nose to the tips of their tails with wing spans of up to 30 feet. Their scales also protect from fire and heat.

Frost Drakan (white): They encase things in ice with their freezing breath. They can grow up to 45 feet long from nose to the tips of their tails with wing spans of up to 30 feet. Their scales also protect from the cold.

Earth Drakan (green): Wingless Drakans that help plants grow and stay healthy. Their saliva can heal most wounds and poisons and is often mixed with padith and loiku to make healing tonics. They can grow up to 55 feet long from nose to the tips of their tails.

Water Drakan (blue): Drakans that live mostly in the water and fire high pressure water blasts from their mouths. They are natural dowsers and their scales are extremely water resistant. They can grow up to 45 feet long from nose to the tips of their tails with wing spans of up to 30 feet.

Stone Drakan (grey): Heavy wingless Drakans that have very hard scales. They are incredibly good tunnelers and great at finding valuable ores and gemstones. Their scales are even better armor than that of other Drakans. They can grow up to 55 feet long from nose to the tips of their tails.

Kranth: A large tusked reptile the size of a small car, very fierce and found in the wilds in warmer climates.
Neetay: A floppy eared cat-like animal found in forests, easily domesticated and commonly kept as pets.
Scraw: A large predatory bird with a hooked beak, black and red plumage and a ten foot wingspan.
Jiccan: A songbird the size of a falcon. Very smart, often kept as pets and used to send messages and other simple errands.
Yink: Dogs the size of ponies, often run wild in packs and are white, red, or brown in color. Some have been domesticated and trained as guard dogs and beasts of burden.
Sadar: Yellow furred tri horned sheep, very gentle, used for food and raised for their wool.
Luarn: Cow-like creatures with dark blue fur raised for their naturally sweet milk and butchered for meat.
Baynard: A large black equine with a sharp long curved blade-like horn, fierce, intelligent and considered too wild for domestic use.
Machul: relative to the Banard, large black equines with no horns, domesticated and very fast.
Kythir: Large ferret like creature with thick white fur and roughly thirty feet in length that live in the frozen wastes. Hunted for their warm fur and meat. Have six legs and very sharp claws and teeth.
Kihr: Smaller and smarter relative of the Kythir. Get up to four feet in length and are considered exotic pets.
Vohm: Ten foot long poisonous snakes with mottled green and brown scales. Found in dry forests and the Great Sands.
Liddeck: A turkey sized bird with small stubby wings raised like chickens for their eggs and meat. They come in white and black but their tail feathers are very large and often come in bright blues, greens, and crimsons.
Gohl: A white freshwater creature similar in size and appearance to a crab.
Soku: Gigantic black turtle-like creatures found near the Dacotis Islands. Rougly fifteen to feet from head to tail and weighing up to 4000 pounds. Move very fast in water and the Kyran use them as beasts of burden
Cythirr: Whale-like dark purple creatures hunted for their meat and blubber which is used to make scented oils.

Stingweed: A plant with purple leaves and long sharp needles. Needles are used by Healers and the leaves contain an aloe-like gel used to treat burns and scrapes.
Shix: A course brown grain similar to wheat and grown by many farmers.
Loiku: A common plant whose fibers is used in making cotton-like cloth. The large roots are very sweet and are ground to make a pink sugar-like substance which is referred to by the same name as the plant.
Padith: An herb with many healing properties.
Yalk Trees: A very dense hardwood tree with white bark, black wood, and blue diamond shaped leaves. Often used when a sturdy wood is needed for building.
Shiide: A plant with gummy leaves that taste and smell very minty. Also, a mild relaxant.
Corrune: A blue flower native to Azure whose pollen induces sleep.
Gandir: A spicy herb.
Red Bonnets: Pretty red flowers whose pollen can act as a mild aphrodisiac.
Frostberries: found on shrubs with small almost triangular shaped leaves. Berries are pale blue, almost white and have a sweet taste.
Rillfruit: Very tart blue citrus fruit. When in bloom the flowers are lavender in color.
Brae Moss: A very absorbent blue moss that grows on yalk trees.
Vilae: A fern type plant. It’s roots are an anaesthetic.
Prickleberries: Purple berries that grow on catci in the Great Sands. Make a fine brandy.
Kala: An herb from the Dacotis Islands. The large leaves are incredibly good at preventing infection in wounds.
Battu: A sappy tree from the Dacotis islands, its bark grows very fast. The bark is ground into powder and mixed with the sap and ground loiku to make a chocolate like substance.
Piska: A rapidly growing from of seaweed found around the Dacotis Islands that the Cythirr feed on.
Bloodblossoms: Bright red flowers. Their leaves used in a teas can act as a contraceptive.

The Frozen Wastes: A large mountain range with expansive glaciers that borders the country of Azure at the north, separating it from the country of Syrnia. Alex first appears in the wastes.
The Great Sand: A large desert to the south and southeast of Azure and bordering the Ujard Ocean. A lawless area where might makes right. The Rokin tribes live there as do many outlaw bands. The sheer expanse of it as well as the dangers there are the only thing keeping the Lharusian Empire from invading Azure.
Azure: The country which Alex becomes Princess of. Most races coexist well there. Ruled by the Misalet family.
The Lharusian Empire: A vast empire covering most of the continent of Gaje. Ruled by humans and other races are enslaved and treated cruelly. Drakans have been almost completely eradicated by the empires armies.
Syrnia: A country to the north of Azure across the frozen wastes. A democratic commune.
Torma: An island nation west of Azure in the Ujard Ocean. Ruled by the Biord family. Cinole homeland.
Dacotis Islands: An island nation west of the Lharusian Empire and south of Torma in the Ujard Ocean. Home to the Kyran.
Hirn: Homeland of the Jiquar. On a peninsula west of Syrnia on the Ujard Ocean. Ruled by the Rhelik family.
The Ujard Ocean: The ocean which Azure sits on the west coast of.
The Brey Mountains: A mountain range which stretches from the frozen wastes to the great sand and separates Azure from the Lharusian Empire.
Velheim: Capital city of Azure.
Draden: Azure's largest port city and home to some very nice beaches .
Yalze River: A major river in Azure.
Misalet Lake: A lake north of Velheim. Misalet Castle sits on the island at its center to protect the crystal fountain of Itari.
Therune Forest: A large forest north of Velheim and bordering Misalet Lake
Pysis: The capital city of the Lharusian Empire.
Lojihn: The Drakan homeworld.

Kida: Spirit energy that exists in all things. Can be harnessed by the Gifted.

Kida Lamps: Bright lamps made by Enchanters. As with a lot of things made by Enchanters only the well-off can afford them outside of bartering for them. Most people make do with torches.

Gift: Magic in this world is referred to as the Gift. Those who can control and manipulate Kida (spirit energy) are the Gifted. Only about 15% of the population has any Gifts worth mentioning. Over half the population have no Gifts and the remaining 35% or less have only small Gifts that aren’t much use. There are various types of Gifted and some people can have multiple Gifts. Some have great control over their Gifts while others have very little. How much Kida they can access and use, and thus their power level also varies. People are taken to Diviners when they turn 18 to test for Gifts and to trigger those Gifts. The Gifting can result in varying physical and mental changes. The 18th birthsun is often referred to as one's Giftsun. The Giftsun is a rite or passage into adulthood whether one is Gifted or not and they set aside their childhood name for the name they will carry into adulthood.

Giftburn: When someone with a powerful Gift that hasn’t been triggered by a Gifting starts to burn up from the inside from the Kida that is building up inside them and not being used. Usually only happens when young in those with powerful Gifts as those with small Gifts wouldn’t build up enough Kida until they are middle-aged.

Healers: Can heal illnesses wounds or diseases, though the more serious the injury the more magic they need to use.
Enchanters: Can't use magic to do anything directly but can permanently enchant objects with a large variety of effect spells. Enchantments can be temporary or permanent, but permanent takes more power.
Diviners: Those whose Gifts are mind based, these abilities can include telepathy, telekinesis, precognition, sensing the history of objects or places, and empathy. They can also detect Gift potential. Most varied of the Gifted.
Wilders: Can communicate with and influence animals.
Thaumaturges: Can use their Gift directly for a wide variety of effects. Sorcerers who control the base elements.
Shifters: Use their Gift to change their shape, appearance, etc. More powerful Shifters can subtly reshape the bodies of other people and objects as well.
Wind Walkers: Can control the weather.
Dabblers: Gifted in more than one area.

Plarg: Roughly 1 mile
Tayr: 50 Lin (just over one foot).
Lin: About a 1/4 of an inch.
Zim: Roughly 3 pounds.
Zimtak: 100 zims
Candlemark: Roughly 1 hour.
Sun: A day (26 candlemarks). A sun begins and ends at sunbreak (dawn).
Pass: A solar year.
Sevensun: One week.
Tenth: Ten tenths in a Pass. Each tenth is five sevensuns. The tenths are named Learth, Quenta, Pol, Zynth, Juvan, Wharee, Guren, Patok, Yalad, and Shiyas.

Selune: Goddess of Gifts………………………………………………….......Gold
Tirrik: Horned God of the Hunt…………………………………………..........Brown
Kanae: Goddess of Fertility, the Harvest and Birth……………………….....Lavender
Gund: God of War………………………………………………………….........Red
Pallo: Goddess of Death……………………………………………………......Black
Yanis: The Sun God………………………………………………………..........Yellow
Jos: The Moon Goddess……………………………………………….......…...White
Orin: God of the Seas………………………………………………………........Turquoise
Mynde: The Goddess of Unions…………………………………………….......Silver
Drek: The God of Misfortune. His name is often used as a curse word…….Orange
Itari: The Goddess of the Earth…………………………………………….....…Green
Lharus: God of the Sky (The One God)…………………………………….......Blue

Zint: An insult similar to bitch on earth

Jikkune, Jikkun, Jikkara, and Jikkar: Jikkune means goddaughter in Zenin, with godson being Jikkun and godparent being Jikkara (female) or Jikkar (male) depending on the gender. It’s usually an oath sworn before one or more Gods within the first few days after a child is born to watch over and protect them should anything happen to their parents. It isn’t something that’s done often though, because since most Zenin families have multiple parent figures there is no need.

Alex: Former earth guy dying of Cancer and now Alexis Misalet, Zenin and heir to the throne of Azure.
Michelle: Alex’s twin on Earh, and now Alexis’ Radiant Drakan.
Jezz: Cinole Healer and Alex’s romantic interest and companion, 19 passes old.
Grayle: Earth Draken, Jezz is her Chosen.
Patar: brown-furred Jiquar scholar, advisor, and protector of the royal family of Azure.
Runne: Frost Drakan, Patar is his Chosen.
Felice: Personal Maidservant of Alexis.
Chrissy: A kihr and Alexis’ pet.
Yurin: Human miner and Chosen of Perrix.
Perrix: Stone Drakan, Yurin is his Chosen.
Alina Misalet: First Queen of Azure.
Nisa Misalet: Alexis’ Greylands mother and Queen of Azure.
Janis: Nisa’s husband, Alexis’ father, and King of Azure.
Larane: Palace Healer, Zenin.
Trevas: Larane’s son and apprentice Healer.
Mathan Biord: Cinole prince of Torma.
Galan: Human, royal Enchanter.
Kardis: grey Jiquar, royal blacksmith, Shifter.
Tarn: Zenin apprentice to Galan.
Kiryn: Human palace servant.
Duchess Yanesse: Zenin noblewoman.
Countess Nikola Tahrun: Zenin Noblewoman.
Count Leggund Tahrun: Zenin Noble.
Viscount Halan Tahrun: Zenin noble and son to Nikola.
Lannah: Human born on the same day as Alexis (Visanee). Long range telepath and shifter who can change her coloring. 18 passes old.
Snow: Frost Drakan, Lannah is her Chosen.
Rozia: White Jiquar, minor Thaumaturge, 19 passes old.
Thorza: Storm Drakan, his chosen is Rozia.
Jonth: Zenin, minor Wind Walker, 18 passes old.
Xuth: Water Drakan, Jonth is her Chosen.
Irric: powerful Zenin Shifter but stuck as a Rokin, 21 passes old.
Forte: Flame Drakan, his Chosen is Irric.
Pounce: Neetay and Jezz’s pet.
Mante: a palace squire in Misalet Castle.
Zarla: High Priestess of the Temple of Itari in Velheim, Human.
Alizia: High Priestess of the Temple of Selune in Velheim, Silver furred Zenin with auburn hair.
Gella: Chosen of Iriden.
Iriden: Radiant Drakan, Gella is his Chosen.
Kalem: Chosen of Parol.
Parol: Radiant Drakan, Kalem is his Chosen.
Nisa: Chosen of Toran.
Toran: Shadow Drakan, Nisa is his Chosen.
James O’Donnell: Precognitive from Earth during the 1600’s.
Kasmin: High Priestess in the temple of Kanae.
Girwen: High Priestess in the temple of Mynde.
Jade: Earth Drakan, Pharen is her Chosen.
Pharen: Chosen of Jade.
Naddim: Brother of Queen Nisa, the man behind the Shadow War.
Laila: A pure white Zenin with blue eyes and long curly hair blonde hair nearly as light as her fur. Runs the royal family’s summer home in Draden.
Manake: Head elder of the Kyran council of elders.
Tsinoda: The Kyran High Priestess of Itari.
Gerue: The Kyran High Priestess of Kanae.
Doran: The Kyran High Priest of Orin.
Isra Perewin: A diplomat and former vassal of the Misalet family and now the Ciuntess of Kamnis.
Carra: A palace seamstress.
Visanna and Arina: the first Drakan and Chosen pair, and it was Visanna who discovered that Drakans could bond to other species. They helped Nisa to reclaim her title of Heir and become Queen during the Shadow War twenty passes ago. And it was they who gathered all the remaining Drakans, led them to Azure, and convinced them to start the Choosings. Visanna has dark green hair and purple eyes and Arina is a Water Drakan.