Encyclopedia Threnosia

A

Adventurer:
Adventurers are individuals who embark upon dangerous travels in search of plunder and fame. Adventurers who reach celebrity status for their accomplishments often become Heroes. Adventurers play an important role in frontier economies; purchasing supplies for their travels at outfitters and sometimes returning with new wealth to spend on local services ranging from taverns to brothels. More metropolitan settlements tend to consider adventurers unclean vagrants rather than sources of revenue.

Apprentice:
While there are apprentices in most trades, the term is most often associated with the journeyman rank in the Heroes’ Guild. While apprentices have guild affiliation, they are not full-fledged members until they have traveled with established Heroes in the field and are declared worthy to seek the title of Hero for themselves. The mortality rate among apprentices is unusually high, but Heroes insist they do not regard apprentices as expendable henchmen.

Arfyap:
The language of the wolfkin, indistinguishable from typical barking.

Asha:
The goddess of Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll. Asha represents the more indulgent side of femininity, adored by her followers and disparaged by everyone else as the patroness of prostitutes and femme fatales.   
Evil aspect of the Scythe. See: Religion.

Associate:
Associates are entry-level members of the Heroes’ Guild. They pay full dues but receive no benefits save the slim opportunity for advancement. Higher ranking members of the Guild exploit associates as a source of free labor.

B

Bard:
Traditionally bards were minstrels and lore keepers, chronicling the great events of their time in lyrics and prose. Modern bards still practice the musical arts of their forebears, but they are not entertainers so much as public relations specialists. Bards sell their services to up-and-coming Heroes, composing propaganda in song and story to further the fame of their clients. Bards are typically freelance, but the most accomplished Heroes retain their own personal bards to embellish their victories and belittle their rivals.

BB&W:
'Beers, Beds, and Wenches' is a relatively upscale and very popular tavern, inn, and brothel in the city of Parsim.

Border Wars:
The Border Wars were hardly wars at all, but rather a number of skirmishes and minor military conflicts. The nations that once dumped prisoners to suffer and die in the harsh wilds of Threnos returned when abundant natural resources were discovered there, but the same high mountains and turbulent seas that once kept the prisoners in also served to keep other nations out. Boats, dirigibles, and other means of troop transportation were attempted, but in the end it was the natural boundaries of Threnos that did more to win the wars than its military.

Brinemaiden:
Brinemaidens are cunning oceanic predators with the body of a shark and the upper torso of a lithe woman. They often save shipwrecked sailors from drowning by eating them. Rumors abound about the reproductive cycles of the brinemaidens. Experts in marine ecology insist they reproduce in the same fashion as sharks, but many sailors believe they copulate with male victims and deposit infant daughters ashore to be raised by humans. Sailors raise brinemaidens in the belief it will render them immune to the deadly predators in the future when their adopted daughters reach puberty and return to the sea. Legends are told of mute girls with souless black eyes wandering listlessly by the seashore before vanishing with the tide.

Busker:
Buskers are failed Bards. See: Bard.

C

Cat Herder:
Cat Herders are monk-like nomadic shepherds who drive their flocks of cats from town to town, paid in alms for blessing the settlements where they stay with feline good luck and rat catching services. They are renowned for their indefatigable patience.

D

Dirigible:
Dirigibles are both the chief mode of long distance travel in Threnos, and the chief cause of death among travelers. Massive balloons of highly combustible gas keep the vehicle aloft, while rattletrap engines burn fuel to propel them to their destination. Yeah…

Dragon:
Dragons are (or were) large winged predatory reptiles. Due to their tendency to eat domesticated farm animals, dragons are often hunted relentlessly by Heroes on behalf of ranchers and herdsmen, making the majestic creatures an endangered species. Dragon-slaying was once a benchmark in the rise of a Hero, but now due to the scarcity of the creatures the number of Heroes who boast authentic dragon trophies is in decline. The counterfeit dragon trophy industry is booming, however.

Dram:
Drams are the smallest denomination of Threnesian currency. They are typically circular coins made of lead and covered in a thin coating of gold. The term describes the currency's exchange rate: one coin purchases one refill of an ale tankard, or "dram" of ale. Money may not be the root of all Evil, but it's definitely the second highest cause of lead poisoning in Threnos (the first being the plumbing).

E

Elves:
Elves do not exist.

Engines:
Threnesian industry has contrived three types of engines (in the order they were invented): Hamster, Steam, and Flame. The latter two (involving boiling water and combustion of expensive fuel respectively) are widely considered unreliable experimental technology. The former rodent-based engine has been in use since goblins invented it thousands of years ago and requires a relatively inexpensive fuel of alfalfa pellets, but the key component has to be replaced fairly often.

F

Firearms:
Firearms range from simple powder scatterguns that fire whatever you can jam into the business end to sophisticated revolving barrels that shoot jacketed rounds. Although they’ve been around for hundreds of years, the adoption of firearms in foreign militaries has been hampered by their stubborn adherence to old and outdated traditions of honor and martial code. Unburdened by such nonsense, Threnos quickly elevated shooting one another in the back to a national pastime and boasts the highest rates of firearm ownership  and firearm related death in the world.

G

Goblin:
The term "Goblin" is assigned to any number of green-skinned humanoid species. Common goblins are diminutive and ignorant creatures with voracious appetites and an extremely rapid rate of breeding. Reckless and aggressive, they make ideal foot soldiers. Other goblin species differ in height and intellectual capability but share verdant complexion and common ancestry with their short and stupid kin. Goblins are amphibious and have the unique ability to breathe through their skin. As a result goblins tend to eschew most clothing, preferring unrestrictive cloth and jewelry. They are also singularly difficult to strangle to death.

H

Hero:
Heroes are adventurers who achieve celebrity status, typically through the murder of dangerous people or animals and subsequent public display of related trophies and acquisitions. Most Heroes are licensed to ply their problem-solving trade by the Heroes’ Guild.

Heroes’ Guild:
The Heroes’ Guild is widely believed to have been founded by the Overlord to curtail the ambitions of rampant do-gooders with bureaucracy. While it freely recruits low-level affiliates as apprentices and suppliers, the upper echelons of the guild (the officially titled “Heroes”) comprise a very exclusive and somewhat arrogant club of accomplished adventurers who jealously guard their titles and fame.

Humans:
Humans are an aggressive and prolific people who have settled most of the world, bringing both their culture and diseases with them to share generously with the natives. Although ethnically diverse, humanity has achieved an enlightened freedom from racist tendencies, preferring instead the xenophobic hatred of other humanoid species such as goblins. Human society is based around a perverse sort of celebrity worship: In place of deities, most humans venerate larger than life Heroes who distinguish themselves with superficial feats of bravery and barbarity.

I

Ida:
The goddess of fertility, harvest, and the noises babies make when they’re happy. Ida is beloved by farmers and agricultural communities, but considered rural and simple by city dwellers.
Noble Aspect of the Scythe. See: Religion.

J

K

Keg:
Kegs are a solid gold coin and a unit of Threnesian currency roughly equivalent to one hundred drams. These valuable coins are not commonly circulated, but successful merchants and aristocrats favor them for large sum transactions, mattress lining, and opulent displays of wealth.

Knave:
Knaves are former thieves and pickpockets who abandon the life of crime for more legitimate employment. Adventurers hire knaves as scouts and trap-springers, often for very low fees, exploiting the knave's dependency on their employer for protection from former criminal associates seeking to punish the turncoat and potential informer. Few knaves ever truly disavow their criminal tendencies, often using their new profession as a cover for illicit activities on the sly.

L

Llama:
Wooly Mountain Llamas are the only breed of pack animal with the rugged endurance and stubbornness necessary to survive in the tempestuous climates of Threnos. The surly beasts are prized for meat, milk, and mounts. They are characterized by long necks, thick wooly coats, and beady little eyes that fix on you with a vaguely disapproving stare.

Lute:
Lutes are delicate stringed instruments capable of producing subtle and airy tones. In Threnos they are most commonly employed as improvised cudgels.

M

Minion:
Minion is a colloquial term referring to an employee or servant hired on a temporary basis and intended for high risk or otherwise undesirable labor. Minions are generally overworked, underpaid, and considered expendable. While this may not seem an attractive vocation, due to the high turnover rate positions are always open and job qualifications range from low to non-existent.

N

Nine Legions, The:
The Nine Legions (which actually only number about five or six these days) are the conscripted military force of Threnos, bound in service to the Overlord. Legion conscriptions are mandatory but can be transferred, creating a market for mercenaries who serve out other’s conscriptions for a price. The legions are not particularly disciplined or well trained, but Threnos is so well shielded geographically that they’re usually only deployed for domestic control and tax enforcement purposes.

O

Obsidian Fortress:
A towering castle carved from the raw obsidian of the active volcano in the middle of Parsim, the obsidian fortress is the overly-dramatic residence of the Overlord and the center of government and politics in Threnos. It is frequently depicted on postcards.

Overlord, The:
The Overlord is the (presumed) man who currently rules the nation of Threnos. A dark and mysterious figure with the sigil (and frequent headwear) of a horned helm, the Overlord commands the legions, demands tax and tribute, and does what little he must to secure the borders of Threnos. He is one of the longer-serving heads of the state, nearing the forty year mark of his reign and well above the average lifespan of Threnesian rulers (approximately five years if they survive the first month).

P

Parsim:
Parsim is the capitol of Threnos and the center of government and commerce. Parsim is home to both the Overlord’s obsidian fortress and the headquarters of the majority of Threnesian guilds and businesses. A modern industrial jewel, Parsim sets an example of brilliant civil engineering and thriving commercial prosperity that all other civilizations envy, even if they won’t admit it (according to the Parsim Department of Tourism).

Priests:
Priests are devotees of one of the Eight, furthering the agendas of their respective faiths through word and deed. In times past priests were respected members of the community, supported by alms and donations and dwelling in lavish churches and temples devoted to their respective gods or goddesses. With the decline of religious devotion priests are increasingly seen as cultists and fanatics, forced to take up mundane trades to support themselves and losing much of the authority and influence they once enjoyed.

Q

R

Rangers:
Rangers are itinerant woodsmen who shun civilization and harbor a religious devotion to nature and the prevention of forest fires. Rangers insist they are ruggedly independent, but conspiracy theorists insist they are secretly members of an elusive cult.

Religion:
The primary religion in Threnos is the worship of the Eight, a pantheon of gods and goddesses organized around four alliterative archetypes: The Sword, the Scythe, the Scepter, and the Scales. Each archetype corresponds to an aspect of society: the Sword represents soldiers and war, the Scythe represents farmers and agriculture, the Scepter represents rulers and governance, and the Scales represent merchants and commerce. There are two deities associated with each archetype; one Evil and the other Good (a debatable point of theology). While there is no centralized church for the worship of the Eight, sporadic cults devoted to the individual deities are common throughout Threnos.

Goblin culture is infused with a rich spiritual heritage derived from complex and meaningful traditions dating back thousands of years, but other than goblins few people care.

S

Stolus:
The god of peace, defense, and righteous ass kicking (when necessary). Stolus is the favored martial diety of soldiers who prefer standing atop walls to long marches deep into enemy territory. Those who dwell in established and fortified communities venerate him, those who envy the riches of said communities are not fans.
Noble Aspect of the Sword. See: Religion.

Stygus:
The god of conquest, murder, and unresolved Daddy issues. Pretty much universally hated.
Evil Aspect of the Sword. See: Religion.

T

Three Blades, The:
“The Three Blades” is a common euphemism for banditry, referencing the three typical armaments of a highwayman – The short sword, the dirk, and the boot knife. The short sword is the primary weapon used in combat, the dirk is a backup or offhand blade, and the boot knife is a weapon of last resort.

Threnos:
The nation of Threnos began as a penal colony, a vast geological prison enclosing the inmates deposited there with daunting mountains on two sides and a barely navigable sea everywhere else. Despite inhospitable climate, monstrous wildlife, hostile natives, and festering diseases the inmates persevered and against all odds established their own rugged and determined civilization. The discovery of abundant natural resources beneath the forbidding exterior of the land gave rapid rise to an industrial age, turning the nation of thieves and murderers into the unlikely envy of the world.

The political history of Threnos is a long and violent succession of short but brutal dictatorships, with sporadic regime changes whenever a more ruthless or cunning aspirant manages to kill and supplant the current ruler. The enigmatic Overlord, the present ruler of Threnos, has been in office longer than many of his predecessors combined.

U

Undead:
The undead are those whose spirits retain a tenuous link with their bodies post-mortem. The strength of this link determines the faculties of the deceased, ranging from a close semblance to their former selves to a mindless and clumsy simulacrum. Undead are often shunned in polite society due to their unsavory odor, overripe appearance, and an inconvenient dependence on the blood of the living to maintain their spirit link. Some undead continue to pursue the ambitions of their former lives, but most end up funneled towards degrading manual labor or  hazardous trades with a high risk of personal injury. Industrial accidents that would prove fatal for the living are often little more than an annoyance for the undead, who re-attach their limbs with a calm philosophical acceptance that eludes those still wound up by biological clocks.

V

W

Wolfkin:
Wolf-like Munchkins, or Wolfkin, are short hairy people with absolutely nothing to distinguish themselves other than an occasional proclivity for cannibalism. They are often confused with juvenile or midget werewolves.

X

Y

Yeti:
Yetis are large bipedal hairy creatures that favor cold climates and high altitudes. Yetis subsist on a diet of meat and prey primarily on mountain llamas, but alpine travelers are occasionally on the menu as well.

Z