Comprehensive Glossary of Terms

Core Concepts & Magic System

Fann-e Āsmāni (فن آسمانی)

"The Art of Celestial Mechanics" - The formal name for the magic system. A science as rigorous as physics, based on Archetypal Resonance and soul dynamics.

Archetypal Resonance

The principle that forms and symbols embedded in collective consciousness can influence physical reality, making certain designs inherently more powerful. Why a horse-shaped automaton is more effective than a wheeled cart.

Consciousness Efficiency Principle

The fundamental rule that conscious engagement with magic makes it more powerful. Explains why bows enhanced with magic are 500-1000% more effective than guns.

Echo Principle

Each cycle's magic is shaped by the souls that arrived at Némand from the previous cycle. Their experiences, emotions, and valued skills crystallize into ore properties for the next cycle.

The Pair of Threes - Six Fundamental Laws

Dāvar (داور) - Law of Judgment

First emotional law. Consciousness weighing value, asserting hierarchy, establishing order. Manifests as heat, light, and sharpness. Connected to righteousness, honor, duty, and shame.

Peyvand (پیوند) - Law of Connection

Second emotional law. Consciousness binding to other consciousness, forming relationships. Manifests as attraction/repulsion and resonance. The reason the Broken Sun's sacrifice works—his love became cosmic-scale protection.

Gardūn (گردون) - Law of Transformation

Third emotional law. Consciousness embracing change, accepting impermanence. Manifests as spiraling energy and metamorphosis. Governs hope, despair, acceptance, and the 10,000-year cycles themselves.

Didār (دیدار) - Law of Observation

First perceptual law. Consciousness witnessing reality, bringing existence into focus. Manifests as clarity and revelation. Used for perception enhancement and tracking.

Daryāft (دریافت) - Law of Comprehension

Second perceptual law. Consciousness understanding patterns, extracting meaning from chaos. Manifests as pattern recognition and insight. Essential for cryptography and complex magic.

Tajrobeh (تجربه) - Law of Experience

Third perceptual law. Consciousness integrating lived moments, learning from the past. Manifests as memory enhancement and skill retention. Allows veterans to grow stronger through combat.

Magical Materials & Components

Azhur's Ore / Vohu-Mána (وهو مانا)

The psycho-reactive God-Metal from the core of Némand. Conducts and refines soul-energy. Essential for all magical devices. The name means "Good Mind" in Avestan.

Athanatic Steel

An alloy of brass, iron, and Azhur's Ore. The primary building material for magical machinery. Name means "Deathless Steel." Glows golden (Spenta) or black-iridescent (Angra) when active.

Aether-Vapours

The ethereal working fluid produced when a soul interacts with Azhur's Ore. Comes in two forms: Spenta-fuelled (golden, stable) and Angra-fuelled (black, corrosive, more powerful but damaging).

Gowhar (گوهر)

The Core—a piece of Azhur's Ore that serves as the heart of any magical device. Size and purity set the upper limit for power and efficiency.

Rag-hā-ye Nūr (رگ‌های نور)

"Light Veins" - Conduits. Tubes of Athanatic Alloy filament that channel soul energy through devices.

Nāvā (نوا)

The Resonator. A focusing element (lens, gyroscope, tuned cylinder) that determines a device's effect: heat, light, force, perception, etc.

Angizesh (انگیزش)

The Catalyst. The user's soul providing both initial spark and ongoing guidance through will.

Spiritual Forces & Soul Concepts

Spenta (سپنتا)

Creation/Order. One of the two fundamental spiritual forces. Associated with creation, preservation, harmonious structure. Produces golden, stable magic.

Angra (انگرا)

Entropy/Chaos. One of the two fundamental spiritual forces. Associated with decay, destruction, breakdown of order. Not inherently evil, but corrosive. Produces black, more powerful but damaging magic.

Urvan (اروان)

The soul. The source of catalytic energy for all magic. No soul, no magic.

Mainyu (مینو)

Spirit, intent, will. The guiding conscious force that directs magic. Distinguishes intentional magic from random effects.

Fravashi (فروهر)

The celestial, idealized projection of a person's soul. Also refers to ascended spirits who can mentor the living. Examples: Kaveh the Blacksmith.

Khrafstar (خرفستر)

Corruption, pollution, spiritual contamination. The inverse of purity. What divs spread and what heroes must cleanse.

Cosmic Structure

Némand (نماند) / Sepehr-e-Nohom (سپهر نهم)

The Ninth Planet. The Soul-Star. Cosmic Frontline and Divine Prison on a 10,000-year elliptical orbit. Where the Yazatas fight eternal war against the divs.

The Alignment

Phase 5 of the 10,000-year cycle (Years 9,500-10,000). When Némand is closest and pyramids activate as gateways. The critical period when all conscious life faces potential harvest.

Pyramids

Ancient structures built by the Primal Gods as a soul-vacuum mechanism. Activate during the Alignment to harvest human consciousness to the 9th planet unless prevented by heroes.

The Eternal River of Flame

Primordial energy source in the Taftan volcanic core. Where the soldier who became the Broken Sun made his ascension. Guarded by the Order of Silence.

Entities & Beings

Div (دیو)

Parasitic, extradimensional entities that feed on specific human emotions (hope, despair, rage). The primary cosmic antagonists. Plural: Deevs.

Yazata (یزتا)

A divine being, a lesser god who embodies a specific concept. Examples: Rashnu (Judgment), Mithra (Covenant), Tishtrya (Rain). Also includes the Broken Sun's ascended crew.

Simurgh (سیمرغ)

The great mechanical guardian automaton residing in Mount Damavand. A Tier 5 Demiurge entity. Created by the Broken Sun in his last moments of coherent self, with his beloved wife's body at its core. Protects the world in his place.

Primal Gods

Ancient entities who created the 10,000-year cycles and pyramid system. Ahura Mazda (Order/Stasis) and Angra Mainyu (Chaos/Entropy). Neither good nor evil, but representing fundamental forces.

Magical Devices & Automata

Engine-Ark

A mechanical horse—the pinnacle of personal transport. Uses the archetype of "Horse" for superior efficiency. Powered by Gowhar and rider's soul.

Vapour-Lock (قفل بخار)

A basic Tier 1 magical device—essentially a steam-powered lock that only opens for authorized users based on soul signature.

Vapour-Lantern

Common light source powered by soul-activated Aether-Vapours. Quality and duration depend on user's Spenta/Angra alignment.

Huma Bird Messengers

Mechanical messenger birds. An "Accepted Form" in Tier 2 engineering, shaped after the mythological Huma bird.

Far-Seers (دوربین)

Magical telescopes and perception-enhancement devices. Tier 2 standard design using Didār (Observation) law.

Combat & Warfare Terms

Pahlavani (پهلوانی)

Traditional Persian martial system combining wrestling, strength training, and spiritual discipline. Non-magical but highly respected combat tradition.

Day-Blessing

Direct intervention by the Broken Sun, granting temporary power or insight during daylight. Rare and significant. Usually involves protagonist freezing in place while warmth fills their chest.

Consciousness Weapons

Weapons requiring conscious engagement to function. Bows are 500-1000% more effective than guns because of this principle—archery demands present awareness.

Serpent-Engines

Corrupted parasitic automata grafted onto Zahhak's shoulders. Feed on human brains/"wisdom." Represent Angra-corruption at highest tier.

Tier System & Advancement

Tier 1: The Artisan (Sāzandeh - سازنده)

Uses pre-built devices. Power limited by device design and personal stamina. Most citizens remain at this level.

Tier 2: The Engineer (Muhandis - مهندس)

Designs and builds devices using "Accepted Forms." Understands Archetypal Resonance intellectually.

Tier 3: The Architect (Me'mār - معمار)

Integrates systems, creates semi-sentient automata with rudimentary fravashi. Own soul begins linking to creations.

Tier 4: The Prime Mover (Jonbeshgar-e Bonyadin - جنبشگر بنیادین)

Fuses Core into own body. Can power devices wirelessly and create "Pocket Realities" where will shapes local physics. Humanity begins eroding.

Tier 5: The Demiurge (Āfarinandeh - آفریننده)

Ultimate engineer. Body is self-sustaining engine of soul and steel. Can impose blueprints directly onto reality. Becomes living embodiment of a principle. Only handful have ever existed.

Magic Schools & Specializations

Chromaturgy

The art of weaving magic into fabric using colored threads and intent. Practiced by skilled weavers, especially in Croix-Rousse District (Lyon). Each color corresponds to different laws.

Cryptographic Access

Systems using Daryāft (Comprehension) to create locks, puzzles, and authentication mechanisms that only work for those who truly understand.

Sympathetic Magic

Using Peyvand (Connection) to affect one object through another connected object. Requires existing bond or relationship.

Thermographic Combat

Using Dāvar (Judgment) to generate heat and flames in weapons. Common military application.

Places & Landmarks

The Eternal City (Shahr-e Javid - شهر جاوید)

The tiered metropolis—last bastion from the Long War, now the political and industrial center. Built in concentric rings with social hierarchy reflected in elevation.

Ctesiphon (تیسفون)

Capital city where King Zahhak rules from his palace. Center of the current tyranny and location of the serpent-feedings.

Mount Damavand (دماوند)

The God-Mountain in northern Persia. Houses the Simurgh and the Central Regulator systems. Sacred site where the Broken Sun placed his ultimate creation.

Taftan Core

Volcanic region in southeastern Persia containing the Eternal River of Flame. Guarded by the secretive Order of Silence.

Zagros Mountains

Mountain range in western Persia where nomadic shepherds and water-finders live. Remote enough to avoid most of Zahhak's immediate attention.

Persepolis (پارسه)

Ancient ceremonial capital. Now houses the Astronomers who track the cycles and Némand's approach.

Scholar's Quarter

District in Persepolis (and other cities) where educated classes study. Now produces only propaganda under Zahhak's Censorship Edicts.

Croix-Rousse District (Lyon)

Independent silk-weaving district built on a plateau. Center of Chromaturgy and international trade. Maintains partial autonomy from Zahhak's rule.

Historical Eras & Events

The Long War

Ancient era when humanity fought for survival against divs during Némand's last approach. Society was militarized, living in fortified cities. The soldier who became the Broken Sun served in this war.

Jamshid's Golden Age (Years 7,000-8,500)

Period during Phase 4 when divs were systematically eliminated and civilization reached its zenith under the legendary king Jamshid.

The Ascension

When the common soldier and his crew (Rostam, Leila, Darius) walked into the Eternal River of Flame and became the Broken Sun and the Yazatas. The pivotal moment that created current cosmic order.

Zahhak's Reign (Current Era - Year 9,200)

Current 400-year period of tyranny. Began when Ahriman (a div fragment) corrupted King Zahhak with serpent-parasites. Characterized by Purges, Censorship Edicts, and brain-feedings.

The Purges

Systematic elimination of political opponents, religious dissidents, and scholars. Victims are fed to Zahhak's serpents, who consume their brains for "wisdom."

Cultural & Social Terms

Censorship Edicts

Zahhak's laws controlling information and expression. Questioning the king or his advisor Ahriman is sedition punishable by death.

Censorship Guard

Zahhak's enforcers who patrol cities seeking dissidents. Children learn to stay silent when they pass.

Water-Finder Gift

Hereditary ability to sense underground water sources. "The old gift." Uses natural Peyvand sensitivity before magical training.

Azizam (عزیزم)

Persian term of endearment meaning "my dear one." Commonly used by parents to children.

Order of Silence

Secretive guardians of the Eternal River of Flame in Taftan Core. Maintain the boundary between mortal realm and primordial forces.

Temporal Measurements

Current Year: 9,200

800 years from the next Alignment. Phase 4: The Approach. Némand not yet visible but its influence grows.

The Approach (Phase 4: Years 7,000-9,500)

Current phase where Némand becomes visible and magical powers intensify. Ancient entities begin manifesting in fragmented forms.

The Forgetting (Phase 1: Years 1-2,000)

Reset period when previous cycle's magic fades. Humanity rebuilds from near-extinction.

The Awakening (Phase 2: Years 2,000-4,000)

When new powers emerge. Ores exhibit strange properties. Wild random occurrences begin.

The Flowering (Phase 3: Years 4,000-7,000)

Magic reaches full manifestation. Civilizations adapt. Heroes and monsters emerge according to dominant mythology.

Plot-Specific Terms

Hunger & Silence

The two serpents coiling from Zahhak's shoulders. Left serpent (Hunger) is aggressive; right serpent (Silence) appears dormant but equally deadly.

Corruption Seed

Parasitic Peyvand planted by Zahhak in the Simurgh three months before the novel begins. Makes her forget, rage, and threaten the Broken Sun's promise. Purified by protagonist Anahita.

Trial of Connection

Test on Demavand where voices tell climber to let go and save themselves. Must maintain Peyvand despite fear. Anahita passed this on day 28 of her journey.

Moon-Blessed Water

Water found during day-blessing, purified by solar attention. Has healing properties. Anahita brings this to heal her mother Shirin.

Narrative Conventions

"Protected. The guardian is protected. Threat contained."

The Broken Sun's internal refrain. The promise pulsing. His reduced consciousness checking mission status.

"Three beings forgetting: himself, the guardian, the king."

Thematic parallel. The Broken Sun forgets his name, the Simurgh forgets her purpose, Zahhak forgets his humanity.

"One being remembering: the girl who knew her own name."

Anahita as protagonist. Her ability to remember and maintain identity is key to resisting corruption.