The Trade: A socialist-type government that appoints Trades to citizens at birth. These Trades are, typically but not exclusively, inherited from a birth person.
Trade Man/Woman: A citizen of The Cradle who accepts a life of service to The Trade and The Cradle.
Meaningful Purpose: A spiritual state of enlightenment achieved by a Trade man or woman when they accomplish an act of service predetermined by The Trade.
Tower: A city governed by The Trade.
Ruins E, S, N: Derelict cities/towers.
The Neck: A long, narrow stretch of land that must be taken to reach the southernmost part of Aquilla.
The Estate: Situated in Aquilla. It is the most lavish Tower that houses The King and The Queen and can only be accessed by travelling The Neck.
Gene Age: A historical period characterised by the mass-genetic engineering of humankind. During this time, there was a rapid shift from a natural human conception to an engineered one. In the early years, it was to better improve physical attractiveness or dissolve undesirable traits before birth. Hundreds of years later, technology was used to progress human evolution by engineering animal traits into the human genus that would aid in surviving harsh environmental changes. From this age of engineering came two different classes of humankind—Xin De and Common.
Xin De: The genetically engineered human.
Common: A human without any obvious Xin De genus.
Gene War: The civil war between the two species of human, Xin De and Common, that eventually destroyed the old-world and civilisation as it was.
Nictitating Membrane: A third eyelid not found in Common humans. An engineered design in the Xin De genus. It is a thin membrane at the inner angle or beneath the lower lid of the eye. It can extend across the eyeball. The membrane’s purpose is to clean dust and debris and is organically found in many beasts, including but not limited to, felines and birds.
Xin De Maternal Death: A death during pregnancy or birth due to the Xin De gene producing an oversized baby or incompatible DNA strain with the mother.
The King: A man born the heir to The Cradle. His duty is to support The Trade and give the citizens a figurehead leader and enforcer.
The Queen: Typically, the sister of the king. Her duty involves abstinence from intimacy and personal relations. Her role is to mother The Cradle and offer them a Goddess-like figurehead to adore and worship. Humans, by nature, seek someone to worship.
The Trade Master: A man who matches the power and influence of the king, however, he is appointed by the reigning monarch and the lords of The Cradle to uphold The Trade’s Law and Traditions. He is given the key to all Trade secrets and power over the Shadows (secret agents). Once appointed, his title cannot be taken away, even as new monarchs rise.
Shadows: A Trade. A secret, elite group of individuals who are nameless and faceless assassins for The Trade.
Lords: Men who govern or manage a catchment of The Cradle within The Trade regime.
Catchment: A geographical area.
Silk Girl: A Trade. A breeding girl. A girl born of a Silk Girl with no previous miscarriages. She is protected and raised in peace and tranquillity. She is to have no negative experiences in her life in order to prevent the spread of epigenetics—generational trauma.
Silk Aviar(y(ies): A large bird enclosure made from glass that contains a boarding school for the young women Born For Silk—the Silk Girls.
Common Communit(y(ies): Minor cities for Common who do not serve The Trade and live with their own free will. With this comes minimal support or protection from The Trade, often resulting in a poor quality of life.
Endigo: A cannibalistic human-type being. Their modifications are not part of the engineered Xin De genus, but undesirable and unplanned mutations. A byproduct of hundreds of years of corrupted human genetics.
Old-world (colloquial term): The world before The Cradle and The Trade.
Rite: A Trade person’s ceremony or inauguration.
The Revive: A Trade Initiative to bridge the gap between the two species of human—Xin De and Common—by breeding Common with Xin De.
Sandules: A genetically engineered powder.
First-light: An estimated period of time in the morning—the sun first lightens the hazy sky.
Crown-light: An estimated period of time at the middle of the day—the sun has the least amount of Redwind to penetrate, and its heat can be felt on the top of your head.
Last-light: An estimated period of time in the evening—the sun disappears for the night.
Missing Moon: The moon has not been seen in hundreds of years, though citizens are taught of its power and influence over the land and sea.
The Crust: Literally: the soil/dirt. Spiritually: a kind of afterlife/paradise/nirvana.
Collective: A group of individuals that work as one unit for a Trade.
Sired Mother: A Trade. Women who protect and raise The Cradle’s babies. In other terms, a child-care Trade. They are retired Silk Girls who have achieved Meaningful Purpose.
Medi-deck: A small holding space where the Silk Girls get their medical scans and vitamin shots.
The Circle: A hexagonal shaped foyer with five room on each angle. One for each Silk Girl.
Aquilla Cats: A previously extinct, large cat that now runs rampant through The Cradle. It can be identified from other cats by its larger size and stripes along its back.
The Queen’s Army: A group of Trade women who protect and accompany The Queen everywhere she goes.
Watcher (Born For Parchment): A Trade. A woman or man born to watch, convey, and report back to The Trade, Lord, or Warden responsible for the individual being watched.
Guardian: A Trade. A man pledged to protect a Lord.
Marshall Blue: A Trade. A public law enforcer.
Guard: A Trade. Military-trained personnel who guard, defend, and fight for The Trade.
House Girl: A Trade. A woman/girl used for entertainment and/or acts of a sexual nature.
The Common Relations Guard (CR Guard): A Trade. A Guard who follows the king on campaigns to record and relay events for the citizens of The Cradle to watch once a week on the singular scheduled hour of Trade Updates.
Windmill Farms: Windmill farms cover over 30% of the inhabitable parts of The Cradle. They are the land’s primary source of energy.
Windmill Forest (colloquial term): The stretches of Windmill Farms that feel never-ending, stretching for hundreds of miles.
Black Matter Mines: A line of mines on the northern most part of The Cradle just before the Horizon where toxic minerals are excavated, and batteries are broken down and recycled.
La Mu: A genetically engineered plant that has varying medicinal purposes. The leaf: a sedative and muscle relaxant. The seeds: a powerful contraceptive. The root: in small doses, acts as an anti-inflammatory, but in larger doses is highly lethal.
Opi (colloquial term) Opi Lava: can be applied topically or taken orally. A genetically modified version of the old-world opioid—morphine—used for extreme pain and as a mild sedative.
The Trade Connect Building: A building in every tower that has a network of underground copper lines for communication across The Cradle. It’s use is centralised and controlled entirely by The Trade.
Modistes Girl: A Trade. A girl responsible for designing, creating, and fitting apparel.
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