Glossary of Ancient and Key Terms

This is a living document intended to be updated by anyone. I am not an archivist nor am I a historian. I am an archive and a storyteller. Please help me with this. Though, if you can, keep it in alphabetical order!

Ancient Terms

Terms in the language of the Ancients that we’ve discovered thus far on our journey.

Aletheia

Very simply, “truth” (see Ripple). Seems to also have additional connotations of “not a lie,” or “reality” itself.

Has some relation (uncertain) to liminal gnosis. Also the term used to describe another type of Rite-tone outside the well-known tellurian or sidereal Rite-tones (see Alethic Rites).

Alsos

A grove, especially a “sacred grove,” with a tertiary definition of a “precinct, sanctuary, or domain.” (see Ripples: 1, 2, 3).

Given by [Libra] as the origin plane of those from Almachadta.

• Which is itself a epenthesis of “Alsos Machados,” meaning “a sacred grove, a proving ground, a place of holy and beautiful struggle, of life and death.”

Anthropos

Term for “human.”

• A word used when the Duelist’s Mask constellation spoke to me. Uncertain of what makes someone an Anthropos as opposed to something else.

Anyder

Literally “waterless.” Possible a reference to the “River Without Water” of which the Academy speaks. (see Ripple).

• Referenced as a location but also something capable of a relationship with the stoicheia in A Letter Inscribed In Crystal.

Apoleia

Means “destruction,” especially in the sense of “‘destruction’, with the connotation of “an irreversible shattering of a precious object, or a sea-vessel being obliterated upon the rocks.” (see Ripple)

Also referenced in:

• “Veritas Manebit“

Asilos

A derivation of the Ancient term ᾰ̓́σῡλον, meaning “haven” or “refuge.” Also, as a primary meaning, a sanctuary. Caion posits that this could be a term from which we derive asylum (see Ripple 1, 2, 3)

• Given as Aurelius’ place of origin when Libra was cast upon him.

Entelecheia or Entelechy

An ancient term which refers to something like a fiend, in that it is a “tool, made for a purpose,” but, unlike fiends, more powerful and “could act independently of their makers.” An additional connotation is of that “continuous being-at-work;” it is not a thing that simply exists but exists and functions through a kind of doing.

• A word used when the Duelist’s Mask constellation spoke to me. Another word of the ancients. The Sword-Saint’s Mask is the only entelecheia of the Duelist’s Mask, which contains some of the starlight of the constellation.
• Strange. Do you think this also applies to me?
• I think it very well might. If you’d like, we can do some experimentation in the library? I don’t know what it might feel like to channel a constellation; the Mask seem unaffected afterward, but it might be painful? That is something to consider.

Kleis

Both a key, but also a symbol of power and authority. The twenty-sided item Archie carries is one such example, and called, per [Libra], the “kleis akadæmia.”

Methexis

From Ancient “participation or partaking” but with connotations of it occurring in a group.

• A lost technique that allows the sharing and experiencing of memories. Possibly lost with Zosimus’ death.
• Lost on almachadta, but clearly alive and well on samudra, since this is basically just circling. good job on independently discovering that on your own tho
• Circling is not truly equivalent to this technique. The addition of flourishing gnosis using Salme’s “rhizomatic” model generates a much deeper connection, to the point where the line between “other” and “self” can become blurred. Circling does not allow for the direct sharing of one’s internalities, methexis does.
• Wolf, I think you discovered a truer form of Methexis than I did. We should experiment at some point.
• i mean it feels like largely the same thing, just different steps up in intensity, but sure
• I would, gods help me, agree with Jorule. Not “truer,” just…more intense. Same principle.

Musterion

From which we derive our term “mystery,” but also specifically related to the “closing of the mouth or of eyes, so as to keep and maintain a secret.” (see Ripple).

Given by [Libra] as the origin plane of those from Mu.

Philaisia

A compound word meaning “love or appreciation” combined with another word that Caion was not certain about (see Ripple). May have some relation to … an untranslatable Ancient puzzle-text, or the term “aisa” which seems to connote “destiny or fate” in an auspicious or joyful sense?

Given by [Libra] as the origin plane of those from Valaïs.

• Related to the Pathos of Valais, perhaps?
• Yeah I think that’s probably correct.

Rhizomata

A kind of techne of the Ancients (see also Rhizome).

• A key paradigm for the Elder techne of “methexis.” When actualized through the use of flourishing gnosis, it allows the sharing of deep internalities and the blurring of the line between other and self. See, ah, “methexis.”

Stoicheia

Straightforwardly, “elemental,” but containing several connotations: “the base things of which matter is constructed;” or “the elemental axioms of a theory;” or, literally, “the ABCs—the basic building blocks of a word or syllable, letters themselves” (see Ripple).

• Referenced as a group of people/creatures in A Letter Inscribed In Crystal.

Synomote

Attested as “co-conspirators in a plot” (see Ripple). Silmät gave, as its “most intimate and ancient meaning,” the following: “‘People who share breath.’ Those who, together, hold one spirit.”

• Used by [Libra] to describe my relationship with Aurelius and Awoken.
• The key phrase for deciphering the code in A Letter Inscribed In Crystal.

Synydron

Means, straightforwardly, “a confluence of waters” (see Ripple). Seems to be the Ancient term from which the name of Samudra developed.

Given, perhaps expectedly, by [Libra] as the origin plane of those from Samudra.

Syzygy

“An alignment of multiple celestial objects that persists in some fashion for some amount of time, or is otherwise markedly notable” (see Ripple). Used, sometimes, as a metaphor to describe human relationships (see Ripple).

• Describes the relationship between “Tekton” and “Lysios” mentioned in A Letter Inscribed In Crystal.

Teleio-

Implication of “the end, perfection, or completion.” A recurring root found across our journey (see Ripple).

Telesterion

Possibly “a place of completion, fulfillment, or initiation,” possibly into a sacred rite. See parallels to Musterion in this glossary (see Ripple).

• Referenced as a place in A Letter Inscribed In Crystal.

Temenos

A “sacred, closed off space” (see Ripple).

• Referenced as something that can be existed within and also dissolved in A Letter Inscribed In Crystal.
• Is this not the word for the borders created by the Rite, given the context of the letter?

Teratourgeion

Something approximating both a “miracle-works” and “monster factory” (see Ripple). Additional connotations include “fiend engine” and “monster-mill” (see Ripple).

Given by [Libra] as the origin plane of those from the Beast (see Ripple).

Xenia

Can mean “hospitality” or “willingness to love a stranger.”

• The root word behind Ksenija’s name.

Other Terms

Palimpsest

Literally, a palimpsest is a piece of parchment (a writing support made from cured animal skins) or Spoken-Wood crafted paper, that has had its previous writing abraded away by a pumice stone in order to make new information. Usually, the impression of what was written there before remains in some way, though it requires special training or gnosis-work.

• The Sword-Saint’s mask in a palimpsest. The overseer of Almachadta is called the Palimpsest-King.
• The concept exists on Samudra, but the technology no longer seems to be in use.

Rhizome

A rhizome is a type of stem that grows laterally, under the soil, in order for a plant to propagate itself. In Almachadta, we use the term rootstalk. A rhizome establishes nodes, from which new life might grow. Any part of rhizomatic system might flourish into its own new life once severed from the others. Common rhizomatic plants are: irises, ginger, bamboo, giant horsetails, most ferns, and lotus (see also, in this document, Rhizomata).

Sidereal

Something which pertains to the sky or the sky. Also used for Rite-tones which “involve a clear invocation of gnosis” (see Ripple).

Starwatched

Coined by Aurelius. Someone listed within the “Traveler’s Guide to Known Reality” but not as an overseer of their respective plane. These people seem marked as significant in some way; they often know information or secrets critical to our quest, even if they are not one of our Clan.

Tellurian

Something which pertains to the world or the ground below us. Also used for Rite-tones “chiefly physical in their basis” (see Ripple).