List of Suwarnabumi terminology

The following is a list of terminology used in the Suwarnabumi campaign setting.

A

• Acheri: Spirit of a girl who died before her time.
• Adrakh: A rootstock. Leaves are also used for flavouring. Has a refreshing, lemon-like smell.
• Am fruit: A tropical fruit that is indigenous to Suwarnabumi. Widely used for food, juice, fragrance, and dye. Also the national fruit of Padmattiya.
• Apsaras: A heavenly nymph.
• Armiger: Pahanari word that literally means "armour-bearers". Warrior-monks who served the Pahanari during their rule on Palalangan.
• Ashiqa: Powerful sisterhood who work behind the lines on the island of Shimah.
• Aswang: Supernatural creature that assumes the form a beautiful human but transforms into a bloodsucking demon at night.

B

• Babaylan: Shoal-people spirit medium.
• Badik: A broad knife with a hilt that looks like a pistol grip.
• Bai Tan: An overseas Hao secret society whose members work in the Molangor mines.
• Baital: Dangerous spirit similar to vampires but without a physical body.
• Bajang: A shapeshifting vampire-like creature which resembles a giant polecat.
• Banaga: Lunang word for foreigners.
• Bawa: A bawa is a wind instrument shaped like a flute with a single metal reed.
• Berhala: Ancient polytheistic folk religion of the Achariyan and Pahanari people, precursor to Thalathanism.
• Bhuta: Flesh-eating spirit.
• Black Veil, The: A criminal syndicate who trade in slaves.
• Bomoh: Shamanistic healer.
• Buttermilk: A cool, sour milk that has less fat than sweet milk.

C

• Cabang: A weapon with two unsharpened prongs used to block an opponent's weapon.
• Camapu: A pale yellow flower used in herbal remedies.
• Canesword: A concealed sword disguised as a walking stick.
• Chakram: A flat, metal ring with razor-sharp rim.
• Chameleon plant: Fresh leaves that give off an odour compared to strange lemon or orange. Grows wild in large areas in Dalaka.
• Cheongsam: A female dress with distinctive Hao features.
• Coils of Vishalya: A lay Thalathanist cult who venerates Vishalya, the Krait Goddess.
• Commissar: Head of the military forces by the Kaliyatra empire.

D

• Dagger-axe: A nine-foot wooden pole with a one-foot long dagger-shaped blade attached to it.
• Dao: A sable-like, curved broadsword used mercenaries and Kaliyatran peasant-soldiers.
• Dhaniya: Grown in northern Suwarnabumi, which is cultivated for fruits and leaves. Warm, nutty and spicy flavour.
• Dim sum: Traditional Hao light dish served in the mornings.
• Dragon pole: A staff that reaches 20 feet in length, used by boatmen.
• Dragon powder: Term for black powder discovered by the Hao people.
• Durpatta: A long scarf worn by women.

F

• Fire lance: A hollowed bamboo tube attached to a spear that fires sand particles or scraps of metal.
• Fire wheel: A flat metal ring with protruding flame-style blades, always wielded as a pair.

G

• Galanga: A ginger-like rootstock. Usually warm, sweet, and spicy. Cultivated all over Suwarnabumi.
• Gamu: Traditional medicine in Langa.
• Gayatri: Nagari word for song or hymn. Also a supernatural tradition practised by adepts of the Coils of Vishalya.
• Ghosa: Outcast people who live outside villages and towns. A ghosa works in occupations regarded as ritually impure.
• Guan: A guan is a wind instrument made from bamboo. The Ebon are particularly fond of the guan.
• Gunyan seeds: Actually fruits, strongly aromatic and warm. Used as flavouring.

H

• Hands of Penzima: A cult that worships the demi-goddess Penzima.
• Hao Merchants' Association: An influential Hao and Phuong merchant guild that trades between Padmattiya and Haolang.
• Harimau: Shapeshifters bestowed with the strength and power of the tiger.
• Head-hunting: The ritual practice that involves the taking of a single head. Also a test of manhood among the tribal peoples of Suwarnabumi.
• Honey leaf: Used as a sweetener, especially in tea.
• Hungry ghost: Spirit of dead people that failed to find what they needed in the world beyond.

I

• Icon Worshiper: A pejorative word for Berhala followers, used by adherents of Thalathanism.

J

• Jathi seed: An apricot-like fruit, very sour. Used to make jam. Also used as flavouring.
• Jiang shi: A reanimated corpse who absorbs life essence from their victims.
• Jungle Matrons: Thalathanist matriarchal order whose members possess the power of divination.

K

• Kababah: Hollow berries used as flavouring. Pungent and bitter aroma. Harvested in the Pahanari Lands and Achariyan islands.
• Kachai: Root with a dominate, unsavoury flavour. Used in medicine, especially by the harimau.
• Kalo: Tropical plant grown as a vegetable food on Palalangan. Often served as pan-fried dish called kalo cake.
• Kampilan: A single-edge sword associated with head-hunting practices.
• Kapak: A small throwing axe.
• Katari: Ancient sword fighting school in Taksaka.
• Katori: Tiyanak word for spirits within objects in the Tiyanak belief system.
• Kayang: Herb with a sharp citrus aroma. Most commonly found in rice fields. Only the leaves are used.
• Kebaya: An embroidered blouse worn by women, usually with a sarong.
• Keparat: Offensive Kedayuh word for non-believers, i.e. those who do not worship the Thalanthanist gods and goddesses.
• Kepayang: Seeds used as flavouring in Panau local cuisine. Has a strong nutty taste, somewhat oily.
• Kerisblade: Weapon bestowed with supernatural powers by a jinn that resides in it.
• Khan: A military leader among the Achariyan people.
• Khanum: Khanum is a title for a woman married to a khan. It literally means "lady bride".
• Komala: A citrus fruit popular for flavouring sweets and drinks. has a pleasant, sweet odour, sometimes bitter or sour.
• Kujang: A sickle-type weapon used in farming.
• Kulam: Kulam is a kind of witchcraft practised in Shimah.

L

• Lajatang: A double-bladed staff having a crescent shaped blade at each end of the staff.
• Langsuir: Frightening vampire creature common in the Illan Archipelago, Nau Islands, and Panau.
• Lavang spice: The flower buds are used as a flavouring in many dishes.
• League of Beggars: A network of people who live outside society, usually ghosas.
• Limau: A citrus fruit with a refreshing and sour odour.
• Lunang: Language of the shoal-people.

M

• Mahasarpa: Nagaist name for the naga who live in the Kaliyatra Ocean.
• Mahomanay: Humanoid race who have a supernatural connection with hills and mountains.
• Manjal: Leaves used as flavouring in Panau.
• Manticore: Monstrous predator with the body of lion and the tail of a scorpion.
• Mawas: Large monkey-like humanoids who live in Vanamala.
• Melati: A widely cultivated tropical flower, usually found in gardens. Also used as base in green tea.
• Meteor hammer: A 10 to 15 feet cord or chain connected to two weighted heads.

N

• Naga: Giant sea serpents who live in the Kaliyatra Ocean. Called Mahasarpa and revered as deities by snake worshippers.
• Naga's juice: A bright, red resin exuded from rattan fruit. Has medicinal properties and used as a dye.
• Nagaism: A monotheistic religion that worships the nagas as deities.
• Nagari: Creatures with snake-blood bestowed with supernatural powers and the rulers of the Kaliyatra empire.
• Nat: An adaptation of a farming tool used to harvest grain.

P

• Parang: A heavy, machete-like sword. Both a common tool and weapon.
• Pawang: Traditional healer and spirit medium.
• Penanggalan: A humanoid-shaped creature resembling a beautiful woman.
• Penyakit: Dangerous spirit of disease.
• Pahanari Commerce Guild: Rich and powerful merchant guild with monopoly on spices found in the Nau Islands.
• Pishacha: Primitive and dangerous humanoid creatures, enemies of the Kaliyatra.
• Prana: Term for the inner energy or "breath" used to animate living beings. Also found in martial art styles in Suwarnabumi.

Q

• Qian Su: Phuong secret society whose members work in the Tadung mines.

R

• Rattan: Palm species native to the tropical regions of Suwarnabumi.
• Rotang: Kedayuh word of Rattan palm.

S

• Salam leaves: Small leaves that turn brown on drying. Sour taste and used in cooking, especially in Panau and the Nau Islands.
• Sari: A female garment in Padmattiya.
• Sarinda: A sarinda is traditional stringed instrument similar to fiddles made from wood. It is a common instrument among the Sundamanese people.
• Sarjana: Imperial bureaucrats of the Kaliyatra.
• Sarong: A lower garment worn by Ebon and Kedayuh men and women.
• Shadow warrior: Veraist mountain ascetics who oppose the Kaliyatra.
• Shaykh: A shaykh is an Achariyan clan elder.
• Shikari: A professional hunter and guide.
• Shoal-people: Humanoids who have developed a society based on floating houses.
• Snake wine: Wine preserved with a whole snake in the bottle.
• Siram: Tin or silver coin used as money in port cities of Suwarnabumi. Literally means "a bowl of water", but the word also stands for money.
• Sirena and siyokoy: Ancient humanoid fish creatures with high intelligence and refined culture.
• Soyabean milk: A beverage made from soy beans.
• Strait Peddler's Coalition, The: A small commerce guild that controls the Raju Strait between Langa and Raju Islands.
• Sundang: A double-edge, narrow blade with three waves, sometimes used as a weapon of execution.

T

• Tabbaq: Kedayuh word for tobacco. Brought to the archipelago by the Pahanari.
• Talisha leaves: Strongly aromatic, leaves used in medicine. Grows wild on the slopes of the Channayagalas.
• Tarkhun: Sweet and aromatic. Leaves and stems are used fresh in herbal remedies. Brought to Suwarnabumi by Hao traders.
• Tattoo monk: Monks who practice the art of imbuing symbols with supernatural powers.
• Telang pea: Deep, blue flower used to colour dessert in Langa and the Nau Islands.
• Thalathanism: Polytheistic religion practised among the Kedayuh and Langanese. Brought to Suwarnabumi by Pahanari traders.
• Three-section staff: A weapon composed of three sections of wood of equal length, joined at the ends by chain or cord.
• Throwing star: Flat, metal stars or spikes used for throwing.
• Tiger claw: A tiny, sharply curved knife with a finger hole in the handle, held in the palm.
• Tiger fork: The trident, also called trident or three-spear, resembles a three-pronged staff.
• Trishaw: A two-wheeled cart pulled by a driver.

V

• Vamachara: Secretive and powerful order who monitors and destroys supernatural threats.
• Veraism: A collection of beliefs and philosophies.

W

• Water-sellers: Street vendors who sell water, especially in the Pahanari Lands and Achariya.
• Waywatcher's Union: A small group of explorers, foresters and guides dedicated to keeping the dangerous routes through the wilderness safe.
• West Empire Company: A powerful commerce guild controlled by the Kaliyatra empire.
• White tiger: "King of the Forest", a tiger with white fur and dark stripes. This tiger is rarely seen in the wild. Widely believed to be sign of good fortune among the inhabitants of Suwarnabumi.

Y

• Yantra: Supernatural tattoo imbued by a tattoo monk.

Z

• Zheng: A zheng is a zither-like string instrument with 12 ore more strings.
• Zhu: The zhu is a wooden percussion instrument commonly used in royal courts, especially in Haolang.