List of Suwarnabumi terminology
Table of Contents

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

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

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.
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