Raising Caine

APPENDIX C

Ktoran Glossary

Aboriginal: a low breed of original Earth stock; unmodified homo sapiens

Agra: a junior officer who is neither Evolved nor an Intendant

Aspirant: the progeny of a particularly accomplished and genetically preferred huscarl; these children are being considered for Elevation to Intendant; rarely, directly to Aspirant. If they fail the first step of Elevation (to ’vah or Aspirant), they are typically demoted.

Aware: an Evolved that can exercise the power of Reification (self-reference; homo transcendens)

Berem(a): (m./f.) A generic term that indicates aristocratic birth or station, but which does not signify any particular rank (and usually implies an absence of special rank within that social class). Akin to “sir” or “madame.”

Catalysite: a symbiot or “catalyst” that amplifies Reification control and power

Devolysite: a devolved version of the “catalyst” symbiot that is sensitive to various quantum entanglement alterations

Evolved: a member of the Ktor master geneline (homo imperiens)

Elevation: the process and rite by which low-breeds (usually Intendants) become Evolved

helot: a low-bred servitor, typically commanded by huscarls; many subclassifications exist

huscarl: direct, prized low-bred servitors; the class from which Intendants are usually drawn

jur: prefix; a particularly promising individual of one of the low-bred classes (a jur-huscarl, for instance, is likely to be the father of a sur-Intendant)

lictor: a junior officer rank, particular to the Aegis forces that answer solely to the Autarchs

Srin/Srina: an aristocrat of the Evolved, whose accomplishments, geneline, or both qualify them for elevation to Hegemon or Autarch. (pl.; Srinu)

sul: the prefix or short-form referent (’sul) signifying an Aspirant

Tval: one whose geneline has become corrupt, distant from the core line, or is otherwise not suitable to become the Hegemon of a House or Head of a Family, but who is otherwise unrestricted in their ambitions

— uum/’m: no longer of the core or progenitorial geneline of a House

vah: suffix added to a name that indicates the progeny of an Elevated Aspirant. Also shortened as ’vah, this status may be extended in the event of disappointing achievement, or other failures. Only in extreme cases, or several generations of a geneline remaining as ’vahs, is a ’vah demoted.

Wilding: a low breed that was not raised under Ktoran dominion