Continents: Southwestern Allyria, northern Matarica, western Stochalia
Realm: Empire of Makhaira
Imperial is the language spoken in the Empire of Makhaira. It is a mix of the Old Imperial, Lygosian, and the languages spoken by the various tribes included in the Empire. As such, it includes a vocabulary from a large variety of sources.
Lexicon
A
Ajvar (EYE-var): Spicy relish of peppers and garlic. See Ajvar for a recipe.
Archimandrite (ARK-ee-man-DRITE): Title of a religious leader often used in the Empire of Makhaira.
Atramentum Librarium (ah-TRA-men-TUM lye-BRAR-ee-um): Type of ink used in the Empire of Makhaira. It is illegal for any but three producers to make, therefore it is extremely rare. It is especially designed for all Imperial documents, though anyone who can afford it may still use it. loremasters and stonelords are able to determine whether a document has been written using this ink, limiting forgeries.
B
Baka (BAAK-ah): Grandmother. It also can imply the matriarch of a family, clan, or group.
Bakica (baa-KEEK-ah): Also means grandmother, though never with any extended connotation.
Basileus (BASS-ah-LAY-us): Emperor. The feminine form is Basileia.
C
Cataphract (CAT-ah-FRACT): Heavy cavalry.
Cevapi In Somun (kuh-VA-pee in SO-mun): Minced meat of either beef, lamb or pork served on flatbread, often with chopped onions, sour cream, kajmak, ajvar, feta cheese, minced red pepper and salt. See Cevapi In Somun for a recipe.
Chiliarch (CHIL-ee-ARK): Literally "leader of one thousand." It is a military rank for the commander of a cohort.
Cohort (KOE-hort): The standard military unit of the Empire in the 2100s. It consists of anywhere from 100 to 600 men, depending upon weapons, tactics, and local traditions.
Cursus Publicus (kurr-SOOS pub-lee-KOSE): Mail system of the Empire of Makhaira. It is known for inefficiency, greed, and corruption.
D
Decarch (DECK-ark): Literally "leader of ten." It is a military rank used by many units within the Empire of Makhaira.
Dinar (dee-NAR): Main unit of currency used in the Empire of Makhaira. It comes in bronze and silver versions, with the silver worth two bronze. Ten silver are worth one solidi.
Dromon (DROH-mun): Main style of warship used in the Empire of Makhaira. Their design signaled the end of ramming as a naval tactic because their hulls were sufficiently sturdy to withstand ramming while retaining the flexibility required to handle medium-sized seas. They include a full upper deck, allowing for more and larger missile weaponry. They also possess a lateen sail.
Dux (dooks): Governor of a province.
E
Elatos (ELL-a-tohs): Rower on a galley.
G
Gospodar (GOSE-pa-dar): Lord. Often used in the sense of "milord."
Gulyas (GULL-yass): Thick stew-like dish heavily spiced with peppers and garlic. See Gulyas for a recipe.
H
Hecatontarch (HEK-a-tawn-TARK): Literally "leader of one hundred." It is a military rank used by many units within the Empire of Makhaira. The rank now refers to the subofficer in charge of day-to-day activities in an Imperial company of soldiers, whatever its actual size.
J
Jebi se (je-BEE SAY): Curse meaning "fuck off."
K
Kacamak (KAK-a-MAK):A fairly bland dish served in the Empire of Makhaira consisting of gruel fried in olive oil. It is often flavored with spices, honey, or served with sauces. See Kacamak for a recipe.
Kajmak (KIE-mak): Type of clotted cream. See Kajmak for a recipe.
Kentarch (ken-TARK): Civilian rank used within the Empire of Makhaira. Applied to a relatively low-level but nonetheless vital member of a particular bureaucracy. A real world equivalent would be a sergeant on a police force or the administrative assistant of a major bureaucrat.
Koryfoi (KOR-ee-foy): A term used by criminals in the Empire of Makhaira to refer to all those who are not in a kral.
Kral (krahl): Criminal organization run by a kraljevic in the northern provinces of the Empire of Makhaira.
Kraljevic (KRAHL-ye-vitch): Leader of a criminal organization known as a kral in the northern part of the Empire of Makhaira.
Kreisarch (KRYS-ark): Literally "leader of a kreisen." It has become the standard term in both Imperial and Kreisic, though other, local terms for the position are often used as well.
Kuja (COO-ya): Curse meaning "bitch."
L
Legion (LEE-jun): Imperial military unit, consisting of a number of Cohorts. Because the empire rarely gets into large-scale wars, legions have become less relevant.
Logothetes Ghenikou (lo-go-THAY-tes GEN-ee-koo): Derived from logothetes tou ghenikou, it was originally a sarcastic term for a courtesan , suggesting he or she was in charge of her client's revenue. In later Imperial, it became more positive, coming to mean the leading courtesan or lady of a court, whether the Imperial one in Basilopolis or in one of the provinces.
Logothetes tou Ghenikou (lo-go-THAY-tes too GEN-ee-koo): An official responsible for taxation and revenue.
M
Magistros (MADZH-uh-strose): High-ranked advisor to the emperor.
N
Nauarch (NOW-ark): Ship captain.
Nobilissimi (NO-be-lis-si-MEE): Literally, "most noble." It is the class including the greatest and most powerful in the Empire of Makhaira.
O
Olibanum (oh-LEE-bah-NUM): An oil made from frankincense trees used in many perfumes. The best olibanum comes from the border of the Qafric Wastes and the Empire of Makhaira. It is also produced in the provinces of Arbanon and Sabinia.
P
Palatini (PAL-uh-TI-nee): Units of warriors employed by a general or noble. Technically not part of the Imperial Army.
Photodotis (foe-TOE-doe-tis): The highest-ranking priest at a temple of Panteleimon Mrnjavcevic.
Prefect (pre-FECT): Ruler of a town or city.
Proreus (pro-RAY-us): Bow officer on Imperial ships.
Protokarabos (pro-toe-KAIR-a-bose): Subofficer in charge of day-to-day activities on an Imperial ship.
Q
Quaesitor (KWY-zuh-TOR): The officials tasked by the Emperor and provincial governors with solving crimes.
R
Rakija (ROCK-ee-ya): a brandy distilled from a variety of fruits common in Dassaretum Province, Empire of Makhaira. See Rakija for a recipe.
Revithia (REV-ah-THEE-ah): A soup made with chickpeas common in Basilopolis, Empire of Makhaira. See Revithia for a recipe.
S
Scutum (skoo-TUM): Type of shield used by Old Imperial legions.
Selsko Meso (SELL-sko ME-so): Dish of meat, onions, and mushrooms in a wine sauce baked in a clay container. See Selsko Meso for a recipe.
Sfagi (sfah-GHEE): Slaughter. Also a particularly bloody event in Achridan history. See Sfagi.
Shopska (showp-SKA): Type of salad common in Dassaretum Province. See Shopska for a recipe.
Solidi (SOL-ah-dee): A coin minted in the Empire of Makhaira. It is worth ten silver dinars or twenty bronze dinars. The plural form is solidii. Solidii are actually fairly rare, being only minted in Basilopolis while bronze and silver dinars are minted in several locations across the empire.
Stanar Seljak (sta-NARR sel-JAK): Derogatory term for a person from a rural area.
Stola (STOL-ah): A cloak-like garment worn in the Empire of Makhaira. Generally, it is only used by members of one or another religious hierarchy, though its use fell out of favor in the nineteenth century.
Strategos (stra-TEE-gose): A military rank in the Empire of Makhaira. Generally, it is reserved for generals leading large armies. The one exception is the Pronoiars military company in the city of Achrida in Dassaretum Province.
Syngellos (sin-GHEL-ose): Religious rank used by some sects within the Empire of Makhaira.
T
Tagmatarch (TAG-ma-TARK): Military rank used within the Empire of Makhaira. Applied to a person in charge of a division or section.
Taxiarch (TAX-ee-ARK): Military rank used within the Empire of Makhaira. Applied to a person in charge of a castle and its garrison.
Tourma (TOUR-ma): A military unit in the Empire of Makhaira. It is commanded by a tourmarch. It is comprised of two to five thousand soldiers, depending upon the assignment.
Tourmarch (TOUR-mark): A military rank in the army of the Empire of Makhaira. A tourmarch commands a tourma.
Ty Sto Thyolo (ty stow TIE-oh-lo): Curse meaning "what the hell?"
V
Vranec (vran-EK): Literally "black" in Old Dassaretic. Now it refers to a type of grape grown in Dassaretum Province. Makes a wine so dark it is often called “black wine.”
Z
Zelnik (zell-NEEK): A pastry made of phyllo dough containing meat, cheese, and spinach common in the Empire of Makhaira. See Zelnik for a recipe.
Zupan (zoo-PAN): Clan or tribal leader in the northern sections of the Empire of Makhaira.