This past month Cis and I have been working our tails off getting four of the foundation books coordinated with each other, and filling in details in the important places.

We’ve been coordinating the dictionary, encyclopedia, atlas, and the book of Darrjad. It’s kind of like weaving a tapestry where all the little threads and pieces you’ve been working on are finally coming together to create the picture you’ve been envisioning. As we are going through this process, we are fine-tuning a few things, and putting in the historical timeline of each encyclopedia entry that might require one. For example: the Dasaeshia Vio’jichii (the iv’Ahzhvii festival celebration of the spring equinox), is very different before and after they develop agriculture. It’s also changes as their technology advances.

This part of the task is often tedious, sometimes thrilling, and amazingly enlightening. The more we put things together, the more we see the culture and history of the world of Ahzhvii. Stories that we didn’t even know existed, begin to unfold in the timeline, and more and more we get anxious to write them.

The timeline is crazy fantastic, filled with all kinds of historical information, both of Ahzhvii and of Gaia. This allows us to see what happened when, and to write our stories accordingly; a definite must when your stories span more than 100,000 years (which is part of why this whole process is taking so much time). We have even calculated what the iv’Ahzhvii populations are throughout history, and know all kinds of wonderful things about when they discover places and creatures, invent musical instruments, various machines, and amazing technologies.

Sadly, we won’t be releasing the encyclopedia nor the timeline to the public anytime soon, as it would give away far too much of the stories.

However, we are happy to share a few examples of encyclopedia entries to tease and tantalize you. These are not complete entries, but will share a bit of the ideas, complexity and joy we have in our world.

AHZHVII

A sentient life-giver planet in the Rah system, 4.1 billion years of age. Considered a Mother-Father to the life that Ve has created upon Vis surface. Being both female and male, the proper pronouns to use for such a life-giver planet are: Ve, Ver, and Vis. Ahzhvii’s vukosh companion is the moon, Kadure.

The planets in the family of the star Rah, in order are: Shu’li, Vim, Borzu, Ahzhvii, Untari, Kiith, Nemtrich, Ilithnee, Pij, Fahr, and Kelev. The dwarf planets in order from Rah are: Piksii, Shishinu, and Tii’Ju.

There many other orbiting celestials in the system of Rah: 196 moons, 568,923 asteroids, and 2,772 comets.

Ahzhvii has not been deforested, nor has Vis wild-life been decimated.  In fact, iv’Ahzhvii do not make a distinction between wild and domestic.  The entire planet and all Vis inhabitants are cared for by the immortal children of Ahzhvii.  The world of Ahzhvii is well-tended in every regard, from creating safe and clear pathways, to populations of all species.

Ahzhvii is a celestial being, a life-giver, the Mother-Father of all Vis children.

 

ANCESTRAL BONES

The bones of beloved ancestors are often carefully defleshed so as to be kept as mementos and magical items that will be protective, instructive, or keep those who touch/hold/view/or are in close proximity closer to the spirit realm, giving them greater intuition, knowledge, understanding, enlightenment, etc.

The bones of ancestors are given to the voom’tiilah for decoration. Elaborately carved in particular patterns (depending on the vocation of the deceased), and dyed with menstrual blood, the decorations are used to inspire and bring greater strength of magic to the bones.

All vavii pakh have the decorated skull and thigh bones of the kuheni-ka that helped establish the aliith.

 

AZICHARR

One of the two immortal species of Ahzhvii, part of the Athkaa, and vukosh to iirjahs aliith. The closest Gaian equivalent to the azicharr are wolves.

Appearance:

All iv’Ahzhvii azicharr are at least slightly larger than their Gaian wolf counterparts. The size of the azicharr depends on where in the world they live. The azicharr closest to the poles are generally the largest. The average male is between 150 and 180 pounds, females are between 130 and 160.  In all other nations, (excepting Temir) the azicharr are mid-sized, with the males averaging between 90 and 120, females between 70 and 110. Temir azicharr are the smallest in the world, standing at about 16 inches at the shoulder. The males average between 20 and 30 pounds, females between 15 and 25.

Iv’Ahzhvii azicharr have wider heads than Gaian wolves or other canids due to larger brain size (diet and being immortal) and therefore longer pup-hood. Other canids on Ahzhvii tend to look “cuter” than the azicharr. Overall, azicharr are different from other iv’Ahzhvii mortal canids due to their intelligence, more regal stance, more intense gaze, etc.

 

IAPIIKHNA

An immortal who has gone through the Ffimnavii, acquired a name, and are beginning their vocation; an apprentice. Generally starting at 11/14 years and completing the stage at 18/21 years of age. Their temple mark is a triangle.

Iapiikhna are adopted by a primary mentor, chosen by Ahzhvii, with whom they will apprentice for approximately seven years. During their time with their primary mentor, they will also mentor with others in their field, and at least one darrjad.

 

IIRJAHS

The iirjahs are one of the two species of immortals on Ahzhvii, part of the Athkaa, and vukosh to the azicharr aliith. The closest Gaian equivalent to the iirjahs are humans.

Appearance:

All iv’Ahzhvii iirjahs are very similar in size to their Gaian counterparts. The size of the iirjahs depends on where in the world they live, their diets, their breeding choices, etc. In general males are larger than females, but not in every culture.

Iv’Ahzhvii iirjahs come in the same basic colors as Gaian humans: black, brown, red, yellow, and white. With a variety of hair colors ranging from white to black with all shades of red, brown, and blonde in between. As with Gaians there are also albinos; on Ahzhvii these are two in every 12,000 immortals. These are the aliith vukosh, ‘aŕis. Iirjahs appearance is so much like a Gaian human that it’s easy for them to blend into Gaian cities without detection.

I will keep you updated, and let you know when we finally get back to story telling. Soon…

May you be inspired to help spread beauty and make the world a more wonderful place, even if it’s just for a moment.

M.A.B.