A.TXT

      AAB (Argushiigi Admegulasha Bilanidin): Located on Vland, the AAB (and
its museum) is perhaps the most respected scientific and research body in
known space. The vast stockpile of information to be found here is far beyond
that available anywhere else in the Imperium, and thus the AAB has become a
sort of 'clearing house' for new inventions and patents. Although the AAB
sponsors very few outside research programs, it maintains a vast network of
laboratories on Vland. Due to the often conservative nature of the AAB,
characters who find employment here are likely to be investigating already
existing phenomena, rather than breaking new scientific ground.

      Adair: Archduke of Sol, supported Lucan from the beginning.

      Addaxur: Intelligent race of six-legged carnivores from a high gravity
world 40 parsecs from Zhdant (subsector G of Tienspevnekr). By -5,120 they had
established an empire of 37 worlds connected by sublight ships. Contacted by
Zhodani in -5100. Ten worlds reserved for them.

      Aegzaeng: An independent corsair group with a strong capability for
ground operations. The band remained a distinct entity even after the
Kforuzeng absorbed it in 1105, employing it as its chief ground arm. The
Aegzaeng broke away again in 1114. Rather than piracy, most of their
activities involve raids or legitimate mercenary work.

      Ael Yael:  Minor race native to Jaeyelya (Gushemege 0437).

      Afeahyalhtow (Aculeoptera venator):  Human names are winger, batsting,
or falconbat. A life-form native to Kuzu, the Aslan homeworld, the
Afeahyalhtow was domesticated long before the race achieved star flight. They
are popular as pets, and are found almost anywhere Aslan are found.
      These carnivore/killer flyers mass roughly 1 kg, and have a wingspan of
.75 meters. The lower limbs have evolved as grasping claws to carry prey or
perch on tree limbs or rocks.
      Wingers have sharp eyesight, with cat-like eyes that can adjust to a
wide range of lighting. They soar at high altitudes, then swoop down on prey.
One claw can inject a paralyzing poison which does 10 points of damage within
a few minutes. Teeth and claws do 2 points of damage per round, and the beast
feeds for 2D+6 rounds before departing.
      The venom is not usually not harmful to any creature over 5 kg, but can
be deadly to humans who develop an allergic reaction. It wears off after an
hour (whereupon the damage is recovered.)
      They are independent, somewhat aloof, but capable of strong affection
and attachment. They are relatively gentle and companionable pets, but most
humans find their feeding habits distasteful. Wingers eat almost any variety
of small animals or raw meat. Wingers respond poorly to being caged. They
become listless, and eventually die. Most owners let them fly free, after
attaching small straps around their feet to prevent the stinger claw from
operating.
      Afeahyalhtow can fly in any standard or dense atmosphere, and in thin
atmospheres on world with a size of 4 or less. They are not common in human
space, except on worlds settled by Aslan colonists.

      Ahetaowa: Minor race native to Ealiyasiyw 2604. Plants who use robots.

      Akuaeuhrekhyeh: Aslan rite of passage. All Aslan undergo this rite at
age 16 (Aslan years). Males and females undergo different rites.

      Anagathics: TL15 drugs that allow retard aging.

      Ancients:  Sophonts who inhabited this spiral arm approximately 300,000
years ago. The Ancients discovered jump drive c. -350,000. For less than
50,000 years they travelled an area approximately 1000 parsecs across.
Excavation of the few known Ancient cities indicates the race destroyed itself
during a 2,000 year period of intense warfare. The Final War ended c.
-300,000. Only ruins, craters, and shattered planets remain.

      Andre's Syndrome: "settled in his kidneys - probably would never cause a
problem in his life."

      Android: Artificially created organic being. Technically "a synthetic
man, created from biological materials."  Androids can take any form.
     These artificially created organic beings are created from a combination
of cloning and genetic engineering. Their general inability to reproduce
results from laws of most high-tech worlds rather than from technology. At
tech level 14, DNA chains can be synthetically tailored to create desired
characteristics. Susceptibility to premature aging and sickness at that tech
level limits their lifespan to 10-15 years.

      Anglic:  The official language of the Third Imperium. On many worlds,
Anglic is only a second language used for system traffic control, commercial
operations, and interstellar communications.
      Areas in the Imperium established their own pronunciation patterns.
Accepted dialects include Rim (which includes Terra), Core (the central region
of the Imperium), Riftian (the spinward frontiers), and Transform (the Antares
region.)
      Anglic is sometimes called Galangic (for Galactic Anglic.)

      Ansing Foundation: Located on Vland. The famous Ansing expedition (870-
884) explored the accessible reaches of the gas giant Annikkithar in the
Pretoria system (Deneb.)

      Answerin: Minor human race native to Answerin/Parsi (Vland 0431).

      Antares, League of: The League of Antares was 12 worlds in Antares that
were nominally related to the Imperium. Brzk incorporated them into a new
League of Antares which includes nearly all of Antares and Empty Quarter
sectors. It is also a champion for peace and order in Lishun sector.

      Anthropic principle:  We see the universe the way it is, because if it
were different, we would not be here to observe it.
      Why did the universe evolve the way it did? Its evolution has been
favorable to life - at least in Charted Space. Most theories of its origins do
not readily predict this result. Consequently, that we exist compels us to
insist that the universe's structure is the way we see it - despite
theoretical arguments that it must be organized some other way.

      Argushiigi Admegulasha Bilanidin (AAB): a literal translation is "Vilani
Repository of All Knowledge."  Located in the city of Ishimaga on Vland, the
AAB is the largest museum and library in explored space. It is a museum,
library, research center, and publishing house rolled into one. Not only does
it collect samples and written materials from all over the explored area of
the galaxy, but it also publishes an encyclopedia known as the Argushiigi
Admegulasha Bilanidin.
      The AAB is a clearinghouse for Imperium-wide copyrights and patents. Its
giant database is freely available to scholars and researchers who come to
Vland. The personnel and resources of the AAB also form the backbone of the
faculty and learning materials of Kasiiga University.

      Arrow, Honorable Order of: Imperial order of knighthood established to
recognize interstellar explorers.

      Artifact:  Any manufactured object.
      The term artifact is commonly used to refer to any object, item, or
group of related items produced by the Ancients.

      Artificial intelligence:  The achievement of intelligent behavior by
self-directed machinery. Primitive (non-creative) artificial intelligence can
be developed at tech level 11.

      Asimikigar: World in Amdukan sector. Capital world of the Asimikigar
Confederation, and founding world of the Julian Protectorate.

      Aslan: Descended from carnivore/pouncer stock on the world Kusyu (Dark
Nebula 1919), Aslan, like humans, are an upright bipedal race. However, an
adult Aslan averages two meters in height and 100 kilograms in weight, thus
towering over most humans.
      The most notable difference between the sexes is the male's increased
hair growth about the head. The Aslan hand has three fingers opposing on
centrally-placed thumb, and all digits have retractable claws. The thumb's
claw is large and specialized, folding back into a horny covering at the base
of the thumb and palm.
      An individual Aslan is usually a member of an ekho (family) of from two
to 12 individuals under a patriarchal leader. Several ekho form a ahriy
(pride), with one family dominant. A number of ahriy together form a huiha
(clan), with one pride dominant. Certain clans may owe fealty to more powerful
clans, especially where blood relations exist. The 29 preeminent clans form
the Tlaukhu, or Council of 29.
      The Aslan sexes play very different roles in their society. Males are
mostly concerned with political affairs, the acquisition of territory, and
with military operations. The females are more concerned with industry, trade,
commerce, and with the accumulation of knowledge and wealth.
      Aslan have no racial prejudice, but they look upon non-Aslan as
tahiwihteakhtau (barbarians) unless they embrace Aslan culture and behave as
Aslan. The earliest humans to contact the Aslan (c. -1980 Imperial) felt they
resembled Terran lions - and the Aslan felt the humans reminded them of the
waufuahyu, a hairless primate-like rodent native to caves in the tropical
regions of Kusyu.

      Asteroid belt: A planetoid belt which is the main world of its system.

      Astrobleme: a scar left on a planetary surface by the impact of a
meteorite. Roughly speaking, a meteorite hitting a planet will make a crater
ten times as big as itself.

      Au'alrealko: Ancient Aslan philosopher who formulated the concepts of
honor as they are known today among most Aslan. So important was this
achievement that her name is written with the 'ko' particle usually reserved
for clan heads. This remarkable token of respect indicates that all Aslan, in
one sense, could be considered her clansmen and descendants, since they follow
her teachings.