@Lucky_Coin group
On another note, I have now created a Glossary, for all the unknown words I use. If you find any more in my writing that need to be added, do tell!
Glossary
The Backwash: A particularly dingy part of the Outskirts known to be almost entirely uninhabited, save for the hundreds of hiders in comas that fill the place. Also known for being a market for selling other drugs and illegal goods. The name is a half-joke, meaning, “Where we dump the shit.”
The Beast: A variant of the Hide, though completely different in its effects. The two drugs have the same chemical and alchemical compounds, but where the Hide leaves you in a comatose state, The Beast increases muscle mass and size of the user for a period of time depending on how weak their immune system is to the drug. The drug also renders the user borderline insane, attacking anything living within sight.
The Belvacar: A prison based on a small islet next to Durwenport that’s reserved for the city’s worst criminals. Though the Belvacar is well protected and far away from the city, it is still guarded by the elite of the Shield Bearers. The origin of the name for the Belvacar is not known, but it is assumed that the name’s origin is based on the giant bell that rings out from its highest tower at midnight.
Chack: A popular board game played on a chequered five-by-five square. The game is played with four pieces, the archer, the swordsmen and the spearmen, and one silver knight. The aim of the game is to strategically place the soldiers so that the opposing knight can’t destroy any of the other pieces.
Commons: The part of the Upper City that lives close to the walls encircling it. The Commons generally are less wealthy than the Mains, and therefore more inclined to venture into the Lower City without worry. Though some families from the Lower City gain residence in the Commons, it is very seldom that they are able to move there permanently. Similarly, very few families from the Commons move to the Lower City, in worry of the crime rate there.
Crowlin: A small street bird native to Durwenport and its surrounding area. Crowlin are similar to crows in appearance, but smaller and with a coat of pale grey feathers instead. They often nest in red roof slats of buildings in the Lower City.
Decka: A form of currency used in Durwenport that is equal to ten jing. It’s the amount of money normally needed to buy a pair of shoes.
Hano/a/i: A term for a close friend in the language of the East Bassanian kingdom, also known as Kuavanta. The term is widely used by Durwenport’s inhabitants due to the large number of Kuavantal refugees that once fled to the city, and made a lasting impact.
The Hide: An infamous drug only found in Durwenport. The drug combines deadly alchemical substances into a combination that makes the user go into a coma for anywhere from an hour to the longest documented case of thirty years. The amount of time depends on how many times the user has taken it in the past, as the body grows weaker to the drug after every dose. While in a coma induced by the Hide, the user feels intense euphoria, unlike any experience in real life. The drug is administered by injecting it into the user’s bloodstream.
Jing: A form of currency used in Durwenport. A jing is the amount of money used to buy a sweet in Durwenport.
Mains: A slang word used by the Lower City to describe the wealthiest area of the Upper City. This part of the city is renowned for housing most of the officials and embassies of other cities. It also houses the four dukes of the Upper City, who govern the main laws of Durwenport. The name “Mains”, is another half-joke, as it’s “Where all the shit happens”.
Outskirts: The farthest part of the city, with both the most people and the least laws. Classified technically as past the river that separates the Lower City from the disease-ridden, lawless area of the Under City. The Outskirts surround the entire city however, and make it very hard for foreign merchants to trade with the Upper City.
Shield Bearers: The Shield Bearers are both the military and the police force for Durwenport, able to go anywhere to carry out their duties. Though they are forceful, the Shield Bearers are one of the few forces that keep the Lower City under control. They are sometimes called the SB by parts of the Lower City and Outskirts, a joke about how they’re “Bullshitters backwards”. Their coat of arms is a white rose curled around a cross.
Snatcheries: Slang for gambling houses set up across the Lower City. Named snatcheries due to their unfairness in their games, and the irresistible charm they have which make gamblers desperate to come back. As one of the most wealthy businesses in Durwenport, they are a powerful force in the city's politics.
The Pits: A series of fighting arenas scattered across the Lower City, hosting technically illegal fights every year. The Pits are classified into Minor Pits, which host small brawls every few weeks and are mainly used for less renowned pit fighters, and the Major Pits, where popular fighters duel semi-regularly. All weapons and armour are allowed, but any brutality after combat is finished is strictly prohibited. The Pits have a mortality rate of twenty percent, due to the number of unprepared fighters in their battles.
The Queens: A city ruled by two imposing sisters with strict laws on how their city is run. The two queens, Elera and Televan, fund the Lower City officials as long as they stay in partial control of Durwenport.
Quon: A form of currency used in Durwenport equal to ten decka or a hundred jing. A Quon is the amount of money normally needed to buy good housing for a month.
