Animus


    — Name of the theocratic empire that’s taken over much of the world’s northern and middle regions.


    Bachelor


    — A single male who is neither castrated nor in a harem.


    Birthing Season


    — A period in spring where babies conceived during the Rut are born.


    Capras


    — Animus’s southernmost territory; also the goats’ homeland. Used to be a lush and fertile land, but is now arid and inhospitable for those unequipped to handle the desert landscape.


    Currat


    — A large, flightless, domestic bird used by mammals for transportation and cargo. Similar in body plan to emus and elephant birds.


    Death Guide


    — A carnivore who is paid to kill and eat a qualified, consenting mammal (usually a prey species).


    Divination


    This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.— A type of ceremony where the Emperor receives prophecies from the Goddess.


    Divinity


    — Magic which originates from the Goddess.


    Flock


    — Another word for “family”, regardless of the members’ species. It is typically a polygynous unit consisting of a male, wether, females, and their children.


    Harem


    — A sanctified marriage consisting of a male, wether, and females; the foundation of a “flock”.


    Ichor


    — An extremely sparse, contained source of Divinity provided by the Goddess to the Animus Empire. Experienced wielders of Ichor are capable of bringing blessings, miracles, and even misfortune onto who/whatever they please.


    Maistry


    — A mid-ranking female in a flock.


    Matron


    — Matriarch or highest-ranking female of a flock, usually the oldest.


    Myr


    — A low-ranking female in a flock, usually the youngest.


    Natalday


    — A holiday which observes and celebrates everyone’s births. Takes place during the Birthing Season.


    Rauccalo


    — A massive, flightless, grazing bird used by mammals for meat, eggs, leather, and cargo. Infamous for its tumultuous mating call.


    Rutting Season (the Rut)


    — The period in late summer - early fall where mammals are permitted to mate.


    Stud


    — A fertile male.


    Wether


    — A castrated male-at-birth. They are considered genderless and are referred by they/them pronouns. Those who are fully castrated in infancy are considered the purest members of society.