Glossary

A quick guide to unfamiliar words and locations in The Cruel Gods world:

Words

  • Aether: A type of magical electrical energy which helps power Chime.
  • Amnae: A fish-based mortal from the domain of Memoria. They are amazing swimmers and can manipulate their own memories.
  • Apostasy: The unforgivable sin of denying one’s god.
  • Blasphemy: The unforgivable sin of mocking the gods.
  • Boc: AKA Bank of Chime. The paper-based currency of Chime.
  • Bourbon Biscuit: A type of chocolate biscuit.
  • Cat Cafe: A brothel featuring Fauna cat girls.
  • Clock Tower: The clock tower of Central Station which sits atop the Gate. It connects the Great Glass Elevator to the Golden City.
  • Correctional Facility: A prison for mortals to correct the behaviour of criminals or sentence them to exile.
  • Covenant: A set of rules agreed by the gods for their mortals which are enforced by the Wardens.
  • Crossing / Make the Crossing: The act of passing through the portal of the Gate into a domain or Chime.
  • Custard Cream Biscuit: A custard-flavoured cream biscuit.
  • Dandelion and Burdock: A drink similar to root beer made from a recipe of plants.
  • Digestive Biscuit: A plain oat biscuit.
  • Diviner: A clockwork-inspired mortal from the domain of Kronos. They have the ability to manipulate time.
  • Domain: A world separate from Chime which is owned by a god.
  • Dream Parlor: A Mesmer-owned parlour designed to help mortals achieve lucid dreaming.
  • Ember: A red-skinned succubus-inspired race from the domain of Rapture. They can summon and manipulate flame and are known as the sinners of the universe.
  • Fauna: A shifter-like mortal from the domain of Juniper. They can swap between animal forms and half-animal humanoid shapes.
  • Gate: A magical portal in the guise of a giant archway under the clock tower. It is situated in Central Station. The portal changes between domains at the turn of the hour, cycling through all twelve in order.
  • Glass Elevator: A giant elevator made of brass and glass which connects Central with the Golden City.
  • Glimmer: A golden sun-based mortal from the domain of Solaris. They are female-only and can summon and manipulate sunlight.
  • God: A god is an almighty being who owns their own domain and the souls of the mortals they create within it.
  • Godless: An illegal group of mortals who undermine the rule of the gods and Wardens.
  • Illegals: Mortals that were born on Chime and not their home domain, and who never registered their birth.
  • Immortal: An immortal servant of the gods.
  • Leander: A lion-based mortal from Obituary. They have the claws and fangs of a lion and are competitive by nature.
  • Mesmer: A starry-looking mortal from the domain of Phantasy. They can induce sleep and manipulate dreams, but suffer from nightmares.
  • Mortal: The name for every day citizens of the twelve domains. They can age and die.
  • Necro: An undead-like mortal from the domain of Witheryn. They can heal and manipulate physical bodies, but suffer a hunger for flesh or blood as a result.
  • Passport: A circular tattoo of the 12 domains that mortals receive on their wrist. Mortals may only travel to domains that have been “stamped” or coloured in.
  • Plate: The upper ceiling of the Undercity and Central which connects the city together in an hourglass-like shape.
  • Seren: A short cherub-like mortal with wings from the domain of Arcadia. They are artistic and have the ability to manipulate mortals through song.
  • Sin: An action which is considered unholy, or which distracts a mortal from worshipping their god.
  • Tram: A street car powered by an overhead line.
  • Umber: A natural golem-like mortal from the domain of Heartstone. They are made from stone and can manipulate plant life.
  • Vesper: A dark-elf like mortal from the domain of Eventide. They can summon and manipulate shadows.
  • Warden: The police of Chime who keep the city safe whilst enforcing the rules of the Covenant.
  • Workhouse: A factory which doubles up as a boarding house for workers. Sometimes a front for slavery.
  • Zephyr: A bird-like mortal from the domain of Tempest. They can fly and are technologically advanced.

Locations

  • Arcadia: The 5th domain. A collection of paradise islands full of museums and art gallery which is home to the Seren.
  • Central: The middle layer of Chime which is home to the clock tower and Gate.
  • Central Station: The main station which holds the clock tower and Gate.
  • Chime: The main city which is home to mortals and free of gods. Mortals can travel here from their domain through the Gate.
  • Chime Academy: The main University in Chime, located in the Golden City. It is split between the School of Art and the School of Mechanics.
  • City Rise: A tower block on Central where the Godless have a safe house.
  • Depot: A converted tram depot that serves as the Godless’s hideout in Grayford.
  • Golden City: The top level of Chime which has no upper plate and so receives sunlight. Home to Chime’s rich upper class.
  • Grayford: A slum located within the Undercity with a large Vesper population. Ran by the Vesper ambassador.
  • Eventide: The 10th domain. A world of perpetual dusk and bioluminescent mushrooms which is home to the Vesper.
  • Heartstone: The 3rd domain. A mountainous and natural world with mines and workshops which is home to the Umber.
  • Juniper: The 2nd domain. A dangerous and wild jungle which is home to the Fauna.
  • Kronos: The 12th domain. A semi-futuristic clockwork city which is home to the Diviner.
  • Memoria: The 1st domain. An underwater city which is home to the Amnae.
  • Meridian Park: A public park in Central.
  • Obituary: The 8th domain: A desert world with many sports and combat arenas which is home to the Leander.
  • Phantasy: The 11th domain. A city inside an observatory in the stars which is home to the Mesmer and their dream parlours.
  • Rapture: The 9th domain. A Las Vegas-style city full of casinos and built within an active volcano which is home to the Ember.
  • Silver Suite: A posh Diviner and Glimmer tower block where Quen owns an apartment.
  • Sinner’s Row: A mini-version of Rapture within the Undercity and home to many illegal businesses. Ran by the Ember ambassador.
  • Solaris: The 4th domain. A golden city of never-ending dawn full of temples which is home to the Glimmer.
  • Steamworks: A massive factory within the Undercity which generates steam and aether energy to power Chime.
  • Tempest: The 7th domain. A sky world comprised of many airships and floating fortresses which is home to the Zephyr.
  • Timefall Estates: A Diviner-segregated community in the Golden City.
  • Undercity: The bottom level of Chime which is underground and home to factories and workhouses. Many of Chime’s poorest live here within the slums.
  • Warden HQ: The main HQ for the Wardens on Central. Here the Wardens train, and they also have a correctional facility to rehabilitate criminals.
  • Witheryn: The 6th domain. A desolate and frozen wasteland which is home to the Necro.