Caller
Khvaziz
Second-highest rank in a Servants crew. Commands the three skins of the right arm.
Chosen
Khvaziz
One of the nine vocational shafts for Humans in the Holy Unity. Most often made up of ahno, the one shaft that cannot be determined by a human, but is selected by Godseers to serve religious functions and duties. The only other shaft beside Servants where a Human can be named.
Conkanj
Connish
The ideograms and glyphs of written Connish.
Connish
Connish
The common language used among the various planets and peoples of the Constellation.
Constellation
Connish
Fully, the Constellation of Aligned Star Systems. An alliance of predominately Human planets.
Crew
Khvaziz
A unit of nine servants consisting of three ranks—First Drum, Caller, Third Drum—and six unranked skins. Each crew is overseen by a Warseer. Each crew is divided into a right arm, commanded by the Caller, and a left arm, commanded by the Third Drum.
Cugs
Khvaziz
One of the bioengineered livestock animals tended in the aggie caverns of the Labyrinth. Used for milk and meat and hide. Like a cross between a pig and a cow.
Diggers
Khvaziz
One of the nine vocational shafts for Humans in the Holy Unity. Responsible for mining, as well as maintaining the Labyrinth's tunnels and caverns.
Diggers beer
Khvaziz
An alcoholic beverage for Humans in the Holy Unity.
Divine Masters
Khvaziz
See “Nahgak-Ri.”
Divine Will
Khvaziz
The sacred laws and imperatives given by the Gods to the Divine Masters dictating how to structure the society of the Holy Unity and ultimately the entire galaxy.
Dlamakuuz
Vleezian
The homeworld of the Vleez, aka Target Planet Thirteen-Nine-Seven-dash-Four. Located in the Av system and a member of the Monarchy.
Dre
Ihziz-Ri
“Of.”
Drill
Khvaziz
Euphemism for having sex.
Eleusis Neos
Connish
A shamanistic mystery school in the Constellation. Their primary location is the New Temple of Mysteries on Nu'esef.
Emissary
Connish
A highly trained official with expertise in diplomacy, negotiations, tactics, and explorations. Essential to resolving interplanetary disputes and treaties within the Constellation and are required for any exploratory expeditions for new worlds.
Eon
Connish
The shamanistic brew of psychedelic plants from Tierra and Nu'esef, used exclusively by the Eleusis Neos.
First Drum
Khvaziz
The head of a Servants crew.
Glish
Vleezian
An ancient Vleez city on the planet Dlamakuuz. Location of the Constellation Embassy.
Gods bones
Khvaziz
See “aku-vayk.”
Godseer
Khvaziz
The priestly branch and ethnic offshoot of Overseers, aka Akuhn-Lo.
Gon
Ihziz-Ri
“War.”
Gohnzol-Lo
Ihziz-Ri
See “Warseer.”
Grank
Khvaziz
A four-legged, three-horned weaponized beast bioengineered to be part machine, a living tank.
Handmaiden
Khvaziz
The highest-ranking Human and Servant in all the Holy Unity. Always a female, she directly serves the Pinnacle of Nahgohn-Za. The current Handmaiden is Gunna.
Hens
Khvaziz
One of the nine vocational shafts for Humans in the Holy Unity. Living incubators, responsible for carrying the fetuses of others to term, and caring and education for the young humans.
High Overseer
Ihziz-Ri
See “Ihvzohn-Lo.”
Holy Ore
Khvaziz
See “aku-vayk.”
Holy Unity
Khvaziz
The interstellar theocratic empire of the Nahgak-Ri.
Ihv
Ihziz-Ri
Pinnacle, highest point of a pyramid.
Ihvgohn-Lo
Ihziz-Ri
Ihvkuhn-Lo
Ihziz-Ri
The highest rank of Godseer.
Ihvnahg-Ra
Ihziz-Ri
The Pinnacle of the World, the highest-ranking Divine Master on a planet.
Ihvzohn-Lo
Ihziz-Ri
The highest rank of Overseers, aka High Overseer.
Ihziz-Ri
Ihziz-Ri
“High Language.” The language of the Nahgak-Ri and Zohlun-Lo.
Khva-
Ihziz-Ri
“Non-” or “un-,” a negating prefix.
Khvaziz
Khvaziz
“Non-language.” The language of Humans in the Holy Unity.
Khvazol
Ihziz-Ri
Unseen, nameless human slaves in the Holy Unity.
Labyrinth
Khvaziz
The underground cities of the planet Nahgohn-Za.
Lem
Connish
A robot composed of forma with a node inside.
Mechs
Khvaziz
One of the nine vocational shafts for Humans in the Holy Unity. Responsible for the repair and upkeep of technology and biomechs.
Medics
Khvaziz
One of the nine vocational shafts for Humans in the Holy Unity. Responsible for the medical care of other humans.
Mine Rat
Khvaziz
“Babies” or “children.” A Human in the Holy Unity that has not yet chosen their shaft.
Monarchy
Khvaziz
The other major interstellar society in the local cluster at war with the Holy Unity. Composed of four alien races, including the Vleez.
Muyama Academy
Connish
A school for integrating the organic mind and n-tech cell processors to their highest potentials. Located on Atara’Han.
Nahg
Ihziz-Ri
“Master,” or “the one who is in control.”
Nahgak-Ri
Ihziz-Ri
The Divine Masters, a civilization whose long-term goals are the enslavement of all life in the galaxy by spreading their Gods’ Divine Will.
Nahgohn-Za
Ihziz-Ri
The homeworld of the Nahgak-Ri and the capital of the Holy Unity.
Nihkazza
Ihziz-Ri
A sacrificial blade, or occasionally other ritual instruments.
Nu'esef
Connish
A planet in the Constellation, settled by many different Tierran ethnicities. Located near the Old Portal. Known for its two moons and their valuable mines, as well as the New Temple of Eleusis Neos.
Obezya
Khvaziz
1. A mythical creature known for being very human-like. Always using its long arms and tail to swing from place to place, it never touched the ground. A monkey. 2. A contest played by new servants to see who can cross from one end of the deck to the other without touching the ground.
Old Hens’ Tales
Khvaziz
Fairy tales and legends.
Old Nahg
Ihziz-Ri
A race nearly wiped out by the Gods and whose survivors were uplifted to become the Nahgak-Ri, the Divine Masters.
Oracle
Connish
A shamanic priest of Eleusis Neos Mysteries.
Overseer
Khvaziz
The middle-tier race of the Holy Unity, aka the “Zohlun-Lo.”
Palukai
Ihziz-Ri
The form-shifting melee and firearm primary weapon of the Servants.
Penultimate of the Pyramid
Khvaziz
Second in command, the second-highest ranking Warseer on a pyramid battleship.
Pillows
Khvaziz
One of the nine vocational shafts for Humans in the Holy Unity. Responsible for providing sexual awards to Servants and Pitters, most often, but can be offered to others as a reward as well.
Pinnacle of the Pyramid
Khvaziz
Highest-ranking Warseer on a pyramid battleship. See “Ihvgohn-Lo.”
Pitters
Khvaziz
A transitional shaft of Humans in the Holy Unity. If a Human chooses to be a Servant, they must first train and fight as a Pitter, winning nine pit fights to become a Servant.
Pitters Brew
Khvaziz
A stimulant used by Servants and Pitters to increase aggression and sharpen the senses.
Privileges
Khvaziz
The form of currency in the Holy Unity.
Pyramid Ihvik-Ri
Ihziz-Ri
The pyramid class battleship where Sabira is stationed. Literally translated it means “superior pinnacle.” A truer translation would be “Best of the Best.”
Pyramid Zol-Ori
Ihziz-Ri
The pyramid class battleship where Attendant Spear is stationed. Literally translated it means “the object divinely beheld.” A truer translation would be “Seen by the Gods.”
Servants
Khvaziz
The Divine Masters’ Human army. One of nine vocational shafts available to Humans within the Holy Unity.
Shaft
Khvaziz
One of nine possible vocations available to Humans within the Holy Unity. At age eighteen, every Human in Holy Unity is given a choice between two shafts that would determine their main duties for the rest of their lives.
Shift
Khvaziz
A measurement of time, roughly nine Earth hours. Three shifts equal a day on Nahgohn-Za.
Skin
Khvaziz
An unranked servant.
Staff
Khvaziz
One of the nine vocational shafts available to Humans in the Holy Unity. Responsible for directly serving the Divine Masters and high-ranking Overseers in the domed palaces.
Third Drum
Khvaziz
Third-highest rank in a Servants crew. Commands the three skins of the left arm.
Tierra
Connish
A planet in the Constellation of Aligned Star Systems.
Vleez
Vleezian
An alien race within the Monarchy. They stand upright on two legs and have four arms, no eyes or nose or ears, but six sense tendrils that serve as their primary sense organs, capable of hearing, sight, smell, and other senses. These tendrils mature when a Vleez enters adulthood, growing a spade shape at their tips.
Warseer
Khvaziz
The military branch and ethnic offshoot of the Overseers. Aka the Gohnzol-Lo.
Yarist
Khvaziz
Blue gems that trigger temporary strength, endurance, and aggression in servants through skin contact. Their activation drains the energy reserve of the user's body.
Zaicha
Khvaziz
A mythical creature known for sneaking into aggie caverns and stealing vegetables. A rabbit.
Ziz
Ihziz-Ri
“To speak” or “to express,” also “language.”
Zohl
Ihziz-Ri
“To see.”
Zohlun-Lo
Ihziz-Ri
See “Overseer.”
Zol
Ihziz-Ri
The object being seen.
AFTERWORD
THANK YOU SO much. You took a chance on a new author and I truly hope you enjoyed Shattered Gates Volume 1. Please let the world know what you think about it by leaving an honest review here on the Amazon book page. Even a short review means a ton to new and experienced authors alike.
Sabira Stargazer’s adventures have only just begun. Please head over to bryansglosemeyer.com and sign up for the newsletter to get a free, exclusive short story set in Shattered Gates Universe, as well as all the latest news on upcoming releases and deals from Void Forms Media. I promise never to spam you with endless emails and to never give away, share, or sell off your email address. (You should get a welcome email immediately after signing up. Please check your spam folder if you don’t see it.)
And finally, please come by and say hi on Facebook, and Instagram.
Thanks again and I hope to hear from you soon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BRYAN S. GLOSEMEYER lives in San Francisco, CA, where he works in technical communication, drinks too much coffee, and wanders the bustling streets with his wife. He has previously published a flash fiction story in the Question of the Day anthology from Clayborn Press.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
SPECIAL THANKS TO September C. Fawkes for her insightful edits and Dan Van Oss at Covermint Designs for making such eye catching covers. You were both wonderful to work with and I’m looking forward to future projects together. Special thanks also goes to Orion Harbour for the amazing Void Forms Media logo.
I would like to thank Julia Glosemeyer, my loving wife and first reader, Mary Glosemeyer (love you, Mom!), and Dale Wilson, for getting me writing again. Particular thanks to Katie Harp, Elizabeth “Izanami” Vaughn, and Stephen Crone—your beta-read feedback was invaluable. Additional thanks to James Pitts, Merikay Noah, and Gary Franklin for their feedback when Trickster’s Pit was in its earliest incarnation. Thanks to Andre Polk (you are missed, sorry you didn’t get to read this, my friend), Jarad Coates, Astra Price, Tatiana and Buzzy Brennan, Samuel Peterson, 8tracks.com, Johnathan Clayborn, and the Space Opera: Writers Facebook group.
And finally, thanks to following podcasts, for many hours of inspiration, instruction, and distraction, that helped make this book what it is: The Sword and Laser, The Duncan Trussell Family Hour, Writing Excuses, The Story Grid Podcast, The Creative Penn, and The Psychedelic Salon.
Copyright 2
Also From Void Forms Media. 3
Foreword. 4
Dedication. 6
Part 1: Trickster's Pit. 8
1. 9
2. 16
3. 24
4. 31
5. 37
6. 45
Part 2: Infiltration Crew. 51
7. 52
8. 57
9. 62
10. 66
11. 76
12. 84
13. 88
14. 97
15. 101
16. 106
17. 117
18. 131
19. 137
20. 146
21. 156
Part 3: Eon. 163
22. 164
23. 177
24. 190
25. 195
26. 201
27. 209
28. 215
29. 225
30. 233
31. 240
32. 248
33. 256
34. 261
35. 271
36. 282
37. 289
Part 4: Sacrificial Altars. 298
38. 299
39. 306
40. 313
41. 321
42. 328
43. 335
44. 341
45. 350
46. 354
47. 361
48. 369
49. 382
Lexicon. 394
Afterword. 409
About the Author. 410
Acknowledgements. 411
Table of Contents. 412
Contents
Copyright
Also From Void Forms Media
Foreword
Dedication
Part 1: Trickster's Pit
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Part 2: Infiltration Crew
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Part 3: Eon
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
Part 4: Sacrificial Altars
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.