After struggling with the editing and revisions to “Malmaxa I – Beltamar’s War” for much longer than anticipated I am finally beginning the editing phase of part 2 of the series.  The storyline is already completely written, but I am a terrible nitpicker and, frankly, a horrible self editor.  However, with that said, I am a reasonably fast learner and hope my skills in editing have improved and that the second part of the tale will be available soon.  Watch this space or follow me on Twitter, on which I very infrequently post tidbits about which I am thinking.

Envision a world ruled by six Divine Laws, immutable and absolute.

Liaju is about to receive her twelfth marks. Arcane symbols etched within her flesh, by Divine Decree.  Mystic marks, granting access to her first matching Convocation.  Troubling dreams… Liaju’s vision reveals the precipice her people, the Seizen, unknowingly approach – and a possible path of escape. An obscure path, hidden and locked.  Liaju holds its elusive key, as incomprehensible as it is frightening.  Self-sacrifice.  Must Liaju relinquish all to secure the Seizen’s survival?

Eden, a mischievous child, succumbs to temptation and leads her cousin astray.  Their path leads through terror and death, to ultimate understanding. Trickery reveals treachery – Eden’s misdeed unveils a monstrous murder.

“None shall speak for the Gods” – the Principle Law precludes organized religion, but not belief.  Within Malmaxa are no kings or queens, no machines, no pre-determined social hierarchy, and no laws permitted – other than those of the Gods themselves.  Anarchy unleashed, or paradise’s picture?

Thrown into a perpetual, remorseless conflict you soon discover Malmaxa is more about the Seizen than place.  Sorely troubled, barbaric, complex and intriguing Malmaxa is, yet it is only the setting for the true tale – the characters, their motivations, and the choices which shape and define them.

Dreams and desires, dignity and delusion, inevitable demise?  Face difficult decisions, make impossible choices.  Search your soul for pity.  Feel shame… and satisfaction when you find none.

Envision Malmaxa, then step inside and experience a world at once astonishingly different, and disturbingly familiar.  Experience… enlightenment?

<<<-0->>>

Malmaxa means a great deal to me, its author.   A passion I hope you’ll feel when reading it.  With the sales pitch aside here is a further thought I had.

I emailed one of my two surviving brothers today and during my rambling response (I tend to do that…) I had occasion to say what the tale is to me.  An edited excerpt from that email appears below.

“Malmaxa is principally about a single thing. Period.  Individual character.  The world within it is little more than a crucible in which characters are shaped and formed. Perhaps one day you will be tempted to read it and will recognize elements of people you know, but expressed and revealed through other eyes.  Tell me something, brother of mine, how many sides does a coin have?
Malmaxa is my vision of a perfect world, sparsely populated with imperfect people.”

To the best of my knowledge he has yet to read a single word, but who knows, someday he might…

Links to other pages within the site appear beneath the picture at the top of the page, including a [Book Sample].  Simply click them, their names should be sufficiently meaningful.  [Links] might be of particular interest.  On it you’ll find URL’s to other related web resources including Twitter, Facebook and where to buy Malmaxa in electronic form.

I’ve opened the forum to comments, though I have taken steps to try and prevent the overwhelming spam problem – essentially through the use of reCaptcha.  reCaptcha seems to be a worthwhile cause, it digitizes content of old books for which Optical Character Recognition does not work.

Submitted to Amazon, for the Kindle, and Barnes and Noble, for the Nook, on 06/06/2011, meeting a self imposed deadline.

In Malmaxa, the number six has special significance….

What that is you will have to read the tale to see, but rest assured, it has nothing to do with the Number of the Beast (at least, not in Malmaxa.)

Here, is the sample of Malmaxa I – Beltamar’s War.

A post resulting from an intriguing Twitter conversation which developed into an inter-cultural exchange between myself and Elena Andriianova, Twitter handle “@pickineye”.
The tweet, (or link if twitter is too busy), originating the exchange appears below.

@pickineye {Unqualified} but speaking intuitively there’s merit in the thought. Does language impact cultural aggression {Germanic}vs{Hindu}

— C.G.Ayling (@CGAyling) October 16, 2012

Particularly for Elena – if you have the time and interest, consider the words Groth, Seizen, Malmaxa, Chukrah, Jumenta, Nullipar, Compositus, Mahahsee and Freyjasday.  Each has an origin, and a pattern chosen for some of the very reasons your insightful tweets noted.  I look forward to your tweets with eager anticipation, for I know your words offer wisdom entirely outside my ken, hints of another culture, another way of life, another means of interaction. Indeed, of another sort of soul – formed in the crucible of another world. To me, you are Seizen – a tantalizing glimpse of another reality, entirely different, and at once the same.

This is the Glossary for the first novel in the series, Malmaxa, and strives to reveal the nature of word concepts. Though many words are similar to ours, their usage within Seizen culture might vary – in such circumstances an explanation is offered as to the Seizen use.

Malmaxa is a complicated culture, with customs entirely different to our own. Indeed, I doubt you have ever read anything remotely similar to this tale – superficially similar, yes but no more than that.  For those interested in reading the tale itself, fear not. This Glossary is written in the tone of the novel and strives to remain in character for it – it is intended as an aid to readers of Malmaxa.   I leave you to discover Malmaxa’s depths.

Glossary

Authorization Council

A council comprised of Symbologists and Scribes who are responsible for the final authorization of each Seizen’s unique mark.  These councils only form within Malmaxa, during the Convocation.

beast

Any creature not bound to a place of conception.  The term is not limited to mammals.

bond

The unbreakable union formed between a Seizen and a Chukrah.

bowl

A phrase coined by Daniskira, which refers to a segment of the Segattoo.  The segments have a large slightly flattened ball shape with six evenly spaced limbs rising from their circumference.  Vaguely similar to a pumpkin in appearance, but green and spine covered.

cart

A wagon drawn by a matched pair of jumenta.  These vehicles are used for the transportation of personal effects, supplies, or trade goods.

charqui

A form of dehydrated meat, which has been preserved with salt and herbs.  Venison is the most highly prized for its piquant flavor, though most flesh can be used.

Chukrah

A metallic appearing object, worn as a pendant suspended around the neck.  They are spiritually bound to their bearer and are held to be sacred instruments of the Gods.  Chukrah are flat hexagonal shaped discs comprised of six twisting segments meeting in the center.  The color of a Chukrah when worn, particularly when activated, determines the class of the wearer.

Chukrah debt

The after effects of a Chukrah matched Warrior’s battle frenzy.  Chukrah debt manifests as a very strong need for food and drink, which must be urgently consumed lest exhaustion ensue.

Chukrah debt is unique to the Warrior class.

Chukrah hoard

1.  The cache of Chukrah, which are currently unbound.

2.  The very center of Malmaxa, also known as the Central Plateau, or the Pinnacle of Malmaxa.  All unbound Chukrah are housed within it.

Chundrah

A heavily runed obelisk, which emanates a pulsating aura.  Every Seizen town, from smallest village to largest town, has one.  Chundrah are always located in the central fountain, where they rest atop a stone pedestal.

cincture

A thorough and all-encompassing investigation.  Common usage refers to the detailed investigation Herbalists perform on the entrails and organs of beasts, to ensure they are safe for consumption.

Circle of the Learned

A village or town council composed of learned people, often Elders.  Circles have little formal structure, other than a head person.  They seldom include Warriors.

compositus

The term describing the first match of one Seizen to another.

Convocation

A gathering of all the Seizen, within Malmaxa (the place).  This occurs every time the Heavenly Body is overhead.  This happens once every six cycles.

Cronusday

The sixth, and last, day of each Sixday.

See “sixday”.

cycle

A period of twelve lunar cycles, also called “short cycles” or lunas.  A new cycle begins when the Segattoo drops its flowers.

Other related measures of time are:-

Long cycle (six cycles), the period between Convocations.

Short cycle or luna, comprised of six sixdays.

Sixday – a period of six days.

dispersal

The mechanism by which a Water Monger absorbs energy from someone, or transfers energy from themselves.

Document of Lineage

A special parchment, usually made of vellum, which contains a Seizen’s lineage, for twelve generations.  A Document of Lineage contains both parents’ entire male and female lines, mother and father.

Elder

A Seizen who has seen six or more Convocations.  The honorific, “Elder of the Seizen”, is automatically granted to every Seizen on entering Malmaxa for their sixth Convocation.

Eternal match

The bond formed between a Seizen and their Chukrah when a twelfth-marked child enters the Chukrah hoard.  This match is eternal and unbreakable.  It is also the final rite of the Rite of Passage.

Freyjasday

The fifth day in a sixday.

See “sixday”.

gambeson

A layered garment, commonly of soft cloth layered beneath hardened leather.  It is worn beneath a chain mail hauberk to prevent the metal coming into contact with the skin.

Gift from the Gods

Commonly, the Segattoo plant.

Uncommonly, a sixth child of a sixth child.

hand

A measurement about equal to the length of a man’s outstretched hand.  In terms of measurement a hand is approximately half a foot.

See “Measurements”.

hauberk

A chain mail shirt worn by Warriors.  They are customarily made of copper.

heartbeat

Used to measure time of short duration.  Roughly equivalent to how long it takes a heart to beat once, in a person at rest.

See “Measurements”.

Heavenly Body

An orbiting body, which appears only once every six cycles.  The name of the Heavenly Body is Malmaxa.

Herbalist

In Seizen speech neither herb, nor Herbalist utilize a silent “h”.

A Seizen matched to a Herbalist Chukrah.  The Herbalist class specializes in the identification and gathering of herbs, which they utilize in the manufacture of curative and other potions.  Herbalists, as the principle caregivers of the Seizen, are commonly called on to perform cinctures.

Herbalists are also called Healers.

hijath

A versatile, loose fitting, scarf like garment made from a single piece of densely woven cloth.  Hijath are normally about two feet wide and four to six feet long but vary according to the size of the wearer.  The most common use for a hijath is to protect the head, neck, and shoulders from exposure to the elements.  They are made from a variety of materials ranging from simple linen to finest silk.  Those worn by women are generally more colorful than men’s are.

hoard

Commonly denotes the Chukrah hoard.

honorific

The Seizen way of speaking and addressing another in formal terms such as Elder, Warrior, Father.  When a word is used in its honorific form, special emphasis is placed upon it.  Honorifics are indicated in the text by capitalizing the honorific word.  Honorifics often indicate a change in tone from casual to formal.

An honorific is also used deferentially to indicate honor, thus the term.

hour

Time is an imprecise measure.  Though there are always twelve hours in the day, and twelve in the night, they are not measured by anything other than experience.  During summer, when days are longer, the daylight hours are longer than those of the night.

Immutable Laws of the Gods

The six Laws defined by the Gods and carved into the stone upon the Pinnacle of Malmaxa.

The six divine laws are unchangeable, and require absolute obedience.

Correctly titled “The Six Immutable Laws of the Gods.”

jumenta

Large, longhaired, domesticated beasts suited to drawing wagons or carts.  This is their primary purpose.  They are invariably in matched breeding pairs.  Jumenta hair, once harvested and woven, is extraordinarily strong.

knuckle

Commonly a measurement, about the length of the second knuckle of a man’s forefinger.

See “Measurements”.

league

The distance a Warrior can march in about an hour.

See “Measurements”.

long cycle

Six cycles.  A new long cycle begins at the end of the Convocation.

See “Measurements”.

loose

To release an arrow from a bow, or a projectile from a slingshot.

luna

The time it takes from full moon to full moon.  A luna comprises precisely six sixdays.

See “Measurements”.

Lunaday

The first day in a sixday.  The full moon always coincides with this day, thus its name.

See “sixday”.

mahahsee

A wildly variable alcoholic beverage made from various combinations of herbs, ale, partly fermented grain mash, and aged spirits.  Its potency varies from mildly alcoholic to extremely intoxicating.  Mahahsee is often served mulled, or heated.

The approximate pronunciation is “mah hah see”.

Malmaxa

Correctly: The true name of the Heavenly Body.

Commonly: The place over which the Heavenly Body appears, once every six cycles, within which the Convocation takes place.

Alternatively: The name of the world.

mark

The unique symbol used to identify every Seizen.  The word “symbol” is used interchangeably with “mark”.

Each Seizen is tattooed down both arms with their marks of ancestry.  These are the symbols of their mother’s mothers and their father’s fathers, for twelve generations.  Seizen are granted two new marks, one feminine and one masculine, once each cycle until they reach twelve.  The number of marks a child bears determines their age.  Children are referred to collectively by the number of marks they bear, for example, “the fifth-marked” refers to any children bearing five marks on each arm.

match

A term used to describe two distinct and completely unrelated unions.

Primarily: The union between a Seizen and a Chukrah.  This bond lasts until the Seizen dies, at which time the Chukrah becomes unbound.  It is correctly termed a “Chukrah match”, though this form is seldom used.

Secondarily: The union between a man and a woman.  This is correctly termed a “Seizen match”, though the correct term is seldom used.  Matches between Seizen are made during the Convocation.

Commonly: Any union formed between a man and a woman during the Convocation, regardless of age.

matching Convocation

A Convocation that occurs during a Seizen’s twelfth, eighteenth, and twenty-fourth cycles.

Seizen are eligible to be matched to another Seizen during matching Convocations.

Measurements

Measurements are generally imprecise and normally cover distance and time.

Measurements of distance (increasing) include: knuckle, hand, foot, pace, and league.

Measurements of time (increasing) include: instant, moment, heartbeat, heartbeat counts (e.g. A fifty count), hour, day, sixday, luna, cycle, and long cycle.

See “Cycle”.

See “Time”.

meld

To join together.

nana

A term of endearment used for grandmothers.

nock

To have an arrow seated upon a bowstring, ready to draw.

nullipar

An unbound female beast, which is not pregnant.  Nullipar is generally used to describe a female beast over one cycle in age.

See also, yearling.

Number of the Gods

The number six has special significance to the Seizen.  Six is commonly referred to as “The Number of the Gods”, and is held to be a portend of both good, and ill.

once-matched

Any person matched at Malmaxa only once.

Superseded by twice-matched.

parchment

The paper like material on which scribes record information.

Peak of Malmaxa

The midpoint of the time the Heavenly Body is overhead.

The time Malmaxa is highest in the night sky.

Loosely, the second or middle of the three lunas during which Malmaxa is overhead.

Considered the most auspicious time to pick Segattoo blossoms.

phalanx

Correctly: A military formation wherein Warriors present a shielded structure to the enemy.  Phalanxes usually have three rows, of twelve warriors each.  Four further warriors act as a roving rear guard.

Also: A military unit numbering forty Warriors, based on the number needed to build a single structure.

progeny

Offspring.  Commonly used to describe children, however the term can be applied to any young, of human or beast.

 quill

A term for any of the spines of the Segattoo containing colored resin.  Quills are the large spines on the bowls of the Segattoo, not the tiny ones on its arms.  Spine can be used instead of quill.

Less commonly, a writing instrument that uses ink as its medium.  These are usually made from the massive hairs of a porcupine.

rematching day

The first Freyjasday after the Rise of Malmaxa.  This is the day on which existing matches are renewed for a further long cycle, or where dematched Seizen make new matches.

rictus

A wide-open, gaping mouth.

Rite of Passage

The three steps separating a child from an adult.  They occur during the child’s twelfth cycle.

Rite of Return

The transportation of unbound Chukrah to the hoard, followed by a ritual taking place within Malmaxa, during the Convocation.  This Rite is repeated as often as necessary during the Convocation.  During the ritual the unbound Chukrah of the deceased are returned to the hoard, and their former bearers are remembered by name and sometimes, by their deeds.

second string

A crude term used to describe someone who fails to be Seizen matched during the first Freyjasday they can be matched.

Segattoo

A plant covered in multi-hued, resin-filled spines.  Specifically “The Gift from the Gods”.

The Segattoo is fundamental to the culture of the Seizen.  Every family has at least one of the plants.

Seizen

The collective name of the people.

short cycle

A lunar cycle, or luna, or six sixdays.  The time it takes from full moon to full moon.

See “Measurements”.

six

A mystical number of special significance to the Seizen.  It is a strong portend of both good, and ill.  The determination of which, is unclear and is determined by the circumstances.

sixday

A period of six days.  The days of a sixday are named respectively, Lunaday, Ziosday, Wodansday, Thorsday, Freyjasday, and Cronusday.

sixth child

The sixth child of any Seizen.  Since twins are exceedingly uncommon, having three sets of twins is extremely rare.  Partly for this reason, and partly since the number six has special significance to the Seizen, a sixth child is considered favored by the Gods.

symbol

See “Mark”.

Symbologist

Someone matched to a Symbologist Chukrah.  A Symbologist’s primary role is in tattooing the symbols of family with which all Seizen adorn their arms.

Thorsday

The fourth day in a sixday.

See “sixday”.

time

There are no precise measures of time, only general approximations.  Counts of heartbeats are often used for periods of less than a quarter hour.  General descriptions such as sunrise, sunset, noon, mid-morning or afternoon, evening, and night serve well enough.

See “Measurements”.

See also “hour”.

toppie

The term of endearment Jalgar’s grandchildren use for him.

Toppie is not a formal word, though it can be used in the honorific form.

twelfth-marked

A special term used to describe a Seizen who bears twelve feminine and twelve masculine marks of ancestry.  The term is only applied to Seizen who are yet to be matched to a Chukrah.

twice-matched

Any person who has been matched two times.  This term is superseded by thrice-matched.

twins

Amongst the Seizen, twins are uncommon.

unbound

A collective term meaning any living creature not explicitly bound to a Chukrah.

A Chukrah which is not bound to a person – invariably from a deceased Seizen.  All such Chukrah must be returned to the hoard, by Divine Law.

un-matched

A Seizen who is yet to be matched to another Seizen.

Politely: A Seizen who is eligible to be matched to another Seizen, but is not.  Such Seizen often wear a colored necklace to indicate their status.  Generally, the less polite term “dematched” is used for this circumstance.

vellum

A thin, remarkably durable form of parchment made from a cured hide, usually lambskin.

Due to its rarity Vellum is reserved almost exclusively for Documents of Lineage.

vhial

A thorny spine taken from the bottom bowl of the Segattoo.  Vhials are filled with a clear resin that acts as a potent painkiller when injected.  Only the quills from the bottommost bowl of the Segattoo are called vhials.

Vision Quest

The first Rite of Passage to adulthood.  Undertaken by every Seizen during their twelfth cycle, and before they enter their second Convocation.

Wodansday

The third day in a sixday.

See “sixday”.

yearling

A beast not yet past one cycle in age.

Though the term is not gender specific, it is commonly used to describe a young female beast that has not yet entered oestrus for the first time.

The origin of the term is unknown.

Ziosday

The second day in a sixday.

See “sixday”.

Please, read the sample of Malmaxa I – Beltamar’s War.

Like most authors, I’m delighted to spread the word about my work – and what better way than word of mouth.  Reviewers, who generously spend their time reading, comprehending and writing about strange, unusual tales play a crucial role in this.

If you’re a reviewer I’d love to hear from you.  However I don’t want to waste your time, so before you contact me please read the various samples of my work – if they catch your interest send an email to cgayling [at] gmail [dot] com.  Please include some background information about yourself or the organization you represent, along with links to your web site, and yes – I request that information so that in turn you don’t waste mine :).

I look forward to hearing from you, and don’t forget to touch base with me on Twitter.

An early cover of Malmaxa I – Beltamar’s War, featuring one of the most beautiful women I’m privileged to know – my favorite middle daughter, Dannielle.

For a closer view of Daniskira, the Symbologist, click the image, you’ll be rewarded with rare radiance. The cover no longer exists in this form, seems  potential readers mistakenly thought Malmaxa advocates tattooing.  Though I have nothing against tattoos, that is far from truth…

In obedience to a Divine Law, the Seizen adorn themselves with “marks of family“, tracing their lineage down their arms with each ancestors’ Symbol.

I bear such marks, as I am certain we all do… Yet mine are not etched within my flesh, they are etched on my heart, and in my memory.  See more of Dannielle here, or read about her as she appears in my literal world, Malmaxa, here.

The current cover of the first novel is here.