Xsian

Referring to the language (and linguistic descendents) of the ancient empire of Xsia, which spanned across much of the Crystal Dimension in ancient times. The Xsian Empire included the modern-day nations of Eblan, Mysidia, Fabul, and Agart.

Xsia incorporated numerous different cultures into its singular unified nation, but not all of the far-flung provinces shared the same spoken language as those of the High Xsian. In an attempt to mitigate this linguistic barrier, an Imperial Edict decreed that all Xsian provinces would be compelled to adopt the same written language, and that became the tie that bound the Empire together.

The incorporation of Xsian ideograms into multiple languages affected the linguistic development of the Empire as a whole. Xsian characters would be imported into a native language (as, say, Eblanese) and would initially be divested of their phonetic components, in favor of their significance or meaning, which then would be applied to existing Eblanese words. However, phonetic bleed-over did still occur as the various cultures of the Empire came into contact with one another, and thus, through their common written language, words, ideas and sounds were translated and exchanged freely.

When the Empire crumbled, the complex and arcane Xsian ideographic writing system was generally discarded in favor of the much easier Common alphabet (except for Eblan and Fabul, which still use Xsian ideograms from time to time). A few of the words borrowed from Xsian (and contact with other provinces by way of the written language) survive in modified form in the modern vernacular of the remnant nations of the Empire. These terms are often used to express ideas which have a unique Xsian cultural significance, and which are difficult to translate conceptually into Common. They are also, in large part, pieces of a complex cultural identity that persists among former Xsian territories even into the present day.

• Eblanese Xsian Terms
  • Yakuza - The crime syndicate's name is derived from "ya-ku-za", or 8-9-3, the lowest hand in a popular card game. The yakuza use several Xsian terms.
    • Bunraku - "Puppeteer"; a yakuza operative will often introduce himself as "Mr. Bunraku" to avoid revealing his true identity
    • Oyabun - High ranking yakuza boss; "foster parent"
    • Kobun - Lower ranking yakuza member, "foster child"
    • Irezumi - enchanted tatoos. Although mainly used by the Yakuza, this form of magic is also reputedly used bu ninjas to heighten their abilities. Because tatooing is often used by the yakuza, it is officially banned in Eblan; those that do have it take great care to see that they are covered.
  • Shogun - title from supreme commander of Eblan's armies
  • Seppeku - Ritual disembowlment
  • Daimyo - Term for Eblanese lord
  • Junsui no Rikkugun - "Force of Purity", battlesuited regiment of House Kurita
  • Mokuteki - "Destiny", "fate", or "purpose"; in the Lunarist religion, everything has a mokuteki, and the point of existence is rising to fulfill it.
• Mysidian Xsian Terms
• Fabul Xsian Terms
• Agari Xsian Terms
  • Parang - a curved short sword that was originally used for clearing brush, like a machete.