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The Hopefully Un-necessary Glossary

The Spark—whatever it is that makes Mad Scientists what they are. A poorly understood concept that identifies and incorporates a batch of personality traits shared by those who have it. Also referred to as the Gift, the Touch, the Curse, the Madness, the Doom, &c. Also referred to as his or her Spark, in this case a personal quality. Also used as another term for a Mad Scientist—you would say that someone is a Spark if they have the Spark.

To Break Through—to reach the point where it is obvious from one’s work or behavior that one has the Spark. Some say that the Spark does not exist in potential, and that Breaking Through is that point at which the Spark develops. This is a dangerous time for one of the Gifted, when their existence is known but they may not yet have built up the power or ability to defend themselves.

Clanks—robots, autonomous mechanical devices, usually, but not necessarily, somewhat anthropoid.

Constructs—usually organic creations, Frankenstein-type monsters, etc.

The Gifted—another polite term for the Mad Scientists

Madboys/Madgirls—a not so polite term for the Gifted, used by the general public.

Mimmoths—tiny verminous mammoths. Originally somebody’s experiment, they escaped and quickly populated most of Europe. They fill the same niche as mice and tend to live alongside them. They get into machinery and push things around with their tusks, wreaking havoc.

The Other—a mysterious enemy who attacked without warning many years ago. Agatha's family, the Heterodynes, went off to find and stop it. They never came back. It is assumed that they DID stop it, since the threat went away soon after the Heterodynes left.

Revenants—also referred to as mummers, or various other things according to region. People and animals that the Other has taken over. They retain their own consciousness and are usually allowed to go about their daily business, but are under the complete control of the Other, should he choose to exercise it. Their life is in many ways a living hell, as they are always aware of a master force in their head. There is no known cure except death.

The Outlands / The Wastelands —the wild areas outside of the main cities. Even though these areas might lie within someone’s domain as you see it on the map, they tend to be dangerous to traverse.

Slaver Wasps—the transport form for the controlling mechanics of the Other. Nasty things whose purpose is enslavement, but will kill if resisted. Extremely fast and dangerous, they usually appear in swarms. None have been seen for years.