Guardian Dictionary

The Guardians originated a loooong time ago (520 BC with Spartan warrior Alexios), so many of their rites, wardings, and communications are in Latin. Here you’ll also find a lot of British colloquialisms because, mmmmm,  Nate and Spencer are sexy Englishmen. I’ll continue to add to this list as the series goes on. 🙂

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amplio – the heightened senses (gorgeous colors and wonderful taste) that a human or another Guardian can instigate in a male Guardian. Some Guardians think it’s a gift for good behavior. Generally doesn’t mean anything about that person who instigates it in the Guardian. But sometimes it does. Mated compars instigate amplio, but not all cases of amplio are with one’s compar.

bagh nakh — a weapon with claw-like blades inspired by the armature of big cats that is made of iron which, when in contact with a demons, makes the being’s flesh as corporeal as a human’s. And just as vulnerable. It can’t kill higher level demons, but it can wound them enough that they have to retreat.

barmpot — British slang for clumsy idiot. It isn’t really offensive — it’s used more in goading fun than anything else.

chav – British slang for white trash

Chrism Oil—Consecrated by the bishop on Holy Thursday, chrism oil burns and weakens demons even more substantially than holy water. Made of balsam. And if thrown on a demon’s shade after it had left its human vessel, chrism oil would exterminate the demon forever. Usually kept in pewter bottles inscribed IO—oleum infirmorum, oil of the sick.

collywobbles — British word for extreme queasiness or stomach pain brought on by stress, nervousness or anxiety.

compar — a Guardian’s soul mate.

Dei Patris – God the Father

Devil’s Trap — a mystical symbol used to immobilize and control demons. It is similar to a circle of salt but more powerful and persistent as it is usually etched or painted in place, and can’t simply be brushed or blown away. If a demon walks inside the outer circle of a devil’s trap, it cannot physically leave it, and is trapped. Devil’s traps also inhibit the use of some demonic powers. Devil’s traps have been used not only to detain a demon, but are also drawn at entrances as a deterrent to prevent access to a building, room, or container.

Simple Devil’s Trap shown above.

domo — massive vanquishing ceremony for demon byproducts and evil-summoning objects. The ceremony requires at least two Guardians to perform, more if the cache of evil was enormous. The ceremony’s back draft sucks all demons within a ten block radius into a state of nothingness. And those demons are vanquished for all time.

Incubus – the male counterpart to the Succubus. In their true form they have long, leonine tails and the iridescent scales growing up their shins from their feet.Militus—soldier (Latin)

Oleum infirmorum—oil of the sick (Latin), also known as chrism oil. A mixture of olive oil and balsam, blessed by the bishop on Holy Thursday. Used for anointing in Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders, in the consecration of churches, chalices, patens, altars, and altar-stones, and in the solemn blessing of bells and baptismal water. Kept in pewter vessels with glass interiors and inscribed with OI on the front of the vessel. A powerful demon weapon, it has the same effect as holy water (burning, temporary immobilizer), but much stronger. If thrown on a demon’s shade it kills them permanently.

Ponce—British word for a man who is pretentious in an effeminate manner.

Sanctorum — a spiritually-warded protection room where no demons can enter. It’s also where they house powerful, ancient religious relics (in reliquaries), and stockpile demon byproducts and evil-summoning objects.

shuriken — throwing stars, soaked in holy water. Can kill all but the high order demons if they are embedded in both eye sockets.

stroppy — British word for recalcitrant, in a bad mood or temper.

Succubus (succubi, plural) — a female demon who appears in a human male’s dreams in the form of a woman to seduce him for sex energy to maintain an attractive glamour. In their true form they have brown horns, emerald hair, and rust colored, bat-like wings.

xiphos — a double-edged, single-hand sword used by the ancient Greeks for close combat. Made of iron and forged by the Commanding Archangel Michael. Its leaf-shaped design lends itself to both cutting and thrusting. Beheading lower order demons with it kills them permanently. It can kill higher order demons, but it is a complex process. The xiphos is used to behead and extract the demon’s heart. Then the demon’s heart needs to be submerged in holy water and exposed to a holy relic. If this is all accomplished before the demon can regenerate a new head, the high order demon will be vanquished for all time.

wally — British word for buffoon, fool; milder form of idiot.