Chapter Summary

An avout within a mathic community who leads an interview with an artisan from extramuros in the New Library. He mentors Fraa Erasmas and adheres to the Cartasian Discipline, favoring firsthand observation rendered into words over mechanical recordings.

A walled mathic community whose avout observe strict Discipline and maintain controlled contact with the outside world (extramuros). It houses the New Library and a towering clock central to daily timekeeping.

A walled scholarly enclave whose members live under a strict Discipline, distinct from the surrounding extramuros world. Maths are central to the "mathic" world and are protected and regulated, with limited use of technology inside their walls.

Orth is a language used within the mathic world, contrasted with extramuros speech such as Fluccish. The Dictionary distinguishes multiple historical forms: Old Orth, Middle Orth, Praxic Orth, and New Orth.

The sphere of life and institutions inside the walls of the maths, contrasted with the non‑mathic world outside (extramuros). It encompasses the avout communities, their rules, and their ways of speaking and working.

A handheld device used extramuros to capture moving‑picture recordings (often called “speelies”), also referred to by some avout as a “Farspark chambre.”

An extramuros media system and content format referenced by the avout. It is distinguished from “speely” recordings by extramuros artisans and is associated with older hardware such as a Farspark resonator.

The term for members of the mathic community who reside within a math. Avout live under a strict Discipline distinct from the extramuros world; some communities observe long Apert cycles, including groups that celebrate only once every hundred years.

A set of rules governing life and practice within a mathic community, emphasizing austerity in media and technology. Under this discipline, avout rely on chalk, ink, and stone and avoid the use of mechanical recording devices, with visitor access and devices tightly controlled.

An avout of a Decenarian math who serves as amanuensis to Fraa Orolo during an interview with an extramuros artisan. Collected into the math ten years prior, he is familiar with extramuros speech and duties within the math, such as tending the great clock at Provener.

A vernacular language spoken outside the maths, contrasted with Orth. Avout switch to it when speaking with visitors from beyond the walls.

An extramuros craftsman allowed into the New Library to address an urgent repair before Apert. He converses with Fraa Orolo, with Fraa Erasmas acting as amanuensis, and seeks permission to record Provener using a speelycaptor.

A colloquial term used extramuros for viewing moving pictures on a speely device; within the math this practice is not used due to the Cartasian Discipline.

An Orth term denoting the world outside a math’s walls. Its nuance shifts across eras, ranging from the literal “outside the walls” to broader senses of the non‑mathic world and nearby settlements beyond a math.

A cohort within the mathic world whose communities celebrate Apert only once every hundred years; referenced as living beyond another wall from the Decenarian community.

A non-mathic authority described by the avout as providing protection to the maths. First mentioned during a conversation in the New Library with an artisan from outside the walls.

An associate from extramuros mentioned by Artisan Flec as coming to the math in his place, noted for being talkative.

A named group within the mathic world, referenced by avout as "our Millenarians." They are known extramuros chiefly through rumors and misconceptions, including claims of alchemical abilities.

A handheld device used extramuros with communications and display functions; when its communications are disabled, it can still serve as a pocket‑watch.

A female authority within the mathic community who enforces the Discipline and can impose penance. She is mentioned in connection with supervising visitors and the use of devices within the math.

An extramuros device associated with the Farspark media system. It is referenced as older equipment that could be used with a down‑converter; the avout interviewed do not possess one.

A recurring observance within the mathic world, noted as being celebrated by some communities only once in a hundred years. Imminent during current events, it serves as a major planning milestone inside the math.

An in-world reference work that compiles definitions and tracks shifts in meaning across forms of Orth. It is cited as an authority in a 4th edition dated A.R. 3000.

An organization within the mathic community referred to as "the Ita." They are consulted for practical arrangements inside the math and can direct visitors where to go.

A library building within a Decenarian math, used by avout and occasionally accessed by supervised visitors for necessary repairs. It hosts study and interviews and comes into focus when an extramuros artisan is admitted to address a rotted rafter shortly before Apert.

A named hour within the math’s routine, signaled by the great clock’s chimes. At Provener, the clock is wound, and visitors may be permitted to observe under supervision.

A device mentioned by an extramuros artisan as an accessory for older Farspark equipment. It is suggested as something that could be paired with a Farspark resonator but is not shown in use.