What is Liska's story based upon?
The main area of Carole's research is on the Lakota Sioux. However, she uses research from all nations because this is, of course, a work of fiction, and she can design her world. There were very specific women who became warriors, and some of them took wives. Liska is most closely based upon what is known of the life of Woman Chief, who gained her honor and status through battle.
Are Rial and Pyndan really related?
All members of he tribe are related to differing degrees. Rial and Pyndan are cousins, distantly, but they are cousin-brothers through choice. There are many words in different languages which do not translate exactly into English, just as there are English words that will not translate correctly into other langauges. This is one of those words with special connotations which just doesn't translate well.
What is the Desert Buffer Zone?
An area of oases and small towns ekeing a tenuous living from date palms, other horticulture, and the caravan trade. There are a string of towns following the most used trade route. The larger cities are scattered around the edges of this zone, in the more temperate areas. It also makes a good boundary break for the Velite and Hoplite areas of influence.
What is the meaning of the hand-touch greeting?
The back-of-the-hand greeting is highly significant. One warrior greets another with the back of the right hand to the back of the other's right hand. This signifies that they are both laying aside weapons. A warrior greets a non-combatant with his back of the right hand to the back of that person's left hand. This signifies that if the warrior attacks, the non-combatant is already able to attack back. It is like putting a weapon on the ground while leaving the opponent armed.
What about Religion on Katmandu?
There is one overall religion, worship of the Goddess, which is celebrated by all or at least most of the inhabitants of this world. However, each Nation, whether Cat, Rat, or Mouse, sees the Goddess as incarnated in their own form and usually worships her in that form. The Goddess has three incarnations: the Maiden, the Woman, and the Crone. The Maiden is the first bloom of childhood turning to youth, the Woman is the fullness of fertility and growth, also tied to the cycles of the year and the moon. It is a religion based on Nature and its changes, celebrating them all.
What about the Atom Bomb, since the time period is our 1940's?
Nobody has invented the bomb, yet. They didn't have Hitler or the other Axis powers, and they're not going into chemical or biochemical warfare. They didn't hesitate to kill when deemed necessary, but most of them don't go out of their way to kill something just because it's there.
A Greek term, meaning "light armor," used herein for the races which are felis domesticus. Velites tend to be a race of magic users, not quite so technologically advanced as Hoplites.
A Greek term, meaning "heavy armor," used herein for the races which are felis horrendus. (Okay, I know that's not a real term! The big cats.) Hoplites tend to be a race of science-oriented machine users, and not as well-trained in the art of magic.
Mousekin
A generic Hoplite and Velite term for all mouse people.
Ratkind
A generic Hoplite and Velite term for all rat people.
Kinrights
The association of aggregate families, either through actual blood kinship, through adoption, or through the cousin-sister/cousin-brother relationship. Those with kinrights are treated exactly the same as if they were of the blood.
