emselves as non-combatants, however great the
provocation, except in self-defense. To a Sandeman warrior, the Marine
slogan "Death before dishonor" is a truism--and a probable reason most
warriors spend some time in that service.

Their physiology and training, however, make it unlikely that a warrior
will ever become a Ranger or Sovereign; they are temperamentally
unsuited to administering a civilian group larger than a clan.

WARRIORS'-WOMEN, Sandeman: (abbreviated w'women) The female members of
the warrior caste, women trained in combat, medicine, and need
management. They have no genetic modifications beyond those shared by
all Sandemans, so any girl-child who wants to take the training may do
so, and most warriors' daughters, particularly the eldest, at least
begin training; those who complete it successfully wear a gold-gemmed
ring (e.g., golden topaz) to mark their status. Since they have no
special genetic alterations, however, any who decide they are not
suited to the life may quit at any time, during or after training.

Because of this, there are fewer w'women than warriors, though ideally
their numbers would be equal. About the best ratio most clans can
expect is one w'woman for two to three warriors.

WEN: (Imperial English) Indefinite pronoun used either when sex is
unknown or irrelevant (e.g., crewwen) or referring to a group in which
both sexes are present (e.g., crewwens).

WHITE ORDER: (Irschchan) The organization of Talented Irschchans that
has ruled that planet since approximately 3000 BCE, its most strongly
Talented member becoming the High Adept. In keeping with the Empire's
policy regarding already-existing governments, this was modified only
in that the High Adept also becomes the Planetary Baron.

At initiation, a member drops @'s family name, using "of the White
Order" instead.

X

XAN: Xanadu's planetary computer.

XANADEN: Inhabitant of Xanadu.

XANADU:
Sector: 1, Orion Year: 729 std. days
Subsector: C, Heimdall Day: 83 hours
System: Kama Gravity: 950 cm/sec2
Settled/established: 2142 Axial tilt: 47 deg.
By: Oxygen: 23%
Satellites: None % Water: No surface water
Ident code prefix: XAN Continents: None
Ruled by: Steen family