Characters and Terminology
The world of The Indigo Child is full of interesting and mysterious characters. Equally as mysterious is some of the terminology.
Below, we break down who each character is and their role in the story. Further down, you’ll find definitions and explanations of terminology throughout the various song lyrics and Indigo Child media.
Parser
A citizen of Ring 8 and mother to Satv'k. A devotee of the Indigo Child, she encourages her son to remain patient and compliant, so they may be rewarded with the Child's return. However, her world is turned upside down on the day of Satv'k's retrieval, when she receives the news that he is to be sent to work in the mines.
Characters
XCV
95 in Roman numerals, he is the current God Emperor of Antimai, and the 95th God Emperor of the Empire and the state’s religion. A statue of his predecessor, XCIV, can be found somewhere in Antimai and is seen as a reflection as the Patrol ship takes off towards the end of Prologue: Cycle 8.
Uncle Boot
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Satv’k
Satv'k: A child of Ring 8 and Parser's son. Affectionately called "Sati" by his mother. On the day of his 8th cycle and impending retrieval, he is scared and left questioning the teachings of the Indigo Child. Despite his mother's assurances, his worst fears come true with the arrival of Patrol.
The Indigo Child
A mythical figure and object of devotion for the downtrodden and deprived of Antimai. Legends say that she left Antimai long ago for Sunya, but that she would one day return and save her faithful. The religion that worships her states that the faithful must remain compliant and subservient to the laws of Antimai while worshipping her in secret, so that her return may be hastened.
The Guides
The governing class of Antimai, subservient only to the God-Emperor himself. Each Guide serves a specific administrative role within the city, which is determined by their title. Viewing themselves as above the teeming masses they oversee, they insulate themselves in strange mechanical suits, hide their faces behind ornate masks, and speak in an ugly, alien language that can only be understood by the upper echelons of the city. Guides to Retrieval oversee the acquisition of children from Ring 8 for work in the upper Rings.
Bio-Pariah
Derogatory term/slur used in Rings 5 - 3 against those that don’t subscribe to the incredibly strict gender norms set by the God Emperor’s religion and are sent to Rings 6 or 7. Ring 7’s inhabitants repurpose the term endearingly.
Terminology
Cycle
One year.
Fishermen
A unique and insular class of citizens who work in the fissures below Antimai to draw resources and maintain the city's subterranean infrastructure. One of the few classes given free reign through most of the city, they travel through the Rings using both the cavern deep below and in specialized flying vehicles above. Vital to the city's infrastructure, they also ensure the distribution of food in Rings 8 through 3. The only places they are denied access are Rings 2 and Tower itself.
Meka-nik
People who fully embrace the lifestyle of working in Ring 7, meaning there’s nothing to their lives but their blue collar work. Ring 7 has stripped them of any life they had in them, and they’re essentially nothing more than a machine now.