Glossary/Index for Terms/Objects in the world of The Mortal Instruments
The Accords: Peace negotiations with Downworlders.
The Circle: A group of Shadowhunters lead by Valentine. The Circle was formed because of Valentine's hatred of Downworlders and the Accords.
The Clave: The ruling and governing body of the Shadowhunters and, in most cases, Downworlders. The Accords are in place to ensure harmonious living between these two groups. When laws are broken, the Clave is called upon for action.
Downworlders: Creatures who share the Shadow World with Shadowhunters. Hodge describes them as having an “uneasy peace” (CoB 78 ) with them. Vampires, werewolves, warlocks, faeries, etc.
Demons: Beings from other dimensions. They can range ins size and power, from greater demons to lesser demons. The existence of the Downworlders and the Shadowhunters are a direct result from the intrusion of the demons. When a demon is killed, it returns to its own dimension. Most are mindless, but the greater demons are much more inteligent than their lesser counterparts.
Faeries: The offspring of demons and angels. They are often described as having the beauty and elegance of angels, but the trickery and malice of a demon.
Forsaken: Mundies who have had Marks drawn on them with a Stele. These creatures usually only exist to kill, though they will do whatever the person who turned them into a Forsaken says.
Ifrit: A warlock with no magic.
Iratze: A healing rune.
Marks: The tattoo-like designs on a Shadowhunter's skin to aid them, protect them, and heal them. Some are permanent and others are only used once before fading away. When they fade, they turn to faint silver scars. If a Mundane is marked they could die or be turned into a Forsaken. See also “Runes.”
The Mortal Instruments: The Mortal Instruments are items given by the angel Raziel to the first shadowhunter Jonathan Shadowhunter. They consist of The Mortal Cup, The Mortal Sword, and The Mortal Mirror. If one manages to gather all of the Mortal Instruments and gather them at Lake Lyn, the Angel Raziel will appear and grant you one wish.
The Mortal Mirror: Lake Lyn,also called the Mirror of Dreams by the Fair Folk,the lake the angel Raziel came out of to make the first Shadowhunter. When a Shadowhunter drinks from the lake it causes them horrible hallucinations and even death.Downworders,however,are immune to the affects.
The Mortal Cup: A small cup (slightly dented around the rim) that can be used to create Shadowhunters. It was missing from the time of the Uprising until CoB when Clary finds it in the Ace of Cups tarot card her mother painted for Madame Dorothea. It is the only of the three Mortal Instruments that doesn't correspond to the Imperial Regalia of Japan, though the fact that the cup has jewels around its edges could be the link to the sacred jewel. Cassandra Clare says that the cup comes from "all sorts of Cup legends."
The Mortal Sword: Mainly used in Shadowhunter trials to find out if someone is telling the truth, the Mortal Sword also gives the possessor power over a large majority of demons. As seen in the opening of CoA, Valentine has control over the Greater Demon Agramon, the fear demon. Cassandra Clare says that the Sword draws from many famous swords, especially the sword from the Book of Genesis.
Mundane: Also “Mundie.” A person of the human world or someone without the ability to see the Shadowhunters, demons, fairies, etc.
Nephilim: Shadowhunters are sometimes referred to as “Children of Nephilim.” Nephilim is a Biblical term and according to this article, are the result of relationships between “Sons of God,” or fallen angels, and “Daughters of Man.” They are also sometimes referred to as giants in Biblical texts. According to the official TMI website, the Angel Raziel created Nephilim after being summoned by a warlock. He did so by mixing his blood with the blood of man when the world was overrun with demons. See also “Shadowhunter.”
Parabatai: A pair of warriors who fight together. Their bond is closer than that of two brothers. Michael Wayland and Robert Lightwood were parabatai, as are Jace and Alec.
Runes: Shadowhunters have special runes that mean different things that aid with healing and battle. Runes are drawn onto the skin to create Marks.
Sensor: A small, black object that almost resembles a cell phone. It picks up demonic frequencies to aid a Shadowhunter in finding demons. In CoB, ingesting a Sensor kills the Ravener demon.
Seraph blades: Silver tube-like weapons that evolve into swords and blades with strength depending on the Angel they're named for.
Shadowhunter: Demon hunters who carry the duty of ridding the world of demons and other malevolent creatures who roam the earth. They are unseen by humans. See also “Nephilim.”
Stele: A silver cylindrical object used for Marking Shadowhunters.
Vampires: Former Mundies who were transformed by a disease that demons brought with them from another dimension. Their diet consists of nothing but blood, though unlike demons they have similar intelligence of a human. They primarily dwell in dark places and in groups. To be turned into a Vampire, a mundie must first get vampire blood into their bloodstream, then be buried.
Warlock: The offspring of a demon and a mundie. They are usually specialized in magic, and are sometimes enlisted by demons or shadowhunters to perform specialized magical tasks. Warlocks cannot reproduce.
Werewolves: Former Mundies who were transformed by a disease that demons brought with them from another dimension. They are amazingly strong, and tend to travel in packs. To be a turned into a werewolf, a Mundie needs to be bitten.