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Last King of Osten Ard 02 - Empire of Grass

Page 98

by Tad Williams


  Landborn—those Sithi and Hikeda’ya born after the arrival in Osten Ard

  League of the Scroll—an exclusive and secret society of scholars, seeking and preserving knowledge

  Li Fosena—Countess Yissola of Perdruin’s flagship

  Mamarte and the Deceivers—famous tale from the Book of the Aedon

  Meadowsweet—a flowering herb

  Mooncloud—a Master Witness

  Moonlight—Prince-Templar Prakiti’s sword

  Moon Trees—part of Himano’s lands

  Mother Church—the Aedonite church

  Motherwort—a healing herb, used for bowel issues and as a sedative

  Northern Alliance—a trade organization, in competition with the ancient Sindigato Perdruine

  Ocean Indefinite and Eternal—the sea crossed by the Gardenborn to come to Osten Ard

  Octander Covenant—pact between the Ingadarine and Benidrivine houses of Nabban

  Parting, the—the separation of the Sithi and Norns

  Pellarine Table—table of the Small Council of the High Throne; a gift from the Nabbanai Imperator Pellaris to King Tethtain

  Pellipan Sisters—an Aedonite religious order

  Promissi—“promises”, a chapter in the Book of the Aedon

  Quarely Maid—a tavern in Erchester, Prince Morgan’s favored drinking establishment

  Queen’s Huntsman—an honorific given by Queen Utuk’ku to a skilled mortal slave-hunter

  Quinis-piece—a Nabbanai coin

  Red Ruin—a plague

  Rhiappa’s Bells—an herb used to treat women’s pains

  Scale—Sithi device for talking over distance, “Witness”

  Sacrifice—a Hikeda’ya soldier

  Scrollbearers—members of the League of the Scroll, a secret society seeking and preserving knowledge

  Shaynat—a Keida’ya strategy game for two players, called Shent by the Sithi

  Snakesplitter—Morgan’s sword

  Spar—a piece of one of the Eight Ships that came from the Garden, sacred to the Niskies

  Speakfire—the Master Witness in Hikehikayo

  Stag—emblem of Hern’s House, the ruling house of Hernystir

  Sulian Heresy—King Vargellis Sulis’ conjecture, declared heretical, that Usires Aedon was one of the Sithi

  Sutrinian Order—Aedonite religious order, whose patron saint is St. Sutrin

  Swan of Naglimund—Josua’s coat of arms

  Talon—a squad of five elite, specially-trained Sacrifices

  Thanemoot—a yearly gathering of all Thrithings clans at Blood Lake

  Thrithings Wars—a series of wars between the Thrithings and Aedonite kingdoms

  Thrones—Erkynlandish gold coins roughly equivalent to Nabbanai gold Imperators

  Traveler’s Hood—Sithi name of the herb wolfsbane

  Treatise on the Aetheric Whispers, A—also called Tractit Eteris Vocinnen; a banned book

  Tree, the—“Holy Tree”, or “Execution Tree”; symbol of Usires Aedon’s execution and the Aedonite faith

  True Faith—the Aedonite religion (as Aedonites see it)

  Twin Dragons—House Crest of King Simon and Queen Miriamele

  Unbeing—an ancient threat which destroyed Venyha Do’sae

  Usirean Brotherhood—a religious order of Aedonite monks

  War of Return—Hikeda’ya name for the Storm King’s War

  Westerling—language originating from Warinsten Island; now the common tongue of Osten Ard

  Windflower—a little white flower, found in woods, flowering in early Spring

  Witchwood—rare wood from trees brought from the Garden; as hard as metal

  Witchwood Crown, the—Sithi: “kei-jáyha”. A circlet for heroes; a group of witchwood trees; a move in Shaynat/Shent

  Witness—a Sithi device to talk over long distances and enter the Road of Dreams, oftentimes a dragon scale

  Wood agrimony—a flowering herb

  Word of Resurrection—used to bring life back to a dead body, at least for a little while

  Words of Joining—chanted by Tanahaya to use the Witness

  Xari—“scorpions”, a kind of Hikeda’ya hand-ax

  Yedade’s Box—a Hikeda’ya device for testing children

  Yerut—fermented mare’s milk that the Thrithings-folk have drunk since time before time

  Yrmansol—a festival tree

  STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS

  Bend of the River—one of the stars of Venyha Do’sae, the Lost Garden

  Blade—a star of Venyha Do’sae

  Dancer—a star of Venyha Do’sae

  Horned Owl—Erkynlandish

  Lamp—Erkynlandish

  Lantern—Hikeda’ya

  Pool—a star of Venyha Do’sae

  Staff—Erkylandish

  Swallower—a star of Venyha Do’sae

  HOLIDAYS

  Feyever 2–Candlemansa

  Marris 25–Elysiamansa

  Marris 31–Fool’s Night

  Avrel 1–All Fool’s Day

  Avrel 3–St. Vultinia’s Day

  Avrel 24–St. Dinan’s Day

  Avrel 30–Stoning Night

  Maia 1–Belthainn Day

  Yuven 23–Midsummer’s Eve

  Tiyagar 15–Saint Sutrin’s Day

  Anitul 1–Hlafmansa

  Septander 29–Saint Granis’ Day

  Octander 30–Harrows Eve

  Novander 1–Soul’s Day

  Decander 21–Saint Tunath’s Day

  Decander 24–Aedonmansa

  Days of the Week

  Sunday, Moonday, Tiasday, Udunsday, Drorsday, Frayday, Satrinsday

  Months of the Year

  Aedonite: Jonever, Feyever, Marris, Avrel, Maia, Yuven, Tiyagar, Anitul, Septander, Octander, Novander, Decander

  Sithi: Raven, Serpent, Hare, Grieving Sister, Nightingale, Lantern, Bearer, Fox, Lynx, Crane, Tortoise, Rooster, Moon-Herald

  Hikeda’ya: Ice-Mother, Serpent, Wind-Child, Dove, Cloud-Song, Otter, Stone-Listener, Lynx, Sky-Singer, Tortoise, Fire-Knight, Wolf

  Thrithing: Second Blue Moon, Third Blue Moon, First Green Moon, Second Green Moon, Third Green Moon, First Yellow Moon, Second Yellow Moon, Third Yellow Moon, First Red Moon, Second Red Moon, Third Red Moon, First Blue Moon

  KNUCKLEBONES

  Qanuc auguring tools

  Patterns include:

  Wingless Bird

  Fish-Spear

  The Shadowed Path

  Torch at the Cave-Mouth

  Balking Ram

  Clouds in the Pass

  The Black Crevice

  Unwrapped Dart

  Circle of Stones

  Mountains Dancing

  Masterless Ram

  Slippery Snow

  Unexpected Visitor

  Unnatural Birth

  No Shadow

  HIKEDA’YA ORDERS

  Order, Ordination, Ordinal

  Order House—actual location of Order’s school, offices

  Orders mentioned: Sacrifices; Whisperers; Echoes; Singers; Builders; Tillers; Celebrants; Gatherers

  Order hierarchies: Magister or High Magister (Highest official outside Royal Household—master of an Order)

  THRITHINGS CLANS (AND THEIR THRITHING):

  Adder—Lake

  Antelope—Meadow

  Bison—High

  Black Bear—Meadow

  Crane or “Kragni”—Lake

  Dragonfly—Lake

  Fitch—Lake

  Fox—High

  Grouse—High

  Kestrel—Lake

  Lynx—Lake

  Polecat—Lake

  Sparrow—High

  Sta
llion or “Mehrdon”—High

  White Spot Deer—Lake

  Wood Duck—Lake

  Other clans include:

  Badger, Bustard, Otter, Pheasant, Roebuck, Snake, Sparrowhawk, Vulture, Whipsnake, and Wild Horse

  WORDS AND PHRASES

  QANUC

  Croohok—Rimmersman

  Dhoota—an angry, hungry ghost

  Kunikuni—name for the creatures Morgan calls “Chikri”

  -sa—suffix meaning “dear”

  SITHI (KEIDA’YASAO)

  A’do-Shao—Unbeing

  Hikka Staja—Arrow bearer

  Hikeda’ya—Cloud Children

  Kayute—word for brush strokes used in Sithi and Hikeda’ya writing

  Kei-jáyha—witchwood crown

  Seku iye-Sama’an—the Earth-Drake’s Back, name for Wealdhelm Mountains

  S’huesa—feminine form of S’hue, both terms of respect for a family elder; plural: S’huesae

  Sudhoda’ya—Sunset Children/mortals

  Tinukeda’ya—Ocean Children

  T’si Suhyasei—Her Blood is Cool, name for the river mortals call the Aelfwent

  Tzo—star

  Zida’ya—Dawn Children

  NORN (HIKEDA’YASAO)

  Hike—Cloud

  Rayu ata na’ara—I hear the Queen in your voice

  Ni’iyo—glow-sphere

  Ujin é-da Sikhunae—Trap that catches the Hunter, name for the fortress mortals call Naglimund

  NABBANAI

  Dominiatis Patrisi—“Fathers of the houses”; Nabban’s city fathers

  Honsa—noble house; plural Honsae

  Futústite—fuck yourself

  Mansa séa Cuelossan—death mass

  Matra sa Duos—Mother of God, a swear word

  Patrissi—Fathers, used for the members of the Dominiate (singular Patris)

  Podegris—gout

  Vindissa—revenge

  THRITHINGS SPEECH

  Setta—gathering place

  Shan—a title meaning “lord of lords”; a leader unifying all Thrithing clans under his rule

  Skeem—slang for male genitalia

  Vilagum. Ves zhu haya.—Welcome. I wish you health.

  OTHER

  Bunukta—angry winds (Wranna)

  Higdaja—giants’ name for “Hikeda’ya”

  Katulo—spirit knowers (Wranna)

  Laup!—jump! (Rimmerspakk)

  Settro—neighborhood or district (Perdruinese)

  Vao—Tinukeda’ya name for their race

  Valada—wise woman (Rimmerspakk)

  A GUIDE TO PRONUNCIATION

  ERKYNLANDISH

  Erkynlandish names are divided into two types, Old Erkynlandish (O.E.) and Warinstenner. Those names which are based on types from Prester John’s native island of Warinsten (mostly the names of castle servants or John’s immediate family) have been represented as variants on Biblical names (Elias—Elijah, Ebekah—Rebecca, etc.) Old Erkynlandish names should be pronounced like modern English, except as follows:

  a—always ah, as in “father”

  ae—ay of “say”

  c—k as in “keen”

  e—ai as in “air,” except at the end of names, when it is also sounded, but with an eh or uh sound, i.e., Hruse—“Rooz-uh”

  ea—sounds as a in “mark,” except at beginning of word or name, where it has the same value as ae

  g—always hard g, as in “glad”

  h—hard h of “help”

  i—short i of “in”

  j—hard j of “jaw”

  o—long but soft o, as in “orb”

  u—oo sound of “wood,” never yoo as in “music”

  HERNYSTIRI

  The Hernystiri names and words can be pronounced in largely the same way as the O.E., with a few exceptions:

  th—always the th in “other,” never as in “thing”

  ch—a guttural, as in Scottish “loch”

  y—pronounce yr like “beer,” ye like “spy”

  h—unvoiced except at beginning of word or after t or c

  e—ay as in “ray”

  ll—same as single l: Lluth—Luth

  RIMMERSPAKK

  Names and words in Rimmerspakk differ from O.E. pronunciation in the following:

  j—pronounced y: Jarnauga—Yarnauga; Hjeldin—Hyeldin (H nearly silent here)

  ei—long i, as in “crime”

  e—ee, as in “sweet”

  ö—oo, as in “coop”

  au—ow, as in “cow”

  NABBANAI

  The Nabbanai language holds basically to the rules of a romance language, i.e., the vowels are pronounced “ah-eh-ih-oh-ooh,” the consonants are all sounded, etc. There are some exceptions.

  i—most names take emphasis on second to last syllable: Ben-i-GAR-is. When this syllable has an i, it is sounded long (Ardrivis: Ar-DRY-vis) unless it comes before a double consonant (Antippa: An-TIHP-pa)

  es—at end of name, es is sounded long: Gelles—Gel-leez

  y—is pronounced as a long i, as in “mild”

  QANUC

  Troll-language is considerably different than the other human languages. There are three hard “k” sounds, signified by: c, q, and k. The only difference intelligible to most non-Qanuc is a slight clucking sound on the q, but it is not to be encouraged in beginners. For our purposes, all three will sound with the k of “keep.” Also, the Qanuc u is pronounced uh, as in “bug.” Other interpretations are up to the reader, but he or she will not go far wrong pronouncing phonetically.

  SITHI

  Even more than the language of Yiqanuc, the language of the Zida’ya is virtually unpronounceable by untrained tongues, and so is easiest rendered phonetically, since the chance of any of us being judged by experts is slight (but not nonexistent, as Binabik learned). These rules may be applied, however.

  i—when the first vowel, pronounced ih, as in “clip.” When later in word, especially at end, pronounced ee, as in “fleet”: Jiriki—Jih-REE-kee

  ai—pronounced like long i, as in “time”

  ’ (apostrophe)—represents a clicking sound, and should be not voiced by mortal readers.

  EXCEPTIONAL NAMES

  Geloë—Her origins are unknown, and so is the source of her name. It is pronounced “Juh-LO-ee” or “Juh-LOY.” Both are correct.

  Ingen Jegger—He is a Black Rimmersman, and the “J” in Jegger is sounded, just as in “jump.”

  Miriamele—Although born in the Erkynlandish court, hers is a Nabbanai name that developed a strange pronunciation—perhaps due to some family influence or confusion of her dual heritage—and sounds as “Mih-ree-uh-MEL.”

  Vorzheva—A Thrithings-woman, her name is pronounced “Vor-SHAY-va,” with the zh sounding harshly, like the Hungarian zs.

  About the Author

  Tad Williams is a California-based fantasy superstar. His genre-creating (and genre-busting) books have sold tens of millions worldwide. His works include the worlds of Otherland, Shadowmarch, and Osten Ard—including the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, and The Last King of Osten Ard series—as well as standalone novels Tailchaser’s Song and The War of the Flowers. His considerable output of epic fantasy, science fiction, urban fantasy, comics, and more have strongly influenced a generation of writers. Tad and his family live in the Santa Cruz mountains in a suitably strange and beautiful house.

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