The Killing Song: The Dragon Below Book III

by Don Bassingthwaite

  Droaam: A nation on the west coast of Khorvaire. Once claimed by Breland, this region was never settled by humans and was known as a wild land filled with all manner of monsters and creatures that had been pushed back by the spreading power of Galifar. In 986 YK there was a movement to organize the creatures of Droaam into a coherent nation. While this has met with some success, the new nation has yet to be recognized by any other country.

  Dura: One of the five quarters of Sharn. Dura is the oldest quarter of the city and its lower levels are home to the most impoverished inhabitants of Sharn.

  duur’kala: Among the goblinoid tribes that consider themselves heirs to the lost Empire of Dhakaan, duur’kala preserve the history and knowledge of past ages. Their music is the most common form of magic among the tribes. Duur’kala means “dirge singers.” Because the magical powers manifest mostly in females, duur’kala are sometimes refered to as “daughters of the dirge.”

  Eberron: 1) The world. 2) A mythical dragon said to have formed the world from her body in primordial times and to have given birth to natural life. Also known as “The Dragon Between.” See Khyber, Siberys.

  Ekhaas: A hobgoblin woman and a duur’kala of the Kech Volaar.

  Eldeen Reaches: Once this term was used to describe the vast stretches of woodland found on the west coast of Khorvaire, inhabited mostly by nomadic shifter tribes and druidic sects. In 958 YK the people of western Aundair broke ties with the Audairian crown and joined their lands to the Eldeen Reaches, vastly increasing the population of the nation and bringing it into the public eye. Inhabitants are known as Reachers. Among themselves, Reachers refer to their homeland as “the Eldeen.”

  Empire of Dhakaan: An ancient empire ruled by hobgoblins, the Empire of Dhakaan stretched across southern Khorvaire millennia before the arrival of humans. Dhakaan was weaked by the Daelkyr War and collapsed about six thousand years before the present.

  Fan Adar: A neighborhood of Overlook district. Many of the district’s kalashtar and Adaran humans live in Fan Adar (“Small Adar”), giving the neighborhood a distinctive character.

  Fat Tusk: A tribe of orcs living in the Shadow Marches.

  Frostbrand: A Blademarks company of House Deneith, commanded by Robrand d’Deneith, specializing in wilderness and winter operations. It was disbanded after the Massacre at Narath.

  gaa’ma: Goblin pejorative term for changelings. Literally translated, it means “wax babies.”

  gaeth’ad: An orcish herbal tea that can be brewed with a variety of effects. Generally brewed and served by a gaeth’ad master.

  Gatekeepers: A sect of druids, originators of the druidic tradition in the Shadow Marches and the Eldeen Reaches. Originally formed to defend Eberron from invasion by Xoriat during the Daelkyr War, they watch over the seals that bind the daelkyr in Khyber.

  Gede Dhakaani?: Orc for “Where is the Dhakaani?” This question should be pronounced carefully, lest it be confused with the term of affection gedaka a’ani, literally “bee who dances on my honeycomb.”

  Geth: A shifter veteran of the Last War, he served with the Frostbrand until the Massacre at Narath. He wields a great-gauntlet, a magewrought gauntlet that is both shield and weapon, and an ancient Dhakaani byeshk blade named Wrath.

  goblinoid: Common term for a member of one of the three goblin races—goblins, hobgoblins, and bugbears.

  Graywall: A city in Droaam at the border with Breland, considered the gateway to the kingdom of monsters.

  Hanamelk: An influential elder among the kalashtar of Sharn.

  Ha’azit teith!: Azhani expression of awe. Literally “Blood of the clan!”

  Hona: An orc Gatekeeper of the Shadow Marches. She is a lorespeaker, one of those charged with passing on the oral histories of the Gatekeepers.

  Hruucan: A dolgaunt in the service of Dah’mir, killed by Singe’s fire magic then reborn as a fiery undead creature driven by his need for revenge. Finally destroyed in Taruuzh Kraat.

  illithid: An abomination from Xoriat, the plane of madness. An illithid is roughly the same size and shape as a human but possesses a squidlike head with tentacles arrayed around a fanged maw. Illithids feed on the brains of sentient creatures and possess the ability to paralyze or manipulate the minds of lesser creatures. Illithids are more commonly known as mind flayers.

  il-Yannah: A word from the Quor tongue, translating to “the Great Light.” This mystical force is the focus of the religion of the kalashtar.

  “Itaa!”: A goblin war-command equivalent to “Attack!”

  Jhegesh Dol: A stretch of haunted swamp in the Shadow Marches, once the site of a daelkyr stronghold during the Daelkyr War.

  kalashtar: The kalashtar are an offshoot of humanity. Stories say that the kalashtar are humans touched by spirits from another plane of existence and that they possess strange mental powers.

  Karrlakton: A large city in Karrnath. Location of the headquarters of House Deneith.

  Karrnath: One of the original Five Nations of Galifar. Karrnath is a cold, grim land whose people are renowned for their martial prowess. The current ruler of Karrnath is King Kaius ir’Wyrnarn III.

  Karth: A sailor on Lightning on Water.

  Kech Volaar: A clan among the goblinoids of Darguun dedicated to the preservation of the lore of the Dhakaani Empire. Their name means “Wordbearers.”

  kesh: a kalashtar term for the telepathic mindlink all kalashtar can create with other beings.

  Khaari skuurz’taat: Goblin for “Bloody pathetic drunkard.”

  Khaavolaar!: A goblin curse, especially among the Kech Volar clan. Properly, it is two words, khaar volaar. Literally translated, it means, “Blood of the word!”

  Khorvaire: One of the continents of Eberron.

  Khyber: 1) The underworld. 2) A mythical dragon, also known as “The Dragon Below.” After killing Siberys, Khyber was imprisoned by Eberron and transformed into the underworld. Khyber is said to have given birth to a host of demons and other unnatural creatures. See Eberron, Siberys.

  Kobus: An orc warrior of the Shadow Marches with a reputation as a mighty brawler.

  kola: Azhani for “to come” (takes Azhani conjugation form 1; see The Binding Stone, Appendix 2).

  Krepis: An orc of the Fat Tusk tribe and a druid of the Gatekeeper sect. A student of Batul.

  Kuun: Surname of a line of heroes of the Dhakaani Empire, first carried by the warlord Duulan, a friend of Taruuzh. His descendants included Rakari Kuun, slayer of the daelkyr lord of Jhegesh Dol, and Mazaan Kuun, a legendary strategist.

  kuchta/kuchtoa: A kalashtar formula of informal greeting. “Kuchta” is the first greeting and “Kuchtoa” is the proper response.

  Last War, The: This conflict began in 894 YK with the death of King Jarot ir’Wyrnarn, the last king of Galifar. Following Jarot’s death, three of his five children refused to follow the ancient traditions of succession, and the kingdom split. The war lasted over a hundred years, and it took the utter destruction of Cyre to bring the other nations to the negotiating table. No one has admitted defeat, but no one wants to risk being the next victim of the Mourning. The chronicles are calling the conflict “the Last War,” hoping that the bloodshed might have finally slaked humanity’s thirst for battle. Only time will tell if this hope is in vain.

  lhesh: A Goblin term for a warlord.

  Lhesh shaarat: Goblin expression for “a warlord’s sword.” Lhesh shaarat are swords of high quality and distinctive design and are often magical.

  Lightning on Water: A House Lyrandar elemental galleon once under the command of Vennet d’Lyrandar. She was left to drift somewhere off Droaam or Breland after Vennet and Dah’mir massacred the crew.

  long step: A kalashtar term for psionic teleportation.

  Long Tooth: A criminal gang in Malleon’s Gate run by Biish.

  Lyrandar, House: A dragonmarked house bearing the Mark of Storm. House Lyrandar has economic control of shipping in Khorvaire.

  Malleon’s Gate: A district in the Lower Dura ward of
Sharn. This area is largely inhabited by goblins, Droaamites, and other inhuman creatures.

  Mayret’s Envy: An airship.

  mazo: Goblin affirmative, stronger than “yes” and used specifically when discussing plans and strategies.

  Medalashana: A kalashtar. Once a companion of Tetkashtai and Virikhad, she was later driven mad by Dah’mir, turned to his service, and renamed Medala. She was destroyed in a psionic battle with Virikhad after Dandra forced his psicrystal into her hand. She specialized in the art of telepathy.

  Medi: A hunter of the Bonetree clan.

  Metrol: The capital of Cyre. Metrol was destroyed by the Mourning.

  Moon: A young kalashtar man with a rebellious streak. His given name is Munchaned. Son of Nevchaned.

  Morren, Benti: A half-elf of Sharn. She bears the Mark of Storm but does not claim allegiance to House Lyrandar.

  Narath: A river town in northern Karrnath, close to the coast of the Bitter Sea. Destroyed in 989 YK in the infamous Massacre at Narath.

  Natrac: A half-orc of Zarash’ak, though he was born in Graywall and once lived in Sharn. He wears a prosthesis capped with a long knife after Vennet cut off his hand.

  Ner: A previous huntmaster of the Bonetree clan, killed by Medala. He was Ashi’s father.

  Nevchaned: A kalashtar smith. He learned his trade working for the armies of Breland behind the front lines during the Last War. Father of Munchaned.

  orces: Goblin for “orc.”

  Orshok: A young orc druid of the Fat Tusk tribe, a student of Batul, and curious about the world beyond the Shadow Marches. He carries a hunda stick, a traditional orc weapon and tool resembling a staff with a hooked end.

  Overlook: A district in the Upper Dura ward of Sharn. This area is inhabited by people of many races, but is especially known for the number kalashtar.

  Paik: A changeling of Sharn, a member of the Broken Mirror.

  Patan yannah: A kalashtar expression of farewell. Literally. “Walk with the light.”

  Pog: An orc warrior of the Shadow Marches.

  psicrystal: A sentient crystal created by psions as a tool and companion. Each psicrystal is a unique reflection of the psion who created it.

  psion: Someone who is skilled in the art of psionics, the power of the mind. Kalashtar are natural psions, able to manifest the telephatic link they call the kesh. Many go on to master greater skills.

  Raat shan gath’kal dor: A duur’kala expression meaning “The story stops but never ends.” A formulaic ending to goblin legends.

  Rat: A cultural hero figure among shifters based on one of the animal forms of their lycanthrope ancestors. Usually referred to as “Grandfather,” he is depicted as a cunning and stealthy trickster. “Grandfather Rat!” is a common expression of frustration.

  Rhazala: A young goblin of Malleon’s Gate.

  Rond betch!: Azhani expression of surprise or anger. Literally, “Fierce darkness!”

  roo: Goblin for “friendly stranger,” someone unknown to the speaker but not an obvious enemy (pl. rooz).

  rotto: A plant of the Shadow Marches with a hard, woody stem used to make a cosmestic treatment. Quite rare and valuable.

  Rrac, Tzaryan: An ogre mage warlord of Droaam, one of the first warlords to embrace the rule of the Daughters of Sora Kell when they seized power in 987 YK. He controls a large territory in southern Droaam, dominating local orc tribes with his ogre warriors. His symbol is a blue star.

  sa: Azhani for “to see” (takes Azhani conjugation form 1; see The Binding Stone, Appendix 2).

  sari: Azhani for “ahead” or “in front of.”

  Sarlona: One of the continents of Eberron. Humanity arose in Sarlona, and colonists from Sarlona established human civilization on Khorvaire.

  Selkatari: An influentual elder among the kalashtar of Sharn.

  Sentinel Marshals: The dragonmarked House Deneith is the primary source for mercenary soldiers and bodyguards in Khorvaire. The Sentinel Marshals are a specialized form of mercenary—bounty hunters empowered to enforce the laws of Galifar across Khorvaire. This right was granted by the King of Galifar, but when Galifar collapsed the rulers of the Five Nations agreed to let the Sentinel Marshals pursue their prey across all nations, to maintain a neutral lawkeeping force that would be respected throughout Khorvaire. See House Denieth.

  shaarat: Goblin for “a blade,” especially a sword.

  Shadow Marches: A region of desolate swamps on the southwestern coast of Khorvaire. The Shadow Marches have a strange connection to Xoriat and were at the center of the Daelkyr War many millennia ago.

  Sharn: Also known as the City of Towers, Sharn is the largest city in Khorvaire.

  Sharvat Vvaraak: A sacred site of the Gatekeepers of the Shadow Marches, also called simply the Sharvat. For millennia, it has been a gathering point for orc hordes called by the Gatekeepers. The horde tradition of burning their camp behind them has left the ground of the Sharvat dry and ashen. The name is from the orc tongue and translates as “Mirror of Vvaraak”—the Sharvat is a broad plain surrounded by a low, roughly circular rise, and tradition holds that beneath the dusty ground is a sheet of glass covering the plain from side to side.

  Sheids sutis! Su Drumas!: An Azhani battle command and war cry that translates as “Hunters follow me! For the Bonetree!”

  shekot: An orc expression, roughly equivalent to “inconsiderate ass.”

  Shelsatori: An elder of the kalashtar of Sharn and a skilled telepath.

  shifter: A humanoid race said to be descended from humans and lycanthropes. Shifters have a feral, bestial appearance and can briefly call on their lycanthropic heritage to draw animalistic characteristics to the fore.

  Siberys: 1) The ring of stones that circle the world; seen as a shining band like clustered stars in the southern sky. 2) A mythical dragon, also called “The Dragon Above.” Siberys is said to have been destroyed by Khyber. Some believe that the Ring of Siberys is the source of all magic.

  Siberys mark: The most powerful form of a dragonmark. Extremely rare.

  Singe: An Aundairian wizard specializing in both fire magic and swordsmanship. A lieutenant in the Blademarks, he served with the Frostbrand company until the Massacre at Narath. His real name is Etan Bayard, but he prefers his nickname.

  skycoach: A small flying vessel, typically shaped like a rowboat or gondola, found in Sharn.

  Sovereign Host, the: a religion found across much of Khorvaire. The Lord of the Host are Arawai (god of agriculture), Aureon (god of law and knowledge), Balinor (god of beasts and the hunt), Boldrei (god of community and hearth), Dol Arrah (god of honor and sacrifice), Dol Dorn (god of strength at arms), Kol Korran (god of trade and wealth), Olladra (god of good fortune), and Onatar (god of artifice and the forge).

  taat: Goblin term for someone of significantly lesser status than the speaker. Derogatory and insulting.

  Tag: A hunter of the Bonetree clan.

  tak: a Reacher expression for “thank you;” “twice tak” is “thank you very much.”

  Taruuzh: A legendary Dhakaani daashor, creator of the original binding stones and of Geth’s sword, Wrath. His stronghold, Taruuzh Kraat, was located where Tzaryan Keep now stands in Droaam.

  Tetkashtai: A kalashtar. Dandra’s creator, later imprisoned within her psicrystal while Dandra inhabited her body. She went mad and Dandra was forced to absorb her consciousness in self-defense.

  Tiger: A cultural hero figure among shifters based on one of the animal forms of their lycanthrope ancestors. Tiger is noble being, a warrior of incomparable grace and speed. Unlike the other shifter culture-heroes, no relation is ever claimed to Tiger. “Tiger’s blood!” is a common oath of anger.

  tribex: A heavily-muscled herd animal creature with long, sharp horns. Used as a beast of burden in Darguun.

  Tzaryan Keep: Stronghold of Tzaryan Rrac in Droaam.

  vayhatana: A kalashtar term for psionic telekinesis. Literally translated, it means “ghost breath.”

  Virikhad: A kalasht
ar, once Tetkashtai’s lover and, along with Tetkashtai and Medalashana, one of the three kalashtar first subjected to the binding stone by Dah’mir. Virikhad was not strong enough to escape his psicrystal prison and went mad within it while his body died. He was a master of the far step and powers related to it.

  Vralkek: A port town in Droaam, previously claimed by Breland. Ruins indicate that it was a settlement of the Empire of Dhakaan in the distant past.

  Vvaraak: The black dragon who taught the first Gatekeepers and began the druidic tradition in western Khorvaire many thousands of years ago. She was also known as “the Scaled Apostate.”

  whitefire: A kalashtar term for flame produced with psionics.

  Wolf: A cultural hero figure among shifters based on one of the animal forms of their lycanthrope ancestors. Wolf is wise, honorable, and knowledgeable in the ways of magic. She is often referred to as “Grandmother” and “Grandmother Wolf!” is a common expression of awe.

  Xoriat: One of alternate planes, Xoriat is also known as the Realm of Madness. It is the home of the daelkyr and illithids, but has been held apart from Eberron since the end of the Daelkyr War thanks to the magic of the Gatekeepers.

  Yrlag: A town on the Grithic River, the border between the Shadow Marches and the Eldeen Reaches. The westernmost port on southern Khorvaire, it is a barely civilized place and the trading center for much of this isolated region. Before humans arrived in Khorvaire, it was the westernmost outpost of the Empire of Dhakaan and the Dhakaani influence can still be seen in its oldest structure.

  Zarash’ak: The capital of the Shadow Marches, often called the City of Stilts because of the architecture that raises it above the threat of floods.