by Vitaly Zykov
[23] Tarks (endonym) – trolls. High creatures, with hard skin, strong bones, powerful muscles, they have small head, and due to the insignificant brain volume, very rarely demonstrate mental activity. Immune to lower magic, which makes them excellent bodyguards.
[24] Gwonks – the name of human tribes of Plaguelands, given to them by other savage tribes. These so-called people are similar to civilized people only in appearance. Their soul is bestial, which explains the completely wild way of life and cruel laws of these unhappy folk. The only thing that does not allow civilized peoples to crush these savages with an iron heel, is their location – the Plaguelands. Some of these tribes trade slaves, and they are the only ones who have the secret of creating kords.
[25] Puppet – a man with completely suppressed will or even with burnt mind.
[26] Reptomen – at first an academic, and later a common name for the representatives of the ancient race of reptile-men, who were rulers of Toarn tens of thousands of years ago.
[27] Reptohorses – the name of the ancient race of reptile-horses, who were rivals of Reptomen.
[28] The United Colonies of Dusk – the survived colonies of the Dusk Empire in Grold and Suud, which preserved all their traditions. They gained enormous power during the centuries and started the war for domination on Toarn in 100 before A.S. and lost this war in 30's from A.S.
[29] Kord (old Cayen – slave) – an inferior or an untouchable or a Bound-slave. A slave with a collar, which controls all the actions of the slave, painfully punishing him for even the slightest faults. A Bound-slave cannot betray or escape. The expression «the Bound-slave loyalty» speaks about loyalty determined by pain. According to rumors, there is an even more complex and deadly variant of suppression collar, called the Dark Collar. It is intended for those who possess magical abilities and it does not allow their wards to use their own Gift. Only the shaman who put the collar can remove it. The secret of creation is unknown.
[30] Plaguelands – the territory, located between the Death Forest, the Heathland and the Border Mountains. The habitat of human tribes and trolls. Although this land obeys the general laws of our world, but it continues to be deadly dangerous.
[31] Gralg – a language that has become widespread in Sarduor. Today, it mainly remains only in the north of Sarduor, but it is also gradually eradicated due to the missionary activities of the United Protectorate. It originated from the dead new Cayen language – the language of the Dusk Empire. Official documents written in Gralg are considered invalid if they do not contain translation to Toarn. Gralg continues to be studied only in the Military Academy of Nold.
[32] Roarer – a four-legged warm-blooded predator, dwells throughout the whole Toarn. It is omnivorous, but prefers the fresh meat of killed prey. It hunts both from ambushes and during long chases. It prefers not to attack humans. It has received its name for deafening roar, which it periodically gives. The most dangerous is a subvariety of mutated roarers that live in the Death Forest.
[33] Tirrs – riding reptiles, originated in the Forbidden Land, but later spread throughout the whole Toarn as riding animals. Today, there are hundreds of subvarieties of Tirrs.
[34] Garlun – the grass, which forms the smoke containing a specific drug when burnt. A weak concentration of this drug is used by masters of most fencing schools. Taken according to a special scheme in combination with the influence of special magical artifacts and constant military exercises, this drug causes directed mutations of some internal organs, which lead to emergence of a variety of paranormal abilities. Using this drug for other purposes leads to addiction and brain degradation. Using it outside fencing schools is prohibited. Garlun is the subject of trade with tribes of Plaguelands, where Garlun is grown.
[35] Sixpaws – draft animals of the Plaguelands' folks. Sixpaws are representatives of a small set of useful creatures of the Forbidden land's magic. They have calm, phlegmatic temper, high (up to three yards) height and thick long wool. They are tremendously hardy, feed on tubers of the steppe spines. They look most like tall six-legged bears with behemoth muzzles (behemoth – amphibious animal from the banks of the river Zaaran, which is in the country of Khan).
[36] Kurraz – a tribe of Toarn dragons, intelligent, fire-breathing, have the highest resistance to magic. They have their own language and culture (according to legends, related to the culture of the mythical In-between-worlds dragons). Most of them serve the Republic of Nold in the ranks of the horrifying Wings.