The Grieving Tree: The Dragon Below Book II (53 page)

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

mootu
: Juicy, sweet bite-size morsels with a meaty texture. A delicacy among orcs. Possibly a breed of slugs.

Moza
: A scarred goblin of Vralkek.

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 who deals in indentured servants. Vennet kidnapped him and cut off his hand, using him as bait in a trap to capture Dandra for Dah’mir. He wears a prosthesis capped with a long knife.

nena
: Orc for “mother.”

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

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.

otoio
: Azhani for “below” or “beneath.”

poli
: Orc for “please.”

pon
: Azhani for “metal.”

ponhan
: Azhani for “forge.”

Preesh
: A goblin in the service of Chain d’Tharashk. 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.

rohan
: Azhani for “to make.”

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

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.

run
: Azhani for “true.” Sometimes applied as a prefix to nouns to indicate authenticity or veracity, as in
runsheid
—a true hunter.

Ryl
: An experienced half-orc guide operating out of Vralkek.

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

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.

Shay, Timin
: An alias used by Singe. Taken from the name of a friend who died in childood.

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

sheni
: Azhani for “to be somewhere” or to be found at a location.

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.

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).

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

Taruuzh
: A legendary Dhakaani
daashor
.

Tetkashtai
: A kalashtar spirit imprisoned in a psicrystal by Dah’mir in an effort to drive her mad. While trapped in the
psicrystal, she is virtually powerless. Dandra needs her help to use her psionic powers fully.

Tharashk, House
: A dragonmarked house bearing the Mark of Finding. House Tharashk is known for its bounty hunters, inquisitives, and dragonshard prospectors.

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.

tochit
: Azhani for “without,” meaning specifically lacking a quality.

Tomollan
: A young Brelish man.

Treykin
: A member of the Frostbrand company killed at Narath.

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

Tzaryan Keep
: Stronghold of Tzaryan Rrac in Droaam.

Urthen
: A servant in the employ of Natrac in Zarash’ak.

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

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.”

Webs, the
: A network of platforms and rope bridges suspended among the pillars beneath Zarash’ak. It is the haunt of criminals and goblins.

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.