Krasian Dictionary

ABBAN: Wealthy khaffit merchant, crippled during his warrior training.

ALAGAI: Corelings, demons.

ALAGAI'SHARAK: Holy War against demonkind.

AMIT: Crippled dal'Sharum with a peg leg who is Abban's principal rival in the Bazaar.

ANOCH SUN: Lost city that was once the seat of power for Kaji. Believed claimed by the sands. People and artifacts called Sunian.

ASU: Son, or "son of." Used as a prefix in formal names.

BAHA KAD'EVERAM: Krasian hamlet renowned for its pottery, destroyed by demons in 306AR. Name translates as "Bowl of Everam." People known as Bahavans.

BAZAAR, GREAT: Merchant district of Krasia. It is run and frequented almost entirely by women and khaffit, because such business is considered beneath the warrior and clerical castes.

CAMELPISS: Something or someone low and unworthy, vulgar.

CHABIN: Father of Abban. Khaffit.

CHAMBER OF ETERNAL SORROW: Torture chamber in the underground tunnels beneath Sharik Hora used for heretics and traitors.

CHIN: Outsider/infidel. Insulting connotation, implying that the person is a coward.

COUZI: a harsh, illegal Krasian liquor flavored with cinnamon. There is a brisk underground market because a small easily-concealed flask will get several people drunk.

DAL'SHARUM: Krasian warrior caste.

DAMA: Krasian clerical caste. Dama are religious and secular leaders of Krasia. Dama wear white robes and carry no weapons. All are masters of sharusahk unarmed combat.

DAMAJI: Tribal leaders/high priests. Their council is the ruling body in Krasia.

DAMA'TING: Krasian Priestesses and healers. Said to have magic powers, dama'ting are held in fear and awe by all outside their order.

DESERT SPEAR, THE: The Krasian term for their city, Fort Krasia.

DRAVAZI, MASTER: Famous pottery artisan from Baha kad'Everam. His fine pottery became priceless posthumously.

EVERAM: The Creator.

GREEN LANDS: The lands north of the Krasian desert.

GREENLANDER: One from the green lands.

JAMERE: Abban's nie'dama nephew.

KAJI: The ancient Krasian leader who united the tribes and then the known world in holy war against the demons. Believed to have been the first Deliverer, who will come again.

KHAFFIT: Men who fail warrior training and are forced to take a craft. Lowest caste in Krasian society. Khaffit are forced to dress in the tan clothes of children and shave their beards as a mark of shame.

NIE'DAMA: Young clerical acolytes; dama in training. Literally "not dama.'"

NIGHT VEIL: Veil worn by warriors to show unity and brotherhood in the night.

PAR'CHIN: Literally "Brave outsider;" singular title for Arlen Bales to qualify that, though chin, he is no coward.

PIG-EATER: Krasian insult meaning khaffit. Only khaffit eat pig, as it is considered unclean.

SHARIK HORA: Temple made out of the bones of fallen warriors. Literally "Heroes' Bones."

SHARUSAHK: The Krasian art of unarmed combat.

TRIBES: Krasia is divided into 12 tribes: Anjha, Bajin, Halvas, Jama, Kaji, Khanjin, Krevakh, Majah, Mehnding, Nanji, Sharach, and Shunjin. Tribe is considered part of one's name.

UNDERCITY: Huge honeycomb of warded caverns beneath Fort Krasia where the women, children, and khaffit are locked at night to keep them safe from demons while the men fight.