The world of
The Floating Isles
 

Created by Trystl

Glossary


 

apprentice: (Exclusively males) This is a specific form of indentured servant. These men, (usually little more than boys,) are free, but for the duration of their apprenticeship they are bound to their master just as if they were a bond-slave. They may not leave their apprenticeship early without the permission of both their master and their fieflord.

Aronian: The breeding of highest nobility on the Floating isles. The emperor and the highest nobles are usually Aronian.

blood-: prefix. a)Used to imply that siblings were born in the house of the same fieflord, but no longer live together. b) Also used in the traditional way, to indicate share genetic material. This relationship, however, is not legally significant�and therefore has less social weight than simply being a sister, brother or daughter. Thus it is generally only used when they no longer live together, or when one wishes to distinguish them from other fiefs.

bonded-servant: (Male or female) In Zanadian society, this is a type of slave quite similar to an indentured servant, in that the time of service is set, and the slave's standing can change at the end of this service. However, the bonded-slave has no choice. They were bonded by their fieflord, or unwillingly sentenced into their servitude to repay a debt. Informally, such servants can be granted the slightly less stigmatizing title of an indentured servant.

bond price: This option is generally for women, who actually becomes the property of the new owner. Almost as if no clause was added, the owner may do anything to the slave that they choose, except kill them. This includes selling them to another owner for any amount the two agree upon. However, the clause allows the debtor (or anyone else of whom the debtor approves) to repurchase the slave for the bond price. As long as the original debtor approves of the sale, it does not require the owner�s approval.
    This is also an option that is commonly used by fathers when they sell their daughters to a new husband. It allows them to repurchase the daughter if the husband proves to be an undesirable match, for some reason.

boot wraps: tough weatherproofed material wrapped around the boots during the rainy season�serve basically as galoshes.

Bremarian (dancers): Bremarians are a exclusive race, whose women in particular are very graceful. They tend to be very thin and retain a childish look almost their whole life. Only the emperor has access to fertile females, but sterile Bremarians (who didn�t make the grade as dancers) are still very valuable. Even the cast offs tend to have an innate grace and charm�and have extensive schooling as dancers.

Caumilan: An exclusive breed, very similar to Aronians but with much larger musculature. They are bred specifically for their males, who make excellent warriors, and are thus make up the imperial guards.

Clestion: A noble breed of humans. Just one step below Aronian. Many nobles, magistrates and wealthy merchants are of this breed. They have very thin bodies, dark, straight hair, and a almond complexion.

coin: synonym for money.

consort: (Exclusively female.) Designates that the woman is a man's life-mate--what would usually be viewed as a wife, except for the issue of children. She may be sterile, or the children she produces may be slaves--or she may also be the wife. She may be of any breeding, including mixed, although higher breed men tend to prefer higher breed women. She is generally, by convention free, but not always, depending on the man. A free consort is a sign of honor, and integrity--but she can leave the man, and thus open him to humiliation... so consorts are frequently slaves.

daughter: any female who is a man�s fief may be called his daughter, although those he is sexually active with are generally called a wife or a concubine. A blood-daughter is one that the man fathered himself. Usually, this distinction is not made unless she no longer lives with her father.

debt price: This option is generally for men, who becomes a servant rather than a slave. Generally, there is a time reference involved. This may be a specific number of years, or for life. When it is for life, the servant is essentially a slave, although servants have certain rights that slaves do not. When it is for a set number of years, the debt price indicates how much it will cost to reduce the length of servitude by 1 year. Again, a debtor may either repurchase their years, (or they can approve of another buyer, similar to the customs related to bond price).

deed: a document sealed as an instrument of bond, contract or conveyance�especially pertaining to property, including ownership of another person. b) Such a document on a person my also be used to establish one's pedigree, birth date, heritability, and other such pertinent information.

door chair: A chair or bench which, (by Feilomian custom,) is placed by the door during the wet season so that someone coming in can sit while they remove their boot wraps.

drop-hole: This is essentially a port-o-let that is built into a wagon. It is a solid-construction stool with a cylindrical hole which is designed for passing excrement while the wagon is moving. In most cases, it is not enclosed by walls but open, and is generally positioned in the center of the wall (or partition) formed by the driver�s seat.

e-day: Earth-day.

emday: (em�dā) term used to designate a Meswitch day, which is equivalent to an earth day. Using a similar nomenclature, a Meswitch day became an M-day�which over time became an emday. pl. emdays (em�děz)

emyear: (em�ēr)Similar to an emday, only for a Meswitchian year. pl. emyears (em�yěrz)

estate a) the whole of one's possessions, potentially including self, landed property, other properties, and debts. b) the situation of circumstances in one's life, typically used to refer to lesser persons who have very little or no property, and thus little or no legal estate.

faux fiber: Insubstantial nothingness�the half thought-form material that much in the UnderCaves is made of. It can be collected and carried easily, because it is light. When a skilled talent concentrates on this material, they can mold it into solid useable material. Outside of the UnderCaves, these created items can take on permanent magical properties, if the process of creation is done properly. There are several sources of faux fiber, including various species of the giant ants, spiders, and trees.

fealty servant: (Males only) In Zanadian society, this is a free man who gives their service to a master willingly. Often, this occurs when a servant completes his term of indentured or is freed by their master, but continues to work for them. Breaking the fealty bond must be done with a certain measure of decorum, since they are housed and clothed by their lord.

fief: heritable land or other property, including one's person, which is held as one's own only by the grace of  one's fieflord. The fief answers only to their lord, and is punishable only by (or with permission from) their lord.

fieflord: any person responsible for fief, especially if that fief is a person. A fieflord is liable for damage-fines and other criminal charges incurred by the fief; while he doles out the fief's punishment. Generally, if the fief is land or another type of property, the word fieflord is used only in terms of his legal responsibilities, for instance taxes, upkeep, etc. 

first wife: the woman in a man�s household who is dominant.

formal significant: Any of various name connectors used on many of the isles to indicate some sort of significant relationship between a person�s various names.
See Laws and Customs for details.

Fleiln: A musical instrument, similar to a flute, which Jaffa can play. Lenar buys her one so she won�t get quite so bored when he�s not around.

frigid: expletive. A derogatory adjective used to describe women. It is commonly used in the same ways that SLUT is used in real world society. For example, during sex a man might say: �Come on, suck my cock, you frigid little minx.�

frometh: A weight usually used for precious metals and such. Equal to .1 of a gram, (or ten spangels.)

goadel: A weight usually used for precious metals and such. Equal to 1 gram, (or ten fromeths.)

golden badger: A large, ferocious, bear-sized badger with extremely valuable fur the color of light honey. It has sharp claws and a pit-bull mouth that, like a snapping turtle won�t let go once it has you.

heritable: adj. capable of being an heir, as in any son who is free by right of title--and especially any son who's title indicates that he is an apparent heir. b) any fief who has executable powers of attorney for their lord. For example: a wife or child may own property, or have certain independent business interests, and may take legal actions on their own, by right of their fieflord's grace. Although rare and legally complicated, this can sometimes occur even if the fieflord is deceased.

heir wife: This designates any woman who has born (or has been designated to bear) a man's heir. She need not belong to the man�although she often does�nor does she need to conceive of the man's flesh, as he may be sterile, or trying to improve his line.

highroad: A reinforced path that runs between the major cities on Feilom. It is very analogous to a highway, only it usually isn�t large enough for a wagon, only for a single horse. It is built up much higher than the surrounding land and has good paving, so travelers can always make good time, wet season or not.

indentured servant: (Male or female) This person is essentially a slave, but their time of service is limited by a contract. One can be indentured willingly, or to repay a debt. Technically, it differs from a bonded servant in that the servitude was entered into willingly, although a bonded servant can be informally referred to as an indentured servant.

ladylicker: expletive. A lesbian. Highly derogatory term, similar to �cock sucker.�

lien: the right to take and, hold or sell the property of a debtor as security or payment for a debt; especially when the property is the debtor's person. Once the lien is enforced, the debtor may becomes a slave, a bonded-slave, and indentured servant, or an apprentice,

low-road: This is a lower road commonly becomes very wet and difficult to travel on during the wet season. However, it is always large enough for a full wagon.

mutt: expletive. a derogatory term used of someone of mixed breeding, particularly women.

magistrate: imperial appointees who serve as judges on the isles. 

mutt mother: expletive. an extremely derogatory term, used in a very similar way to bastard. Alternately, mother mutt.

nautilabe: A navigator�s tool, which is used to determine the altitude of the isles (and various other nautical objects) in the ocean of sky.

navigator: Navigators are all members of an exclusive guild that wields a great deal of political power and social clout. The guild has its own complex social structure, but frequently loans navigators out to merchants, traders and others who need to sail the isles. This is necessary because sailing between the isles is a difficult business�rather analogous to space flight, only on water and in two dimensions instead of three. But the intimate knowledge of the movement of the isles, and the detailed math involved in calculating when and where they will be at various times requires a skill person. Teaching these secret skills is what gives the guild its power.

orbital: a smaller islet that orbits one of the major floating isles.

orrery: A navigator�s tool: a mechanical model of the floating isles. It is used to help determine where a given isle will be at a particular time. They come in various sizes and complexity. Navigator�s generally carry very small and simple ones with them on their travels. Larger ones are kept behind at their home base, and are used to help plot out the whole journey even before leaving on the first leg.

osteoectomy: An operation where all (or more commonly) part of the limbs are removed. It is the operation that turns Jaffa into a stray. There are many variations, depending on what the owner wants to accomplish�including having metal caps on the ends to protect the stray�s flesh, or not. Most common are the legs. They can be truncated at the knees or slightly below, allowing the shin to form a foot of sorts. The arms are usually not cut, unless the girl is to become a pet, or the owner wishes to let her die. If the arms are truncated, it can be done at the elbows or wrists. Or just the thumb and fingers can be cut off. Osteo- [bone] and �etomy [to cut out].

peddling: v. similar to pimping, only without the negative connotation.

pedigree: a list of one's ancestors. b) a deed used to establish the purity of one�s breeding. It is usually included in the property deed that women are required to carry with them when not accompanied by their fieflord, (or another man).

petchnick: The Petchnick tree, which is common to Feilom but none of the other isles, produces a small, brown fruit that ripen very quickly, falls to the ground and spoils within a few hours. The green fruit are picked and used to brew a strong flavored drink. A mixture of the ripe and rotten fruit are used to make a brown and gooey preserve which is commonly very sweet and heavily spiced. Because the preserve�s flavor is so overpowering, a little goes a long way. Like caviar or anchovies, it tends to be one of those things that people either love or hate. Although too seasonal and too difficult to collect to be a major cash crop, it is one of Feilom�s minor exports. It is often considered a delicacy by the wealthy on the inner isles. b) expletive. (Feilomian colloquial) A mildly derogatory adjective used to describe anyone who is pampered to the point of being spoiled. Particularly a female who is so beautiful that she can get away with not doing her full share of �woman�s duties�.

phydmilk: A white, milky looking drink. It is an expensive delicacy, imported from the Zylomian Archipelago. It is produced by a type of giant of ant that keeps various kinds of humanoid females as aphids. A special type of worker-ant inject the females with a hormonal substance that makes them lactate. Another worker type collects the milk from the females and seals it up in storage bins that are not too dissimilar to the honeycombs of a bee. This can be collected and processed to make phydmilk, which is generally imbibed after being flavored and/or sweetened.

properties: The whole of one's estate, excluding debts and slaves, but including business ventures.

Salabium worm Silk: A famed Feilomian cloth. The fibers are collected from a portion of the  UnderCaves near the city of Salabee. It is rumored that only the Salabee weavers know the secrets of making the silk, but since no one else has ever had access to the raw fibers, this cannot be proven. In any case, the Salabians control the supply, since the worms only seem to grow in this one place. The material itself is very durable, weather resistant and holds vibrant colors, making it very useful for making pendants, outside banners, or a cloth maps, among other things. It also responds to the magic of a HealStone in various useful ways.

sailing sindow: This is a relatively short period when two isles are favorably aligned, meaning that their orbits are at their closest points to one another.

serf: a slave, bound to an estate and owned by a fieflord.

servant: (Male or female) A waged position of servitude. The individual can be free; although they may also be slaves or indentured servants hired out to another master. There are no legal ties between master and servant.

shroup: A weight usually used for precious metals and such. Equal to 100 grams (or ten toates.)

significator: see formal significant

spangel: A weight usually used for precious metals and such. Equal to about .01 of a gram.

Srowidian: A middle-class breed of humans, with curly, strawberry blonde hair and green eyes. Their bodies vary greatly, but because of their distinctive sex lure, even mixed breed are valuable as sex slaves, or for breeding.

ten-day: Ten days, which on Feilom is equal to about 180 E-days.

title: The evidence that gives rise to a legal right of possession or control. b) The evidence of such means; the instrument constituting this evidence, such as a deed.

toate: A weight usually used for precious metals and such. Equal to 10 grams, (or ten goadels).

vitrium: A wide class of plant-like minerals, which ooze an oily substance known as Vitriol. The types are distinguished by their color and by the physical qualities of the rock, which varies widely�some being almost sponge-like. Vitrium seem to grow out of the ground. If it is removed from its source site, it invariably ceases to produce Vitriol, although the other properties of the rock remain intact.

vitriol: The oily substance that oozes from Vitrium. Each type of Vitrium has a distinctive Vitriol, different in taste as well as color. Some are poisonous without processing. Some have magic-like qualities that are highly prized. Almost all (after some processing) can be used as a strong flavoring mix added to drink bases, most typically sweetened phydmilk.

wife: (Exclusively female.) This designates any woman who is sexually active with her fieflord.

Zanadian: By far the dominant society near the center of the floating isles, all beholden to the Zanadian emperor, who lives on Meswitch. This culture has spread widely among the outer isles.

Zylomian: This is an ogre-like race of humanoids that primarily populate the Zylomian archipelago. Besides the Amorians, they are the only humanoid race that vies for dominance in the UnderCaves.

 

Phrases and
Themed Topics

 

Directions &

Navigotor�s Arts

apparition: The oceans of the floating isles undulate, sort of like waves, blocking the visibility of other isles during irregular (but predictable) cycles. When an isle remains visible for a longer than normal period in is in apparition.

ap-: prefix. The point in the orbit of an isle when it is at its furthest point away from Nimesphia�or, if specified, another isle. 

book of sky-marks:

eclipse: The occasion when a closer isle is between the observer and a larger isle that becomes hidden behind it. The farther isle is said to be eclipsed. Often used in less formal speech to refer to an occlusion.

ecliptic: the orbital bath of an island or islet.

elongation: when two isles are at their furthest points from one another in their orbits.

conjunction: when two or more isles approach very close to one another in their orbits. These are the moments that navigators look for, so that they can jump with greater ease and safety from one isle to another.

from near the center: Originally meant from one of the inner isles, closer to Nimesphia. And is still used that way by those who sail the isles. More recently, in common usage it has begun to mean that one is closer to the Imperial court on Meswitch, i.e. the center of Zanadian government. .

inclination: when two nautical bodies hold a fixed position with respect to one another. Usually they are fairly close, but they might share an inclination by being inclined to opposition.

inward/outward along the path of the Isles� this is a way of denoting the direction, either towards Nimesphia at the center, or outward away from Nimesphia.

-ilak: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Elkar.

-ilovar: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Rolavaria.

-ilom: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Feilom.

-ilimar: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Alimar.

-imesh: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Meswitch. When used with the [ap] prefix it becomes [apinesh].

-imair: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Lomairia.

-inim: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Nimesphia.

-inuk: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Ganuk.

-ipar: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Eapar.

-ivan: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to Vanil.

-izym: suffix. Used with prefixes to refer to the Zylomian archipelago. .

nautilabe: A navigator�s tool, which is used to determine the altitude of the isles (and various other nautical objects) in the ocean of sky.

navigator: Navigators are all members of an exclusive guild that wields a great deal of political power and social clout. The guild has its own complex social structure, but frequently loans navigators out to merchants, traders and others who need to sail the isles. This is necessary because sailing between the isles is a difficult business�rather analogous to space flight, only on water and in two dimensions instead of three. But the intimate knowledge of the movement of the isles, and the detailed math involved in calculating when and where they will be at various times requires a skill person. Teaching these secret skills is what gives the guild its power.

navigator�s guild: The Navigator�s guild is a powerful pseudo-governmental organization (kind of like the church in medieval times) that has a monopoly on the knowledge of how to navigate the floating isles. There are four grades of navigator.

obliquity: this is the amount of tilt that an isle experiences as it undulates in the ocean of sky.

occlusion: like being eclipsed, except that the hidden isle is smaller than the one in front. The larger isle is said to occlude the smaller one.

occulation: when an isle passes across the imaginary line that stretches between the observer and another isle; as occurs during an eclipse or an occlusion.

ocean of sky: In a sense, this is a literal description, because (despite irregular undulations) the ocean does generally curve in such a way that it becomes the sky: much as if one were sitting inside a bowl.
See: sky-marks for more details.

opposition: When an isle is between Nimesphia and another isle the sec

orbital: a smaller islet that orbits one of the major floating isles.

orrery: A navigator�s tool: a mechanical model of the floating isles. It is used to help determine where a given isle will be at a particular time. They come in various sizes and complexity. Navigator�s generally carry very small and simple ones with them on their travels. Larger ones are kept behind at their home base, and are used to help plot out the whole journey even before leaving on the first leg.

per-: prefix. The point in the orbit of an isle when it is at its closest approach to Nimesphia�or, if specified, another isle. 

sailing window: This is a relatively short period when two isles are favorably aligned, meaning that their orbits are at their closest points to one another.

sky-marks: On the floating isles, the ocean is also the sky. They are formed sort of like a bowl with an undulating surface; and with Nimesphia at the focal point in the bottom of the bowl and the outer edges stretching out to other isle systems, which are analogous to the stars. On the outer isles the sky-marks are harder to use, but even there, the isles appear much like planets look to us.

term of service: While an adept, the navigator�s service is �bought� with money that goes directly to the guild. The navigator�s master (i.e. the ship�s owner or captain)  is responsible for his care and upkeep�which is why they are considered servants, albeit pampered ones.

 


Food, Animals

& Magic Items

Amorians: A humanoid race that used to populate all the isles (including those near the center) before they were driven into the UnderCaves, enslaved or killed off. They typically have three genders: alph, beta and drone. Their most important and unique features are: they have radiator-like blood system that allows them to endure hot and cold climates; and allows them to wear little despite the temperature. But this often makes their skin feel unnaturally hot or cold. They have scent glands called tymbals along the sides of their neck which they also use to make sounds that human�s find very difficult to reproduce.

aphid milk: The raw, unprocessed phydmilk. unlike phydmilk, it must be drunk shortly after collecting or it will spoil.

burning rocks: are a fairly rare product which are generally found in streams in the UnderCaves. When exposed to oxygen, a cumulative, but very slowly building, reaction causes the rocks to heat up. They can become hot enough to melt metal, but they are easy to cool by covering them with water, dirt or anything else that blocks the oxygen.

chignuts: A potato like vegetable. It is more common on the outer isles, but also used by the poorer people on the inner isles.

cold rocks: (also called a chill rock.) This is a special kind of rock that comes from deep in the UnderCaves. It becomes cold (or hot) when charged by placing it in a special chemical solution to catalyze the reaction and then exposed to the air. As long as the stone is exposed to air it will slowly continue to get hotter and hotter, eventually becoming too hot for most purposes�and possibly quite dangerous. The level of heat (cold) can be controlled by limiting the amount of air. Thus, reducing the chemical reaction. This can also be done by dousing it in water, covering it in dirt, etc. Although the heat (cold) generally stays with the rock for a long time.  It is not as rare as HealStone, but not as common or easy to find as GlowStone, either. Like both, it is reusable. When treated to become cold it is called a hot rock.

faux fiber: Insubstantial nothingness�the half thought-form material that much in the UnderCaves is made of. It can be collected and carried easily, because it is light. When a skilled talent concentrates on this material, they can mold it into solid useable material. Outside of the UnderCaves, these created items can take on permanent magical properties, if the process of creation is done properly. There are several sources of faux fiber, including various species of the giant ants, spiders, and trees.

golden badger: A large, ferocious, bear-sized badger with extremely valuable fur the color of light honey. It has sharp claws and a pit-bull mouth that, like a snapping turtle won�t let go once it has you.

hot rocks: A special kind of rock that comes from deep in the UnderCaves. It becomes hot (or cold) when charged by placing it in a special chemical solution to catalyze the reaction and then exposed to the air. As long as the stone is exposed to air it will slowly continue to get hotter and hotter, eventually becoming too hot for most purposes�and possibly quite dangerous. The level of heat (cold) can be controlled by limiting the amount of air. Thus, reducing the chemical reaction. This can also be done by dousing it in water, covering it in dirt, etc. Although the heat (cold) generally stays with the rock for a long time.  It is not as rare as HealStone, but not as common or easy to find as GlowStone, either. Like both, it is reusable. When treated to become cold it is called a cold rock, or chill rock.

Kummel: a colorless liquor flavored chiefly with caraway.

Kumiss: A fermented drink that is made from milk. The most expensive varieties are made from phydmilk.

kurduvon: A specially processed and spiced drink which is made from raw phydmilk.

spicy limesalt: a spice (similar to lemon pepper) that is common among the inner isles, but must be imported to the outer isles.

moon shard: A glowing rock that when heated produces a strong glow that can be effectively used for light. It is among the more common magic of the outer isles, and the rocks can be recharged many times, by sitting in the sun or being heated in a fire, and each charge last for many hours, depending on the size of the rock and the intensity (or length) of the charge.

petchnick:. a) The Petchnick tree, which is common to Feilom but none of the other isles, produces a small, brown fruit that ripen very quickly, falls to the ground and spoils within a few hours. The green fruit are picked and used to brew a strong flavored drink. A mixture of the ripe and rotten fruit are used to make a brown and gooey preserve which is commonly very sweet and heavily spiced. Because the preserve�s flavor is so overpowering, a little goes a long way. Like caviar or anchovies, it tends to be one of those things that people either love or hate. Although too seasonal and too difficult to collect to be a major cash crop, it is one of Feilom�s minor exports. It is often considered a delicacy by the wealthy on the inner isles.  b) (Feilomian colloquial) A mildly derogatory adjective used to describe anyone who is pampered to the point of being spoiled. Particularly a female who is so beautiful that she can get away with not doing her full share of �woman�s duties�.

phydmilk: A white, milky looking drink. It is an expensive delicacy, imported from the Zylomian Archipelago. It is produced by a type of giant of ant that keeps various kinds of humanoid females as aphids. A special type of worker-ant inject the females with a hormonal substance that makes them lactate. Another worker type collects the milk from the females and seals it up in storage bins that are not too dissimilar to the honeycombs of a bee. This can be collected and processed to make phydmilk, which is generally imbibed after being flavored and/or sweetened.

 

Room Lantern: On Feilom, and other outer isles with long nights, each room in an inn is typically given a lantern (with moon shard) to use during the night. The patron is responsible for keeping the Moon Shard charged.

Salabium worm Silk: A famed Feilomian cloth. The fibers are collected from a portion of the UnderCaves near the city of Salabee. It is rumored that only the Salabee weavers know the secrets of making the silk, but since no one else has ever had access to the raw fibers, this cannot be proven. In any case, the Salabians control the supply, since the worms only seem to grow in this one place. The material itself is very durable, weather resistant and holds vibrant colors, making it very useful for making pendants, outside banners, or a cloth maps, among other things. It also responds to the magic of a HealStone in various useful ways.

vitrium: A wide class of plant-like minerals, which ooze an oily substance known as Vitriol. The types are distinguished by their color and by the physical qualities of the rock, which varies widely�some being almost sponge-like. Vitrium seem to grow out of the ground. If it is removed from its source site, it invariably ceases to produce Vitriol, although the other properties of the rock remain intact.

vitriol: The oily substance that oozes from Vitrium. Each type of Vitrium has a distinctive Vitriol, different in taste as well as color. Some are poisonous without processing. Some have magic-like qualities that are highly prized. Almost all (after some processing) can be used as a strong flavoring mix added to drink bases, most typically sweetened phydmilk.

Zylomian breeds: These are the purebred races that exist on the floating isles.

Zylomian: This is an ogre-like race of humanoids that primarily populate the Zylomian archipelago. Besides the Amorians, they are the only humanoid race that vies for dominance in the UnderCaves.

zylomilk: Generally used as another name for phydmilk. b) technically, phydmilk that comes from the Zylomian isles.


Laws and Customs

bond price: This option is generally for women, who actually becomes the property of the new owner. Almost as if no clause was added, the owner may do anything to the slave that they choose, except kill them. This includes selling them to another owner for any amount the two agree upon. However, the clause allows the debtor (or anyone else of whom the debtor approves) to repurchase the slave for the bond price. As long as the original debtor approves of the sale, it does not require the owner�s approval.
    This is also an option that is commonly used by fathers when they sell their daughters to a new husband. It allows them to repurchase the daughter if the husband proves to be an undesirable match, for some reason.

boot wraps: tough weatherproofed material wrapped around the boots during the rainy season�serve basically as galoshes.

debt price: This option is generally for men, who becomes a servant rather than a slave. Generally, there is a time reference involved. This may be a specific number of years, or for life. When it is for life, the servant is essentially a slave, although servants have certain rights that slaves do not. When it is for a set number of years, the debt price indicates how much it will cost to reduce the length of servitude by 1 year. Again, a debtor may either repurchase their years, (or they can approve of another buyer, similar to the customs related to bond price).

declared himself a man: a male child can remain a member of his father�s house. And thus, remain under his father�s law and be his father�s responsibility. But when he reaches a certain age, the son can choose to divorce himself from his father and go out on his own. This usually occurs for those boys who aren�t an heir. Although, an heir can also do this, if he chooses.

door chair: A chair or bench which, (by Feilomian custom,) is placed by the door during the wet season so that someone coming in can sit while they remove their boot wraps.

formal significant: Any of various name connectors used on many of the isles to indicate some sort of significant relationship between a person�s various names. These are known as formal significants. The connecting word itself is known as a significator.

Note: When the sounds are compatible, it is not uncommon to run the sounds (and the spelling) together. Thus the name Hoit Le� Feilom becomes Hoit Le�feilom. This practice is particularly common when the significator has become firmly established and is unlikely to change.
     Connectors can also be used in conjunction with one another. For example: Jaffa�oi  Hoit la�feilom would indicate Jaffa, the slave of Hoit, who comes from Feilom. Since Jaffa is a female, Feilom would take the feminine ending, even though she belonged to Hoit Lefeilom.

Forms of Greeting: Women on the outer isles are commonly the aggressors when it comes to meeting and interacting with members of the opposite sex. A formal greeting is to kiss the back of a mans hand, when he offers it. A more intimate greeting is to kneel in front of him, (this shows submissiveness and allows him to keep his hand at a comfortable angle,) holding his fingers with her thumb and kiss his open palm.

loan sharking and slavery: It is customary, when someone defaults on a loan, to loose whatever they staked as collateral. This may include personal property, fiefs (such as wives or children), or even their own freedom. If no collateral was agreed upon, the matter can be resolved through a magistrate, often resulting in these same things being sold at auction to make restitution. With non-human property, the material is simply sold outright. When lives are involved, special clauses are sometimes added to the contract, depending on the situation. These clause options generally favor the debtor, and so they reduce the value of the people being collateraled.

slavers traditionally wear two or more belts: The extra belts can be used for binding slaves whenever needed.

stacks of empty glasses at the table: Stacking empty drink glasses on the table is a sign that a man wants to peddle his woman. When a man peddles his woman, it�s a clear sign that 


Miscellaneous

don�t go rigging your wagons yet: Means to wait a minute. Roughly analogous to �don�t get ahead of yourself.�

keep your earrings on: Means to wait a minute, and be more patient. Roughly analogous to �keep your pants on�, �chill out� or �hold your horses�.

lets get spanking: This means, lets get started on the important stuff. Sort of like saying �lets get serious� or �lets get down to business.�

Like any other man, he puts his cock into one hole at a time: this is analogous to, �he puts his pants on one leg at a time.�

�a little na�ve when it comes to the Isles: This is analogous to saying �Na�ve in the ways of the world.� Alternately, Na�ve about the isles.

Lies lay at the center of a woman�s heart: this is a saying that is common on the outer isles. It ties into the myth that men are more pure of heart than women�and is often truthful in the sense that women, (given their lack of social power) often use deception to gain what they want.

�money tucked in their pockets: This would be like referring to the amount of money someone has in their wallet.

pure as Salabium worm silk: totally pure.

woman�s duties: euphemism for the harder and more dangerous work that needs doing�and on the outer isles, is almost always relegated to the women.

The girl at the bottom gets hit with the bail� This is saying of the outer isles. It is analogous to saying �shit runs down hill,� but it also carries the significant social detail that women should always be on the receiving end when heavy objects are being tossed around�i.e., hay bales. 

the strongest hate is born from a bed of love:  means roughly the same thing as, �there�s a fine line between love and hate.� 


Insults and Curses

ass licking: derogatory term. Pretty self explanatory.

by my father�s rights: an oath, which is roughly analogous to �By God!�

by the isles: A fairly mild oath. Roughly equivalent to: �Oh, for God�s sake.�

cumless cunt: has approximately the same meaning as frigid. roughly analogous to calling her a  �whore.�

frigid little minx: This is a derogatory way to refer to a woman, roughly analogous to calling her a  �slutty little bitch.�

juice sucker: a lesbian. Highly derogatory term, similar to �cock sucker.�

ladylicker: a lesbian. Highly derogatory term, similar to �cock sucker.�

mutt: a derogatory term used of someone of mixed breeding, particularly women.

mutt mother: an extremely derogatory term, used in a very similar way to bastard. Alternately, mother mutt.

sit on a sword: an expletive, which is roughly equivalent to, �Go fuck yourself.� It can also have a lighter flavor more like, �You need to get fucked� (i.e. because you�re too tense).

sit on my sword: can also be used by a man, in which case it is analogous to, �Fuck me.� It can be used as a derogatory expletive; but is more commonly used as a playful offer or catcall. Alternately, Go sit on a sword.

slimmy faced: usually used in reference to a lesbian. Highly derogatory adjective.

slit slopper: a lesbian. Highly derogatory term, similar to �cock sucker�.

when you strip away all the (frilly) lace: this is analogous to �When you get right down to it.�

 


Money References

his pockets had been emptied: this is the same thing as saying that someone is broke.

filling his purse: This mean to make a little money.

money system: on the isles, money has two denominators. The first indicates what the coin is made of and is based on the relative worth of the material. The second indicates a weight value with a decimal pattern like the metric system.


Time References

break fast: This is a reference used of the morning meal. One might say it was time to break their fast; or they went downstairs for the break fast meal.

[Deelia is] �on the far side: means that the islet Deelia is on the side of Feilom away from the center�or away from Nimesphia. The same language can be used of any orbital. Alternately, Deelia (or another orbital) could also be on the near side.

e-day: Earth-day.

emday: (em�dā) term used to designate a Meswitch day, which is equivalent to an earth day. Using a similar nomenclature, a Meswitch day became an M-day�which over time became an emday. pl. emdays (em�děz)

emyear: (em�ēr)Similar to an emday, only for a Meswitchian year. pl. emyears (em�yěrz)

fast-time meal: dinner. The last meal before going to sleep. A more common alternative is sleeptime meal.

getting used to being home: includes (among other things) the traditional wet-season ritual of sitting on the door chair, taking off one�s boot wraps and warming up by the fire.

half a dozen ten-days: A ten-day on Feilom consists of about  180 E-days or about the equivalent of 6 months. Thus, half a dozen (or six) ten-days is a period equal to 1080 E-days, or very nearly three years.

how far the night (or day) is gone: This means how much of the night (or day) has already passed.

I may just sleep the whole night: On Feilom, or other isles that have longer days, this is an expression that roughly means, �I could sleep for a week.�

rising feast: This is a large breakfast meal.

sleeptime meal: Dinner. The last meal before going to bed. A more common alternative is fast-time meal.

the sleep before: The previous waking period.

this turn: This island day�different for each isle. Not commonly used on isles with very long days, such as Feilom.

throughout Deelia�s many turns: On Feilom, this is equivalent to saying, �through the ages.� On other outer isles, other satellite islets are substituted for Deelia, generally the one most commonly used as a time reference. On the inner isles, the isle itself is sometimes used for Deelia.

(till) the isle turns: a period equal to the time it takes the isle you�re on to rotate one complete time�or one complete isle day. On the outer isles it represents a much longer period of time. Alternately, a turn of the isles.

(till) the isle returns: a period equal to the time it takes the isle you�re on to return to the same spot in the water. This is a full isle year�so especially on the outer isles it represents a very long time.

till the isle comes home: a period of time equal to the time it takes the isle you�re on to move from one conjunction with the nearest isle to the next conjunction with the nearest isle. Not as common on the outer isles, but commonly used throughout the isles to denote longer periods of time.

while [Deelia] is eclipsed: Meaning while Deelia (can also be used of any other orbital, or isle) is hidden behind the isle the person speaking is standing on.

 


Terms of the UnderCaves

apex: The point at the center of a source, where the earth currents spring from a single point, or at least a very small area. Also called the source point.

construct: A shaper�s term that identifies the mental image one makes of the earth currents. Generally refers to the current shape of the actual land�but some shapers, such as Tesholio (who was named after Tesholi, from the Jaffa story-line) can actually use the construct to find new and currently unexpressed shortcuts. These are more accurately called potential constructs.

earth currents: The flow of the land in the UnderCaves. Analogous to currents in the water.

heart: The center of a holy meadow, or limit cycle.

hiding line: A line of resistive earth currents around a holy meadow or a secretive meadow, such as a sink-line, a source-line, or a reflecting-line.

holy ground: This is land that seems to suck the shaper into it. a) In some cases, the same earth current can be considered holy or secretive, depending on which direction you�re traveling. When used it this way, the term holy ground is generally reserved for more energetic earth currents. b) When the holy ground encloses an entire area. It is called a holy meadow. This is by far the more revered type of holy ground.

holy land: Another term for holy ground.

holy meadow: A type of holy ground characterized by having a pocket of stable ground at the center at its heart. In essence, instead of the heart of the holy ground being just a point, the point has enlarged into a circle, occasionally quite large. Creating instead of a sink point, a hiding-line. This acts as a barrier to entering the holy meadow, as well as to leaving it. Makes a particularly useful prison, especially when reinforced by shapers.

jet streams: Places where the Earth's Currents are especially strong, particularly around a source point or a sink.

juncture: The rather the complex and constantly changing spider-web network of connects between various landmarks. They are not permanent in the same way that landmarks are, but they go through an arbitrary, but somewhat repetitive series of permutations.

landmarks: Patches of stable land that have a distinctive object on them, such as a tree or rock, which serves as a marker. All such landmarks are on locales, but not all locales have a landmark.

limiting cycle: A little (or occasionally not so little) area of stability. It is usually bordered by land that swirls around it in a circle� although not always�as in the case of the

locale: a cohesive patch of stable land that has a uniform feel, or feature. All landmarks are on locales, but not all locales have a landmark.

navigating: Essentially a word for a more passive kind of  shaping. Here the shaper simply follows the paths that open up to them, (without allowing themselves to be carried away), instead of causing the land to form as they desire�the way true shapers can do.

pass: This is where holy ground �passes� through a patch of secretive ground. Also called a saddle.

pathways: in common usage, are the routes between landmarks. (Technically, they are the route between a juncture and landmarks.) Such pathways are often relatively easy to take, compared to coaxing the junctures into the appropriate permutation.

permutations: The various ways that a given junctures can be formed. Some permutations are more common, and others can only be coaxed into existence by very skilled shapers.  

deflecting line: Aparticular kind of hiding line that deflects a shapers attempts to enter or leave the meadow. This acts sort of like a forcefield, allowing the shaper to easily enter a holy meadow but deflecting their attempts to leave; and with a secretive meadow, deflecting their attempts to enter, but expelling  them when they try to leave.

saddle: This is where holy ground �passes� through a patch of secretive ground. Also called a pass.

secretive land: has a slippery feel, as if the land is trying to push the navigator away from it. It resists shaping much more than other areas, and is common to areas of the most powerful magic.

secretive meadow:
although not always�as in the case of the Kandic hive, which is an unusually large and stable , without the whirlpool like cycle aspect. 

shaping: A verb that describes the act of controlling the unruly land of the UnderCaves using mental control and discipline. a) Often, shaping refers to the group activity of building and maintaining a coherent construct. b) It can also refer to the control an individual applies. True shaping is a more proactive than navigating, although they are often used interchangeably. c) One who shapes is referred to as a shaper, whether it be an individual or collective effort.

shooting sink: is a special kind of sink that has little jet streams that go inward while others shoot outward. It is more dangerous and difficult to navigate or shape.

shortcuts: Pathways (often held as valuable secrets by a shaper) that allow them to travel what would appear to be long distances by covering only a very short section of ground. Generally, this involves either passing through a sink or coaxing a juncture into a particular reluctant (or sometimes just uncommon) permutation. Sometimes it may also involve, pasting together several junctures in a novel new way.

sink: where the land flows ,as if down a drain; often in a swirling motion. It is also called a valley:

sink line: This is when the boundary of a holy meadow is created by a hiding line where the earth currents disappear at the line, much the way they would at a sink point.

sink point: Where the earth currents degenerate to a single point, or at least a very small area. With a normal sink, they simply disappear. In the case of a shooting sink, there are counter areas where shooting jets go back out away from the sink.

source: Any place where land erupts, as if out of nowhere, with more and more land constantly pushing outward.

source line: This is when the boundary of a secretive meadow is created by a hiding line where the earth currents erupt from the line, much the way they would at a source point.

source point: The point at the center of a source, where the earth currents spring from a single point, or at least a very small area. Also called the apex.

turbulence: The bumpy ride sensation caused by traveling earth currents that have a lot of variation in elevation.

valley: The area immediately around a sink point.

 


Phrases of the UnderCaves

the Earth Mother�s hunger� When one wishes to about the strength of the earth

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