Glossary

So you got your copy of the book, but somebody ripped the glossary out of the back. Or perhpas you're too lazy to look back at the footnotes to see what something means. Or maybe you just want to know some info about the world of Whisper. Behold, the glossary page. Every word has been painstakenly copied here for your convenience. Now amaze your friends by telling them what a Bongong moth is, or how to cook a Lorikeet. Pretty handy, eh?

Alpine TribesHunter-gatherers in the alpine forests. A profoundly rich culture is shared by several tribes. Alpine tribes can smelt iron, but iron is a rare commodity for most tribes. The arts of brewing, cloth weaving and farming are unknown to them.

ArmorAlpine armor is made of hard wood, consisting of a mask, helmet, shin and arm guards, with a cuirass. Plains folk armor is made from densely woven textiles.

BellbirdSmall green birds that live around freshwater creeks and waterholes. They constantly peal out a single pure note, making the entire forest seem to ring with chimes.

Bogong MothLarge moths that swarm in millions for a few days in each year. The moths always return to caves in the mountains, where they form a vital food source for alpine tribes. The bogong moths are so valuable that sharing their meat is an important time for intermingling of tribes. High in protein and fat, the moths are usually toasted over fire and eaten like nuts.

Budenga plantA nutritious food plant with an extremely disagreeable taste.

CassawaryAn aggressive, flightless bird, emu sized, sporting a large horny growth on its head. Found in Northern forests and hunted by distant bands of Zebedii.

ChiSuffix denoting ‘beloved’ or ‘child’ when attached to a proper name (Sea Peoples dialect).

Cowrie shellsSmall, beautiful sea shells much valued by the Sea Peoples.

DaoThe iron axe/knife of the alpine peoples. A machete-like blade mounted on a shaft the same length as the blade. Used as a utility tool, it is also deadly in combat. In battle, the weapons are often used in pairs.

DingoNative dog, found only in plains areas. A mammal – not a marsupial.

EchidnaSpiny anteaters common in alpine and plains areas. Long nosed and gentle egg-laying monotremes.

EmuLarge, flightless bird, slightly smaller than an ostrich. Curious and rather tasty.

Face masksUsed in Alpine religious ceremonies and jiteng. The wearer takes on part of the Ka of the being represented by the mask.

FireThe fire spirit is a mythic being, part of the Kashran pantheon. A trickster and a plotter, both dangerous and useful.

First folkLegendary precursors of the modern Kashra.

First MotherIn Kashranii mythology, First Mother is the daughter of Father Wind and Mother Rain, and is the mother of the entire Kashran race.

FistAlpine term for the number 20.

FrogmouthBroad-mouthed nocturnal hunting bird, expertly camouflaged to look like a broken piece of wood while asleep.

GoannaLarge monitor lizard – fast running, high climbing, deep burrowing – and edible. The largest subspecies grow 7 feet long and can run at great speed.

GrevilliaFlowering spiky bush much valued for flavoring tea.

Gum treeAny eucalyptus tree. These are the dominant tree species for all environments. Tall, straight tees are common to alpine areas. Broad, spreading variants are found upon the plains. All gum trees are flowering.

HarapaPlains tribe.

HatchlingA baby Kashra, incapable of flight.

HealersA Doctor/Surgeon caste found in plains cultures. Healers tattoo the palms of their hands as a symbol of their calling.

HeshataniiPeoples of the sea.

HohematiiAn Alpine tribe.

Huntsman spiderSporrasids. Hate ‘em? Guess you have to...

IshaThe energy generated by spirits. Isha forms currents, streams and rivers that can be ridden upon or used in “magic”. Isha only exists in areas inhabited by spirits, and so deserts etc., are very poor in “magical” energy. Particularly powerful Ka (spirits) can self-generate considerable amounts of power.

JitengA ritual field game played by alpine tribes – intended to siphon off aggression amongst the young. The tactics and techniques are perfect training for warfare, and are clearly based upon folk memories of combat.

KaSpirit. All living beings have a spirit. Upon physical death, the ka remains – sometimes departing to a spirit plane, or other times remaining in the physical world, to inhabit rocks, streams, waterfalls, etc.

KaiSuffix formally denoting “descent from/belonging to” – used rarely. (E.g. “Shadarii-kai-Nochorku-Zha”, which is “Shadarii of the house of the revered Nochorku”).

KanaSuffix denoting master of a trade, elder or priest (plains dialect).

KashraA race of butterfly-winged, furred humanoids (c. 5 feet tall). The name is common to all Kashranii dialects, and derives from the words “Children of love” or “beloved offspring”. All Kashran mythologies believe the Kashra to be descended from a single other – herself the direct creation of the Father Wind and Mother Rain. Kashra are egg laying mammals (not monotremes) capable of sensing and sculpting the “isha” energy generated by spirits. Kashra can fly by channeling isha through their wings.

KatakaniiAlpine tribe – the most wealthy in terms of iron resources.

Keketal“Rivers gift” (Plains dialect).

KhaSuffix denoting rank (Sea Peoples dialect).

KiSuffix used to denote a child, derived from “Kiaki” – “to treasure” (Alpine dialect).

KokikuIn Alpine dialect, “Two Beauties Joining”. In Plains dialect, “New Dawn”.

KsatraA heron (Alpine dialect).

Lodge(Alpine) – A tree house used as living quarters, always paired with a lean-to at the base of the parent tree. Cooking and food preparation are performed at ground level in the lean-to.

(Plains) Sturdy family houses made of mud –brick and wood. A household Ka usually resides in the rafters or the hearth.

LorikeetSmall multi-colored parrot – cheeky, happy-go-lucky, and utterly inedible (Kashranii recipe for boiled lorikeet: place lorikeet in pot with stone. Cover with water. Boil until stone is tender. Discard lorikeet – eat stone...)

Message sticks(Alpine) – a long stick whose notches are used as a mnemonic aid in remembering messages by rote.

Milk-meadA fermented drink which allows regrown wings to take on the brilliant colors associated with nobility. Drunk only at the Toteniiha ceremony.

MonsteriaRare, large leaved plants highly prized for their delicious fruits, which ripen only once every few years.

Mrrimimei"Happy Accident" (Alpine dialect).

Music sticks(Alpine) – a long stick cut with symbols which records a musical composition.

NumbatSmall insectivore – furry, stripy and funny looking.

OchitzliiPlains tribe.

OitaA spear-like, wide-bladed weapon resembling a long staff tipped with an obsidian-edged blade. Developed from boat paddles used by the Zebedii.

PastholdersThe dancers of an alpine tribe. These individuals preserve tribal history and myth through ritual dance.

PaperbarkA tree with soft white bark much prized as a material for painting upon. The tips of new green leaves are a powerful decongestant and antiseptic.

Plains tribesSedentary herding peoples living in river plains. Plains folk have domesticated the sheep and the dog, can weave wool, smelt copper, and use potters wheels.

PlatypusQuiet, duck billed, aquatic monotremes.

Poison rootOne of many tubers used by alpine tribes to catch fish and small game by poisoning waterholes. The technique is officially forbidden.

PossumA term referring to any of a group of Australian possum species such as brushtail, ringtail, feather glider and sugar glider.

Quirt(Plains people) – A knotting chord used as a mnemonic aid when remembering messages by rote.

RainMother Rain is one of the two progenitor deities who gave birth to the Kashranii race. Rain is purportedly wedded to Father Wind.

Reki'kaGhost dance. A grieving ceremony which can sometimes involve the shedding of blood as a sign of woe.

Seance singer(Plains People) – The tribe member responsible for dream interpretation and spirit communion.

Sea PeoplesTribes of the coastal plains. Rich resources and a warm climate have led these tribes to wear little in the way of garments. Fish, wild grains and wild plant life form the basis of their diet. Their boats are small, and they never venture out of sight to the shore.

Silent LadyShadarii.

SkregAny unidentifiable gluey/sticky mass found stuck on the bottom of a foot or moccasin.

SlingSimple cords and pouches used to project stones with great range and force. Often worn as headbands by shepherds of the plains people. Marksmen might wear three different slings of different sizes, each optimized for firing at a different range.

SlingstoneStone projectile used in a sling. Often made more aerodynamic by coating in baked ceramics. Size varies from the size of two balled fingers to the size of a large hen’s egg.

SpearAlpine spears are usually extremely long – 9 feet being typical. Length increases rang and accuracy. A hunter typically carries 2 to 4 spears. Iron tipped spears are rare except within the Katakanii tribe. The most prized weapons often contain ka spirits (often the spirits of predatory animals) which are capable of homing in on moving targets and defeating magical shields. The long, slim spears make poor close combat weapons; in hand to hand combat, an Alpine warrior would usually switch to a pair of dao.

SpanUnit of measurement. One kashranii wingspan (usually c.7 feet).

SpinifexA thick brush plant growing in dense blankets on coastal plains. Harbors a great many small animals such as hopping mice, superb blue wrens, etc.

Superb blue wrenTiny wrens common in most regions. Mouse sized, the males are brilliant royal blues.

SwoopMeasure of distance. A fist of fist of spans (circa 2800 yards).

TailMeasure of distance. A fist of fist of spans (circa 2800 yards). Unit of measurement. The length of a kashran tail (usually 3 feet). A spear is usually 3 tails long.

TaipanThe most deadly of all snakes. Can reputedly chew through stone.

TakooniiPlains tribe.

TotenihaThe yearly shedding ceremony practiced by alpine peoples. The entire tribe gathers together in ceremonial dance and feasting. During the time that they are wingless, there is less to distinguish noble from commoner, and isha-powered flight is not possible.

Tea(Alpine) – An infusion made from caffeine-rich leaves of local herbs.

TokaSuffix denoting an adult villager (plains dialect).

TreefernGiant Eastern Australian Treefern. Typical variants grow from 1 ft to 12 ft in height, with an umbrella some 8 to 12 feet wide. Some subspecies reach up to 50 feet tall.

UrushiiAlpine tribe.

VakiduriiAlpine tribe.

Vampire kaA rogue ka spirit that attacks other spirits, living and dead, to steal their life energy.

Wattle treesThe dominant small tree of the alpine and plains regions is the wattle. Wattles flower a brilliant yellow, literally foaming with blossom, different subspecies staggering their flowering seasons to cover the end of winter, spring and the beginning of summer. Wattle trees are host to wichetti grubs and other food insects.

Wichetti grubsLong wood-boring larvae of the wichetti moth, considered a delicacy by alpine tribes. Highly nutritious. Eaten raw or fried.

WindFather Wind is one of the two deities who founded the world and created Zui-Kashra-Zha. Father to the First Mother of the Kashra, he is husband to the Rain.

Wing sheddingYearly loss of Kashran wings. Wings are regrown, the process taking several days. During the wingless period, isha-powered flight is not possible.

WoomeraSpear thrower. A length of wood used as a lever when throwing a spear, greatly increasing range and power. Even when tipped with fire-hardened wood rather than metal, alpine spears are capable of penetrating clean through saplings.

YabbieFreshwater crayfish.

YukaniiPlains tribe.

ZebediiThe “painted Zebedii” are a plains-dwelling tribe living in wetlands. Floating villages are combined with aquatic agriculture to make for a thriving people. More primitive than other plains tribes, the Zebedii eat frogs, cultivate fish and water grains, and are considered by other tribes to be boisterous and barely civilized. Their fur is usually dyed into bizarre patterns according to individual taste, making Zebedii extremely colorful to behold.

ZhaSuffix indicating reverence, and used to denote chiefs, kings and sacred persons (Alpine dialect).

Zho“Honored folk”. Suffix denoting nobility (Alpine dialect). Only nobles have colored wings.

Zui-kashra-zhaThe First Mother. Child of the Wind and Rain, mother of the Kashranii race.

Back