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A
Airbrake — to use the bottom of a skyboard as a wing to help stop. Usually by angling the flat bottom of the skyboard toward the destination.
Akasto — A fancy brass (sometimes silver or even gold for very important families) amulet or ring the family Mol symbol is stamped upon. This token can be given to a Houselord or Packleader to begin a paid term of service with that House or Pack, usually as a Holdman. Free ‘boarders (cubes) often give their akasto to the highest bidder usually for a year at a time. The higher rank the skyboarder, the more his akasto is worth.
Akoan (month of) — the 5th month in the Valley of Karr calendar year, corresponding roughly to our July.
Anal — slang: Lakemaster coined term for someone or something stiff, unbending, uptight, or mean–spirited.
Animals — One of the Litz City Packs, although they are also considered “central Valley” since their actual territory is south of the Litz. Famous for their wild parties, wilder fashion, and complete lack of Pack discipline. Territory: The extreme south-west of the central Litz portion of the Valley, just above Southside. Symbol: a white animal on a blue circle. Colors: Red, White, and Blue.
Anz — money; a doughnut shaped ring made of copper, brass, silver, or gold of various sizes. One anz is worth about 2-3 US dollars.
Anzer — a skyboarder who uses his skills for money; a mercenary, a working ‘boarder. Looked down upon by those which embrace the honor–bound warrior culture of the skyboarder. Synonymous with those willing to do anything for money. Used as a mild insult.
Aquans — a distant people who live under the ocean, a Caravaner legend.
Atcratta — the southern–most known settlement of the Valley of Karr, a hot and humid rather exotic city cut out of the north edge of the dense Centercity jungle. Populated mostly by Gypsy families and those of mixed jupe/gypsy heritage. Once ruled by House Drazer, now by House Dei Sun.
B
Babyland — mythology: according to ancient myth, the place where the pale–skinned Karrlander stock, and the First Emperor Karr himself, was created.
Bancube — the third Games rank, higher than the lowest rank of ‘cube’ and the second-lowest rank of ‘firstcube’.
Bastiebasher — slang: a rude term meaning jerk or miscreant.
Battleboard — a large, heavy skyboard approximately four to five feet long and three to four feet wide, much more powerful and heavily armored than a normal skyboard.
Blazecube — the top Gamerank out of nine, the best of the best. Slang for genius. Originally, this word and rank was invented for Aleen, the greatest skyboarder in the Valley at the time of the Last Emperor. She could defeat anyone, including all Champions, and thus was given a new rank higher than all previous and a position as the Imperial Champion. Blazecube was therefore the rank of the Imperial Champion and was meant to mean the single best ‘boarder in the Valley, however, once the Emperor died, Blazecube became an attainable rank for more than one person at a time. There are currently only 18 known blazecubes in the Games listing.
Blood Duel — a ritualized duel between two skyboarders involving the use of weapons as well as using the board as a weapon in the duel. Usually called at first blood, or first call. Rarely can be a duel to the death.
Bloodhawks — one of three ‘nomad’ packs. The Bloodhawks split away from the Snakes many years ago, (the Snakes being one of the oldest surviving ‘dogpacks’ founded in 871). The Bloodhawks still follow the original culture of the dogpacks, following a migratory route and electing their leader from among their numbers. According to rumor, the Bloodhawks regularly break the command of the First Emperor Karr and leave the Valley. Symbol: soaring hawk. Colors: Red and Black.
‘Boardboots — special soft–soled boots laced up the front that provide ankle support, light armor, and a good grip on a skyboard deck. ‘Boardboots are too thin–soled to be used as hiking or walking boots.
‘Boardmaker — one skilled in the making of skyboards. Traditionally, the best boardmakers are jupes employed by a Pack, either freelance or full time as a glare.
‘Boardplastic — a glassy, nearly weightless but durable, brittle substance melted onto the surface of skyboards as a covering. Also used to make certain interior components, and in cheaper ‘boards, the entire body.
Bottomplate — the bottom of a skyboard, usually one single molded piece made of ‘boardplastic, wood, or metal.
Buttbee — slang: a ‘board malfunction, which results in a vibrating tail flux.
Buzz Collar — a key component to a skyboard which causes the c–pad, or crystal pad, to levitate. The buzz-collar is a ring of tiny radio transmitters that encircles the crystal pad. See ‘c–pad’.
C
Caker — a rude euphemism for excrement, manure, or droppings.
Canopy — a huge invisible oldage energy barrier, like a dome, that covers the entire Valley from the northern edge to Centercity and below. It is impossible to fly through the Canopy since it will cause a skyboard’s c–pads to explode, and knock a person unconscious with high voltage electricity.
Cataclysm — the great destruction that killed all the Ancients, and destroyed the cities inside the Valley a thousand years ago. It created several ‘hotrock’ sections of the Valley, especially in the dangerous Keldlands, which can irradiate unsuspicious visitors, giving them Kaiser’s Curse.
Caravaner — the Alkendi people; tribes of very tall, strong, quiet, golden-red skinned people with relatively high medical and mechanical technology. Primarily traders, Caravaners use large track vehicles called “crawlers” to transverse the great plains, from the Eastern Sea to the Great Desert in the west, stopping by the Valley on their way.
Centercity — the great impassable jungle of the south.
Chad — a practiced attack, a kata, or a spinout of martial combat maneuvers.
Chanda — the Great Oldage City of southside, Emperor Karr’s fist kingdom. Now divided among 3 of the 4 southern houses.
Chanda Stadium — the largest stadium in the Valley, an oldage structure, located in central southside, in House Marochan territory. The Stadium hosts the All-Valley Games every four years.
Charlieboard — a skyboard made by the legendary jupe, Charlie, the ‘boardmaking genius of his time. He is known for making ‘tribute ‘boards’ by naming each of his masterpieces after one of the blazecubes, or a blazecube’s skyboard.
Chrest (House) — The first and largest of the Southern Houses, founded in 695, the most powerful single military group in the Valley. Currently House Chrest is ruled by the only female Houselord in the Valley, Morgana Chrest, the daughter of the once–terrifying bloodthirsty tyrant Klen Chrest, now deceased. (The rumor is that Morgana did him in.) Territory: central and central-western Chanda. Symbol: the skull above a laurel wreath. Colors: Blue and Gold.
Chromer — slang: out–of–date, unfashionable.
Cliffsnakes — the southernmost ‘northvalley pack’, controlling most of Eastside and protecting the invaluable ‘Boardplastic Factory. Third pack ever founded. Territory: Eastside. Symbol: the winged snake. Colors: Violet and Gold.
Cliffwall — a solid rock, vertical cliff face that surrounds the Valley of Karr on all sides, on average 2,000 to 5,000 feet tall.
C–Pad — slang for ‘crystal pad’, made of quartz; the key component to a skyboard that makes a skyboard levitate.
Cube — independant ‘boarder, not sworn to serve any Pack or House. Also, the lowest Gamerank.
Cybers — cybernetics; miniaturized oldage machines small enough to be implanted within a human body. It is a technology far too advanced for the Karrlanders or Caravaners.
D
Daedron — underground slang: computers, any machine that runs using a program written in a programming language.
Damien Vespa — a skyboard making company based out of Treetop City. Damien Vespa skyboards are always made of cold-molded wood and fine metal, using only the highest–quality components, and are very expensive as well as fashionable and fast, the “race-car” of the Valley.
Daser — the lowest rank of ‘knight’, given to a glare inside a Pack to elevate him into a skyboarder capable of legally owning a dast and skyboard.
Dast — a skyboarder’s lineage patch. About the size of a man’s hand, made of transparent ‘boardplastic with his rank, his akasto, the akastos of his family, his teacher or Academy, and other pertinent information painted on the underside in miniature. It is illegal to ‘board without a dast.
Dast–Pouch — a small leather pouch the same size as a dast sewn onto the back of a dast, for storage of the starscroll and akasto.
Daznion–by–the–Sea — in legend, the great city out on the Plains that Aleen the first Blazecube visited when she left the Valley. Supposedly it is located to the northeast of the Valley, on the edge of a large lake which the locals call a “sea,” but she left no record of how to find it.
Dei Sun (House) — the newest Southern House founded in 1158 when the renaissance man, Romin Dei Sun, attacked the flagging House Melandrach and performed the only external House coup in recorded history. Territory: the Emperor’s city on the southwestern cliffwall, Atcratta. Symbol: the linked triangle. Colors: Gray and Purple (burgundy).
Dek / Deck — the top of a skyboard, the standing platform. Also a name for a tiny, hover–only miniature skyboard that the outlaw dekkers manufacture which is small enough to hide under a jacket.
Dekker — a name given to the original cubes in the year 1055, that is, those skyboarders who left House Chrest and refused to be part of any organized military group. Protected by the jupes they defend, the descendants of these original rebels still live as outcasts to this day.
Drak — slang insult: jerk, obnoxious, rude.
Drazer (House, extinct) — the fourth House, founded in 722 to rule Atcratta and keep the dangers of Centercity at bay. Drazer becomes very decadent with the exotic, easy life of the tropical south, and is stricken from the records in 1058 after an insulted House Melandrach declares war on them, and subsequently absorbs the entire House. Territory: farthest south, Atcratta. Symbol: the bumblebee. Colors: Black and Yellow.
Drek — slang insult: unflattering term for someone greasy or sleazy; a slimeball or liar.
Duel — a contest or competition, usually arial between two skyboarders using their skyboards as the weapon.
Duelcircuit — a series of ladderduels in a specific area, such as the Southern Duelcircuit hosted by the four Southern Houses. A trophy token and cash pot is granted to the winner of an entire circuit.
Duelring — an area seventy feet wide and two hundred feet high which mark the boundaries of a ladderduel.
Duelsign — a name taken by a dueler to be used in ladderduels, usually a combination of two sky or combat–themed words such as ‘cloudfire’ or ‘sheildhammer’. A duelsign can be won by challenge in a duel.
Durafliar — a Litz Line based ‘boardmaking company founded in 1162. Direct competitors to Freeman & Sons.
Dwader — slang insult: An insult meaning 'idiot', or 'fool'.
E
Eagles — the second largest Pack in the northvalley, protecting Treetop City. Territory: Treetop City and the southern two–thirds of Treetop Forest and the northwestern plains. Colors: Yellow, White, Blue.
Eagles Claw — a subdivision of the Eagles pack, the elite force. Territory: northern Treetop forest just south of Skullshadow territory. Colors: Yellow and White.
Eastside — a sparsely populated area of industrialized city ruins at the foot of the eastern cliffwall many miles east from Litz City, primarily the territory of the Cliffsnakes pack. Also known to house several powerful gypsy clans, and to be a dangerous area for unwary skyboarders, merchants, or anyone worth robbing, although not nearly as bad as Jinkoscafe which is south of Eastside.
Empress — One of the many small Litz City Packs, this one made up almost entirely of female skyboarders A surprisingly proud and fierce group of tessas. Territory: a small portion of south-east Litz City, below Trex territory. Symbol: the winged horse. Colors: Blue, White and Gold.
Evil Valya, The — mythology: the ruler of von, the renegade Valya who turned against the Skylord and is responsible for all misery.
Eydessa — a ‘boardmaker based in Treetop City, direct competitors of Damien Vespa. Specialize in raceboards, and a rounded smooth shape using exotic materials is their trademark.
F
Fath — The town that Aleen founded when she left the Valley to raise her family with her Caravaner husband, Jujin. Now a secret Caravaner trading village perched on a flat spot of the cliffwall above Treetop City. It can only be reached by a secret tunnel through the cliff to the forest floor, or by a road that travels along the top of the cliffwall from a northern mini–valley where Caravaners camp.
Fek — slang insult: arrogant person, self-centered, a primadonna.
Fireboard — slang: a heavily modified, fast, flashy skyboard. A show ‘board. A very expensive ‘board.
Firstcube — the second-lowest Gamerank out of nine.
Flight, a — a pleasure cruise, flying for fun.
Floodtown — once a small trading village built on the shores of the eastern river that pours out of Litz Lake, built to trade with the new northern packs. It was very soon taken over by Jelka and has become their major support village outside of their own territory. Known for “The Jolly Jelka”, a Jelka bar for off-duty legionmen with reputedly the best beer in the north.
Footstrap — the leather strap on a skyboard which holds the trailing foot, toward the flux.
Freeman & Sons — the original freelance ‘boardmaking company. Bill Freeman left House Marochan because they would not allow him to innovate, moved to the Litz Line, and began making his own skyboards using a new material he called ‘boardplastic. It is still the largest northern ‘boardmaker to this day.
G
Gamerank — one of nine skill ranks in the art of skyboarding awarded at the Imperial Games. In order from least to greatest: cube, firstcube, bancube, jescube, transcube, skycube, mastercube, gleamcube, blazecube. Originally gleamcube was the highest rank, but seventy years ago the first blazecube Aleen coined the new rank as “the unbeatable cube” who could beat any other ‘boarder in the Valley. Since Aleen, eighteen skyboarders have shared her rank.
Glare — a jupe member of a Pack or House, often used as ground troops in war. Also used as servants and craftsmen for the Packbase or Castle. Glares usually outnumber skyboarders in a Pack.
Gleamcube — the eighth gamerank, and second to the top, beat only by the rank of blazecube.
Grappler — a criminal skyboarder or a jupe who lays in ambush for a skyboarder, then uses a grapple to snatch a skyboard out from under a skyboarder, causing him to crash or worse. Grapplers then sell the skyboard on the black market. Grappling is illegal in the Valley, except during time of war during certain conditions.
Family Lord — the head of a southern Family, ruler of a territory within a House’s greater territory with its own lesser castle or fort, peasants, and 200-600 skyboarders. Equivalent in size to a northern Pack.
Greer — an Underground city just east of Jinkoscafe, outside the Valley.
Gypsy — the “Varca” people, a race of somewhat short, bronze–skinned travelers who are known as traders across the outer Plains, usually living as permanent guests within other civilizations. They prefer bright, home-dyed colors, large obvious jewelry, and are known for their theatre plays, fancy sword-based martial arts, and complicated stringed music. Considered somewhat untrustworthy by most other peoples.
H
House — a large political and military group, equivalent to one army originally, although in modern times each House is basically a small nation. A House usually controls a castle, a very large territory including cities and extensive jupe populations, several Family Lord sub-rulers, and 300 - 1,000 skyboarder legionmen.
Houselord — the leader of a House, equivalent to a feudal king.
Holdman — a skyboarder on retainer to a Pack or House, able to be called up at any time, after the temporary sale of their akasto to the same Pack or House. They are then among the House or Pack’s temporary reserves for the duration of their contract. The somewhat rude slang for a Holdman is an “Anzer”, as in those who ‘board for money. Most cubes are also Holdmen, simply to help pay for their lifestyle and skyboard maintenance costs.
J
Jaffin’ Gamix — the most famous building on the Litz Line, a restaurant and club. Located at the eastern end of the Line, two stories with very high ceilings and a huge central skylight and trapdoor for air access. One of the only buildings on the Line with a working oldage sound system. The entire exterior of the building is painted with pack, House, and personal logos and akasto of every famous dueler who has won the Litz Ladderduel.
Jangler — slang: fool, goofball, joker, jester, idiot.
Janx — A mercenary pack which holds no territory (they lease a packbase from Chrest), and which tends to fight for the southern Houses exclusively. Colors: Blue and Orange.
Jelka — The largest northvalley pack, officially nomadic, known for raiding other packs. Territory: northeast valley plains, northern cliffwall. Symbol: the skull and knife. Colors: Black, Red, White.
Jerro — rich man, merchant. Usually a jupe.
Jescube — the fourth gamerank, of median skill, better than bancube but below transcube.
Jinkoscafe — the southeast, an oldage industrial ruins ruled primarily by jupe gangs and Gypsy lords.
Joary — slang: neat, nifty.
Junkduel — a ritualized duel between two skyboarders involving the use of the skyboard as a weapon; board-to-boarder contact is allowed.
Jupe — peasant. One born of a non–skyboarding family. One who does not own a dast. It is illegal for a jupe to own or ride a skyboard. It is also illegal for them to own or hunt birds naturally capable of flight.
K
Kadrin — small scarves worn around the right wrist, usually embroidered, which is a marriage symbol.
Kaiser’s Curse — a sickness that afflicts explorers and those who poke their nose into ‘hotrock’ infested areas of the Valley; causes rashes, burns, nosebleeds, and often renders the afflicted infertile with repeated exposures. First made famous by the celebrity explorer, Kaiser, a hundred years ago. Kaiser died of premature aging, and never sired children.
Kalas–bar — ancient:the art form of using sword and ‘board together in combat.
Kar — ancient: Sir, a general purpose title of respect for the male gender.
Kardran — ancient: Sir, a title of respect specifically for a Packleader or Council Member, similar to ‘Lord’.
Karr — The first great leader and Emperor of the Valley. Also, the name of the Valley, ie “Valley of Karr”, named after the first Emperor. Also the name of the first Imperial Dynasty, being the descendants of the first Emperor Karr, which went extinct with the Te Rasa Dynasty’s rise.
Keldland — the “killed land” once heavily irradiated by the Cataclysm on the southern side of the ridgewall. A desert.
Keldlander — one of a tribe of short, tough, dark–skinned men who dwell in the Keldlands and in the top of the Centercity jungle. Not known for high technology, but famous as weapon-smiths who forge the finest steel blades in the Valley. Also famous for their metal–cut tribal designs which they work into all of their metal goods, and their music, which is heavy with complex patterns of driving massive drums which shake the earth. Like Caravaners, the Keldlanders tattoo themselves with their tribal designs, along their shoulders and arms, to indicate their rank and profession.
Ki — Gypsy slang widely adopted by skyboarders: fortune, luck.
Kram — slang: smart person, scholar, or one who understands how oldage technology works. Someone who can fix oldage devices. Also, a historian.
L
Ladderduel — a championship between several hundred skyboarders, who duel one another in pairs, then whose winners duel one another in pairs, until a final winner is produced. All entrants to the ladderduel pay a cash entry fee, and the winner receives a large portion of the pot.
Laddermeat — mediocre fighter, Ladderduel filler. Someone who consistently finishes in the lower and middle rungs of ladders, or makes a profession out of doing so.
Lakemasters — a sarcastic name that stuck. The newest pack on the Litz Lake controlling the western shore. Made of a group of what seem to be good for nothing, runaway criminal kids who smoke Plant, act like Jupes, and never leave their beach. Territory: western Litz Lake shore. Symbol: the wave. Colors: Gold and Azure.
Leafer — slang: a very light weight and flimsy ‘board.
Legionman — a skyboard member of a Pack or House, a skyboarder sworn to service.
Litz Line — the famous market street that runs parallel to the Litz Lake. The center, downtown ‘strip’ of Litz City.
Longroad — one of two known tunnels that leave the Valley and dead-end into the Great Plains (eastern longroad out of Eastside and southern longroad out of Jinkoscafe). Once the longroads continued across the Plains to distant cities, but they have been covered by centuries of windstorms, dirt, and grass. Some Kram legends say there were once six of these Longroads, but they are either lost or collapsed, and no one knows where the others would have been (except for the Jelka, who can account for one of them). Due to the Canopy shield, the longroad tunnels are the only easy ways in or out of the Valley.
M
Marochan (House) — the second-largest Southern House, direct competitor and counterbalance to House Chrest. Marochan tends to be more Imperialist than Republican. Territory: eastern half of southside and Chanda. Symbol: bear’s head surrounded by fire. Colors: Gold, Orange, Red.
Mecha — Caravaner slang for “mechanical”, any large mechanical vehicle, especially one with legs.
Melandrach (House, extinct) — Territory: N/A. Symbol: Gauntlet and Shield. Colors: Gray and Violet.
Moff — slang: tough, bully.
Mol — family crest / symbol for a skyboarder family. Displayed on the dast, and often upon personal patches, clothes, wax seals, and the like.
Morchant — The Emperor’s sword, made of oldage alloy that cannot be broken or dulled.
Morrison — an underground cavern city.
Myramath — the Overlord’s sword, an oldage sword with special powers, like the ability to glow and cut through anything (laser edged).
N
Narky — slang: unpleasant, filthy, gross.
Northvalley — a rural area of the greater Valley without many oldage ruins. Wilderness which was taken as territory by the ‘dogpacks’ that broke away from the southern Houses. Litz City is the only oldage ruins in the northvalley, and is considered the southern boundary of the northvalley.
Nose-strap — an extra strap bolted to the nose of a skyboard to give a hand–hold for stunt work.
O
Oldage — anything made by the Ancients, before the Cataclysm.
P
Pack — shortened form of ‘dogpack’ or ‘sky pack’. A military unit which has broken away from a House and has taken its own territory in the north, becoming it’s own independent political entity. Usually contains 30–200 skyboarders, roughly equivalent to a large Family Lord’s holdings, but a pack is independent of any House rule.
Packbase — any military complex or building used to house a Pack.
Packleader — the leader of a pack, equivalent in power to a southern Family Lord.
Packmeet — a general assembly of a pack, usually held at sunset on specified days of the week.
Packwar — a war between two packs.
Perella — slang: from “Per’s rellas”, a name for any woman who fancies herself in love with the handsome celebrity Falloran Per, or who obsessively stalks him for any reason.
Plant — a type of succulent with tube–like leaves with three flat sides (similar to ice plant). When dried it can be smoked like a cigarette and has a relaxing effect. The best plant comes from the Lakemasters.
R
Raceboard — an expensive skyboard built exclusively for racing; usually very long and narrow with a large t–converter power source, and a large flux.
Rat — slang: old-fashioned slang for a leader, first coined in an Imperial Court novel about the King of the Rats, a very popular book several hundred years ago. The origin of the terms ‘Rat Leader’ and ‘Rat Pack’ among others.
Rat Duel — slang: a fight or contest against the leader of a group.
Rathshalta — the Empire of the West, across the great Western Mountains. The last time contact was made with Rathshalta was during the days of First Emperor Karr, when he won his sword Morchant from the leader of the Rathshaltan forces, Tarak Kleis.
Ratpack — the Packleader or Houselord’s personal elite guard. The best skyboarders in a House or Pack.
Raubritter — criminal. A skyboarder highwayman, a grappler, or an unscrupulous mercenary.
Recordkeeper — a Councilman of median rank, below recordmaster and above rulemaster. Often involved in secretarial work for the Councils, or for a House or Pack.
Recordmaster — a Councilman of the highest rank. Responsible for all Imperial records and passing new edicts, a member of the North or South Councils.
Recton — a monument or memorial.
Redeye — slang: originally a racing term for a tight high–G turn, which has become widespread. Can also mean whiplash, or knockout due to fast turns and maneuvers.
Regana — archaic: the Ancient name of the planet of the Skyboarders. Now known only to krams.
Rella — girlfriend, unmarried woman in an exclusive relationship.
Rem — slang: Man.
Reman — boyfriend, unmarried man in an exclusive relationship.
Ridgewall — a thin, sharp, tall chain of buttes running along the southern boundary of southside that cuts the Valley in half, separating the Keldlands and Atcratta from the southbowl and the northvalley. The four House Castles are built upon its top.
Rig — slang: outfit, clothes, usually fancy or specialized.
Rulemaster — the lowest Council rank, responsible for assisting recordkeepers in their work and refereeing duels and ladderduels.
S
Shammy — slang: fight, a fight, to fight.
Shanty — slang: tough, weathered, gnarled, uncouth.
Shatterstone — the famous skyboard made by Aleen, the first Blazecube. Also a Charlieboard made in the year 1277 as a tribute to Aleen’s famous skyboard.
Shoon — southern slang: sandals, a common type of footwear among jupes.
Shredder — slang: one who ruins things and creates a mess. A killjoy, a party crasher, or someone painfully inept.
Sirra — a racetrack in southern Treetop, made out of the remains of roller-coaster tracks found in the jungles of Centercity.
Skeeters — The only raubritter pack, also nomadic. Its members hide among the population of other packs, Houses, and cubes until called for. Territory: none. Colors: White, Red, Gray.
Skorry — slang: business. “My skorry” usually means ‘my reputation’.
Skullshadow — A subdivision of the Jelka, the elite Jelka force. Territory: far northwest corner of Treetop forest. Symbol: spiked skull. Colors: Red, White, and Black.
Skyboard — a flight–capable hoverboard, the standard size being about three feet long and two feet wide, which was reverse–engineered from a single working hoverboard discovered in the ruins of the city of Chanda centuries ago.
Skyboarder — a noble; any person that possesses a dast.
Skyboarding — the art and martial art of flying and fighting using a skyboard.
Skycasting — a Gypsy fortune–telling art based on reading the clouds, sky–omens, and color of the sky to foretell events.
Skylord — the deity of the Karrlanders. According to the first Emperor Karr who had visions of the Skylord, he is the creator of all things, including the angelic Valya, and the master of the storms.
Sladd — a skyboarder who has no talent for ‘boarding but pretends to; a pretender. Someone inept or pathetic.
Slam — slang curse: A very rude term for the act of procreation.
Slamma — slang: a rude term for a prostitute or promiscuous woman.
Slash — Skyboarding at speed in a reckless zig–zag, usually around obstacles. The way to fly a Trial.
Slashcourse — a Pack boundary run.
Sodren Gray — the priesthood of the Valley, servants of the Skylord, who follow and teach the Book of Karr.
Southbowl — a large, broad breadbasket section of the Valley south of the Litz area, but north of the ridgewall and Atcratta. The location of Chanda, the City of the Ancients.
Southside — Chanda. Once Litz Line slang for the large cities of the Southern Houses located in the Chanda Bowl portion of the Valley; now the slang has become universal, to describe the combined territories of the Southern Houses except for Jinkoscafe, which bears its own name.
Sparkler(s) — really expensive or fashionable clothes, ornaments, fancy gear, fireboards, etc.
Speedgrid — the speed–pedal on a skyboard that causes the skyboard to fly forward. When slid side to side it controls height.
Spincandy — cotton candy, a famous confection made using a single surviving oldage machine on the Litz Line beside Jaffin’ Gamix.
Spinout — slang: a portfolio of stunts performed on a skyboard, practiced as a routine.
Squish — slang: wimp, coward.
Starscroll — a small finger–sized scroll kept inside a dast–pouch with a record of a skyboarder’s duel wins. Turned in at the Games to be recorded.
Stuntgrip — a handle or hand–width hole cut into the edges of a skyboard to afford an extra grip.
Stuntwrap — one–inch–wide strips of soft leather wrapped around weapons or limbs to protect them during fighting or practice.
Sunfire — One of the central Valley Litz City Packs, allied to the Animals and Lakemasters while remaining friendly with the Vildragons. Territory: south-west of Litz City among the old industrial ruins. Symbol: the sun. Colors: Gold and Black.
Syschest — The Overlord’s skyboard, a unique gift from Telladarin, a prototype armored super-board that was never produced.
T
T-converter — the origin of this phrase goes back to the dawn of the invention of the skyboard, and it is unknown what ‘T’ stands for these days. The power–source of a skyboard.
Tack — group, companions, accomplices.
Tailflux — a flap on the back of a skyboard that can be moved by a pedal, and helps to direct the skyboard up or down during flight.
Telladarin — a southern ‘boardmaker that broke away from House Vaudenloch and became independent. Now known for making the most high–tech, expensive, and complicated skyboards in the Valley. Alfred Varr of the Eagles Claw rides a Telladarin DX–20.
Teo — slang: brother, friend (male gender specific).
Terafa — ancient: spouse, mate.
Terem — ancient: husband.
Teressa — ancient: wife.
Tessa — slang: girl, woman.
Tharsis — The Stare; the art of reading an opponent’s intentions by watching his eyes.
Torpsy — slang: someone or something really geeky. Lack of all style but still attempting (and failing) to be cool.
Trex — once the violent nemesis of the Vildragons, now a weak and broken remnant of a pack. Territory: eastern Litz City. Symbol: the fist. Colors: Brown and Orange.
Trial — an obstacle course to challenge skyboarders, used for tests, training, and races.
U
Underground, The — known only to krams, and the odd resistance fighter, the Underground is considered a myth by most skyboarders. Supposedly it’s a secret world of tunnels full of half–demon men with supernatural powers. If any skyboarder finds one of their tunnel entrances by accident, they will be dragged down below to von, never to be seen again.
Uril — a long, narrow silk scarf worn against the skin under the tunic with a skyboarder’s personal symbols on it. Considered private like underwear, only revealed when worn while dueling shirtless. Traditionally the uril symbolizes dignity, to the extent where the word ‘uril’ can be used as a synonym for dignity. Exception to private wear: Houselords wear an elaborate House Uril over the top of their clothing.
V
Vachir — (pronounced Va-Hear, with a hard ‘H’) the Valya of the Wind, one of twenty Valya who each represent a different aspect of skyboarder life. Vachir is one of the most popular.
Valya — an angelic being; a cross between a giant bird and a man.
Valya–ken — the blue, ringed planet in the night sky, the home of the Valya. Heaven.
Vash — slang: an exclamation of frustration or surprise.
Vaudenloch (House, extinct) — the third and most ruthless House, founded in 710 and destroyed in 1135 when it was absorbed by House Marochan. Many of its noble families fled to Treetop. Territory: current House Chrest territory; the west half of Chanda. Symbol: the Valya. Colors: Green and Silver.
Vildragons — the largest and wealthiest pack in the Litz area, and the oldest surviving Litz Pack, with a history reaching back centuries. Territory: southern Litz Lake shore, most of Litz City. Symbol: dragon. Colors: Azure and Blue.
Von — hell; in skyboarder mythology, an underground cold, wet place where there is no light, no wind, and rivers of maggots. The Evil Valya dwells there, along with demonic half human, half evil Valya hybrids called “Vonmen”.
Vonman — an unnatural cross between a demon and a human. A dweller of von.
W
Whistlegap — a natural tunnel through the southern ridgewall, leading from Jinkoscafe to the Keldlands, with two very sharp tall spires over the top through which the wind howls loudly. The tunnel was collapsed in 1062.
Wolly — slang: crooked or wobbling.
Z
Zar– — son of, used as a prefix.
Zi– — daughter of, used as a prefix.