Foreigner (38 page)

kurpa
leather
: fine leather taken from wingfinger bodies. [1]

lancer
: a wingfinger-derived reptile indigenous to the south pole with elongated fourth fingers that it uses for spearing fish. [2]

Land
: name given to the single continent of the Quintaglio home world, roughly oval in shape, measuring some 3,000 kilopaces from the harbor of Capital City to the westernmost tip of mainland Fra’toolar and 1,200 kilopaces from its northern edge to the Cape of Belbar in the south. [1]

landquake
: earthquake. [1]

Landquake, Great
: the larger of two landquakes to rock Capital City in kiloday 7110. [1]

language, Other
: in the language of the Others, successive degrees are shown by repetition. The introduction of the syllable “
na
” into the middle of a word signifies negation. Among the words Kee-Toroca learns are
de-kat
(fine),
eb
(plus),
ga-san
(sailing ship),
gan-noth
(explain),
glees
(interrogative for “how righteous is this?”),
hak-al
(bullet),
hoos-ta
(good),
hoos-na-ta
(bad),
jar-dik
(threat),
joth-shal
(trick),
kas-tak
(discharge a weapon),
lees-tash
(blind),
lesh
(face),
rak-sa
(father),
sas
(your),
sek-tab
(correct),
sek-na-tab
(incorrect),
sil-don-kes-la
(rowboat),
tar
(is),
thash-rath
(an epithet), and the numbers
bal
(one),
lod
(two),
ker
(three), and
farg-sol
(twelve). [3]

language, Quintaglio
: related nouns usually end in the same suffix, for example:
-aja
(most types of wood), -
’mar
(mountain chain), -
o
(Pack), -
pel
(planet), -
staynt
(type of building), -
ter
(proper name for a sailing ship), -
tok
(small town), -
’toolar
(province). [1]

Laree (Dee-Laree)
: the officer in charge of palace accounts under Dy-Dybo. [3]

Larsk
: A sailor who came to be known as The Prophet. In kiloday 6959, he was the first Quintaglio to sight the Face of God. He returned to Land at what later became Capital City and established a religion and a dynasty based on worship of the Face. [1]

Lastoon (Mek-Lastoon)
: ( –7126) the bloodpriest of Pack Tablo in Edz’toolar. [2]

lastoontal
: a strategic board game. [1]

latark
: Quintaglio term equivalent to “giddyup.” [1]

Lee (Len-Lee)
: the governor of Kev’toolar. [3]

Lends (Len-Lends)
: (7079–7110) Empress, the mother of Dy-Dybo; she was killed when a roof collapsed on her in the small landquake of 7110. [1]

liar’s night
: even-night. [2]

liar’s tint
: a reference to the color blue. [1]

lifeboat
: name given to the cabs traveling up and down the Jijaki tower. [3]

limpid floater
: jellyfish. [3]

Lirpan (Nom-Lirpan)
: a senior palace advisor in Dy-Dybo’s administration, in charge of provincial relations. [2]

Lizhok
: a female, second of seven apprentices to Tak-Saleed. [3]

Loodo
: a Pack in southern Mar’toolar; Nav-Mokleb hatched there. [3]

Lubal
: largest of the original five hunters. Associated with the color red. She was gored by a hornface. As she lay dying, she prophesied the coming of The One. [1]

Lubal, Temple of
: an ancient temple in Capital province, located on the west side of the Ch’mar volcanoes; known for the Spires of the Original Five. It was mostly buried by lava in the eruptions of 7110. [1]

Lubalite
: an adherent of the Hunter’s religion, a worshiper of the original five hunters following the precepts outlined in the Edicts of Lubal. [1]

Lub-Kaden
: one of five Quintaglio gliders used in the battle against the Others. [3]

madaja
: a type of sacred tree, the wood of which is used for the floors of Halls of Worship. [1]

Madool (Cat-Madool)
: a member of Pack Tablo in Edz’toolar. [2]

makaloob
root
: holding one of these roots in the mouth can quell nausea. [1]

Maliden (Mek-Maliden)
: (7047–7128) a male Quintaglio who served as imperial bloodpriest until his death. [2]

maritime rookery
: a breeding facility for homing wingfingers situated north of Capital City and run by Pos-Doblan. [3]

Matark
: Lubal’s hornface riding mount; also a constellation depicting same. [3]

Mar’toolar
: an almost completely landlocked province in central Land, known for its great plains. The only place on Land where agriculture is practiced extensively. Provincial color: pink. [1]

Master of the Faith
: the High Priest and spiritual advisor to the Emperor or Empress; presides over Capital City’s Hall of Worship. During Afsan’s lifetime, the Masters of the Faith were Det-Yenalb (up to 7110), Det-Bogkash (from 7110 to 7128), and Det-Edklark (beginning in 7128). [1]

Mekt
: one of the original five hunters; she was the first bloodpriest until she repudiated the job as inappropriate for a layer of eggs. Associated with the color purple. [1]

Mekt, Cape of
: in southern Fra’toolar, near the site of the space ark. [2]

Mokleb (Nav-Mokleb)
: developer of “the talking cure”; a female psychologist from Pack Loodo in Mar’toolar who treated Sal-Afsan. [3]

Mondark (Dar-Mondark)
: the palace healer. He treated Sal-Afsan in 7109 after Afsan had felled a great thunderbeast

and again in 7130 when Afsan’s head was kicked by a hornface. [1]

moons
: the Face of God has fourteen natural satellites orbiting around it, including the Quintaglio world (the innermost moon), Big One (second closest to the Face), Sprinter, Swift Runner, Dancer, Gray Orb, the Guardian, and Slowpoke (the outermost moon). [1]

Morb
: ( –7131) the chief of security for the Others. [3]

Nasfedeter
: the sailing ship that in 7110 transported Dy-Dybo from Jam’toolar to Capital City to take the throne. [1]

Nesster
: (7098–7128) male, the apprentice governor of Mar’ toolar. [2]

newsrider
: a Quintaglio who travels from Pack to Pack on a runningbeast, bringing news. [1]

nictitating membrane
: the semi-transparent inner Quintaglio eyelid. [1]

Noltark (Pal-Noltark)
: a male painter whose book The Wing-fingers of Land supposedly contains a painting of every species of wingfinger. [3]

Novato (Wab-Novato)
: (7094– ) a female Quintaglio from Pack Gelbo who invented the far-seer in 7105 and became leader of the exodus project in 7110. [1]

Nunard rift
: part of the subduction zone between the two tectonic plates that form the continent of Land; an old royal marble quarry, known for pristine white stone, was located near it, but was closed after a series of landquakes. [1]

odd-day
: an odd-numbered day within a kiloday. [1]

odd-night
: the night of an odd-numbered day; most Quintaglios sleep on odd-nights. [1]

One, The
: prophesied by Lubal, a male Quintaglio who would be the greatest hunter of all time. The name “The One” is sometimes applied to Sal-Afsan. [1]

Orange Wingflnger
: an inn near Capital City’s docks, favored by discerning mariners. [1]

original five hunters
: Lubal, Mekt, Katoon, Hoog, and Belbar. according to the first sacred scroll, these five females were created from the fingers of the severed left hand of God. [1]

original five mates
: Varkev, the first explorer; Dargo, the original healer; Takood, the first scholar; Jostark, the craftsperson before all others; and Detoon the Righteous, the first priest. According to the first sacred scroll, these five males were created from the fingers of the severed right hand of God. [2]

Oro (Pod-Oro)
: (7067–7128) male; aide to Governor Dy-Rodlox of Edz’toolar, killed by Sal-Afsan in the mass
dagamant
of 7128. [2]

Osbkay volcano
: a volcano near Pack Gelbo. [1]

Osfik (Var-Osfik)
: a female Quintaglio holding the post of Arbiter of the Sequence. [2]

Others
: a species of carnosaur closely related to Quintaglios but smaller in stature and with yellow skin and eyes, living on an archipelago north of the equator on the nearside hemisphere of the Quintaglio moon. [3]

Otok
: a port town in Fra’toolar. [2]

pace
: standard Quintaglio unit of linear measure, used for both length and height. Approximately equal to one meter. [1]

Pack
: the principal Quintaglio social group. Also pack, a hunting party. [1]

Pador
: the sculptor who made the statue of Larsk in the central square of Capital City. [1]

Pakta tannery
: a large facility for tanning hides located near Yabool’s home in Capital City. [2]

Paldook
: a mate aboard the
Dasheter
. [1]

Palsab (Gerth-Palsab)
: a pious, illiterate female citizen of Capital City who engages Sal-Afsan in an argument about his worldview. [1]

Parnood
: a coastal mining town; the ill-fated sailing ship Galadoreter was blown back to shore near it. [1]

Passalat sandstones
: the finest grained sandstones in all of Land, known for their magnificent fossils (including bird fossils). [2]

Patpel
: the second planet of the Quintaglio sun, small and rocky. [1]

Paturn
: a young male Quintaglio nurse working at the imperial surgery. [1]

Pettit
: Sal-Af$an’s female apprentice. [3]

pheromones
: airborne chemicals secreted by Quintaglios that elicit behavioral responses in other members of that race. [1]

pilgrimage
: ritual retracing of Larsk’s ocean voyage of kiloday 6959 in which he first sighted the Face of God. A Quintaglio must be at least ten kilodays old to take the pilgrimage; a pilgrimage ship holds station beneath the Face for ten even-days and ten odd-days, during which thirty-seven penances are performed and the nine sacred scrolls devoted to Larsk’s journey are studied. [1]

Pilgrimage Guild
: founded by Larsk, an organization certifying sailors to perform pilgrimages; all mariners of note belong to it. [1]

Pironto (Dem-Pironto)
: a deceased imperial hunt leader, gored by a triple hornface; succeeded by Jal-Tetex. [1]

pistaral
: a type of plant thunderbeasts like to eat. [3]

planets
: the planets of the Quintaglio sun, in order out from it, are Carpel, Patpel, Davpel (all rocky worlds), Kevpel (a ringed gas giant), the Face of God (a gas giant), Bripel (another ringed gas giant), and the rocky worlds of Gefpel and Apripel. [1]

Polemic on Battles
: a famous writing by Keladax; it says that the most important thing you can have on your side is being right in the eyes of God. [3]

Porgon
: individual in charge of palace protocol. [3]

Pradak (Gan-Pradak)
: the chief palace engineer. [2]

praenomen syllable
: a component of an adult Quintaglio’s name; a prefix chosen by the bearer upon completing the rites of passage. It is usually the first syllable of the name of the individual’s patron or of an admired historical figure. Examples include Del-, a common praenomen for priests, derived from Detoon the Righteous, and Mek-, frequently chosen by bloodpriests, in honor of Mekt. Sal-Afsan’s praenomen is in honor of Tak-Saleed, his teaching master; Saleed’s commemorates Takood, the first scholar; Var-Keenir’s is in honor of Varkev, the first explorer; and Kee-Toroca’s is in honor of Keenir himself. Provincial governors always take a praenomen in honor of the current Emperor or Empress (as in Len-Haktood and Dy-Rodlox), whereas the head of state always takes a praenomen in honor of himself or herself (as in Len-Lends and Dy-Dybo). [1]

Prath
: funereal site a half-day’s march southwest of Capital City; a basalt field where bodies are laid out for predators to claim. [2]

prayer neckband
: a leather band worn during prayer by those who haven’t yet received the two tattoos marking completion of the rites of passage. [1]

Prophet
: name given to Larsk; also, for a time, the constellation of the Hunter was renamed this in honor of him. [1]

provinces
: the provinces of Land, as apportioned by the
Hahat Golarda
, are Jam’toolar, Fra’toolar, Arj’toolar. Chu’toolar, Mar’toolar, Edz’toolar, Kev’toolar, and Capital. [1]

Punood
: a hunter who was killed by a slap from a thunderbeast’s tail during Sal-Afsan’s first hunt. [1]

Quebelmo, Pack
: one of three Packs in Fra’toolar that periodically occupy stone buildings near the edge of the cliff exposing the Bookmark layer. [2]

Quelban (Len-Quelban)
: (7080– ) the governor of Fra’toolar. [1]

Quetik
: ( –7131) the female pilot of the rebuilt glider
Tak-Saleed
. [3]

Quintaglios
: an intelligent species of tyrannosaur, derived from the Earth genus Nanotyrannus; the name means “The People of Land.” [1]

Quintaglio world
: the twenty-seventh world seeded by The Watcher. A tectonically active globe mostly covered a single ocean, it has one large continent and two polar ice caps. Originally the third of fourteen moons of the Face of God, chaotic orbital dynamics made it the innermost moon. Mass: approximately the same as Earth’s. Diameter: 12,000 kilopaces. By the time of the Afsanian revolution, its center orbits at a mean distance of 162,600 kilopaces from the center of the Face of God (2.71 times the Face’s radius). [1]