The Dark Tower Companion: A Guide to Stephen King’s Epic Fantasy (75 page)

D
RAGON'S
B
LOOD
(M)

The poison used to kill Cort. The pages of James Farson's book were laced with it. When Cort licked his fingers to turn the pages, he poisoned himself.

Crossover to Other Works:
Dragon's Blood was also used to kill King Roland of Delain in
The Eyes of the Dragon
.

E
RMOT
(4)

Rhea Dubativo's snake. Slim, green, with four pairs of fangs, two on the top of its mouth and two on the bottom. It also serves as Rhea's lover. Roland shoots its head off when Rhea sends it out to attack him. She sews the corpse back together and wears it around her neck.

E
XCALIBUR
(4, 5, 6, 7)

Also known as the Sword of Eld and the Sword of Arthur. A symbol of unity that was entombed in a pyramid and freed by Arthur Eld. He led his gunslingers into battle with the sword raised over his head. According to legend, the barrels of Roland's guns are made from its metal.

F
AIR
-D
AYS
(3, 4, 5, 6)

Festive occasions held during each of the seven seasons: Winter, Wide Earth, Sowing, Mid-Summer, Full Earth, Reaping and Year's End.

F
AIR
-D
AY
G
OOSE
(4, 5, 6)

The prize given to the winner of Fair-Day Riddling contests. Margaret Eisenhart “claims” the Fair-Day Goose when she wins the Oriza contest in Calla Bryn Sturgis. It was something Stephen King's mother used to say when he and his brother did all their chores and got them right the first time.

F
AIR
-D
AY
R
IDDLING
(3)

A contest held in the Hall of the Grandfathers in Gilead. Sixteen to thirty riddlers gathered in the Hall, which was open to commoners for this event. Each riddler tossed a handful of bark scrolls with riddles written on them into a barrel placed in the center of the floor. Three judges—one a gunslinger—decided whether new riddles were fair. A line formed and the person at the head was asked riddles until they encountered one they couldn't answer within three minutes. This gave someone at the back of the line an advantage, though that person had to answer at least one riddle. Cort usually won the goose that was the victor's prize. One year, Cort stabbed to death a man who cheated at the contest. Though held during every Fair-Day, it was the most important event of the Fairs of Wide Earth and Full Earth, where the riddles were supposed to augur well or ill for the success of the crops.

F
AIR
-N
IGHT
(4)

The last night of the Reaping Day Fair, when stuffy-men are thrown into bonfires. The true
fin de año
.

F
ELICIA
(4)

One of three horses promised by Mayor Hart Thorin as an earnest gift to
Susan Delgado. The chestnut mare was originally owned by Pat Delgado and was one of Susan's childhood favorites.

F
IRE
-R
ESPONSE
T
EAM
B
RAVO
(7)

An automated fire team consisting of three fire engines manned by robots housed inside Pleasantville Hardware Company in Algul Siento. Until the
ka-tet
sets fires before they attack, it had not scrambled in more than eight hundred years. The fire engines spray water in all directions and plow through crowds of guards and Breakers alike, killing many.

F
ORGE OF THE
K
ING
(6, 7)

The red glow at Le Casse Roi Russe that can be seen from the allure of Castle Discordia. By the time Roland and Susannah reach the castle, it has gone out, perhaps at the same time as the work of the Breakers was ended.

Crossover to Other Works:
This may be related to the Big Combination, the Crimson King's child-powered energy plant, extinguished by Ty Marshall at the end of
Black House
.

T
HE
F
ORGETFUL
F
OLK
(5, 6)

Someone like Margaret Eisenhart who has left the Manni. The Manni consider them damned. Also a general term used by the Manni to refer to people of any other religion.

F
ULL
E
ARTH
(L, 1, 3, 4, 4.5, 5, 7)

One of the seven seasons of Mid-World. Between Mid-Summer and Reaping, including the month of August. Its moon is called the Kissing Moon. There is often a crop of Full Earth babies the following year because of sexual activity on Reap Night. Riddling is the most important event of the Fair of Full Earth. According to Andy, a time particularly propitious for finishing old business and meeting new people.

G
ADOSH
(7)

Another word for or concept related to the Prim and Gan.

G
AN'S
B
EAM
(7)

The Beam of the Elephant and the Wolf, one of the last two that remain before the Breakers are stopped. Stephen King may be its mortal Guardian and it may snap if he dies.

G
AN'S
B
LACKBIRDS
(7)

Castle Rooks, like the scavengers that came for the bread that Roland and Cuthbert put under Hax's feet. Roland and Susannah see birds like these flying toward the Crimson King's castle after he departed. They carry Rando Thoughtful across the dead-line so Mordred can eat him.

G
AN'S
G
ATEWAY
(7)

The yellow center at the heart of the roses of Can'-Ka No Rey.

G
ARUDA
(4.5)

The Eagle Guardian of the Beam. Tim Ross uses one of its tail feathers to navigate his way home from North Forest Kinnock.

G
HOSTWOOD
(5, 6, 7)

Black ironwood. The dark, dense wood used to make the box that contains Black Thirteen and the door at the base of the Dark Tower. It smells of camphor, fire and flowers. The door to Fedic beneath the Dixie Pig is also ghostwood.

G
LOWING
D
AY
(4)

A day of celebration that features fireworks. One of the few times people in Gilead see ice.

G
LUE
B
OY
(4)

Cuthbert's horse. Roland noted that Cuthbert couldn't even name his horse as a normal person would.

G
OAT
M
OON
(5)

A winter moon. Eddie's birthday in February falls in Goat Moon with beard.

G
ODOSH
(7)

Another word for or concept related to the rational world of the Am.

T
HE
G
ONE
W
ORLD
(1, 5)

To Roland, it means the world of the Great Old Ones. To others, it means Roland's heritage, the line of Eld.

G
OOD
M
IND
(7)

Euphoria generated when the Breakers work in the Study in Algul Siento. Its effect on bystanders is like a mind-altering drug. People suddenly remember things they had long forgotten or work out the solutions to difficult problems.

G
RAPEFRUIT
(4, 4.5, 5, M)

The pink ball from the Wizard's Rainbow, also known as Maerlyn's grapefruit. It fell into the hands of John Farson, who consulted it before battles or making momentous decisions. He uses it to beat the Affiliation and slip away from them whenever he's about to be caught. He sends it away with the Big Coffin Hunters because the risk of keeping it too long outweighs the risk of losing it. They give it to Rhea Dubativo, who uses it to spy on the people of Mejis. It shows things, but the viewer cannot hear anything. It unfailingly shows people at their vilest, revealing acts of incest, abuse, theft and murder. Rhea's anima (spirit) is sucked out of her as she uses it the way a vampire sucks blood. Using it is habit-forming.

Roland takes it from Eldred Jonas. It waits until his mind is strong enough to understand and withstand before showing him all the things he missed during their visit to Mejis, including Susan Delgado's death. It also reveals the Dark Tower and causes him to become obsessed with saving it.

When Farson finds out Roland has it, he is insane with rage. Roland reluctantly gives it to his father a couple of days after he gets back from Mejis. Gabrielle Deschain steals it to give to Marten as a consolation prize after their plot to murder Steven fails. The orb misleads Roland into thinking that Rhea is attacking him, causing him to shoot and kill his mother. Afterward, someone takes the glass from Gabrielle's chamber, probably on Rhea's behalf. Ultimately, it gets back to Marten, who has it in the Green Palace. Roland uses it to show the end of his tragic story to his
ka-tet
. After that it was lost again.

G
REAT
B
OOK
(3)

The Bible.

G
REAT
(
OR
G
RAND
) F
EATHEREX
(2, 4)

A creature that once lived in the kingdom of Garlan. It was supposed to bring babies, like a stork.

G
REAT
F
IRE

See Old War.

G
REAT
L
ETTERS
(
OF
G
ILEAD
) (1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)

Letters of the High Speech.

G
REAT
P
OISONING

See Old War.

G
REAT
P
ORTAL
, T
HE
(3)

Another name for the Dark Tower.

G
ROW
B
AG
(1, 5, 6, M)

A magic bag in Roland's gunna that replenishes money, tobacco and other necessities. A gift from his father. The only possession Roland still has from his days in Mejis.

G
UARDIANS OF THE
B
EAM
(3, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, 7, M)

Twelve animals whose names indicate the corresponding Beams that support the Dark Tower. They are, in pairs with proper names where known: Bear (Shardik) and Turtle (Maturin), Fish and Rat, Horse and Dog, Elephant and Wolf, Eagle (Garuda) and Lion (Aslan), Hare and Rat. The Beam of the Lion is also known as the Beam of the Cat or the Tyger. The Beam of the Eagle is also known as the Beam of the Bird, Hawk or Vulturine. Hax believed that the creation of the Twelve Guardians was the last act of the Great Old Ones in an attempt to atone for the great wrongs they had done to one another and to the Earth itself.

G
UNSLINGER
B
URRITOS
(3, 4, 4.5, 5)

Dried meat—usually deer—wrapped in spinachlike leaves, although occasionally vegetarian.

H
AND
-S
CAN
S
PECTRUM
M
AGNIFIER
(4)

A medical diagnostic tool capable of administering minor first aid found aboard Blaine the Mono. It is also a nutrient-delivery system, a brain-pattern recording device, a stress analyzer and an emotion enhancer that can naturally stimulate the production of endorphins. It can also create believable illusions and hallucinations.

H
ELIOGRAPH
(4)

A mechanism for sending messages over long distances.

“H
EY
J
UDE
” (1, 2, 4, 5, 7, M)

A popular song in Mid-World.

H
IGH
S
PEECH
(1, 2, 3, 4, 4.5, 5, 6, M)

The formal language of Gilead. Roland has a conversation with Calvin Tower in the High Speech to convince him of his identity and he speaks to the Rodericks using it. Eddie thinks it sounds like a second cousin to English.

H
O
F
AT'S
L
UXURY
T
AXI
(7)

Susannah's name for three different carts used in their travels across the Badlands and down Tower Road. The first was a motorized rickshaw discovered at the checkpoint outside the Crimson King's castle. The second is a cut-down wagon assembled by Stuttering Bill that is used for their gunna. The third, also provided by Stuttering Bill, resembles an electric golf cart.

H
OMILIES AND
M
EDITATIONS
(4)

A book by Mercer owned by Alain Johns. It's the first book Eldred Jonas has seen since coming to Mejis.

H
ONDA
(4, 5, 7)

A brand name associated with power generators and motor-driven bicycles.

H
ONOR
S
TANCE
(2)

The opening position assumed by boxers, according to Cort. Roland thinks of this when he sees the way the lobstrosities genuflect each time a wave comes in.

H
ORN OF
E
LD OR
H
ORN O
'D
ESCHAIN
(1, 3, 5, 7, M)

The ancient brass horn passed down to Roland through the generations from Arthur Eld, used to lead the gunslingers into battle. Cuthbert wielded it during the battle of Jericho Hill. He told Roland to pick it up if he was killed, but Roland didn't take the time to do so, and thus, when he reaches the Dark Tower, he does not have it in his possession to respond to the sound of the horn generated by the roses. The horn is a metaphor for the way Roland sets his sights on the Tower to the exclusion of everything else, but also a symbol that he is changing gradually.

H
ORSEMEN'S
A
SSOCIATION
(4)