Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 01-22-07, 08:45 PM	Every culture has it's slang. So please, everyone share the slang they use. Preferably with a translation and explanation. I'm particularly interested in kalashtar slang (gotta be poetic), but anyone could find this helpful. I'll start. It is my mat's hour. LIT: It is my duty. This refers to the monastic upbringing of most kalashtar. They likely have very regular periods of meditation (which probably have a mat for use). Therefore your mat's hour is the time it must be used for meditation - an obligation of sorts. My wheel must turn. LIT: It is my destiny. Get out of the way. Referring to the kalashtar euphemism of turning the wheel to bring about the next cycle of Dal Quor. He brings dusk to the issue. LIT: He ignores the problem (often in fear of facing it - such as, "He brings dusk to her impending death"). By ignoring something, you refuse to see it. You keep it in darkness. You bring dusk to it. He returns to Dal Quor. LIT: He daydreams. OR He's crazy. OR He's overly optimistic. Referring to the fact that kalashtar do not visit Dal Quor in sleep. And that no peaceful resolution seems possible. So the exile remains necessary. He shrouds your ears. LIT: He's lying. OR He has a silver tongue. Shadow imagery. She reasons with the Xoriat. LIT: She's wasting her time. This one could be more universal. gestures: Forming a circle with thumb and index finger and then turning it. This is the equivalent of "giving the finger." It originates in the kalashtar-dreaming dark conflict. It references the turning of the wheel, and so, while it is a generic rude gesture, against the Inspired and Quori it is the equivalent of saying, "Tick tock, you're all gonna die." Kalashtar rarely use this gesture against anyone but a confirmed agent of the dreaming dark (as it lacks some of the power). Alternatively, it may be used as a greeting with other kalashtar and supporters in the fight against the dreaming dark. In this context its meaning is closer to, "May the wheel turn soon! How do things go?" That's all for now. I'm sure I'll have more. Until then, I hope you all have some thoughts.
Alex_ 01-22-07, 09:33 PM	A Halfling lie LIT: A ruse or lie perpetrated solely for the purpose of attaining peace. Originated from the tendency of Halflings on the Talenta Plains to agree to alliances and decisions simply for the sake of preserving their land and isolated way of life. Urban Halflings also have a tendency to lie to get out of trouble. Like a Warforged in a *****house Describing something that is of no use or relevance to a given situation or topic. Originates from the obvious fact that Warforged, lacking genitalia, really have nothing to do in a brothel. Flamer A fundamentalist member of the Church of the Silver Flame. Simply a derogatory term used to describe more fanatical members of the faith. Goldeneye A member of House Kundark A term used to describe members of House Kundark, an institution noted for it's domination of Khorvaire's banking industries and all things involving rare/precious metals.
Roscoe_Greenbottle 01-22-07, 10:22 PM	As livley as a Karnathi : Borring or uninteresting Karnath has/used many undead and such See you in Cyre : Probably not going to meet again Are you from Valenar? : Way of telling someone that they're being to agressive
ArcTan 01-22-07, 11:17 PM	Given the nature of kalashtar religious belief, it seems likely that "The Wheel must turn", in general, would refer to something occurring out of necessity or being inevitable.
Splendide 01-22-07, 11:19 PM	But always remember, the fifth tree brings you home.
Nived 01-22-07, 11:41 PM	"Must've been a changling." First thing any cop anywhere in Khorvaire hears when he says to a criminal they have a witness. Sometimes the first thing said when a criminal is arrested. "Silver tarnishes, gold doesn't." Another way of saying everyone has their price, and is certainly derogatory towards a certain faith.
Ellorin 01-23-07, 07:35 AM	"To throw a peanut"= to cast a magic missile (evolved after a HUGE series of arcane battles). "Tentacles"=1. a person affiliated with a daelkyr-worshiping Cult of the Dragon Below/2. a daelkyr half-blood, even without a tentacle whip.
Edymnion 01-23-07, 09:06 AM	I believe the Dreaming Dark novels have Warforged referring to the fleshies as "breathers". And of course, the Kalashtar can always use the infamous 'Gate quote: "If you know the candle is fire, then the meal was cooked long ago."
Sereno 01-23-07, 09:26 AM	A long time ago, I started a thread about Eberron Expressions (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=449845) ... there were some good ones in there!
Kid SixXx 01-23-07, 09:32 AM	A long time ago, I started a thread about Eberron Expressions (http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=449845) ... there were some good ones in there! The Five Nations sourcebook also has quite a few decent bits of local jargon in several sidebars.
Nived 01-23-07, 10:13 AM	Actually since you brough up the novels the Dragon Below series introduced some slang. I'll post em but credit goes to Don Bassingthwaite "Tak" Reacher way of saying 'thanks' "Twice Tak" Thanks alot. "See the Rings of Siberys in a mud puddle" You're looking for something great in the wrong place. "Cousin Bear" Shifter culture hero based on one of the animal forms of thair lycanthrope ancestors. Bear embodies the attributes of strength and caution 'Bear give me strength.' 'Bear see me through this'. "Cousin Boar" Shifter Culture hero. Boar represents trementous endurance, but also unrestrained and reckless enthusiasm. 'Boar this is gonna hurt'. "Grandfather Rat" Shifter Culture hero. Rat is depicted as a cunning and stealthy trickster. 'Grandfather Rat!' is a common expression of frustraition. "Grandmother Wolf" Shifter Culture hero. Wolf is wise, honorable, and knowledgeable in the ways of magic. 'Grandmother Wolf!' is a common expression of awe. "Tiger" Shifter Culture hero. Tiger is a noble being, a warrior of incomperable strength and speed. Unlike the other shifter culture heroes no relation is ever claimed for tiger. 'Tiger's blood!' is a common oath of anger. "Tiger, wolf and rat!" seems to be a minor curse, Geth says it a lot angrily. "Dagga" An orc expression of affirmation commonly used by folk of Zarash'ak. A more intense version, "Kuv dagga!" is akin to swearing a minor oath. "Dahr" An Adarian (and therefore Kalashtar) expression for soemthing or someone vile: pl "Darhi" *EDIT Silly me I forgot tiger.
Omnirahk, half-Rahkshi 01-23-07, 10:51 AM	Wow, thanks for all the replies. I wasn't expecting so much so soon. Anyway, I have another one. Gesture this time. I'll add it to my first post (just to keep the list together).
DragoonDarkfire 01-23-07, 12:48 PM	By the mourning a cursed used by Cyrean refugees to reffer to a particularly destroyed area or waestland that resembles their former home. Beastling a goblin word for "Shifter". Men of faces another goblin word for "Changeling". Iron Men a goblin word for "Warforged". Get the ring of fire a phrase used by half elves and gnomes to describe binding a fire elemental to an airship. Beware of the darkness in your own thoughts a Kalashtar warning to those who might be targets of Quori possesion. Boners a term given to the Karrnathi people by Brelish and Aundair youth. Towerheads a term given to the Brelish by Karrnathi and Thrane youths. Beware the Travelers true form a changeling saying that basically means "You do not wish to know the truth" or- as put by another famous actor "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!"
Evilmonster 01-23-07, 04:56 PM	Keeper take you! or I hope the Keeper has your name! "Go to Hell" This is a big curse and if the subject dies shortly after there is superstition that you have drawn the Keepers attention. Friends or famly of the fallen my have "words" with you. It's a Talenta Fork. "You're looking for something that dosn't exist." Comming from the common belife that the halflings of the plains are savages who eat everything with their hands. Double Scimitar Meaning the same as a "double edged sword". Ment to say that the plan/item/knowledge being discussed is a powerful weapon that is likely to take your own head off too. Your gambling with the Traveler "You're in over your head." (It's) a dragon's coin "Too much risk for too little gain" If it was suggested that you could make alot of gold by stealing an arch-wizard's spell book you might say "That book is a dragon's coin!" Ment to sugggest that taking even one coin from a dragon's hord would be doom. I'd rather kiss a bugbear! "I'd rather kiss a wookee." Responce to an unpleasent suggestion. He/she's in bed with the Fury. He/she's obsessed and not likely to let go until it ends baddly. "Dom's in bed with the Fury because of what you did." Would mean that Dom's commin after you with vengance in mind and he's far to crazy now to be reasoned with. It's a Karn's funeral . It's a moot point or hollow outcome. Rooted in the Karrnathi penchant for necromancy, at a Karn's funeral the dead guy might just get up and leave. "Yeah we got the staff from the old mage, but the whole affair was a Karn's funeral because the fence told us the staff was all but out of power."
Vharuck 01-23-07, 07:43 PM	I liked the "goldeneye" one, so I'll make some more for members of other dragonmarked houses: Toymaker: A derogatory term for a member of House Cannith. This term is mostly used for those members that create pretty but only slightly practical baubles. Ink Nose: A derogatory term for a member of House Sivis, so called because one with their nose perpetually in scrolls will have it stained with ink. Shadowy Clown: A joking term for a House Phiarlan or Thuranni member referring to the ironic fact that despite being bearers of the ominous-sounding Mark of Shadow, members of these houses are merely entertainers. The only think more ironic than that is the businesses in which the houses of shadow also deal, of which the common person who uses such slang is all too ignorant. Messenger Boy: A derogatory term for a member of House Orien, so named because of the house's trade. Worry-marked: A derogatory term for a member of House Medani, so named because of the usual Medani's constant wariness due to his or her trade. "He has the compassion of a Deneith:" A phrase used to remark a person's lack of empathy by likening it to that of a member of House Deneith's, whose adherence to rules and enforcement of laws generally cast them as uncaring to others. Now for one that's not so mean... A Vadalis touch: Similar to our phrase "a green thumb," this is used to describe a person's affinity for and exceptional work with animals and livestock. This term is most often applied to farmers but rarely to druids, rangers, or actual Vadalis members. The latter three are expected to show such talent. And one that's self-depreciatingly humorous... "As easy as hunting in the swamp:" This phrase is used primarily by members of House Tharashk and means that the course of action is difficult. It comes from the fact that, despite the Mark of Finding having appeared in the Shadow Marches, hunting is very difficult in a swamp due to the wet marshes masking tracks and scents. "A better host than a Ghallanda:" A very flattering phrase used to comment another on catering to his or her guests, comparing that person to a member of the House Ghallanda Hospitality Guild. "It's not Jorasco chirurgery!" An expression meant to point out that something isn't as difficult as one makes it seem; much like our expression, "It's not brain surgery!" Rain Dancer: A derogatory term for a member of House Lyrandar, comparing them to primitive shaman who claimed to be able to call the rains with dances for the spirits. Now for one not in the vein of the dragonmarked houses... "Make like the thirteenth and vanish!" Used primarily by historians and sages of the Prophecy, this phrase is used to tell a person to leave, possibly to never return. It references the recurring motif in history of a group of thirteen things where one mysteriously disappeared.