Council of Matriarchs proper noun—An assembly of clan matriarchs that meets periodically to advise the orc queen and assist her in governing. Since the matriarchs have nearly absolute authority over their respective clans, the queen cannot simply dictate to them. Instead, she strives to lead by establishing agreement. When agreement cannot be reached on a pressing matter, a secret voting procedure is employed. (See “consulting stones.”)
When a new queen is crowned, the council must meet to affirm her fitness to rule. (Also see “Muth la’s Draught.”) Otherwise, the council meets when the queen deems it necessary.
crown noun—Human word for zumuth, the thin circlet of unadorned gold worn on the orc queen’s head.
dargu noun—Weasel.
Dark Path proper noun—The human term for the afterlife. Also known as the Sunless Way, it is conceived as a plane of existence that parallels the living world. Spirits of the dead travel the path on a westward journey to the goddess Karm, leaving their memories behind in the process.
deception Orcs do not have words for any form of deception, such as “trickery,” “lying,” “betrayal,” etc. Sometimes, lying is called “speaking words without meaning,” but the understanding of this expression comes closer to “speaking nonsense” than to “lying.”
deetpahi noun—This word, which translates as “speaking wood,” describes the orcish equivalent of a book. A deetpahi is a very thin board, usually made of birch, that is approximately thirty inches long and five or six inches wide. Writing is burned into it using a heated metal stylus and the board is afterward covered with beeswax. Usually both sides are inscribed.
Temporary records are made on deetpahis covered with a layer of white clay hardened with tree gum. The size of these boards varies according to need. The writing is done in ink, and erasure is accomplished by scraping the clay with a flat stone blade.
falfhissi noun—A potent spirit distilled from fermented pashi and flavored with washuthahi seeds and honey. It is often drunk at the conclusion of a feast. (laughing water)
Fathma proper noun—Muth la’s gift to the orcs, it is a unique spirit that confers sovereignty. Passed from one queen to the next, Fathma transforms its recipient’s spirit by mingling with it. The queen comes to regard all orcs as her children and becomes dedicated to their welfare. She also receives memories from all the past queens. These memories do not constitute an organized body of knowledge. Rather, they are impressions that help unite a queen with her predecessors and her subjects’ history.
As a queen approaches death, her ability to perceive the inner qualities of others becomes enhanced. This allows her to choose a worthy successor. Because the queen’s spirit and Fathma are intermingled, once she transfers this gift to another, the orcs consider her deceased. Henceforth, they will not openly acknowledge her existence.
Fathma was lost to the orcs when their queen was slain during the fall of Tarathank. For several generations, there was no queen, and the orcs suffered a period of chaos. Fathma returned to the orcs when a child who possessed it was born in the easternmost settlement. She was a member of the Yat clan, and afterward that clan became the Queen Clan.
funeral practices Orcs send the bodies of their dead to Muth la in the same state they entered the world—naked. Corpses are cremated or left upon the ground (te far Muthz la—on Muth la’s breast). In the latter case, the body is placed within Muth la’s Embrace (see separate entry), preferably under a tree.
gabaibuk noun—Thin, soft cloth woven from thistledown. gatuub noun—An orcish stew made with mutton and dried fruit.
goblin noun—Another human word for “orc.” This term is mainly used in the western kingdom.
Goblin Wars proper noun—The human name for the orcs’ attempts to retake their lands after the washavoki invasion. Savagely fought by both sides, this conflict lasted several generations. Most of the fighting was in the form of raids. When it ended, no orc settlements remained south of the Urkheit Mountains.
gold—See “yellow iron.”
grandmother noun—The human translation for muthmuthi. This term refers only to the maternal grandmother, who is a revered figure in orcish families. The paternal grandmother is called minmuthi and is considered a more distant relation.
Great Mother noun and proper noun—As a proper noun, it is the translation of Muth Mauk, the orc queen’s proper name. It is also used as a term for a queen.
hai adverb—Yes.
hanmuthi noun—A circular room with a central hearth that is the heart of orc family life. Meals are eaten there, and sleeping chambers adjoin it. Its outer walls constitute the Muth la’s Embrace. The ranking muthuri heads the hanmuthi and commands the obedience of all its members. (hearth [of] mother)
hard milk noun—Orcish term for cheese.
healer noun—An orc who practices healing magic. This “magic” is based on an understanding of the medicinal properties of herbs and other practical therapies. It does not involve sorcery. Both sexes may be healers, though the most skilled healers are mothers.
high murdant—See “military ranks and units.”
high tolum—See “military ranks and units.”
hiss verb root and noun—To laugh, laughter.
human noun—Human word for washavoki .
Karm proper noun—Goddess worshipped by humans. Called the Goddess of the Balance, Karm is supposed to weigh one’s deeds after death.
kefs noun—A pair of short capes of slightly differing sizes that are worn by orcish mothers. In warm weather, the smaller cape is worn on top of the larger one so that the breasts are exposed. In cold weather, it covers the chest.
kokuum noun—Avalanche.
latath noun—The mother who bestows the clan tattoo and has other specialized functions as well. She brews falfhissi and makes inks, dyes, and some healing extracts. Within the Yat clan, the latath also makes talmauki and Muth la’s Draught. See separate entries.
lorekeeper noun—The mother whose specialized function is to maintain the lore of the clan. A lorekeeper serves for life, and begins her training at an early age. Not all clans possess lorekeepers, and the nature and form of their lore varies among clans. The lorekeeper maintains a lorechamber, which resembles a hanmuthi and usually includes a library of deetpahis. These are sometimes copied and given to the lorekeepers of other clans, although every clan possesses its secrets. Tarathank contained a huge lorehall with an extensive collection of deetpahis that was maintained by lorekeepers from many different clans.
man noun—There is no equivalent term in Orcish for a human male, although they are sometimes called “hairy-faced washavokis.”
military ranks and units Orcs never developed a highly organized military, and all the following terms are of human origin. In the orc regiments, all the officers were human.
human ranks Ranks in ancient armies were less specific than in contemporary ones, and the modern equivalents are only approximations.
murdant—A noncommissioned officer, the equivalent of a sergeant.
high murdant—The highest-ranking noncommissioned officer. A high murdant reports directly to a general.
sustolum —The lowest-ranking officer, the equivalent of a lieutenant.
tolum —The equivalent of a captain. Usually commands a shieldron (see below).
high tolum —Usually commands a regiment.
general —The highest-ranking officer. The general for the orc regiments was called the Queen’s Man because the orcs believed he derived his authority from their queen.