Encyclopedia Ermariana - User contributions [en]

Talk:Slithzerikaiis

2007-02-27T12:22:07Z

ACK47: Am modifying

== Present Day ==

I'm not sure how the perspective of 3500 IE adds anything essential to the article. Perhaps it could be adjusted to fit within the current time period? Practically the only thing we'd need is to change the "ancient history" bits to contemporary knowledge. [[User:Arancaytar|Arancaytar]] | [[User talk:Arancaytar|Send Reply!]] --- That is not dead which can eternal lie... 19:53, 9 May 2006 (CDT)

== Am modifying ==

Will probably be even more apocryphal when I'm done with it, but it'll have the Arena stuff out of it.

Slithzerikaiis

2007-02-27T12:21:29Z

ACK47:

{{apocrypha|source=[[Alec canon]]}}
{{wikify}}
{{time}}

Slithzerikaiis is the language of the [[Slithzerikai]] of [[Exile]]; the name literally calques to 'Slithzerikai throat'. Not much information is known about it in the [[Empire]], although there are several scholars in the [[Kingdom of Avernum]] that have apparently mastered it.

==Alphabet==

While a native Slith alphabet does exist, its disuse is generally ascribed to its development for the purposes of Classical Slith, which is extremely poorly understood but seems to be almost entirely alien to modern Exile-born Sliths. While a few elite figures, mostly clergy and the occasional mage, can read and write in old Slith runes, for the most part Slithzerikaiis is written and read in the Imperial alphabet.

The alphabet is read, as in Standard, ABCDE FGHIJ KLMNO PQRST UVWXY Z; however, of those, only about half are used in native speech, and several are used to represent sounds not present in either [[Imperial Standard]] or, indeed, readily producable by human beings.

==Pronounciation==

Pronunciation of Slithzerikaiis is syllabic, as Standard.

In Slithzerikai, there exist three categories of letters: consonants, vowels, and semi-vowels. Vowels include the five used in Standard and Y; semi-vowels include any letter which may be 'bound' by another consonant. 'S' is a prominent example: accompanied by 'n', 't', or 'l' it becomes a consonant closest to Standard 's' - as in 'snake', 'stop', or 'slow'; accompanied by 'h' it becomes a near-hissed vowel; alone it is a near-vowel closest in sound to 'z'. Near-vowels, when doubled, are always consonants; 'Oss' is closed-mouthed, but 'Os' is not.

Doubled vowels are pronounced as iterative, not additive. 'Kaiis' in 'slithzerikaiis' is pronounced 'ky-iz', not 'kyyz'.

==Verbs==

Slithzerikaiis verbs are formed by appending a conjugatory prefix to a noun. For the most part, strict conjugation has become unusual in everyday speech, with the first-person present 'os' being used for almost all tenses of verb. In theory, dozens of verbing prefixes apparently exist; in practice, scholars have observed the usage of only four:

'os-', the first-person present;
'uss-', the first-person nonpresent;
'sko-', the other present;
'sti-', the other nonpresent.

Even so, scholars report that even 'sko-' and 'sti-' have fallen into nearly complete disuse, surviving mostly in terms for hospitality or sociability ('stirasst', from the noun 'rasst' referring to a species of sour-fleshed fish considered a delicacy, meaning 'to party'; 'skokrusk', from the noun 'krusk' referring to the cloaca and meaning exactly what one would expect).
The noun 'ort', 'walk', becomes 'osort'.

==Renouning==

One of the most unusual features of Slithzerikaiis is the commodity of renouning: the practice of turning verbs into nouns. While applying 'ostas' - a Slith verb formed from the noun stem 'tas' meaning 'non-specific object', thus 'to be' - to the beginning of the verb will fairly unambiguously produce a noun from any verb (ex. 'ostast-stirasst' producing 'party', but directly translating to, and perhaps better represented in spirit by, the fairly awkward '{you-did}-sourfish-{i-do}-thing'.

Renouning can be, and is, extended to preposterous proportions; 'sko-ostasussostas-stirasst', in theory, means 'to behave convivially' (from 'ussostas-stirast', or 'to prepare a party'; thence 'ostasussostas-stirasst', or 'party-thrower'; thence 'sko-ostasussostas-stirasst'.) At some level the unimpeachable logic of iterative renouning breaks down, and it is necessary to produce what the Sliths call a noun (or verb) pedigree, which is a relation, often witty or punning (although see below), by which a word is arrived at.

Other than wit, renouning and reverbing help to round out the Slithzerikaiis vocabulary and form a language which, while difficult to pin into a dictionary, is extremely easy to adapt to any situation.

An example of this: Sliths boast that their language alone among those born beneath the surface has a word for 'sun': stiostasos-piran, from 'ostasuss-piran', or 'fried thing'; from 'uss-piran', or 'cook with great heat'; from 'piran', a type of anglerfish with poisonous raw flesh. The overall effect is an allusion to something extremely hot (frying) and a peculiar source of light (the anglerfish).

With the ongoing apparent collapse of the Slith verb prefixes into 'os-' and 'uss-', the future of renouning remains in serious doubt.

==Puns==

Owing to its slim number of sounds in everyday use, its repetitive structure for nouns and verbs, and the fairly loose method by which new nouns and verbs are created, Slithzerikaiis has an abundance of leeway for puns and wordplay. However, scholars note that puns have developed in a peculiar manner among the Sliths: rather than being a source of light-hearted, they are generally used as an elaborate mechanism for insulting the audience and insinuating one's own superiority. Puns (and their associated 'pedigrees') are usually extremely provocative; the aggrieved party typically has a single attempt to impugn his or her new opponent's noun or verb pedigree before matters escalate into violence.

Due to the nature of verbing and renouning, there is technically no boundary on punning, although pedigrees longer than a minute, or about the size of three pages, are uncommon outside of the scant output of letters among Slith elites.

Successfully impugning an opponent's pedigree - usually accomplished by using it to imply with the pun itself that the opponent is unlearned, in a mindless frenzy to mate, or otherwise incompetent - is a fairly uncommon and celebrated accomplishment, and all but the most impotent Slith chieftains are remembered in tradition primarily by a noteworthy (and generally apocryphal) riposte.

Physical violence tends to occur when neither the pun or the impugnment is satisfyingly humiliating. Killing or injuring a Slith who has proven her- or himself superior in verbal combat is highly frowned upon, especially in the event that the riposte proves them superior.

The status of puns in Slithzerikaiis has no equal or even a ready equivalent in any other known language; this has been the source of various unfortunate incidents between Sliths and other races.

==Pronouns==

((2007 edit stops here -- ak.))
Slithzerikai have a gradient system of politeness which works something like this:

:+Chieftain
:+H. Priest
:+Archmage
:Priest
:Mage
:Politician (non-ranking)
:-Citizen (ranking)
:-Warrior
:-Citizen, normal

One addresses persons who one is familiar with with an equal respect level; in [[Present Day]] vernacular Slithzerikaiis**, one doesn't bother with respect levels unless one wants to be formal about something, and by modern times [as of the Arena RP]**, respect level had all but dissapeared except in the military [where another system had developed], priesthood, and politics [where no outsider is really expected to learn just how the hell Slithzerikai politicans address one another].

One adds an extra 'so' at the beginning of the word for the first level of respect and an 'es' after the 'so' for every other level afterwards. Classes marked with - don't address classes marked with + by anything less than their name unless permission has been given, and the classes marked with + don't address classes marked with - by anything less than their name unless familiar with them.

Of course, Slithzerikai culture has a much deeper respect for familiarity than Human culture, and should someone be related to / mated with a person, they will always be on an equal level of respect with that person in pronoun terms.

Pronouns are pluralized as usual in Slithzerikai: with se- added to the beginning. [This is added to the base word when adding respect level.]

:I = kai [Surely enough, one is usually on the same respect level as oneself.]
:You = kei
:We = sekai [can have respect levels added, if one is in the company of people of a higher class; this is uncommon and archaic**]
:You = sekei [plural]
:3rd = ossk [gender-neutral]
:3rd = seossk [plural, gender-neutral]
:one = seciis [used like the French 'on' - all present, or people in general]

So a Mage would call a Chieftain 'essokai', or more than one Chieftain 'essosekei', or in third person 'esso-ossk'.

Names, like those in so many languages, rarely have any meaning; unlike [[Novah]], in which names tend to indicate something about the person, such is excruciatingly rarely the case in Slithzerikaiis.

==Numbers==

Slithzerikai numbers are usually pronounced as written, with a grace 'eh' between each, which is very subtle and in some dialects not even pronounced. In the case of a pairing like 10, 20, 50, etc. instead of an 'eh', a hyphen is included between the two. When two or more 'fes'es are paired together, there is an 'ep' as opposed to either a hyphen or an eh. There are informal words for the various numbers, but these will not be covered here.

Slithzerikaiis works in an octal system; the numbers are as follows:

0 fes
1 nel
2 senel
3 pryss
4 hoss
5 feusk
6 elth
7 bosk
8 nel-fes
9 nel eh nel
10 nel eh senel

etc; so 1000 [decimal] would be 1750 in octal, and pronounced 'nel eh bosk eh feusk-fes'; 53202 [octal] would become 'feusk eh pryss eh senel-fes eh senel'. 1000 [octal] would be pronounced nel-fes ep fes ep fes.

Numbers greater than 6 digits have a 'stopper'; so 10005 would be, instead of nel-fes ep fes ep fes ep fes eh feusk, pas-fes noss [plus] feusk.

**N.B.: The 'present day' referred to in this article is the far future - well over 3,500 IE. The rules of politeness described are alive and well.

[[Category:Languages]]
{{stub}}
[[Category:Culture]]

Mass teleporter

2006-04-17T09:04:40Z

ACK47:

A [[Mass teleporter]] is a large [[teleportation|portal]]; while no specific hard-and-fast definition exists as to what is or isn't a mass teleporter, they are generally fixed portals capable of carrying large numbers of people in a short amount of time without a serious amount of stress or supporting magi.
Only one example exists in recorded history, although some well-known portals are arguably [[mass teleporter]]s.

When used without further qualification, the phrase generally refers to the portal at the '''Portal Fortress''' destroyed by Avernite forces during the [[Empire-Avernum War]], reputed to be able to transport substantial elements of the [[Imperial Army]] into Exile. The destruction of the portal turned the project into a major loss for the [[Empire]] and was a major factor in their withdrawal from Exile.

One major characteristic of mass teleporters is their ability to cause actual damage to the fabric of reality; this was demonstrated in the destruction of the Imperial portal during the War, which created an incomprehensible, rapidly spreading tear in space and time. Fortunately, the group that destroyed the portal had the proper equipment to contain the rift; it is estimated that, had it not been promptly contained, the portal rift would not have resolved itself without the obliteration of a substantial portion of [[Ermarian]].

Other portals of substantial magnitude - arguably large enough to be considered mass teleporters, but hardly anywhere near the scale of the Imperial mass teleporter - include the [[Vahnatai Portal]] and the [[Upper Exile Portal]].

Note that this category specifically excludes portals such as the [[Tower of Magi portal]], which was designed to teleport fairly small amounts of material to unanchored coordinates with a great degree of precision, and is generally taken to exclude the [[Empire-Avernum Portal]], which was one-way.

Talk:Vahnatai

2006-03-31T08:26:48Z

ACK47:

Can you please upload http://ryan-thompson.home.comcast.net/CrystalSoul.gif and http://ryan-thompson.home.comcast.net/VahnataiCrystal.gif ?

== Done. ==

{|
|-
| | [[Image:VahnataiCrystal.gif|frame|Done...]]
| | [[Image:CrystalSoul.gif|thumb|And done.]]
|}

By the way, uploading pictures is still a royal pain, requiring me to first use the upload form, find out what folder it was trying to put the image into, then log in to ftp and create this folder (which safe mode won't allow automatically), and then upload again. I hope to have this fixed some time soon, but for now I'm the only one who can upload, and it's tedious.

== Waveblades ==

It would be interesting to know in what way the waves actually make the blade more dangerous than an equally sharp, but straight sword from a similar material. I have some ideas, but I'm not sure of any of them... --- [[User:Arancaytar|Aran]] 15:20, 31 Aug 2005 (CEST)

== Magic Barriers ==

I don't know if this changed in A2, but my understanding is that the barriers sprang up throughout all of Exile, and not just around Formello. At any rate, Rentar put them up in an attempt to disrupt and disorient Exile while the Vahnatai gathered more information; they certainly weren't put up by Bon's group in an attempt to force a visit from Formello folk. --- [[User:Slartucker|Slartucker]] 08:57, 22 January 2006 (CST)

:I don't know if they were widespread or not, but at this point Rentar and Bon were on the same side. I'm pretty sure that what's in the article about the purpose of the barriers is true. --[[User:Drakefyre|Drakey]]

::I looked it up. The introduction of A2 states clearly (quoting from [[game canon]]):

::"Magical barriers appeared all over Avernum, splitting it into small sections and blocking the roads. Communication was difficult and carrying supplies was impossible."

::In E/A2, Bon-Ihrno, Iglit, Prossis-Bok, and Rentar-Ihrno all make clear that the barriers were the first step in a planned campaign of destruction against Avernum. Iglit: "Our Vahnatai Council has started to attack you humans, by putting up magic barriers." --- [[User:Slartucker|Slartucker]] 20:40, 22 January 2006 (CST)

== Population % ==

This section seems a little bit ridiculous. It makes sense if it's supposed to refer to the population we see in 823, but given an estimated population of 400,000 as listed right below, that means the Olgai clan has 10,000 Boks! (Sounds like a bad 80's song, hehe.) And 40,000 Tels -- that's a lot of mayors. Really, 1 mayor for every 10 Vahnatai? The thing is, the population we saw in E/A2 was not a random sample -- many Vahnatai made it clear that only important or powerful Vahnatai were awakened first, plus those who had critical jobs. So it's safe to say that Tels, Ihrnos, and Boks were vastly overrepresented.

Also, on titles, it seems like Te's and Ka's do use their titles after their names -- at least, some do so quite liberally in E/A2.
--- [[User:Slartucker|Slartucker]] 09:11, 23 January 2006 (CST)

Ta - where is this used in A2, and is it used more than once? I have a little feeling that it could be a type on Ka if it's only used once. If not, I need to edit the Novah entry.

:It is only used in reference to a single Vahnatai, but used multiple times (so it's not a typo) plus he explains what it means. This is an encounter that was not in Exile 2:
:*You approach to speak with him. He says "Welcome, aliens. I have heard of your arrival. I am Zalav-Ta."
:*You ask him about his people, and he says, "Well, I am honored that you wish to learn of us. The honorific Ta following my name means I am a learned one, a teacher. If you wish to receive lessons of my people, I would be honored to give them."
:*"You bid farewell to Zalav-Ta. He bows as you go, saying, "Please come again. I wish for you to learn of our people. It would be for the best."
:*You return to the hovel of Zalav-Ta. He is still willing to teach you of vahnatai ways.
:---[[User:Slartucker|Slartucker]] 09:33, 25 January 2006 (CST)

== Severe flaws? ==

Better than half of the information ascribed directly to the Vahnatai as a whole seems to be cultural and should almost definitely be part of [[Olgai tribe]] instead. Reporting on them as representative of the Vahnatai is only strictly accurate in a physiological sense; everything from crystal souls to razordisks to emphasis on learning is basically cultural.
I'd like to work with whoever had the biggest hand in writing this article in rectifying the problem; the solution would probably be to consider a hypothetical tribe of Vahnatai Amish and retain any information which remains true, moving the rest to [[Olgai tribe]].
[[User:ACK47|ACK47]] 02:00, 30 March 2006 (CST)

::I'd work with you on this (I wrote this entry, after all), but remember that the other tribes of Vahnatai we've seen (in Valorim in Exile III and in VoDT) have seemed extremely similar. I doubt that the differences are really more pronounced than the differences between French and Germans. --[[User:Drakefyre|Drakey]]
::::Thank you very much for the help. I'll have to talk to you the next time we're both around. Anyway, the analogy is all right, but do bear in mind that the French and Germans are more or less the same 'tribe' in the great scheme of things; consider the difference between either of them and, say, the Iroquois, and consider how absurd an article written about the Iroquois as a stand-in for humanity would look in light of what we know of the French and Germans.
The Vahnatai appear similar, but that's partially due to graphical constraints (ALL Vahnatai appear similar!). If the other tribes of Vahnatai make reference to things like Resting and Crystal Souls and etc, I'd defer to your expertise on that one. E3 wasn't really my game, after all.

:::Rereading the article, I see very little that there is any reason to think wouldn't apply to most vahnatai. The one big exception is the relationship to humans section (and the notable vahnatai section), which should probably be moved to [[Olgai tribe]] when we write that.
:::Perhaps it would be helpful to have a note at the beginning of the article explaining the distinction between the Vahnatai as a whole and the Olgai tribe, and that most of our information comes from the Olgai tribe. --[[User:Slartucker|Slarty]] 09:22, 30 March 2006 (CST)

Talk:Olgai Tribe

2006-03-30T08:38:18Z

ACK47:

'''EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.''' The Olgai Tribe '''MUST''' be added! The omission is fairly glaring, as better than half of all information we have found about, and have ascribed to, the Vahnatai in general has been gleaned through observation of the Olgai Tribe.

Until this article is filled in, and a consensus can be reached on what to remove from the [[Vahnatai]] in general in the Olgai Tribe's favor, let it serve as a list of articles which we may want to revisit with this in mind.

(Note that I have included articles utilizing the phrase '''Vahnatai retribution''', which seems to be a stock phrase to refer to an event which I, not having played A4, remain ignorant - but which still seems to generalize onto the Vahnatai in general an almost absurdly specific event; rather like calling the conquests of Clive in specific the 'European aggression in India'.)

[[Preface]] 
[[Golems]] 
[[Jekknol-Bok]] 
[[Resting]] 
[[Vyvnas-Bok]] 
[[Caffren-Bok]] 
[[Quickfire]] 
[[Empire-Avernum War]] 
[[Empire War Heroes]] 
[[Formello]] 
[[Crystal Souls]] 
[[Ouroboros]] 
[[Demonslayer]] 
[[Dragons]] 
[[Bon-Ihrno]] 
[[Rentar-Ihrno]] 
[[Giant spiders]] 
[[Magic]] 
[[Portal Fortress]] 
[[Teleportation]] 
[[Hydra]] 
[[Plagues]] 
[[Novah]] 
[[Reconciliation]] 
[[Erika Redmark]] 
[[Glowing fungus]] 
[[Kingdom of Avernum]] 
[[User:Drakefyre]] (okay, now I'm just being silly)

[[User:ACK47|ACK47]] 02:37, 30 March 2006 (CST)

Talk:Olgai Tribe

2006-03-30T08:37:56Z

ACK47:

Talk:Olgai Tribe

2006-03-30T08:37:37Z

ACK47:

Olgai Tribe

2006-03-30T08:37:28Z

ACK47:

Talk:Vahnatai creationism

2006-03-30T08:36:57Z

ACK47:

Does the Encyclopedia have a specific stance on Vahnatai creationism? I consider it fairly silly, and running into naked endorsements on it at articles like [[Giant spiders]] has made me shake my head a little.

Olgai Tribe

2006-03-30T08:34:54Z

ACK47:

{{OOC}}

'''EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.''' The Olgai Tribe '''MUST''' be added! The omission is fairly glaring, as better than half of all information we have found about, and have ascribed to, the Vahnatai in general has been gleaned through observation of the Olgai Tribe.

Until this article is filled in, and a consensus can be reached on what to remove from the [[Vahnatai]] in general in the Olgai Tribe's favor, let it serve as a list of articles which we may want to revisit with this in mind.

(Note that I have included articles utilizing the phrase '''Vahnatai retribution''', which seems to be a stock phrase to refer to an event which I, not having played A4, remain ignorant - but which still seems to generalize onto the Vahnatai in general an almost absurdly specific event; rather like calling the conquests of Clive in specific the 'European aggression in India'.)

[[Preface]] 
[[Golems]] 
[[Jekknol-Bok]] 
[[Resting]] 
[[Vyvnas-Bok]] 
[[Caffren-Bok]] 
[[Quickfire]] 
[[Empire-Avernum War]] 
[[Empire War Heroes]] 
[[Formello]] 
[[Crystal Souls]] 
[[Ouroboros]] 
[[Demonslayer]] 
[[Dragons]] 
[[Bon-Ihrno]] 
[[Rentar-Ihrno]] 
[[Giant spiders]] 
[[Magic]] 
[[Portal Fortress]] 
[[Teleportation]] 
[[Hydra]] 
[[Plagues]] 
[[Novah]] 
[[Reconciliation]] 
[[Erika Redmark]] 
[[Glowing fungus]] 
[[Kingdom of Avernum]] 
[[User:Drakefyre]] (okay, now I'm just being silly)

Olgai Tribe

2006-03-30T08:34:05Z

ACK47:

{{OOC}}

'''EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.''' The Olgai Tribe '''MUST''' be added! The omission is fairly glaring, as better than half of all information we have found about, and have ascribed to, the Vahnatai in general has been gleaned through observation of the Olgai Tribe.

Until this article is filled in, and a consensus can be reached on what to remove from the [[Vahnatai]] in general in the Olgai Tribe's favor, let it serve as a list of articles which we may want to revisit with this in mind.

(Note that I have included articles utilizing the phrase '''Vahnatai retribution''', which seems to be a stock phrase to refer to an event which I, not having played A4, remain ignorant - but which still seems to generalize onto the Vahnatai in general an almost absurdly specific event; rather like calling the conquests of Clive in specific the 'European aggression in India'.)

[[Preface]]
[[Golems]]
[[Jekknol-Bok]]
[[Resting]]
[[Vyvnas-Bok]]
[[Caffren-Bok]]
[[Quickfire]]
[[Empire-Avernum War]]
[[Empire War Heroes]]
[[Formello]]
[[Crystal Souls]]
[[Ouroboros]]
[[Demonslayer]]
[[Dragons]]
[[Bon-Ihrno]]
[[Rentar-Ihrno]]
[[Giant spiders]]
[[Magic]]
[[Portal Fortress]]
[[Teleportation]]
[[Hydra]]
[[Plagues]]
[[Novah]]
[[Reconciliation]]
[[User:Drakefyre]] (okay, now I'm just being silly)
[[Erika Redmark]]
[[Glowing fungus]]
[[Kingdom of Avernum]]

Talk:Vahnatai

2006-03-30T08:01:23Z

ACK47:

Talk:Vahnatai

2006-03-30T08:00:45Z

ACK47: Severe flaws?

Can you please upload http://ryan-thompson.home.comcast.net/CrystalSoul.gif and http://ryan-thompson.home.comcast.net/VahnataiCrystal.gif ?

== Done. ==

{|
|-
| | [[Image:VahnataiCrystal.gif|frame|Done...]]
| | [[Image:CrystalSoul.gif|thumb|And done.]]
|}

By the way, uploading pictures is still a royal pain, requiring me to first use the upload form, find out what folder it was trying to put the image into, then log in to ftp and create this folder (which safe mode won't allow automatically), and then upload again. I hope to have this fixed some time soon, but for now I'm the only one who can upload, and it's tedious.

== Waveblades ==

It would be interesting to know in what way the waves actually make the blade more dangerous than an equally sharp, but straight sword from a similar material. I have some ideas, but I'm not sure of any of them... --- [[User:Arancaytar|Aran]] 15:20, 31 Aug 2005 (CEST)

== Magic Barriers ==

I don't know if this changed in A2, but my understanding is that the barriers sprang up throughout all of Exile, and not just around Formello. At any rate, Rentar put them up in an attempt to disrupt and disorient Exile while the Vahnatai gathered more information; they certainly weren't put up by Bon's group in an attempt to force a visit from Formello folk. --- [[User:Slartucker|Slartucker]] 08:57, 22 January 2006 (CST)

:I don't know if they were widespread or not, but at this point Rentar and Bon were on the same side. I'm pretty sure that what's in the article about the purpose of the barriers is true. --[[User:Drakefyre|Drakey]]

::I looked it up. The introduction of A2 states clearly (quoting from [[game canon]]):

::"Magical barriers appeared all over Avernum, splitting it into small sections and blocking the roads. Communication was difficult and carrying supplies was impossible."

::In E/A2, Bon-Ihrno, Iglit, Prossis-Bok, and Rentar-Ihrno all make clear that the barriers were the first step in a planned campaign of destruction against Avernum. Iglit: "Our Vahnatai Council has started to attack you humans, by putting up magic barriers." --- [[User:Slartucker|Slartucker]] 20:40, 22 January 2006 (CST)

== Population % ==

This section seems a little bit ridiculous. It makes sense if it's supposed to refer to the population we see in 823, but given an estimated population of 400,000 as listed right below, that means the Olgai clan has 10,000 Boks! (Sounds like a bad 80's song, hehe.) And 40,000 Tels -- that's a lot of mayors. Really, 1 mayor for every 10 Vahnatai? The thing is, the population we saw in E/A2 was not a random sample -- many Vahnatai made it clear that only important or powerful Vahnatai were awakened first, plus those who had critical jobs. So it's safe to say that Tels, Ihrnos, and Boks were vastly overrepresented.

Also, on titles, it seems like Te's and Ka's do use their titles after their names -- at least, some do so quite liberally in E/A2.
--- [[User:Slartucker|Slartucker]] 09:11, 23 January 2006 (CST)

Ta - where is this used in A2, and is it used more than once? I have a little feeling that it could be a type on Ka if it's only used once. If not, I need to edit the Novah entry.

:It is only used in reference to a single Vahnatai, but used multiple times (so it's not a typo) plus he explains what it means. This is an encounter that was not in Exile 2:
:*You approach to speak with him. He says "Welcome, aliens. I have heard of your arrival. I am Zalav-Ta."
:*You ask him about his people, and he says, "Well, I am honored that you wish to learn of us. The honorific Ta following my name means I am a learned one, a teacher. If you wish to receive lessons of my people, I would be honored to give them."
:*"You bid farewell to Zalav-Ta. He bows as you go, saying, "Please come again. I wish for you to learn of our people. It would be for the best."
:*You return to the hovel of Zalav-Ta. He is still willing to teach you of vahnatai ways.
:---[[User:Slartucker|Slartucker]] 09:33, 25 January 2006 (CST)

== Severe flaws? ==

Better than half of the information ascribed directly to the Vahnatai as a whole seems to be cultural and should almost definitely be part of [[Olgai tribe]] instead. Reporting on them as representative of the Vahnatai is only strictly accurate in a physiological sense; everything from crystal souls to razordisks to emphasis on learning is basically cultural.
I'd like to work with whoever had the biggest hand in writing this article in rectifying the problem; the solution would probably be to consider a hypothetical tribe of Vahnatai Amish and retain any information which remains true, moving the rest to [[Olgai tribe]].

== Severe flaws? ==

Better than half of the information ascribed directly to the Vahnatai as a whole seems to be cultural and should almost definitely be part of [[Olgai tribe]] instead. Reporting on them as representative of the Vahnatai is only strictly accurate in a physiological sense; everything from crystal souls to razordisks to emphasis on learning is basically cultural.
I'd like to work with whoever had the biggest hand in writing this article in rectifying the problem; the solution would probably be to consider a hypothetical tribe of Vahnatai Amish and retain any information which remains true, moving the rest to [[Olgai tribe]].
[[User:ACK47|ACK47]] 02:00, 30 March 2006 (CST)

Talk:Vahnatai

2006-03-30T08:00:30Z

ACK47: Severe flaws?

Talk:Emperors

2006-03-30T07:54:57Z

ACK47:

This is all straight Stareye canon from Stewart I backwards.
::So? [[User:Drakefyre|Drakey]]
:::Well, that kind of poses a problem for those of us who don't buy into *i canon. I don't object to it being included, I just object to it not being marked as such. Or at least make it known that from Stewart I backwards, the list is '''speculative, not authoritative'''. [[User:ACK47|ACK47]] 01:54, 30 March 2006 (CST)

Magic barriers

2006-03-29T01:46:51Z

ACK47:

[[Magic barriers]] are a common sight in Ermarian; barrier magic is fairly simple and well-known, and it is, in fact, usually more difficult to destroy a barrier than it is to create one (to the great benefit of Ermarian [[magic|magery]] and [[Demon|demonology]]). They vary in complexity from simple walls of semi-solid elemental fire to wafer-thin, impenetrable skins of pure energy.

They were notable as the first weapon employed by the [[Olgai tribe]] on their human enemies in [[Exile]]; in addition, a barrier rather resembling a crimson-purple cluster of magical spiderwebs is produced by the standard Barrier spell known to human mages.

The spells used to magically lock doors are generally similar, although far smaller in scale and substantially more time- and energy-consuming.

Magic barriers

2006-03-29T01:45:01Z

ACK47:

Imperial Army

2006-03-29T01:39:28Z

ACK47:

The [[Imperial Army]] is the military of the Empire. It has waxed and waned in importance throughout the time of the Empire's rule; in several periods it has been nigh-powerless, and in others it has been instrumental in selecting and retaining the monarch.

Of indeterminate size; it would be unreasonable to assume the Empire keeps a large standing army by habit, but with the emergence of the [[Kingdom of Avernum]] and the [[Olgai Tribe]] as potential enemies, the armed forces have certainly enjoyed unprecedented growth in size and prominence under the rule of [[Prazac]].

Imperial army specialties include weapons mastery and [[archery]]; in addition to their large number, they maintain a large corps of shock troops known as [[Dervish|Empire Dervishes]] and [[Archery|Empire Archers]], with each maintaining peerless skill in, respectively, melee combat and archery.

The Imperial Army is distinct from Imperial wizardry, although the two were treated as essentially inseparable during the [[Empire-Avernum War]]. While it is common for magical forces to be attached to any army, they are usually essentially independent outside of combat.

Arena canon

2006-03-27T09:19:47Z

ACK47:

The [[Arena canon]] is the collection of assertions and predictions made by the formidable record of the [[Arena]].

== The Worldribbon ==

The Worldribbon is a great and confusing thing linking, at the very least, [[Ermarian]], [[Earth]], [[New Cradle]], and the [[Cyrath]] homeworld in space and time.

== The [[Cyrath]] ==

The Cyrath are a race of blue-green humanoids extremely and inexplicably similar to the [[Ermarian]] hominids. They are distinguished by an advanced level of telepathy, a third eyeball, and a subtle but inescapable compulsion to fly. This compulsion is not apparently cultural, either; even after major [[cataclysms]], Cyrath technology has continuously aspired to the skies.

In the Arena timeline, they are consistent rival for the people of Ermarian, and often presented themselves as a [[rising menace]], although on more than one occasion have been allies or mercenaries for Ermarian factions.

== Cataclysms ==

Civilization-destroying events occurred fairly frequently throughout the time chronicled in the Arena canon. Two in particular stand out:

[[The Sundering of Aizo]]: [[Aizo]], once the largest continent, was almost completely destroyed, leaving only a comparatively small remnant in the southern hemisphere. This was associated with the sudden rise of [[Doston]] from the sea and a global climactic catastrophe.

This Cataclysm destroyed the [[Empire]] and the civilization associated with it, although a substantial enough remnant remained to participate in the politics of the Arena for many years.

[[The Divine Flame]]: A major apocalyptic cult, after essentially overrunning the southern part of Doston, wound up obliterating the major cities of [[Aizo]] - absolutely annhilating any native culture and leaving a nigh-on uninhabited environment for [[Aixo]] to arise - and crashing a death satellite into the planet, causing global chaos and the reversal of human civilization.

Each cataclysm is set hundreds, if not thousands, of years from the [[present day]].

== Geography ==

In the Arena canon, there exist first four, then five continents: in the western and northern hemispheres [[Doston]]; in the southern and western hemisphere [[Aizo]]/[[Aixo]]; in the northern and eastern hemispheres [[Pralgad]] and [[Valorim]], linked by landbridge; and in the rough center in both latitude and longitude [[Vantanas]].

== Astronomy ==

Ermarian orbits about [[Alxus]], being the fourth planet to orbit the same; it possesses one [[moon]] of Earth-like proportions. It is linked by the mysterious worldribbon to [[Earth]], [[Rath]], [[New Cradle]], and [[Sextus]].

== Fagots ==

Noteworthy [[fagots]] from the Arena canon include Imban, Thuryl, and Alec.

Talk:Emperors

2006-03-27T08:03:08Z

ACK47:

This is all straight Stareye canon from Stewart I backwards.

Talk:Micah

2006-03-27T07:45:08Z

ACK47:

This contradicts [[Earthward Road]] fairly strongly. Is it established by Av4 as canon?

[[User:ACK47|ACK47]] 01:45, 27 March 2006 (CST)

Arena canon

2006-03-27T07:36:25Z

ACK47: /* Geography */

Arena canon

2006-03-27T07:35:55Z

ACK47:

The [[Arena canon]] is the collection of assertions and predictions made by the formidable record of the [[Arena]].

== The Worldribbon ==

The Worldribbon is a great and confusing thing linking, at the very least, [[Ermarian]], [[Earth]], [[New Cradle]], and the [[Cyrath]] homeworld in space and time.

== The [[Cyrath]] ==

The Cyrath are a race of blue-green humanoids extremely and inexplicably similar to the [[Ermarian]] hominids. They are distinguished by an advanced level of telepathy, a third eyeball, and a subtle but inescapable compulsion to fly. This compulsion is not apparently cultural, either; even after major [[cataclysms]], Cyrath technology has continuously aspired to the skies.

In the Arena timeline, they are consistent rival for the people of Ermarian, and often presented themselves as a [[rising menace]], although on more than one occasion have been allies or mercenaries for Ermarian factions.

== Cataclysms ==

Civilization-destroying events occurred fairly frequently throughout the time chronicled in the Arena canon. Two in particular stand out:

[[The Sundering of Aizo]]: [[Aizo]], once the largest continent, was almost completely destroyed, leaving only a comparatively small remnant in the southern hemisphere. This was associated with the sudden rise of [[Doston]] from the sea and a global climactic catastrophe.

This Cataclysm destroyed the [[Empire]] and the civilization associated with it, although a substantial enough remnant remained to participate in the politics of the Arena for many years.

[[The Divine Flame]]: A major apocalyptic cult, after essentially overrunning the southern part of Doston, wound up obliterating the major cities of [[Aizo]] - absolutely annhilating any native culture and leaving a nigh-on uninhabited environment for [[Aixo]] to arise - and crashing a death satellite into the planet, causing global chaos and the reversal of human civilization.

Each cataclysm is set hundreds, if not thousands, of years from the [[present day]].

== Geography ==

In the Arena canon, there exist first four, then five continents: in the western and northern hemispheres [[Doston]]; in the southern and western hemisphere [[Aizo]]/[[Aixo]]; in the northern and eastern hemispheres [[Pralgad]] and [[Vantanas]], linked by landbridge; and in the rough center in both latitude and longitude [[Vantanas]].

== Astronomy ==

Ermarian orbits about [[Alxus]], being the fourth planet to orbit the same; it possesses one [[moon]] of Earth-like proportions. It is linked by the mysterious worldribbon to [[Earth]], [[Rath]], [[New Cradle]], and [[Sextus]].

== Fagots ==

Noteworthy [[fagots]] from the Arena canon include Imban and Thuryl.

Alec canon

2006-03-27T07:33:56Z

ACK47:

Generally, the [[Arena canon]].

NOTE: When the [[Exile-Avernum|Exile Vs. Avernum]] conflict comes up, the Alec canon strongly prefers Exile.

User:ACK47

2006-03-27T07:29:33Z

ACK47:

You will learn to [[Arena canon|love me]] or you will learn to [[Aixo|fear me]].

Alec canon

2006-03-27T07:27:16Z

ACK47:

Generally, the [[Arena canon]].

Alxus

2006-03-27T07:26:35Z

ACK47: /* Orbiting Satellites */

The planet Ermarian is orbiting a yound main period star known to wizards as [[Alxus]]. In the process of translating from Imperial Standard into English, this star is usually called the Sun to avoid confusion.

==The Alxus System==

===Orbiting Satellites===
*Alxus I, a rocky planet; uninhabitable
*Alxus II, a rocky planet; uninhabitable
*Alxus III, a rocky planet; uninhabitable
*[[Ermarian]], at a distance of around one hundred million [[Measures#Length|miles]].
*Alxus V, a gas giant, to be the site of a major space battle during [[The Divine Flame]]
*Several others, as yet not the subject of record.

{{stub}}

[[Category:Cosmology]]

Arena canon

2006-03-27T07:25:27Z

ACK47:

The [[Arena canon]] is the collection of assertions and predictions made by the formidable record of the [[Arena]].

== The Worldribbon ==

The Worldribbon is a great and confusing thing linking, at the very least, [[Ermarian]], [[Earth]], [[New Cradle]], and the [[Cyrath]] homeworld in space and time.

== The [[Cyrath]] ==

The Cyrath are a race of blue-green humanoids extremely and inexplicably similar to the [[Ermarian]] hominids. They are distinguished by an advanced level of telepathy, a third eyeball, and a subtle but inescapable compulsion to fly. This compulsion is not apparently cultural, either; even after major [[cataclysms]], Cyrath technology has continuously aspired to the skies.

In the Arena timeline, they are consistent rival for the people of Ermarian, and often presented themselves as a [[rising menace]], although on more than one occasion have been allies or mercenaries for Ermarian factions.

== Cataclysms ==

Civilization-destroying events occurred fairly frequently throughout the time chronicled in the Arena canon. Two in particular stand out:

[[The Sundering of Aizo]]: [[Aizo]], once the largest continent, was divided by some kind of massive techtonic catastrophe into two continents: what retained the name of Aizo and a fifth, [[Doston]], which, by some mysterious means, managed to become the largest in its own right.

This Cataclysm destroyed the [[Empire]] and the civilization associated with it, although a substantial enough remnant remained to participate in the politics of the Arena for many years.

[[The Divine Flame]]: A major apocalyptic cult, after essentially overrunning the southern part of Doston, wound up obliterating the major cities of [[Aizo]] - absolutely annhilating any native culture and leaving a nigh-on uninhabited environment for [[Aixo]] to arise - and crashing a death satellite into the planet, causing global chaos and the reversal of human civilization.

Each cataclysm is set hundreds, if not thousands, of years from the [[present day]].

== Geography ==

In the Arena canon, there exist first four, then five continents: in the western and northern hemispheres [[Doston]]; in the southern and western hemisphere [[Aizo]]/[[Aixo]]; in the northern and eastern hemispheres [[Pralgad]] and [[Vantanas]], linked by landbridge; and in the rough center in both latitude and longitude [[Vantanas]].

== Astronomy ==

Ermarian orbits about [[Alxus]], being the fourth planet to orbit the same; it possesses one [[moon]] of Earth-like proportions. It is linked by the mysterious worldribbon to [[Earth]], [[Rath]], [[New Cradle]], and [[Sextus]].

== Fagots ==

Noteworthy [[fagots]] from the Arena canon include Imban.

Alxus

2006-03-27T07:24:56Z

ACK47: /* Orbiting Satellites */

The planet Ermarian is orbiting a yound main period star known to wizards as [[Alxus]]. In the process of translating from Imperial Standard into English, this star is usually called the Sun to avoid confusion.

==The Alxus System==

===Orbiting Satellites===
*Alxus I, a rocky planet; uninhabitable
*Alxus II, a rocky planet; uninhabitable
*Alxus III, a rocky planet; uninhabitable
*[[Ermarian]], at a distance of around one hundred million [[Measures#Length|miles]].
*Alxus V, a gas giant, and the site of a major battle during [[The Divine Flame]]
*Several others, as yet not the subject of record.

{{stub}}

[[Category:Cosmology]]

Arena

2006-03-27T07:22:24Z

ACK47:

'''The Arena''' was the unifying force behind a thousand generations of men on [[Ermarian]], from the final days of the Empire to the time of the Xaos. The quest for its prestige drove men to insane lengths, nations to ruin, and the world into peril.

Or at least, it will be, if its [[Arena canon|predictions]] hold true.

The chronicles of the Arena are a source of a great deal of information on Ermarian's past and present, and a great deal of strange prophecy for its future.

Arena canon

2006-03-27T07:21:36Z

ACK47:

The [[Arena canon]] is the collection of assertions and predictions made by the formidable record of the [[Arena]].

== The Worldribbon ==

The Worldribbon is a great and confusing thing linking, at the very least, [[Ermarian]], [[Earth]], [[New Cradle]], and the [[Cyrath]] homeworld in space and time.

== The [[Cyrath]] ==

The Cyrath are a race of blue-green humanoids extremely and inexplicably similar to the [[Ermarian]] hominids. They are distinguished by an advanced level of telepathy, a third eyeball, and a subtle but inescapable compulsion to fly. This compulsion is not apparently cultural, either; even after major [[cataclysms]], Cyrath technology has continuously aspired to the skies.

In the Arena timeline, they are consistent rival for the people of Ermarian, and often presented themselves as a [[rising menace]], although on more than one occasion have been allies or mercenaries for Ermarian factions.

== Cataclysms ==

Civilization-destroying events occurred fairly frequently throughout the time chronicled in the Arena canon. Two in particular stand out:

[[The Sundering of Aizo]]: [[Aizo]], once the largest continent, was divided by some kind of massive techtonic catastrophe into two continents: what retained the name of Aizo and a fifth, [[Doston]], which, by some mysterious means, managed to become the largest in its own right.

This Cataclysm destroyed the [[Empire]] and the civilization associated with it, although a substantial enough remnant remained to participate in the politics of the Arena for many years.

[[The Divine Flame]]: A major apocalyptic cult, after essentially overrunning the southern part of Doston, wound up obliterating the major cities of [[Aizo]] - absolutely annhilating any native culture and leaving a nigh-on uninhabited environment for [[Aixo]] to arise - and crashing a death satellite into the planet, causing global chaos and the reversal of human civilization.

Each cataclysm is set hundreds, if not thousands, of years from the [[present day]].

== Geography ==

In the Arena canon, there exist first four, then five continents: in the western and northern hemispheres [[Doston]]; in the southern and western hemisphere [[Aizo]]/[[Aixo]]; in the northern and eastern hemispheres [[Pralgad]] and [[Vantanas]], linked by landbridge; and in the rough center in both latitude and longitude [[Vantanas]].

== Astronomy ==

Ermarian orbits about [[Alxus]], being the third planet to orbit the same; it possesses one [[moon]] of Earth-like proportions. It is linked by the mysterious worldribbon to [[Earth]], [[Rath]], [[New Cradle]], and [[Sextus]].

== Fagots ==

Noteworthy [[fagots]] from the Arena canon include Imban.

Arena canon

2006-03-27T07:18:16Z

ACK47:

== The Worldribbon ==

The Worldribbon is a great and confusing thing linking, at the very least, [[Ermarian]], [[Earth]], [[New Cradle]], and the [[Cyrath]] homeworld in space and time.

== The [[Cyrath]] ==

The Cyrath are a race of blue-green humanoids extremely and inexplicably similar to the [[Ermarian]] hominids. They are distinguished by an advanced level of telepathy, a third eyeball, and a subtle but inescapable compulsion to fly. This compulsion is not apparently cultural, either; even after major [[cataclysms]], Cyrath technology has continuously aspired to the skies.

In the Arena timeline, they are consistent rival for the people of Ermarian, and often presented themselves as a [[rising menace]], although on more than one occasion have been allies or mercenaries for Ermarian factions.

== Cataclysms ==

Civilization-destroying events occurred fairly frequently throughout the time chronicled in the Arena canon. Two in particular stand out:

[[The Sundering of Aizo]]: [[Aizo]], once the largest continent, was divided by some kind of massive techtonic catastrophe into two continents: what retained the name of Aizo and a fifth, [[Doston]], which, by some mysterious means, managed to become the largest in its own right.

This Cataclysm destroyed the [[Empire]] and the civilization associated with it, although a substantial enough remnant remained to participate in the politics of the Arena for many years.

[[The Divine Flame]]: A major apocalyptic cult, after essentially overrunning the southern part of Doston, wound up obliterating the major cities of [[Aizo]] - absolutely annhilating any native culture and leaving a nigh-on uninhabited environment for [[Aixo]] to arise - and crashing a death satellite into the planet, causing global chaos and the reversal of human civilization.

Each cataclysm is set hundreds, if not thousands, of years from the [[present day]].

== Geography ==

In the Arena canon, there exist first four, then five continents: in the western and northern hemispheres [[Doston]]; in the southern and western hemisphere [[Aizo]]/[[Aixo]]; in the northern and eastern hemispheres [[Pralgad]] and [[Vantanas]], linked by landbridge; and in the rough center in both latitude and longitude [[Vantanas]].

== Astronomy ==

Ermarian orbits about [[Alxus]], being the third planet to orbit the same; it possesses one [[moon]] of Earth-like proportions. It is linked by the mysterious worldribbon to [[Earth]], [[Rath]], [[New Cradle]], and [[Sextus]].

== Fagots ==

Noteworthy [[fagots]] from the Arena canon include Imban.

Arena canon

2006-03-27T07:17:34Z

ACK47:

== The Worldribbon ==

The Worldribbon is a great and confusing thing linking, at the very least, [[Ermarian]], [[Earth]], [[New Cradle]], and the [[Cyrath]] homeworld in space and time.

== The [[Cyrath]] ==

The Cyrath are a race of blue-green humanoids extremely and inexplicably similar to the [[Ermarian]] hominids. They are distinguished by an advanced level of telepathy, a third eyeball, and a subtle but inescapable compulsion to fly. This compulsion is not apparently cultural, either; even after major [[cataclysms]], Cyrath technology has continuously aspired to the skies.

In the Arena timeline, they are consistent rival for the people of Ermarian, and often presented themselves as a [[rising menace]], although on more than one occasion have been allies or mercenaries for Ermarian factions.

== Cataclysms ==

Civilization-destroying events occurred fairly frequently throughout the time chronicled in the Arena canon. Two in particular stand out:

[[The Sundering of Aizo]]: [[Aizo]], once the largest continent, was divided by some kind of massive techtonic catastrophe into two continents: what retained the name of Aizo and a fifth, [[Doston]], which, by some mysterious means, managed to become the largest in its own right.

This Cataclysm destroyed the [[Empire]] and the civilization associated with it, although a substantial enough remnant remained to participate in the politics of the Arena for many years.

[[The Divine Flame]]: A major apocalyptic cult, after essentially overrunning the southern part of Doston, wound up obliterating the major cities of [[Aizo]] - absolutely annhilating any native culture and leaving a nigh-on uninhabited environment for [[Aixo]] to arise - and crashing a death satellite into the planet, causing global chaos and the reversal of human civilization.

Each cataclysm is set hundreds, if not thousands, of years from the [[present day]].

== Geography ==

In the Arena canon, there exist first four, then five continents: in the western and northern hemispheres [[Doston]]; in the southern and western hemisphere [[Aizo]]/[[Aixo]; in the northern and eastern hemispheres [[Pralgad]] and [[Vantanas]], linked by landbridge; and in the rough center in both latitude and longitude [[Vantanas]].

== Astronomy ==

Ermarian orbits about [[Alxus]], being the third planet to orbit the same; it possesses one [[moon]] of Earth-like proportions. It is linked by the mysterious worldribbon to [[Earth]], [[Rath]], [[New Cradle]], and [[Sextus]].

== Fagots ==

Noteworthy [[fagots]] from the Arena canon include Imban.

Arena

2006-03-27T05:23:11Z

ACK47:

'''The Arena''' was the unifying force behind a thousand generations of men on [[Ermarian]], from the final days of the Empire to the time of the Xaos. The quest for its prestige drove men to insane lengths, nations to ruin, and the world into peril.

The chronicles of the Arena are a source of a great deal of [[Arena canon|information]] on Ermarian's past and present, and a great deal of strange prophecy for its future.

Slithzerikaiis

2006-03-27T05:17:59Z

ACK47:

{{wikify}}

Slithzerikaiis is the language of the [[Slithzerikai]]. Not much information is known about it in the [[Empire]], although there are several scholars in the [[Kingdom of Avernum]] that have apparently mastered it.

==Pronounciation==

Doubled I's are pronounced the same; Slithzerikaiis is pronounced 'ss-lith-zer-uh-kah-ie-s'. Doubling any letter besides E and I are a no-no, and a hyphen is used when this would be done by prefixes or suffixes.

S found alone [without any binding constonants, such as l, h, that sort of thing] is hard, almost like the English 'z'. Doubled, it's pronounced like an [[Imperial Standard]] 's'.

==Verbs==

All verbs are a noun preceded by an 'os'. Walk, for example, goes from 'or' as a noun to 'osor' as a verb.
Some verbs are irregular, or conjugated from stems absent in modern Slithzerikaiis.
'Usmass', to be born by hatching, is an example of both; 'us-' is an antiquated stem indicating an action occupying a finite but non-incidental amount of time, and 'mass' is an antiquated word for 'crack'.

==Pronouns==

Slithzerikai have a gradient system of politeness which works something like this:

:+Chieftain
:+H. Priest
:+Archmage
:Priest
:Mage
:Politician (non-ranking)
:-Citizen (ranking)
:-Warrior
:-Citizen, normal

One addresses persons who one is familiar with with an equal respect level; in [[Present Day]] vernacular Slithzerikaiis**, one doesn't bother with respect levels unless one wants to be formal about something, and by modern times [as of the Arena RP]**, respect level had all but dissapeared except in the military [where another system had developed], priesthood, and politics [where no outsider is really expected to learn just how the hell Slithzerikai politicans address one another].

One adds an extra 'so' at the beginning of the word for the first level of respect and an 'es' after the 'so' for every other level afterwards. Classes marked with - don't address classes marked with + by anything less than their name unless permission has been given, and the classes marked with + don't address classes marked with - by anything less than their name unless familiar with them.

Of course, Slithzerikai culture has a much deeper respect for familiarity than Human culture, and should someone be related to / mated with a person, they will always be on an equal level of respect with that person in pronoun terms.

Pronouns are pluralized as usual in Slithzerikai: with se- added to the beginning. [This is added to the base word when adding respect level.]

:I = kai [Surely enough, one is usually on the same respect level as oneself.]
:You = kei
:We = sekai [can have respect levels added, if one is in the company of people of a higher class; this is uncommon and archaic**]
:You = sekei [plural]
:3rd = ossk [gender-neutral]
:3rd = seossk [plural, gender-neutral]
:one = seciis [used like the French 'on' - all present, or people in general]

So a Mage would call a Chieftain 'essokai', or more than one Chieftain 'essosekei', or in third person 'esso-ossk'.

Names, like those in so many languages, rarely have any meaning; unlike [[Novah]], in which names tend to indicate something about the person, such is excruciatingly rarely the case in Slithzerikaiis.

==Numbers==

Slithzerikai numbers are usually pronounced as written, with a grace 'eh' between each, which is very subtle and in some dialects not even pronounced. In the case of a pairing like 10, 20, 50, etc. instead of an 'eh', a hyphen is included between the two. When two or more 'fes'es are paired together, there is an 'ep' as opposed to either a hyphen or an eh. There are informal words for the various numbers, but these will not be covered here.

Slithzerikaiis works in an octal system; the numbers are as follows:

0 fes
1 nel
2 senel
3 pryss
4 hoss
5 feusk
6 elth
7 bosk
8 nel-fes
9 nel eh nel
10 nel eh senel

etc; so 1000 [decimal] would be 1750 in octal, and pronounced 'nel eh bosk eh feusk-fes'; 53202 [octal] would become 'feusk eh pryss eh senel-fes eh senel'. 1000 [octal] would be pronounced nel-fes ep fes ep fes.

Numbers greater than 6 digits have a 'stopper'; so 10005 would be, instead of nel-fes ep fes ep fes ep fes eh feusk, pas-fes noss [plus] feusk.

**N.B.: The 'present day' referred to in this article is the far future - well over 3,500 IE. The rules of politeness described are alive and well.

[[Category:Languages]]
{{stub}}
[[Category:Culture]]