Editing Talislantan Terminology (section)

==Wilderlands Region==
<i>'''Crazy as a malamentis.'''</i>   The ''malamentis'' is a smallish, sextapedal, ruminant animal which makes it’s home in the deserts of the Wilderlands. Given the generally deserty conditions of the deserts, many naturalists have wondered what in the Seven Moons a ruminant is doing in such a location. In fact, some have speculated that the ''malamentoi'' may well be wondering the same thing, as the chief field data of the beast consists of watching the small creatures, thin and dehydrated, climb to the top of the tallest outcropping in the area, and throw themselves to their dooms in various, spectacular ways. Frequently, these “death leaps” include large groups of the things, locking limbs and performing extremely impressive aerial acrobatics while making a distinctly disturbing keening noise in the few seconds preceding their flattening upon the desert floor.

No less an authority than the esteemed Thystram is recollected to have called the ''malamentis'' “the craziest being I have ever had the displeasure to study.” This note is nowhere to be found in the Thystram’s collected works, but rather in the notes of his acquaintances. Those same sources note that the famous naturalist was so disturbed by creatures, that he ripped the pages detailing them from his works and consigned them to the fire.  

<i>'''Hecky'''</i> A common adjective in the Wilderlands of the New Age in both senses of the term: popular and vulgar. Vulgar, in that no one with any class at all would use it. And thus, common to the Wilderlands of Za. It meant "crazy" and would be the approximate equivalent to "nuts" or "looney" in early 20th century American usage.

<i>'''King Shaar'''</i>   The subject of a romantic fable that was widely-told throughout the Wilderlands region. It which was usually recounted as history, although reputable historians scoff at such assertions. Shaar is always portrayed as the bravest, handsomest, wealthiest, and most virtuous ruler of whatever people happen to be telling the tale. He was, however, unable to produce an heir to the throne (for some reason) and in his melancholy, locked himself away in his keep, or fortress, or tomb, or sky-castle (depending again, on the version of the story) to brood. Therefore, many fertile young women went through truly mind-boggling lengths to reach the King and present themselves as prospective brides (or whatever the culturally-appropriate position was). After many years of this, one equally virtuous and becoming young women, who was too modest to pursue the legendary ruler, accidentally discovered his place of solitude and Shaar was instantly besotted with her. His announcement of marriage was said to have triggered a wave of suicides across the land and many otherwise unmarked cairns and mounds across the Wilderlands are said to those of women who killed themselves when Shaar’s nuptials were made public.

Given the relative frequency of violent death, and consequent hurried burials, in the Wilderlands, it would seem that this terribly romantic legend is used to explain the much more prosaic reality behind the ubiquitous unmarked graves in that region.

<i>'''Trool-headed'''</i>   The <i>trool</i> is a squat, ungainly beast of foul temper inhabiting the Wilderlands region.  It’s appearance suggests the worst characteristics of the reptile, the mammal, and the amphibian; it’s bloated, disc-shaped body is more attractive only than the tiny, wedge-shaped head on top of it.  Despite these aesthetics accomplishments, the <i>trool</i> is more famous for it’s behaviour than its appearance.  <i>Trools</i> are infamous both for their strict sense of entitlement and their denseness.  Upon meeting another creature, a <i>trool</i> will always pause and wait for the other to move out of the way, giving it primacy.  <i>Trools</i> cannot speak, but seem to believe that the other will intuit what it wants.  A <i>trool</i> will quite literally die before it allows another creature to pass it.  This is attested to by the many dead <i>trool</i> that have been observed expired while silently awaiting tree-stumps and rock outcroppings to move aside and let them pass.

<i>Trool-headed</i> is thus used to mean stubbornly stupid.

<i>'''You are as useful as a skeelix!'''</i> Skeelix were a flying pest common to the entire Wilderlands region. In appearance, they were something like a tiny, unshelled mollusk, with pale, mucousy flesh and triple-wings of thinly, calceous nature. In the wilds, these vermin were fairly inactive during the heat of the day, to avoid excessive sun exposure and consequent drying out. However, they were attracted to man- or other-made structures and “hide-aways”. They did not bite or sting like some other vermin, but they had a nasty habit of appearing underfoot, hand, or other appendage and squishing in most unpleasant manner.

Incidentally, calling someone a “skeelix” was considered grounds for lethal dueling and blood feud among many Wilderlands tribes.