Glossary (AA)

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al: the (definite article). As a prefix, it may also mean "the house of" or "the tribe of."
Al-Badia: desert nomads of Zakhara.
Al-Hadhar: town- and city-dwellers of Zakhara.
bits: copper pieces.
blood feud: a battle, often long-standing, between two families, clans, or tribes. It begins when one side kills a member of the other, but feels justified in doing so. The other side disagrees and attempts to even the score, launching a cycle of one vengeance killing after another.
caliph: spiritual leader and temporal ruler.
daraq: small, lightweight shield similar to the buckler, favored by desert riders.
dinar: copper piece.
dirham: silver piece.
diyya: wergeld. If a character is wrongfully or inadvertently slain, the diyya may be paid to his or her family by the killer or the killer's family, as just compensation.
gen: a small creature from one of the elemental planes, which may serve as a sha'ir's familiar. Types include the daolani (earth gen), efreetikin (fire gen), maridan (water gen), and djinnling (air gen).
harim: harem; pronounced "hah-REEM." The area within a household or palace reserved for women. Also the women who occupy that area.
henna: an herb that produces an orange-red dye, which is used to beautify fingernails, toenails, and (occasionally) palms, soles of feet, and halfling foot hair.
jambiya: curved dagger, double-edged. (JAHM-bee-yah)
kohl: a thick black powder, which, when moistened, serves as a heavy eyeliner for Zakharan women.
mamluk: a slave warrior of Zakhara, raised for battle and for government service. (See "Warrior Kits" in Chapter 3.)
Midani: Zakharan Common, a melodious dialect.
mosque: a temple.
salt bond: a formal bond of hospitality between host and guest, which lasts for three days. During that time the host takes responsibility for the guest's well-being, and the guest agrees no harm shall come to the host not by the guest's own hand nor by that of his or her family.
sha'ir: a wizard with the power to command genies. (See "Wizard Kits" in Chapter 3.)
sheikh: the leader of a tribe, which may be large or small, and is typically nomadic. Pronounced "SHAKE."
tahrik min qad: a type of Zakharan legend that describes a holy warrior's (faris's) redemption following a downfall. Means "moving through the flame." Pronounced "tah-REEK min kahd.
vizier: high-ranking advisor to a sultan or emir (king or prince). Also wazi.
wadi: the bed or valley carved by a seasonal stream. Pronounced "WAH-dee."
A Note on Language: The foundation of Zakharan words is the Arabic language and its regional dialects. However, many Arabic words have been modified slightly for ease of use by English-speaking readers, while others have been altered or created expressly for the fantasy world of the AL-QADIMTM campaign.