Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition Wiki
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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.

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