Appendix B. Fantasy Glossary

If you are not familiar with the genre of fantasy you may have a hard time understanding some of the words I use in this book. Hopefully this glossary will give you some guidance in this respect.

• Arcane: Something that is mysterious or secret. Known or understood by very few people.
• Alchemy: A science that was used in the Middle Ages with the goal of changing ordinary metals into gold. Also a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way.
• Cimmerian barbarian: Barbarian from the extreme confines of Cimmeria.
• Conan: “Hither came Conan, the Cimmerian, black-haired, sullen-eyed, sword in hand, a thief, a reaver, a slayer, with gigantic melancholies and gigantic mirth, to tread the jeweled thrones of the Earth under his sandalled feet.”
• Balefire: Balefire is a weapon of the One Power. When a target is struck with balefire, its thread in the Pattern is destroyed, in an amount proportional to the power of the balefire strike. This translates to both the target’s existence, and actions up to a certain point, being retroactively erased.
• Gandalf: Mighty wizard that has the magic ability to always be on time.
• Goblin: An ugly and sometimes evil creature that likes to cause trouble.
• Golem: An artificial creature being endowed with life by magic. It is often associated to different elements and materials: fire, earth, sand, etc.
• Hobbit: Hobbits are similar to humans, but about half their size. They’re chubby, furry-footed home-bodies with a penchant for dwelling in hollowed out hillsides and a racial talent for burglary.
• Halfling: see Hobbit.
• JavaScript-mancer: Person that has mastered the art of writing awesome JavaScript and has an intimate knowledge of it.
• JavaScript-mancy: The arcane art of using JavaScript to alter the world around you.
• Kender: A race of wizened 14-year-olds that, unlike halflings, wear shoes.
• Mana: For those of you not familiar with magic, mana can be seen as a measure of magical stamina. As such, doing magic (like summoning minions) spends one’s mana. An empty reservoir of mana means no spellcasting just as a empty reserve of stamina means no more running.
• Minion: Someone who is not powerful or important and who obeys the orders of a powerful leader or boss.
• Saruman: Powerful wizard prone who likes white clothing and prone to evil deeds
• Scepter: A staff or baton borne by a sovereign as an emblem of authority. It can be imbued in magic powers.
• Spell: A spoken word or form of words held to have magic power.
• Spellcasting (casting): Performing magic by reciting a spell.
• Summon: To bid a creature to come to your aid with the help of magic. It can also create a creature from nothingness.
• Troll: An evil giant creature than inhabitates caves, hills and bridges. Some of them show weakness to sunlight.
• Teleport: Transfer ones location by using magic
• Orc: A race of human-like creatures, characterized as ugly, warlike, and malevolent.
• Orb: A circular object that possess unbound magic power.
• Wand: A long, thin stick used by a magician to channel its powers.
• Weave: See spellcasting.