#eastern egg rock

[screechingcrow]

Eastern Egg Rock Island, ME

#puffins #sea birds #terns #ocean #birds #adventurecore #sea #fog #aesthetic #maine #eastern egg rock #my pics

[hedgewitchgarden]

By: Lauren Diaz

The Appalachian mountains share their story with us in many forms, beginning from their wise and weathered peaks, through their towering forests, and down to the rushing roar of their rocky streams and rivers. Many of these clear, mountain rivers are inhabited by the cryptic and awe-inspiring Eastern Hellbender. Truly a living fossil, the hellbender has existed for millennia and yet sadly it has been quickly disappearing over the last century. The Hellbender is a lonely species; it is the only giant salamander in the western hemisphere, as its cousins live in China and Japan. An ancient creature that is hardy enough to withstand thousands of years of flooding and drought, Hellbenders were once abundant even in the mainstem of the Ohio river. Unfortunately, they are now being lost at an unprecedented rate, and for many reasons we don’t understand.

Although many factors implicated in the Eastern Hellbender’s rapid decline are large scale — urbanization, removal of riparian tree cover, siltation, and pollution — there is one simple issue that every one of us that recreates in the Appalachians has control over: the moving of rocks in these streams to create dams, chutes, and rock statues (also known as cairns). The rivers where we still have healthy hellbender populations, such as those within the Pisgah National Forest and Great Smoky Mountains National Park, are the same rivers that are receiving an extraordinary rise in human use. While the hellbenders are holding on for now, the very real possibility of loving these rivers to death is just around the corner.

The Hellbender relies on the spaces under river rocks for their homes and to find their favorite food: crayfish. They share these spaces with the stoneflies and caddisflies that feed the iconic rainbow trout, as well as a variety of other small fish, mussels, and salamanders. Most importantly, they require cavities under large boulders to breed. Hellbenders lay their eggs under these large boulders in early fall, and then the male Hellbender will stay in that cavity protecting the eggs and larvae until they emerge in late spring. Moving rocks around in streams disturbs the delicate homes and breeding grounds of these enigmatic mountain species.

Cairns are a recent phenomenon, and their ubiquitous presence in national park and forest rivers is undoubtedly tied with the rise of social media. You have surely seen a picture of one, probably accompanied with a quote about balance. You may think, “there’s no harm in making small ones if they only use boulders!”, but in fact small rocks are important habitat for larval and juvenile Hellbenders. Plus, just seeing one cairn in a river (even with tiny rocks) encourages others to make them too, despite nearby signs asking visitors not to move the rocks. Dams and tube chutes not only make large boulders unavailable to Hellbenders, but they also slow down water flow and essentially make pools of dead habitat. This slow, silty water can no longer support the needs of the unique species that require swift, cool, well-oxygenated water. Silt accumulates in the pools above and below rock dams, and that silt fills in the spaces that hellbenders need to live and reproduce. Moving boulders for any of these uses has the potential to crush any animals living underneath them, including hellbenders.

The motivations behind moving rocks are innocent. But the consequences for the rare species that rely on a very specific kind of stream substrate are damaging and permanent. Some hellbenders will spend their entire lives (up to 30 years!) living under one rock. We ask that when recreating in hellbender habitat, please keep in mind that you are a guest in their home. Respect the forces of nature that put each stone in its perfect place and the millions of years of evolution shaping these stream systems so that every insect, fish, and salamander can live in perfect harmony.

For more information on hellbenders, check out these resources on the article page.

#appalachia #environmentalism #hellbenders

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Shine a Light on the Cave Salamander

The cave salamander, also known as the spotted salamander (Eurycea lucifuga) is a species of salamander found throughout the eastern United States, particularly in the Appalachian mountains. As the name implies, they are most common in caves with exposed limestone or other calcifying rocks. However, they may also occur under rocks or logs, or in streams in deciduous forests; anywhere that's dark and moist.

The spotted salamander spends almost its entire life in these 'twilight zones'. Mating is believed to occur in summer or early fall, when male salamanders begin to seek out females by tracking their pheromones. Once a male finds a potential mate, he nudges her and rubs his chin on her head until she indicates she's receptive. At that point she straddles his tail while the two walk in tandem. The male then drops a spermatophore-- a sack full of sperm-- on the ground, and the female picks it up with her cloaca. The female lays a clutch of 5 to 120 eggs, but not until several months after fertilization between September and February.

The eggs take about 20 days to hatch, and larvae entirely aquatic, complete with gills and webbed fingers. Individuals can take anywhere from 6 to 18 months to fully develop, at which point they leave the water and become fully nocturnal. However, most individuals don't stray far from their original spawning territory, and adults do not maintain or defend set territories.

Despite their reclusive lifestyle, cave salamanders are quite striking. Adults are bright orange or red with black spots, and can be anywhere from 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in) in length. Over half of that length is taken up by the tail, and males have a longer tail than females. As lungless salamanders, E. lucifuga breathes through its skin and the tissues around its mouth-- while useful for an aquatic animal, this type of respiration makes it essential that the cave salamander remains in a wet environment.

Both larvae and adults are insectivorous, consuming a number of invertebrates including spiders, snails, beetles, earthworms, and ticks. Potential predators of the spotted salamander include bats, shrews, racoons, and snakes, though few specifics are known about the species' ecology. To deter these predators, E. lucifuga adopts a defensive posture in which they coil their body and wave their tail over their head. In addition, they secrete a foul-tasting substance from their skin, and their bright coloration likely warns potential predators that they won't make a good meal.

Conservation status: The IUCN has classified the cave salamander as Least Concern, although they are listed as Endangered in several of the American states in which they occur. The greatest threat to the species is thought to be human disturbance or habitat degredation from pollution of the water systems which flow through the caves where E. lucifuga resides.

If you like what I do, consider leaving a tip or buying me a kofi!

Photos

Todd Pierson

Michael Graziano

#cave salamander #Urodela #Plethodontidae #brook salamanders #lungless salamanders #salamanders #amphibians #caves #cave amphibians #north america #eastern north america #biology #zoology #ecology #animal facts

[birdstudies]

March 30, 2024 - Forest Raven or Tasmanian Raven (Corvus tasmanicus) Found in parts of eastern and southeastern Australia, including Tasmania and nearby islands, these ravens live in a variety of habitats, particularly woodlands and pastures. Foraging in pairs, family groups, and larger flocks, they eat invertebrates, small birds and mammals, eggs, carrion, lizards, seeds, fruit, and other plant foods, including nectar, usually foraging on the ground or in low vegetation, sometimes in shallow water. They may dip their food in water before eating it and cache food for later. They build large bowl-shaped nests from sticks, bark, leaves, feathers, grass, wool, fur, seaweed, and sometimes horse manure in trees, on rock ledges, or on or near the ground. Females incubate clutches of three to six eggs and both parents feed the chicks.

#forest raven #raven #corvid #corvus tasmanicus #bird #birds #illustration #art #woodland #birblr art

[supremebirdbracket]

What can I even say? Both are incredible little guys. Very beautiful, very powerful. May the best bird win! (Though really, all birds are best birds.)

American woodcocks live in the forests of eastern North America, excellently camouflaged against the brush. They have many colloquial names, including the timberdoodle, the bogsucker, the hokumpoke, and the Labrador twister. They are crepuscular and forage for earthworms and other invertebrates where soil is moist by probing the soil with their bills. They will also rock their bodies back and forth, which provokes underground worms into moving around and thus becoming easier to detect. Males display for females by performing a complex spiraling flight.

Little auks, or dovekies, live in the North Atlantic, breeding in the Arctic and wintering slightly further south. They forage underwater for crustaceans, primarily copepods, usually in the open ocean but closer to shore during nesting. They nest in large colonies on coastal cliffsides, laying a single egg in a rocky crevice.

#birds #polls #shorebirds #charadriiformes #american woodcock #little auk #dovekie

[outofangband]

Birds of Thargelion

After this I just have Maglor’s Gap and that will complete my series on birds in the Fëanorian realms pre Amon Ereb!

Flora, fauna, geography and environment of Arda Masterlist

Thargelion was the realm of Caranthir, located in the north east of Beleriand just north of Ossiriand and bordered by the Ered Luin, the eastern stretch of mountains that divided Beleriand from the rest of Middle Earth

As always this is not a definitive list! Please feel free to ask more or give me a more specific category!

Around Lake Helevorn and the rivers: Red-breasted merganser, mute swan, white tailed dipper, whooper swan, smew, little grebe, red throated loon, common crane, mallard, common white eye, northern shovler, green winged teal, corn crake, spotted crake, black winged stilt

Mountains: bearded vulture, water pipit, golden eagle, kestrel, peregrine falcon, Rock ptarmigan, common siskin, alpine accentor, northern wheatear, ring ouzel, white tailed eagle, chough, spotted nutcracker, Citril finch, griffon vulture, common redstart, common raven, wallcreeper, common jay, boreal owl, white winged snowfinch, crag martin, common redstart, black redstart

Foothills and forests: black grouse, wood grouse, goshawk, grey white fronted goose, hazel grouse, little bunting, meadow pipit, tree sparrow, hedge warbler, Bohemian waxwing, common kestrel, long eared owl, little owl, marsh tit, coal tit, mourning dove, rock pigeon, woodchat strike

World building notes

-Like most of the Noldor in Eastern Beleriand, many of Caranthir’s scouts keep birds of prey. In Thargelion these are primarily peregrine falcons and kestrels. Hunting with birds was less common however.

--There are populations of Green Elves who live in Thargelion, primarily in the mountains and near the border of Ossiriand. Though they also do not use birds for hunting, certain species are kept as companions or messengers.

-Chicken breeding as an art and science developed during the Watchful Peace. Chickens in Thargelion are appraised for long plumage and colorful feathers. Their eggs are eaten but they are not often used for meat.

-Chickens, peacocks and quails were kept by the Noldor of Thargelion, techniques of raising and breeding them were learned from Sindar and Silvan cultures of Eastern Beleriand. Indeed the Noldor of Thargelion were one of the only Noldor populations to keep quails.

-Bearded vultures appear on the crests of some of Caranthir’s lords and were even kept by a few of them

-Feathers of various mountain birds especially eagles and ouzel appear in wood carvings as an architectural motif during the Watchful Peace in Thargelion

-Out of all the Fëanorian realms, water birds appear most often in art and other cultural references in Thargelion as Lake Helevorn and its wildlife are a central facet of life there especially in times of peace. Wading birds like crakes, cranes and stilts are especially Valued.

#the silmarillion #fëanorians #thargelion #beleriand #musing and meta

[jenfoundabug]

Eastern dobsonfly (Corydalus cornutus) larva I found while hanging out in the river in Northeastern Pennsylvania (US) last year. Dobsonfly larvae, also known as hellgrammites, are one of the top invertebrate predators in fast-moving streams. They tend to hide under rocks and use their sharp mandibles to capture and eat prey. These mandibles can also deliver a painful (but harmless) bite, so definitely be careful handling them! Larvae can get up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) long. Since they're large and relatively common, many of the local fishermen like to use them as bait (which may or may not be problematic).

These insects spend 1-3 years as larvae and pupate outside of the stream under a rock or log. The adults are huge. The male can be up to 5.5 inches (14 cm) long and has massive mandibles that are intimidating but harmless. Adults aren't known to feed, and they only live for about a week, just enough time to mate and lay eggs.

#dobsonfly #dobsonfly larva #hellgrammite #bug #Corydalus cornutus #Corydalidae #Megaloptera #eastern dobsonfly #nature #bugs #biodiversity #animals #inaturalist #arthropods #bugblr #entomology #insect appreciation #creature #invertebrates #aquatic life #pennsylvania #river #predator #nature appreciation #cool facts #biology #science #interesting

[forestshadow-wolf]

So dodo birds...

These fat phucks (/aff) could weight up to 50 pounds (20 kgs), they could NOT fly, and their wings were USELESS (i love them)

They lived on an island just off the eastern coast of Madagascar, and is a not so distand relative of pigeons and doves

They were found in 1507, and sadly went extinct around 1690, witht he last confirmed sighting being in 1662.

And they went extinct due to human activity. Not only were they "hunted" because sailors were looking for a change of diet, but human-introduced animals such as pigs, rats, ect likely ate their eggs and chicks. As well as environmental changes such as deforestation. AND due to a lack of need for it, they didn't reproduce quickly, with females only laying one (1) egg a year

This was possible because they had no natural predators on their island, so they nested on the grounds, and did not fear humans, making them both easy to access and easy to hunt. Ironically it earned their name 'dodo' originating from the word 'doudo' or simpleton.

ALSO ON TOP OF THAT!! THEY WERE APPARENTLY NOT THAT GOOD TASTING TO EAT, AND YET...

They largely ate a collection of seeds, nuts, fruits, roots, and (probably) occasionally crabs and other shellfish they could catch.

They ALSO ate small pebbles and rocks to help grind up food into smalled pieces to aid in digestion. Pigeons also do this, as well as crows and parrots (sometimes)

#dodo #dodo bird #extinct animals #extinct birds #birds #i like birbs #el rambles

[aikoiya]

LoZ: TotK - Gerudo Language 5 - My Cultural HCs

Here is the Gerudo alphabet:

And this is what I think the Gerudo's numerical system would look like based on the above alphabet & my personal headcanons.

—

I am basing this all off of both official Nintendo approved words, a bunch of other people's ideas, as well as a mix of Egyptian & Middle Eastern words & random shit that I pull outta my ass. So, be warned.

For the rest of my Gerudo Language Series, go here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, & Part 6.

Words with a * at the front indicate that I'm not the one who thought it up. Basically, a disclaimer.

—

Pronunciation & Diacritics:

'J' either sounds like 'y' or like 'zh'/'jh' depending on the letter before it. 'Zh' or 'jh' as in 'zhuzh it up' or 'give it some jhoojh,' so sort of a buzzing or engine-revving sound. If the proceeding letter is a vowel or a vowel & an 'h,' it sounds like an 'h,' but if it is a consonant or the start of a word, it sounds like 'zh'/'jh.' In the case of being proceeded by a 'd,' the 'd' is silent, but the 'j' still behaves as if proceeded by a consonant. However, if the 'j' is proceeded by ', then it automatically makes the 'jh' sound.

When ' (called a 'Khamza) is both proceeded & followed by a consonant, the 'uh' sound is added in between when spoken, but when it's proceeded or followed by at least 1 vowel, it isn't. Unless, it's proceeded by an 'H' that, itself, is proceeded by a vowel. Then, the 'H' is also treated as a vowel. Or when the consonant on both sides are the same. In which case, the 'uh' is not pronounced. Eg. Sōl'let is pronounced like 'solet.'

Rr is pronounced like the rolling Spanish "rr."

X is pronounced either like "sh" or "zh" depending on the situation. Except for when it's proceeded by an "h" or ', at which point, it comes out sounding like "sk" or "shk."

A is pronounced like "uh."

Á is pronounced like "a," as in "bat." (When spelled in English phonetically, it's written "bæt" with a hard "a.")

À is pronounced like the "a" in "are."

Ā is pronounced like "ay," as in "day."

E is pronounced with the short "e" sound.

È makes the "eh" sound.

É makes the "ey" sound.

Ē makes the long "e" sound.

I makes the short "i" sound, like the "ick" in "sick."

Ï makes the long "e" sound, same as "ē."

Ī makes the "eye" sound.

O sounds like the short "o" sound, as in "on," "off" or "long."

Ó sounds like "oo," but shorter.

Ō sounds like the "o" in "home."

Ô sounds like "aw" or "ow."

U sounds like "uh," same as "a." Also sounds like the "i" in "third" or the "ea" in "earn" depending on how it's used.

Û sounds like "oo," but longer.

Ù sounds like the long "oo" in "pool."

Ú sounds like the short "oo" in "book."

Ae sounds like "hah" with a lot of breath in the "h"s.

And this is how I think the diacritics would be spelled.

Ā, É, & Ī all have 2 ways to write them, the 1st of each listed being considered formal & proper, while the 2nd listed are consider informal & casual.

I've also made a few digraphic characters.

---

-n or -en = Typically denotes plurality.

-'jï = A suffix indicating possession in the same way that -'s does.

—

Food:

Taimàgst = Food.

Mïchaa = Milk.

Sudrï = Butter.

Churkha = Cheese.

- Lebnah = A type of yogurt cheese that the Gerudo make from milk from Ordon Goats, Rock Salt, & Shock Fruit juice.

Kàrim = Cream.

Éga = Egg.

Khubz = Bread.

- Wahē'dalla Khubz = Hydromelon bread.

Tira = Pie.

- Yàrïtira = Tart. Literally, tiny pie.

Kākï = Cake.

Xôkulàda = Chocolate.

Kàvé = Coffee.

Shāvi = Tea.

Nàmbil = Spice.

Resfehta = A recipe, concoction, or formula.

*Xōkàr = Sugar.

- *Xōkàr Glihst = Frosting.

- Faela'úl Xōkar = Torched sugar.

Nādo = Noodle.

Lugïdō = Meat. In-general.

- -gïdō = A suffix indicating a specific type of meat.

*Pàrmàgkàmfa or Màgkàmfa = Kitchen.

*Tra = Pot.

- Kàvé'tra = Coffee pot; carafe.

- Shāvi'tra = Teapot.

- *Pàrmàgéda'tra or Màgéda'tra = Cooking pot.

Hàjdit'fōrxab = Stone Oven.

- Brukākéda'ximbi = Stone Oven. Literally, "baking box."

Shifamàgya = A grill.

- Shifamàgstàl = The Gerudo style of grilling meat. Mostly revolves around Shish Kebàben & Shawàrma. It typically uses a lot of spices & utilizes open flame. The meats that they largely use are Poultry & Sheep.

Lobmàg'mīqa = Skillet or frying pan.

*Pàrmàgstù or Màgstù = To cook.

- *Brukākù = To bake.

- *Vlïhngsù = To whip (as in cooking).

- Lobmàgù = To fry.

‐ Maezù = To mix/combine/stir.

- Shifamàgù = To grill.

- Tahnù = To grind.

- Fàzù = To beat (as in an egg).

- Sarù = To grate.

- Mahklù = To sift or separate.

- Sharù = To slice.

-- Sharï = Slice.

- Qaxàrù = To peel.

- Taqhànù = To distill.

Màgstéda'āda = Cooking instrument. Typically made of gold with lovely Gerudàn designs. Many use hand cranks to work.

- Nàmbil'tahnïr = A spice grinder. Uses a hand crank.

- Kàrak'mahklïr = A crank sifter. Uses a hand crank.

- Kàrak'maezïr = An egg beater. Literally, "crank mixer." Uses a hand crank.

- Sàrïr = Grater.

- Grōma'qaxàrïr = A potato peeler.

- Shāvi'yunqaerib Mázaq = Tea-Infusion Wand.

- Myrrhet'taqhànïr = An oil distiller. Something that a Gerudo Alchemist invented millennia ago before the all-female curse. There have, of course, been many similar machines used by other cultures, but none quite so efficient, compact, & easy to use as the one of Gerudo design.

*Màbūjù = To steal (food).

*Pungù = To poison.

Skehyù = To eat or consume.

- *Hïhxù = To hunger.

-- *Hïhxï = Hungry.

- *Sekàjù = To thirst.

- Plexù = To be full.

-- Plexō = Full.

- Plixù = To fill.

Sàv'ōt = "Very good" or "so good." Often used to express that food tastes good. Though, it's more something one says to themself rather than to the chef.

Shàhid = Delicious.

- Hàr'sé shàdhïdha! (Pronounced: hahr-sey shahd-heed-huh) = "It's delicious!" A very high complement, dripping with gratitude.

Fashion:

Xula = Sew.

- Xuléda'sī = Sewing needle.

- Xularàza or Xulapraemàt = Embroider.

- Xularàzyo = Embroidery.

Praemàta = Pattern or design.

Yànlinasù = To weave

Koyusa = Style.

- Uay'koyusù = To have style.

- Zo'koyusù = To be stylish.

Shïrkè = Silk.

Kafchïta = A brightly colored, ankle-length dress made of light & airy fabric with long bell sleeves & golden or silvery embroidery. Considered to be a more dressy outfit for Gerudo, but it is also commonly worn by foreign Vaien visiting Gerudo Town. The reason being that only Gerudo can really get away with wearing so little in the desert & not have to worry about sunburns. And Kafchïta just so happens to cover enough to keep most delicate skin safe. The assymetrical, one-shouldered Kafchïta style has been very in recently. - Inspired by both the Kafkan & the Takchita.

Kopfab = A colorful, hooded head veil (similar to a hooded cathedral or regal veil that doesn't need to be tied around the neck) with gold or silver embroidered patterns around the hem to be worn on the head of a queen, but specifically does not cover the face. It is opaque instead of sheer like a Hylian wedding veil would be. The longest that it can be is hip-length. It can also be worn by civilian Gerudo, but only on their wedding days. The queen is expected to wear it as formal attire. Typically paired with a Kafchïta or Shàree. It's supposed to rest on top of the Tàj & has little loops that allow it to hook to the Tàj. - If you've ever seen a picture of a Moroccan Dubai Kaftan, you'll notice that some of them wear what looks like a colorful cloth that sits perfectly on the head & trails down their back like a cathedral or regal veil with gold, patterned borders. That's what this is.

- Màlàki Kopfab = A royal wedding head veil. It is much like the ordinary Kopfab, except it's much longer & trails along behind the wearer like a wedding train. Only worn by queens & brides intended to marry kings.

Shàree = A beautiful Gerudàn dress made of fine silk. Typically features vibrant colors, at least 3, & interesting patterns in gold or silver. Typically comes with a wide, gold or silver Àrïqna, or fabric belt, that cinches the waist closely & covers most of the belly. Considered very formal. Can be either one piece or two piece. Two piece is generally preferred by most Gerudo. However, one piece is considered most formal & generally what is worn by royal brides. - Inspired by Hindu dresses called sari or saree.

- Màtu'kàtvéda Shàree = A Wedding Shàree. Such dresses tend to be the most finely made. Brides who are either queens or are marrying kings will typically wear Kopfab as well.

Àri = Circle, ring, or band.

- Àrïxàna = Waistband or belt.

- Àrïq- = Word part indicating a type of waistband or belt.

Àrïqna = A fabric girdle. A sort of wide, fabric sash-like belt, often with gold or silver embroidery. Used to cinch Shàree, Konchàq, & other such clothing.

- Bīvt = Chain. From the root words Bin meaning metal & Kàvt meaning bind.

- Àrïqbīvt = A girdle of chained together pieces of metal. Basically a chain belt. The pieces are often discs of metal with designs & gemstones on them. Considered a type of jewelry.

Konchàq = A short, one-shouldered toga of sorts. It's a single piece of fabric that is draped over the shoulder before wrapping around the waist. Though, it's sometimes simply hung over the shoulder & held in place by a belt, which gives a look of more effortless elegance. Traditionally worn over a Sirwàl by Voen. (Despite this, Vah Kàvtrïna is often depicted wearing on in battle under a demi-curiass of gold.) Uses an Àrïqna or Àrïqbīvt to cinch it closed. - Inspired by Katara Vala's outfit from the new Mortal Kombat game. Or a Greek exomis.

Dosāya = Is much like the Konchàq, but longer & doesn't wrap around the waist. There are 2 types: casual & religious. Typically worn over a pair of Sirwàl & a Juddàb. - Resembles a Tibetan Zauba or Zhuba IRL.

- Diansāya = A type of Dosāya worn only by priests & monks.

Bùlï'hàsil = A bolero shrug. A type of tight-fitting, frontless croptop that puts the chest on full display. Can be only a pair of long sleeves connected by a short back or just a really short croptop that leaves the chest exposed. - Part of a Vo'màzr'jï uniform.

Myazàr = Sort of a loincloth for Voen. It's made up of a long strip of cloth meant to be wrapped around the hips, then go down through the legs to cover the groin, then up to be tucked under the part around the waist, before hanging down the front & back. Not normally worn on its own & is usually worn over Sirwàl with an Àrïqna or Àrïqbīvt over top. - Most resembles a dhoti, which is a Hindu loincloth. Ghandi was known to have worn one to identify with the poorest of Indians.

Shendyazàr = While technically a loincloth like the Myazàr, Shendyazàren function more like kilts. And, while it resembles a Sharùnga (sarong) & can be worn by women, Shendyazàr are designed specifically for Voen. Typically worn over a pair of Sirwàl with an Àrïqna or Àrïqbīvt over it.

- Vo'màzr Shendyazàr = A short, double-slitted loincloth for Vo'màzr, specifically. Normally worn with an Àrïqna or Àrïqbīvt over top. Great at showing off legs. - Part of a Vo'màzr'jï uniform.

Thōbora = While it resembles what those in Hyrule would call a dress, it is actually a sort of robe. There are actually 2 varieties: Voe & Vai. When worn by Voen, it is typically worn over a top & a pair of Sirwàl. The Vai one more resembles an actual dress & comes with an Àrïqna build in to cinch it close to the body. Is considered more casual than a Shàree. Tends to have an imperial collar. - Inspired by thoubs, dishdasha, & kadora, which are worn by men in the Middle East.

- Yàrï'thōbora = A robe worn by babies. What they mainly wear to sleep in the Gerudo region.

Fràxa = A dress that is very open, loose, & flowing. The sleeves are connected to the rest of the dress, thus making it look like a curtain when the wearer's arms are outstretched. Has an embroidered design around the neckline & down the front. Typically used as a sort of maternity dress. - Called a farasha IRL.

Shiwàni = A finely made formal top. Usually sleek, thin, & tailor-fitted with an imperial collar & gold-threaded embroidery lining the cuffs, the collar, & the split where it's buttoned. Is typically buttoned up the middle or asymmetrically. Sort of a tunic as it generally reaches the knees. Commonly worn on a Voe's wedding day along with a Bàndaràshï & formal Sirwál. Kings will typically also wear their Túijïl with their hair threaded with gold & their eyes lined with liner much like the Egyptians of old. - Inspired by IRL sherwani.

Shinye = A sort of thin, Gerudàn outerwear. - Ganondorf wears one in Wind Waker. Inspired by Chinese Hanfu outerwear.

Juddàb = A type of men's shirt with an imperial collar. Tends to be colorful, but with very little patterning beyond lining as it's typically worn under something else, though it can still be worn with just a pair of Sirwàl. Usually comes in long-sleeved, but can also be sleeveless.

Qàmpàto = The female equivalent to the Juddàb. Is usually more fitted than a Juddàb, but tends to likewise have an imperial collar. The more fashionable Gerudo tend to wear Ànshibak Qàmpàto. Can be either long-sleeved or sleeveless, there is no in-between.

- Ànshibak Qàmpàto = A Qàmpàto with what is essentially a boob window. Despite this, in Gerudo culture it is actually considered very modest while still managing to be flirty & sexy, strangely enough.

Aelaahàsil = A Gerudàn croptop. The top we typically see the Gerudo wearing.

Bàndaràshï = A strip of fabric that acts like a sash & is typically draped over one shoulder & circles around the opposite hip, often with gold or silver embroidery. Typically a different color to the rest of the outfit to give color variation. Non-wedding Bàndaràshï leave both arms free, unlike wedding Bàndaràshï.

- Màtu'kàtvéda Bàndaràshï = A wedding Bàndaràshï, which are usually very long & hang over an arm to trail down to the floor, while non-wedding Bàndaràshï leave both arms free & unencumbered. If worn by a bride who is either a queen or is marrying a king, the Bàndaràshï & Hunfàm must both match with the Shàree & Kopfab being a different, yet complementary color. - Inspired by Hindu fashion.

*Sirwàl = Gerudo pants. Can be worn by either Vaien or Voen.

Burnùs = A white, brown, or beige hooded cloak with a split in the front. Used to guard against the sun. Gerudo usually only wear this at noon when the desert is hottest or during sandstorms, but it's perfect for visitors who tend to have more delicate skin. Usually sold at the Gerudo Canyon Stable to help travelers expecting to venture into the desert. Typically paired with a Shemàgh.

Shemàgh = A beige scarf usually worn during sand storms. Typically sold at the Gerudo Canyon Stable to help travelers expecting to venture into the desert. Typically paired with a Burnùs. The more high quality ones have a mesh sewn in to protect the eyes while low quality ones then to need goggles instead. Most have lovely patterns, but very little color beyond the beige as it is meant to blend in with the sand. - I found somebody's wonderful art that I think these would look like. Problem. The artist is a total & complete dickface, who likely wouldn't like me using their design, so I'll need to make one of my own.

Mïetaf = Coat.

Hunfàm = A face veil. Only covers the nose & mouth. While it is for casual wear, it is also often worn by Gerudo guards. - Resembles a hanfu veil often worn by the stereotypical belly dancers IRL.

- Màtu'kàvtéda Hunfàm = A Wedding Hunfàm. It plays a specific purpose. In Gerudo culture, brides wear them for an entire week before the wedding so as to avoid bad luck as the bride must be kept clean of jealous intent from other Vaien or the lustful gazes of Voen. If anyone sees her before then, it is said to bring about disaster for the marriage. It is then worn to the wedding, where, upon finishing the ceremony & sacred rites, the groom removes the Hunfàm to be the first to look upon the face of his new wife before sealing the contract with a kiss. Unlike regular Hunfàm, a Màtu'kàvtéda Hunfàm is held in place by a pair of hooks that wrap around the ears, which makes it easier for the groom to remove. - There are many stories of jealous Vaien removing the bride-to-be's veil before the wedding to intentionally bring disaster upon the marriage in the hopes that they will either cancel the wedding or eventually divorce so that she can have the groom instead. However, those same stories often have a sort of karmic compense placed upon the perpetrator by Vah Kàvtrïna, such as becoming infertile or becoming ugly or some such. Often used a cautionary tale to warn against jealous acts of unkindness.

Sharùngà = Sarong.

Gàzmen = Shoes. Just footwear in-general. No specific type.

- Shibpen = Slippers. The cute little flats that are part of both the Gerudo Vai set & the Desert Voe set.

-- Streshtoen or Streshibpen = Gerudo-style heeled shoes with wing-like protrusions. - Many of the gerudo can be seen wearing them.

- Shàndàlen = Sandals.

-- Nihko = The section of a sandal where a toe thong is attached.

- Gàlkhutwàïr Adhien = Sandstrider Boots. Boots made from Sand Seal leather with soles made of Molduga hide. Made specifically to keep the wearer's feet from sinking into the sand, thus allowing them to walk or run on sand at a normal speed. Higher quality ones also implement weight distribution into the design, making them more effective. Isn't usually sold at the Gerudo Canyon Stable as the Molduga hide used to make them tends to make them harder to produce. Not only does that make them more expensive, but Gerudo also tend to get first pick. - Just the Sand Boots.

- Fïwakhōlwàïr Adhien = Snowdrifter Boots. Much like the Sandstrider Boots, these are designed specifically to allow the wearer to move freely on top of snow. Made of Bighorn Sheep skin with the insides lined with fleece, as well as the hide of any Highlands dwelling animal. The soles have crampons on them that help to keep the wearer from sinking into the snow. Often worn by Gerudo in the Highlands. - Just the Snow Boots.

-- Bin'septú = Crampons. Literally means, "metal teeth." The little metal teeth on the bottom of Snowdrifter Boots. Generally made of Dawasaaq iron from the Highlands.

Júzh = The act of making slight improvements, accents, or embellishments to a wardrobe or look. - Inspired by the word 'zhuzh' & is pronounced the same way.

Jewelry:

Vesgi = Jewel.

*Vesgiht = Jewelry.

Bīvt = Chain. From the root words Bin meaning metal & Kàvt meaning bind.

- Àrïqbīvt = A girdle of chained together pieces of metal. Basically a chain belt. The pieces are often discs of metal with designs & gemstones on them. Considered a type of jewelry

Àri'gehtz = Ring. Literally, "finger band."

Àri'tzèda = Bracelet. Literally, "wrist band."

- Àri'ràzipàt = Cuff or wristband.

- Àri'àbdhàt = A bicep band.

- Àri'kàhpàt or Kàhikha = An anklet.

Àri'rehxï = Necklace.

Ehrudh’gihten = Earrings.

- Ahft'giht = Nose ring.

- Xïh'giht = Tongue piercing.

- Hàlthàd'gihten = Nipple rings.

- Fàbàte'ghit = Navel piercing.

- Sopdō'giht = Penis piercing.

Àb'sitaklàten = Arm Drapes. An arm drape consists of a metal bicep cuff & a metal wrist cuff attached to each other via a long, sheer fabric. Considered very elegant & is often worn by dancers.

- Àbvï'Sitaklàt = A type of shoulder necklace with drapes that fall around the arms reserved for the concubinus of high-ranking Vaien, such as the Vo'màzren of the captain of the guard, the 3 Vaen, or even the queen or chief. Literally, "shoulder drapes."

Ebè'túijïl = A type of royal hair ornament. Otherwise known as a hair crown. Only to be worn by royalty in more casual situations. - What TotK Ganon wears.

Àb'bīvten = Sleeve weights or arm chains. Often worn by high-ranked Gerudo.

Àbvï'bīvt = Shoulder chain. Sort of a big, fancy necklace that drapes over the shoulders. Often worn by high-ranked Gerudo. - Ganon wears one in TotK. His also has bicep bands attached.

Tzèxad'bīvt = Hand chain. Often worn by high-ranked Gerudo. - Ganondorf wears 2 in TotK.

Īsbi'kàhikha = A sort of golden chain anklet. Also called barefoot sandals or foot chains or toe anklets. Often worn by high-ranked Gerudo. - What TotK Ganon wears.

- Hàfï'dehtzdim Shàndalen = Barefoot sandals.

- Dehtzdim'bīvten = Foot chains.

- Īsbi'kàhikhan = Toe anklets.

Túijïl = The unique, golden halo crown worn only by Gerudo Kings. A mix of a halo crown & a complicated hairpiece, always featuring a large jewel at the center of the forehead, specifically a Sunstone or Topaz. Does not feature a band horizontally around the head the way most crowns do, rather using chains to create a cage over the top of the head with a band at the center of the top of the head with spikes pointing outward resembling the rays of the sun before going down & converging at the back of the head. It can also have other gemstones such as Rubies, but the centerpiece is almost always a Sunstone. - The golden crown worn by both TP Ganon & HW Ganon.

- Wàru Túijïl = A golden battle crown. Much less complicated than the formal headpiece of the Gerudo King. In the past, it was typically just a circlet featuring a large gem at the center of the forehead. No longer in use as new runic magic techniques have allowed for the creation of a new type of headpiece.

- Nīkôz Khepnïsut = Victory Brow Ornament. Simply a plate of metal, often shaped like a sun, the moon, or a star with the rays forming the vague shape of an upside-down triangle, & a large jewel at the center that is held in place by runemantic magic carved into the back. It has recently replaced the Wàru Túijïl as it is less complicated & doesn't need nearly as much time to affix. Unlike the Wàru Tùijïl, the Nīkôz Khepnïsut can also be worn by queens, princes, & princesses as well. Is typically made of gold, silver, platinum, copper, or bronze depending on if the one wearing it is a king, queen, prince, or princess. Likewise, the type of royalty determines whether the ornament is shaped like a sun, moon, or star & the type of gem that if featured in the center. Kings & queens tend to get larger gems while princes & princesses tend to get smaller ones.

Vàtta'jï Tàj (Pronounced: vah-tuh-zhee tah-y) = A silver tiara or circlet often featuring Voltfruit blossom designs & other desert iconography. Always has a large gemstone as the center, specifically a Moonstone. Only worn by queens & princesses. Has a similar halo-type part to that of the Túijïl. And even though this tiara too bears the oar-like protrusions that extend down & to the sides, it is still distinctly different from the complicated headpiece that a chief wears. The reason being that while the chief's requires that the oar-like pieces be woven into the hair; these similar parts of the queen's do not require such as they are directly attached to the center-front of the circlet itself. Thus making this tiara much less complicated. The tiara itself has 2 parts to it: the circlet & the halo. The circlet part of it is meant to go under & hooks to the Kopfad, while the halo goes over the Kopfab & hooks to the circlet. While princesses often wear the circlet part of this tiara, the halo is strictly reserved for the queen.

- Vaizaem'jï Tàj = A complicated, golden headpiece worn by the non-royal female leaders of the Gerudo, a.k.a. chieftains. It is traditionally worn by first fitting the circlet's band onto the head & pulling the hair up under it until it falls over the band naturally, then you wrap the bangs up, over, & around the other pieces. It has long pieces of metal going to each side, resembling the oars of a paddle boat & behind those, a large, ovular piece that rises up above the head. The circlet typically only has a small gem at the forehead & possibly one hanging between the brows.

Cosmetics, Bath, & Beauty:

*Zehkïda = Make-up; cosmetics.

Wadjōtz or Wadjō = Bath or wash.

- Wadjōtsù = To bathe or wash.

*Kohl = Blue; can also refer to eyeshadow.

Euyï'sàrna = Eyeliner.

Maehxa = Mascara.

Shàf'àxnu = Lipstick or rouge.

Bajosudrï = Body butter. 

Xōkàrita = Sugar scrub.

- Pàtrarita = Stevia scrub. The Highlands alternative.

Myrrhet = Oil. The general term for vegetable oils.

- Ebè'myrrhet = Hair oil. Used to wash one's hair.

- Sinjà'myrrhet = An aromatic oil. Perfume.

*Dobehl = Lotion.

Music:

Mùsï = Music.

'Āda = Instrument, but not necessarily a musical one. Defined as something made for a purpose. A tool of sorts.

- Mùsï'āda = Musical instrument.

Tàrgï = A Gerudo aerophone. While stereotypically associated with charming snakes & even young Molduga, it actually produces a pleasant sound & is often played for musical enjoyment. - This instrument is seen in the 6th Tear Memory of TotK & this is just me giving it a name. Seems to be inspired by both a Pungi & a Tarpa.

Bīntï = A Gerudo-style of arched harp that rests against the shoulder when played.

Ōdah = A Gerudo-style lute. Resembles your typical lute, but with a large base & a short neck.

Sitàr = A Gerudo-style guitar. Has a unique sound, being rich & harmonic in a loud & buzzy sort of way. - Just a sitar.

Jïnga = Bell.

- Jingstrù = To ring something, specifically a bell.

Calendar:

Ōbrusāq = (Season) Spring.

Bruxāf = Summer.

Unikhàr = (Season) Fall.

Fïkhan = Winter.

Vàlumàh = Another word for moon, but specifically used in reference to months. As in full revelations of the moon.

*Agàzni = Festival.

Vōttàr'jï Aaq = King's Day. Comes but once a century. The day when the Centennial King is born. Always on what is the 21st of a month, but the month itself changes depending on the year. None are aware of this anymore, but the calender day when the female-only curse fell upon the Gerudo is the same as the birthday of the first Gerudo king proceeding it. - Ganon's canonical birthday is on the 21st of February.

Mu'abh = Cull.

- Mu'abh'è Aaq = Day of Culling. Once called Vōttàr'jï Aaq, what was once a day of celebration is now a day of anxiety & fear where the Gerudo Chief is expected to check up on each Vaien personally & if any of them has given birth to a Voe, she must cull them. It is considered one of the Gerudo's deepest secrets that they try to keep from the knowledge of other cultures. It is forbidden to speak of it to outsiders. Most Gerudo don't even know of it, the knowledge eventually becoming a closely-guarded secret known only to the highest of high ranking Gerudo &, occasionally, their husbands despite them not technically being permitted to know.

Mafzīnaia or Mahzīnīa = Century.

- Mafzīnànkha = Centennial. Something that only happens every 100 years. An anniversary of sorts.

-- Mafzīnànkha Voe'attàr = Centennial King. Only born every 100 years.

Zīàlfia = 1,000 years; a millennia.

- Zīàlfankha = Millennial. Something that only happens every 1,000 years. An anniversary of sorts.

Mafzī'àlfia = 10,000 years; a myriennia.

- Mafzī'àlfankha = Myriennial. Something that only happens every 10,000 years. An anniversary of sorts.

-- Mafzī'àlfankha Sûlfetànïr = Myriennial Tyrant. Every 100th Centennial King becomes a tyrant.

-- Vōton al’Khinzïr’è = The Sons of the Boar. Another name for the Myriennial Tyrants. A fairly recently coined term as it was only a handful of centuries ago that the discovery was made correlating the birth of such tyrants with the appearance of the Khinzīr constellation in the night’s sky.

Zāz’bôhnīa = A period of 4,320,000,000 or 4.32 billion years. The Gerudo believe that the world was created 3 zāz’bôhnīan ago. - Based on the concept of a kalpa in Hindu cosmology.

Wealth:

Vesgi = Jewel.

Zen = Gemstone. Used as a suffix when indicating a specific gem based on an associated element.

Han'zen (Pronounced: han-uh-zen) = Amber; literally "tree gem." Archaic.

- Hancal = Amber. Modern.

Wa'zen = Opal; literally "water gem." Archaic.

- Ūpàlwa = Opal. Modern.

Mawa'zen = Pearl. Literally, "ocean gem." Heavily associated with the ocean. Grants high-level water damage. Archaic.

- Mawagïte = Pearl. Heavily associated with the ocean. Grants high-level water damage. Archaic.

Fï'zen = Sapphire; literally "ice gem." Archaic.

- Fïyaqut = Sapphire. Modern.

Fa'zen = Ruby; literally "fire gem." Archaic.

- Famet = Ruby. Modern.

Urbōs'zen (Pronounced: yoor-bohs-uh-zen) = Topaz; literally "lightning gem." Archaic.

- Urbōsaz = Topaz. Modern.

Vùn'zen (Pronounced: voon-uh-zen) = Emerald; literally "wind gem." Grants wind damage. Archaic.

- Vùnaragdi = Emerald. Modern.

Gàl'zen (Pronounced: gahl-uh-zen) = Sandstone; literally "sand gem." Allows for control of sand. Effective against electric enemies. Still used frequently.

Let'zen (Pronounced: let-uh-zen) = Diamond; literally "light gem." Archaic.

- Letmasï = Diamond. Modern.

Sōl'zen = Sunstone. Heavily associated with the sun. Grants high-level light magic. - What the Gerudo call Sunstones are actually Fire Opals IRL.

Qàr'zen (Pronounced: kar-uh-zen) = Onyx; literally "darkness or shadow gem." Grants shadow damage. Archaic.

- Qàrjàza = Onyx. Modern.

Amàh'zen = Moonstone; literally "moon gem." Has alignment to both light & shadow, thus twilight. Glows in the dark. Is heavily associated with the moon & is often used in depictions of or offerings to the Gerudo moon goddess, Amàhrta. Give twilight damage, which is a combination of shadow & light. Archaic.

- Amàhmàtu'úl = Moonstone; literally "loved by the moon." Has alignment to both light & shadow, thus twilight. Glows in the dark. Is heavily associated with the moon & is often used in depictions of or offerings to the Gerudo moon goddess, Amàhrta. Modern.

Shïcha'zen = Amethyst; literally "mind/spirit gem." Used to make connections between a person & something else. Archaic.

- Heshïchamen = Amethyst. Modern.

Bin = Metal.

Nebdha = Gold. Heavily associated with the sun.

- Nebdhàhi = Golden.

- Nebdhi’úl = Gilded.

Hedjid (Pronounced: heh-zh-id) = Silver. Heavily associated with the moon.

Nuhàsna = Copper.

Qàsdir = Tin.

Burunzï = Bronze.

Estàr'bin = Iron. Literally, "star metal." Archaic.

- Estàrna = Iron. More modern.

-- Estàrna Gehtz'tàrak = Iron Knuckle.

- Oten'bin = Steel. Literally, "heaven metal." Archaic.

- Fulna = Steel. Modern.

- Dawasaaq Fulna = A type of steel found in the Gerudo Highlands & used in Ealiyan forging. Different from the steel that the Desert Gerudo use & much higher quality. Combining the traditional Dawallaham pattern welding technique with the Dawasaaq steel results in a far superior blade. - Sort of the Hyrule equivalent to Damascus Steel.

Bensi or Benzen = Treasure or bounty.

Kinza = Treasure or fortune.

Sàv'si (Pronounced: sav-uh-sih) = Gift or blessing.

- Sûl'si (Pronounced: sool-uh-sih) = Curse or punishment.

-- Sûl'si Nàshàlay'è = The Curse of Castration. The name of the female-only curse.

- Watï Sàv'si (Pronounced: wah-tee sav-uh-sih) = Rainbow; literally "rain's blessing."

Haza = Fortune or luck. Can be used to refer to one's inheritance.

- Sàv'haza = Good luck; fortune.

- Nàv'haza = 1. Guiding luck. A twist of fate that appears to be unfortunate, but ultimately, gets you where you need to be. 2. Bad luck; misfortune. The annoying & somewhat tedious sort, but is ultimately still bearable. - The meaning changes depending on the context.

- Sûl'haza = Bad luck; misfortune. The kind that's legitimately dangerous & possibly even fatal. If not for the individual, then for those around them.

Haza'è Vùnen = Winds of fortune.

- Vùntï = Blow. As in wind or breath.

- *Àyk = Across.

-- Taq al'haza'è vùnen etïma vùntï'àyk zahrdaso. = "May the winds of fortune always blow across your back." - An old well wish.

Qasrehs = Castle or palace.

Hiahxàl = Prize, favorite, favor.

- Hiahxàl'úl = Something that is prized or favored.

- Shôhxàl = Divine favor or holy boon.

Màlàki = Royal or royalty.

Occupations:

Shauna = A deep longing, passion, desire, yearning, or fondness.

- Hàmbï = A hobby. Something that one does for fun.

-- -àmba & -àmbo = A suffix to show that someone does something for fun or as a pastime & not for money.

- Īshghàlo = Job or occupation.

*Pàrmàgsta = (Profession) Cook or chef.

*Brukākïr = Baker.

Túlbu'haelïr = Wine-bearer.

Xulïr = Seamstress or tailor.

Màzbaerïr = Farmer.

Mèdja (Pronounced: meh-zhuh) = Guard.

- Yaidja (Pronounced: yai-zhuh) = Guardswoman.

- Yoedja (Pronounced: yoh-eh-zhuh) = Guardsman. This term has been lost.

-- Devïdán Mèdja (Pronounced: dan-uh-shaw-nee meh-zhuh) = The Shrine Guard of Ealiya. Considered one of, if not the, highest honors. A volunteer job to guard the Shrine of the Unsung Hero.

--- Dán'ja (Pronounced: dan-uh-zhuh) = Shorthand referring to a Shrine Guard.

Wàr'do (Pronounced: vehn-wahr-uh-doh) = Soldier or warrior. Different from the concept of heroes. Translates to "spear of battle." As those who fought in battle were considered to be the weapons of the god of war himself.

Eshônï = Someone who serves a deity.

- Vai'eshônï = Priestess, literally "holy woman."

Vàsitulïxàmba = For all intents & purposes, a dominitrix. The pastime version.

- Vàsitulïxa = A dominitrix, the occupation variant. A dominant woman paid to break in Vo'màzren by any means necessary.

Vaesitulïxa = A Vae dominitrix. Does what Vàsitulïxan do, but without the need for a Stolké.

Vàmabïya = Matron.

Sehàdïr = Doctor. Literally, "healer."

- Sehàdï = Heal.

- Matôlid Sehàdïr = Maternity Doctor.

- Sehàvéda'xirshàt = Medicine. Literally, "healing tonic or elixir."

Vaybila = Midwife.

Ràndabarïr = Librarian.

- *Rànd = Book.

-- Ràndaba = Library. Literally, "book building."

-- Niwarū'è Devïaba/Devïdàn = Library. Literally, "Shrine or Temple of Nayru."

*Būjuxa = Thief.

- *Ànda = A band (of thieves).

Magic:

Mája = Magic. As in the power.

*Akmája = A spell.

Sûl'si = A curse. Not the same as cussing.

Mánō = Magical art.

- -nō = A suffix indicating a specific branch of magic.

Sànō = Light or white magic.

- Lawàrnō = A specific branch of white magic geared towards the protection of others & the turning away/banishment of evil influences. Apotropaic magic.

- Sehànō = Healing magic. A specific branch of white magic geared towards healing.

Zennō = Gem magic. The Gerudo method of gem infusion. A means of drawing out & enhancing a gem's innate abilities or using gems as magical foci. Often used in making jewelry or clothes that help in traversing the environment.

Wàrtnō = Inscription magic. Runemancy. The process of infusing magic into words as they're written. - Gerudo tend to write with brushes & ink much like Sheikah do.

Gánō or Sûlnō = Black or evil magic. Often incorrectly associated with shadow or dark magic due to many sources of black magic having a close connection to the darkness or otherwise using it to their advantage.

Májarïr = A magic user. No real indication of what sort, whether a Cleric, a Bard, a Druid, a Sorcerer, a Warlock, or a Witch.

*Dōrfè = Sorcerer. One born with magic in his blood.

- Gánōndōrfè = A Warlock-Sorcerer. Specifically, a man who was born with magical capabilities in his blood, but who's made an evil pact with a demon for more power & become a practitioner of black magic. Distinctly different from a regular warlock in that a Warlock-Sorcerer already had the capability to use magic, while a regular one only gains access to magic upon making a pact. - This is Ganondorf's traditional Gerudàn name, whereas "Ganondorf" is more of a Hyrulean transliteration of his name.

*Nikra = Sorceress. One born with magic in her blood.

- Gánōnikra = A Witch-Sorceress. Specifically, a woman who was born with magical capabilities in her blood, but who's made an evil pact with a demon for more power & become a practitioner of black magic. Distinctly different from a regular witch in that a Witch-Sorceress already had the capability to use magic, while a regular one only gains access to magic upon making a pact.

Isûlfetù = To do or commit evil.

- Sûlfetànïr = Tyrant or dictator.

Spirituality:

Jànnù (Pronounced: jhah-noo) = Paradise.

Amïn = Safe. Translates to reliable, secure, faithful, loyal, straightforward, & honest. Also an old voe name.

- Amïnq'to (Pronounced: uh-meen-kuh-toh) = Sanctuary. Literally "safe place."

Devï'aba = Temple.

- Devïdán = Shrine.

- al'Nàreq'lawàren'è Devïdán = Shrine of the Unsung Hero. Is treated with similar reverence to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier IRL. A very important part of Highland Gerudo culture.

- al'Nàreq'è Devïdán = Shrine of the Unsung. Shorter term for the Shrine of the Unsung Hero.

Gela, Gera, or Gerua = Speculated to be the name of the Goddess of the Sand & the name most readily accepted by the Gerudo. Vah Gela being her proper title.

Dïna = To dance with fiery passion.

- Geladïna = The true name of the Goddess of the Sand, but this has been lost to time & is currently only speculated by perhaps a handful of scholars today. Not even really a full handful.

Forzùré = Farore. What the Gerudo call the Hylian goddess of courage. Vah Forzùré being her proper title.

Niwarū = Nayru. What the Gerudo call the Hylian goddess of wisdom. Vah Niwarū being her proper title.

- Tïto = Time.

Dinfa = What the Gerudo call the Hylian goddess of power. Vah Dinfa being her proper title. - In truth, Gela & Din are the same entity, but different aspects of her overall self are worshiped by different cultures. Her true name being Geladïna.

Nejiba = Duty.

Màswuvàr = Responsibility.

Kaerï = Pure.

Shïchàsa = A spirit or soul.

- Shïchï = Soul.

- Shïchana = Spirit.

-- Shïcha'vàla = Spirit-daughter. Daughter of one's spirit. When a non-Gerudo girl is platonically loved dearly by an adult Gerudo Vai, who wishes to forge a maternal connection to her without replacing her mother. Or a Gerudo Vaivï platonically loves an adult non-Gerudo woman. Something like a god-daughter, though in this situation the bond is one chosen by the individuals rather than having been appointed by the younger's parents. A spirit-daughter is considered as much of a Gerudo as one by blood.

-- Shïcha'vàma = Spirit-mother. Mother of one's spirit. When a non-Gerudo girl platonically loves dearly an adult Gerudo Vai, who she has forge a familial connection to. Or a Gerudo Vaivï platonically loves an adult non-Gerudo woman. Something like a god-mother, though in this situation the bond is one chosen by the individuals rather than having been appointed by the younger's parents. A spirit-mother is considered as much of a Gerudo as one by blood.

Vallah (with a hard 'H' sound at the end) or Deva = Goddess.

- Vah- (with a hard 'H' sound at the end) = Divine woman. Shorthand prefix indicating a goddess. Also used as an honorific of sorts when speaking a goddess' name.

Vollah (with a hard 'H' sound at the end) or Devo = God.

- Voh- (with a hard 'H' sound at the end) = Divine man. Shorthand prefix indicating a god. Also used as an honorific of sorts when speaking a god's name.

Vah'ma = Mother Goddess.

- Wahē Vah'ma = Oasis Mother; another title for Vah Kàvtrïna due to her close association with oases. It is believed that the stone that modern day Gerudo Town sits around was blessed by her as it is an eternally-flowing water source.

Vahlï = Either god or goddess. Used when said divine entity's sex is unknown. - Could, theoretically, be used gender neutrally, but there are no gender neutral deities in Gerudo culture. So, it's moot.

- Vahlïen = Pertaining to both gods & goddesses. Strictly plural & not for gender neutral use.

Dohnàkht = Primordial colossuses said to have forged the world 3 zāz’bīhāhnīan ago. (Kalpa being a period of 4,320,000,000 years.) - Gerudàn equivalent to the Titans of Greek myth.

Devï = Used in reference to something holy, divine, or heavenly that isn't a god or goddess. Specifically not a being or entity. While typically not alive in the strictest of sense, can eventually gain a form of sentience much like how the Japanese believe regarding Tsukumogami, but then, most things in this world can gain this degree of sentience given enough time & care. It's simply that it tends to happen more frequently & at a quicker rate with things considered Devï. Eg. Devï'forzabzï, meaning the Holy Garden.

- Devï'nàl = Literally translates to "holy or sacred ritual." However, it can also mean ceremony.

- Màt'kàvtéda Devï'nàl = A wedding. Literally, "love-binding ceremony."

- Devï'wàrt= Sacred scrolls or writing, much like what is found in the Book of Mudora.

Vah'làra = Heroic goddess or warrior goddess.

Voh'lawàr = Heroic god or warrior god.

Vah'shônï = Demi-goddess.

Voh'shônï = Demi-god.

Eshônï = Someone who serves a deity.

- Vai'eshônï = Priestess, literally "holy woman."

- Va'shôn or Vo'shôn = Basically, it's a title meaning saint. It's how they refer to Sages.

- Vàshô or Vōshô = Basically, it's another title meaning saint. It's how they refer to Sages.

Vallah Yahàrva = What you say when a woman has died. Something of a short, if informal, prayer. Translates to "Goddess bless her soul & have mercy on her."

- Vallah Yahàrfu = What you say when a man has died. Something of a short, if informal, prayer. Translates to "Goddess bless his soul & have mercy on him."

Inshéda Vallah = Literally translates to "Goddess Willing." Is used as a more cordial way to say "no."

Màt or Màtu = Love.

- Ghusàm = Heartbreak.

Múta Vallah'jï Shôhxàl = Sex Goddess's Divine Favor. A condition in which a Vai or Voe has been given a boon from one of the 2 Gerudo goddesses of vivifatility. In Vaien (women), it shows itself in the form of hyperfertility, superfetation, multifecundity (& with it hyperlactation), & heteropaternity, but without the health drawbacks of these condition; Vaien blessed as such are referred to as Shôsi'úl Vàman (blessed mothers). In Voen (men), it amounts to both macroorchidism & hyperspermia, but, again, without the possible drawbacks of either; Voen blessed as such are referred to as Shôsi'úl Vōdan (blessed fathers). In this instance, it refers to an unusually high sperm count, even compared to one without hyperspermia. Even before the Curse of Castration, very few Gerudo were given such a blessing. Mostly only those who Vah Sāqmàla took a special interest in or who Vah Kàvtrïna saw as having pudicious merit. And generally only Vah Sāqmàla grants heteropaternity due to Vah Kàvtrïna's teachings focusing so much on themes of fidelity, modesty, chastity, pudicity, & just healthy relationships in-general. (If Vah Kàvtrïna ever does grant such a thing, it's mostly as a form of punishment for the Vai so that she'll be less able to hide her adulterous behavior.) Now-a-days, mostly only the Centennial King is blessed with the male version of it. Theologians used to theorize that it may be part of Vah Gela's boon, which would make sense considering Vah Gela is one of Vah Sāqmàla's daughters. If so, it is likely that this is a way to help alleviate some of the stress put on Vaien (women) due to the Curse of Castration.

Sīmurgh = A holy winged shewolf of Gerudo myth. So large they can pick up & carry a Molduga. Benevolent beings associated with healing, longevity, resurrection, & purity. Has the colorful wings & tail of a peacock, the body & head of a wolf or coyote, the front feet of a lion, & the back feet of a hawk. Periodically, the Sīmurgh must die. When it is time to do so, the Sīmurgh builds a nest of aromatic twigs, then rests in it before bursting into flames. After her body has turned to ash, she is reborn from them anew. This is done to purify her body of worldly corruption. She is thought to help mortals when she can. Her tail is said to be able to send people back to where they came from, that her tears heal, & that when she sings, no falsehood may pass the lips of those that hear her song. Is said to perch upon a mythical tree in the Vahlïen'è Wahē that she protects. Is associated with the sun. The queen is thought to have been good friends with Vah Kàvtrïna & is often associated with her as Sīmurghen are thought to be one of her sacred beasts. - Inspired by, but not exactly like, the sīmurgh of Iranian myth. Is also inspired by some myths surrounding phoenixes.

Devï'han'è Sāqsha = Tree of Life. A "child" of the Mother Tree of Life. Its fruit is said to cure all ills, thus being classified as a cure-all panacea. While spectacular, it is far less than the fruit of the Mother Tree.

- Vah'hanma'è Sāqsha = Mother Tree of Life. The tree from which all other Life Trees sprang. Unlike the lesser Life Trees, the fruit of the Mother Tree of Life is said to grant immortality to those who are worthy. Whether they be worthy due to having reached enlightenment or by overcoming some incredible trial. However, one does not immediately become immortal upon eating it. They will live out their normal, mortal lives first & when they die, their spirit will then be housed within an immortal body made of pure life force, thus being able to handle the weight of immortality, including a new brain as mortal minds cannot withstand such strain. It is said that this body will reflect their soul. However, it can also grant unageing life without power to mortals who are neither worthy nor unworthy, provided that a deity willingly places a drop of their ichor upon the tongue of said mortal. - If an unworthy mortal, especially with great wickedness in their hearts, consumes one of its fruit, it is said that it will turn them into a monster or evil beast possessed by greed. This form lessens them & causes them to be little more than animals driven by instinct. People who do this tend to become smarter monsters such as Bokoblins & Lynels & can create simple tools & use them as weapons, perhaps even tents & clothes, but they are incapable of anything beyond that due to the curse put upon them for stealing something that they had no right to. This is why the Mother Life Tree is fiercely guarded & grows in the Oasis of the Gods in the Gerudo homeland as when it was less guarded, many came to steal the fruit. Many of the monsters that currently plague the world today are ancestors to those that stole & consumed the fruit of the Mother Tree of Life. Mind, the tree does not "judge" the way that most would think. More so, it simply holds up a mirror to the soul & changes the eater to reflect what is in their heart.

Vah'làra = Heroine or warrior goddess.

- Vahshô'làra = Heroine or warrior demi-goddess.

- Shïchib = (Spiritual) Heart. - One of the traits of the 7 Heroines.

- Seba = Skill. - One of the traits of the 7 Heroines.

- *Forfxïda = Fortitude or endurance. - One of the traits of the 7 Heroines.

- *Nerxè = Wisdom or knowledge. - One of the traits of the 7 Heroines.

- Kàsàmba = Flight. - One of the traits of the 7 Heroines.

- Unàt = Mobility. - One of the traits of the 7 Heroines.

- *Fihpsmé = Compassion or gentleness. - One of the traits of the 7 Heroines.

The 7 Heroines were known for having unique powers or traits, though what they were is up for debate. Some legends state them as heart, skill, fortitude, wisdom, flight, mobility, & compassion. Others list them as being skill, spirit, endurance, knowledge, flight, motion, & gentleness.

Gáro = Burning sand. Refers to when the desert is at its hottest, when the sand reflects the light back into your eyes & burns the bottoms of your feet. This word is often associated with the worst, harshest, & most unforgiving parts of desert life. Particularly, the hardships involved in living there. - The Gerudo generally believe that if there truly is an afterlife where one is punished for their misdeeds, it is likely that the sand there is always hot to the point that it burns one's feet even through their shoes. Which is why it's used in the Gerudo word for hell & is often used as an expletive.

- Gàl'gáron = The Gerudo Hells.

- Fa'gáron (Pronounced: fuh-garon) = Hellfire.

- Gáro'kāvt = Heathen. Literally, "hellbound."

Weapons:

Sīse = Weapon.

Shim'shïr (Pronounced: shim-uh-sheer) = While it's spelled similar to shamshir, it actually has more in common with a dao. Literally "shimmering wave." A large, 2-handed scimitar. The traditional Gerudo claymore as opposed to the Golden Claymore that has more in common structurally with Hylian make. It's design was lost during the time of the Lost Blood & was only recently rediscovered in the ancient ruin of the unearthed Temple of Spirit.

Nahmlu = The edge of a sword.

- Nahmlu'muz = The false edge of a sword. The inner-curved part of a scimitar, shamshir, or dao.

- Kitàbè = The smooth part of a scimitar, shamshir, or dao connecting the edge to the false-edge. Gerudo often etch patterns into this area rather than leave it unadorned.

- Bàlkak = The crossguard of a sword.

- Kàbza = The grip for a sword.

Pitat = Bow. As in archery.

- Pitatïr = Archer.

- *Màlbrï = Quiver.

- Līsha'zahrda Pitachya = Horseback Archery. An old, forgotten Gerudàn sport that has long been lost along with the knowledge of how to breed & train Gerudàn horses.

*Atàyx = Axe.

Ïkem = Shield.

- Hedjàshtè = Mirror. Literally, "plain of silver." Heavily associated with Amàhrta, the Gerudo goddess of the moon & mirrors.

- Hedjàsht'è Ïkem = Mirror Shield. Considered a holy relic associated with Amàhrta, the Gerudo goddess of the moon & mirrors. She is often depicted holding one in one hand with a Moonlight Scimitar in the other. All other Mirror Shields are inspired by hers.

- Aaquàrïr Ïkem = Dawnbreaker Shield. Literally, "daybreaker shield."

Sayf or Sayvaar = Sword. Shim'tàrren & shim'shïren are both types of sayfen.

- Dāsayvaar = Claymore. Golden Claymores (Nebdhàhi Dāsayvaaren) are not a traditional Gerudo style of sword, having been designed inspired by Hyrulean claymores. Specifically, Royal Claymores.

Sayf or Sayvaar = Sword. Shim'tàrren & shim'shïren are both types of sayvaaren.

Sikyné or Sikyaar = Knife.

- Kōmmsikyaar = A type of curved dagger. - A Koummyar.

Tàrrkyné = Sickle. From the words for "crescent" & "knife." A weapon associated with Amàhrta, the Gerudo goddess of the moon & mirrors. Not necessarily a holy weapon, but associated with her nonetheless.

*Shim'tàrr (Pronounced: shim-uh-tarr) = From the words "shimmering" & "crescent." Heavily associated with Amàhrta, the Gerudo goddess of the moon.

- Màh'let Shim'tàrr = Moonlight Scimitar. Considered a holy weapon heavily associated with Amàhrta, the Gerudo goddess of the moon & mirrors. She is often depicted holding one in one hand & a Mirror Shield in the other. All other Moonlight Scimitars are merely inspired by hers.

- Shim'tàrr al'Zaf'è = Scimitar of the Seven.

*Do = Spear. Not mine.

*Vlïngsa = Whip.

*Tzūhtza = Hilt.

*Tzhamd = Sheath. Also slang for vagina.

Armor:

Yànhidïre = Armor.

Bulduru = Pauldron. Shoulder armor.

- Sbulduru = Spauldron. A pauldron that uses a strap that crosses over the chest.

Dïre = Cuirass.

- Nisdïre = Demi-cuirass. A short cuirass. While a man or woman could wear it, Vai seem to prefer it. Back when the Gerudo were mainly thieves, they tended to be made of leather. Nowadays, they are made of metal.

Tzèxàb’dïre = Gauntlet.

Fighting Styles:

Ardasayf = Traditional Gerudo swordplay. Has several different branches to it depending on the main weapon used.

- Ardāsayf = A very spartan style of two-handed sword fighting focused on the use of Golden Claymores.

Tàrren'è al'Saadï = "Dance of the Crescents." Style of Gerudo swordfighting that utilizes scimitars. Is also compatible with sickles. Despite having deep historical roots, until recently not many Gerudo practiced it. Most seem to prefer to use claymores or spears. - Traditional training in this style also requires learning to dance.

- Dïnatàrr = "Crescent Dance." A branch of Tàrren'è al'Saadï that implements dance. Has 2 distinct stances, one for wielding a scimitar with a shield & one for dual-wielding scimitars. - This style can be adapted for either theatrical/performative use or self-defense, though the stances are very different.

- Saadïdja = The self-defensive style of Tàrren'è al'Saadï.

- Sàl'saadïna = The performative, entertainment style of Tàrren'è al'Saadï.

- al'Forzumàh'è al'Dïnatàrr = The Crescent Dance of the Moonflower. The style of Dïnatàrr that utilizes a scimitar & a shield. - This style of fighting was preferred by Vah Amàhrta & Lady Urbosa.

- al'Yusréda'vùn'è al'Dïnatàrr = The Crescent Dance of Rushing Winds. The style of Dïnatàrr that utilizes dual scimitars. - This style of fighting was preferred by Vah Gela & Chief Rïju.

Shemàsen Ūsub = Durvish Technique. This is what the Gerudo call the Spin Attack.

- Ahxwā'nirï Ūsub = Indiscriminate Spin Technique. This is what the Gerudo call the typical Great Spin Attack.

- Dāgàl'zôba Ūsub = Great Sand Tornado Technique. The name given to the Great Spin Attack when paired with al'Yusréda'vùn'è Dïnatàrr & Shim'tàrren. Unlike normally, here, the attack's aura extends upwards in a cone-shape much like a tornado. It is still mobile, but this way is much more controllable than what is normally expected of the usually indiscriminant attack. This is an extremely rare & difficult technique to master as it requires fighting & killing 10 Dark Knuts & obtaining their Knight's Crests.

- Sàl'dïnatàrr Zaydahànt = Performative scimitar dance duel.

Zayda = Sort of a pas de deux.

Battle:

Yá- = Prefix referring to a female who fights professionally. Whether as a guard or a competitive swordfighter.

Yō- = Prefix referring to a male who fights professionally. Whether as a guard or a competitive swordfighter.

Mīr = General.

*Xïdad = Strength or strong.

Bensïree = Spoils from war or thievary.

Sàlàt = A salute. The most common Gerudo salute involves starting in the typical attention position with arms at the sides, then closing your right hand into a fist & lifting it up to lightly strike the between your heart & your left shoulder as if to make a pledge.

- *Eihve = Position (esp. tactical).

Easïfa'jï Hotlàm = Peace, a treaty. Literally, "storm's calm."

Zayhànt = Duel. A one-on-one fight.

Mèdja (Pronounced: meh-zhuh) = Guard.

- Yaidja (Pronounced: yai-zhuh) = Guardswoman.

- Yoedja (Pronounced: yoh-eh-zhuh) = Guardsman. This term has been lost.

-- Devïdán Mèdja = The Shrine Guard of Ealiyah. Considered one of, if not the, highest honors. A volunteer job to guard the Shrine of the Unsung Hero.

-- Dán'ja (Pronounced: dan-uh-zhuh) = Shorthand referring to a Shrine Guard.

- Mèdja'jï Nikô'nerï = Literally, "Guard's Victory Badge." The Gerudàn name for the Knight's Crest. 10 are needed to prove that one is ready for the Great Spin Attack.

Asïm = Protector; also an old name from before the all-female curse.

Tahqitàl = Combat.

Maehànt = Battle.

Nīkawz or Nīkôz = Victory.

Ghzastīla = Conquest.

- Ghzastù = To conquer.

Wàr'dō (Pronounced: vehn-wahr-uh-doh) = Soldier or warrior. Different from the concept of heroes. Translates to "spear of battle." As those who fought in battle were considered to be the weapons of the god of war himself.

- Wàru = War.

- Nīkôz or Nīkawz = Victory.

- Nīkôzeto'reqra = Literally translates to "the right to claim victory." The Hyrule equivalent to China's Mandate of Heaven. A philosophy by which the strong or victorious are right & correct & righteous. That it is their right, as ordained by the gods, to conquer those around them. Is no longer practiced.

*al'Manfàsï Wàru = The Division War. The first war with Hyrule that resulted in the Gerudo becoming a female-only race. Also called the Great Castration. Not in a literal sense, more so metaphorically.

Jawàrik = The name of the Gerudo god of war, conquest, & strife. Ex-husband to the Goddess of the Sand. A name meaning "a strong, powerful warrior."

Vulgar or Insulting Words:

*Kiharè = Idiot or moron.

*Gata'ra = Murderer.

*Vanozī = Banished one.

*Carjoch (Pronounced: CAR-zhosh) = A fool; derogatory term for a male.

*Amalaq = Asshole; while vulgar, this one can also be used as playful banter between close friends.

*Vehsun = Fool.

Gáro'kāvt = Heathen. Literally, "hellbound."

Muzyaf = Fake, false, untrue, lie. When muz is used as a suffix or "honorific," indicates that something is fake or that someone is a liar, pretender, or deceiver.

- Voemuz = Transman. Literally means "fake man." A very bigoted term, but unfortunately, the Gerudo do not possess a less derogatory word for them. Considered liars & wicked temptors. Or in the case of Gerudo Vai becoming one, traitors. Though, this sort of thing is extremely rare as only about 0.1% of Gerudo legitimately feel this way in truth & it's generally a fluke only taking place every few generations. It's actually far more likely that if a Vai wishes to be a voe that it's because she is actually gay & has her heart set on a fellow Gerudo, but has convinced herself that becoming a Voe will make the other Vai fall for her. Which never works out & never in the Vai's favor as homosexuality is treated with similar harshness here as in the Middle East.

- Sûlaaq Voemuz = Transman. Literally translates to "false-man demon." A sort of fairytale creature based upon actual Voemuzen (plural). Often portrayed as female demons who take on the appearance of men to try to lead young Gerudo astray by making them fall in love with them & if they do, it is said that the vai will become infertile, thus being unable to have daughters even if they do later find men to love them. They are a central figure in many a bedtime tragedy. Obviously, this is an exaggerated falsehood based on the traumatic experiences of real Gerudo women who have run home in tears upon discovering that their future husbands were actually female. What isn't told, or even known, is that the Voemuzen are often left crushed by the Gerudo's reactions themselves, having hoped that someone from a race of all women would be more open minded due to having minimal exposure to men, having thought that it was simply a result of what amounts to 'male engineered bigotry.' They end up having to face the reality that it's just not that simple. Unfortunately, due to the Gerudo's curse & a lot of very negative interactions with such individuals over many centuries, it has fostered some very terrible, very bigoted ideas about them. At a young age, mothers will tell their daughters horror stories about Sûlaaq Voemuzen & later in Voe & You, are taught how to positively identify real Voemuzen & avoid them at all costs.

- Vaimuz = Transwoman. Literally translates to "false woman." A very bigoted term, but unfortunately, the Gerudo do not possess a less derogatory word for them. While not as deeply hated as Voemuzen are, they are still looked upon with a degree of contempt as many consider it to be a form of mockery or woman face. They are also not allowed into Gerudo Town.

Endearments:

Bensinï or Benzenï or Kinzanï = My treasure.

- Vesginï = My jewel.

- Hiahxàlnï = My prize.

Sà'vai = Good girl.

Voynï = My husband.

- Voeni or Vōni = My boyfriend/fiancé/husband; literally "my man."

- Daehvoe or Daehvō = Boyfriend.

Vaynï = My wife.

- Vainï or Vànï = My girlfriend/fiancee/wife, literally "my woman."

- Daehvai or Daehvà = Girlfriend.

Màtunï = Lover; literally "my love."

Mahonè = Equivalent to calling someone Honey.

Ibnï = My heart.

Làba = Toy or thing to be played with.

Ghànj (Pronounced: ghahn-zh) = Pet.

Eazī = Dear.

- Eazīnï = Literally translates to "my dear," but has a similar use to "darling" as it's more taking to mean something like "one who is dear to me."

Hïlo = Handsome.

- Morïzī = Pretty one.

- Kàmmorïzī = Beautiful one.

- Hïlozī = Handsome one.

Baynï = My home.

Xōkàr = Sugar or simply "sweet."

- Xōkàrib = Literally "sweetheart."

Sōlnï = My sun. Can be platonic or romantic.

- Hïsōlnï = My handsome sun. Strictly romantic.

Màhnï or Amàhnï = My moon. Can be platonic or romantic.

- Qamàhnï = My beautiful moon. Strictly romantic.

Yàzī = Small one or little one. Can be either romantic or platonic.

Yàrïzī = Small one or little one. Platonic or familial.

Vuréyà or Yàvuré = Little bird.

Vuréyàri or Yàrïvuré = Baby bird. Chickie or chickadee. Often used to address daughters. Platonic & familial.

Gàtïyàri = Baby cat. Kitten. Often used for daughters. Platonic & familial.

- Yàgàtï = Kitten, but not to mean a baby cat. Is more so used for one's wife.

- Màtuyàri = Little love. Platonic & familial.

Tïsa'bàlzī = Delightful one. One who brings delight & joy. Bringer of happiness. Can be used for either a spouse or offspring.

Vàtta Ibnï'è = Queen of my heart. Exclusively a nickname for one's wife or girlfriend.

- Vàttanï = My Queen. A nickname for one's wife or girlfriend. Also used to address one's literal queen. Shortened from Vàtta Ibnï'è when used romantically.

Vōttàr Ibnï'è = King of my heart. Exclusively a nickname for one's husband or boyfriend.

- Vōttàrnï = My King. A nickname for one's husband or boyfriend. Also used to address one's literal king. Shortened from Vōttàr Ibnï'è when used romantically.

Vàma Vehvïnï'è = Literally, "mother of my child." An affectionate domestic addressment a voe gives to his wife. Like how dads will sometimes address their wife as "mama" or "mom." Is sort of an acknowledgement of a wife's domestic role.

- Vïma = Baby's mother. Essentially, "mother of my child." Has the same significance as Vàma Vehvïnï'è, but shorter.

Vōda Vehvïnï'è = Literally, "father of my child." An affectionate domestic addressment a vai gives to her husband. Like how moms will sometimes address their husband as "papa" or "dad." Is sort of an acknowledgement of a husband's domestic role.

- Vïda = Baby's father. Essentially, "father of my child." Has the same significance as Vōda Vehvïnï'è, but shorter.

Titles & Terms of Address:

Vā- or Vô- = A prefix referring specifically to Vae. Generally, Và- or Vō- can be replaced with Vā- to change its meaning to refer to the Vae equivalent or Vô- to refer to a Vôi. - Due to there having never been a Voe to become a Vāï, the masculine words are generally just speculation made by upper teen girls, the authors of certain smutty romance novels, & fans of those same novels.

Vànda = Lady, as in gentlelady. Can be used to address any woman regardless of status. Not necessarily a title so much as it's considered flattery.

- Dàmï = Equates to Lady. A status indicator.

Vōvir = Lord, as in sir or gentleman. Can be used to address any man regardless of status. Not necessarily a title so much as it's considered flattery.

- Dōmï = Equates to Lord. A status indicator.

Va'mïna or Vàmïna = Equates to Dame. As in a title for a high-ranking guardswoman. A title for a sort of female knight.

Vo'mïno or Vōmïno = Equates to Sir. As in a title for a high-ranking guardsman. A title for a knight. - This term has been lost.

Va'yï or Vàyï = Equates to Mistress. Typically used by Vo'màzr to address their owners.

Va'shô or Vo'shô = Basically, it's a title meaning saint. It's how they refer to Sages.

- Vàshô or Vōshô = Basically, it's another title meaning saint. It's how they refer to Sages.

Júna = Wise. Often used as titles for the elderly.

Júnazī = Wise one. A respectful way to address an elderly individual that you don't know personally.

Dayidī = Sire. As in, one who fathered.

Môla = Sire. As in king.

- Sōréaso = Your grace. Used to address one's king.

Vah- (with a hard 'H' sound at the end) = Divine woman. Shorthand prefix indicating a goddess. Also used as an honorific of sorts when speaking a goddess' name.

Voh- (with a hard 'H' sound at the end) = Divine man. Shorthand prefix indicating a god. Also used as an honorific of sorts when speaking a god's name.

Gerudo generally don't use things like Mr. or Ms. in casual circumstances. Such things are considered titles in a way & titles are generally only used to address those of higher social status than themselves or in a position of authority.

Men & Women:

Voy = Husband.

- Lo'voyen = Brother-husbands. When 2 Voe are married to the same Vai. Not something that happens often, but it does happen.

Vay = Wife. - Both spellings are correct.

- La'vayen = Sister-wives. When 2 Vai are married to the same Voe. Not something that happens often, but it does happen.

Vāï (Pronounced: vhay-ee, with a lot of breath behind the h) = Referring to a hermaphrodite. Not to be used to mean neither sex, but rather used to mean both at once. Not something natural. The Gerudo have a legend regarding this that is very similar to what the Greeks have. Though, here, the love was mutual. The central characters of this Gerudo legend had been Chief Natïrï & her husband, Talan. The resulting entity was named Talthïrï.

- Talthïrï Ūpehkwa'è = The Spring of Talthïrï.

Vae = Female-Bodied Hermaphrodite. When a Vai is blessed by Talthïrï's spring & becomes a Vae.

Vôi = Male-Bodied Hermaphrodite. When a Voe is blessed by Talthïrï's spring & becomes a Vôi. - Not something that's ever actually happened & is more so a theoretical concept. A question posed by upper-teen girls still coming into their own is, "What if a Voe were to be splashed by the spring's water?" To which no one knows because it's never happened, which causes those girls to speculate.

Vai'làra or Vàlàra = Heroine, heroic warrior woman.

- Voe'lawàr or Vōlawàr = Hero, heroic warrior.

- Lawàren = Heroes or warriors, both male & female.

Voe'attàr or Vōttàr = King. These days, only used to refer to the Centennial King.

- Vai'làtï or Vàlàtï = Princess, daughter of the king.

- Voe'tàlo or Vōtàlo = Prince. These days only used to refer to the Centennial King before he's been coronated.

Vōltàno or Vàltàna = Chieftain.

Vaidina = A sexually segregated site where only women are allowed. Gerudo Town is only referred to as such by non-Gerudo. Gerudo refer to it as Geru'vaidina. It's actual, ancestral name has been forgotten.

(Now, before we move on, the next 3 words are gonna be very controversial & I've gotta say that they don't reflect my actual beliefs. I just don't see the Gerudo being okay with these sorts of things based on their cultural, biological situation.)

Voemuz = Transman. Literally means "fake man." A very bigoted term, but unfortunately, the Gerudo do not possess a less derogatory word for them. Considered liars & wicked temptors. Or in the case of Gerudo Vai becoming one, traitors. Though, this sort of thing is extremely rare as only about 0.1% of Gerudo legitimately feel this way in truth & it's generally a fluke only taking place every few generations. It's actually far more likely that if a Vai wishes to be a voe that it's because she is actually gay & has her heart set on a fellow Gerudo, but has convinced herself that becoming a Voe will make the other Vai fall for her. Which never works out & never in the Vai's favor as homosexuality is treated with similar harshness here as in the Middle East.

- Sûlaaq Voemuz = Transman. Literally translates to "false-man demon." A sort of fairytale creature based upon actual Voemuzen (plural). Often portrayed as female demons who take on the appearance of men to try to lead young Gerudo astray by making them fall in love with them & if they do, it is said that the vai will become infertile, thus being unable to have daughters even if they do later find men to love them. They are a central figure in many a bedtime tragedy. Obviously, this is an exaggerated falsehood based on the traumatic experiences of real Gerudo women who have run home in tears upon discovering that their future husbands were actually female. What isn't told, or even known, is that the Voemuzen are often left crushed by the Gerudo's reactions themselves, having hoped that someone from a race of all women would be more open minded due to having minimal exposure to men, having thought that it was simply a result of what amounts to 'male engineered bigotry.' They end up having to face the reality that it's just not that simple. Unfortunately, due to the Gerudo's curse & a lot of very negative interactions with such individuals over many centuries, it has fostered some very terrible, very bigoted ideas about them. At a young age, mothers will tell their daughters horror stories about Sûlaaq Voemuzen & later in Voe & You, are taught how to positively identify real Voemuzen & avoid them at all costs.

- Vaimuz = Transwoman. Literally translates to "false woman." A very bigoted term, but unfortunately, the Gerudo do not possess a less derogatory word for them. While not as deeply hated as Voemuzen are, they are still looked upon with a degree of contempt as many consider it to be a form of mockery or woman face.

Family:

Ealiya = Family.

- Ealiyah = Family. - Also the name of a town I made up.

Vàma = Mother.

Vōda = Father.

Vàba = Grandmother.

Vōbo = Grandfather.

Vàra = Daughter.

- Vàta = Daughter.

Vōro = Son.

- Vōto = Son.

Shïcha'vàla = Spirit-daughter. Daughter of one's spirit. When a non-Gerudo girl is platonically loved dearly by an adult Gerudo Vai, who wishes to forge a maternal connection to her without replacing her mother. Or a Gerudo Vaivï platonically loves an adult non-Gerudo woman. Something like a god-daughter, though in this situation the bond is one chosen by the individuals rather than having been appointed by the younger's parents. A spirit-daughter is considered as much of a Gerudo as one by blood.

- Shïcha'vàma = Spirit-mother. Mother of one's spirit. When a non-Gerudo girl is platonically loved dearly by an adult Gerudo Vai, who wishes to forge a maternal connection to her without replacing her mother. Or a Gerudo Vaivï platonically loves an adult non-Gerudo woman. Something like a god-mother, though in this situation the bond is one chosen by the individuals rather than having been appointed by the younger's parents. A spirit-mother is considered as much of a Gerudo as one by blood.

Vérï = Offspring. Multiple.

Vàla = Sister.

Vōlo = Brother. This term has been lost.

Vélï = Siblings.

Vànïka = Female cousin.

Vōnïko = Male cousin.

Daehvai = Girlfriend.

Daehvoe = Boyfriend.

Kàtevoe = Fiancé. A man intended to be married.

Kàtavai = Fiancée. A woman intended to be married.

Ehxà = Aunt.

*Ehxō = Uncle.

- *Vàmola'ehxà = Aunt. Father's sister. Used specifically when referring to her.

- *Vàmalo'ehxàvay = Aunt. Mother's brother's wife. Used specifically when referring to her.

- *Vàmolo'ehxàvay = Aunt. Father's brother's wife. Used specifically when referring to her.

Ehxàdï = Auntie. An unrelated female who is like a favorite aunt.

The use of aunt & uncle changes depending on whether you're addressing them or referring to them. When referring to them, you specify their exact relation to you. However, when speaking to them, you simply say Ehxà or Ehxō.

Societal Norms:

Vaiyïda or Vàyïda = Mistress, lady, dame, or madam. A term of respect used by slaves to address their Gerudo owners.

Vàyï = An honorific used by Vo'màzren to address their mistresses.

*Bàkpràma = Slavery.

- *Bàkix = Slave.

-- Sāqshe'kāvt = Another word for slave. Literally meaning "life-bound" to mean "bound for life."

-- Uay'úlzī = Another word for slave. Literally meaning "owned one."

Vo'màzr = A concubinus or male concubine. A sort of breeding slave. Vo'màzr became a common presence in the Gerudo culture after the female-only curse. The practice has since been abolished.

Va'màziah = A concubine. A sort of breeding slave. This term has been lost.

- Hra'tàkdham Vo'màzr = Free-use male concubinus. These Vo'màzren didn't have a specified mistress & thus lived in a Pleasure Palace. Disgustingly, these Pleasure Palaces tended to have 2 draws. Sexual gratification & the right to be bred.

- Nebdhàhi Vo'màzr = Golden Concubinus. When a Vo'màzr actively takes to their new role with vigor. Are often showered with luxury & finery for their enthusiasm & talents. It's... not a good thing, but it was unfortunately the sort of thing that was inadvertently encouraged. While some seemed to "come around" to their new role in life, the truth of the matter was that this generally happened due to them sort of brainwashing themselves into enjoying the lifestyle, even beginning to believe that they didn't deserve a better life. Admittedly, some truly did enjoy it, but those were few & far between.

Màrekéda Wàshàm = A branding tattoo. Given to Vo'màzr upon being bought by a Mistress. The tattoo is typically of his mistress' full name & if not that, then the coat of arms for her household. Placed on the forearm, on the inside, so that they'll always see it.

Surré Qasrehs = Pleasure Palace. Places where prostitutes, specifically Vaen, Vàsitulïxan, & Vo'màzren work. The backbone of the sex industry in the Gerudo culture. It is also where Vo'màzr were broken, trained, & auctioned off to Vaiyïda.

In Gerudo culture, there is a very strict separation between lust & love, between matters of the body & matters of the heart. This plus the fact that the Gerudo, just as a people, are extremely exclusive with who they give their hearts to results in the typical Gerudo being extremely monogamous. As such, the idea of what IRL is called "open relationships," would be considered pure insanity & a sign of a demented mind. Even royal relationships were expected to be kept exclusive. To have sex with someone other than your spouse after marriage, even common law marriage, was considered losing control of one's impulses & baser, more primal urges & was thought to be a sign of a declining mental state. These individuals were considered no better than animals. - Something they share with the Greeks who prided themselves on personal control.

By Gerudo custom from before the female-only curse, the king or queen were both absolutely forbidden from having romantic or sexual relations with anyone besides their spouse unless it was in specific situations such as one of the pair being sterile or infertile. And even when it was allowed, the vetting process was extremely strict for them & the final okay was to be given by the other spouse. (Basically, if the queen were looking for a Vo'màzr, then she'd make the 1st decision of who could go through the vetting process, but it was her husband who made the final decision. The same is also true in reverse.) Even then, romantic relations with Va'màziah or Vo'màzr were strictly forbidden & considered deeply taboo. In a lot of ways, they were breeding chattel in gilded cages.

And after every interaction, the owner of said concubine/concubinus would go through the same sacred cleansing ritual as one who was raped.

However, despite all the strictness in regards to marriage, if a king or queen was unmarried, then they were free to have harems full of Va'màziah/Vo'màzr. The reason being that marriage itself is considered sacred to them. And in such instances, it is fine to indulge in romantic relations with members of one's harem. Though, it isn't considered intelligent as Gerudo have a belief that a relationship between more than 3 people becomes incrementally more difficult to manage with every person that joins.

It is even legal to have 2 wives or 2 husbands, though it's far from normal.

After the curse there came a distinct need to continue to procreate, thus non-Gerudo Vo'màzr became a common part of the Gerudo culture &, in fact, it wasn't strange for the higher-ranked Vai to have entire harems of them.

Even despite this extreme change, the Gerudo retained the deeply-embedded practice of keeping love & lust separate. And, miraculously, after transitioning away from thievary, they also managed to rediscover the custom of partner exclusivity. This indicates that monogamy & partner exclusivity may be intrinsic to the entire Gerudo experience as a whole. - Because of this, the Hylian goddess of love, passion, & relationships fit rather easily into the Gerudo's pantheon & was welcomed with surprisingly open arms.

There are some other details pertaining to the actual training of said Vo'màzr that delves more into the realm of NSFW that I won't go into, but let's just say that it was considered important to... 'assert dominance.' And they even had certain 'tools' by which to do so.

The practice of having Vo'màzr has been almost entirely abolished by BotW & TotK.

Vàsitulïxàmba = For all intents & purposes, a dominitrix, but for fun & not for money. The pastime version.

- Vàsitulïxa = A dominant woman paid to break in vo'màzr by any means necessary. Those means typically involve the use of Stolkén.

- Vaesitulïxa = A Vae dominitrix. Does what Vàsitulïxa do, but without the need for a Stolké.

Stolké = A strap-on with an infused amethyst at the base. Made specifically to magically connect to the wearer, thus allowing her to feel through & derive physical pleasure from its use. Originally used by Vàsitulïxan to 'assert dominance' over Vo'màzr.

Buildings:

Qasrehs = Castle or palace.

Fashka = Forge.

Bàz- or Bèza- = Used in reference to trade or the exchange of goods or valuables.

- Bezakàs = Shop.

- Bàzshàk = Stall, booth, kiosk. As in a market or fair.

- *Hayaaq = Gate, portal.

House:

Bayta = Home.

Inzil = House.

Kàmfa = Room.

- *Pàrmàgkàmfa = Kitchen.

- Sàrgakàmfa = Bedroom.

Mahàd = Cradle.

Sàrga = Bed.

*Tra = Pot.

- Kàvé'tra = Coffee pot; carafe.

- Shāvi'tra = Teapot.

‐ *Pàrmàgéda'tra = Cooking pot.

Hàjdit'fōrxab = Stone Oven.

- Bukākéda'ximbi = Stone Oven. Literally, "baking box."

Shifamàgya = Grill.

Lobmàg'mīqa = Skillet or frying pan.

Sitaklàten = Drapes or curtains. Usually used as room dividers rather than for windows.

Settlements:

Kàra = Empty or nothing.

Vaidina = A sexually segregated site where only women are allowed. Gerudo Town is only referred to as such by non-Gerudo. Gerudo refer to it as Geru'vaidina.

Étto = Town.

Bàz- or Bèza- = Used in reference to trade or the exchange of goods or valuables.

- Bàzaar = Bazaar or market place.

- Bàzétto = A Market Town. A town that features a market regularly. If Kàra Kàra was larger, it'd be considered a Bàzétto.

- Bàzaaz = Merchant or trader. One who sells goods.

- Bàzēx (Pronounced: bah-zeesh) = Vendor. Goods stall worker.

Countries:

Baydaan = Far-off or far away.

- Qàfra = Wasteland.

- Baydaan Qàfra = Far-off Wasteland. One of many names for the desert continent that the Gerudo originate from.

Ûjïa (Pronounced: oo-yee-uh) = Mystery.

- Jïamid (Pronounced: jhee-uh-mid) = Mysterious.

- Ûjïa Gerasht'è = Desert of Mystery.

- Jïachisï = Secret.

- Jïasïd (Pronounced: jhee-uh-seed) = The name of the desert country that the Gerudo originate from.

Wàru'shorq Vōttàrilàkaen = Wartorn Kingdoms. Refers to Jïasïd & its surrounding countries. This is due to them being cursed to be in eternal conflict with each other.

Shakï = Doubt.

- Shakï Geràsht'è = Desert of Doubt.

Hairu or Hīru = Hylian, Hyrule.

Lanïru = Lanayru.

Fàrin = Faron.

Lurālin = Lurelin.

---

LoZ Cultural Masterlist

#loz #legend of zelda #botw #breath of the wild #totk #tears of the kingdom #gerudo #gerudo culture #gerudo language #nsft

[bethanythebogwitch]

I like Pokémon and as my post history can tell you, I like fish. So why not combine the two and talk about fish Pokémon? I’m going to go over the real life inspirations for every fish Pokémon, discussing their biology and cool facts about the real inspirations. I’ll do this in parts so it doesn’t get too long. Today let’s do generation I and II.

The first fish we get in national dex order is the Horsea line and these aren’t too hard to figure out. They’re seahorses, some of the weirdest fish out there. Seriously, real seahorses are way weirder than Pokémon. We’re talking about fish that can barely swim, have prehensile tails, mate for life, the males get pregnant, and they have no stomachs but have the highest hunting success rate of all fish. Horsea has nothing on that. Horsea can also shoot water and ink from its mouth. This seems to be a reference to squid ink and water guns, though Horsea’s RB dex entry says they use precision shots to shoot down flying bugs. This was likely inspired by the archerfish, which does exactly that. This won’t be the only time that archerfish come up in this series. Their category as the dragon pokemon and Kingdra’s dragon typing references the Japanese word for seahorse, tatsu-no-otoshigo, which means “dragon’s child” based off of a myth that a seahorse who lives long enough will become a dragon. Kingdra also seems to have some weedy sea dragon influence, but there’s a better example of a Pokémon based on that much later in the series.

(image description, a seahorse)

So many recurring archetypes in the series can be traced back to gen I. Archetypes like the early game bird, the early game bug, the early game rodent, the mushroom, the three-stage rock, and more came from RBY. Another, probably less intentional archetype is the incredibly forgettable fish. Meet Goldeen and Seaking. They’re based on goldfish and koi and the only thing that makes them stand out from real fish is the horns. There are a truly absurd number of goldfish breeds but the one that looks closest to Goldeen is the tosakin, which has a curly tail like Goldeen and is popular in Japan while Seaking looks most like an azuma nishiki.

(image description: a tosakin Goldfish)

Since goldfish and koi are both members of the carp family, I wonder if there’s a close ancentral relationship to Magikarp. They are also said to swim upriver to spawn and Seaking gets redder during mating season, which seems to be a clear reference to salmon. In addition, male Seaking uses its horn to make a hole in a rock for the female to lay her eggs in. many male fish will make nests or other structures to woo females and provide a a safe spot to lay eggs. The horn is interesting. At first I thought I was just there to make them look less like normal fish, but there might be more to it than that. There are fish with horns, the cowfish, but they look nothing like these two (and barely look like fish for that matter) so I don’t think that was an inspiration. The unicornfish has a horn-like protrusion on its head that could have been an inspiration. I also found refences to Hinduism with Matsya, an avatar of Vishnu that looked like a horned fish in some depictions which could also be a reference in the line’s design (sidenote, a India-based region would be really cool).

(mage description: an artistic depiction of Matsya as a horned fish)

These fish are found in a ton of regions despite not being all that interesting. In real life goldfish have become invasive or introduced species in many areas due to irresponsible pet owners releasing them into the wild. As these two are sometimes kept as pets, I wonder if their wide distribution in the Pokémon world is due to the same thing. Also, why is fresh water fish named Seaking?

Next we move on to the mon, the myth, the legend: Magikarp. I’m only going over Magikarp as I see Gyarados as a sea serpent/eastern dragon rather than a fish. Magikarp is, as you might guess, an Asian carp, though it also seems to have some koi features.

(image description: a common carp)

The common carp is somewhat golden in color, which could explain Magikarp’s shiny color, and mirror carp and koi have been specially bred for appearance, which might be why Magikarp is red. Magikarp is famous for its splashing and jumping, something Asian carp are also known for. Silver carp in particular can jump clear out of the water, which makes them a hazard for boaters.

(gif description: a silver carp jumping out of the water and hitting a boater in the head)

Most pokedex entries focus on the splashing and how weak Magikarp is, but some go on to say their survival in the Pokémon world is due to them being able to live in very poor water quality and reproducing like crazy. This is very true of real Asian carp, who can thrive in terrible conditions and produce millions of eggs per spawning. This has contributed to them becoming invasive species in many parts of the world. Considering Magikarp can be found in every region, the same is probably true of the Pokemon world. Magikarp evolving into the draconic Gyarados is a reference to the legend of the dragon bridge: a waterfall that, if a carp jumped over it, would turn the carp into a dragon.

Chinchou and Lanturn are weird little fish. The glowing lures and their described deep-sea habitat make them deep-sea anglerfish, specifically football fish, but they also look very different than their inspirations.

(image description, a footballfish that washed up on the shore)

Some deep-sea anglerfish have multiple glowing lures like these two, but I couldn’t find any with Chinchou’s orientation. I think Chinchou may be a reference to alien bug-eyed monsters, with its body looking like the head and the antennae you sometimes see on said BEMs. Chinchou being able to walk on its fins may be a reference to shallow water anglerfish, who are often bottom dwellers who have modified their pectoral and/or pelvic fins into legs.

(Image description, a frogfish. note the fins that have been modified for use as legs)

Chinchou’s name is the giveaway to it identity. It seems to come from chōchin (lantern) and the related chōchin-ankō (deep-sea anglerfish). Lanturn looks more like a fish, but it still doesn’t look much like an anglerfish as it’s cute and they’re usually ugly as hell. A lot of people say it has dolphin influence. I don’t really get dolphin from its design, but if it is a dolphin, it may draw from the Greek god Apollo, who was associated with light and whose sacred animal was a dolphin. Chinchou having fin legs but Lanturn lacking them seems to indicate that as they mature, they go from bottom-dwellers to free-swimming fish. Since real anglerfish use symbiotic, bioluminescent bacteria in their lures, the Chinchou line may be one of the few cases of a mutualistic relationship in Pokemon and maybe the only one with a non-Pokémon lifeform that isn’t a plant. Interestingly, Slowbro, Slowking, Remoraid, Mantine, Tatsugiri, and Dondozo also have mutualistic relationships and they’re all water type. That’s a weird coincidence. 

Qwilfish is certainly an underdog (underfish?) story. From being a completely forgettable single-stager for multiple generations until a regional form and evolution pulled it from obscurity. Both it and its Hisuan form are pufferfish or porcupinefish. Both are closely related and have the ability to gulp in water or air (though gulping air is bad for them) to inflate their spiny bodies as a defense.

(image description: an inflated porcupinefish)

Unlike their counterparts, Qwilfish is always inflated, but can grow even bigger where in the real fish, inflation is stressful and only done when in danger. The line’s poison typing comes from real pufferfish having some incredibly potent poison. It’s called tetradotoxin and it’s an extremely dangerous neurotoxin. Fugu fish famously has to be prepared by a well-trained chef who knows what parts to cut away to avoid poisoning whoever eats it. Pnlike real puffers, Qwilfish can inject the poison into others through its spines, making it venomous as opposed to the real ones, who are poisonous. Overqwil also seems to have some sea urchin elements with how huge its spines are. Some urchins are also venomous and can inject poison through their quills. Finally, the whole line seems to be based off of naval mines what with their roundness and ability to explode.

Remoraid is a fish of many talents and has a lot of origins. First things first, it’s a pistol. This is more easily seen in its unused older design, but you can still see it. This is also why it evolves into an octopus. Octillery is an artillery cannon. Also the animals they’re based on both use suction and squirt water. Remoraid also has major inspiration from the archerfish (remember them?) in that it is a master at spitting water with precision and the pokedex says it can shoot targets out of the air just like an archerfish.

(imager description: a spitting archerfish)

The archerfish inspiration and pistol design are why it learns so many shooting moves. Finally, Remoraid is a remora,  even though they really look nothing alike. Like the remora, it has a modified dorsal fin shaped like a suction cup that it uses to suction onto larger animals. Both remoras and Remoraid will get carried along by the larger animal and will eat scraps of the larger animal’s meal. The remora benefits by getting a free ride, water over the gills, and food while the larger animal may also get some benefits from the remora eating ectoparasites and dead skin. A remora attaching to an animal would either be a commensal (one party benefits, the other receives neither benefit nor harm) or mutualistic relationship. In Pokémon, the only animal we see Remoraid attaching to is Mantine and they have an explicitly mutualistic relationship as Remoraid fights alongside Mantine and its presence allows Mantyke to evolve. Speaking of which…

image description: a mana ray with two remoras attached to it

Mantyke and Mantine are stingrays, specifically manta rays, one of my favorite animals. They truly are gentle giants and these Pokémon are too, being primarily special walls. Like mantas, Mantyke and Mantine are intelligent, social, and playful creatures. Mantas are one of if not the smartest fish, smart enough to pass the mirror test by recognizing their own reflections. There is a correlation between animal intelligence and playfulness. The smarter an animal is, the more likely it is to play for fun rather than for hunting practice and other purposes. This can be seen in primates, corvids, canines, and yes, rays. Those antennae on Mantyke and Mantine are based on the cephalic flaps of the manta, modified fins that help direct plankton into its mouth. Of course these two have the flying type and unlike Gyarados, there’s a good reason for it. Mantas are part of the genus Mobula and all 9 species of the genus are known to leap out of the water before splashing back down.

(image description: a Mobula ray jumping)

Nobody really knows why they do this, but there could be several reasons: cleaning parasites, herding prey, finding lost members of the school, or maybe just for fun. Mantine’s flying abilities are highly exaggerated and it also has some airplane design features, with the Remoraid on its wing looking like a plane engine or wing-mounted gun. As mentioned above, Remoraid and the Mantyke line have a mutualistic relationship. Not really relevant but still a fun fact: mantas give live birth and the babies come out folded up like burritos.

That’s it for part one. Come back next time for generations III and IV

#fish #fishblr #biology #pokemon #pokemon biology

[tastesoftamriel]

Greetings from Finland! (Or I suppose it could be considered Eastern Skyrim) What are some of the spices or ingredients that could be used in food making from each race? I plan to make up a recipe of my own. And how about most famous meats for every race? (And possibly their real life counterparts for some of the meats?) Best wishes, thank you!

Hello! You can find a list of commonly used Tamrielic spices here. With regards to meats, there are a range of different meats preferred by the races based on geographic regions and subsequent availability.

Altmer

Summerset favours fish over most other meats, but the High Elves also farm a range of more common mainland Tamrielic livestock such as cows, chickens, sheep, and deer. However, indrik heart is the most prized of all meats, and is highly sought after due to the illegality and difficulty of killing these magnificent beasts. The preparation and consumption of indrik heart is purportedly painstaking, and is a closely guarded secret of Altmeri gourmets. It is my goal to one day try this coveted dish!

Argonians

Guar, bantam guar, and chickens are the main meats favoured by Black Marsh Argonians, primarily due to their ability to cope with swampy conditions. Grilling, baking, and frying are the most common ways of preparing these meats, whether they're served on their own, with noodles or saltrice, or salads.

Bosmer

If it's meat, the Bosmer will eat it. Whether it's wild boar, deer, timber mammoth, or even monkey, all game is fair game in Valenwood! Timber mammoth steak with blue timber mammoth cheese sauce is one of my favourite foods in Tamriel.

Bretons

If there's one race who's mad about mutton, it's the Bretons. While High Rock is also known for its pork dishes, today I'm focusing on all things mutton. Mutton stew, mutton chops, mutton casserole, and even Orcish-inspired mutton curry are favourites both at home and in taverns. One of the more popular ways of consuming the meat is a mutton and rosemary sausage, that is served fried with eggs, goat cheese, and roasted artichoke hearts.

Dunmer

Aside from guar, the Dark Elves love nix-hound and nix-ox in equal amounts, with the former being more akin to crocodile or turkey in texture, while nix-ox is named such due to its uncanny similarity to beef in flavour (though not in texture). As they are bugs, however, you're not going to get thick steaks or drumsticks as you would from other animals. Instead, nix-ox and -hound are best served minced or stewed. A staple dish in Dunmeri households is nix-hound casserole, made with finely minced and baked nix-hound with saltrice, hackle-lo or ash yams, and scuttle.

Imperials

Imperials love beef the same way that Bretons love mutton. However, the most unique and exciting beef you can find in Tamriel is Cyrodiilic wagyu, a special kind of fatty, marbled beef that is exquisite as it simply melts in the mouth with a rich, meaty flavour. Whether it's served as tender filet mignon or thinly sliced as carpaccio, Cyrodiilic wagyu beef is an expensive but absolutely divine treat.

Khajiit

There are many exotic meats that are native to Elsweyr, and jerboa is probably the most popular. These small (and unfortunately very cute) rodents are delicious when deep fried or roasted in moon sugar sauce, though their small size means you'll have to eat a few to fill up. If you don't mind picking bones from your teeth, jerboa is a must-try for adventurous foodies.

Nords

Beef, chicken, elk, goat, horker, rabbit...in Skyrim, if it moves, we're probably eating it. However, the consumption of specific types of meat, and whether it's processed or fresh, really depends on where you are in the Province. Major towns and cities are more likely to eat fresh farmed meats like poultry, mutton, and beef, while rural areas rely more on wild game. Whether it's Markarth barbequed goat skewers or Dawnstar horker casserole, there's a whole new world of regional dishes out there for meat lovers visiting Skyrim.

Orcs

Echatere, chub loon, horker, and mammoth are the cornerstones of Orcish cuisine, and they're enjoyed in abundance. Wrothgarian Orcs in particular love their echatere, which are lovingly hand-reared or hunted in the wild. Either way, it's delicious, albeit with a rather acquired taste and gamey aroma. Echatere meatballs topped with crispy chub loon bits and an echatere cheese and frost mirriam gravy are a timeless classic hailing from the region.

Redguards

If goats were ever to become an endangered species, the last place they would disappear would be Hammerfell. Anyone who's visited the Alik'r will know that despite the sandy, Oblivion-hot depths of the desert, these hardy creatures will survive just about anything. As a result, goat meat plays a central part in Redguard cooking. Goat koftas, kebabs, shawarma, curries...no matter what form it's in, you're bound to have a tasty, meaty meal no matter where you are in Hammerfell.

#Asks #Meat #Meats #Tes #The Elder Scrolls #World building #Worldbuilding #Help this posted before I could finish it #Oh well full edited version will be in the compendium

[essektheylyss]

Trick or treat! :3c

okay so in poking around my discard piles, I realized I still have the original first scene of chapter two for luminous worlds, and it is delightful and also has some very :3c fjord vibes, so here's the full thing under a cut! this is actually the only thing with remnants of SIGNIFICANT plot divergences; it was back when Gemma and Artur were one character and neither of them were outside the Exandrian atmosphere. (also feat. Maryllis's original filler name lol)

The sun glints brightly off the distant sea, enough that your sensitive eyes are tight as you look anywhere else though you are protected from the shade by a slatted trellis covered in grape vines, but the breeze is pleasant enough and the surf here laps quietly against the rocks at this low of tide, the peninsula where Palma Flora sits protecting the coastline of Port Damali from the strongest currents of the Lucidian Ocean.

Fjord pours over maps, of the Coast, of Western and Eastern Wynandir, and you should be reading the unfamiliar names, familiarizing yourself with how the continent has changed while you slept, but the sun is beginning to pulse a migraine behind your eyes and your mother’s warnings echo in your mind. A servant sets out another immaculate tray of appetizers, followed by breakfast dishes of poached eggs and a tangy cream sauce that you know you have tried, but only in this region, though you don’t know what it’s made of.

It smells delicious, and you half-heartedly cut into your eggs even as Fjord eats heartily, still staring at his maps, laid out far enough away that they aren’t in danger of spillage. His reading glasses rest halfway down his nose, and he peers through them as you watch, one hand smushed against your cheek.

“Aren’t we in a rush?” you ask, as he reaches across to butter a piece of bread with some kind of herbed cheese. “Do we have time for all of this?” You gesture toward the food in his hand, and his eyebrow skyrockets as he shoves it whole into his mouth.

“Well, I prefer to save the world on a full stomach, personally,” he says, and covers his mouth with the back of his hand as he talks around his bite. “And I also prefer to discuss the fate of the world over brunch rather than in some dark war room. So I think we are doing just fine on time.”

“I have eleven days before this,” you flick your wrist, and the beacon you have kept in stasis all these centuries falls into your palm, “starts spitting out souls that Leylas Kryn would very much like to get her hands on. She will not mind invading the Menagerie Coast to do so, considering that is already on her to-do list. So perhaps—“

“Eleven days until it opens, yes,” Fjord agrees, and spreads cheese onto another slice of bread, maddeningly. “We have longer than that to counter her movements, however. She doesn’t even know you’re awake, in fact, and she certainly doesn’t know where you are, so right now, we have the element of surprise.”

“Mother told me—“

Fjord chokes on his bread. “Your—“ his voice lowers an octave as he clears his throat. “Your mother? Spoke to you?”

You nod, and flick your wrist again, sending the beacon back where you have it hidden for safekeeping. “I can speak with any soul held inside a beacon within my possession.”

“They just… talk to you? Anytime?”

“No, in dreams.”

He laughs, a small nervous chuckle, and goes back to his breakfast. “Well, better you than me.”

Your lip curls, revealing one sharp canine. “Fjord, do you fear the souls of the dead?”

He purses his lips, avoiding your eyes. “Not my cup of tea, thank you. What did your mother tell you?”

“She said I should get in touch with my brother. He would know best what is happening inside, though I… admittedly don’t know if he’ll talk to me. If he’s even alive, against all odds.”

“Well, your dead mother sounds like a very wise woman,” Fjord agrees, with a bit of apprehension that does not seem to alleviate. “Fortunately I am in contact with your brother, as a matter of fact. We should be able to get some good information from him.”

“Verin is alive then?” Your heart feels as though it has risen to your throat. “He became consecuted?”

Fjord nods slowly, and you lean forward.

“That means he found Mother’s notes?”

“Yes, he did,” Fjord agrees, and he peers at you with softness, a gentleness really, that you can’t place.

“Where are they?”

“Safe, but I do not have access to them at the moment. They are in very trusted hands at the Cobalt Soul.”

Memories flood back, of blue monk robes and a wicked swing. “Beauregard didn’t—“

“No, no. But she found a trustworthy individual in the Port Damali archive, and they chose another, and so on and so forth.” He smiles. “And right now, my great-great-great-great—well, some amount of greats down the line—granddaughter has them kept away within the Archive at a secure location. Unfortunately, she is in Tal’dorei at the moment on some kind of assignment, so I don’t know that we will be able to obtain the papers before our… ah, other engagements.”

Eleven days. You would very much like to get your hands on those notes, but there is other work to be done before then. “Perhaps you should reach out to Verin. Like I said, I… I don’t know that he has any interest in speaking to me.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Fjord chides, returning to his maps. You half-heartedly eat through another third of your breakfast, though the hunger that gripped you yesterday has subsided. “He will be thrilled to hear you’ve awakened.”

You can taste blood on your lips, the remnants of a memory that hasn’t fallen into place, and somehow doubt it.

“Where is your wizard friend?” you ask casually, though Fjord can see through you like a window.

“He will be joining us, I imagine. Could you please let up on the man?”

Fjord did in fact sleep through your conversation last night—that’s perfectly fine by you. You don’t want to have to explain to him why you are struggling to read the notes Caleb left you, even if you understand that they could be useful. Your heart stopped ignoring emotion for reason a long time ago, and by now your reason is so muddled by memory that you hardly recognize yourself. “Man? He’s barely a boy.”

“I could say the same about you.”

You splutter, and Fjord sips his coffee with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t test me. It won’t end well for you.”

“Oh, fine.”

“And he’s not much younger than you, with regards to what he has lived. Don’t be such an ass.”

“But aren’t I always?”

“No, you are not. I did not suffer your husband’s self-pitying bullshit and I will not suffer yours.”

A quickly stifled laugh echoes behind you, and you spin to see Emryn step out from beneath the eaves. His hair is freshly washed, and you can see the bronze of it where he has braided it out of its face. Even with the sun not yet risen over the house, it gleams.

You exhale and turn back to Fjord who is watching you intently.

“My brother. How do we reach him?”

It had felt so simple, in your dream—of course, Mother, I’ll find my baby brother, who blames me for the death of you, Father, and countless others—but now in the light of day, you look at Fjord and you are at a loss to move.

That is all you have felt since you awoke. Loss, and uncertainty. You were not lying when you told her you’d rather go back to sleep.

You are so far from the shadowed streets of Rosohna, separated by space and time, though you can still remember fleeing from that glittering throne room with everything you hold dear from your home in your hands. It feels odd, to think how your priorities have changed in the time before you went to sleep, how uncertain they are now.

When you only knew how to run from something, how do you change direction to run toward it instead?

“Verin and I have a system of communication, I’ll show it to you after breakfast,” Fjord says. “Emryn, care to join us? I can have a plate sent.”

“I stopped by the kitchen already,” he says. He takes the chair next to you and pours himself a glass of lemonade from the pitcher on the table. “I trust you slept well after our conversation?”

You almost choke on your eggs. Fjord’s gaze turns into a very interested stare, and you nod, willing yourself to remember how small talk works. “Yes, thank you. You?”

“I slept just fine.”

“‘And Fjord, how about you?’ Oh yes, I slept quite comfortably, for falling asleep at a damn desk,” Fjord grumbles, wrapping a bundle of fruit in a cloth and tucking it into the pocket of his vest. “Alright, in that case, if we’ve all eaten, Essek, I’d like you to accompany me to speak with the Marquis.”

You blanche. “The Marquis? What for?”

“To persuade him that he does not need to prepare for war, you idiot.” He stands and pushes his chair in, and then stares into your face for a long moment. “Ah. Right.”

“The Port Damali Marquis and I do not get along.”

“The Port Damali Marquis that you do not get along with has been dead for nine hundred years.”

“Has the Coast recognized Brokenbank yet?”

“They are in negotiations, which should hearten you.”

“Negotiations—!” You splutter, and he takes a large breath in as if to argue, but you cut him off before he has the chance. He heads down a corridor, waving apologetically to Emryn as he leaves, and you follow after, ignoring the wizard altogether. “After all this time, we have gotten to negotiations?”

“I will have you know that the only reason they’re even considering it is because of the renown the school has received, so you should be proud!”

“It’s been nine hundred years! That school had renown nine hundred years ago!”

“Well, perhaps you can put in a good word,” he offers, and holds the front door open for you. Beyond it, a bright street lays before you, and you suddenly freeze, uncertain what the city of Port Damali has in store for you, after all this time.

#truly in circa 2005 dvd bonus feature era here lol #honestly why not when else will I get to post this kind of thing lol #writer trick or treat #megs is writing #cr fic

[anipgarden]

Man there's something about pollinator gardening that just makes you like. So aware of the different insects and creatures around you. Either that or putting a bunch of hanging baskets and bird feeders in front of my desk window was a mistake.

I just. Every day I notice more and more going on. These plants have been here since early March but man. I just watched a bird land on the fence in front of me, then onto the roof above me as I was typing this. At least two monarch butterflies have been cruising around all afternoon, perching on my shepherds hooks and my lavender stems, bouncing back and forth between laying eggs on the swamp milkweed over here and the tropical milkweed still in the store-pots out front by the garage. I'm supposed to be animating, but I spent a good few minutes just entranced watching an itty bitty bumblebee having the time of its life on my salvias in a hanging basket--imagine when they find my stash in the backyard. A wasp just landed on my window and flew away. Hummingbirds are dropping by every few minutes to drink from the feeder on my window, and they peek through the glass to stare at me when they leave. Carpenter bees have been a mainstay for the past few weeks. Every so often I see brown anoles skittering around on the fence, or bobbing up and down as they display on my baskets. Sometimes a squirrel will scamper by the fence, or they'll play tag on the roof. A few days ago I saw an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail cruise over my neighbor's fence, fly around a bit, and then fly over the roof.

Even the things that aren't birds and butterflies and bees. The wind makes the plants dance, tree branches swaying in the wind as they reach over roof tops and fences, my lavender stems quivering with every slight breeze. Hanging baskets bright with color rocking gently back and forth. The way they bob and bounce during thunderstorms, dripping with water in the aftermath.

Maybe it's all just some big distraction, and I should just close my windows, close my blinds and get back to my homework instead of staring at bugs all day. But where's the fun in that, right? It's just a tiny way to feel a little connected with nature, even when I'm warm and cozy indoors.

#out of queue #ani rambles #anis garden 2023 #anis garden #love letter to the window garden

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Wild Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes

Also known by the nicknames the Texas diamondback rattlesnake, the adobe snake, and the buzz tail, to name a few, the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is found throughout the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. This species is one of the iconic symbols of the region, and particularly of the deserts and scrublands in which it lives.

C. atrox has several features that distinguish it from its eastern relative. The western diamondback is slightly smaller, reaching a length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft) and a weight of 6.7 kg (14.7 lbs) at full maturity. They are also lighter in color, typically sporting tan, blueish gray, or pink scales with a darker diamond pattern along the body which gives the species its common name. Lastly, the face has white markings around the eyes and nostrils, and the tail below the rattle is white with black bands. Males and females appear similar; the most reliable way to tell the difference is by the tail. Male tails are thicker, longer, and taper gradually from the body, while female tails narrow abruptly at the base of the body.

The rattle itself is a unique feature of rattlesnakes. It is made of a series of hollow keratin chambers. When a rattlesnake is threatened, a set of muscles at the base of the tail constrict and cause the keratin chambers to vibrate against each other to produce a rattling sound. These muscles move incredibly fast, at about 50 times a second, and a rattle can be sustained for up to three hours-- not that most animals stick around that long. This rattle is present at birth as a tiny 'button', but juveniles are unable to rattle until their first molt, when a second segment is added. Rattlesnakes continue to add segments at each molt throughout their lives, but it's not uncommon for the top segments to become loose and fall off over time.

Mating for the western diamondback rattlesnake occurs in the fall and spring, from October to March. During the winter, individuals hibernate in abandoned burrows or under rocks, though some may emerge prematurely to seek out mates. Once they locate a female, males engage in an elaborate courtship ritual in which they chase the female, 'dance' in front of her, and fight other rival males. If the female is receptive, copulation can last for several hours. Following a successful mating encounter, females gestate for 167 days. Rattlesnakes are ovoviviparous, meaning that the female incubates her eggs inside her body and then gives birth to live young. After hatching, juveniles only stay with their mother a few hours before striking out on their own. Individuals reach maturity at three years old, and can live to be as old as 25.

Due to their venomous defence, C. atrox has few terrestrial predators. Their primary threats come from hawks, eagles, wild turkeys, and roadrunners, the latter of which have specifically evolved to hunt rattlesnakes. In contrast, the western diamondback rattlesnake has a broad appetite and hunts a variety of rodents, birds, and lizards. They are ambush predators, able to detect their prey through smell and heat. Rattlesnakes have a 'pit' on each side of their heads that contain a heat-sensing organ; this organ is so sensitive that an individual can detect prey only 1/10 of a degree warmer than its background.

Of the rattlesnake species, the western diamondback is considered one of the more aggressive, and is responsible for a majority of the snake bites in the United States. Its venom can be fatal to humans, partially due to the large amount of venom delivered in a single bite. However, C. atrox does not seek out human encounters, and only strikes when cornered. Antivenom for this species is available, and if administered soon after being bitten the recovery rate for victims is quite high.

Conservation status: The IUCN has designated the western diamondback rattlesnake as Least Concern. This species is heavily hunted throughout its range, both for its perceived threat to humans, and for its valuable meat and skin.

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Photos

Ned Harris and Wayne Klement

Wes Edens

Geoff Gallice

Derek Dykstra

#western diamondback rattlesnake #Squamata #Viperidae #rattlesnakes #vipers #Colubrid snakes #snakes #serpents #squamates #reptiles #deserts #desert reptiles #scrubland #scrubland reptiles #north america #southern north america #central america #animal facts #biology #zoology

[birdstudies]

January 29, 2024 - Chaco Earthcreeper (Tarphonomus certhioides) Found from eastern Bolivia and western Paraguay into central Argentina, these birds in the ovenbird family inhabit woodlands and scrub. Usually foraging alone, they eat arthropods, picking their prey mostly from the ground and possibly from shrubs. They build stick nests in bushes, low trees, or cavities in tree trunks, rocks, or buildings or use the abandoned nests of horneros, lining their nests with hair, grass, lichen, plant fibers, snake skin, and other materials. Females lay clutches of three or four eggs.

#chaco earthcreeper #ovenbird #tarphonomus certhioides #bird #birds #illustration #art #grassland #birblr art

[senor-plume]

Monday With Bukowski

only one beer left and the ghost of Bukowski lights my smoke up and convinces me to leave the warm confines of this domicile to get some more

so I throw on my Converse sneakers and jacket to split this scene heading out to purchase a nice January six pack

I leave the stereo playing music softly for a cat that no longer exists but I hate coming home to a silent home so the Beatles will greet me when I arrive back to this place with the brew and I will take to this desk then and pump out a few poems to alleviate the boredom and possibly create a work of art that I will not be embarrassed by in the morning

so I snag my keys from the desk that is being held together with bills and candle wax and hit the stairs down to the car that always waits for me patiently …even when the weather is frigid

and I pull out of my driveway to the local grocery store to purchase the essentials… the beer…a bag of Goldfish Crackers a few slices of my beloved swiss cheese

I survive the aisles… the rows of red dyed meat sitting in dumb plastic …the Cheerios and the sadness of the pet food bags which is a reminder that my darling cat is no longer with me

I hate shopping

I snag the six pack and crackers and cheese and walk slowly to the checkout happy (as always) that I did not run into someone who will engage me in high school conversations

so I pay the total gather up my purchases and slip and slide to my auto which will carry my dumb ass back home where nothing alive waits for me …just a moody television …scented candles …an empty fridge and a photograph of Bob Dylan on the wall circa 1966 that never fails to cheer me up

and now with a Corona Light in my palm I think of Bukowski’s ghost and hope that he will arrive again to be my drinking partner …to light my smokes and teach me a thing or two about making my fingertips hit the proper keys on this typewriter and write poems that I will not cringe over when the sun rises and my solitude is exposed

and if he does not arrive again I have my Buddha statues here at the desk to egg me on… rocking some Eastern pom-poms and lotus flower pedals which never fails to boil the religious goo that swims about inside of this 44 year old frame

I feel good tonight now that I am a drunken homebody …alone and ready to ignore the ringing of the phone or the press of my doorbell

alone on a Monday

seriously now is there anything finer than that?

#tumblr poetry #poetry #alt lit #tumblr poets #creative writing poetry #poets on tumblr