Sayings of the Realms

Here I will keep a Work in Progress article about the various sayings and phrases people use in the Realm and what they mean. As my writing grows, I anticipate this doing likewise - for where there are people, there are unusual ways of phrasing things!

Saying List

Those added so far are:

• Spilling into Buckets, Not Goblets
• A Wall-Lizard's Claw
• Hitting the Lizard
• Under the Roof
• An erdàn
• You don't enter Minor drunk

If you spot any in my writing that I have not explained, please let me know! Article Sections

Spilling into Buckets, Not Goblets

Origin: Qal'ath
Usually relating to thoughts, where you speak all of them at once, rather than trying to handle them one at a time.
This can also be related to someone's life, where they are attempting to successfully undertake too many tasks in the same moment.

The Kyadd nodded, feeling so anxious her thoughts "spilled into buckets, rather than goblets", as they say.
"Thank you. Firstly, sorry for intruding, but I'm a light sleeper and once I'm awake, I'm awake, and I can't help what I overhear and it's a cat-heritage thing, and..."

Skirmishes and Schisms
Chapter 7, 9 Ur 30
(Coming Soon!)

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A Wall-Lizard's Claw

Origin: Qal'ath, Wild Marshes
This is a phrase which is the shortened, and therefore more common, form of A Wall-Lizard's Claw's Chance.
Wall Lizards are the smallest Skàlkyn known in the regions of Qal'ath, Shevezz and Doon. Therefore its claws are the smallest claws of any lizard in the Known Lands.
So, A Wall-Lizard's Claw meant one had such a tiny chance of something occurring that it may as well be zero.

"Let’s not do too much though. The people are capable of saving themselves and keeping their pride. We can put a barrier up against more water flooding in, though," she suggested, "I just hope no officials detect it.”
“If they cared a wall-lizard’s claw about this place, we wouldn’t be in this mess!” he despaired.

"Wrenched" (My draft, unpublished novel)
Fleeing the Tempests, 17 Ur

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Hitting the Lizard...

Origin: Wild Marshes

by F J Brodie

"Hitting the Lizard" came from the hunting of larger-sized Skàlkyn either for food or protection. Commonly, their hides and scales are so thick it takes a very precise bow-shot, or spear-throw to render it unconscious or dead. Even spellcraft had to concentrate on the weakest spots on large lizards to be successful.

Chronicler's Note:
Only dangerous "lizards" (which could cover a wide variety of similar creatures) were hunted. Many were part of the local cycles, occasionally kept as pets and, in the case of the S'wal'kà / Téperskà, used for transportation.

The saying referred to someone accurately guessing something, or making an argument in a conversation that was factual, accurate and likely needed action. The countryside Elelupii simplified this to "exactly!" or "spot on!".
But "Hit the Lizard" was only half of the phrase and had two variants:

...'twixt the eyes

This is the original ending of the saying, as used by the Wild Folk. It is thought that shooting an arrow into a larger Lizard does not kill it outright, as it can use the other one to launch either an attack of its own, or an attempt to flee. Thus they aimed, between the eyes - 'twixt them.

...on the head

Qal'ath and others
At some point in the mixing of the Wild Folk with other nations, the hitting of the proverbial lizard changed from a successful hunting technique to one more blunt.
"Hitting the Lizard on the Head" still carries the same meaning.

Chronicler's Note:
While the two phrases mean the same, unless a particularly large rock were hurled onto a (large) lizard's head, such an action would likely enrage it.
Thus, if a Qalathii were to use this variation among Wild Folk, they would invoke amusement, rather than respect.

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Under the Roof

Origin: Forest of Doon, Bruhaii Foyblànii

As few creatures 'under the roof' were hunted by the Woodsmen, Nature's cycles claimed its inhabitants, and as all beings were part of the delicate balance of the Elements, they tried to honour the fallen as much as possible.

Who Can Judge? in Skirmishes and Schisms

Unlike other sayings, "under the roof" was a practical reference and needed no decoding. Particularly prevalent among the Foyii of The Forest of Doon, "under the roof" denoted being in the Wood itself.
Some parts of Doon are so dense as to close off the sky, yet this saying was not in reference to feeling trapped or cut off. Instead it was used to speak of the protection and comfort of the Forest. The Foyverii in particular would yearn to be back "under the roof" if sent on missions outside of Doon.
Finally, as the Woodsmen only lived in actually-roofed huts during the early years of child's life - or if holding a particularly important role for the clan - the leaves above were genuinely the only roof they lived with for most of their lives.

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The Arrow Strays...

Origin: Disputed. It is used by some of the Foyii, but has been read in Qalathian research scrolls, historical documents and others too.
While this saying has several variations, it generally has the same meaning. And that meaning is reliant upon the end of the phrase, as one might expect.

...not too far from the target

Or "...not far from...", means a comment or observation is as close to being accurate without, well, hitting the Lizard twixt the eyes, I would say.

...far from the target

Is the opposite of "not too far", where a statement is distant from the fact of the matter being discussed.

Interestingly, there is no "arrow" reference for something that is in between those distances.

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Jumping Out of Oneself

Origin: This is mostly a Qalathi and Foyi saying.
It refers to being so startled you cannot control your body's immediate reaction.
An older form of this is "to jump out of one's skin".

Why This Saying Evolved

Qal'ath has no organised faith or worship so does not separate the physical and the non-physical states of a person. The Foyii separate the physical and the elemental where the life energy returns to nature to nurture it. To have kept a reference to "temporarily departing one's skin" would have implied a near-death experience.
This was changed to "jump out of oneself" - i.e. to suddenly and temporarily forget about your own existence for a moment (hence losing control for a second).

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An Erdàn

Origin: Foyii
This literally translates as "in the lands".
However, as a standalone saying it means "in all the possible ways (across the land)", usually when indicating an impossibility.

Example

"I was just going to ask how an erdàn you thought you would get to the Viàtoli on time." (Ayàvi)

The inference is that, even considering all the ways they could get there on time, it would not be possible.

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Not drunk when you enter Minor

Origin: Bezélan Minor
The full saying is:

If you're not drunk when you enter Minor, you will be when you leave.

Such is the state of the so-called "half-capital" that the poor have few comforts. The availability of unregulated and locally-brewed cheap ale, along with the usually-legal Fyrous-Ale mixes, gave rise to the above saying, which is unfortunately, not a great exaggeration of reality for Bezélan Minor's residents.
Example:

Lenìc sighed.
“Yet another drunkard.”
“But,” Pelorma said pointing, “most people don’t enter Minor drunk.”
“Good point,” Lenìc agreed with a wry chuckle.

Wrenched, Dag Kantà

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