Post by Rakugo on Feb 10, 2018 23:06:15 GMT
Rokugani Terminology, Slang, and Idioms
Honorifics
The following list presents the etiquette of names and honorifics, which follow after a name (i.e. Rokugo-San):
-chan: term of endearment for children
-kun: samurai of lower rank
-san: samurai of equal rank
-sama: samurai of higher rank
-dono: samurai who are a mid-ranking lord (provincial daimyo, governor, etc.)
-senpai: anyone senior to oneself in one’s School or military unit
-sensei: one’s teacher, or anyone who is an acknowledged master of a skill
-no-kimi: Clan Champions and those of similar status (e.g. the Emerald Champion)
General Terms
Samurai - the noble social class in Rokugan, which includes many non-warriors
Ronin - a samurai without a lord or master. Literally means “wave man” due to being socially adrift
Bushi - warriors of the samurai class
Courtier - diplomats of the samurai class
Shugenja - priests (spell-casters) of the samurai class
Monks - studied the Tao of Shinsei, hoping to find the secrets of enlightenment as advisers, teachers, and spiritual guardians
Ninja - highly skilled assassins, spies, and saboteurs who prefer stealth and trickery to honorable combat
Emerald Champion - one of the highest ranks in the Emerald Empire, in charge of the justice system. Answers only to the Emperor
Emerald Magistrate - enforcers of Imperial law, answering only to the Emperor and the Emerald Champion
Zeni - Copper coins, the smallest denomination of Rokugani money
Bu - Silver coins, the middle denomination of Rokugani money
Koku - Gold coins, the largest denomination of Rokuani money
Jigoku - the realm of evil (similar to hell)
Ryokō Owari Toshi - The City of Lies, belonging to the Scorpion Clan
Shadowlands - a wasteland infested by the undead and Oni
Kaiu Wall - also called the "Carpenter Wall" despite being made of stone, built to defend against the armies of the Shadowlands
Bushido - the code of ethics followed by members of the samurai class
Iaijutsu - a traditional martial art style of dueling with a katana
Chi - spiritual energy
Kiho - monk equivalent of spells
Maho - blood magic
Tejina - shadow magic, practiced by the ninjiest of ninjas
Seppuku - ritual suicide by samurai when irretrievably dishonored
Daisho - the pair of swords carried by members of the samurai class (katana & wakizashi)
Tetsubo - a large, metal war club favored by the Crab
Yumi - a long bow that's usually asymmetric and held about 1/3 of the way up rather than at the midpoint
Kimono - traditional samurai garment, a robe-like outfit with full sleeves.
Obi - a belt used with a kimono to keep it closed, and hold items, such as the daisho
Kataginu - ouster vest or jacket worn over the kimono
Hakama - pleated, divided skirt or pants worn by bushi
Travel Papers - issued by magistrates or daimyo to legally travel between provinces
Yojimbo - a bodyguard, sometimes a ronin or mercenary for hire
Ashigaru - peasant foot soldiers
Bonge - those who work (peasants, merchants, craftsmen)
Eta - the untouchables, the lowest level of Rokugani society
Hinin - geisha, entertainers
Maho-Tsukai - someone who uses blood magic. Also called “Bloodspeakers"
Tainted - someone who has been infected and/or corrupted by the evil of the Shadowlands
Oni - demonic, evil beasts from the Shadowlands. Sometimes used as a term for all non-humans
Nezumi - Ratlings
kami (little k) - elemental spirits
Kami (big K) - children on the sun and moon, founders of the clans
The Three True Sins - Fear, Desire, and Regret
The Three Sacred Substances - Jade, Crystal, and Obsidian
The Colorful Language of Ryoko Owari - The City of Lies
“Crab water” - Shochu or other hard liquors. This phrase is most common around the docks and in the Fisherman Quarter.
“Dragon’s breath - Opium in smokable form.
“Dragon’s instrument” or simply “instrument” - An opium pipe.
“Floating World" - The Licensed Quarter. Though this phrase is in wide use throughout Rokugan, it originated here in Ryoko Owari.
“Foreign” - The meaning of this word varies, depending on who is using it. The most common use implies that the foreign item, person or story is intriguing, interesting, different, and valuably unique - even if it did not, in fact, come from beyond the borders of Rokugan. However, the Scorpion clan use “foreign” to express a disdain for novelty. A Scorpion will call an object foreign to imply that it is a worthless novelty.
“Getting your sword polished” - This phrase is a euphemism for visiting the Licensed Quarter on Teardrop Island. In most licensed quarters, patrons are required to check their weapons at the doors of each establishment, retrieving them upon departure. However, Teardrop Island is unique in that there is only one dock, and it is impossible to get from the dock to the establishments of the island without passing through the establishment called “Swords Polished.” Noble visitors are expected to leave their weapons there - supposedly so they can be polished, but in truth so that they will not pose a threat to the islands workers and patrons when drunk.
“Going to the bridge” or “trying to find the bridge” - Refers to heavy drinking. Presumably a reference to the Bridge of Drunken Lovers.
“Hand gift” - A bribe.
“Hearing the dragons sing” - Smoking opium. This phrase was popularized by the poet known as “Slender", herself a known addict.
“Leatherworker” - Eta. The eta themselves prefer to be called leatherworkers.
“Liquid Void” - Purified opium suspended in alcohol. The most potent form of the drug.
“Little Shadowlands” - The Leatherworker Quarter. The eta themselves use this phrase only when talking about the mortuary section of the Leatherworker Quarter.
“Little Sister” - Someone who gets blamed for a crime committed by another; a patsy.
“Nightless City” - The Licensed Quarter, so called because the revelry there does not end with nightfall.
“Red Plumes” - The Thunder Guard.
"The Sevenfold Gate” - The Pious Gate.
“Stinkers” - Eta who collect human refuse and cart it away.
“Swimming for honor” - If someone has been murdered and their body dumped in the bay or the river, that person is said to be “swimming for honor”.
Honorifics
The following list presents the etiquette of names and honorifics, which follow after a name (i.e. Rokugo-San):
-chan: term of endearment for children
-kun: samurai of lower rank
-san: samurai of equal rank
-sama: samurai of higher rank
-dono: samurai who are a mid-ranking lord (provincial daimyo, governor, etc.)
-senpai: anyone senior to oneself in one’s School or military unit
-sensei: one’s teacher, or anyone who is an acknowledged master of a skill
-no-kimi: Clan Champions and those of similar status (e.g. the Emerald Champion)
General Terms
Samurai - the noble social class in Rokugan, which includes many non-warriors
Ronin - a samurai without a lord or master. Literally means “wave man” due to being socially adrift
Bushi - warriors of the samurai class
Courtier - diplomats of the samurai class
Shugenja - priests (spell-casters) of the samurai class
Monks - studied the Tao of Shinsei, hoping to find the secrets of enlightenment as advisers, teachers, and spiritual guardians
Ninja - highly skilled assassins, spies, and saboteurs who prefer stealth and trickery to honorable combat
Emerald Champion - one of the highest ranks in the Emerald Empire, in charge of the justice system. Answers only to the Emperor
Emerald Magistrate - enforcers of Imperial law, answering only to the Emperor and the Emerald Champion
Zeni - Copper coins, the smallest denomination of Rokugani money
Bu - Silver coins, the middle denomination of Rokugani money
Koku - Gold coins, the largest denomination of Rokuani money
Jigoku - the realm of evil (similar to hell)
Ryokō Owari Toshi - The City of Lies, belonging to the Scorpion Clan
Shadowlands - a wasteland infested by the undead and Oni
Kaiu Wall - also called the "Carpenter Wall" despite being made of stone, built to defend against the armies of the Shadowlands
Bushido - the code of ethics followed by members of the samurai class
Iaijutsu - a traditional martial art style of dueling with a katana
Chi - spiritual energy
Kiho - monk equivalent of spells
Maho - blood magic
Tejina - shadow magic, practiced by the ninjiest of ninjas
Seppuku - ritual suicide by samurai when irretrievably dishonored
Daisho - the pair of swords carried by members of the samurai class (katana & wakizashi)
Tetsubo - a large, metal war club favored by the Crab
Yumi - a long bow that's usually asymmetric and held about 1/3 of the way up rather than at the midpoint
Kimono - traditional samurai garment, a robe-like outfit with full sleeves.
Obi - a belt used with a kimono to keep it closed, and hold items, such as the daisho
Kataginu - ouster vest or jacket worn over the kimono
Hakama - pleated, divided skirt or pants worn by bushi
Travel Papers - issued by magistrates or daimyo to legally travel between provinces
Yojimbo - a bodyguard, sometimes a ronin or mercenary for hire
Ashigaru - peasant foot soldiers
Bonge - those who work (peasants, merchants, craftsmen)
Eta - the untouchables, the lowest level of Rokugani society
Hinin - geisha, entertainers
Maho-Tsukai - someone who uses blood magic. Also called “Bloodspeakers"
Tainted - someone who has been infected and/or corrupted by the evil of the Shadowlands
Oni - demonic, evil beasts from the Shadowlands. Sometimes used as a term for all non-humans
Nezumi - Ratlings
kami (little k) - elemental spirits
Kami (big K) - children on the sun and moon, founders of the clans
The Three True Sins - Fear, Desire, and Regret
The Three Sacred Substances - Jade, Crystal, and Obsidian
The Colorful Language of Ryoko Owari - The City of Lies
“Crab water” - Shochu or other hard liquors. This phrase is most common around the docks and in the Fisherman Quarter.
“Dragon’s breath - Opium in smokable form.
“Dragon’s instrument” or simply “instrument” - An opium pipe.
“Floating World" - The Licensed Quarter. Though this phrase is in wide use throughout Rokugan, it originated here in Ryoko Owari.
“Foreign” - The meaning of this word varies, depending on who is using it. The most common use implies that the foreign item, person or story is intriguing, interesting, different, and valuably unique - even if it did not, in fact, come from beyond the borders of Rokugan. However, the Scorpion clan use “foreign” to express a disdain for novelty. A Scorpion will call an object foreign to imply that it is a worthless novelty.
“Getting your sword polished” - This phrase is a euphemism for visiting the Licensed Quarter on Teardrop Island. In most licensed quarters, patrons are required to check their weapons at the doors of each establishment, retrieving them upon departure. However, Teardrop Island is unique in that there is only one dock, and it is impossible to get from the dock to the establishments of the island without passing through the establishment called “Swords Polished.” Noble visitors are expected to leave their weapons there - supposedly so they can be polished, but in truth so that they will not pose a threat to the islands workers and patrons when drunk.
“Going to the bridge” or “trying to find the bridge” - Refers to heavy drinking. Presumably a reference to the Bridge of Drunken Lovers.
“Hand gift” - A bribe.
“Hearing the dragons sing” - Smoking opium. This phrase was popularized by the poet known as “Slender", herself a known addict.
“Leatherworker” - Eta. The eta themselves prefer to be called leatherworkers.
“Liquid Void” - Purified opium suspended in alcohol. The most potent form of the drug.
“Little Shadowlands” - The Leatherworker Quarter. The eta themselves use this phrase only when talking about the mortuary section of the Leatherworker Quarter.
“Little Sister” - Someone who gets blamed for a crime committed by another; a patsy.
“Nightless City” - The Licensed Quarter, so called because the revelry there does not end with nightfall.
“Red Plumes” - The Thunder Guard.
"The Sevenfold Gate” - The Pious Gate.
“Stinkers” - Eta who collect human refuse and cart it away.
“Swimming for honor” - If someone has been murdered and their body dumped in the bay or the river, that person is said to be “swimming for honor”.