Vaeteru Lingo

• The Saece Houses of Waterdeep

A Glossary for Life in Vaeteru

Though some of these terms might be used derogatorily, they are not considered inherently insulting to use. They are simply regarded as slang, no different than the kinds of codes and terminologies involved in another other subcultures, from thieves to guilds to nobility.

• battlebud: A female homosexual; used almost exclusively to describe those lesbians who are capable in combat, from pit fighters to members of the Watch to seasoned adventurers.
• dantha (DAN-thah): Effete and fey, or “camp”; used to describe men. Though the term is sometimes used derogatorily, denizens of Vaeteru use it casually, or sometimes even in admiration. Derives from Auld Thorass, where it was originally an insult.
• drathee (dra-THEE): A dance unique to Vaeteru society, consisting of a derivation of an elven dance in which the torso is kept rigid, chin high, with arms performing sinuous motions and the feet moving in a stylized way that makes the dancer appear to be floating or moving without leg movement. Often performed in skirts and flowing cloaks to accentuate the grace of the style. Performed to a type of chant derived from dwarven work chants, to percussion derived from orcish war drums. The combination is uniquely vaeterann, and dancers frequently "combat" one another in gatherings in Vaeteru for reputation and acclaim. The name is derived from drathi, an Espruar word that simply means "dance."
• flashclash: Over the top, flamboyant behavior. Has connotations of “trying too hard.” Not insulting per se, but definitely a criticism.
• harnor (HAR-nohr): “Butch,” or overtly masculine-seeming; used to describe women. Like the term dantha, while it is sometimes used derogatorily, denizens of Vaeteru use it casually, or in admiration. Derives from Dethek.
• haerann (hai-EHR-ann): One who transcends or commingles gendered identities. From the Espruar haera, or "center," used to describe those of the "liminal gender."
• liyan (LEE-awn): A male homosexual. Derives from Espruar.
• praed (PRAYED): A male homosexual. Derives from Gnim slang, a corruption of praedenimar, a sacred term used to describe some of the relations among the Lords of the Golden Hills in the absence of the apocryphal Gnomish goddesses.
• saece (SAY-ss): Someone who cross-dresses, encompassing those who simply enjoy the garb of the opposite gender to those who seek to create the illusion of being someone of the opposite sex. Derives from Espruar.
• saececraft: The art of creating the illusion of being the gender opposite of one’s own.
• shaeda (SHAY-duh): A female bisexual. Derives from Espruar.
• tasmar (TAZ-mar): A male bisexual. Derives from Espruar.
• tazessar (ta-ZESS-ar): Someone whose saececraft is so good that they can successfully fool others into seeing them as their intended gender. Derives from tazess, Auld Thorass for "to deceive."
• thruss (THRUSS): A female homosexual. Derives from Dethek.
• umbrark (OOM-brark): Someone who uses saececraft for professional reasons, from drag performers to spies. Derives from Dethek.
• vaeterann (VAI-teh-rann): A colloquialism that refers to "one of Vaeteru;" a description intended to encompass anyone of non-heterosexual orientation or non-cisgendered gender expression. (Similar in use to the non-derogatory definitions of "queer" in English, referring to LGBT folk.)
• winker: A lecher; someone who is always on the prowl for a bedmate. Though this is generalized slang from the Common tongue, it sees plenty of use in Vaeteru, where it is considered less derogatory than in general society. Referring to someone by this often denotes a degree of playful respect for their seduction ability.
• yaeth (YAYTH): A transgendered individual. Derives from Dethek.