Shadakine Empire

A large realm in southern Magnamund, covering most of the eastern half of the continent at the time of the World of Lone Wolf gamebooks. The capital is the city of Shadaki, and it also contains a number of other major cities such as Ghol-Tabras. In addition, it controls the formerly free cities such as Andui, Forlu and Karnali and a number of desolate areas such as Lara and the Lissan Plains.

The Empire is ruled by the Wytch-King Shasarak by means of fell magic and the fearsome Shadakine army. Particularly important are the Shadakine Wytches, who control each city partly by means of the powerful influence of the Kazim Stones they possess. Shasarak has also called demons to his aid, has opened a portal to the demonic plane and is a powerful magician in his own right.
The Shadakine Empire at its peak stretched from the Tentarias, the northern border of Southern Magnamund, to the south coast of the continent.

After the fall of Shasarak, most of the area became a single realm under the rulership of the wizard Grey Star, but Shadakine supporters continued to cause unrest. The free cities returned to their independence.
by Andy April 24, 2004
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Constructicon

Member of a Decepticon Special Team made up entirely of construction vehicles. All coloured light green and purple, the Constructicons are Scavenger (hoe), Scrapper (digger), Bonecrusher (bulldozer), Mixmaster (cement mixer), Hook (crane) and Long Haul (dump truck).

They combine into Devastator. The Constructicons were the first Special Team with a combined mode, and the only one inherited from the Diaclone line. Uniquely among the Generation 1 combiners, the Constructicons were not interchangeable and could only combine in a very specific way.
"Constructicons, combine and merge into Devastator!"

"Nobody's driving those things!"
"Right, puny human! We are the Constructicons! We drive ourselves!"
by Andy July 22, 2004
mugGet the Constructiconmug.

Newspeak

In George Orwell's dystopia "Nineteen Eighty-Four", Newspeak was the corrupted/purged language everyone was supposed to speak according to the totalitarian dictatorship which ran everything. Words with subversive potential and those which had unclear meanings were eliminated, along with references to the past. The attempt was to bring language, and therefore thought, into line with the wishes of the rulers.

It is also used to refer to any instance of politically-invented language put out through apparatuses of propaganda and social control or by spindoctors.

Words like people-trafficker, collateral damage and downsizing are examples of real-world Newspeak.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't make up new words. Nor does it mean that every political or invented word should be suspect. The point is that new words should expand meaning, not contract it. If a word is used to cover up abuses by the powerful or to manipulate people in favour of the existing regime, it's Newspeak.
by Andy May 01, 2004
mugGet the Newspeakmug.

somepin

slang for "Something"
as used in stienbeck's grapes of wrath
"Boy, I tell you somepin..."
OR
"...well, we gotta do <i>somepin</i>..."
by Andy February 07, 2005
mugGet the somepinmug.

Vassagonia

Huge desert empire located in northern Magnamund, taking up most of the eastern coastal area between Sommerlund/Durenor and Dessi. Ruled by a sultan/king known as the Zakhan, the empire is held in a state of constant fear by his dreaded security forces, the Sharnazim. It has one of the most powerful armies in Magnamund, and sometimes fights alongside the Darklords, who enter into secret pacts with the Zakhan or use magic to influence him.

Featured in a number of Lone Wolf books, it is the main setting for Lone Wolf 5: Shadow on the Sand, and for two of the Legends of Lone Wolf books (numbers 7 and 8). In Shadow on the Sand, Lone Wolf is sent as an ambassador to the realm, but treachery is afoot and he is attacked on arrival. Forced to escape the dungeons of the zakhan, Lone Wolf eventually discovers that the Book of the Magnakai - a Kai treasure containing the secrets of the higher Kai disciplines - is hidden in Vassagonia. After finding the book, he must battle the new Darklord leader, Haakon, to claim it.

Other aspects of the story include the winged Itikar, giant birds used by the Vassagonian army, and the complex sewer system beneath Barrakeesh.

The somewhat one-sided portrayal of Vassagonia given in this book is offset in the Legends novels, when good Vassagonian characters are incorporated into the story, and the zakhan is overthrown (though not, presumably, for good, since he appears in Lone Wolf book 9 which is set later).

In Lone Wolf Book 9, the forces of Vassagonia, which are also attacking Cloeasia, Casiorn and other territories, converge with the Darklord forces in besieging the city of Tahou in the realm of Anari. Lone Wolf must defeat the Zakhan Kimah in one-to-one combat at the end of the book.

The capital of Vassagonia is Barrakeesh. Other notable features include the Dry Main, a virtually impassable desert inhabited by nomad traders.

The culture and imagery of the Vassagonian Empire seems to be based loosely on the Arab world in the Middle Ages, although the centralised sultanate is more reminiscent of empires from a later period.
Lone Wolf's arrival in Vassagonia was marred when he was attacked on arrival by the Sharnazim.

The army of Vassagonia is feared across Magnamund because of its Sharnazim shock-troops and the airborne Itikar riders.
by Andy April 22, 2004
mugGet the Vassagoniamug.

Help Desk

A group of people in a department that have to deal with all the IT problems within an company or organzation. These problems are dealing with dumb asses users 99% of the time.
The helpdesk is the first and last people you deal with from the IT department.
Humm... It says press any key, I don't see the ANY key.
I think we need to call the helpdesk. Then the helpdesk employee shoots himself.
by Andy September 02, 2004
mugGet the Help Deskmug.

Cod

Cash-on-delivery,

Reference is from the Spinal Tap album 'Break like the wind'
Make it cash on delivery if you're gonna do business with me, let's keep it strictly c - o - d
by Andy December 15, 2003
mugGet the Codmug.