Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acron. = Acronym
Abbrv. = Abbreviation
All below terms are commonly used in both DM and GSG.
ASAP: acron. As Soon As Possible
AG: acron. Avidgamers. See ‘Avidgamers’.
Anthro: abbrv. Anthropomorphic. See ‘Anthro(pomorphic)’.
Bic: acron. Back In Character. See ‘Back In Character’.
Bio: abbrv. Biography. See ‘Biography’.
Brb: acron. Be Right Back
Btw: acron. By The Way
Chara: abbrv. Character. See ‘Character’.
‘Corn: abbrv. Unicorn. See ‘Unicorn’.
DA: acron. Deviantart. See ‘Deviantart’.
DM: acron. Dark Moon. See ‘Dark Moon’.
DMC: acron. Devil May Care. See ‘Devil May Care’.
DS: acron. Dark Skye. See ‘Dark Skye’.
Femme: abbrv. Feminine or Female
G2G: acron. Got To Go. Similarly – gtg: Got To Go
GF: acron. Gutterflower. See ‘Gutterflower’.
GJ: acron. Greaterjournal. See ‘Greaterjournal’.
GSG: acron. Gabriel’s School for the Gifted. See ‘Gabriel’s School for the Gifted’.
Ic: acron. In Character
Lj: acron. Livejournal. See ‘Livejournal’.
Lmao: acron. Laughing My Arse Off
Lol: acron. Laughing Out Loud
Mascu: abbrv. Masculine or Male
N00b: abbrv. Newbie. See ‘Newbie’.
Nm: acron. Neomail. See ‘Neomail’.
Obsid: abbrv. Obsidian
Omg: acron. Oh My God
Ooc: acron. Out Of Character. See ‘Out Of Character’.
Pinnas: Honestly, I have not the faintest idea what pinnas are. I’ll have to ask Mystix some day.
RP: acron. Roleplay. See ‘Roleplaying’.
Stt: acron. Skipping Travel Time. See ‘Skipping Travel Time’.
Vamp: abbrv. Vampire. See ‘Vampire’.
‘Randomosities’
Below definitions are general meanings of ‘Randomosities’ regularly used by DMers and GFers.
:P: Generally meaning ‘just joking’ or ‘how silly’. Other variations include ‘J’ (happy), ‘L’ (sad), and ;) (wink wink, just between you and me).
Barf: Generally meaning ‘how disgusting’. “I have to go with my parents to a conference on artificial production of wheat. Barf.”
Bleh: Used when bored or dissatisfied with posts. “Bleh, I really can’t string two words together tonight.”
Buddeh: DM take on the word ‘buddy’.
Burd: A DMer’s fond way of referring to a gryphon. “My little burd is so messed up.”
Bwawk: Expressing baffled excitement. Usually expressed in all capitals. “BWAWK! I have no idea what’s going on, but this is so amazing!”
Floof: Expressing a state of contented exhaustion and gratefulness. “Floof, glad my tests are over and I can post again.”
Glomp: Slightly exaggerated version of ‘huggle’. Sort of a flying, jumping, tackling version of ‘huggle’, in fact. May also use ‘flying tackle hug’. A less exaggerated version of ‘Tacklehugs’. Yes, we at DM take our hug denominations VERY seriously.
Grrrr: Expressing anger or irritation. “Grrrr, I can’t post properly until next week.”
Huggle: DM take on ‘hug’. But the sacred ‘huggle’ is much more. The huggle is used when expressing fondness and thanks.
Ickle: DM take on word ‘little’. Used in a cutesy sense, and generally used to refer to evil characters to get them really ticked off, as in ‘ickle Luci’, ‘ickle Terru’, ‘ickle Merc-y’. Also common is ‘ickle birdums’.
Meep: Used when concerned or otherwise disturbed. “I’m really worried about you. Meep…are you okay?”
Methinks: Generally used to mean, ‘I think so, but I’m not entirely sure. What do you think?’ as in “Methinks something is wrong.”
Muaha(hahahaha): Used when being particularly evil. Often used in all capitals when particularly evil. “I’m about to take over the world. MUAHAHAHAHA!”
O.o: Generally used when confused, lost or subservient. “Okay, I’m really lost, whatever you say O.o”.
Pft: The ‘diss’ of DMers. “Pft, as if that would ever work.”
Poke: Used when insisting to another that they do something promptly, such as posting, finishing an art request, or sending some kind of reply. “You haven’t posted in three days. Don’t make me poke you.”
Pounce: Used in a similar way to ‘Tacklehugs’, though less extreme. One can ‘pounce’ when they are pleased with the way a plot is going, or the way a character is acting. “This plot is so cool! Thank you so much! *pounce*”.
Purdy: DM take on the word ‘pretty’.
Sorreh: DM take on the word ‘sorry’.
Squee: Expressing great joy or excitement, usually with oneself or a character. “I adore your new character! Squee!” Tacklehugs: Used to express extreme joy, usually in congratulating another’s good fortune, or in welcoming back a member that has taken a short leave of absence. “You’re back! *tacklehugs*”.
Thwap: Used in scolding another for doing something irritating. “You’ve been bothering me about getting that request done all week. *thwap*”.
Whoot: Generally expressing congratulations, excitement for another’s good fortune, or thanks. “Whoot! Thanks heaps for making the new guild!”
X.X: General meaning is ‘look at me, I am so very dead.’
Yush: DM take on the word ‘yes’.
Guild World-Specific Locations and Terms
Below are species, magics, devices, locations, historical events and personalities, terms of hierarchy and anatomical terms of the worlds of Dark Moon and Gutterflower. Keep in mind that the DM and GF RPs take place within the same world, so many of these terms may often appear in both guilds.
Gft. = Gutterflower Term
Dmt. = Dark Moon Term
Alpha: Dmt. The leader of a clan of eyries. The original high alphas of Dark Moon were Lord Tahovhan and Lady Arthelia, but are now Lady Tahvi (Tahovhan’s ‘daughter’) and Sir Liantdae.
Orloeden’s Fall: Dmt.
Hell’s Elevator: Dmt. At the far southwest end of Dark Moon, beyond the woods, is an ornate elevator leading through the nine rings of hell. Over the entrance is carved the words, roughly translated to ‘Abandon all faith, ye who enter.’ (Also translated to ‘All hope abandon, ye who enter in’.) The ten buttons within are gold and carved with roman numerals, and lead as far the ninth ring, Cocytus. The elevator music is ‘Only the Good Die Young’ by Billy Joel. Ironic. Also see ‘Underworld’ and ‘Cocytus’.
Tahovhan’s Death: Dmt. When Mercury first began his campaign as terrorist of Dark Moon, the constant main power he knew he had to overthrow was Tahovhan. At last, while the rest of the clan was occupied, Mercury approached Tahovhan on his own. Mercury tore the soul from the Alpha and scattered it so that Tahovhan could never be brought back, banishing him to the deepest pit of Hell. Beneath Tahovhan’s mutilated corpse were scrawled the words ‘who’s next?’
Underworld: Dmt./Gmt. The Underworld is the collective name for the many rings of Hell and Faltron’s Lands. Hell was once ruled by Satan until he was overthrown by Lord Mercury and Lady Erash, who now rule it. Faltron’s Lands are dark and dominated by a black river, where those who have been wicked in life come to be judged, and where Faltron’s onyx throne sits.
Hell’s Lands: Dmt. To the far east of Dark Moon, over the cliffs and the marshes are Hell’s Lands, where Hell and the surface of the world are the closest together. Here, the ground burns red hot, and incinerates all that touches it, save for the few skeletal fire-resistant trees that can grow on the flaming ground.
North Cliffs: Dmt.
Silver Demon: Dmt.
Seascape: Dmt.
Free World: Dmt.
Eyrie: Dmt. A ‘neopet’ resembling a gryphon. See ‘Gryphon’.
Clan: Dmt.
Silent Realm: Dmt. This is the realm from which Lady Sirea and Aubirey Circe Nitekry originated. The silent realm is a blank, white, empty expanse in which there are no dimensions. See ‘Realms’.
Realms: Dmt./Gft.
Silver Lady: Dmt.
Flames Mistress: Dmt.
Wind Master: Dmt.
Darkness Wing: Dmt.
Elysian Lady: Dmt.
Mist Plains: Dmt.
Beta: Dmt.
Gamma: Dmt.
Delta: Dmt.
Epsilon: Dmt.
Omega: Dmt.
Element: Dmt./Gft.
Lothierra: Dmt. A magical, fatal disease that causes blood and puss to leak through the pores. Lothierra is generally used as a kind of biological warfare. It was first turned against eyries in Dark Moon when Lord Mercury taught the curse to his followers in order to spread an epidemic among the Light forces.
Tufts: Dmt.
Nares: Dmt.
Crown: Dmt.
Tailblade: Dmt.
Collar: Dmt.
Cannibal, The: Dmt.
Brows: Dmt./Gft.
Sheath: Dmt./Gmt.
Mandible: Dmt.
Hackles: Dmt./Gmt.
Great Flame, The: Dmt.
Claw’s Tree: Dmt.
Soulfeather: Dmt.
Mate: Dmt./Gft.
Satan’s Throne: Dmt.
Humanoid: Dmt./Gft.
Mindspeech: Dmt.
Pyrokenetic: Dmt./Gft.
Fledgling: Dmt.
Tearscar: Dmt.
Mage: Dmt./Gmt.
Council: Dmt.
Rebirth, The: Dmt.
Eternal Night: Dmt.
Marshes, The: Dmt.
Faltron: Dmt.
Lightheart: Dmt.
Five, The: Dmt.
Were: Dmt./Gft.
Training Realm: Dmt.
Demon Lord: Dmt.
Lupogryph: Dmt. A gryphon with the body of a wolf. The most famous example of a DM lupogryph is Sir Gekijin.
Gryphon: Dmt./Gft.
Firepelt: Dmt. Some gryphons possess fire pelts. Fire pelts come in two main forms. The first simply causes the pelt to appear as if it is on fire, but generates no heat. These flames may be of any color. Notable historic gryphons of Dark Moon possessing this kind of firepelt include Lord Tahovhan, Lady Tahvi, Sir Darkphyre and Prince Sezkhae. The other kind of firepelt is one that burns over the gryphon’s body and acts as a defense, burning whatever touches it. Depending on the specific pelt, it may also generate light or heat. The best known gryphon possessing this kind of firepelt is Arturo Fyrehart.
Behemoth: Dmt./Gft.
Anthro(pomorphic): Dmt./Gft.
Phoenix: Gft.
Unicorn: Gft.
Fae: Gft.
Werewolf: Gft.
Dragon: Gft.
Elf: Gft.
Demon: Gft.
Vampire: Gft.
Hybrid: Gft./Dmt.
Corvidery, The: Gft. The Corvidery is a shop located on Cheston St. in Hemaclot, and owned by Tyler Cath, along with Charmaine de Warrienne. The Corvidery works like a Harry Potter style post office, using corvids instead of owls. The birds can be rented out to send messages or can be sold. The Corvidery stocks crows, ravens, jays, magpies and receives the occasional traffic of currawongs, choughs and butcherbirds. See ‘Corvids’.
Black Widow: Gft.
Hemaclot: Gft.
Cocytus: Dmt./Gft.
Storm Crow, The: Gft.
Corvids: Gft.
Shift: Gft./Dmt.
Necromancy: Dmt./Gft.
Mutants: Gft.
Teleportation: Gft.
Evanescent: Gft.
Centaur: Gft.
Fawn: Gft.
Equine: Gft.
Seahorse-jockey: Gft.
Styx: Gft.
Caneti: Dmt./Gft. A Gryphonic word originating from old Avian, meaning ‘blackness’ or ‘darkness’ and, in some contexts, ‘master of dark’.
Kedve: Dmt. A Gryphonic word meaning ‘beloved one’ or ‘one to whom I am bonded’, usually used when referring to mates or offspring.
Khaine: Dmt. A Gryphonic word meaning ‘valor’, ‘courage’ or ‘bravery’. Originated from the great griffin Khaine of the Phyre clan.
Duur: Gft. A Swahili word meaning ‘lovely’. Primarily used by Captain Selena of the Storm Crow when referring to her mate, Tasha.
Shadowflames: Dmt.
Shadowdance: Dmt.
Ursagryph: Dmt. A gryphon with the body of a bear. The most famous example of an ursagryph in Dark Moon is Crowanir.
Roleplaying Terms
Avatars: In GF this refers to an image or icon indicating or associated with a specific character, which appears beside posts made from the point of view of that character.
Avidgamers: A forum-making community for games discussion, located at www.avidgamers.com. The DM boards are currently located on Avidgamers under the name ‘darkm00n’.
Back In Character: Indicating a movement from Out of Character back to the point of view of the character. This can also be indicated with enclosing symbols such as ‘*’ or ‘~’. See ‘Out of Character’.
Biography: A detailed description of a character. This often include their name, age, gender, family, friends, physical description, personality and history. Often referred to as a ‘bio’.
Character: Pft, look it up in the dictionary.
Devil May Care:
Dark Moon: The sacred and beloved Dark Moon Eyries, a gryphon roleplaying guild founded by Silver_eyrie87 on neopets on February 17, 2001, and originally lead by the high Alphas, Lord Tahovhan and Lady Arthelia. Commonly known as DM.
Dark Skye: The neopets guild off which Dark Moon was originally based. Dark Skye is a much more ‘lighthearted’ guild, and DM was formed when some of the darker eyries decided to split off and find their own way in the world. Commonly referred to as DS.
Deviant: A piece of artwork submitted to Deviantart.com. See ‘Deviantart’.
Deviantart: A site for posting amateur artwork and photography, located at www.deviantart.com. Several members of DM and GF, such as Silver, Mystix, Sun, Rawr and Fear, have accounts at Deviantart. It is commonly referred to as ‘DA’.
Ducklings: Friends, allies and well-wishers, and basically anyone close to the heart. This term was first used by Mystix. Also see ‘Poodles’.
Gabriel’s School for the Gifted: The neopets guild off which Gutterflower was originally based. GSG, as it was commonly known, was based off of the X-men movies and comics, and was a roleplay guild for mutants possessing unique powers. It was set around a school which was a sanctuary for young mutants, led by Gabriel. It was originally founded by Silver.
Godmode: To give your own character unsuitable or unbelievable power or cause natural events to run in their favor. This generally brings a disadvantage to other players and is frowned upon, so avoid it unless you’re a trusted member.
Greaterjournal:
Guild: This refers to either a forum or site on which an RP is conducted, or to the members of that RP as a collective community.
Gutterflower: A Livejournal-based fantasy RP, consisting of the interactions of nine different magical species. To learn more about these species, visit http://www.freewebs.com/
gutterfl0wer/index.htm. GF was created as a reincarnation of GSG, in hopes of creating a more interesting plot. I happen to think we succeeded ;).
Livejournal: This refers to www.livejournal.com, a rather useful blogging website on which many members of DM (and almost all members of GF) have an account. Livejournal is also the place where the Gutterflower boards are currently located, under the username of gutterflower14. Livejournal can be abbreviated to ‘LJ’.
Neomail: The neopets system of communication. Neomail, or ‘NM’, is a bit like e-mail, except that it can only be sent to others who are members of the neopets community. See ‘Neopets’.
Neopets: This refers to the website www.neopets.com, on which the original guild boards for DM, GSG and DS were created. They also came up with the idea for eyries, so we really owe them a lot…despite how obnoxious their monitoring can be.
Newbie: A new person. This can refer either to a new member of the guild or someone who is new to the concept of roleplaying. This can be abbreviated to ‘N00b’.
Out Of Character: A section of a post that is made from the point of view of the writer/member instead of from the point of view of their character. This can be shortened to ‘ooc’. Also see ‘Back in Character’.
Poodles: Ski’s version of ‘Ducklings’. See ‘Ducklings’.
Post: One set of actions by a character, as written by its owner, and then submitted to the guild boards. Posts are usually a paragraph or two long and will contain the actions of one character per post. Oocs are also included in posts.
Powerplay: To roleplay another person’s character without their permission. In most guilds this is very much against the rules, but we’re pretty lenient about it, as long as it is done to advance the plot, and it doesn’t bring the character to any harm.
Profile: A brief outline of the attributes of a character or member, generally including fields such as name, gender, and physical appearance. The DM member profile outline can be found at the DM boards.
Roleplaying: This term gets back to the very basics of the whole thing. Online Roleplaying generally consists of several members, all possessing characters over which they have control. By writing out the actions, reactions and interactions of their characters with characters owned by other people, complex plots can be created. RPing, as it is known, is immensely fun and extremely addictive. You have been warned.
Skipping Travel Time: Because RPing traveling from one place to another uneventfully becomes repetitive, one can use Skipping Travel Time to simply transport their characters from one location to another, simply assuming that the characters made the journey. This can be shortened to ‘STT’.
Spam: To clutter up the guild board with useless posts. This can include the same post posted repeatedly, or a very short and un-worthwhile message that, nevertheless, requires its own space on the boards.
Time Jump: A section of time that is skipped over in order to advance the plot or avoid boring aspects of it. A time jump is often used for things like skipping from night to the next morning without having to RP sleeping, or to make newborns grow up more quickly so that they can be RPed effectively.