Back in the fall there was some discussion about how Gloranthans see colors -- leading to my suggestion that the Uz have a texture "spectrum." After playing around with this, I'd throw out the following for your criticisms/suggestions... any sonar specialists out there?
Primary "textures" might include the following:
Tagtagso (Wet)
Darksense can penetrate water, but the return is quite different. An object a troll refers to as wet was usually perceived through a substantial amount of water; this includes the bottom of Skyfall Lake (where perceivable) or the bottom of a creekbed. Objects seen in the rain are sometimes called wet, sometimes "fuzzy." I suspect that Sea Trolls, in turn, have a similar word for "dry."
Tagdarso (Slick)
Refers to smooth objects where the sonar ring is slightly defracted off to one side: this includes objects with a film of water (but which dont have enough water to be called wet). Sometimes, in some contexts, also to extremely smooth objects, usually artificial in nature. A leaf with a very thin layer of water, a metal plate or very smooth beetle chitin might all be slick.
Darso (Smooth)
A relatively smooth object. A slab of stone might be slick, or a piece of lead armor.
Engoso (Rough)
An object where Darksense returns are somewhat mixed because of minor variations in texture or surface angle. Trolls individually often discriminate further how rough an object is, by calling it very rough, a little rough, etc.
Gogoso (Fuzzy)
Objects where Darksense returns an extremely distorted picture of surface texture, because individual returning signals are so mixed. Examples might include rough wool, ungroomed fur and rough water.
Roso (Bendy)
Indicating that an object is sensed as it reflects off another object; any reflected object (such as sensing around a corner).
Orso (Sticky)
Not necessarily sticky in the sense of touch -- Trolls use this to refer to surfaces which dont return all the sonar waves sent at them. Many magical items and called such, as are caves too deep to return a sonar echo.
Nedaso (Hollow)
"Only partly there," indicating that the item is not giving back a full sonar ring -- that it is hollow.
Neso (Gone)
Not there: not giving a sonar image, although it may visually appear to the troll. Used to denote objects which are too far to give a sonar reading, rather than objects which are close enough (sticky) but dont give a full image. The trolls often joke that even though they know the Red Moon is neso, they wish it really was.
There are also many secondary textures. Common objects may be used for comparison. During recent feuding between the uz and the bison riders it became quite fashionable among trolls to refer to things as being textured like a bison's hide.
Frex, I'm _not_ sure how different _materials_ might work into this. Since trolls can use darksense to tell, say, bronze from iron, I'm not sure that'd play a part as well. I'd think not, since these can have many different textures, but...
I'd love some input on this, natch!
James Frusetta
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