Part I - The Hearth and the Salamander

Abyss

A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm.

Luminescent

Emitting light not caused by heat.

Ballistics

The science of projectiles and firearms.

Mausoleum

A stately or impressive building housing a tomb or tombs.

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds.

Nomadic

Living the life of a nomad; wandering.

Cartographer

A person who draws or produces maps.

Noncombustible

Not capable of igniting and burning.

Centrifuge

A machine that uses centrifugal force to separate substances of different densities.

Intact

Not damaged or impaired in any way; complete.

Conjure

To call upon or summon a spirit or ghost by invocation or incantation.

Condemnation

The expression of very strong disapproval; censure.

Cower

Crouch down in fear.

Melancholy

A feeling of pensive sadness, typically with no obvious cause.

Distilled

Purified or concentrated by distillation.

Proboscis

The nose of a mammal, especially when it is long and mobile.

Feigning

Pretend to be affected by (a feeling, state, or injury).

Rationalize

Attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true or appropriate.

Olfactory

Relating to the sense of smell.

Ravenous

Extremely hungry.

Pagan

A person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions.

Pratfall

A fall on to one's buttocks.