With something as complex as this role play, there are a lot of different terms used and they can get confusing. So here is an attempt to give a quick reference definition of each one.
Auto Hit: See "No Selling"
Character: The individual you act out in role play as opposed to the person sitting in front of a computer.
Class: Every character has a beginner class, which is similar to their profession. The class determines the char's behavior and temperament to some extent. There are many beginner classes to choose from, such as Warrior, Thief, Ranger, Slave and so on. Beginner classes can be evolved into advanced classes at higher levels, such as Necromancer, Seductress or Warlord. A char may also choose a secondary class at the appropriate level; such chars are called "dual class chars".
Consent: Consent, or OOC Consent refers to seeking permission from your opponent's player, usually done in PM, before playing out a significant scene, such as rape, collaring a slave, or combat. It is a core concept at TLI and failure to abide by its rules is considered a major offense.
Dice Rolls: Dice rolls are bot-run commands that work in IRC to determine success or failure of combat or magical actions. The rolls use a character's stats to give a result.
Enchantment: Enchantments are magics that are placed upon or within an item to empower that item with a potentially wide range of abilities. The most common are enchantments that give a weapon greater effect when striking and armor more ability to withstand being struck and hence better protecting their wearer.
Equipment Slots: The amount of significant items that your character can carry, own or keep stowed away. Each item takes at least one slot. Background items like a shirt don't take a slot, weapons, potions and the like do. As you advance you can gain extra slots and so carry more items.
Experience Points (XP or Exp): Experience points are accumulated by a character as they role play. The more they do, the more experience they gain. Gaining experience leads to rises in level.
Familiars: Familiars or NPC Familiars are small animals called by the School of Magic for members.
GM: See "Narrator"
God Moding: In freeform combat, unrealistically avoiding all damage to yourself. "Fred the newcomer hops, skips and jumps around the room, miraculously unscathed, while Qwerty the massively experienced mage hurls fireballs and chain lightning at him."
Half-Breed: A Half-Breed is a hybrid race, made up of two races, strictly governed by the rules of half-breed races. For instance, a Human-Elf char is a halfbreed.
In Character (IC): When your character speaks or does something appropriate to their persona.
Levels: Levels are a way to measure a character's progress. Each time a new level is reached there is a reward of points, money and sometimes other items.
Level Points: Level points are exactly the same as starting points. They can be traded for an increase in stats such as extra strength.
Mehrial (Mhl or Mh): Currency of Belariath, equivalent of Dollars or Sterling Pounds. Each Mehrial is made up of 100 Coppers (Cop), equivalent of Cents or Pennies. Plural is Mehrials (Mhl or Mh)
Message Board (MB): An online discussion forum. Players are strongly advised to visit the MB and participate in the discussions, and to keep themselves updated with new information.
Modifier: A Modifier, or Mod, is a numerical value added to a dice roll to represent additional points gained by some appropriate item, spell or enchantment. For example the value of armor worn is added to a defensive dice roll in combat.
No Selling: Taking actions for other characters in freeform combat; completing an action not just for yourself but also on behalf of your opponent. "Fred swings his axe, aiming for Joe's knee" is good. "Fred swings his axe and chops Joe's leg off at the knee" is bad.
Narrator: A Narrator (or GM) is a person that moderates and runs a Quest, usually on behalf of the Bounty Hunters Guild. The Narrator does not appear in the role-playing scene themself, but rather paints the picture for the PCs and NPCs playing a Quest scene.
Non-player Character (NPC): An NPC is a temporary character and is not registered as a real character with stats. NPCs are usually brought into play with the approval of Ops to aid in creating a complex quest scene, or under ordinary circumstances, to describe the actions of an insignificant role played by a non-character such as a stable boy or serving wench. Imaginary chars played in an "invasion" scene are also one type of NPCs. It is not unusual for NPC's to be of races not playable under normal circumstances.
Ops: The channel moderators, identified by a @ in front of their nickname. These are the people to go to for help when you can't find information on the site. They also arbitrate disputes and keep the channels running smoothly. It is wise to pay attention when they contact you.
Out Of Battle (OOB): Things that occur outside of combat. Often used to define spells that cannot be used in combat.
Out Of Character (OOC): When you, as the person sitting at the computer, does or says something relating to the real world rather than the fantasy world. For example, saying "Sorry I've been away, my hard drive packed up." is an OOC remark.
Out Of Class (OOC) Skill: A skill which is not normally available to your character's class but which may be acquired by owning a special item for example.
OOC Knowledge: Using knowledge that the player may have, but their character may not, to the character's advantage is a direct violation of role-playing rules and an unethical practice, and is punishable by Ops. An example would be: Your friend's char is getting beat up by another char in another channel. You, the player, can see it, but your char has no idea. Taking your char there to rescue your friend's char is using OOC Knowledge, and considered poor RP ethics.
Out of Sphere Spell (OOS): An OOS spell is one that your character may acquire from a spell sphere which is not normally available to your character. OOS spells cost three times the normal price though, and can only be enchanted on an item, not added to your spell list.
Player: The real person behind the character you are interacting with.
Playing Character (PC): PCs are actual playable characters, run by real players. They have stats, can carry weapons and own spells, etc. PCs are the most common form of characters.
Private Message (PM): A Private Message, also known as a Query Window in mIRC, is a function that allows two individuals to talk privately, without others seeing it. It is useful for seeking consent before starting a scene with another player. If an Op finds something objectionable being discussed in the OOC room, they will often advise to "Take it to PM". It is also possible to send a PM to another player via the message board and it will be there for them next time they visit.
Quest: A mission to achieve a set objective. Quests can be arranged to locate a rare item, rescue a captive, return a runaway slave or for a number of other reasons. Depending on the quest, it may be everyone for themselves or it may require a team effort. Every quest has a reward for successful completion.
Race: Race refers to the character's species possessing traits that are sufficient to characterize it as a distinct group, such as the Human race, the Elf race, Dwarf race and so on.
Relic: A special weapon, armor, ring or other item. It is something probably passed down through history and has some special magical power as well as it's normal use. There is only ever one of each relic and they cannot be bought, only won.
Re-post (rp): It is common to re-post your actions for your partner if they get disconnected during a session. This is usually done by entering the post again for their benefit and adding (rp) at the end. Notice the (rp) is in lowercase, compared to RP in uppercase meaning Role Play.
Resurrection: If a character consents to die in combat and does not choose to yield, they can be brought back to life by the Temple for a fee.
Role-play (RP): Role playing is the essence of Belariath. It is all the actions your character performs in the active role playing channels
Skill: An ability your character has learned which may enable them to perform better in combat or earn extra money by working as an artisan or entertainer, for example.
Spell: A Spell, or a Magical Spell, is an officially recognized knowledge for your character to make something happen, such as Fly. Only officially listed spells are recognized within the world of Belariath. You cannot create a spell yourself at whim during role-play. Spells must be bought from the Sorcerous Sanctuary under applicable guidelines.
Spell Slots: The ability of your character to learn magic. Each spell you know takes at least one slot. As you advance you can gain extra slots and so learn more spells.
Spell Sphere: A spell sphere is a logical grouping of spells by class. Most classes has access to their corresponding spell spheres based on class and sometimes even by race. For instance, almost all classes have access to the Common Sphere (Except Warlord advanced class who dont practice any magic). The Necromatic Sphere is only available to Necromancer class characters and so on.
Stats: Stats are a measure of your character's abilities. They encompass such areas as strength, intelligence and stamina. The higher your stats, the more damage you can give and take in combat.
Storyline: Something like a quest but rather than having a predefined goal, a storyline is open ended roleplay which develops over time.
Yield: Yield is a combat term, and it refers to the act of admitting defeat. Yielding can be done at any time before, during, or at the time when your char may have gone below 0 Life stat. Failing to Yield may lead to your char being killed, and its strongly encouraged that you read the details of combat.