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 This device, occurring in variant forms, is used by Inquisitors of Rephidim Temple during Exile Processing. It serves the purpose of teaching the wearer of the helmet the common tongue of Rephidim - Rephidim Standard - though its original purpose is unclear, and the technology used to create it is beyond current understood levels. With the exception of certain discoveries of First Ones sites, this technology is unique to Rephidim Temple.
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 The Pearl is an island just off of the west coast of the Seaborne Reach, in the Sea of Himaat. It is a large crater island that consists of an inner region known as the Basin, in which large and mutated beasts are known to roam (and serve as an attraction for big game hunters across the globe). This in turn is surrounded by the Rim, a rocky area that effectively walls in the Basin, and is home to a small "town" that provides access to and from the island.
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| (Not common knowledge outside Half Valley area and scholarly circles) According to myth, the Levitha River (largest river of the Seaborne Reach) was created by a gargantuan two-headed sea serpent that lives under the ocean. Purportedly, this serpent -- known as Levitha -- laid down in the Half Valley, creating indentations that formed the river. Accordingly, the river has tributaries that correspond to the arms of this gargantuan Naga-like creature, and it also has two mouths into the Sea of Himaat. Levitha also figures prominently in other myths indigenous to the region, and is prominent in naming of geological features (especially those of large size). | ||
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 The Sphere of Life, one of the twelve recognized Spheres of magic by the College Esoterica, is commonly associated with the arts of healing, and so it is often used. However, it also involves other aspects of life, such as mutation and even disease. Some mages of this Sphere may in fact specialize in the art of DEATH, as ironic as it may seem.Life Mages traditionally wear robes in a rainbow of colors in their greatest rituals, but it is not uncommon for many of them to opt for white robes or those of more drab colors, for the sake of convenience. The rune of their Sphere is "The Tree", which is also the symbol for the planet Arcadia. According to Rephidim scholarship, the Sphere of Life is considered to be associated with the Sphere of Fire (Fire, Sphere of), and diametrically opposed to the Sphere of Dream (Dream, Sphere of), though there is some disagreement on this arrangement of the Spheres. | ||
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 The Sphere of Light, also known as the Sphere of Scrying, is one of twelve Spheres of magic recognized by the College Esoterica. Mages of this Sphere typically dress in robes of yellow, symbolizing Primus (the sun), which is also the name of the rune associated with this Sphere. Spells of the Sphere of Light primarily deal with the acquisition of knowledge, to divine the truth, in whatever form it might appear. Contrary to what one might think, it does not deal so much with physical manipulation of light, per se, though a few spells of illumination are in their repertoire. According to Rephidim scholarship, the Sphere of Light is most closely associated with the Sphere of Spirit (Spirit, Sphere of), and diametrically opposed to the Sphere of Shadow (Shadow, Sphere of). | ||
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| A loose collection of storefronts and booths in the Bazaar, catering to the tastes of Eeee, particularly those with origins in Ashdod or surrounding territories. Little Babel tends to move about the Bazaar from day to day, and since most of the clientele are able to fly, many of the "storefronts" are set up on rooftops. Edible bugs are frequently available in various forms. | ||
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 Logos is the eighth planet from the sun, a brown world that is not visible to the naked eye, but only with the help of powerful (and rare) telescopic equipment. It is associated with and important to the Sphere of Mind (Mind, Sphere of) of the College Esoterica. Since the advent of travel to other worlds by way of the Gateway Tower, it has been determined that Logos is a gaseous planet, and the Tower provides access to a satellite orbiting the planet (apparently built by the Sifras), rather than to the planet itself. In the Olympian Pantheon, Logos is also the name of the God of Knowledge, also deemed a God of Wisdom, though there is some discrepancy in myths as to whether Logos or Primus would be the wisest of the gods. (In fact, there are a number of myths in which they engage in contests to determine which one is the wiser.) | ||
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| Lovan fruits can be found in the Savan Territories, cantalope-sized melon-like fruits that grow on vines, and which have a spongy, bread-like interior with light coloration. The fruit is more or less tasteless, but in especially arid seasons, water collects in the spongy interiors, thus making it a good resource for those short on water. Also, with some preparation, recipes using lovan can make a pretty good substitute for bread or cake. | ||
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| Hairy "primate" type of creature with reptilian features, including a long, serpentine neck. Resembles a sloth in some respects, having long arms and grasping claws used for climbing trees. Found in the Savan, especially in Bromthen. Males of the species can swell up their throat, then let out a loud bellow as an alarm or mating call that sounds something like "LOWDY LOWDY LOWDY LOWDY LOWDY LO LO" (hence the name). (The return call from the female sounds like "HUH?") | ||
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| One of a number of master assassins of the now-defunct Assassins' Guild, known for flamboyant attire and trademark death-dealing techniques. The Maestros were closely associated with the intermediaries of the Assassins' Guild, the Faceless Men, who were traditionally supposed to not deal in any assassinations themselves ... but as the role became corrupted, there were some of the Faceless Men who also partook in assassinations, and became known as "Maestros". This term is sometimes used more generally when referring to assassins, whether associated with a guild or not, who have a particularly flamboyant style, rather than caring to maintain anonymity. | ||
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 The College Esoterica, widely recognized as the authority of magic on all of Sinai, recognizes the powers of magic as being divided into twelve Spheres: Scrying (Light), Water, Air, Shadow, Fire, Earth, Spirit, Dream, Chaos, Illusion, Life, and Mind. Some schools may disagree about the arrangement, and may call for certain Spheres to be subdivided into others (such as Spirit being divided into Necromancy and Warding, and Life into Healing and Plague), but this system has the widest range of recognition.
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| Major Rituals are the most potent of incantations to be used by mages on Sinai. They generally take at least a day to cast, though this class includes rituals that could take much longer than that. Since no one mage is likely to have the endurance to keep an incantation going continuously, without break, without error, for several hours -- let alone several days -- continously, such powerful spells typically require several assistants and fellow mages to cast properly ... and to safeguard against mistakes. Due to the trouble and expense of Major Rituals, they are the least used of the classes of incantations to be found on Sinai ... though their effects are by far the longest-lasting, and the most likely to be celebrated in legend. | ||
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| [Not widely known beyond those familiar with Gateway Worlds.] On the water-planet of Ashtoreth, Sinaian and Abaddonian explorers through the Gateway have encountered a species of "mer-cats" -- feline-like sapients with lower bodies resembling those of porpoises or dolphins, with sleek and streamlined bodies and stringy "head hair" (sometimes shaved off -- in the case of warriors -- for less resistance when going through the water). They come in a wide variety of colors, marked with tiger stripes, spots, rosettes and other traditional "wild cat" markings, and a few more bizarre examples. Mariners have their own language that has some similarities in structure and word choices to Khattan, though many Mariner words are unpronuncable by most off-worlders. (Eeee can make a fairly close approximation, though.) In the years since initial contact with this species, many Mariners from a region known as the Abyss have learned to speak Khattan and Bosch, though only a few know Rephidim Standard or other Sinaian languages. (These particular Mariners are known as "Abyssinian Mariners" or just "Abyssinians".) Mariners are mammals with considerable lung capacity, living near the few islands that dot the surface of Ashtoreth's planet-covering ocean, or else living in underwater areas that -- for one reason or another -- have oxygen supplies. | ||
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 A small fernlike plant found in hot jungle regions of Sinai and widely cultivated, Mateh's long, thin brown roots contain caffiene. These roots are harvested, dry-roasted and ground. Boiling water filtered through this powder will produce a dark, rich, slightly bitter beverage that is usually sweetened with honey, sugarfir leaf, or sugar. Cream or milk may also be added, as may xochlatl. Due to its properties as a stimulant, a hot cup of mateh is enjoyed as a 'wakeup' beverage by many species able to tolerate caffiene. Mateh root also varies in taste and aroma depending on its place of origin; certain prized varieties will be more costly than a 'common' variety such as one might find in any low-priced inn.
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| Traditional Hekoye blessing -- literally means "Matu Isn't Watching." Said in reply to "A'Natur'Matu." The implied wish is in reply to the other person's wish; that not only the recipient be spared the scrutiny of Shung Matu, but that all beings be spared his eye. See "A'Natur'Matu" |
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