The distinction may seem unclear, but the presumption is that a true mage is invoking powers of Sinai through ritual, knowledge of magic, and willpower, and that only persons with a certain Magic Potential can hope to cast spells.

A witch, on the other hand, need not necessarily have any Magic Potential at all, but rather casts magic indirectly, by calling upon spirits (naturally occuring or not) to do her bidding. This practice is frowned upon by the Mages' Guild. The difference between a priest or priestesses who calls upon a deity for divine favors and a "witch" is not clearly defined.

It should be noted that a "witchdoctor" is in no way related to a "witch", despite the similarity in name. Also, "witch" may be applied to male conjurers as well, though in the latter case the term "warlock" is also used.

In some circles, the term "witch" has become synonymous with "mage", but its usage usually implies the negative in most Sinai societies.

Small fiefdom located on the Seaborne Reach, in a mountainous region, isolated from the surrounding areas. Its capitol is Falcon's Watch, a ruined castle with a small village at its base.

Within a winding canyon on the Xenean River, the ancient City of Hands can be found, new home to the largest concentration of free Savanites to be found on Sinai. It was thought that the city was destroyed, but recent proclamations from the City have suggested otherwise. Since Xenea is under the jurisdiction of the Nagai Empire, this is a very controversial arrangement at best.

The only outpost of civilization to be found in Xenea (other than the City of Hands) is Safar, which lies along the Xenean River (the largest in the region). Safar, until recently, was the center of trade of Savanite slaves. Now, its primary focus is on tourism, and catering to rich nobles who come out to hunt the wild animals of the jungle. Still, this is not enough to sustain Safar's economy, and it is in considerable decline.

Adult Xients stand about 3-4 feet tall, and there are marked differences between the males and females. Males resemble armadillos, their backs being covered in leathery plates of natural armor. The females, however, resemble porcupines, their backs covered with sharp quills. Both males and females are capable of curling up into a ball, and are able to roll considerable distances that way. (It should be noted that while this works just fine in the open plains, it would be awkward at best in civilized lands, since it's hard to see where you're going when you're curled up in a ball.)

Xients have their own language, Xient, though dialects vary from tribe to tribe. Some of them may also know the hooting language of the Hookas, using musical instruments to communicate with the odd creatures.

(both singular and plural)

The Yodhblakat - the Daughters of Blakat - are priestesses serving Blakat, the Goddess of Conflict, one of the Seven Sisters of the mythology of the Ashdod Territories. "Yodhblakat" refers to a priestess of this sisterhood, though "The Yodhblakat" refers to the sisterhood as a whole, and the same word is used for the plural form as well.

While they typically serve in temples of Blakat - the largest being on the mountain of the same name, in the Seven Sisters range of mountains outside Babel - some of their number are hired out as berserker mercenaries to those "faithful" who make appropriate "offerings" to the temple. These warrior-priestesses are known as the Slakash, or Poison Women.

All priestesses of Blakat come into the order not as volunteers, but forcibly chosen by the Yodhblakat. Roughly once every year, there is a "holy day" devoted to Blakat, determined by a complex system based upon the positions of heavenly bodies, so that it does not fall upon any fixed calendar date. During this time, the priestesses go out amongst the commoners, and select young girls, who will be taken to either serve as new acolytes at the temple, or else to be offered up as sacrifices. Young girls with red hair and/or fur are especially prized for this purpose.

This is largely considered quite an honor. Even though the Seven Sisters are the most prominent deities, Babel society is still quite patriarchal, and the loss of a young daughter is seen to be not all that great ... especially compared to the prestige of having a daughter selected from one's household for the goddesses. It is generally believed that this will prompt Blakat to turn her ire away from the household for a time, and there is the more practical benefit that, should the daughter survive and become a priestess, she may well hold loyalty to her former family, and use her connections to help it out in material terms.

There are occasions, however, when the exchange is not so peaceful. A family has the right to refuse to give over a daughter, though this right is rarely exercised. In this case, it is up to the priestesses making the demand to forcibly take the child, using whatever means necessary. If the family successfully fights off the priestess or priestesses - even if this is done by killing them - then there is no retribution expected from the Yodhblakat. The family has kept its daughter, fair and square. If, however, the priestesses prevail, they have full right to put the whole household to death, or to take survivors to the temple as sacrifices - and any loot from the house is claimed by the Yodhblakat as well.

A new initiate into the Yodhblakat is branded with the sign of Blakat - the Dagger - or else has it cut into her hide in a process of ritual scarring. The young priestess is baptized in the blood of sacrifices, and given her sole possession - a crimson dagger. It is up to the initiate to obtain for herself any other possessions she might have need for, and by force or coercion. A priestess of Blakat does not purchase or trade, and any monies that she might acquire - or any possessions she cannot carry herself - go to the temple. It is very common for priestesses of Blakat to dye their hair and/or fur red, if they are not naturally born that way already.

A priestess of Blakat technically has the right to demand things from anyone ... but, in practice, this is not done against nobility or powerful commoners, and a priestess is not wise to abuse this privelege ... for it is up to her to enforce it, without any backing from her temple at all. If a priestess demands something of a commoner, and the commoner refuses, it is up to the priestess to forcibly take the item. If the commoner successfully repels the attempt, so be it. The temple will not take any retribution against him. If the priestess succeeds, she may do with the commoner as she pleases, and the local authorities - if there are any - are obliged not to punish her. However, there is nothing to stop friends or family of the commoner from exacting retribution against the priestess, if she has abused her privilege. In actual practice, this privelege is generally only used for the purpose of claiming right of hospitality to priestesses away from the temple, and to keep them equipped and clothed.

Another important tradition to know is that it is a grave insult to ever give something to a priestess of Blakat - or to Blakat herself. Blakat takes; she is never given. A priestess is within full rights to maim or kill anyone who offends her in such a way.

The proper way to make an offering to a priestess is to simply make it obvious that it is available, and allow her to demand it herself. Pilgrims visiting the Temple of Blakat bring whatever offerings they wish to make, and the priestesses demand it from them. However, they must be careful not to bring anything they are not willing to "donate". If the priestesses are in a particularly foul mood, a supplicant could well be lucky to be able to leave the temple with his skivvies on and his teeth intact.

It should be noted that these traditions of acquisition do not apply within the sisterhood itself. If a sister gives something to another sister, it is no insult, and when an underling resists the request of a superior, the full might of the temple will come down upon her. Blakat does not steal from Blakat; Blakat may freely give to Blakat. That is the rationale behind these exceptions.

The Yodhsunala - Daughters of Sunala - are raised to serve the Temples of Sunala. They are all, to a certain degree, priestesses of Sunala, though only some of them are directly involved in the rituals of worship of the Death Goddess. The Yodhsunala are best known for those in their number proficient in the arts of assassination by various means, sometimes even twisted usage of spells of the Sphere of Life, used in ways that would most certainly bring disapproval from the College Esoterica - though the status of the Yodhsunala as a priesthood of Babel spares them from the College's usual persecution of so-called "hedge wizards" that operate outside the Mages' Guild.

It is the obligation of any Yodhsunala that she die in the proper manner, in the course of carrying out the will of Sunala. To die of old age or accident is unbearable, and the fate of most Yodhsunala is to take their own lives, or die at the hands of another.

Although it might seem logical to presume that a Death Goddess would be associated with the undead, that is not the case with Sunala - Necromancy is not among the arts practiced by the Yodhsunala. As brutal as it may seem when they sacrifice on the altar, and then push the body to tumble down the steps of one of Sunala's stepped-pyramid temples, they have a certain code of reverent treatment (after a fashion) of the dead ... unless the dead are worthy of particular disgrace due to their actions in life. Cremation of bodies is unthinkable, and animation of them is the worst form of blasphemy - to attempt to steal from Sunala what is, to their minds, rightly hers.