For a long time, Abaddon was believed to be lifeless and cold, covered with rusty sands, and criss-crossed with strange "canals". There are many areas on the surface with active volcanos, bubbling hot springs, and vents that let noxious vapors seep into the atmosphere.

The truth is that Abaddon is indeed capable of sustaining life, though not as well as Sinai by any means. At least in one area of Abaddon, there are several scattered colonies of races that parallel many prominent on Sinai, living in artificial "Life Domes", and with a higher level of technology that allows them the use of machines that would not be considered possible -- or safe -- on Sinai. The canals do indeed hold water and vegetation, but also are infested by disease and hostile creatures (such as the "Rotbiter") that make them far too dangerous to utilize by most.

In recent history (during the first year of the reign of Tahir Archelaus the First), a (relatively) small chunk of the Himar region (including the city of Elamoore) was transplanted by some sort of Exile technology onto Abaddon, resulting in the fertile "Pit of Himar" that may some day be the site of the largest Life Dome of all. Already, the combined efforts of several tribes on Abaddon have resulted in the Pit of Himar being spanned by a massive framework, slowly being covered against the inhospitable elements, and fitted with environmental controls.

Abaddon is very rich in metals, and Abaddonian iron is a popular commodity on metal-scarce Sinai. Abaddonian metal that has recently been brought to Sinai is known to have magic-resistant properties, though it has been observed that this slowly degrades as the metal "acclimates" to Sinai. This phenomenon does not seem to apply to all metal brought in from other worlds, though it is still very common - It is well known that meteoric iron has certain anti-magic properties, after all.

Access to the world of Abaddon is provided by an ancient Sifran structure known as the Gateway Tower. The Gateway Tower on Abaddon is within the domain of the human-dominated Kampfzengruppe, allied with the Khattan Emirate for its control.

"Abaddon" is also the name of the God of War, Fire and Destruction in the Olympian mythos.

The whole island is considered quarantine under authority of both Rephidim and of Babel, and travellers give it a wide berth, especially since freak storms have a tendency to pop up in the area.

The Sanctuary of Amber is noteworthy for its central chamber, in which it is believed that certain well-tuned minds may, from time to time, receive visions of possible futures -- particularly disasters to be hopefully averted with the warning given.

On Ring Day, 6103 RTR, Shabar declared its independence from Rephidim, having formerly been a protectorate. Thus, the Sanctuary of Amber (also known as just "Amber") is recognized as the capitol of Shabar.

In the mythos of the Gigi, Amena is the dark goddess, who is the enemy of their primary goddess, Nala. Amena is associated primarily with death, but particularly with undeath, leading suppositions that she may actually be related to the concept of Amenlichtli, the "Queen of the Undead". (Also, the duality relationship between Nala and Amena -- combined with the similarity on the name "Nala" with goddesses such as Inala, Sunala, Rinala and Dinala -- may suggest some sort of connection with early Babelite mythology.)

Although Amena is recognized in the beliefs of the Gigi, she is generally not worshipped, though there is evidence that there are a few cults that make sacrifices in her name.

Since the advent of exploration of the worlds of the Primus System made possible by the Gateway Towers, Arcadia has been explored and found to be richly vegetated, and populated by a variant species of Hooka. Scouts report that most everything on Arcadia is "alive" ... Amorphous aquatic creatures have been mistaken for "living water", and tree-like beings have exhibited limited mobility and apparent intelligence.

A fortification has been set up by explorers, under the shared authority of the Kampfzengruppe and the Khattan Emirate, and there is also a Savanite settlement located close to the Gateway Tower.

Although there is a Gateway Tower that provides access to Ariel, it is still largely unexplored, and considered to be fairly inhospitable.

Ariel is also the name of a goddess of the Olympian Pantheon, appropriately associated with the spirit world. She is depicted as a young, pre-teen, white-furred Kattha with black hair. She is regarded as the "trickster goddess" of the Olympia mythos, though of a more benevolent nature than most. She is also cast in the role of Messenger of the Gods, and is often sought in the hopes of conveying messages to (or from) spirits in the afterlife.

The Kampfzengruppe/Emirate Alliance has established a base on Ashtoreth, at a place called Gateway Island. The planet is reported to be almost entirely covered with water, save for ice caps on the poles, and scattered islands. Storms frequently sweep the planet, sometimes causing Gateway Island to be completely covered in water. Out of necessity, the base on Gateway Island is underwater. Limited contact has been made with the "natives" -- a species of "mer-cats" with Khatta-like features, but lower bodies resembling the tails of dolphins or porpoises.

Ashtoreth has one moon. The native name for it is unpronuncable in Sinaian tongues, and roughly translates to "the moon".

Bael is one of many archaic names given to a creator god in the Babelite mythos -- referred to, but not by name, in the myth of the Birth of the Seven Sisters. Some time in Babel's early history, the pantheon of gods and goddesses was dominated by a creator/destroyer duality: Bael, Creator and Lord of the Sky, and Vael, Destroyer and Lady of the Earth. According to popular legend, the Seven Sisters were born of Bael and Vael, and rebelled, destroying their father and taking his power. Bael is still recognized in the Babelite pantheon, but as a "dead god", incapable of answering prayers.

Means "harmony" or "peace" in Babelite. According to the myth of the Birth of the Seven Sisters, this was the former name of Blakat, Goddess of Conflict, before she and her sisters rebelled against and killed Bael, the creator god.

One of the Seven Sisters, major goddesses of the Babelite pantheon.

Although the exact "birth order" of the Seven Sisters is in question, Barada is traditionally held to be the youngest of the seven, though this doesn't exempt her from her fair share of bloodshed and mayhem. She is the matron of spies and seers, but also of those keeping secrets ... so she's also seen as a matron of thieves, at times, and she's also been strongly associated with wealth. Supplication is made to Barada in hopes that she will reveal secrets ... or make sure that they are kept. Businessmen often seek her blessing on their businesses ... or protection from thieves. Barada is a bit of a mischief-maker, sometimes choosing to reveal an otherwise perfectly-kept secret, just for the sake of stirring things up. Thus, when there is an unexplained "leak" of information, it is common to blame Barada's trouble-making.

It is believed by many that the priestesses of Barada controlled a vast spy network that (for the most part) served the Sabaoth of Babel, mostly for the purpose of keeping tabs on the Houses of Babel and their activities.

Mount Barada is also a location outside Babel, where there is a shrine built to the goddess of the same name.

The rune representing Barada in Babelite script is also known as the "Golden Key".

Translated as "Revelation". According to the myth of the Birth of the Seven Sisters, this was the former name of Barada, Goddess of Secrets, before she and her sisters rebelled against and slew Bael, the Creator God.

Of little importance in the greater scheme of things, they are not widely known of outside of the Savan, merely another Forbidden Zone for airship captains to avoid. But to those who live near, the Beast Lands are a place viewed with fear and dread, said to be an accursed ground where not only technology but magic becomes dangerous to try to use. Furthermore, it is said that children born in the Beast Lands will be born with the minds of savage beasts, lacking even the refinement of many nonsapient predators.

Tales are told of cannibalistic, mindless savages that prey upon the unwary who wander too far into this vaguely defined zone ... and of cruel pirates who are bold enough to use this land to hide their base of operations.

Access has been made possible by the Gateway Tower, and scouts have reported that Behemoth is actually a gaseous giant surrounded by a sparse "cage" formed by a network of mind-bogglingly long tunnels fashioned of stone and Sifran crystal. The tunnels themselves somehow support an atmosphere and gravity comparable to that of the surface of Sinai. Levels of Quantum Uncertainty are such that neither magic nor sophisticated technology is known to work here.

In the Olympian Pantheon, Behemoth is also the name of a god of earth, the mountains, of metal-working, and of strength, depicted as a huge and muscular Kattha.

Blakat is the name of one of the Seven Sisters of the mythos of Babel, known as the Goddess of Conflict, often as the Goddess of Murder, and sometimes invoked as a Goddess of War. She is a matron of mercenaries, and is also seen as a matron of bandits and brigands, for in legend she is depicted as frequently being envious of others' possessions and taking them by force.

Blakat is also regarded as the "Mad Goddess", and is strongly associated with insanity at times. At times, there have been attempts by outsiders to portray her favorably as a matron of soldiers, but this is contrary to the Babelite mythos, in that they see the universe as naturally chaotic and unfair, and thus their gods and goddesses are fundamentally flawed and are appeased more than truly worshipped.

Blakat is depicted as a wild-haired, wild-eyed, mad-looking female Eeee with a fierce countenance, in torn clothes and pieces of mismatched armor, often carrying a cruel-looking weapon of exotic shape. She is frequently (but not always) depicted as having red hair and/or red fur; she is said to bathe in the blood of her enemies.

Blakat is also the name of a mountain in the range of the "Seven Sisters" near Mount Dronnel, outside the city of Babel. It is home to a shrine devoted to her name, and it is said that every pebble on the mountain represents a drop of blood shed in her name.

Priestesses of Blakat are taught some martial skills, and many of them serve as mercenaries for those who make especially large "donations" to the sisterhood. Of the Yodhblakat (Daughters of Blakat), many are trained to become the Slakash - the Poison Women - warrior priestesses who are best known for their practice of working themselves into berserk frenzies when entering combat.

The rune that represents Blakat in Babelite script is also known as "The Dagger", though it's often given a more descriptive adjective, such as "The Bloody Dagger" or "The Crimson Dagger".

Locations of note within Bosch's borders would include the Crystal Tower, the Plains of Change (and Citadel of Change), the Cascades of Fire ... and a lone oasis of relative safety, the monastery known as the "Sanctuary of Gears" (or "Sanctuary of Order") located on its western end, connected by a mountain pass to Gallis.

2) The language of the nation of Chronotopia, a fairly "industrialized" land on the surface of Sinai, on the northern part of Ai, bordering Titania, the Vykarin Wastes and Sylvania. As for why the language of Chronotopia would be named after its greatest enemy, only the monk historians of the Celestial Order might know for sure, but legends hint at a time when Bosch was not quite the land of horrors that it is now.

Bosch is by no means a tourist location (except perhaps for the pilgrims to the Sanctuary of Order) but one of its sites more legendary to outsiders would be the Cascades of Fire, located near its border with Chronotopia, near the Living Gates. The Cascades look like numerous "waterfalls" of liquid fire, visible for a great distance across the blighted valleys of Bosch. It is believed that the touch of the Cascades can destroy even the most potent of magical devices, and hence some quests have been undertaken by Landsknechts or Knights Templar to have some evil artifact destroyed by dropping it into the Cascades. (Even if it weren't so, no one is likely to go fishing into the Cascades to retrieve it!)

One of the Sabaoth Seven, but not considered one of the original Sabaoth Six -- demon-warriors bound to the service of the ruler of Ashdod as well as the Seven Sisters.

Chezek is depicted as the least imposing of the Sabaoth Seven, as a mutant Eeee with chibix-like features. (Considering that chibix bear at least a superficial resemblance to Eeee anyway, Chezek is basically depicted as an especially pathetic and comical-looking Eeee with a chitinous covering.)

In tales in which Chezek is included, the chibix-Eeee has no combat abilities to speak of, and is a cowardly thief and spy for the group. Chezek is sometimes associated with Barada, since chibixes are sacred to her, but his habit of being a chatterbox who occasionally thoughtlessly blabs secrets does not endear him to his mistress.

While chibix wings are very fragile, the creatures themselves are shelled, and have some ability to regenerate (slowly), making them fairly hardy. They tend to be about the size of true bats, though there are rumors that in some regions they may reach truly legendary wingspans.

In the Ashdod Territories, they are raised as a food staple by the Eeee. Chibix raised for food have their wings plucked - in part so that they cannot fly away, but also because a flightless chibix generally does nothing but sit and eat, and quickly its fatty hump grows significantly in size. Some Eeee nobles consider it a delicacy to pluck the pry loose the shell of a chibix and eat from its fatty hump, while the creature shrieks loudly, making a "pleasing" sound.

Chibix with their wings left intact are sometimes kept as pets, though they are not known for being terribly bright. (And if they misbehave, they make a nice snack.) In myth, chibix often serve as messengers for the Goddess of Secrets, Barada.

The same name also applies to a type of jungle-dwelling insect (collectively "chigai" or "chigas") to be found in the Savan, well known for attacking the unwary in swarms, capable of bringing down small prey with their bites -- or being a considerable nuisance to larger foes. Sap from the Thistlebark Tree has properties in repelling and killing these pests, leading to much speculation about their relationship to the mythical "Chigai". Alas, it is unknown whether the name for the bug or the "demon" came first.

Eventually, the actual City of Hands was discovered by an expedition sponsored by the Rephidim Temple, but it was believed to be destroyed later. For a time, it served as a secret haven for escaped Savanite slaves, ruled over by a mutant leader alternately known as Third-Vision, Third-Eye, or Jezebel. Eventually, the City of Hands no longer maintained its secrecy, and openly proclaimed its existence as a place for free Savanites, but it was overrun in 6099 RTR by the forces of the Nagai Empire, and destroyed.

In recent years, there have been attempts by the people of the newly formed independent state of Xenea to restore the City of Hands, though not necessarily to inhabit it again. Replicas of some of the more noteworthy structures of the City of Hands can be found in the port city of Safar, in the theme park known as Safarland.

"Dagh" also figures into colorful phrases and exclamations such as "Dagh's dentures!" or names of forboding locations, or strange rock formations, such as "Dagh's Tower".

Somewhat controversially, Dagh is also recognized as the name of a recently discovered eleventh planet in the Primus System, associated with the Sphere of Illusion (Illusion, Sphere of). However, an explorer dubbed the planet "Quicksilver", and since this name is not considered a foul word in any known language or culture, it is often used as an alternate name for the world. Presently, little is known of this planet, save that it is accessible through the Gateway Tower and that it appears to be a reflective orb.

Dinala ("Love"), according to the myth of the Birth of the Seven Sisters, was the former name of the eldest of the Seven Sisters, before they rebelled against their father, the creator god Bael, killed him, and took his power. After that, she became the Goddess of Pleasure, Inala.

Historically, there is evidence that Dinala was in fact worshipped as a love goddess in Babel's earlier history, often seen as a "fertility goddess", and the festivals in which she was worshipped at times grew into overblown, drunken parties. Eventually, the concept of "Dinala" was transformed into "Inala" ("Pleasure"). Of course, this is not anything that would be acknowledged by the Yodhinala ("Daughters of Inala" -- or priestesses of Inala), and would be considered blasphemy.

Diphath is a lesser Babelite deity who is likely a precursor of the better known Goddess of Vengeance, Rephath. She is not recognized as part of the "Seven Sisters", and in the present-day Babelite mythos, Diphath figures into the scheme sometimes as a lesser, seperate goddess. However, the most "official" version of her story, and the one taught by Yodhrephath, goes something like this:

Although this tale purports to be of a time "before the Sabaoth," the first known recorded instance of it is little more than a thousand years old, making it unlikely that it refers to an actual event or person. Stories with older roots describe Diphath as a goddess, and scholars tend to believe that the "mortal woman" story was invented by Yodhrephath as part of a campaign to squash the dwindling cult of Diphath. (Suggesting such to a Yodhrephath, or any believer in the Sisters, however, would be inadvisable, to say the least.)

It has been simply put that, where as Rephath represents "Do unto others as they have done unto you," Diphath's credo could be "Do unto others before they do unto you." The word "diphath" in Babelite roughly translates into a concept of "decisive first strike": taking action against an enemy before that enemy can be allowed to cause harm. Whether or not the danger presented by the enemy is real or imagined is hardly of any concern.

Diphath may have once had a greater following, as evidenced by ancient shrines to her name that can still be found amidst the towers of Babel, in outlying territories, and the most famous -- though believed cursed -- one on Mount Rephath itself, but she has largely fallen by the wayside. Most present-day worshippers of Diphath see her as an independent, lesser goddess, having no particular connection to the Seven Sisters. In Babel, the few worshippers of Diphath usually keep their activities secret for fear of persecution, but in the surrounding countryside, some pockets of open worship remain.

In depictions, Diphath has little established as to her personal appearance. She is shown as a female Eeee with head hair cut short, and no particular establishment of what her hair, fur or eye coloration should be. It's believed that the legend of her being a blood-drinker predates the story of her as a mortal woman, though there is some debate among scholars as to a matter of cause and effect: Does Diphath consume blood because this is a practice abhorrent for a modern-day Babelite Eeee? Or, is it because Diphath is depicted as drinking blood, that such a practice now has a negative stigma? Or could it be that the two are unrelated?

One of the Sabaoth Seven, and also accepted as one of the original Sabaoth Six -- demon-warriors bound to the service of the ruler of Ashdod as well as the Seven Sisters.

Ephasto is depicted as a mutant Eeee with eep-like features, easily the most grotesque of the Sabaoth Seven, with a disjointed, almost comical body characterized by bizarre proportions, a tiny head, and enormous, bugged-out eyes, with a vestigial beak.

Ephasto is sometimes associated with Zakaro, though eeps are not particularly sacred to her. He is particularly bizarre in that his sole attack of note is to explode in a burst of bone shrapnel to fight the enemy. (The characters in these tales seem to be completely oblivious to the easy supposition, therefore, that Ephastos isn't going to get out of any battle alive, and if Ephastos shows up in a tale again after making this attack, no explanation is given for his miraculous return.)

This term is also used to refer to an airship that has, for whatever reason, been abandoned and set adrift. Most airships left so abandoned will not stay aloft for very long untended, since the gas will eventually seep out, or else the ship will eventually fall prey to various airborne predators or scavengers -- be they wild animals, or pirates.

Fortunatis is one of the worlds that has been visited through the Gateway Tower, and it is reported that its surface does indeed change regularly, and it is deemed so unstable that it has been declared quarantined by authority of the Rephidim Temple. (The Kampfzengruppe and the Khattan Emirate are more in a position to have authority over the Gateways, but it seems that they have agreed with the Temple's assessment on this matter, as no further expeditions have gone there, to anyone's knowledge.)

The planet is strongly associated with matters of luck and fate and is a factor in all sorts of popular attempts at telling portents of the future. Its "official" name changes regularly, as determined by the Sphere of Chaos (Chaos, Sphere of), to which it has special meaning. However, since the average citizen isn't able to or interested in keeping up with these seemingly random name changes, it is commonly known as "Fortunatis".

Fortunatis is also one of many names for the god of luck (good and ill) and wealth, in the Olympian Pantheon. Fortunatis is often depicted as a "trickster god", though in myth he seems to compete with Ariel for this role.

According to the myth of the Birth of the Seven Sisters, this name (which can be roughly translated as "Health" or "New Life") was the former name of Gorphat, Goddess of Affliction, before she and her sisters rebelled against and slew Bael, the Creator God.

(alternate spelling: Gurphat - guhr-FAHT)

Gorphat is the Goddess of Affliction, and is displayed as a gaunt, thin woman, and is typically portrayed in myth as being very lazy and slothful - a trait often exploited by her sisters to their advantage. While her realm is primarily disease, she is also often associated with famine and pestilence as well.

Sacrifices are made to her in hopes of staving off disease, or in the hopes of bringing it to the households of enemies. Due to the habit of her priestesses of conducting Purges in the Undercity, she is also associated with the Sphere of Fire (Fire, Sphere of) in some myths.

Gorphat is also the name of a mountain outside of Babel, where a shrine to the goddess of the same name is located. Some of the priestesses practice magic of a sub-set of the Sphere of Life (Life, Sphere of), focusing on the aspect of Disease.

The rune that represents Gorphat in Babelite script is known as "The Wound", and it also frequently used as a symbol for Life Magic focusing on the aspect of Disease.

In Titanian lore, "gremlins" are mischievous spirit creatures that are responsible for the failure of machines. According to Titanian beliefs, gremlins live in greater numbers in areas of magic -- such as Bosch -- but they can only jump so high, so there are not as many of them that can reach the sky islands, such as Rephidim ... which explains why machines work better there. Basically, gremlins are just an anthropomorphization of the phenomenon of quantum uncertainty.

One of the Sabaoth Seven, and also accepted as one of the original Sabaoth Six -- demon-warriors bound to the service of the ruler of Ashdod as well as the Seven Sisters.

Greve is depicted as a mutant Eeee with grabbit-like features, including a wild and hairy mane, multiple arms, and multiple eyes, as well as a spider-like tail from which the monster can spin webs or create a silken whip.

Greve is often associated in these tales with Blakat, but Greve is also depicted as something of a nuisance to Blakat, for he does not merely steal things but -- like a grabbit -- is compelled to leave something in its place.

One of the Sabaoth Seven, and also accepted as one of the original Sabaoth Six -- demon-warriors bound to the service of the ruler of Ashdod as well as the Seven Sisters.

Gronegk is depicted as a mutant Eeee with grok-like features, including natural semi-organic armor, eyes hidden under a chitinous "helmet", an almost skeletally thin waist, and oversized forearms and legs, with armored wings, savage fangs, and wickedly curved claws.

Gronegk is sometimes associated with Rephath, as her temple typically keeps kennels of sacred hunting groks. Like a grok, Gronegk has keen senses and is the tracker of the group, and lets out a bloodcurdling scream when he has found his prey.

It is a time of fireworks, most notably involving flammable effigies of Foxes, either made of paper mache, or (the more expensive varieties) being stuffed animals with fur hides ... stuffed, that is, with fireworks, with the tail serving as a fuse.

One of the Sabaoth Seven, and also accepted as one of the original Sabaoth Six -- demon-warriors bound to the service of the ruler of Ashdod as well as the Seven Sisters.

Hosheb is depicted as a mutant Eeee with horrib-like features, including chitinous natural armor, multiple arms ending in pincers, a tail with a poisonous stinger, large insect wings, mandibles, and multiple eyes.

Hosheb is sometimes associated with Gorphat, since horribs are sometimes associated with the spreading of affliction.

In Olympian legend, Ikara was a female Solus or else a Kattha who had bargained with a mage to gain wings, who had become obsessed with the Sun God Primus, and failed to gain his notice - for he was a god, and she a mere mortal. She flew so high, chasing after the Sun God in his flaming sky-ship, that she drew too close and caught aflame, plummeting to the ground.

In later, more popular versions of the tale, the gods had mercy on Ikara and raised her from the ashes anew, and she now can be seen on occasion, chasing after the sun, observed as a phenomenon known in other cultures as a "sun dog". Thus, she is often associated with the imagery of rebirth and of the phoenix.

Also the name of a town in Olympia, where a shrine has been built to Ikara next to a small temple of Primus. There, Ikara is revered as a goddess, albiet not of the original pantheon.

Inala is the most popular of the Seven Sisters, and portrayed as the most beautiful of the group, and is generally regarded as being the oldest. She is a complete hedonist, and myths featuring her are the least suitable reading for impressionable minds. She is sometimes presented as a "Goddess of Love" for the benefit of outsiders, but such sugar-coating does little justice to how she is portrayed in myth. Quite often, it involves some mortal catching her attentions, and she "blesses" this mortal with all manner of gifts ... and then ends up destroying the mortal in the end. So many Babelites apparently still see this as a great way to go, and Inala is the one goddess of the Seven Sisters most truly worshipped rather than merely appeased.

Inala is also the name of a mountain just outside of Babel, and home to a "shrine" to the goddess of the same name -- in practice, a brothel where all manner of vices are performed, many of them quite unspeakable. The "Children of Inala" are priests and priestesses born and bred into the service of this goddess, and cannot leave the priesthood except by death. It is a whispered rumor that those who are born to the "Children" who are ugly or deformed in any way are offered up as sacrifices. Those who are not "perfect" but still "usable" are sold off to the various Houses as child servants.

The rune that represents Inala in Babelite script is also known as "The Flower".

(Not common information)

Kuroko are, according to the legends passed down amongst mages of the Sphere of Spirit, ghost-like beings with semi-substantial forms, capable of affecting and being affected by physical matter to some degree. They are often associated with the undead, but not believed to be truly spirits of the dead themselves. In fact, certain powerful Necromancers are purported to be able to create these quasi-intelligent entities to do their bidding, provided they can maintain control over them. These monsters are also known as the "puppeteers".

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).

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.)

Legendary underground kingdom of a bygone age, with borders supposedly matching that of present-day Kroz. Ruins can be found in the wilderness of Kroz, attributed to this ancient culture of a kingdom supposedly ruled by Skreeks. Some adventurers and treasure-hunters are drawn to Kroz in hopes of finding one of these entrances, and fighting off monsters and traps in order to retrieve ancient treasures, but the known entrances have pretty much been picked over by now.

In legend, Morpheus is also the name of the God of Dreams, without any specific form (though, due to the predominance of the Olympian mythos, traditionally portrayed as a grey-furred Kattha).

However, there has been a recent rebirth of interest in the long-forgotten God of Dreams, as several Dream Mages have claimed to have seen Morpheus during their rituals. This God of Dreams is described as appearing as a dark silhouette in the shape of a winged Khatta with large ears.

In recent years, the Gateway Tower provided access to the planet Morpheus. The Rephidim Temple began attempts to map the planet, but this was frustrated by its everchanging nature. Reports indicate that the planet has a breathable atmosphere despite having a low gravity that shouldn't be able to sustain it. Furthermore, it is covered in grey silt which drifts about in clouds, requiring some sort of air filter to be worn while on the planet. Strange structures of "molten crystal" and stone rise and fall on occasion, and sometimes defy gravity, while the air is filled with the quiet sounds of chiming melodies from time to time.

Further exploration has been frustrated by a large crystal growth that formed about the Gateway Tower on Morpheus, effectively trapping it, and preventing exit from the Crystal Chamber there.

Goddess worshipped by the golden-furred feline Gigis of the Gigi Coastal area, depicted as an idealized Gigi female.

"Overlords" are believed to be the most powerful entities in the Forbidden Zone of Bosch, and often figure into the mythos of cultures in the Nordikan region. They are deified as dark gods, or -- more often -- demonized in those theologies that center around the "Great Gear" or the "Star".

Some believe that the Overlords are another type of Degenerate ... persons who were once living beings, but who ventured into Bosch. While these Overlords may have been consumed by Bosch and may very well be unable to leave its boundaries, the belief is that these individuals were strong-willed enough to master the wild magicks of Bosch, and to exert their influence over the Imps and Degenerates dwelling there -- making themselves lords with near god-like powers over their limited domain.

It is also believed that some scattered dark societies might actually worship these Overlords as gods, and might actively serve them, seeking the downfall of "mundane" society and the expansion of the wild zone of madness that is Bosch.

In very recent history, Paradys has been rediscovered, though it is still hard to reach, and it has been revealed that a Sphinx colony (half-Vartans who insist on calling themselves Vartans) has long been on there ... along with a colony of jaguar-morphs which, unfortunately, were almost entirely destroyed.

At some point, this "Savanite Empire" collapsed, and over the years, the formerly ruling Savanites became slaves to those races their ancestors had once enslaved. In recent years, however, the City of Hands was rediscovered, and a settlement of escaped Savanite slaves formed there, choosing a woman known alternately as "Jezebel", "Third-Vision" or "Third-Eye" as their leader, as a new "Priest-King". (Sometimes, this is translated as "Priest-Queen", but the original hand-sign is gender neutral.)

5 New Year of 6103 RTR, Xenea became an independent territory, with its capitol situated in the port city of Safar, its first recognized ruler being Priest-Queen Jade-Eyes (also known as "Azhtar"), sister of the former Priest-Queen.

The ring is so named because ancient myth holds it to be a procession of the recently departed souls making a pilgrimage to the land beyond the stars. The larger points of light follow fairly consistent orbits (despite frequent collisions with smaller chunks of space debris) and have been attributed with names corresponding to major persons of history long past -- the names having survived much longer than the memory of what exactly made the owners of them worthy of such immortality in legend. These "guides" are held to remain forever in the Procession, leading the way to the lands beyond.

Rephath is the Goddess of Vengeance, one of the Seven Sisters of Babelite mythology. It is also the name of a mountain in a range ringing the city of Babel, the mountain being dedicated to the goddess of the same name, and having a shrine on it with her priestesses.

Rephath is a matron of vigilantes, and myths involving her of course deal with matters of revenge, being routinely quite violent. At times, officials of Ashdod have attempted to portray Rephath in a more positive light as a matron of law enforcement officials, but this is only done by completely ignoring the particulars of established mythos.

Rephath is traditionally depicted as a grey female Eeee - idealized as with most Babelite goddesses - with hair bound back in a long braid, and dyed markings in her fur, including variations upon her personal rune. She is often shown holding a set of scales, typically tipped to one side, and she is also often depicted with a large, double-bladed axe.

The rune that represents Rephath in Babelite script is also known as "The Balance".

According to the myth of the Birth of the Seven Sisters, this name (which means "mercy" in Babelite) is the former name of Rephath, Goddess of Vengeance, before she and her sisters rebelled against and slew Bael, the Creator God.

According to popular Babelite myths such as The Birth of the Seven Sisters, Rinala (sometimes translated as "Life", "Immortality" or "Perpetual Life") was the name of the goddess who eventually became Sunala ("Death") when she and her sisters rebelled against and murdered the creator-god, Vael.

However, less well known is that there are some theories that Rinala was in fact a predecessor of sorts to the pleasure goddess Inala -- That, long ago in Babel's history, two deities formed a sort of creative/destructive duality, one (Rinala) representing life, and the other (Sunala) representing death.

The festivals of Rinala were concerned with fertility and life, and traditionally became intertwined with rituals of courtship, a practice that eventually caused the festivals to be more associated with love -- to the point that the concept of Rinala was originally changed into Dinala ("Love"). From there, the festivals built around the celebration of love turned into hedonistic binges, and what evolved from that was that the goddess of "Love" eventually became Inala ("Pleasure").

Priestesses of Inala would, of course, find this history of the development of their religion to be utterly blasphemous, and this is not anything taught openly in Babel about the origins of their goddesses.

One of the Sabaoth Seven, and also accepted as one of the original Sabaoth Six -- demon-warriors bound to the service of the ruler of Ashdod as well as the Seven Sisters.

Rugharo is depicted as a mutant Eeee with rughrat-bull-like features, particularly having impressive musculature and phenomenal strength, with a very small head and two beady little eyes, and curled ram's horns. Some versions show him with four arms (giving him six limbs like a real rughrat), but this is a less common depiction.

Rugharo is sometimes associated with Inala, though rughrats are not particularly sacred to her. He is the strongest of the Sabaoth Seven, but also quite possibly the stupidest (though he has some rivalry for this latter distinction).

In the Nagai Empire, the power of the Emperor-Potentate is supposed to be boundless, and every once in a while this is demonstrated as he chooses to grant a boon to some hero who has won his favor. In theory, the recipient of this boon should be able to ask for anything. If ever a boon was asked and not granted, such a thing is not spoken of. Even this story is one that is never spoken of in the presence of a member of the Emperor-Potentate's court.

Ryubushi was one great warrior who won the honor of being brought before the Emperor-Potentate and allowed to ask a boon. Ryubushi, as brave and accomplished as he was, was also overly ambitious (and none too bright). He asked that he become Emperor-Potentate.

According to myth, the Emperor-Potentate of that time swallowed Ryubushi immediately. By way of explanation, he proclaimed that the boon had been granted -- Ryubushi would now have the honor of becoming Emperor-Potentate by becoming one with his body through digestion.

The moral of the story, of course, is not to abuse such a boon.

In the legend of the Sabaoth Seven, a young Sabaoth quested in the Nether Realms in order to prove himself, and faced seven demons, each of whom was a combination of Eeee and some dumb beast indigenous to the lands of Ashdod. He outwitted or outfought each of these creatures, and enslaved them to serve as guardians of the throne of Ashdod. There are some variations in this myth that suggest that it may predate the rule of the Sabaoth, and instead was applied to some legendary (and possibly fictitious) ruler of old.

Near as can be told, the earliest versions of this story actually only had six demons. It was later that each demon was associated with a different goddess, giving each demon the dual role of protecting the ruler of Ashdod, and also serving the Seven Sisters.

Tales involving the Sabaoth Seven vary greatly in tone. In some tales, they are heroic, one by one giving their lives to preserve the Sabaoth or some favored servant of his. In others of more recent composition, they are more comical than useful, existing solely to be defeated by some foe, who then in turn is smitten by the Sabaoth himself. Chezek is the least fearsome of the group, and seems to exist only as a jester-type of character in the myths.

Here is a listing of the demons, and the goddess each is sometimes associated with.

An alternate version of the legend known as the Sabaoth Seven. (Some versions of the myth do not include Chezek, who seems to be a later addition to the story.)

Legend had it that the Sabaoth was immortal, and "Sabaoth" therefore was both name and title. While he was the "king" of Ashdod, there was no queen. Still, there are yet many who can claim to be a son of Sabaoth ("bar Sabaoth"). Since the Sabaoth was considered to be immortal, this implied no succession by heritage as it would in many other kingdoms.

The Sabaoth's history was long shrouded in mystery, and few were those who would get to see him except at a great distance. He was not completely secluded, however, for he made daily appearances on a daily basis for the ceremony of the Greeting of the Sun.

His mortality is now evident, however, as the Sabaoth was slain in an uprising after the great defeat Ashdod suffered in the War of the Plaguebringers. He was succeeded by the High Prince Boghaz (his biological son), but was not long after murdered, and replaced by his wife, Saraizadze, who was dubbed the High Princess. It looks as if a tradition of calling the leader of the land the "High Prince" or "High Princess" is being set here, though it is not yet demonstrated whether this rule will be passed on in hereditary fashion. (In Babelite politics, it is likely that the throne will find a new successor by blood -- shed rather than inherited.)

1. Legend - In the Babelite/Ashdodite pantheon, the Seven Sisters are seven goddesses often featured in Babelite myths, frequently feuding with each other, or meddling in (and destroying) the lives of mortals. They include:
   Blakat - Goddess of Murder. Matron of Mercenaries.
   Inala - Goddess of Pleasure. The most popular of the goddesses in Babelite culture.
   Sunala - Goddess of Death. Matron of Assassins.
   Rephath - Goddess of Vengeance. Matron of Vigilantes.
   Gorphat - Goddess of Disease.
   Zakaro - Goddess of Sorcery. Matron of Mages.
   Barada - Goddess of Secrets. Matron of Spies.

2. Location - The "Seven Sisters" are also a range of mountains just outside of Babel, near Mount Dronnel. Each mountain is named after one of the Sisters, and has a shrine to that particular goddess, which is accessed by a winding path of broken red stone, flanked by fences on each side. Although Eeee are quite capable of flying, pilgrims are expected to walk the path up the mountain, for any other area not so designated is considered sacred. Exceptions are made for members of the priesthood and royalty, and military vessels are granted special sanction (with appropriate blessings) to be able to fly over the mountains if need be, in times of war.

Sheol is also the name of a lesser deity of the Olympian Pantheon, associated with death and ashes.

There are legends that speak of the Silent Ones -- ancient ancestors of the cheetah-like Savanites, who predate even legends of a great Savanite Empire in the distant history of Sinai. The Silent Ones supposedly had great cathedral-ships that ferried them across the stars, and ruled a celestial empire, before they came down to Sinai. Their culture was one that revered the Star as a deity ... but portrayed this entity in a more warlike aspect.

Among so many other odd features, Sinai is characterized by floating "sky island" structures, the largest of which is capable of sustaining Sinai's most powerful city, Rephidim. Magic is known and practiced on Sinai, and it is known that magical powers (and a phenomenon known as "quantum uncertainty) are stronger near the surface, but weaker up at the level of sky islands. They are sometimes even more powerful in certain regions, such as a Forbidden Zone. At the same time, where magic is more powerful, machinery -- especially more complex mechanisms -- tends to be less reliable.

A wide variety of creatures can be found on Sinai, including many sapient races so varied as to defy organized classification -- particularly due to the high incidence of mutation on the surface, and the occasional arrival of Exile races from other worlds.

Most of the surface is covered by oceans, but there are three major land mass groups: Ai, Ur and Lamu. The sky islands drift freely across the globe, following varying courses, most not bound to any particular continent or other geographical anchor.

One of the Sabaoth Seven, and also accepted as one of the original Sabaoth Six -- demon-warriors bound to the service of the ruler of Ashdod as well as the Seven Sisters.

Skekos is depicted as a mutant Eeee with skedat-like features, including a chitinous black body and smooth, featureless faith, with sharp spines protruding all over, and segmented barbed whips extending from each forearm.

Skekos is sometimes associated with Sunala in tales that attempt to tie the Sabaoth Seven to the Seven Sisters, but skedats are not particularly sacred to Sunala. Like a skedat, Skekos tends to charge blindly at an opponent, hoping to impale the foe upon his spikes, and to flail with his barbed whips.

The name "Srinala" is a blending of the Babelite words for Life (Rinala) and Death (Sunala), to make a hybrid word that implies a state of both at once. This is distinctly different from the concept of "undeath", or, that is, animated corpses produced as a result of necromancy, or found in the form of "ghosts" and "revenants".

In Babelite history, there have been claims of "miraculous" births, whereby a child would be born to the Eeee who was essentially comatose, forever sleeping, yet still living. Whatever historical basis there might be for such stories, the tradition has evolved that Life Magic has been used by "hedge wizards" amongst the Sunala priesthood to see to it that an Eeee child is born in the image of Sunala. Traditionally, this means having black fur, white head-hair, and pupil-less white eyes. (This would imply that the child so born is blind.) Also traditionally, the child's wings are shredded, preventing flight, and in the fashion of sacrificial maids who are compelled to hurl themselves off of cliffs or tall buildings.

Sometimes, the child is born in a comatose state, and is declared to be "Srinala" - both a title and name, for such a child born this way is not permitted to be known by any other name. Such a child is incapable of caring for herself, and is generally supported by magical means as well as dedicated care. She is considered to be a good omen and a bringer of blessings to the village ... or, perhaps more accurately, a boon to turn away curses from Sunala upon the village. At some point during young adulthood, the Srinala is to be sacrificed during a fortuitous alignment, usually as part of a magical ritual, to bring some sort of favor upon the people (or, again, to turn away curses). It is unthinkable that a Srinala should be allowed to turn old, or - more likely - to die of natural causes.

Srinala also occupy another role in the worship of Sunala, in that it is believed that they lack souls and therefore may serve as a vessel for the souls of the departed to inhabit, before they are taken into oblivion at last by Sunala. In the presence of a priestess, a Srinala may speak, purportedly possessed by a departed spirit, and offer counsel to the living. (College Esoterica writings on this phenomena subtly suggest that this may be an application of Life Magic to use the Srinala like a puppet of sorts, or perhaps that the priestesses may dabble a bit into other spheres of magic in order to get the desired result.) Beyond speaking, however, the Srinala is never supposed to be animate in any other way, for it is believed that would compromise their unique position on the threshold between life and death.

Minor kingdom on the surface, once ruled by the line of Xante, south of the Nordika region, possibly near Half Valley on the Seaborne Reach. It fell into in-fighting a few generations ago, and even in its height had limited contact with the outside. It was reported to have limited use of technology or magic, and had no clearly dominant species in its population.

According to legend, this was the site of the conflict between King Xante and Lord Calderas, in which the Compass Rose was rumored to have been called in to deal with a confrontation over the minor fiefdom of Gessershire -- and in which the Compass Rose also purportedly met its doom. Given the legends that have sprung up around the Compass Rose over the years, there are some who hold that the land of Stalwirland is fictitious.

Some of the fiefdoms believed to make up Stalwirland included Gessershire, Xanashire (site of the king's estate, Falcon's Watch), and Tectishire.

Sunala is the Goddess of Death, and a matron of assassins. She is believed to devour the souls of her prey, giving them utter annihilation rather than the afterlife. Nonetheless, sometimes condemned criminals or wounded soldiers will pray to her, begging her for a quick death, seeking annihilation rather than the horrible, slow deaths they expect to face.

Despite her role, Sunala is depicted as a beautiful woman (by Babelite standards), with beauty rivaling that of her older sister, Inala.

In Babelite myth, Sunala is the only goddess of the seven that is spared from ever being subjected to getting killed off at the hands of the others. It is suspected that if someone were to introduce a story that did portray Sunala as dying, he or she would receive a personal visit from some priestesses of Sunala intent on purging this "heresy".

Sunala is also the name of a mountain located outside Babel, which houses a shrine to the goddess of the same name. It is not much of a secret that the priestesses of Sunala are often hired to perform ritualistic assassinations, though their services generally do not take them outside of Babel itself, and they never act against the ruling house of Babel (i.e., the Sabaoth, the High Prince, the High Princess, or whomever might hold the throne).

The rune that represents Sunala in Babelite script is also known as "The Corpse".

Many Naga legends hold that weapons fashioned of the wood from a thistlebark tree are capable of harming Chigai (the Naga equivalent of a "demon") and other wicked spirits normally impervious to the physical realm. Among mages of the Sphere of Spirit, this wood is sought after as a component in some more potent (and expensive) rituals, and some Naga lords will surround their grounds with thistlebark trees, believing it to be an effective ward of spells of scrying (as well as a hazardous deterrent to trespassers).

According to ancient myths associated with ideas that the Savanites might have actually once had an empire of their own, rather than always being slaves and savages, they were ruled by a Priest-King, who was supported by a circle of Priest-Mages known as the Twelve, who were, in turn, supported by the Twelve-Times-Twelve. These mages represented the twelve known Spheres of magic, and were responsible for training others of their kind in the ways of spellcasting on Sinai.

Vael is associated with the destroyer/earth goddess of the myth of the Birth of the Seven Sisters, and is seen as a "dead goddess", incapable of answering prayers. She is seen as the mother of the Seven Sisters, and, according to many myths, murdered by Bael, the creator/sky god, and responsible for urging the Sisters to rebel against and kill their father. Even though Vael is regarded as "dead", she is sometimes referred to as being responsible for earthquakes, and in some outlying provinces, she is still worshipped as an earth goddess, sometimes taking on a duality of her own in being responsible for both life and death.

Spells of this Sphere deal with, as would be expected, water in its various forms -- including rainstorms and ice.

Zakaro is portrayed as a great mage amongst the Seven Sisters, even though they all exhibit miraculous powers as would be befitting to deities. She is associated with ancient, lost rituals ... but she is also seen as meddling in the spell-casting of mortals, causing spells to go awry when mortals displease her. As such, she may be reverred by Babelite mages, but offerings to her are more for the sake of appeasement and turning away her wrath than for seeking of any boons from her.

Zakaro is also the name of a mountain outside of Babel, which holds a shrine deciated to the goddess of the same name. Many of the priestesses of Zakaro are mages, focusing on the Sphere of Chaos. For the most part, the priestesses of Zakaro do not have approval from the College Esoterica, but they have traditionally been protected by Babelite law for their roles as priestesses.

The rune that represents Zakaro in Babelite script is also known as "The Magic Circle".

Can be translated as either "Soul" or "Wisdom". According to the myth of the Birth of the Seven Sisters, this was the former name of Zakaro, Goddess of Sorcery, before she and her sisters rebelled against and slew Bael, the Creator God.