recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Exorcism

An **exorcism** is the removal of demonic influence from a place, person, or object. *Purge* is used interchangeably. It falls under the branch of anti-demon magic.

## Uses

### Corruption

In the case of a person's animus becoming corrupted from contact with the black mana sorjin, it is possible to magically purge the taint from spreading. The spread of corruption can be stymied or purged through intensive radiation with a less hostile frequency of mana. Over time and with enough energy, the animus can be possibly reconditioned to generate the individual's original latency.

For most, the curse of corruption cannot be removed, and the victim is forced to suffer until their early death. Medication of mixed effectiveness has been produced by alchemy to alleviate symptoms, but there has not been a definite cure as of yet discovered.

### Consecrating ground

There are mechanisms known to repel the presence of foreign entities in an area.

## Trivia

* The process of sorjin exorcism is analogous to the rigors of chemotherapy used to treat cancer cells. It is painful, exhausting, costly, and success is not always guarantied.
Dimensional beings

A **dimensional being**, or more commonly shortened to **demon**, is a living inhabitant of a planar dimensional realm. Technically, all living things are demons, but the phrase caught on as a general term for the sorjachani, which are more specifically exodemons. Their counterpart are the native species to a dominion, endodemons.
Banishment

In contrast to demonslaying is the practice of **banishment**, the capture and exile of a demon. When a demon is trapped and named, they are ransomed back to Sitaram to a wealthy or vengeful archdemon. In some instances, banishment is a fate worse than death, as in the case of the demon Mohesh who was returned to his master Lord Vhiaturi only to be torn apart by his pet manticores.
Star Wars: The Old Republic

Testy testy testy

## { Republic →

* Yoru Vin
* Galileya Tendo
* Illyncia Moonshade
* Adélei Thralt
* Rheyenna Vin
* Nisha Ghanti
* Erydanus Redshift
* Sepia Ordelae

## { Imperial →

* Lunarisia Arcosé
* Akeema Dekah
* Valkyr Dekah
* Dominik Dekah
* Katrynn Dekah
* Blayne Fynnénn
* Laeythys Kallig
* Artémysia Zanaya
* Astera Pax
* Diego Corbenik
* Rinzler D'resz
* Rhodesia Avondale
* Orphiel Antoiné
* Saiph Drathomyr
* Hyperion Drathomyr
* Seifer Vin
* Elysiot Starfal
* Ertészeke Tendo

## { Neutral →

* Integral Melkos
* Aishur Shoko'ta
* Crucia Daggarrus
* Cheren Faolani
* Orion Drathomyr

## { Other →

* Darth Oora
* Lord Euphemiya
Mana signature

A **mana signature** is unique to all promafers. Every animus is identifiable by its individual mana signature, which accounts for two anomalies:

1. a unique *pattern* of aetherization, observable during aggressive spellwork and also observable at the site of passive periphery friction (the boundary where the animus meets the aethos);
2. and, the *engram*, which is an intricate recording or imprint of an individual's DNA, identity, memories, thoughts, dreams, traumas, and personality traits. Due to being produced by the organism and irradiating them their entire live, certain traits are more impressionable than others and are 'remembered' by the mana.

No two mana signatures are the same, and function as a 'thumb print' for law enforcement. In the Esterlands, every mage who has studied in the magisteria has a sample of their mana signature on record with Arais Emodun, taken during their mandatory arcane education imposed by the Continental Congress on all individuals diagnosed with hypermana.

An animus without a mana signature is called *anonymous*. This can occur if the mana was transmuted into ioun, discarding the metaphysical data scripted into the mana.

## Related

* Animus
* Adhesive Property
Arluk

The **Arluks** ("**Eagles**"), also known as the **Sentinels of the Sun**, are the imperial bodyguards of the leaders of the Ushanra Empire. They are the highest-ranking soldier in the Ushocon.

## Background

After the Ushanran conquest of Canvary, Empress Fayza enrolled slave boys from the subjugated Canaverans as recruits to train as Eagles.

Today, those same Canaverans have matured into the guardsmen that surround the Ushanran Cabal and its interests. Uro Thaino Antonis mo-Lenia and Shuridanyr Eledrios hold a certain sway with their countrymen.
Iden

Historical Information

> "Across the sea, you will find me there."
>
>

> "He waits for us at the End of Time."
>
>

**Iden**, or **God**, is the central deity recurrent in the monotheistic Esshian religions, such as the major world faiths of Stephedism and Diabranewa.

## Notes

* Pronouns in reference to Iden are capitalized as proper nouns.
Magic guild

**Magic guilds** are independent licensed groups of mages working together under the Anchorage system of the Arais Emodun. Each guild is instituted by a charter, declaring their goals and obeisance to arcane law, which is granted by the Protectorate, and led by a reigning guildmaster who manages the group and its operations. Subordinate leaders are appointed or elected, depending on the guild, and assist in administrative duties. Every guild specializes in different areas of academic or commercial enterprise, including enchanted metallurgy, mercenary security, and pharmaceutical alchemy. The guilds contract out their services to clients and provide magic solutions to worldly problems, and can even bid for research grants offered by national agencies or the Arais Emodun itself.

## History

Until DATE, by decree of the Amaranthine Emperor Solemn III, mages were forbidden from congregating together, for fear of their combined magic being used to summon demons or conduct evil acts of mass destruction. The establishment of the Arais Emodun liberated this restriction, as the anchorage system was put into place which sponsored independent guilds of private mages who could practice the arcane legally, according to regulations and routine supervision by the Arais Emodun.

## List of guilds

### Humanitarian

* Healers Union – one of the most prominent magic guilds in the Esterlands is the Healers Union, a philanthropic multinational association of healers and physicians who administer medical aid to peoples in need.

### Academic

* Council of Stahldarom – an esteemed and wealthy guild from Lavmoor which invests in other magic guilds.
Neeam

The **neeams** of the Ushanra Empire are princes and princesses of the House of Ushar, the child born between the Rumsa and her gulams. The neeam represents the union between the dannoi and the imperial family, of which only the shuridannoi are permitted to mix their lineages with. The political symbolism of the neeam is exceptional, and each neeam is cherished as a champion to their respective shuridannoi, particularly the female neeams with the potential for upward mobility. While their mother is the empress, or former empress, their fathers represent the most powerful dannoi of the empire, and the neeam serves as a link between central Ushanra and its most influential vassal states.

Every neeam lives and dies within the walls of the Wirashom, protected from threats against the empress's husbands or their children. In the Wirashom the neeams are allocated lavish apartments reserved to and supplied by their respective danno, spending their time in leisure holding court with cousins or receiving solicitors from their fathers' caste to whisper into the Empress's ear for them, with some hoping they may be speaking to the future empress already.

## About

Each neeam wears a silver nose ring in the middle of their septum.

## History

### Recently

Before the reign of Empress Mizaara, restrictions on the Sons and Daughters of Ushar's ability to travel were significantly more lax, and the eunuch Sons would often join the war fronts as generals and commanders among their countrymen.

The previous neeam of the Dimuwari, Durut ai-Shunra, was a ferocious warrior widely acclaimed as a hero by his people until he was killed during the Conquest of Reccad, earning one of the grandest funerals in Usharbanipal. Empress Mizaara honored the slain Durut for his sacrifice to the empire by renewing the empress's union to the mighty Dimuwari, their chief Vanut mo-Martaga stepping up as her new gulam. Much to the revulsion of the Dimuwari, the new neeam born, Heban ai-Shunra, was afflicted with debilitating mental and physical handicaps, which shamed the warrior orcs into rejecting Mizaara's "Fetid Child" as their Neeam.

## Known neeams

* *Accra ai-Shunra**†*
* Lyrra ai-Shunra
* Lyrros ai-Shunra
* Heban ai-Shunra
Byreon I

Emperor **Byreon Van Duessett I** (by-run vahn doo-sit), the **Lightbringer**, born **Francolan Maros Van Duessett**, of the Van Duessett Family was the founder of the Holy Amaranth Imperium and sponsored the creation of the Holy Vistern of Stephedore.

## Biography

### Early life

The seer Pleiaus Reincher, a monk of Stephedore who was devoted to the sensational Oracle of Martan, had been associated with the Van Duessetts for years. Reincher had given a favorable augury to Byreon's father, and claimed to have a vision of the Temple of Promatles in Column being destroyed on the eve of Byreon's birth.

Reincher was responsible for Byreon's education and upbringing, tutoring him in the tenets of Stephedism and politics.

## See also

* Reclamations
* Bonfires of Byreon

## Trivia

* Inspired by King Charlemagne and the Holy Roman Empire.
A-11 Skyhog

The **A-11 'Skyhog'** is an attacker aircraft used by Green Squad. It is a twin-engine jet aircraft with a tailplane and turret, featuring a 37 mm Gatling cannon, along with several hardpoints for rockets and bombs. One is seen parked in a hangar in Area 23 during the level Proving Grounds, and later can be piloted by players in Operation: Brain Slugger.
Alpharan

The **alpharans** or **alfarans** were slave soldiers of the Meridoque Empire recruited from the Weldfan elves of the Liashan Concert during the height of the Tivar Dynasty. The elves were recruited to spearhead the Great Purge against the ebenient underground, stationed in garrisons called **alpharae**, or **alfarae**.

The Elven Rebellions, also called the Alfaran Revolts, began as a result of the harsh policies made against the elven slaves of the empire and lead to the [Hundred Years War].

The descendants of the alfaran warriors would constitute the Tivar elves of Mannea and Cremalia.

## Etymology

Alpharan = vanguard

Alpharan » Alfaran

Alfaran » Elf
Accra the Elder

**Uro Thaino Accra ai-Shunra**, better known as **Accra the Elder**, was the prime minister of the Ushanra Empire during the reigns of Empress Fayza and Empress Mizaara and was responsible for guiding the Ushocon during the Valpriot War before his demise.

## Relationships

### Baharra and Keyara

While directing the forces of the Ushocon during the Valpriot War, Accra spent most of his time in the city of Athens, where he personally tutored the exiled Daughter of Ushar Baharra and her milk-sister Keyara.
Alvard Incident

The **Alvard Incident** was an attack by the Republic of Modeon against the Ushanra Empire using the first ever mana bomb on the Ushocon headquarters of Alvard. The resulting detonation wiped out all living beings from Alvard except for the peculiar itzhin, who were the sole survivors of the explosion.

In the aftermath of the Alvard Incident, the itzhin leaders of the Ushocon rallied the floundering military machine of the empire and staged a takeover of the imperial house. The mass death and destruction caused by the mana bomb was enough to compel the suddenly crippled empire into surrender, concluding in the Treaty of Serez and the end of the Valpriot War.

## [Fat Boy]

The mana bomb transmuted the animi of every living promafer within a three-mile radius into solid ioun, killing them instantly in cocoons of their own souls. The animus permeates every cell of the organic body, and so its rapid transmutation effectively turned the victims of the bomb inside out on an atomic level. All that remained were crystalline fossils, frozen in the moment of their sudden and unexpected oblivion.

Alvard was a said to be a graveyard of phantasmagoric statuary, and as the Mideralm winds coursed through the quiet streets of the ghost town, these silent effigies were said to scream into the wind as it picked them apart and swept them away, grain by grain, until only their bitten ankles remained. Footprints in the dust.

## Aftermath

### Environmental

In the still arable ground in and around Alvard, a unique flower, the tear of Alvard, has been observed to start growing in the haunted corners of deserted homes and overgrown atria.

- Horrormarch

- Aethereal fallout

## Behind the scenes

The mana bomb was created by a collaborationist effort by an (allegedly) unauthorized International Liaison Team of seven unidentified dwarven legates and magi from the Republic of Modeon. The creators of this incredible weapon, popularly called the Valpriot Clerics (after the Botiac Clerics) have kept their identities a secret from the public to avoid drawing unwanted attention from people who were dissatisfied with how the war ended, including the Senate itself, which wanted to press war crime charges against the mysterious group.

One person claiming to be one of the Valpriot Clerics revealed himself, a Modean arcanist Raland Joyce, and promised to publish a full account of the development of the mana bomb as well as the names of his accomplices. Despite the threat of legal prosecution in international court Joyce claimed he believed his motivations would absolve him of any guilty verdict given to him, but his stabbing outside of Dome in New Column prematurely ended Joyce's uproar and his manuscript was seized by Modean legates, currently withheld by the Modean government for national security reasons.

//Joyce had negotiated a deal with Sloan to name the other Valpriot Clerics in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.
Claymore of Tylan

The **Claymore of Tylan** is an important symbol in Stephedist martial tradition, representing the might of Solemny, the zealotry of the defenders of the faith, and their unparalleled sense of mercy. It is a large sword, pointed downward in art and sculpture.

## Background

Among Oracle Solemn's Eight Beholders was the warrior Tylan, who wielded a claymore—a large broadsword—to defend the persecuted.

## Culturally

The claymore is awarded to people honored as **Protectors of Solemny**, and is used in the coronation ceremonies of many Cremalian courts. The reclaimers that waged holy war against the Ephidel Empire and the Sorjachani touted the claymore as a military symbol during their campaigns.

Veters will lead any procession with a sheathed claymore held above their heads, symbolizing the mercy and restrained strength of God—sheathed out of forbearance, but easily drawn if threatened.
Payload (ALTERNATE LEVEL)

**Payload** is the alternate 7th level of the *Grey Squad* storyline.

## Summary (SPOILERS)

This level begins with a cutscene showing Scott Cook pressing the button to launch the Octagon's arsenal of UMBRELLA missiles at Calico island. The 'threats' from earlier are soon revealed to be children celebrating with balloons which were picked up on radar. The missiles obliterate the island, which catches the eye of [PLACEHOLDER] who is quick to avenge Calico, launching their own nuclear strike on Carolina. The mission takes place in a destroyed landscape (presumably the Octagon's ruins), where Scott Cook is one of the few remaining survivors of this event. After about a minute, the game fades to black. The Unnamed interdimensional being appears and offers the player a chance to rethink their decision from the previous level, Decision Street.
Ishanah Memorial Festival

The **Ishanah Memorial Festival** is a holiday in the Ushanra Empire observed by the Mourner Cult of the Lapisan Diaspora on the anniversary of the death of Lady Ishanah of Gibrin. It is a silent procession through the street where participants are all clad in black, and mourners beat drum to a funerary cadence.

## Involvement

In the year of DATE, Empress Baharra, on the advice of her aide Keyara, attended the itzhin event to ingratiate herself with the people of the Cabal. She impressed Cabal leaders Kailar Mascad i-Apsa and Sudra Loriv Thieodin with her presence, and furthermore after delivering a eulogy to the Mourning Queen as amends for the rebuke by Sharizah generations ago.

During the procession, an orc later identified as Ansgav Toram attempted to kill Mascad in the midst of Cabal leadership, managing to disfigure the Kailar before escaping. He was killed by Provost agents, a vial of othin found on his body, casting doubts on the assumption that he was working with the Rays of the Sun.
Fiora

**Fiora** was an agricultural goddess and the supreme deity of the ancient pre-Weldfan elven societies in Besperia. The Cult of Fiora coincided with the development of agriculture, domestication of farm animals, and the creation of permanent urban settlements.

Her worship and almost all trace of the religion was erased and subsumed by Agriagas, which was created only a short time after Fiora.

## Selinyas

The *Selinyas*, or the "Four Stages of Harmonic Aspiration", are a core concept of the agriculturist religion. They represented a different stage of the Goddess Fiora's life cycle, as well as the cycles of plant growth, aging, and seasons.

* Seed | Infant | Spring
* Sapling | Adolescent | Summer
* Tree | Adult | Autumn
* Dead tree | Crone | Winter
Elf Disease

The **Elf Disease**, also popularly known as the **Curse of Fiora**, or **barkskin**, is a highly infectious skin virus that has historically caused mass death and suffering.

Sufferers with pronounced symptoms are sometimes called **treants**.

## Symptoms

The Elf Disease is characterized by the hard, calcified dermal growths caused by the virus resembling tree bark or wood. It is highly contagious by fluid exchange.

## Curse of Fiora

The Elf Disease first emerged in Besperia among the Weldfan elves during the Mangsha Shalmorate. It was believed that the curse was the goddess Fiora's vengeance against the elves for their turning their backs on her worship.

It was believed the curse had been lifted from the elves when it had faded from prominence. Really, they had simply adapted to the virus and developed an immunity to it—something none of the Northern races had done.
Over The Horizon

**Over The Horizon** is the 7th mission of the *Grey Squad* storyline.

## Summary (SPOILERS)

The mission has a cutscene. General Palazzo is enraged by Scott's decision, and they both get in a physical fight. Palazzo eventually knocks Scott into an emergency cryo-chamber, and sets the thaw date to 20 years. The Unnamed interdimensional being shows the player how technology rapidly advances while Scott is frozen. Then, Scott is thawed. Plenty has changed, and the player is introduced to... the future.
Nobedan ao Camun

**Ashoren** **Nobedan ao Camun** is the presumptive heir to the Camun Shalmorate by relation to his grandmother Queen Latizaf au Camun, who perished during the Orc Wars.

## Involvement

» Noretaid petitions Nobedan to support Congress

» The Suladi pressure Nobedan into dealing with the halfbreed assassin from the Northerners. He imprisons her and orders Noretaid's tongue cut from her mouth.
First Reclamation

The **First Reclamation** was the first of a series of reclamations initiated by King Byreon the Lightbringer against the Alfaran Kingdoms set up by the former alfaran elf warriors of the Meridoque Empire.

## History

In retaliation for the Elven Rebellions that dissolved the last remaining domain of Iotheme in the West, King Byreon Van Duesset I of the newly formed Holy Amaranth Imperium gathered his vassals and sworn knights and founded a chivalric order devoted to demonslaying and the recovery of Solemnic lands.

### Siege of [Constantinople]

The Asgorim elves had taken over the major sea port of [Constantinople] during the rebellions under the leadership of the Alfaran leader King Asgor. After a two-month siege, Asgorim's defenses were overcome and the first of the garden lords hanged.

Many knights who participated in the siege of [Constantinople] in service to King Byreon were rewarded with landholdings in and around the city.
Mendolyn

Historical Information

**Mendolyn tu Surrah** was a Lionese magician loyal to the Ephidel Empire who originally helped to operate the Great Dragon Shanlongar but later helped to disable it as a committed member of BRAVO TEAM.

Having originally disputed the Ephideli Emperor's tactics, Mendolyn defected after her captured and passed on her foreknowledge of the Dragon King's path of destruction as well as revealing the technical flaws that enabled the group to destroy the weapon.

## Notes

- She was captured and coerced into working with BRAVO TEAM under pain of torture. However, she arranged a deal with the Austeners to save herself and formally joined their enterprise to wrest Shanlongar from Ephidel's control.

- When she first encountered the dragonslayers they shot her in the leg with an arrow, detained the subdued elf, tied her down. and then interrogated her. [Vincent] stabbed her in her wound and twisted the knife, hoping to gain more information from the elf. She harbored a vengeance against [Vincent] ever since.

- revealed Shanlongar's hidden arcane mechanism, causing BRAVO TEAM to revise their plan.

- created a "false egg" meant to substitute a real projectile, except when fired, the egg would nullify the wards and kill Shanlongar from the inside out.

- after the war, Mendolyn was banished from returning to Liona on threat of execution for her complicity with BRAVO TEAM, and she spent the rest of her life futilely petitioning the kings and later presidents of Liona to allow her back into her cherished homeland.
Eight Beholders

The **Eight Beholders of Solemn** or the **Eight Beholders** are a group of eight (sometimes nine) disciples of the Oracle Solemn who documented and published his life in a series of testimonies that would addend the Stephedist Book of Oracles. The Beholders and their contributions to the Vigil of Solemn would establish the groundwork for the universal religion of Stephedism and its major representational institution in the Esterlands and abroad.

1. Melena, Mother of Solemn
2. Stephedore
3. Chrisander
4. Magus [Paul], a Botiac Cleric who renounced his pagan faith upon witnessing Solemn at work.
5. Tylan, the Warrior
6. Attea, Widow of Solemn
8. [Pontius], an Ioheman patrician who was among the judges who sentenced Solemn to death and repented.

## Ninth Beholder

According to Diabranewa, [Judas], the half-brother of Solemn, is Solemn's ninth beholder.

## Trivia

* The Eight Beholders are partially inspired by the Twelve Disciples of Jesus Christ in the Christian faith, who accompanied the prophet during the course of his ministry and continued his teaching after death.
Demon brand

A **demon brand** is a hexing ward that is inscribed into the flesh of a thrall. It signifies the pact between the thrall and a demon, and functionally serves to insure that the thrall will uphold their part of the deal. At the demon's will, the demon brand will afflict the wearer with excruciating pain, which can be advanced to seizures or painful death.

Because of their diabolical nature, the demon brand is easily recognized and thus usually placed on a discreet location on the body.

## Removal

While a demon brand can be easily removed by a specialized mage, the stigma of dealing with demons is worldwide and inexorably taboo.
Hindsight

**Hindsight** is the ability to recall the lived or past experiences of people, places, or objects. Contrary to an oracle, a clairvoyant's powers of hindsight engage them into the infinitely-expanding Dias Ferros ("iron days," the past).

In Esshian literature, hindsight can only be achieved by scrying with the Dexter Eye of Iden, his right eye which has the power to look into the past. According to the Oracles of Essha and Irrah, they were the only mortals to ever possess the power of hindsight.
Hydra

The **hydra** is a popular creature in myths, folklore, and religion in Hephestia. While regionally its depiction varies, the creature is always described as being a multi-headed dragon or snake that, when one of its heads is severed, will grow two heads to replace it.

## Religion

### Vederada

The Arquisans worshiped Gennu-Alowaqqir ("anticipated one"), the Hydra, Hundred-Headed God or Hundred-Headed Serpent. He was described as a multi-headed, fire-breathing deity that took the form of a dragon. The Hydra was a force of chaos and contradiction; curer of diseases and spreader of plague; death and rebirth. It was the proud defender of the empire and caretaker of their ancestors—but also destined to destroy the world.

The Hydra was highly prevalent in Arquisan culture and heraldry, and their enemies came to characterize the foreign foes by the dragon they worshiped.
Celea Hangue

The anchorite noblewoman **Celea Hangue** (*seel-ee-uh hayng*) was a high-profile socialite in the magic society of Lavmoor.

## Involvement

While in the Duchies, Girsten perused the financial records of the renegade [First Team] kept by Gnomon Bank, hoping to trace a breadcrumb trail of corruption that could explain their attack. Girsten noticed one of their financiers as Lambsher Hangue, whom she discovered is a deceased nobleman in Lavmoor.

Traveling to Lavmoor, Girsten visits the Hangue manor and meets Lambsher's widow, Celea, who says she was a longtime family friend of the Gulphs, throwing off Girsten's suspicions about Crane.

## Behind the scenes

Celea Hangue is in fact the third incarnation of the Narangheer Lich, the main operator of the archdemon's network of followers throughout the developing Cremalian Underworld. Her unimposing appearance, good-standing in the community, and access to great wealth made her a great asset to her allies, Meine and Toth.
Consortium

The **Consortium** is something with economic and big business, banks, industry, and monopolies in the Esterlands. Dwarves, gnomes, and goblins.

» Wallstreet

» capitalism, free trade, trade unions

» corruption: robber barons, monopolies, poor wages, war profiteering, unethical trade alliances & sanctions

» arcane industry is homed in the Duchies.
Batiorum

> "What is this knowledge worth to you?"
>
>

The **Batiorum** of Cibarad is an arcane institution of learning currently controlled by the Ushanra Empire, which has historically served as a crossroads and forum for magi around the world to trade arcana and discuss theories before the Purgation Era.

## Etymology

» Batius

» Hall of Wisdom

## History

The Batiorum was originally a library and school for acolytes of the House of Batius, the Iotheman god of wisdom and learning. Here, scholars from the Iotheme Empire and the Shardamtarn would come together in symposiums to discuss philosophy, mathematics, science, religion, and magic. Querents would come to the sages of the Batiorum and posit a question to them, and they would convene and discuss it, presenting the person with several answers to choose from. Each question was a bid; the best answer would receive the reward.

The coming of demons to Hephestia had the Batiorum complex expanded, with underground levels added for the demons to explore their own questions about mortal physiology and pain tolerance. The Great Purge led to the consecration of the Batiorum, and its restoration by the Botiac Clerics and subsequent dereliction in the next century. It would become a haven for misfit magi and renegades during the Elf Rebellions, and the elves' disinterest in policing magic allowed the Batiorum to flourish again as a global forum.

The Conquest of [Spain] by the Ushanra Empire included the occupation of Cibarad, and the Batiorum was put under the control of the Rumsa. It remained intact, albeit shadowed by the Roc's wings, and arcanists have since precariously returned to the libraries and lecture halls there.

The Grand Diaar co-opted one of the larger buildings for imperial use, using it for the development of othin to provide the gentle death to worthy supplicants.

### Recently

The proven infertility between itzhin and other mortal races has frustrated the Kailar's ambitions of installing an Itzhin Shuridanno into the ruling House of Ushar, and so Mascad i-Apsa held a press conference at the Batiorum where he asked of the scholars present:

> "Why can't we reproduce with other races?"
>
>

> Omari Ghasan ai-Tulud asked, "What is this knowledge worth to you?"
>
>

> And the Kailar replied, "An empire."
>
>

Ever since, arcanists and biologists from around the world have flocked to the Batiorum to claim the Kailar's question, clamoring to tap into the fortune of such potential gratitude.

## Involvement

SCIENTIST meets with Girsten Sonnard in Amadi Cais while he is preparing to leave for Cibarad, drawn by the call to answer the Kailar's question.

Keyara visits the Batiorum to investigate where an assassin got othin.
Gulam

The **gulams** are the husband-kings and suitors of the Empresses of Ushanra, selected from the shuridannoi of the empire. The children between a rumsa and a gulam are neeams.

The position of gulam does not preclude political authority. A suitor of the empress does not entail their seat in the Grand Diaar, as only a single shuridanyr can represent his danno. However, a gulam can be both his empress's husband and minister.

## Legend

It was said that the first Daughter of Ushar, Roya, would know her husband when she saw seven signs in the world around her that proved God's choice in a mate for her.

## History

### Recently

Himasser earned the contempt of the common people for ignoring this sacred protocol, barricading Mizaara in the Wirashom and forcing her to do his bidding.

## Involvement

Intent on securing his lineage in the House of Ushar, Kailar Mascad i-Apsa continued his predecessor's goals and instead attempted a more political way of insinuating himself into her love life, declaring his plan to show Baharra 'seven signs of love, humility, and devotion' that would prevent her from being able to turn him down. In his pursuit of a stable cross-species union, Mascad has propositioned the magi of the Batiorum with researching the infertility between itzhin and other mortal races, hoping to bridge the reproductive gap that some suggest may have killed Mizaara.

Empress Baharra filibustered the Kailar's courtship by pretending to believe the offensive and absurd myth that sex with darklings is lethal, but Mascad's relentless ambition has him meeting her every objection, however humiliating.
Archdemon

An **archdemon** is simply a classification for a higher-ranking demon in the Underworld hierarchy. They are also referred to as *demon lords* or *greater demons*, and sometimes may style themselves with Eastern titles as kings, dukes, counts, or barons. Because of their high notoriety, many archdemons prefer to operate anonymously or under aliases and delegate their plans to servants and intermediaries.

## Book of Names

The Arais Emodun Book of Names is a listing of the top fugitives being hunted for capture and prosecution for arcane crimes, many of whom are identified archdemons and their cohorts.
Blood magic

**Blood magic** is a form of spellcasting that makes use of the magical energies that enrich promafer viscera and bodily fluids, particularly blood.

According to the Arais Emodun, blood magic is a forbidden art.

### Iotheme

» Iotheman blood courts

» Twelve Wonders of Iotheme

» Blood Tax

» Sorjachani Invasion

## Cultural

» Hesistyra

» Sitaram
Gongalves

**Lieutenant-Captain Ivan Gongalves** is a Canaveran Knight of the Palatine Order of Canvary who has been sent to the Kingdom of Lavmoor to understudy his commander, Commander Andrei Bizet.

## Characteristics

Crazed, overzealous. The archetypal religious bigot.

## Involvement

After the death of Commander Bizet, the unsteady Gongalves seizes control of the remaining Palatine Knights garrisoned in Concordia regroups, where he is approached by a disillusioned Oben Thewell with the mana bomb from Naeoleis.
Dezmen mo-Wali

**Dezmen mo-Wali** is the newly promoted Minister of the Treasury for the Grand Diaar and a member of the Ushanran Cabal. His mother, the itzhin kifshaba Wali zo-Laona, is an influential player in the intrigues of the empire and is accredited with his rise to a position of rank.

## Characteristics

* Young and impulsive, brash and cavalier.
* Vain, cocky, cruel.
* Entitled New Money socialite with inherited power and wealth.
* Flirtatious and sadistic. A wicked smile is on his face.
* Frequents brothels as a wealthy patron.
* Hairs on his chin, thick sideburns down the sides of his face.
* Tall and skinny.

## Biography

### Recently

Dezmen and fellow Cabal member Quirin i-Durem represented the Ushanra Empire in the signing of the Treaty of Serez.

With Mascad's promotion to Kailar, Wali arranged for her son's promotion to a respectable government position, parleying Mascad with a generous donation to the Imperial Treasury that Dezmen was subsequently awarded the management of, after his predecessor's sudden retirement.

## Involvement

### Death

Dezmen is found gruesomely murdered in his apartments, impaled through his rectum repeatedly by a bladed object until his agonizing death. The extremely violent nature of his death casts a pall over the Wirashom while his mother Wali becomes obsessively crazed with vengeance, pestering the Kailar for retribution against his unknown assassins.

Wali commands her own men to begin searching for Dezmen's murderer when Mascad fails to appease her increasing demands, ordering them to loot businesses and break into homes to scare people into bringing her information. Wali refuses to stand down to Mascad's order to recant her riots, and she is arrested by the enraged Kailar, who then orders all of her men arrested and jailed as well.
Baharra ai-Shunra

**Rumsa** **Baharra ai-Shunra** is the 14th Empress of the Ushanra Empire, succeeding her aunt Empress Mizaara at the behest of her grandmother Empress Fayza in DATE.

## Biography

Baharra was born outside of the Wirashom in Athens.

## Involvement

The sudden yet anticipated death of Empress Fayza of Ushanra results in Baharra's surprising declaration as Fayza's chosen heir. Upon her ascension, Baharra presided over the funeral of her grandmother and was introduced to the new rulers of the empire.

Baharra and her cousin embarked on a peace tour to visit the various heads of state in Cremalia.

## Trivia

* Baharra is an alcoholic and a frequent mollowin user.
Kuru tribe

The **Kuru tribe** are a Janican tribe of orcs.

## Background

Shave their heads to prevent elves from trophy-taking (scalping). Instead they tattooed their scalps with heroic exploits or scenes from Janican legends, some even prayers or ritual scars.

## Trivia

Loriv, while in [Jerusalem], became familiar with some Kuru mercenaries and he adopted their scalp-art tradition, incorporating Ushanran imagery such as an ornate solar disc on the left side of his head.
Marooned

The descendants of the Sorjachani invaders of the ancient past who have continued to live on Hephestia after being cut off from Alaniji, their original plane, and begrudgingly coexist with the native civilizations there. Their domains make up the distressed Underworld in the West.

## Language

The [Marooned] sorjachani speak a pigeon version of their ancestral tongue. Most modern sorjachani on Hephestia are multilingual in order to communicate with the ‘lesser races.’
Decline of the High Road

The **Decline of the High Road** was an extended series of degenerating events that led to the eventual failure of the High Road in the Bagharn as a major trade route in Cremalia.

## List of events

### Gnomish incursion

Gnomes (Kobolds in Pnardic) today are known to be distrusted by dwarves for being the blame for the Fall of Shardam. The gnomes' mental acuity and fast burrowing ability was at first appreciated by the dwarves, who took advantage of the little helpers to the point of over-dependence.

Kobolds were employed in droves by the Shardam dwarves, who used them to expand their subterranean dwellings by tunneling through the earth. The kobolds' crude tunneling skills neglected to provide several necessary support structures, causing instability throughout the grades and resulting in many cave-ins. Increased seismic activity from magical exploits doomed the weakened grades to oblivion when a series of deadly earthquakes finally collapsed the dwarves' greatest cities down upon themselves.

After the Fall of Shardam, the Bradwin dwarves immediately expunged their kobold population from their cities to preempt what they perceived as intentional sabotage by the benign demons, leading to the surge in gnomes among Exodites in Lower Cremalia.

### Increased [Sharia]

> nativism

> protectionist trade policies & intensified cultural policing

### Fall of Shardam

> earthquakes

> destruction of Korsahn City
Hearth runes

**Hearth runes** are one of the earliest runes created by the dwarves, and one of the most common today. When activated, the enchantment generates a gentle heat that helped assuage the pains of the colder climates and harsh winters, without the use of fire. For dwarves hibernating in caves, death by smoke inhalation was a huge risk, and this smokeless alternative to heating is thought to have allowed for dwarven civilization to develop as it did.
Foresight

**Foresight** is the ability to predict future events.

In Esshian religions, the oracles are believed to possess the ability to receive visions from Iden of the future. Liturgy describes Destiny or Heaven as the literal Future, and visions of the future are privileged telescopic glimpses of the faraway Kingdom of God.

Esshian conceptualization of Time is that Heaven is slowly converging with the Temporal Lands (the mortal lands, Hephestia) in fragments floated down the Sea of Sorrows, demonstrating the advancement of time as a downward 'flow.' The Present is God's gift to mankind, every minute (visualized as grains of sand, or the Sands of Time) that Heaven and Earth are gently reunited and mankind is brought closer to God.

## Things that will be, or things that might be

A major theological debate is the argument over how influential man is to shape his own destiny, particularly whether the visions of the future are inevitable or only a consequential possibility unless certain actions are taken.

* The Esshians before Solemn are of the belief that fate is unalterable, with details of the future delivered unto man through God's chosen vessel without error.
* The Solemnic religions emphasize the autonomy and freedom of mankind to shape its own destiny.
	+ Stephedism places importance on the individual destiny and self-identification, one's personal worthiness of being admitted onto the shores of Heaven or being doomed to tread the Sea of Sorrows, keeping their head above water. Death is the only way to reach Heaven and access is granted only to the righteous few, while despair awaits the rest.
	+ Diabranewa is more concerned with the reunion of the Temporal Lands with Heaven and restoring God's faith in mankind. They aspire to redeem themselves and, with God's will, reestablish Heaven over Earth and the end of Time.

## See also

* Clairvoyance
* Hindsight
Men of Yelen

The **Men of Yelen** (*Excubiari di Yelena*) are a Stephedist monastic sect, philosophy, and a title of honor in the Holy Vistern of Stephedore. Yelen's Men are the dogmatic servants of the Vigil, shrewdly examining their every conscious moment for signs of prophecy. They are masterfully versed in the numerous unfulfilled oracles and prophecies archived by the Vistern, being able to recite published auguries verbatim—every precise detail of language is crucial to their examination of the world.

They are named for the Third Oracle because her prophecies, by nature, were intentionally obscure and long-term. Their sacred duty relies on the virtues of patience, diligence, and prudence.

The title *Man* (or *Maid*) *of Yelen* denotes a person of great care, honesty, and patience, and is an awarded honor in many Stephedist-influenced institutions.

## Trivia

* Concept: "doomsday prophets on stake-outs for the Pope"
Augury

An **augury** is any attempt to learn secret knowledge. An augury is made to satisfy a query. Augury refers to both the ritual and the interpretation rendered for any received visions, which are received in two forms.

## Premonitions

A **premonition** is an augury that reveals information from the *future*.

## Epiphanies

An **epiphany** is an augury that reveals a hidden or unknown truth, sourced in the *present day* or *past*.
Mana

**Mana** (*man-uh*) is the name for magical energy in the universe.

Mana is primarily in its metaphysical state, in which it is reactive with its counterpart aether, but through transmutation can be manifested into its nonreactive physical state, ioun.

Because of mana's unique reactivity with its adversarial magical energy aether, feats of magic can be directed and controlled by persons of special knowledge.

## Composition

   Mana forms into different structures depending on volume and the mass of the physical matter being infused.

* Mana particles
* Manacles
* Mana chains
* Mana clouds
* Animus

## Properties

### Frequency and Wavelength

As a form of energy, the nature of mana is determined by its wavelength and frequency.

### Biorhythm

A species' propensity towards producing a specific frequency of mana.

### Luminescence

When mana forms into a manacle and resonates or when mana reacts with aether, the energy released emits light. The color of this light can vary depending on the frequency of the mana. A person's aura is characterized by their luminescence color.

## Types

The **Mana Spectrum** is the frequency range of mana, chromatically differentiated parallel to the rainbow of visible light in the Electromagnetic Spectrum. Ley energy is the collective form of all seven mana aspects joined together.

## Reactivity

### Resonance

Mana-mana reactions are referred to as **resonance** (v. resonating). They are noncombustive expressions and appear to "pulse" in long strands, glowing within a mana cloud.

Telepathy is a resonant form of spellwork, the relaying of engrams from mind to mind without aethereal interference with the low-frequency, nonreactive psi mana.

Mana duplication is another form of resonance, where two independent animi with mana signatures come into direct contact with each other and establish equilibrium by back-and-forth resonance pulses, each mana cloud becoming more like the other over time.

## See also

* Magic
* Aether
* Animus
* Mana signature
Moonstone

**Moonstones** or **pearls** carry great symbolic meaning in Esshian art and iconography. Pearls were believed to be pebbles of the moon that fell into the ocean after it was cracked. Their later name, moonstones were believed to enhance or grant oracular powers, and many Stephedist weapons, tools, or jewelry are often inlaid or decorated with the rare, milky-white mineral.

Diving for moonstones was and remains a high-demand business in the Esterlands.
Focus (magic)

A **focus** (pl. **foci**) is a "place" or object where a mage can concentrate mana during the conjuration process of spellwork. There exist an infinite variety of foci, classified as **internal** and **external foci**.

## Internal foci

Internal foci are located within the animus, nodes where meridian pathways intersect and create potent centers of mana.

## External foci

External foci can be any kind of enchanted object.
Bradwin dwarves

The **Bradwin dwarves** (*brawd-vin*) of the Bradwin Valley Basin are an Upper Cremalian ethnic group of dwarves inhabiting the slopes and mountain interiors of the Eastern Anduvin Mountains.

## Society

### Marriage & Family

Due to late sexual maturity, first marriages between dwarves are characteristically very mentally-driven, often building from parallel careers or school romances. Like "high school romances", these relationships may fizzle once the dwarf reaches their reproductive stage, becoming more volatile from the surge in hormones.

Divorce is a very normal and integrated part of dwarven society, albeit the pre-history of many prior relationships remains a touchy subject for many.

High infant mortality rate / limited reproductive period / Single offspring requiring a lot of investment.

Polygamy was socially promoted to boost population sizes, leading to large family units and complex clan systems.

### Bathing

Dwarves believe that public bathing is a vital social function and that it promotes conviviality and community.

dwarven baths

dwarven saunas

— Heating coals and throwing water on them to produce steam.

— "The oldest known saunas in Finland were made from pits dug in a slope in the ground and primarily used as dwellings in winter."

bathhouses

hot springs

sento

onsens

hypostyle halls

bath clogs

## Culture

### Cuisine

Preserved foods & cuisine

* preservatives (jams, jellies)
* farm meat
* grains (hops, barley, wheat)
* alcohols & vinegars
* cheese & yogurt
* pudding, cream
* squashes (pumpkins, yams, gourds)
* mushrooms, roots, & tubers (potatoes, carrots, beets, onions)
* stew (long-cooked)
* roasts (long-cooked)
* smoked meats
* sausages
* blood pudding
* salt (prized commodity)

## Religion

Most modern Bradwin dwarves identify as Stoneborn who obey the Orthodox Canon.

In ancient times, the dwarven clans of the Bradwin Basin worshipped a cult deity called the Earth Mother, whose imagery and influence still perpetuates the Eastern Bagharn in confluence with the Canonical communities.

## Trivia

* Stillborn dwarves stored in icon jars shaped like a dwarven fertility goddess—restoring the child to the Earth Mother for a second chance at life.
City goblin

* Most are overweight or morbidly obese.
* Intelligent and articulate; businessmen and merchants.
* A more recent evolution, derived from jungle goblins. After being captured and shipped away to Cremannean ports, the goblin slaves quickly acclimated to their human captors’ lifestyles and developed along city terms.

## Feral

A feral offshoot, descended from goblins that managed to escape from their slave-owners, gradually adapted to their new urban surroundings and developed into bottom-feeding scavengers, digging through garbage in the slums and hunting in the dark for rodents.

## Trivia

Feral city goblins are like raccoons rummaging through dumpsters.
Bystander POV

The **Bystander POV storyline** follows the exploits of the enigmatic warlock Jeseride.

## Cast

* Jeseride
* Myrna
* Mirau
* Emar Yengec
* Mavi Yengec
* Gassat Buren
* Conroy Fay
* The Rebel
* Yelastim do Siyazin
* Abersom Dodd
* Thomas Treeman – a treant sorcerer kept in captivity on the Lavmoran ship.
* Evelyn Dorsen
* Fiona Hale (Fiona POV)
* Lisyon
* Proconsul Meine
Arthor Meine

**Proconsul** **Arthor Meine** (*ahr-thor mayne*) is the central representative of the Arais Emodun and the executive authority over its two branches, the Protectorate and the Magisterium.

## Characteristics

* White beard and balding head, hair tied into a small tail in back.
* His left leg is shorter than his right, having lost his original and replaced it with a donor leg using magic. He walks with a cane and has a limp.

## Behind the scenes

In secret, years ago a young Arthor became possessed by an aspect of the lich Narangheer and volunteered himself to be its next host.

His previous incarnation, the lich that recruited Meine, was the genetic father of Jeseride. Narangheer evacuated Stahldarom and possessed Arthor, intending to reclaim his property when he had come of age. The dark wizard Valkerscheif's subsequent death was accredited to Meine.

Iriskyiss's death by the Palatine Order disrupted his plans, compelling the Proconsul to order discreet scoutings beyond the Velvet Curtain to hunt for the "renegade warlock".

//ArEm facility attack was fabricated to give the Protectorate an excuse to violate travel sanctions.

The chance discovery of the miracle Myrna in Jeseride's den was a marvel, and Meine hoped it could serve as a lure to bring Jeseride to him. Jeseride, vengeful against his father's murderer and the kidnapping of his lover, makes it his mission to kill the Proconsul and exact vengeance.

## Trivia

* Meant to serve as the Merlin figure or "wise mentor" of the Monomyth, spiritually fulfilling the role played by Obi-wan Kenobi, Gandalf, Dumbledore, and other timeless long-bearded wizards.