recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Light

## Overview

Light is a type of supernatural phenomenon that is wielded by priests and heroes to heal and combat Evil. Angels have some relation to the ability to wield Light. It is known to be anathema to demons, and is able to be manipulated in a way that is similar to sorcery. The precise mechanics of its usage by priests are unknown, but it is believed to be used through prayer. Heroes are able to manipulate Light in a similar way as using a Name.

## Uses

Light has two main usages, combat focused and healing focused. Tariq has said that strength in of one of these types typically precludes strength in another. However, he is an exception to this rule as he has been called the best healer alive and is also an extremely capable combatant while wielding Light.

#### Combat

Light when used in combat is typically used to empower and shield heroes. It allows for them to perform superhuman feats such as cracking stone with their bare hands. Lanterns, a type of warrior priest found in Levant, also use Light in combat. They appear to use it as a type of beam weapon, as shown in the Prince's Graveyard.

#### Healing

Light when used to heal has been noted to be very effective. It is quicker and easier than similar healing done with magic. Light has even managed to resurrect people, although it was done by Tariq, a very skilled healer, while using an aspect.
Salutary Alchemist

"*But the most dangerous villain I ever faced was my first: an alchemist so sickly he could barely hold a sword.*"
―Saint of Swords
A villain who first appeared during the begining of the Saint of Swords' career.

## Role

Using alchemical means, the Salutary Alchemist helps others extend their life.

## Abilities

The Salutary Alchemist was mentioned to have been able to create a variety of potions to heal and strengthen. These potions were potent enough to be used by Named, and the Salutary Alchemist is brilliant enough to create a potion to extend one's lifespan within five years, while only experimenting on animals. The Name was also only a year away from creating an elixer of immortality.

## Known Holders

**Unamed man:** The Salutary Alchemist was granted his name through unknown means, and proceeded to experiment on kidnapped criminals to improve his potion making skills. When he was sixteen or seventeen, he was found by the Saint of Swords, but was let go and forced to experiment on animals only. He proceeded to follow this command for 5 years before returning to his old ways of experimenting on humans. He was discovered by the Prince of Valencis who helped in finding human test subjects in return for useful potions. He was then killed by the Saint of Swords.

## References

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/04/29/chapter-33-concord/
The Hells

The Hells are a dimension like Creation or Arcadia. There seems to be an infinite number of hells and they seem to be growing endlessly. The first 23 hells are inhabited by demons while the hells from the 24th on are inhabited by devils. In some or all of them the sky is crimson.

The Hells are to the left of Creation, as much as direction can be applied to them.

Rules are not as firm in the Hells as they are in Creation, and can be changed by beings with enough power.

One of the hells was conquered by the Dead King and named Serenity. It is inhabited by the ancestors of the few hundred servants that survived the Dead King's apotheosis.

## References

1. ↑ Book 3 - Interlude: Liesse IV Though his people swore by Below, when they swore at all, this was broadly mistaken. The Hells were, as much as direction could apply to them, somewhat to the left of Creation.
2. ↑ Extra Chapters - Fettered The Titans had felt out the boundaries of what the Gods had created and set their secrets to stone, which the prince now had laid out before his eyes. A sphere, the lay of Creation, enveloped by a circle. The Garden, the realm of the fae. To the sides were two great realms, the Heavens and the Hells, one deep beyond sight but unmoving while the other was shallow but ever-shifting. All these were put to stone, writhing in light before his eyes, but the prince was not satisfied.
3. ↑ Book 7 - Chapter 64: Gehenna
4. ↑ Book 7 - Chapter 59: Steel It had been millennia since the fall of Sephirah and the living ceased to stay within the walls – save for a few hundred servants deep in the heart of the city
We march west once more

*We march West once more* is an unofficial name for a verse in Mthethwa that is mentioned multiple times in the story. Before the Fifteenth Legion sets off for Callow, Nauk quotes the first line, and the rest of the group replies with the second. It's a well-known verse; Catherine describes it as 'famous'. The last two lines are left off, both times the first lines are spoken.

It is unclear if this is a verse from a song or a poem, and whether there are more verses or not.

## Lyrics

*We march West, once more

Waging that same old war

Onward to the fields of Callow

Swift death and graves shallow*

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/chapter-1-supply/
2. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2018/04/20/chapter-4-warpath/
Summerholm

Summerholm is a city in Callow. It was known as the Gate of the East, because it blocked the only bridge across the Hwaerte River, making it nearly impossible for Praes to invade mainland Callow without conquering it.Such a feat was only ever accomplished twice in the city's entire history, by Dread Empress Triumphant and by Amadeus.

### Layout

Unlike Laure, Summerholm was carefully planned out before it was built, with defense a major consideration. The streets were built wide enough that archers on the perimeter walls would be able to fire into them, and there were numerous dead-end streets filled with arrow slits, which could be used as killing fields against any invaders who made a wrong turn onto them.
Trismegistan Sorcery

Trismegistan sorcery is based on the teachings of the Dead King. It is noted to be very flexible, but also very exacting, with multiple years of study required to become competent. Is mainly used in Praes and the Kingdom of the Dead. Notable users include Wekesa, Masego, Roland, and Neshamah.

### Scope

Trismegistan Sorcery requires much greater precision than other sorceries; because of this, the results are usually superior, but have a margin of error a tenth the size of other sorceries. Trismegistan Sorcery puts greater emphasis on precise manipulation of magical energies than the use of mediums like incantations and runes, though they are still used as crutches to visualize and measure.

Unlike most schools of sorcery, Trismegistan magic has at least mostly observable underlying principles.

Trismegistan principles can be used for other power sources, such as Night.

## References

1. ↑ Book 4 - Interlude: Heretics
2. ↑ Book 5 - Chapter 5: Consult
3. ↑ Book 6 -Chapter 65: Cross Check
Wizard of the West

"*A hero should not confuse striking at Evil and doing Good, lest their Good become the act of striking*"
―Theodore Langman, Wizard of the West

## Abilities

The Name is viewed as a good equivalent to the Warlock of Praes. The Wizard of the West is regarded as a powerful mage. The Name's magic has been compared to the fae, and Wekeska has noted that the Wizard of the West wielded ten times the power of the Hedge Wizard. However, this amount of power has its own drawbacks, as Wekeska noted that the Wizard of the West had been brittle, breakable when outplayed.

The Wizard of the West had been capable enough to break Dread Emperor Nefarious.

## Known Holders

**Theodore Langman**: Old by the time the Calamities started their Conquest, Theodore fled with his power broken.

**Wessen**: An ancient Wizard of the West. Inventor of Wessen’s Fork, a bolt of lightning sorcery that is capable of spliting into two streaks of lightning while still homed in the original target.

## References

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2017/10/02/villainous-interlude-calamity-ii/
2. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2015/03/25/prologue/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/04/03/interlude-rogue/
Sabrathan Sorcery

"*The Gift was only cultivated two ways in Ashur: healers and ship mages. Ashuran mage-doctors could take the slightest ember of life and turn it into haleness, making Praesi attempts at healing look like the fumbling of children. Their sailing-mages could quiet storms or craft them, steal sunken ships from the depths and ride the tides.*"
―Warlock of Calamities**Sabarathan** theory of magic is an ancient framework developed by the Baalite Hegemony and iterated over by the Thalassocracy of Ashur. It’s particularly well suited for healing and sailing. It’s largely ineffective outside of these areas due to its age. Its spell formulas are entirely different to what’s used in Praes.

## Scope

Sabarathan magic does not lend itself to rituals or mages working together in large groups.

Warlock describes it as inflexible and Masego as narrow in scope. Nonetheless, it’s without peer in its two specializations: healing and sailing. It emphasizes natural talent over skill and intellect.

### Spells

* A working that creates a mirage capable of covering an entire fleet. Unlike a typical Praesi illusion or fae glamour it’s almost a natural phenomenon, making it much harder to detect but also maintain.

* A spell to manipulate large quantities of water into giant, spinning drills, possibly hardening the liquid for extra impact.

* It’s capable of temporarily submerging a fleet underwater to protect them from waves.

* It can be used to create and manipulate storms.

* Healing magic is capable of bringing a person from a brink of death.
* Used to navigate even treacherous waters at night.

## References

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2017/10/23/chapter-37-procedures/
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2018/10/31/interlude-apostates/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2017/04/19/villainous-interlude-chiaroscuro/
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2018/11/05/interlude-inheritance/
Nowhere

Not much is known about Nowhere. It may be a dimension outside of Creation, the Hells and the Heavens. Amadeus and the Intercessor are the only characters to have shown knowledge about the Nowhere. It seems likely that Neshamah knows about its existence but no proof for that exists.

Staying in the Nowhere may have a price. The Intercessor seems to drink alcohol to forget but it is not clear if she wants to forget the Nowhere or other tragic moments of her life.
Lone Swordsman

The Lone Swordsman is a Heroic Name.

## Role

The Lone Swordsman is meant to be an agent of Good that works alone, and does not fit in well with a Band. The Name is suited to duels against similar martial Named and crowd control of non Named in melee combat.

## Abilities

The Lone Swordsman displayed skilled swordsmanship, having trained in Arcadia against the fae, and managing to defeat Catherine Foundling in battle.

As the Lone Swordsman, William of Greenbury displayed three Aspects:

* **Triumph**
* **Swing**
* **Rise**

## Known Holders

**William of Greenbury**: Described as young and darkly handsome with messy hair and green eyes. William of Greenbury was born and raised in Greenbury, a village in the Liesse governorship. His parents were cobblers, with his father having previously been a knight under King Robert. William picked up swordsmanship from his father and began practicing from a young age.

William's sister, along with her husband, was part of a resistance group that planned to overthrow the Legions of Terror. After confronting his sister and failing to change her mind, William murdered her to prevent her inevitable arrest from causing the loss of his family's property and lives. This event had a severe effect upon William, causing him to flee to the wilds and see an Angel of Contrition, resulting in the bestowal of his Name.

Killed by Catherine.

**Saint Ortega**:
Sacker

Sacker is the general of the Ninth Legion of Terror (Cognomen *Regicides*). Sacker is a female goblin and a former Matron of a goblin tribe in the Grey Eyries.

## Appearance

Sacker is under five feet tall, with heavy wrinkles on her face and visibly appears to be old. She has yellow eyes that are described as calculating with a burning intensity. Sacker is currently missing one of her eyes as a result of an exploding sharper. By Book 7, her missing eyes has been replaced with a fake eye.

## References

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2016/09/21/villainous-interlude-impresario/
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/chapter-8-introduction/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2015/05/27/chapter-9-claimant/
4. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2021/06/01/chapter-21-amadeus-plan/
Witch of the Woods

A heroic named who fought in the red flower Vales during the Tenth Crusade and in the War on Keter.

## Role

The name is interwoven with nature. The figure wears rags as well as sandals no matter the environment or situation. The pre-requisite for the name is being raised outside of human interference. Antigone achieved this by being raised by Kreios and a giant she-wolf.
This power does not come without a price. It seems the giants scar the face of the named who bears their teachings, the witch wears a mask as a result.

## Abilities

The Witch is able to erect rooms of silence. She is also able to speak a language that although ancient can be understood by all who listen. By spilling blood along the soil the Named is able to call forth natural disasters.

The Named was capable of matching him during their duel . She is also considered on par with Masego and the Tumult.

As the Witch of the Woods, Antigone had three aspects: **Gather**, **Cradle**, and **Sing**.

## Known Holders

**Antigone**: Antigone was raised by the titan Kreios, who named her after a different long dead titan. She was later taught by the Gigantes in general, where she meet first Hanno as he also studied under them.

She sacrificed herself to defeat a Drakon.

## References

1. ↑ Extra Chapters - Colossal I
2. ↑ Extra Chapters - Colossal II
3. ↑ Book 4 - Interlude: Red The Flowers
4. ↑ Book 4 - Interlude: Lest Dawn Fall
5. ↑ Book 6 - Chapter 75: Desolation The Tumult – or Archmage, as heroes insisted – was a spellcaster on par with both Masego and the Witch of the Woods
Wild Hunt

The Wild Hunt is a group of mounted Fae warriors currently led by Larat, the former Prince of Nightfall. They are currently pledged to Catherine Foundling, though their treacherous nature makes this relationship contentious.

They were once hunted by Ranger

During the Events of Third Liesse the Wild Hunt when Larat came to collect on Catherine's debt of seven crowns and one. The Hunt was disbanded as Larat abdicated from the newly formed Court of Twilight.

## Members

* Larat, formerly the Prince of Nightfall of Winter
* Lughlyn, formerly the Lady of Bright Meadows of Summer
* Seldred, Killed by Lughlyn on Catherine's orders

## References

1. ↑ Extra Chapters - Regard
2. ↑ Book 5 - Chapter 46: Abdication
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Book 4 - Chapter 50: Partings
Scribe

The Scribe is a Praesi Name associated with managing the imperial bureaucracy.

## Role

The Scribe works behind the scenes to keep the Dread Empire running and ensure that whoever they choose to serve has access to whatever resources they need. They are ultimately responsible for the logistics and administration of the Empire, and may take on other jobs depending on the circumstances.

## Abilities

Which special powers of Eudokia are common among all Scribes or unique to her is unknown. Her Name is also very hard to detect, to the point that Catherine could only tell that Eudokia was Named because of the way Amadeus responded to her. She may or may not have further abilities to make others ignore and underestimate her. She has the possibly passive ability to appear non-descript, to the degree that the leader of the circle of thorns was unable to recall anything about her appearance bar her ink-stained hand even will looking at her.

## Known Holders

**Eudokia**: As the Scribe, Eudokia has taken to the role of supporting the Black Knight. She supports him through the shadows building a spy network as well as handling bribes, directing assassinations and handling espionage. She works to anticipate unseen threats before they form and is most likely the individuals that keeps Black informed about Hero's who have become threats.
Woe

"*“Born under cursed stars,” she told us gently. “You most of all, Catherine Foundling. The five of you would be woe unto all you behold.”*"
―The Queen of Summer
The Woe are a group of five Named, allied with Callow and (nominally) with Praes. They are lead by Catherine Foundling and serve as her "villanous team". They're held together by her charisma, sense of purpose, and occasional threats. Their title was bestowed upon them by the Ranger when the Queen of Summer declared the group was “Born under cursed stars...You most of all, Catherine Foundling. The five of you would be woe unto all you behold”. This mirrored how the Calamities got their name, as they had also been threatened in a similar manner by the last Chancellor. The members of The Woe are:

1. Her Majesty Catherine Foundling, Black Queen of Callow, Lost and Found, and the Hunt. Commonly called the Sovereign of Moonless Nights, last titled fae of the Winter Court and First Under Night.
2. Lord Hakram Deadhand of the Howling Wolves, formerly the Adjutant, now the Warlord
3. Lord Masego, the Hierophant
4. Indrani, The Archer
5. Lady Vivienne Dartwick, Heiress Designate of Callow. Formerly the Thief, now the Princess
Rogue Sorcerer

"*You have abused your power. You no longer deserve to hold it.*"
―the Rogue Sorcerer
A Good Name related to magic. The Rogue Sorcerer identifies as a practicioner of the Gift, rather than a scholar, admitting a lack of understanding behind magic.

## Role

The Rogue Sorcerer's story is to take and keep and use, though he would never become what he had risen to correct. He would take only from those deserving: those who misused their talents, the gifts the Gods had given them.

## Abilities

The Rogue Sorcerer is able to use sorcery from every extant theory of magic without going stark-raving mad.  Largely unprecedented, as at best one of the Gifted would borrow insights from other approaches to sorcery, as delving deep into another after already being taught tended to learn to severe mental sicknesses as well as deeper spiritual weaknesses. The Rogue Sorcerer is able to do so due to his Aspect (**Use**) that shields him from the backlash inherent in genuinely believing often fundamentally opposing facts about magic, the same that allows him to flawlessly wield any sort of magical artefact he touched.

When using **Use**, to the Rogue Sorcerer it feels like sandpaper against his insides, his very soul rubbed raw and bloody.  Further use of the Aspect worsens the Rogue Sorcerer's precision. He begins to no longer properly seize artefacts or sorcery, sometimes fumbling and losing a precious few moments before finally succeeding.

The magic the Rogue Sorcerer **Confiscates** is described as a "small orb". The Rogue Sorcerer has control over how much of the confiscated magic is used. Using up the confiscated magic completely depletes it as a resource.

A drawback of **Confiscate** is that tThe Rogue Sorcerer might die or go mad, if he took too much of power within him – especially power alien as that of the fae.

## Known Holders

**Roland de Beaumarais**: Participating in the Tenth Crusade as both as a combatant and a strategist, Roland eventually becomes a member of the Grand Alliance and a signatory of the Truce and the Terms.

As the Rogue Sorcerer, his two Aspects revealed are: **Confiscate**, and **Use**.

## References

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/02/25/interlude-terms/
2. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/04/03/interlude-rogue/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/04/15/interlude-concert/
Seljun

The **Holy Seljun** is the head of state of the Dominion of Levant, elected by the consensus of the Majilis. The current Holy Seljun is Wazim Isbili, grand-nephew of Tariq Isbili.

## Background

The Dominion of Levant was founded about three hundred years before current events – i e, roughly 1000 a.D. in the Praesi calendar – by the first Grey Pilgrim and his band of five. After they had driven out the Principate of Procer they each came to rule one part of the country. The Pilgrim, being their leader, was granted the title of Seljun, and it has been held by his descendants since then. It is, however, not inherited but only granted by the consensus of the Majilis – the heads of the five families – and from a technical viewpoint it has always been mostly ceremonial.

## Known Holy Seljuns

* The original Grey Pilgrim
* Farah Isbili, the second Holy Seljun, daughter of the original Grey Pilgrim
* ...
* Tariq's mother
* Yasa Isbili, sister of Tariq, assassinated on the orders of their brother Bakri
* Izil Isbili, son of Yasa Isbili. Assassinated by Tariq.
* Wazim Isbili

## References

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/02/14/chapter-11-veer/
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/06/28/interlude-concourse-iii/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/chapter-14-situation/
Lycaonese

*“The Lycaonese are a grim people though not without a dark sort of humour, as became evident when I was first told what a ‘northern burial’ is. The inhabitants of these parts do not bury their dead, for fear of the Kingdom of the Dead, instead burning their own and spreading the ashes on consecrated ground. What the locals refer to as one of their burials is, in truth, someone being eaten by ratlings from the Chain of Hunger.”*

– Extract from “Horrors and Wonders”, famed travelogue of Anabas the Ashuran

The Lycaonese are one of the three dominant culture groups living in the Principate of Procer. They are the smallest of the three by population and only consist of four principalities of the 23 in Procer. They live in the northernmost part of Procer and form the frontier to the Chain of Hunger. They also have a frontier to the Kingdom of the Dead.

## Principalities

Their four Principalities are:

Rhenia: Northernmost principality, bordering the Chain of Hunger. Ruled by Prince Cordelia Hasenbach (Book 1 - present)

Hannoven: Borders both the Chain of Hunger and Kingdom of the Dead. Ruled by Prince Klaus 'Iron Prince' Papenheim (Book 1 - present)

Bremen: Connected to Hannoven and Rhenia by the Twilight's Pass and the Rhenian Gates respectively. Ruled by Prince Manfred Reitzenberg (Book 1 - 5), Prince Gude Reitzenberg (Book 5), Prince Elsa Reitzenberg (Book 5) and Prince Otto 'Redcrown' Reitzenburg (Book 5 - present)

Neustria: Southernmost Lycaonese principality. Ruled by Princess Mathilda 'Greensteel' (Book 1 - present)

## Culture

They speak Reitz.

They were conquered by Procer more than 600 years before the events of the story by First Princess Frederonne Merovins, who sealed her conquest by marrying the Prince of Hannoven. They seem to be well integrated, though somewhat contemptuous of southerners.

The Lycaonese are probably the cultural successors of the "People of the Wolf" who attacked the kingdom of Sephirah and were integral to the rise of the Dead King.

Before they were conquered by Procer, they were ruled by the Iron Kings. The first of the Iron Kings was Alrich Fenne, who united the seven Lycaonese kingdoms by killing all of the other kings to stand against the ratling hordes.

## Meta

They seem heavily inspired by real world Germany. Bremen and Hannover being two large cities in northern Germany, while Neustria was the Frankish/German name for northwestern France in the 6. to 8. century. Rhenia might be a reference to the river Rhine or the surrounding Rhineland.

The same is true for their names, with Hasenbach meaning rabbit creek in german and names like Klaus, Friedrich or Papenheim almost exclusively originating from culturally german regions.
List of the rulers of The Dread Empire of Praes

A total of 56 Dread Emperors or Empresses of Praes have been mentioned in A Practical Guide to Evil.

If you see a ruler is missing, or any other mistakes, feel free to add them to this page!

The following are listed in alphabetical order:

Dread Emperor Abominable The First - the Thrice-Struck

Dread Emperor Atrocious The First

Dread Emperor Benevolant The First

Dread Emperor Bilious The First - the Beast

Dread Emperor Callous The First

Dread Empress Dismal The First

Dread Emperor Foul I - the Frugal

Dread Empress Foul II - the Forthright

Dread Emperor Foul III - the Linguist

Dread Emperor Heinous The First

Dread Emperor Imperious The First

Dread Emperor Inimical The First

Dread Emperor Iniquitous The First

Dread Emperor Irittant The First - The Oddly Succesfull

Dread Empress Maledicta I

Dread Empress Maledicta II

Dread Empress Malevolent I - the Unhallowed

Dread Empress Malevolent II

Dread Empress Malevolent III - the Pithy

Dread Empress Malicia The First

Dread Emperor Malignant I

Dread Emperor Malignant II - the Particularly Petty

Dread Emperor Malignant III

Dread Empress Maleficent I

Dread Empress Maleficent II

Dread Empress Massacre The First

Dread Emperor Nihilis The First - The Tanner

Dread Emperor Nefarious The First

Dread Emperor Perfidious The First

Dread Emperor Pernicious The First - the Imperilled

Dread Empress Prudence The First - the Frequently Vanquished

Dread Empress Regalia I

Dread Empress Regalia II

Dread Emperor Reprobate The First

Dread Emperor Revenant The First

Dread Empress Sanguina I - the Gourmet

Dread Empress Sanguina II

Dread Empress Sanguinara The First

Dread Empress Sinistra I

Dread Empress Sinistra II - the Coy

Dread Empress Sinistra III

Dread Empress Sinistra IV - the Erroneous

Dread Emperor Sinister The First

Dread Emperor Sorcorous The First

Dread Emperor Sulphourous The First - the Technicaly Correct

Dread Emperor Tenebrous The First

Dread Empress Terribilia The First

Dread Emperor Terribilis I - the Lawgiver - the Thorough

Dread Emperor Terribilis II

Dread Emperor Tratorious The First

Dread Emperess Triumphant - First And Only Of Her Name

Dread Emperor Venal The First

Dread Emperor Vile The First

Dread Emperor Vindictive I

Dread Emperor Vindictive II

Dread Emperor Vindictive III
Sve Noc

Sve Noc is a twin drow deity comprised of the sisters Andronike and Komena.

After making Catherine Foundling First Under Night they follow her and the 50,000 strong drow army as two crow fragments of power.

### Background

Sve Noc began as two mortal drow before the fall of the Empire Everdark. The elder sister, Andronike, was a member of the Twilight Sages, sorcerer-priests of the Empire. The younger sister, Komena, was a soldier.

### Personality

Sve Noc's personality is somewhat fragmented into her two original identities as Andronike the Priestess and Komena the warrior.

After centuries keeping the drow in a perpetual Night killing spree, Sve Noc lacks a proper connection to ordinary mortals. Cat's been trying to re-teach them this through humor and banter.

Perhaps telling, the slivers of Sve Noc taking shape of Night-feathered crows, has been described as playing with and killing local wildlife such as rabbits, even if they have no need of actually eating.

### Appearance

**Original mortal appearance:**

The sisters had long hair, amber eyes, and an androgynous look as all drow do. They lack the ageless look of the Mighty.

Andronike is usually in priest robes, and originally wore an ornate forged iron mask, with the sun at top and a half moon on the bottom. She discarded the mask as Sve Noc, when she no longer needed the symbolism.

Komena dresses as a warrior in good steel armour and a sword at her side.

**As a deity:**

Sve Noc is usually describes as a floating face during Book 4. She has pitch black skin and perfect silver eyes. Either with just the eyes visible, or with a full face and long hair usually turning into wisps of Night.

After merging with Winter, Sve Noc's eyes has turned silvery blue.

**The Crows:**

The crows has been described by Cat as night-feathered or feathered in darkness, but otherwise seem to just look like a pair of crows to her. They have black eyes, unlike the silvery blue eyes the actual Goddess and the drows now have.

Both Robber, Tariq and Indrani have been described as being unable to even look at the crows for more than a fraction of a heartbeat, without starting to feel some sort of eldritch terror.

### Gallery

Bribe the Night by GwennafranSve Noc icon by GwennafranCute Sve Noc by GwennafranBirb Sve Noc by GwennafranThe Woe (and friends) by Gwennafran
### References

...

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/01/16/chapter-1-visitation/
2. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2018/11/30/chapter-78-comes-around/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/06/12/chapter-47-tenet/
4. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/01/16/chapter-1-visitation/
5. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/07/24/chapter-60-melancholy/
6. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/interlude-beholden-i/
7. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/06/03/interlude-repurpose/
Undead Kingdom

Redirect to:

* City of Dead
The undead city of Keter

Thanks too multiple raids launched by ranger as well as other races such as dwarves sealing up tunnels between their civilizations and the undead the city is near impregnable.

It has stood the attacks of no less than 5 crusades. This is in large part because the very environment of the undead kingdom has took on properties of death. All the surrounding waters being filled with corpses and lake monsters. The very air being a poisoned miasma. The city then has a strengthened barrier that prevents intrusion both physically or through magic. The king has a direct contact with a portal to a hell which one is unknown.

The leader of the undead is the Named, Dead King . He has a great deal of power and was able to raise a whole kingdom of undead. His exact origin is unknown but he has ruled his empire with an iron fist for at least 5,000 years.

While he has not launched any attacks on creation many kingdoms have remained weary of the possibility. It is due to this connection that the surrounding environment is reinforced and he is able to maintain so many subjects.
Ophon

"*I have seen heroes fight, unlike these young men,” the leader replied. “I know the strength of a Name. Struggle will just mean a bad death. I would rather leave Creation peacefully, enjoying my last cup of wine.*"
―Ophon
Ophon was a slave Officer in the Spears of Stygia.

## Biography

First Spear Ophon was the head officer of the Stygian Spears in the Callowan rebellion. He was freed from slavery under Akua Sahelian by William of Greenbury and fought in the defense of Liesse, Dying with the rest of the Spears to Akua Sahelian's ritual.

## Appearance

Ophon was an older man with a shaved head and olive skin.

## Relationships

Ophon was initially wary of William of Greenbury, but when William freed him he took a liking to the Hero.

## Abilities

Ophon was athletic, a trained soldier. He was capable of balancing on his hands for sixty heartbeats.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Book 2 - Heroic Interlude: Attaque Au Fer
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Book 2 - Interlude: Nemesis
Undead

A great deal of undead reside in the undead city of Keter a country occupied by the Dead King. Each undead in this area are under his direct control they are not so much an army as the will of the Dead King.

Undead are hated by much of the kingdoms, many are weary as evident by the many corpses of fallen heroes there have been efforts to end the kingdom but to no avail. The undead with each passing crusade merely grown in numbers.

The undead can exist in mass due to the Dead King tapping into a portal of hell in much the same way as opening a portal to Angels can lead to mindless followers the undead king has used the portal to exert his influence on a massive area of land.

Undead come in four different types:

1. Bones: The pawns of the Dead King while not particularly strong only bones held together by slivers of flesh, unintelligent able to follow simple commands such as (scream for alarm or shoot intruders), they also have the potential of being possesed by the Dead King himself.
2. Binds: A step up in terms of intelligence the bound have living souls bound to their bodies. This allows them more independence allowing them to reason and troubleshoot problems themselves.
3. Revenants: These are undead who have consciousness of their past lives as well as a Name. While unable to tap fully into their reserves revenants are able to still gather a modicum of power. Notables (Sage of the West , former White Knight )
4. Dead King: This position is reserved for the dead king. It seems these unique undead not only have a soul bound to them but tthey can control other dead as well as exert their dominion over a large area. This position is reserved for named.
The Dead King

Redirect to:

* Dead King

## Dead King

"*There is no peace. There is no truce. There is only the shiver before the blade claims your neck. You will fight and you will rage and you will weep, but in the end there can only ever be one end to this.*"
―Neshamah
A Name that is infamous for its power over the undead as well as the holder of the name being the sole occupant of an entire country, the Kingdom of the Dead (capital Keter).

## Role

The dead king plays the role of a ruler, but one that thrives on total control. As the dead are only an extension of the one that controls them the rules is incredibly isolated for the world around but extremely paranoid thus they create more and more obstacles from enemies using their powers. The name seems to inspired by the isolation and terror that the Dead king causes.

## Abilities

The Dead king posses the ability to control undead more significantly than other villains. This means that not only can he control a greater quantity but a greater quality of undead. This ranges from an average hordes of skeletons, to intelligent husk of former commanders, and unique Named that still possess both their skills and memories from the past that act independent of the dead king's control, often referred to as Revenants.

Among the Revenants, there are 10 whose story's bedrock is being able to kill Named. These Revenants are coined as a Scourge.

## Known Holders

**Neshamah:** Through a complicated plan involving a plague and an invasion of the People of the Wolf, Neshamah became king and used his new position to arrange the grand ritual that would lead to him becoming **the Dead King**.
Marchford

Marchford is a city in eastern Callow between the Duchy of Liesse and the Fields of Streges. During the Liesse Rebellion, the city actively supported the Lone Swordsman and the Silver Spears. The Battle of Three Hills was fought on its outskirts. The Battle of Marchford followed shortly after. It was fief to the Countess of Marchford.

### Layout

The city is located in a hilly area between two rivers, and therefore difficult to access. The outskirts of the city are rough, hilly terrain, with the city proper being accessable over a bridge on the western side and a ford in wider proximity. The ford is rather wide. The city does not have walls. Due to a demon of corruption staying in Marchford for a while, the boundaries between Arcadia and Creation are weakened in the city.

### Culture

Marchford was run by the Countess of Marchford, who opposed the Empire. There was anti-Empire sentiment in the city. The citizens are stubborn, hard working sorts. Veterans of the war are easily found, and the Legions of Terror were looked at with suspision. After the city was evacuated in the rebellion there were still 10,000 people left. The normal and current populaton is unknown. The city has a strong mining industry centered around silver found in the hills. The county is wealthy, given that most houses are built with stone and the street layout was planned.

### Government

The city was run similarly to many other callowan cities- a noble family owned the city, and was relatively independent. The city was placed under martial law, and after the failure of the Lisse rebellion, it was placed under imperial control. After the callowan rebellion the city was awarded to Catherine Foundling as the Ladyship of Marchford. After gaining the fief Catherine invested in the region, though details are mostly unknown.

 https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2016/04/06/chapter-19-flame/ (1)
War of Chains

**The War of Chains** was a conflict between the Taghreb tribes, Soninike petty kingdoms and the Miezan Empire. Instead of uniting against a common enemy, the polities fought against each other and tried to use Miezans to settle old grudges. It was waged roughly 1500 years before the events of Book 1.

## Overview

The Miezans arrived on Calernia through the Tyrian Sea, when one of their ships was blown off-course on Praesi shores. They were mostly treated as curiosities, taught the tongues of the kingdoms and made to tell tales of their faraway home. They seduced the local rulers by promising trade and wealth and were given a ship in Thalassina so they could return to their empire.

When they did return, it was with many ships and the intention of conquest. Though Praesi could’ve defeated them they instead warred on each other, thinking they could use Miezans to settle local grudges. This backfired spectacularly as eventually both Soninke and Taghreb were enslaved.

The war was followed by the Miezan conquest and subjugation of the Orc Clans, particularly the Broken Antler Horde and eventually the goblins as well.

## Trivia

* Bishara tribe dates back to the War of Chains

* Mirembe family also dates back to the War of Chains

* Last time war paint was used in the East was during the War of Chains

* Tikoloshe, Wekesa's husband, was "no longer young" when the Miezans invaded

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2018/11/02/ye-mighty/
2. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/epilogue-2/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2016/12/07/beast/
4. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2016/09/14/chapter-38-juncture/
5. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2017/04/19/villainous-interlude-chiaroscuro/
6. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2017/05/17/chapter-10-entrance/
7. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2016/11/02/red-skies/
Red Knight

"*Weak, your hatred is weak. I’ll show you what a real Named is like, you petty armoured bitch*"
―Red Knight
The Red Knight is an Evil Name. Its holder wears red plate armour, as befitting the Name.

## Abilities

The Name is considered one of the finest killing Named by Catherine Foundling, capable of beating most Named in a fight.

It is also regarded as one of the two physically strongest Named among those agreed to the Truce and the Terms during the war against the Dead King. Capable of pulverizing stone with a swing, though the feat is not merely due to sheer strength.

The Red Knight is formidable enough to worry the Mirror Knight, a Name chosen to fight against the Prince of Bones, a Scourge of the Dead King, due to the Mirror Knight's strong defensive capabilities.

The Red Knight who participated in the War against Kere demonstrated an Aspect called **Devour**. This Aspect is the reason why the Red Knight is highly regarded as a threat.

The Aspect is described as being capable of taking a bite out of nearly anything. During the siege against Keter, **Devour** consumed a curse casted by the Mantle, causing the curse to disappear, and for the red plate armour to glimmer a deeper red. The aspect can also be used to heal her by devouring necromancy from a group of undead.

## Known Holders

**Unnamed woman**: Participated in the War against Keter, agreeing to the Truce and the Terms. She wears bright red plate armour, a helmet forged to look like a grinning devil, and has weapons strapped on her back. Described as "almost seven feet tall and broad as a barn door".

Attempted to become Below's representive for the Truce and Terms which was settled with a duel. When dueling against Indrani, the Red Knight fought to a narrow draw and blamed Pilfering Dicer for her loss.

She does not get along well with others, nearly fighting Myrmidon in Cleves, and did not have many allies, or ability to show restraint in combat.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Book 7 - Chapter 59: Steel A woman in bright red plate – Gods, the sight of it had every inch of me offended, that was just *asking* to get shot – with a helmet forged to look like a grinning devil and weapons strapped on her back was pulverising chunks of stone with every swing. And though she was almost seven feet tall and broad as a barn door, it wasn’t muscles alone that let the Red Knight shatter stone like it was overripe cantaloupes.

She wasn’t good at much aside from breaking shit, but that much she was *really* good that.
2. ↑ Book 6 - Chapter 43: Conclusions
3. ↑ Book 6 - Interlude: Woeful
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Book 7 -Chapter 40: Resolutions
5. ↑ Book 7 - Interlude: Legends IV
6. ↑ Book 6 - Interlude: North I
7. ↑ Book 6 - Chapter 39: Transliteration
8. ↑ Book 7 - Interlude: Occidental III
Young Slayer

The Young Slayer is a transitional heroic Name.

The Name is widely considered to lead into the highly regarded Name of Silent Slayer.

Although the Osena are the descendants in Blood of the Silent Slayer, others outside the family may come into the Young Slayer Name.

### Abilties

Despite being a transitional Name, the Young Slayer posses considerable combat strength recognized by both Hanno  and Catherine Foundling.

The Young Slayer fights with "a slayer's arsenal, all hooked swords and darts and ropes".

One of the Young Slayer's aspects allowed him to affect most forms of armour as he cut.  A skill deadly against Revenants preferring close range.

1. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/interlude-ietsism/
2. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/interlude-ietsism/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/interlude-ietsism/
4. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/08/04/chapter-47-methods/
5. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/interlude-ietsism/
6. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/interlude-ietsism/
Mok

**Mok** is the current leader of Legions-in-Exile sharing the command with General Sacker. Before the Legions-in-Exile declared independence from the Tower he was the General of the Third Legion, Kingmakers.

## Overview

As a general of the Legions of Terror, Mok was one of the most highly decorated ogres in the Empire, eclipsed only by Marshal Nim. He’s a decorated veteran of the Conquest. His legion, along with five others, fought with Amadeus at Red Flower Vales, holding the southern passes along with Sacker and Grem against the Tenth Crusade.

## References

1. ↑ WOG: https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/chapter-17-aplomb/
2. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2017/12/13/chapter-52-tensile/
3. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2020/08/18/chapter-51-endwise/
4. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2019/10/25/chapter-86-it-pours/
5. ↑ https://practicalguidetoevil.wordpress.com/2018/06/20/interlude-red-the-flowers/
Though Mountains Crack

*Though Mountains Crack* is a short Proceran poem. Like Lest Dawn Fail, it honors those who fight Procer's oldest enemies, the Dead King and the Ratlings.

It is currently unknown whether the lyrics below are complete.

## Lyrics

*Though mountains crack, and ice will thaw*

*Though walls will fall, to tooth and claw*

*Though stars will fade, and shadow spread*

*On the heights we stood, with iron red*

## Appearances

During an attack as part of the Dead King's invasion, Captain Bernhardt, Hanne, and nine other volunteers charged an undead siege engine in order to burn it from the inside. They knew that this would be a suicide mission. Bernhardt sang *Though Mountains Crack* as they charged, with Hanne picking up the last line as Berhardt died.
Watch

The Watch is a military force of Deoraithe longbowmen from the Dutchy of Daoine.

## Purpose

The Watch protect the Deoraithe from invasion and orcish raids. They were formed to one day reclaim their homeland, the Golden Bloom, from the elves. They have existed in one form or another for over a millennium.

## Structure

The Watch number five thousand. The numbers are limited due to the nature of their powers, as well as the ridiculous expense of training and arming them.

The Watch use ritual oaths to become more powerful by making a connection with their gestalt and tapping into set patterns. Members of the Watch with less than five oaths are not typically sent out of Daione.

## Abilities

The Watch are expert longbowmen.

The Watch gain their supernatural abilities from their connection with a gestalt god made from the souls of every Deoraithe that has died since leaving the Golden Bloom.

Members of the watch gain strength and speed, as well as night vision, accelerated reflexes, superior endurance and an extended lifespan.

They are capable of climbing walls in moments by ramming stakes into the surface by hand. They also carry rope and hooks for climbing.

## References

1. ↑ Book 3 - Chapter 25: Intent “The Watch has guarded the Wall for a long time, Duchess Foundling, but that is not what it is *meant* for,” she replied. “The border being quiet allows us to tend to an older duty.”

There was fervour in her voice, by the time she finished speaking. *The Deoraithe hate the* *elves*.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Book 2 - Chapter 12: Reproval
3. ↑ Book 3 - Chapter 48: Interrogation Twenty thousand Deoraithe had marched out of Daoine, a quarter of them Watch
4. ↑ Book 3 - Chapter 25: Intent “She finished her oaths last year,” the Duchess said. “The entire Watch was mobilized to put down the madwoman in the south. An unexpected turn of events, that Daoine would share an enemy with you, but not entirely unwelcome.”
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Book 4 - Chapter 14: Arabesque
6. ↑ Book 3 - Chapter 48: Interrogation “It is not a god in the way Praesi would know of it,” she said. “It is a gestalt.”

Masego gasped.

“Souls,” he said.

Kegan nodded.

“Every single one of the People that have died since the elves took the Golden Bloom from us,” she said. “Millions, by now.”
7. ↑ Book 3 - Chapter 25: Advance
The Fox is King

## History

"The Fox in the Woods" is an old Callowan song written during Proceran occupation. The song is supposedly about Alistair the Fox, who is "the closest thing to a trickster king my home had ever had" according to Catherine. Based off context, Alistair was a thief king who led a resistance against Proceran occupation from the countrysides of Callow.

## Lyrics

> *The henhouse stands unlatched*
> *All within, by the fox snatched*
> *So here they go, once again*
> *Chasing a red tail into the glen*
>
> *But we know, oh we know,*
> *That in the woods, the fox is king*
> *Yes we know, oh we know*
> *That in the woods, the fox is king*
>
> *Run the hounds, rides the hunter*
> *His spear in hand, banner aflutter*
> *Charging that way, this one baying*
> *Trampling the paths, again raging*
>
> *But we know, oh we know,*
> *That in the woods, the fox is king*
> *Yes we know, oh we know*
> *That in the woods, the fox is king*
>
> *Over the hills, across the glade*
> *Where the sun rests in the shade*
> *He hides and waits, until the day*
> *When the hunts are chased away*
>
> *For we know, oh we know*
> *That in the woods, the fox is king*
> *Yes we know, oh we know*
> *That in the woods, the fox is king.*
>
>

## Notes

The Fox in the Woods is first mentioned in Book VI, Chapter 17: Felonious and receives its second verse in Chapter 18: Clout. The full lyrics are revealed in Book VI. Interlude: Knock Them Down.