recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Sonu

Warning! This page contains spoilers for *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*. Enter at your own risk.

## Sonu

Sonu (right) and Kanak (left) with Aru and Kara

## Appearance

### Appears in

*Aru Shah and the City of Gold*

**Sonu** is a marmot, mistaken for a demon hamster at first glace, a resident of the Dahlonega Gold Mine Museum. He makes a brief appearance in *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*, along with Kanak.

## History

Sonu and Kanak are known to be one of the earliest marmots, guarding the gold roads. They haven't had tourists in about a thousand years, until the Potatoes, along with Kara show up in *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*.

## *The Pandava Quintet*

### *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*

Sonu and Kanak are first mentioned in *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*, when the Potatoes and Kara are in search for the golden road to Lanka. Once they arrive, the exchange introductions and then, Sonu explains the Potatoes about all the cities the gold roads can lead to.

While reaching the souvenir shop, Sonu hands them a pamphlet with the words *"this is a pamphlet :)"* written down on each line.

When the rest of the group walked into the shop, Aru lingered in the place for a minute, distracted by the ghost window. Kanak then explains that the history of "Dahlonega" has more to it. He proceeds to tell her that the place was name after the Cherokee word for gold. The first nation people had known about the gold for hundreds of years, until the white people had come and seized the place, making the gold theirs. After finishing, no matter what, Aru couldn't shake the feeling that the place was cursed, even if it shined with gold.

In the souvenir shop, there was a large courtyard, that was very empty, and on a distance, there stood three archways. The first led to the mouth of a cave. The second looked identical to the first one, except, it had small pieces floating in the middle of its opening. The last one, however, looked very foggy, leading to Aru believing that it would lead to Lanka.

The group agreed that while Aru and Kara are off buying souvenirs, Brynne, Mini and Aiden would cause a distraction, so they can escape to the gold road leading to Lanka. When asked for his much to pay, Sonu replied that they have to pay a thousand of anything. Kara, then, told Aru that they can pay a thousand salt crystals. Satisfied with the payment, the marmots left them.

As the Potatoes run for the exit, causing major chaos, the marmots are outraged, making sure that the Potatoes are never welcome here again.

## Appearance

Sonu is described as looking like a tall rodent who stood on his haunches. He came up to Aru's knees and had golden fur, beaver-like noses, half-moon ears tucked close to his head, and round black eyes.

Aru mentions that if he was supposed to be a demon hamster, he didn't look very demonic.

## Etymology

* Sonu, in hindi, translates to "gold". Sonu is also a very common nickname used in various parts of India.

## Trivia

* Sonu and Kanak, both, have the same meaning behind their names; "gold".

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Quest for Kalpavriksha

The **Quest for Kalpavriksha** was a secret quest undertaken by Aru Shah, Mini Kapoor-Mercado-Lopez, Brynne Rao, Aiden Acharya, and Rudy. Their goal was to find the real Kalpavriksha after discovering the one in Amaravati was a fake.

## The Prophecy

> *THE SCORNED POWERS ARE ON THE RISE,*
> *TO CLAIM THEIR STOLEN IMMORTAL PRIZE.*
> *ONE SISTER SHALL TURN OUT NOT TO BE TRUE.*
> *WITH A SINGLE CHOICE THE WORLD SHALL RECEIVE ITS DUE.*
> *ONE TREASURE IS FALSE, AND ONE TREASURE IS LOST,*
> *BUT THE TREE AT THE HEART IS THE ONLY TRUE COST.*
> *NO WAR CAN BE WON WITHOUT FINDING THAT ROOT;*
> *NO VICTORY HAD WITHOUT YIELD OF ITS FRUIT.*
> *IN FIVE DAYS THE TREASURE WILL BLOOM AND FADE,*
> *AND ALL THAT WAS WON COULD SOON BE UNMADE.*
>
>
>
Beware the Grove of True Love

***Beware the Grove of True Love*** is the name of a short story written by Roshani Chokshi published in *The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes*. The story follows Aru Shah, Mini Kapoor-Mercado-Lopez, and Brynne Rao as they are sent to retrieve Urvashi's gunghroos.

## Premise

*Aru Shah and her Pandava sisters enter a Night Bazaar in the Otherworld; they must return gunghroos, or anklet bells, to a magical being they upset.*

## Characters

* Aru Shah
* Mini Kapoor-Mercado-Lopez
* Brynne Rao
* Urvashi
* Boo
* Aiden Acharya

## References

1. ↑ https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/rick-riordan/the-cursed-carnival-and-other-calamities/
Time

**Time** is a minor character in *Aru Shah and the End of Time*.

## History

Time is a manifestation of *the* Time. There are fives parts of time, Past, Future, Present, Pacific Standard, and Eastern Standard.

## The Pandava Quintet

### *Aru Shah and the End of Time*

Time is first introduced in the book when Aru Shah and Mini Kapoor find themselves in the *Reincarnation Manufacturing Services*, which is the next stop after the Chamber of Pools in the Kingdom of Death. At first, Time is astounded at the fact that Aru and Mini are out-of-commission bodies roaming rampant, and then proceeds to misinterpret their initial words in its shock. After exchanging a few more words, when asked if they can leave that place, Time asks for something for Time and Wish if Time is to be saved. Mini tells them of the good deeds she has done but neither of them buy it. Aru then shares the good karma she got from Chitrigupta with Time and Wish, who then let them go.

## Personality

Time is shown to be a tad bit fickle-minded and jumpy.

## Appearance

Past Time was a spider-like creature made of clockwork and gears. Its legs can rise to the size of pillars and its face was featureless. According to it, Future Time is invisible and Present Time can’t hold any one shape.
Mr. Acharya

**Mr. Acharya** is Aiden Acharya's father and the ex-husband of Malini Acharya.

## History

Mr. Acharya met Malini, who was an elite apsara in the Otherworld. The two fell in love and eventually got married after Malini gave up her immortality to be with him, and they had a son together named Aiden. However, Mr. Acharya's relationship with Malini slowly began to deteriorate, especially after Mr. Acharya started seeing another woman named Annette. Some time before *Aru Shah and the Song of Death*, the two divorced, and Mr. Acharya prepared to marry Annette and move to New York after learning a little bit more about law.

## The Pandava Quintet

### Aru Shah and the Song of Death

Towards the end of *Aru Shah and the Song of Death*, Mr. Acharya stops by Malini's house one last time to pick up the rest of his stuff. Aiden plans to use a love arrow from Kamadeva to make his parents fall in love again. However, Aru Shah shows Aiden that what he really cares about is his mother's happiness, and Aiden decides to use the arrow on his mom to make her fall in love with herself again. It is presumed that Mr. Acharya moves away for good after this.
Chakora

Chakora is a mythical bird that is said to live off moonbeams. The birds first made their appearance in Aru Shah and the End of Time, when Hanuman was training Aru and Mini.

## The Pandava Quintet

### Aru Shah and the End of Time

Near in the end of the novel in the orchard of Dream Fruit within the Night Bazaar, Hanuman takes Aru Shah and Mini through a archway of chakora feathers to get to their next lesson. According to Hanuman, a feather plucked from a moon bird will glow brightly, but only for a moment. If one were to wait until the feather is shed naturally, it will forever bring them light.

### Aru Shah and the Song of Death

The Chakora forest is mentioned in Aru Shah and the Song of Death, when Ratri instructs them to go through the Bridge of Dawn and Dusk. After catching a glimpse of the Night Bazaar, Aru silently promises to free them.

### Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

In order to understand the little wooden bird from the Crypt of Eclipses' song, the Potatoes seek help from the Chakora birds. They meet Sohail, who falls in love with Vajra, but does not know the vernacular of moonlight. He takes them to the 'Council', who demand payment in secrets in exchange for their help.
Queen Tara

Warning! This page contains spoilers for *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*. Enter at your own risk.

## Appearance

### Appears in

*A Crown of Wishes**Aru Shah and the City of Gold*

**Queen Tara** is the Queen of Kishkindha and wife of the Vanara King Vali. After being widowed, she becomes the Queen of Sugriva, Vali's brother. She makes an appearance in *A Crown of Wishes* and *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*.

## History

Queen Tara was wed to Vali and ruled the kingdom of Vanara. She bore him a son named Angada. After Valli is presumed to have died in a battle with an asura, his brother Sugriva became king and married Tara. However, Vali returned, victorious, and reconciled with Tara and exiled his brother, accusing him of treason. When Sugriva challenges Vali to a duel, to reclaim the throne, Tara advises Vali not to accept because of his alliance with Lord Rama but Vali ignored her and was killed by Lord Rama's arrow, which was fired at Sugriva's request. Tara overcome by grief, curses Rama, that he shall lose his wife, Sita as soon he reunites with her, just like Tara had lost Vali.

When Rama attacked Lanka after the Vanaras had built a bridge for him, a battle ensued and Hanuman set Lanka on fire. However, the people of Vanara took responsibility for the fire and Kubera prohibited any contact between the Kishkindha and Lanka. In the following years, Tara destroyed the otherworldly bridge and made her people safe and prosperous without the help of the otherworld.
Navdeep

**Navdeep** is the leader of the group tasked to stop Aru Shah, Mini, Brynne Rao, and Aiden Acharya from entering the Ocean of Milk. He attends the same middle school as Aru and Aiden, aka Augustus Day School.

## *The Pandava Quintet*

### *Aru Shah and the Song of Death*

Hira, Navdeep, Sparky, and two others appear to prevent Aru, Mini, Brynne, and Aiden from entering the Ocean of Milk. When Mini calls Lady M a monster, Navdeep orders Hira to transform into her, showing her beauty. He is implied to have a crush on Lady M and calls her his "future wifey."

## Trivia

* Navdeep is in 7th or 8th grade at the same school as Aru and Aiden. Aru mentions seeing him at Augustus Day.
* Aiden and Navdeep were lab partners in Mr. Dietz's honors biology class.
* Aru and Navdeep have homeroom together in Atlanta.
Kanak

Warning! This page contains spoilers for *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*. Enter at your own risk.

## Kanak

Kanak (right) and Sonu (left) with Aru and Kara

## Appearance

### Appears in

*Aru Shah and the City of Gold*

Kanak is a marmot, mistaken for a demon hamster at first glace, a resident of the Dahlonega Gold Mine Museum. He makes a brief appearance in *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*, along with Sonu.

## History

Sonu and Kanak are known to be one of the earliest marmots, guarding the gold roads. They haven't had tourists in about a thousand years, until the Potatoes, along with Kara show up in *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*.

## *The Pandava Quintet*

### *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*

Sonu and Kanak are first mentioned in *Aru Shah and the City of Gold*, when the Potatoes and Kara are in search for the golden road to Lanka. Once they arrive, the exchange introductions and then, Sonu explains the Potatoes about all the cities the gold roads can lead to.

While reaching the souvenir shop, Sonu hands them a pamphlet with the words *"this is a pamphlet :)"* written down on each line.

When the rest of the group walked into the shop, Aru lingered in the place for a minute, distracted by the ghost window. Kanak then explains that the history of "Dahlonega" has more to it. He proceeds to tell her that the place was name after the Cherokee word for gold. The first nation people had known about the gold for hundreds of years, until the white people had come and seized the place, making the gold theirs. After finishing, no matter what, Aru couldn't shake the feeling that the place was cursed, even if it shined with gold.

In the souvenir shop, there was a large courtyard, that was very empty, and on a distance, there stood three archways. The first led to the mouth of a cave. The second looked identical to the first one, except, it had small pieces floating in the middle of its opening. The last one, however, looked very foggy, leading to Aru believing that it would lead to Lanka.

The group agreed that while Aru and Kara are off buying souvenirs, Brynne, Mini and Aiden would cause a distraction, so they can escape to the gold road leading to Lanka. When asked for his much to pay, Sonu replied that they have to pay a thousand of anything. Kara, then, told Aru that they can pay a thousand salt crystals. Satisfied with the payment, the marmots left them.

As the Potatoes run for the exit, causing major chaos, the marmots are outraged, making sure that the Potatoes are never welcome here again.

## Appearance

Sonu is described as looking like a tall rodent who stood on his haunches. He came up to Aru's knees and had golden fur, beaver-like noses, half-moon ears tucked close to his head, and round black eyes.

Aru mentions that if he was supposed to be a demon hamster, he didn't look very demonic.

## Etymology

* Kanak means "gold" or "of gold", in Sanskrit.

## Trivia

* Sonu and Kanak, both, have the same meaning behind their names; "gold".
Croatia

**Croatia** (Croatian: *Hrvatska*), officially the **Republic of Croatia** (Croatian: *Republika Hrvatska*), is a country at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe on the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro to the southeast, and shares a maritime border with Italy to the west and southwest. Its capital and largest city, Zagreb, forms one of the country's primary subdivisions, with twenty counties. Croatia has 56,594 square kilometres (21,851 square miles) and a population of 4.07 million.

The Croats arrived in the 6th century and organised the territory into two duchies by the 9th century. Croatia was first internationally recognised as independent on 7 June 879 during the reign of Duke Branimir. Tomislav became the first king by 925, elevating Croatia to the status of a kingdom. During the succession crisis after the Trpimirović dynasty ended, Croatia entered a personal union with Hungary in 1102. In 1527, faced with Ottoman conquest, the Croatian Parliament elected Ferdinand I of Austria to the Croatian throne. In October 1918, the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, independent from Austria-Hungary, was proclaimed in Zagreb, and in December 1918, merged into the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. Following the Axis invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, most of Croatia was incorporated into a Nazi installed puppet state, the Independent State of Croatia. A resistance movement led to the creation of the Socialist Republic of Croatia, which after the war became a founding member and constituent of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. On 25 June 1991, Croatia declared independence, and the War of Independence was fought for four years following the declaration.

A sovereign state, Croatia is a republic governed under a parliamentary system. It is a member of the European Union, the United Nations, the Council of Europe, NATO, the World Trade Organization, and a founding member of the Union for the Mediterranean. An active participant in United Nations peacekeeping, Croatia has contributed troops to the International Security Assistance Force and took a nonpermanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2008–2009 term. Since 2000, the Croatian government has invested in infrastructure, especially transport routes and facilities along the Pan-European corridors.

Croatia is classified by the World Bank as a high-income economy and ranks very high on the Human Development Index. Service, industrial sectors, and agriculture dominate the economy, respectively. Tourism is a significant source of revenue, with Croatia ranked among the 20 most popular tourist destinations. The state controls a part of the economy, with substantial government expenditure. The European Union is Croatia's most important trading partner. Croatia provides social security, universal health care, and tuition-free primary and secondary education while supporting culture through public institutions and corporate investments in media and publishing.
Abigail L. Dela Cruz

**Abigail L. Dela Cruz** is a renowned freelance illustrator from the Philippines. She graduated with a major in Computer Studies, but followed her passion for art after.

She has previously worked as a 3D game artist, along with freelance work and has been able to participate in a number of gallery shows and art zines. Clients include: Parragon Books, BOOM! Studios, Nick Jr., King and Penguin Books.

She is best known for illustrating the covers of The Pandava Quintet by Roshani Chokshi.

## The Pandava Quintet

*Aru Shah and the End of Time**Aru Shah and the Song of Death**Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes**Aru Shah and the City of Gold**Aru Shah and the Nectar of Immortality*
Makara

**Makaras** are mythical creatures that are usually depicted as half crocodile and half fish. Makara statues are often seen at temple entrances, because makaras are the guardians of thresholds. Ganga, the river goddess, uses a makara as her vahana.

A makara makes an appearance in *Aru Shah and the End of Time.*

## The Pandava Quintet

### *Aru Shah and the End of Time*

A makara was waiting on the entrance to the Court of the Sky, guarding the place. After Boo claims that Aru and Mini were the Pandavas of the current generation, the makara lets them pass through.

## Appearance

Makaras are described as half crocodile and half fish. The particular makara guarding the entrance to the Court of the Sky is described bright blue, in the size of a three-story house.
Varuna

Varuna, bowing before Lord Rama

**Varuna** is the four-armed god of oceans and seas. He is also the guardian deity of the western direction and the consort of Varuni.

## History

Varuna is the son of Kashyapa, the sage, and Aditi, the mother goddess. He was the leader of the Adityas, the children of Aditi. Varuna used to be god of the sky and king of heavens associated with the oceans and rivers. But after Indra slew Vritra, he overthrew Varuna as he was supposed to be in charge of the oceans, his vahana is a makara.

### In the Ramayana

Rama prays to Varuna for help in crossing the sea to Lanka in order to save his wife, Sita, from the demon king Ravana. But for three days there was no respond, and on the fourth morning Rama got angry and prepared to dry up the ocean to create a sand walkway for his army of vanaras. He then, shoots an arrow sending the ocean into flames, that was when Varuna appeared saying he didn't know how to help, the sea was too deep and he couldn't change it. He told Rama to remember that he is "the soul of peace and love, wrath does not suit him". Rama and the monkeys built a bridge to Lanka and Varuna did not disturb him.

## *The Pandava Quintet*

### *Aru Shah and the Song of Death*

Aru Shah arrived at the palace of Varuna by riding inside a sea monster. There, she was welcomed by Varuni who took her inside. There she saw watching a cricket match on his iPad. He argued with his wife about drinking a little too much and completed her prophecy. On Aru asking for help he bragged that even Rama, who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu could not rein his power. Varuna said that he would grant her straight passage to the treasury. he said that it is was secret route and that nobody would find her. All she'd have to do is fill the belly of his crab guardian.

On returning with her friends after outsmarting the giant crab, they found out that Varuna had lost a bet to his wife. He also granted them the passage to the naga treasury. He reminded Aru that while the sea may give, it can also take.

## Personality

According to his pet crab, Varuna is fickle and unpredictable, just like the ocean. He also enjoys watching cricket on a regular basis.

## Appearance

According to Aru, the god of the waters looked 'shocked'. Varuna's skin was the color of cut sapphires. In his four hands were an iPad, a conch shell, a noose, and a Thums Up bottle.

## Etymology

The word 'Varuna', in sanskrit, means 'to surround or conquer'. It !ay be because the earth is surrounded on all the sides by water.
Arielle Reddy

Arielle Reddy is the classmate of Aru Shah who first made her appearance in Aru Shah and the End of Time.

## The Pandava Quintet

### Aru Shah and the End of Time

Arielle Reddy arrives at the museum to meet Aru with Burton Prater and Poppy Lopez. They discovered that Aru has lied to them about rescuing an elephant from India. Aru takes them to the cursed Diya - an item she had been truthful about - to prove her innocence. Arielle thought she lived in a condo downtown, not a museum. Aru denied living here, she tells Arielle that people in England always were pajamas in the daytime. While going through the Hall of the Gods, Arielle pointed at the full-bodied curves of the goddesses and rolled her eyes. She thought the Mahabharata war between the five Pandavas and their one hundred cousins was impossible. She dares her to light the diya despite knowing that it may cause the end of the world. Arielle then decides if she tells the truth and gives them each ten dollars, Burton won't post the video he's recording.

After Aru lights the diya, Arielle Reddy is frozen in time while Aru and and her spiritual sister, Mini attempt to defeat the Sleeper. When she was no longer frozen in time, Arielle, along with Poppy and Burton, attempt to show Burton's video to the whole school, Arielle tells Aru to get help. But while Burton was taping, Aru said things they had lied about into the camera that she learned about from a pen given by Chitrigupta. She learns that Burton once gave her a cookie from the ground with his boogers on it. The pen also reveals that the day before, Arielle wore her mom's first engagement ring and lost it at recess, she told her mom that she saw the housekeeper holding it, this caused Arielle to turn red. Afterwards, they gave up trying to get $10 each and leave Aru alone.

When winter vacation arrived, Arielle Reddy was going to Maldives, her family's got a timeshare on a private island. Aru lied to her saying she had to nowhere to go for Christmas.

## Appearance

Arielle Reddy is described as the prettiest girl in their class, with dark brown skin and shiny black hair.

## Etymology

* The word "Arielle", is of a french origin which translates to "Lion of God". It is also commonly spelt as "Ariel" or "Ariella".
* "Reddy", is a very common surname in South India, namely Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The origins have been linked to the Rashtrakutas, although opinions vary. It loosely translates to "village head".
Anu Chouhan

**Anu Chouhan** is an illustrator based in Vancouver, BC. She is the illustrator of *Aru Shah and the End of Time: The Graphic Novel*.

## Trivia

* *Aru Shah and the End of Time: The Graphic Novel* is Anu's first time illustrating a graphic novel

## References

1. ↑ https://www.anumation.ca/about
2. ↑ https://www.readriordan.com/2022/03/08/rosh-talks-with-anu-chouhan-and-joe-caramagna/
Skanda

Skanda was the Raja of Bharata after the death of Raja Ramchandra. He is the half-brother of Gauri and Maya. He plays a minor part in *The Star-Touched Queen* and secondary main part in *A Crown of Wishes* by Roshani Chokshi, serving as a minor antagonist. After Gauri was crowned the Queen of Bharata, he, opted to move out of Royal Palace and chose a quiet life in the pilgrimage of Bharata.

## History

Skanda was born to Raja Ramchandra of Bharata and one of his wives. Not much of his history is known except that he was crowned the king, right after Maya fled

## *The Star-Touched Queen Duology*

### *The Star-Touched Queen*

Skanda barely makes an appearance in the first part of the book. He is described as a fool by Maya, a person who favors wealth over wisdom.

In order to relieve the ghosts of her past, Maya has to return her sapphire necklace to her sister, Gauri, who lives in Bharata. Upon reaching her home, she finds that it was no longer the prosperous empire that was under her father's rule years ago. It was Skanda, who ruled the lands now.

When requested for a private audience, Skanda claims that he knows that she isn't any sadhvi. He tells her that he would pay her a handful if she puts on a good show and particularly silence their sister, Gauri and took leave.

### *A Crown of Wishes*

Skanda sends Gauri to the Ujjain border as a prisoner who is to be executed.

## Appearance

According to Maya, Skanda was never the one with an athletic build. He was fat. And in a golden jacket, he is described to have looked like a toad.

## Trivia

* Skanda shares his name with the god of war, Karthikeya, who also goes by Skanda.
Azerbaijan

**Azerbaijan** (Azerbaijani: *Azərbaycan*), officially the **Republic of Azerbaijan** (Azerbaijani: *Azərbaycan Respublikası*), is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, the Russian republic of Dagestan to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic proclaimed its independence from the Russian Empire in 1918 and became the first secular democratic Muslim-majority state. In 1920, the country was incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991, shortly before the dissolution of the USSR in the same year. In September 1991, the Armenian majority of the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region seceded to form the Republic of Artsakh. The region and seven surrounding districts, internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan pending a solution to the status of the Nagorno-Karabakh through negotiations facilitated by the OSCE, became *de facto* independent with the end of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994. Following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, the seven districts and parts of Nagorno-Karabakh were returned to Azerbaijani rule.

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic. It is one of six independent Turkic states and an active member of the Turkic Council and the TÜRKSOY community. Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 182 countries and holds membership in 38 international organizations, including the United Nations (since 1992), the Council of Europe, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OSCE, and the NATO Partnership for Peace (PfP) program. It is one of the founding members of GUAM, the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Azerbaijan also holds observer status in the World Trade Organization.

While around 97% of the population is Muslim, the Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion and all major political forces in the country are secularist. Azerbaijan is a developing country and ranks 87th on the Human Development Index. It has a high rate of economic development and literacy, as well as a low rate of unemployment. However, the ruling party, the New Azerbaijan Party, in power since 1993, has been accused of authoritarian leadership and the deterioration of the country's human rights record, including increasing restrictions on civil liberties, particularly on press freedom and political repression.
Cape Verde

**Cape Verde** (Portuguese: *Cabo Verde*), officially the **Republic of Cabo Verde**, is an archipelago and island country in the central Atlantic Ocean, consisting of ten volcanic islands with a combined land area of about 4,033 square kilometres (1,557 sq mi). These islands lie between 600 to 850 kilometres (320 to 460 nautical miles) west of Cap-Vert situated at the westernmost point of continental Africa. The Cape Verde islands form part of the Macaronesia ecoregion, along with the Azores, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and the Savage Isles.

The Cape Verde archipelago appears not to have been inhabited by humans until the 15th century, when Portuguese explorers discovered and colonized the islands, thus establishing the first European settlement in the tropics. Because the Cape Verde islands were ideally located to play a role in the Atlantic slave-trade, Cape Verde became economically prosperous during the 16th and 17th centuries, attracting merchants, privateers, and pirates. It declined economically in the 19th century due to the suppression of the Atlantic slave-trade, and many of its inhabitants emigrated during that period. However, Cape Verde gradually recovered economically by becoming an important commercial center and useful stopover point along major shipping routes. In 1951, Cape Verde was incorporated as an overseas department of Portugal, but its inhabitants continued to campaign for independence, which they achieved in 1975.

Since the early 1990s, Cape Verde has been a stable representative democracy, and has remained one of the most developed and democratic countries in Africa. Lacking natural resources, its developing economy is mostly service-oriented, with a growing focus on tourism and foreign investment. Its population of around 550,000 (as of mid 2019) is mostly of mixed African and European heritage, and predominantly Roman Catholic, reflecting the legacy of Portuguese rule. A sizable Cape Verdean diaspora community exists across the world, considerably outnumbering inhabitants on the islands. Cape Verde is a member state of the African Union.
The Council of Guardians

The **Council of Guardians** are a group of mythical deities from Hindu myths who give weapons to visitors of the Otherworld (including demigods), train them and offer them quests. They protect each generation of Pandavas. These celestial guardians were immortal and worthy of worship, but they were often considered separate from the main league of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. They gather on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and during full moons and new moons, and also for the season premiere and finale of Game of Thrones

## Council Members

* **Urvashi**, the most talented *aspara*
* **Hanuman**, the monkey-faced trickster demigod
* **Uloopi**, the serpent queen
* **Surasa**, the mother of the Naga
* **Jambavan**, the bear king
* **Kubera**, the Lord of Wealth
* **Subala**, the former king of Gandhar

## The Pandava Quintet

### Aru Shah and the End of Time

After Aru Shah lights the Diya of Bharata and releases the Sleeper, Boo helps her find her Pandava sister, Mini, and takes the girls to the Court of the Sky. Boo explains that not every guardian of the Council is in residence at the same time, there's really no point unless the world needs saving. At the time, only Urvashi and Hanuman are present. The heavenly nymph queen doesn't believe that they are the Pandavas, the son of the wind god however believes them and shows the current situation of time freezing. Aru notices that one of the thrones has the faded letters of Subala, realizes that Boo was also on the council. Urvashi makes Aru and Mini undergo the Claiming Ceremony against Hanuman protests, the girls were discovered to the spiritual daughters of Indra and Dharma Raja, or the reincarnations of Arjuna and Yudhistira respectively. The council gives them a quest to find the celestial weapons and go to the Kingdom of Death to look in the Pool of the Past to find out how to defeat the Sleeper. If they succeed, they will receive Pandava training from the entire Council and Boo can rejoin.

While the Sleeper escaped, the girls do in fact succeed in restoring time. So every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for three hours, Aru and Mini learned war strategy from Hanuman, dancing and etiquette from Urvashi, and folklore from Boo.
Quest to Stop The Sleeper

The **Quest to Stop The Sleeper** was a quest undertaken by Aru Shah and Mini Kapoor-Mercado-Lopez. Their goal was to travel to the Kingdom of Death to retrieve celestial weapons that they could use to defeat the the Sleeper.

## The Pandava Quintet

Those present at the decision to sanction the quest were Aru, Mini, Boo, Hanuman, and Uloopi, but the ones who first decided to undertake it were Aru and Boo.

The quest was chosen to be sanctioned because the Pandavas were the ones most capable of stopping the Sleeper, because the gods claimed them as their own, and because one of them, Aru, had released the Sleeper in the first place.

The plan for the quest was for Aru and Mini, with Boo as a mentor, to stop the Sleeper from waking Lord Shiva. First, they needed to gather a sprig of youth, a bite of adulthood, and a sip of old age.

The consequence of failure was for the world to end.

This quest happened over the autumn break for Augustus Day.
Heartless

**The Heartless** are people whose hearts have been torn out by Kamadeva's corrupted bow and arrow of love.

## The Pandava Quintet

### *Aru Shah and the Song of Death*

Shurpanakha, or, according to her birth name, Meenakshi, had stolen the bow and arrow of Kamadeva, which had been entrusted to the nagas, and shot it at mortal men to build an army of Heartless. This proves to be useful as the guards of the dome which held the *amrita,* would incinerate anyone "with a heartbeat". By using the bow and arrow, you get rid of exactly that-a heartbeat.

## Abilities

* They can get past the dome which previously held the *amrita,* though, they are controlled by the thief of the bow and arrow.

## Trivia

* During *Aru Shah and the Song of Death,* the Heartless were mortal men who had been corrupted by Meenakshi.
	+ The men had no recollection of what happened, and therefore were very confused when they found themselves in the Ocean of Milk.
Arjun

Arjun is Queen Gauri of Bharata's general, and Gauri's best friend Nalini's husband.

## *The Star-Touched Queen Duology*

### *A Crown of Wishes*

Arjun took Skanda's side when Nalini was captured after a failed coup led by Gauri. Nalini and he had stopped trusting her, as she had stopped talking to them. At the end of the book, he was poisoned by Skanda, but Gauri gave up the wish she won in the Tournament of Wishes, so that he could be resurrected. A year later, he and Gauri had a conversation in the weapons room, where he offered to help her sword-fight, since her sword-fighting hand was replaced with crystal, which prevented her from fighting. At that time, Aasha entered the city gates, when a servant informed Gauri of the same, he touched his sword, and demanded whether she looked like a threat to the queen's life.

## Personality

He is shown to be distrustful of Gauri, since she had stopped talking to him, which soured their relationship. At the end of the book, when Gauri is shown to give up her wish, he became loyal to her.

## Relationships

### Romances

* Nalini

They were betrothed in the book, and got married

### Friends

* Gauri

He stopped trusting her after she stopped confiding in him, but at the end, when she became Rani, he became her loyal general.
Aranyani

Aranyani is the goddess of forests and animals, who is married to the god of horsemanship, Revanta. She is known to be very elusive. She is the guardian of Kalpavriksha, the Tree of Wishes.

## History

Aranyani is the goddess of forests and animals. She is also the guardian of the Kalpavriksha, the wish-granting tree. She is married to Sindura, the son of lord Brahma and the god that bestows purity to a women in form of Sindur. They were tasked to support the goddess bhu-devi in providing hearth and crops to the living beings.

## The Pandava Quintet

### Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

The goddess of forests is mentioned many times throughout the book, when the Potatoes talk about the Kalpavriksha. She, being the guardian of the tree of wishes, hold key to the real Kaplavriksha, unlike the fake one located in Nandana Gardens.

When she first appears, she is seen wearing a simple linen and dark jeans much to the surprise of Aru. She claims that she is impressed, given that the Potatoes located the true treasure. When Aru asks for the tree, Aranyani replies by asking where, in the prophecy, was it mentioned to make a wish to stop the war. Confused, Aru is taken aback.

Aranyani then shows Aru, about her father's memories. The first vision shows Suyodhana gifting mechanical flowers to Krithika, on valentine's day. The vision jumped, and Suyodhana appeared before Aranyani, asking for a wish. Aranyani warned that regret would follow, if he made a wish and advised him to go home, to his wife and daughter. In the next vision, was a pregnant Krithika with Hanuman and Urvashi. They were talking about Suydhana, as he'd left for months and hadn't returned. In the last vision, was Boo, making a deal with the Sleeper, so that he could make a wish and gain back his true form.

After the visions ended, Aru was left helpless and heartbroken. Aranyani offered Aru a choice to forget all the visions she'd showed her. Aru, hesitant but determined, refused the offer and made her wish; *"I wish we win."*

## Appearance

Aranyani was seen in a simple linen shirt and dark jeans. Her black hair was pulled into a high bun. Her skin was the color of rich earth, and her eyes looked like hardened sap beneath thick eyebrows. She had a hooked nose and a mouth that seemed made for smiling.

Aru describes the goddess as beautiful, but in an unexpected way. Like raindrops on a spider’s web; invisible unless you look closely.

## Etymology

* Aranyani means "the one who resides in forests", as "aranya" translates to "forest" or "grove".
Chicago War in 2011

highlighting key stuff from 2011. The year that changed my city FOREVER!

This the year the city got lit. Everybody got clouted. What happened in the streets is the real reason. Everybody say drill rap but what people don't get is what happened in the streets is what made drill what it was. Back then when it first took off most drill rappers really did what they rapped about **for the most part** before it became a trend to rap since it was so easy to get on.

### Some stuff that popped off this year

* January 2011 - Obama and Manny from TYMB killed Tooka
* February 2011 - ChiefTown kills Vic from Roc Creek, the next day Roc Creek kills Diddy from ChiefTown. 800/Diddy Grove made after him (shorties of ChiefTown).
* April 2011 - Montana, Lil Marc and Big A from 051 Young Money kills Quint from THF46. Bayzoo and Quint's brother Rome were also shot. Rome was also hit with the car.

* July 2011 - MOB killed Baldy from 600.
* July 2011 - Shields kill Tayski from D-Town. TayTown made in his honor.
* July 2011 - MOE kills Dart from ABM/Front$treet. 061 Dart Gang made in his honor.
* July 2011 - Montana and Rocko from kill Lil Tony from THF46

* August 2011 - MOB Beans and stl Man Man kill Odee Perry from Oblock

* September 2011 - Dome from Jaro City and Boss Trell from STL killed D'Thang from 600. Dome got charged.

* September 2011 - Lil Scrapp and Bay Bay from MOB killed Lil Steve. Scrapp got charged later but beat the case. Face from 600 took the stand. Lil Jay dissed Face about it in this song
* September 2011 - TuTu, Lil Darrell, and Butta kill Jizzle from SquirtTown
* October 2011 - Lil B from STL/EBT and Beans from MOB kill Patoon from O'Block
* November 2011 - M'Thang, Tay 600 and Manny kill T-Streetz from 051 Young Money

* November 2011 - CDai and Booka from 600 killed TuTu from Jaro City.

* December 2011 - D-Rose and Inky D from 600 killed Dale from STL/EBT.
Song of Death

The Song of Death is a soul song, caused by utter grief, that can make the bow of Kamadeva to rip out hearts of people, rendering them Heartless.

## History

### Rati's Grief

While awaiting Kamadeva's reincarnation, after Lord Shiva burnt him to ashes, his beloved wife, Rati carried his bow and arrow for him. But the pain upon his departure was felt so keenly that her soul song fled granting Kamadeva's weapon a dark power. Anyone struck by grief and armed with the knowledge of enchantment could carve out their own soul song. The sheer desperation of that act would give them the power to wield the bow and arrow for a terrible purpose of literally ripping out the hearts of humans and turned them into zombies. So after Rati's soul song returned and was reunited with Kamadeva, he gave the weapon to Uloopi who had it locked up in the treasury of the Naga Realm.

## *The Pandava Quintet*

### Between the Series

Overtime, Meenakshi's story was less told than often and eventually changed to the point where people only remember her for starting the war in Ramayana. One day after the Sleeper was released from the Diya of Bharata, he gave Meenakshi the idea of using the *amrita* to make their stories immortal. There are many others beside the two who feel that their story has been told where only their bad moments are remembered. However, the *amrita* was located in a golden dome with a labyrinth within the Ocean of Milk, and contained serpents whose fire can kill anything with a heartbeat. Having heard what happened to the bow and arrow of Kamadeva, she decided to steal it from the Naga Treasury to create an army of Heartless zombies. Takshaka helped her to get revenge on the reincarnated Pandavas by stealing the bow and arrow, while Meenakshi left her soul song in the treasury. She then placed the weapon on the sidewalk near the house of the reincarnation of Bhima to frame her for the theft.

### *Aru Shah and the Song of Death*

The Bow of Kamadeva, stolen by Meenakshi, was being put to use as Meenakshi gathered an army of Heartless. When the Pandavas found out that the Bow of Kamadeva was stolen by Takshaka, they made their way to stop Meenakshi from stealing Amrita, the nectar of immortality. After Meenakshi tells her story, the Pandavas sympathized with her, but still Aru plunged the arrow to her heart, killing her. But at the end, they all made a silent promise to remember her and not let her story die.
Diana Dworak

Diana Dworak is a London based illustrator who is inspired by anything fantasy and whimsical. She decided to study animation at ABU after growing up with everything Disney.
She delights in bringing all her stories and ideas to life in anyway possible, either by concept drawings, sketches or paintings.

She spends her free time by reading fantasy books.

Diana is well-known for her fanart for Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. She has also illustrated characters from The Gilded Wolves Trilogy.

## The Gilded Wolves Trilogy

Severin and LailaZofia BoguskaEnrique Mercado-LopezHypnos
Vishwakarma

Vishwakarma

**Vishwakarma** is the god of architecture, believed to be the original engineer who taught humans how to build long-lasting monuments. Some of his greatest works include Lanka and Dwarka.

## History

Vishwakarma is believed to be the original engineer who taught humans how to build long-lasting monuments. He is also known to have built the legendary cities, Lanka and Dwarka.

When Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati, he asked Viswakarma to build a beautiful palace for them to reside. So Vishwakarma built a palace made of gold. Shiva invited the sage, Pulastya, to perform a Griha Pravesh ceremony. After the sacred ceremony, Shiva asked Pulastya to ask anything in return as Dakshina, or a donation. Pulastya asked Shiva for the golden palace itself as he was overwhelmed with its beauty and grandeur. Shiva was obliged to accede to Pulastya's wish, which Lanka became the palace of his grandson, Kubera, who was later overthrown by his half-brother, Ravana.

## *The Pandava Quintet*

### *Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes*

Vishwakarma is first mentioned by Brynne when the Potatoes need to find a key to sneak into the Crypt of Eclipses.

When the Potatoes enter VPD; Vishwakarma, Prajapati, Daksha, they claim that they are the attendants of Prince Rudy of Nagaloka and have come to ask for a request from Vishwakarma.

After meeting with Vishwakarma, the Potatoes ask the architect to make a key that can break any lock, magical or not. Upon asked the reason, Rudy claims that there a lot of vaults in Nagaloka that are to be opened. He grants their request, makes the key and hands it to them. But he also warns that there will be a price to pay. Given the key, he disappears, leading the Potatoes to catch the floating key on their own.

The Pandavas, restless, were about to give up when Mini raised her Death Danda above them to save them all from the collapsing ceiling. This makes the other Pandavas to wield their weapons too, to which, Vishwakarma cries out in surprise, *"YOU'RE PANDAVAS?"*

After confiding the truth to Vishwakarma, he tells them that the Sleeper had been here before, for the same key they seek. Suddenly, the key transformed into a silver snake and took its place on Aru's wrist. Vishwakarma, then gave them a velvet pouch, saying that the bag could contain the key and bid them farewell.

## Appearance

Vishwakarma sat behind a huge mahogany desk in a charcoal-gray suit. He had four heads, each with a neat white beard and black hair with silver stripes near the temples. He sported a rimless half-moon glasses on the tip of his nose. The god had a complexion of the bronze metal.

In his four hands, he held a fountain pen, a highlighter, a golden hammer and a slim black ruler each.

## Etymology

* The word "Vishwakarma" translates to "architect of the universe".
Opal

Opal is the Number One Crisis Manager of Court of the Sky. She is an apsara and makes a brief appearance in Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes.

## The Pandava Quintet

### Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

Opal is introduced as a crisis manager for Court of the Sky, after the Pandavas' incident with the Maruts. After they botched the prophecy, and learned about the untrue sister, she is sent in to help give a positive opinion to the public.

### Aru Shah and the City of Gold

Although not making an appearance, she is mentioned, as one of the people who is complaining that the Pandavas let the Sleeper escape after the Battle for Lanka.

## Appearance

Opal is described as an apsara with slender, dark limbs, wearing a jumpsuit made out of starry fabric.

## Etymology

* Opal is derived from the precious stone of the same name 'Opal'.
Priya Ayyar

Priya Ayyar is an American television and stage actress and award winning audiobook narrator with a BFA and MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Her background is in improvisation and comedy having done several network pilots for FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC, as well as appearing on Arrested Development and also working with the show’s creator Mitch Hurwitz on The Thick of It and Running Wilde.

She is the narrator for the audiobooks, The Star-Touched Queen, A Crown of Wishes and Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Chokshi.

## About

Born in California, Priya spent over 20 years as a New Yorker, but has since returned to her native sun, sand, and beach roots with her husband and child.

After numerous theater roles, Priya transitioned to TV getting her first jobs on All My Children, Cosby, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She got her first Series Regular role on TV in a pilot for FOX written by Ant Hines, writer of Borat, Bruno, and the Ali G Show. The pilot was the first Indian family sitcom and was a six episode order.

Priya played the mother Ritsi Papdit which relied heavily on improv fooling real people while also setting up scripted jokes. The show was eventually sold to CBS which put it online as the first streaming sitcom. She has worked with Mitch Hurwitz, the writer and creator of Arrested Development, on an adaptation of The Thick of It from the UK for ABC which was directed by Christopher Guest. Priya also did an episode of Nurse Jackie opposite Bobby Cannavale. Her background is in improvisation and comedy having written two solo shows in NYC which she performed Off Off Broadway.

She has done adaptations of British TV shows for American networks, and has been cast in network pilots for FOX, CBS, ABC, and NBC. She is currently writing and working in TV and is an award winning audiobook narrator.

She has also narrated the audiobooks for The Star Daughter by Shveta Thakrar and A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev.