Gogglizil: This is how Sheol is known in hyperborean language.
Horeb: The Golden Star, one of the twelve Higher Sylphs. One of the brightest stars in the firmament, he is also known as the Judge of the Stars, since he adjudicates all decisions taken by the Celestial Synod. He is the patron star of Enoch and of all those who ask for discernment.
Kadesh: A Cthonic Sylph, formerly Aquatic. Son of Meribah, husband of Schechem. He used to live in the ocean with his wife, but for the love of giantkind, he agreed to remain in the underground domains to lull Mizar to sleep until the end of times. In exchange, he received the secret of masonry and metal working, which he passed on to the logizkal, so that they could build houses of their own. He plays a sitar with bow, the murmur of underground streams. He is the patron of the underground cisterns from whence his wife carries water to the surface.
Mamreh: Thebel’s lastborn, she is the mother of all Aerial Sylphs, and the Shepherdess of Life. She was the one who planted the forests and meadows across the land, before the monsters ravaged most of Thebel and turned it into a desert. Since the war against monsterkind, and the Great Calamity later on, Mamreh has become considerably weakened. Still, no other sylph is as reliable a patron as she, for she loves all mortals without exception and is easily moved by their plight, interceding for them often in the Synod of the Stars. She is also the patroness of farmers and shepherds.
Megiddo: One of the twelve Higher Sylphs, and one of the Dark Stars. Husband of Tabor, he is the father of the more distant stars. Both he and his wife got too bored of their orbit’s monotony, and left on an adventure to explore the boundaries of the universe. They are not sighted since the end of the First Age, hence their title as Dark Stars. But there are prophecies promising that we will hear of them when the swallows return.
Meribah: Thebel’s firstborn, husband of Massah, father of all Aquatic Sylphs. His spirit may seem inconstant as a stormy sea or a tumultuous river, but in the depths of his soul, he is quiet and serene. His kingdom is beautiful and prosperous, populated by sylphs, merfolk, and all kinds of fantastic creatures. Yet, he will never allow mortals to set foot in his realm again, allowing them merely to skim the surface of his domains... when he is in a good mood.
Mizar: Thebel’s secondborn, he would be the sole Cthonic Sylph had he not adopted Kadesh and Schechem. He is the king of the dry land and of the underground depths. Thanks to Kadesh and Schechem’s generosity, he granted mortals the use of clay, stone, and metal, but he keeps the best treasures to himself, inside his bottomless coffers. His sleep is as deep as his crib, but beware him when he awakens, for the earth quakes and the mountains erupt when he does.
Moab: Though he has not been conceived in a natural way, Moab is counted as one of the sons of Thebel, originated through intercourse with the work of mortal hands. He was built by the nephilin to be their patron deity, so that Aigonz or sylphkind would no longer have authority over the giants. He is the father of the Seven Beasts, and the Dark Beast as well. He is also credited as being the father of the Miasma, a race of corrupted Aerial Sylphs. Nowadays, there are idols of Moab scattered throughout Negev, and it is known that when mortals pray to Moab, their requests are usually granted... at a price.
Moriah: The Red Star, one of the twelve Higher Sylphs. Moriah is the strongest of all sylphs, and only his short temper prevents him from being more highly ranked in the Synod of the Stars. When he is enraged, he brandishes his flaming sword and no one can halt his wrath, save for the melodies of Nebo, his wife. Moriah is also the father of the nearest stars in the firmament. He is the patron star of Kain-Phah and also of those who cry to the heavens for justice.
Nebo: The Violet Star, one of the twelve Higher Sylphs. She is Moriah’s wife, and only her songs can appease the Red Star’s furor. Her patience is legendary, for she, unlike the other Higher Sylphs, is more saddened than infuriated by the mortal’s folly. Nebo is also the mother of the nearest stars in the firmament. She is the patron star of hope—for, even if she is not very bright, she can always be seen scintillating amidst the darkest parts of the firmament.
Negev: Name given to Thebel after the Great Calamity. Also the name given to the southern continent after the isthmus disappeared, thus dividing the former supercontinent of Thebel.
Nihil: In the age before all ages, there was a cosmic war between Aigonz and Nihil, for the Bard wished all things to come into being, whilst the primordial titan wanted for nothing more than nothingness. Aigonz eventually vanquished Nihil, slaying him with his legendary sword Ziv-Ispariz. From Nihil’s one hundred heads, Aigonz formed the Higher Sylphs, and from Nihil’s flesh, he fashioned the Mountain Most High, whereupon he built his palace. But even after the creation of Dumah, Nihil’s brood kept assailing Thebel under the form of terrible monsters.
Nod: An Ethereal Sylphid. She fell on Thebel under the form of a shooting star at the end of the Second Age. Nod said she was a daughter of Megiddo and Tabor, and that she bore a message intended to avert a great calamity. Those who saw her could tell that she glows much more brightly than any of the distant stars, her brethren and sistren.
Peniel: The Green Star, one of the twelve Higher Sylphs. Little is known about this star, for he has disappeared since the night Salem was murdered, when a great shadow engulfed the firmament.
Salem: The White Star, one of the twelve Higher Sylphs. She was also the one of the brightest star in the firmament—some would say even brightest than Carmel-sun himself. For that reason, the nights during the Age of Giants were clearer than nowadays, and would not be clearer than day itself because Salem would sit farther away from Thebel than the sun, since Carmel is Thebel’s husband. Salem was also the Queen of the Stars, and presided over the Celestial Synod. She was the virginal mother of several ethereal sylphs and the patron star of Melchy-Zedek and peaceful times. Her throne was fixed in the north, so sailors and pilgrims alike would use her position for guidance. But one day, unexpectedly, her light went out and no one ever saw Salem ever again. Some say she was betrayed and murdered, but who could conceive of such foul deed?
Schechem: A Cthonic Sylphid, formerly Aquatic. Daughter of Meribah, wife of Kadesh. She used to live in the ocean with her husband, but for the love of giantkind, she agreed to remain in the underground domains to lull Mizar to sleep until the end of times. In exchange, she received the secret of masonry and metal working, which she passed on to the logizkal, so that they could build houses of their own. Schechem’s quiet voice can be heard softly resounding throughout the caverns. The gentle drip of the stalactites is nothing more than her delicate fingers plucking the cords of her watery harp. She is the patroness of wells and springs.
Sheol: Queen of death and of the underworld. Daughter of Gehena and foster mother—for she is barren—of the Miasma. The circumstances of Sheol’s birth are unknown. The sages say that, in the day Sheol was born into this world, a shadow engulfed all the stars of the firmament. When this shadow disappeared, Salem ceased to shine. Later on, Sheol would enter Thebel through the door of Kolinzio’s murder. Since then, her deadly empire never ceased to expand. No one knows what happens to the poor souls swallowed by her insatiable appetite.
Tabor: One of the twelve Higher Sylphs, and one of the Dark Stars. Wife of Megiddo, mother of the more distant stars. Both she and her husband got too bored of their orbit’s monotony, and left on an adventure to explore the boundaries of the universe. They are not sighted since the end of the First Age, hence their title as Dark Stars. But there are prophecies promising that we will hear of them when the swallows return.
Thebel: The Brown Star, one of the twelve Higher Sylphs. Wife of Carmel, mother of Mamreh, Meribah, and Mizar. She is also the planet whereupon mortals dwell. This name can also be applied to the supercontinent that existed before the Great Calamity rent the land in twain, separating Hyperborea from Negev.
Bestiary
Auroch: A giant wild ox. Herds of aurochs were very common during the Age of Giants, and they were one of the main
sources of sustenance for the logizkal. They were hunted out of existence by the nephilin, but were domesticated in Hyperborea. After the Great Calamity, Mamreh instructed the hyperborean giants to breed smaller aurochs. They were then released in the southern territories to feed the exiled. These animals were the forebears of the oxen of today, and no longer exist.
Bear: This great animal is a symbol of strength. Mighty hunters wear bear skins as a sign of their prowess. However, bears are more fearsome in the south, where their size is not dwarfed by the massive northern creatures. Some say, though, that northern bears are much bigger than their southern counterparts.
Beast: Though these creatures are misshapen, they are not monsters, since the latter were born from Nihil, and the former from Moab. The most feared of all beasts was the Dark Beast, which laid waste to Ophir’s impregnable walls. But nowadays, there are Seven Beasts roaming the land of Negev, sowing chaos throughout the world.
Behemoth: A mammoth corrupted by the pestilence. It is one of the largest land animals. When it is enraged, it wreaks havoc wherever it goes, ceasing its destruction only when it gets tired and sleepy. Behemoths enjoy grazing in lush pastures, so they never populated the south, for then they would have to cross the barren Forbidden Lands. According to the sages, they remain only to the north of Negev, where Nephil used to stand. Since very few explorers have ventured so far, many say they are no more than legends, like all giant animals of the north.
Chameleon: A rare animal, native to warm southern territories, beyond the Forbidden Lands. It can change its colors according to its surroundings, and so became a symbol of subtlety, discreetness, and cunning.
Dragon: A gryphon corrupted by the pestilence. Many fled from Lamech’s stables and flew south, to the lands of Negev. Till this day, Negev is beset with dragons, hungry for the meat of livestock and men alike. Fortunately, their sleep tends to be heavier than their appetite. They roost in mountain ranges or burrow in large caverns. Even if their humor is much more unstable and ferocious than their forebears, they inherited one trait from the gryphons: their attraction for shining objects, especially those made of gold.
Giant: Mortal being of high stature—averaging three of today’s men—and with a third eye in his forehead. The giants were formed from the seabed, many centuries ago, to help Meribah wage war against the sea monsters. When the monsters invaded the dry lands, Prince Livionz summoned the giants to help him fight against monsterkind. As a reward for their services, Mamreh let the giants live in the dry land, where they built their cities and prospered. The giants ruled the world throughout the Second Age, but there are not many left after the Great Calamity: most were killed in wars, or died during the cataclysm, or were turned into ogres.
Gryphon: A creature with the body of a lion, king of the earth, and the head and wings of an eagle, queen of the skies. For this reason, they were not meant to be tamed. Gryphons are native to the Hill, where Enoch once stood. Legend says that they were so placed by Aigonz himself to guard a very precious treasure. Even if they have become an unusual sight today, one can know that wherever there is a gryphon, there are forbidden riches nearby. Given the gryphons’ status as sacred guardians, to harm one is considered a great sacrilege.
Hippogriff: A creature with the body of a horse and the head and wings of an eagle. Hippogriffs are native to Hyperborea, where they were domesticated by northern giants, and used as steeds. Even if they look very similar to gryphons, they are not related species, just like a duck is not related to a platypus.
Human: Mortal being with a much lesser stature than a giant, but similar body structure. Even if they only became common in the Fifth Age, humans exist at least since the Second Age, when Inimois, Princess of Ophir, was born. She was the first human and was prophesied to be the mother of humankind. But the sages swear that the first human was actually Prince Livionz, who roams the cosmos since the First Age. But could someone so powerful as Livionz be truly human?
Lion: This great feline is a symbol of royalty. Even if lions are not as big as tigers, saber-tooths, or manticores, their mane makes their skins especially attractive to those who want to display noble lineage, as if lions were a kind of ermine that could only be won during a worthy hunt.
Logizkal: "Giant" in hyperborean language. The many peoples of giantkind are called "logizkal-loiffol".
Mammoth: A pachyderm with very large tusks. Very docile in spite of its corpulence. Mammoths were a common apparition during the Age of Giants, but are now extinct. Whether it was because of the Great Calamity, or because they were all hunted down by the nephilin, or because they were turned into behemoths by the pestilence, one does not know. Maybe a combination of all these reasons.
Man: See "human".
Merfolk: Mythical creature, half human, half fish. The merfolk fought alongside Meribah and the Aquatic Sylphs against the sea monsters. It is said that they inhabit the seas to this day, where they stand watch to Meribah’s domains. If a sailor deigns transgress Meribah’s forbidden boundaries, the merfolk will destroy his vessel. Mermen will try to topple it, or use tridents to pierce through the ship’s haul. Mermaids will enchant the transgressors and attract them to the squalls to shipwreck them. Then, the merfolk will drown these unfortunate souls and feast upon their flesh.
Mermaid: See "merfolk".
Merman: See "merfolk".
Monster: Name given to the sons of Nihil, the primordial titan, defeated by Aigonz during the age before all ages. Amorphous or chimerical, of all shapes and sizes, monsters haunted Thebel before mortals were created. At first, they infested the seas, but were repelled ashore by the combined armies of Meribah and Livionz—the former leading the Aquatic Sylphs and the merfolk; the latter leading the giants, recently formed from the seabed’s clay. Later on, the monsters ravaged the dry land, laying waste to Mamreh’s crops. Livionz once again led the giants against the monsters, but many of the logizkal refused to fight, except for Bizimonz and his followers. Livionz then vanquished the monsters with the help of the Igneous and Aerial Sylphs. But since the giants tarried in fulfilling their mission, the southern lands were too polluted by the monster’s influence to be habitable. For this reason, these lands were forbidden till the day Livionz would come back and decree them pure once again.
Ogre: One of the forms taken by a giant corrupted by the pestilence. Unlike the giants, ogres do not possess an eye in their forehead. Nowadays, they haunt the ruins of nephilin cities, attacking and devouring all those unfortunate enough to cross paths with them. Some also managed to traverse the Forbidden Lands, where they founded the city of Og.
Ophalin: "Human" in hyperborean language.
Panther: A very ferocious feline, native to the southern lands. It is a fierce predator and one of the greatest fears of those travelling the roads of the south. For this reason, it is also considered a symbol of death or danger.
Pelican: An aquatic bird, native to the north. Legend says that a mother pelican would pierce her own heart to feed her younglings with her blood. For this reason, they are considered very trustworthy, and were used in Hyperborea as carrier birds.
Saber-tooth (Tiger): A giant feline of old. It had two giant teeth, shaped as sabers, protruding from its mouth. A vicious hunter, it can even kill a giant when it gathers in streaks. It remains a threat to those who dare venture to the north, into the accursed lands where Nephil used to stand. Legend says that the manticores of today are corrupted saber-tooth tigers, but the sages remain skeptical of these rumors.
Scorpion: Can refer to a small desert bug, with nasty pincers and a venomous sting on its tail. It can also refer to the fearsome guardians of the underworld. The latter have the size of a giant, the head, torso, and arms of a human, and the body and tail of its smaller counterparts.
Sphinx: Creature made of stone or metal, with the head of a woman, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. These beings are usually created by a benign magic, with the intent to guard or protect something dear. The first and most powerf
ul sphinxes of all were the Seven Guardians of Ophir.
Swallow: A mythical bird. The sages say that there was never a flying creature gifted with so much swiftness and agility. Swallows have dark feathers and a tail as sharp as a scissor. They used to nest in the roof eaves of the giants of old. It is said that swallows hate death, refusing to live where there is more death than life. It is also said that they have an insatiable yearning for the Song, and they follow it whenever they can, fleeing Silence as they flee death. Maybe this is the reason why they disappeared after the Great Calamity, flying north and even beyond. But there are prophecies saying that swallows will return one day...
Swan: This bird can be seen either flying in the skies, or happily swimming at the surface of fresh waters. Covered in a magnificent white plumage, swans became known as symbols of beauty and purity. Before the Great Calamity, many swans inhabited the lake of Ophir, where they were used as carrier birds for important messages.
Sylph: A non-carnal being, made wholly of spirit. Sylphs are subdivided into several species:
Higher Sylphs: Born from the one hundred severed heads of Nihil, and infused with life by Aigonz. Most of them dwell in the Blessed Realm, but twelve of them entered Dumah when the cosmos was created. Here, the Twelve formed the Synod of the Stars, the universe’s higher council, second only to Aigonz himself.
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