Encyclopedia Dominia Sections E-Y

 Here is the second part of the restoration of the Encyclopedia Dominia, from the pre-revisionist lore days of Magic: The Gathering.  The Planeswalker Taysir's work at making the Encyclopedia Dominia continues here, for your reading enjoyment.  

 You may read the first part here. 

FlyinFlying Carpet: Only planeswalkers may create flying carpets with relative ease. Lesser magic-workers must spend endless hours weaving together the delicate strands and complicated patterns that tie the magic of flight to these valuable objects. Most flying carpets are one adult armspan wide by two armspans long, and can support only one person. However, there are rumors of ancient carpets capable of carrying objects as large as a bull elephant.

Freyalise: This beautiful half-elven planeswalker is most noted for the tremendous spell she wove to end Dominaria's long Ice Age. Considered a goddess by the elves of Llanowar (who are unaware of her half-elven heritage), Freyalise is worshipped to this day by many of the residents of Dominaria. 

Goblin Kites: One of a multitude of artifacts of uniquely goblin manufacture, a goblin kite allows a small humanoid (roughly goblin-sized) to strap the winged contraption across its back and use it as a glider. Although goblins have been known to use these devices strategically in battle (some observers claim any "strategy" is merely the result of random luck), "reliable" is a word not often applied to the gliders.

Ironclaw Mountains: Home to the Ironclaw orcs and goblins, this mountain range forms the northeastern edge of central South Aerona. The Ironclaws are relatively mineral-rich, and the goblins and orcs who make their home here (along with scattered dwarven clans) use these minerals for trade. 

Kaervek: The Burning Isles seared their harsh ethos into the young Kaervek. A ruthless survivor, the mage Kaervek considers everything fair if it advances his cause. Until his recent imprisonment, Kaervek waged an extensive war to exert control over all of Jamuura. With the imprisonment of his enemy Mangara in the amber prison, Kaervek thought he might succeed in this goal. Now Kaervek lies within his own trap while all that remains of his once mighty armies are unorganized bands of roving undead. 

Llanowar Elves: Actually made up of eight major bloodlines, or elfhames, the elves of Llanowar are a relatively diverse lot. Since the Ice Age the Llanowar have had to protect their forest from the ravages of outsiders (who initially came seeking precious firewood). With the help of their goddess, the planeswalker Freyalise, the elves managed to keep their cultures intact throughout even the most desperate times.

The Llanowar elves stand between five-and-a-half and six feet in height. They are generally slender with pale, brown, or even metallic-colored hair. Their eyes are quite narrow and their teeth slightly pointed, giving the elves a feral appearance. Elves remain youthful looking throughout almost their entire lives, with only the ears hinting at their age (the longer the ears, the older the elf). Only in the last decade or so of an elf's life does he or she begin to show signs of aging. 

 Llanowar Forest: This gigantic, lush forest region in South Aerona ranges in width from several hundred miles to over a thousand miles across at its widest point. Home to eight major tribes of elves, or elfhames, the forest contains some of the most ancient trees in all of Aerona. Goblins and orcs almost never enter the forest (save on raids) since the elves are merciless towards these outsiders. Even trading humans, minotaurs, and the like only enter the forest with great caution (and normally seek permission first). 

Mangara: This powerful mage was a force for peace in Jamuura for many decades, that is until he was betrayed and imprisoned inside of a magical stone known as the amber prison. Mangara's disappearance destroyed the balance of power in Jamuura. Only his release could grant the land hope for relief from the assault of Kaervek's undead minions. 

Order of the Steel Leaf (See Llanowar Elves):  This militant band of Llanowar elves were first organized by the goddess-planeswalker Freyalise. Bound to serve her mission, the Steel Leaf helped turn the invaders away from Llanowar during the Ice Age, and have served as the forest's protectors ever since. The Order maintains a strict interpretation of Freyalise's sacred orders, and this rigidity has at times caused some internal conflict within Llanowar. 

All Steel Leaf wear a patch over one eye. Some of these patches were first bestowed by Freyalise; these are said to provide magical sight to the wearer, allowing him or her to see the true nature of any being. In addition to the eye patch, the Steel Leaf all sport tattoos and brightly dyed hair, often worn in mohawk fashion.  

Phyrexian gremlins are short, often hairy, ebon-black beings who serve the will of the Yawgmoth priests and demons. With their fierce, glowing eyes and razor-sharp teeth, Phyrexian gremlins seem at best semi-intelligent servants. They evince an extreme, almost gleeful, excitement at the prospect of destroying artifacts and artificers, and descend en masse upon anyone unfortunate enough to stumble into their domain. 

Phyrexian Portal: The plane of Phyrexia is only accessible through a series of magical gates and portals. Such planar apertures are usually opened through the sacrifice of either creatures or artifacts. However, at times the sacrifice of a great deal of magical energy or knowledge will also open one of these portals. Unfortunately, any individual opening such a portal may find the sacrifice required is far different, and far more dear, than he or she ever imagined. 

Phyrexia (Plane): The dark plane of Phyrexia is a place few beings other than the foul natives of this plane have ever had the misfortune to visit. Creatures living in Phyrexia include Yawgmoth demons, Phyrexian gremlins, and numerous artifact-slaves. 

Phyrexia is often called "the final Hell for artifacts." Its skies are filled with soot and smog, with the constant sound of grinding cogs and screeching metal tormenting the air. Unimaginably large furnaces throw ash and fire into the skies, illuminating in their harsh red glare the tortures of the artifacts trapped here. The plane itself is formed from multiple hollow spheres, each darker and more horrid than the last. Although legend says the true fiend Yawgmoth lives in the innermost sphere, there is no one known who can confirm this tale.  

Purraj of Urborg: This intense female cat warrior was a legendary assassin whose ability to kill silently was unrivaled. Although Purraj viewed herself as a leader of her kind, many cat warriors only followed Purraj out of fear. Purraj's last mission, before her disappearance and presumed death, was the guardianship of the captured mage Mangara and his jail, the amber prison. 

Rabiah (Plane): Rabiah the Infinite is a multifaceted jewel in the realm of Dominia. In ancient days, Rabiah split and refracted across a thousand and one planes. For every refraction, a new Rabiah sprung up, identical to the original. It is for this reason Rabiah is known as "the Infinite."

Of course, over the centuries each Rabiah developed an identity of its own, and today individual Rabiahs may differ dramatically from one another. However, there are some general features that are consistent across almost all variations of this wondrous place.

Rabiah is a desert world. Where Rabiah's plane touches another plane, the sere environment often begins to "infect" its neighbor. However, that seldom worries Rabiah's inhabitants, since they are hardy desert dwellers. Planar links in Rabiah often appear in the form of giant desert twister's. Such a maelstrom violently propels any who venture near it into whatever plane that gate links to.

Although most Rabian cultures are patriarchal and Arabic in feel, the vast range of Rabiahs also includes matriarchies and even a realm of horrific evil rivaling Phyrexia itself for sheer despair and terror. 

Rashida Scalebane: This idle young Zhalfiran woman grew up quickly when several dragons decimated her village, killing Rashida's entire family as well as all her friends. Rashida's anguish quickly turned to rage, and the new warrior vowed to slay all dragons for the harm they did Rashida's village and family. After some struggle, Rashida discovered the location of her family's ancient relic -- a banesword. She dedicated the sword to the slaying of dragons, renaming it Scalebane, so that she could set about avenging her family. As witnesses attest, Rashida is amazingly quick and powerful when fighting her sworn enemy. Already, this great warrior has slain more than a dozen dragons, turning their hides into armor for her warriors. Today, Rashida leads a powerful army dedicated to ridding Jamuura of the dark army of undead that threatens the country's very existence. 

Scalebane's Elite: These three warriors represent the best of the warrior-leader Rashida Scalebane's troops, hand-picked by Rashida to aid her in her quest to rescue the mage Mangara from the amber prison. There are few warriors in Jamuura with the courage, tenacity, and skill of these young fighters. 

Serendib Efreet: The Serendib efreets are a small group of air elementals seldom found anywhere but the plane of Rabiah. Giant pale humanoids with snow-white hair, the efreets are most striking for their double mouths and hooked left "hands," which, legend has it, were transformed long ago by a planeswalker in return for a service one of their kind once performed. Although the extra orifice adds to the efreets' frightening appearance, it does not have any particular function.

Serendib efreets often have bitter, vicious temperaments, although they will serve any who may summon or command them. Unfortunately, the Serendib are cursed and any who request their services will undoubtedly pay with the coin of their own pain and suffering. If anything, the Serendib seem to enjoy this collateral anguish.

Editor's note: The Serendib efreets are closely related to the larger, even more dangerous Serendib Djinns. The djinns also curse those who dare to summon them, although they seem far more interested in creating ever vaster areas of wasteland in the already arid realms they inhabit. 

The Spirit of the Night is a terrible creature that seems part cat, part unspeakable horror. An almost unstoppable killing machine, the Spirit of the Night leaves only death and destruction in its wake. Although there are few recorded incidents of the Spirit of the Night appearing on Dominaria, the entire Femeref grand assembly, known as the Council of Voices, is thought to have been slaughtered by this being last year. Only the Breathstealers guild is said to possess both the knowledge and desire to summon this dreaded being. 

Telim Tor: A Suq'Ata nobleman by birth, Telim'Tor earned his fame as a military leader when he brought back some important maps lost in the Ekendu mountains. Although his troops were decimated in the effort, Telim explained that his elder brother who had originally lead the troops had caused the casualties. Only through Telim's bravery were the maps retrieved and any troops brought back alive. Although some people dispute this story, the mission earned Telim'Tor much glory. Today, Telim'Tor is respected (and feared) as a brutal, but inspiring general. His troops take no prisoners and Telim'Tor allows not the slightest infraction of rules by his soldiers. 

Tobias Andrion: Tobias Andrion was the most famed military administrator in the ancient Empire of Sheoltun. In the earlier, all-important military campaigns of Sheoltun, he was instrumental in establishing the young empire's military dominance over its neighbors. But his true legacy to Central Aerona was his successful campaign to eliminate the long-standing, organized piracy that once tyrannized the waves.

Although Sheoltun already held the mainland with an iron grip when Tobias was born, it was not yet established on the islands. Tobias dared to battle the legendary pirates of the Spice Isles, and, even more daringly, succeeded in turning the tide of the once-invincible raiders. Over the course of three decades, he ran the marauders down and destroyed even their most hidden fortresses. Unfortunately, Tobias was himself slain in an ambush by the captain and crew of the pirate ship Wavespawn.

Although the exact nature of Tobias's death varies widely from tale to tale, most stories suggest he was struck down by magical lightning. A terrible legend claims that Tobias was almost immediately reanimated, to dance upon the lifeless remains of his crew at the bottom of the ocean--a macabre dance he continues until this day. 

Torsten Von Ursus: Originally a member of the legendary Knights of Jenges, Torsten Von Ursus came from the country of Wrenna. After a terrible mage claimed the throne of Wrenna, this great warrior left his Order and traveled southwest. Torsten spent some time at the base of the Hurloon Mountains, and actually entered the dread land of the minotaurs after he had the opportunity to study one that had been captured. His belief that the minotaurs were more than savage beasts was revolutionary at the time (and is still revolutionary to the less educated among us).

After studying minotaur philosophy for several years, Torsten journeyed onwards. When he stumbled upon the blighted city of Benfosa, Torsten immediately realized that he had found his life's work. Benfosa was a perfect place to implement his gathered wisdom and social philosophies. Determined to change Benfosa into his vision of a proper nation, Torsten let nothing stand in his way--including the rather reluctant citizens of the newly renamed Benalia.

Using sometimes-brutal tactics, Torsten brought an entire nation into being using nothing more than the force of his will and the brutal charisma of the natural leader. After succeeding in much of his goal, Torsten died at the age of seventy-two, leaving behind him the legendary Lost Edict, which consigned Benalia to the alternating care of his seven lieutenants and their families. 

Yawgmoth Demons: Servants of the dread entity Yawgmoth, the Yawgmoth demons are intelligent beings that take great joy in constantly attempting to outdo one another in destroying artifacts. Some artificers claim the demons are preparing for the day when Yawgmoth releases them in a rampaging horde to destroy all the imperfect artifacts currently loose in Dominia. This final purge will, in turn, prepare the multiverse for the coming of Yawgmoth. 

Yawgmoth Priests: Yawgmoth priests venerate the entity Yawgmoth. Working in concert with lesser Yawgmoth demons, the priests conduct strange rituals to purge unfit artifacts from all realms of existence. When an artifact creature shows promise, though, the priests guide its evolution towards perfection.

 

This concludes the alphabetical entries to the Encyclopedia.  The next sections will catalog the Histories and fables section of the Encyclopedia. 

The Encyclopedia Dominia: Taysir's Journals and A-D

Dominia (not Dominaria) used to be the name of the magic multiverse.  For a time, in the pre-revisionist era of Magic, there was one planeswalker interested in catalog and study of the denizens and peoples of the various planes, and so, Taysir started and created the Encyclopedia Dominia.  Here we have recovered his progress on such a vast and monumental task, and have put forth all his notes and entries from it.  

Here is the first part of this restoration process.  

Taysir's Journals 

Entry 1: I have existed for thousands of years, one person amid a multitude too vast for even a planeswalker such as myself to comprehend. Yet each of this great throng, each person who exists upon any of the planes in Dominia, weaves his or her thread into the tapestry of history. Unfortunately, few beings can actually gain any perspective upon the worlds they live in or the peoples with which they live. Life is too short and the planes too vast.

Here I presume to take my experience and my knowledge, and set to paper history, legends, and tales from the immense array of cultures found in Dominia. Hopefully, others will come to gaze upon this collection and learn from it. Throughout these volumes I shall provide commentary, yet I vow to never censor the words of others within their own stories.

In my youth, I would not have had the patience for this lengthy task. But, having lived and died--and lived again--I have come to a greater understanding of the necessity for the quietest virtue.

Long ago I loved a woman with greater passion than any other man had ever loved . . . . Of course this isn't true--my love was no greater or lesser than any others, but I was then convinced of its unique worth. It brought me only grief because it was a selfish love that did not truly care about the woman at its center. Since that time, I have learned much.

I dedicate this compilation, which I shall call the Encyclopedia Dominia, to Kristina . . . and also to my adopted daughter, Daria. Both women are brilliant, and the fabric of the world is richer for the shining threads of their lives. 

Entry 2: While I sit among the creature comforts of my library, I can't help but muse upon how important our environment is to who we are.

Imagine, if you will, that I choose to clone a young mortal. The boy and his other self would be identical in all things. If, however, these two identical people were placed in very disparate environments, they would rapidly grow different from each other, no longer truly identical. For example, if one boy spent his time in a tranquil place where he faced nothing more terrible than the teasing of his siblings and the occasional minor injury, where all his physical and emotional needs were met, would not his character and personality reflect this environment? Would not the identity of the other boy, living in a place of constant want, with no one to care for him, grow (or wither) in very different ways?

A truly wonderful or terrible environment leaves a deep imprint indeed upon its inhabitants. The best and worst of places may even affect the other realms with which they coexist. Thus, the literature and myths of numerous cultures again and again reference certain places. One of these places is the realm known as Phyrexia, a black abyss of pain and terror. It is astounding that creatures manage to not only exist, but occasionally even thrive in this place of charnel smoke, metal, and ash; a place where the only light is belched forth by huge soot-spewing furnaces.

The impact of such an environment on any who spend time there is surely great. Undoubtedly the unrelenting misery crushes the bodies and spirits of most creatures, but it is also true that only in the hottest forges are the truest blades formed. Without adversity there is seldom heroism. Without evil, good is meaningless. Thus, I feel it is just as important to record the history and culture of a place such as Phyrexia as it is of one more palatable, such as Llanowar. 

 

Entry 3: I have spent many hours contemplating the way in which the elves of Llanowar have managed to create and maintain a world unto themselves. Though they do have some contact with their neighbors, the Llanowar have done a remarkable job of keeping other peoples and cultures from influencing their home. Some scholars claim it is the tremendous size of the forest that has long protected the elves, but although the forest of Llanowar is, indeed, quite vast, it is not in any way unique in its size. There are other elves in other vast forests throughout Dominia who have been much more "infected" by neighboring cultures.

There are reportedly up to ten separate elven cultures (or "elfhames," as the Llanowar term them) contained within this sprawling forest realm. Each of the elfhames supports in its own way the elves' desire to keep their culture and traditions safe from outside influence. Some elves disappear into the trees and rarely, if ever, venture from their homeland. Others trade with the outside world of humans, minotaurs, etc., but maintain a strict belief, grounded in religion, that they must keep some distance from other peoples in order to retain their mystical connection to nature and their forest home.

This isolationist philosophy is taken to its most disturbing extremes by the Order of the Steel Leaf, a select cadre of Llanowar said to have been first brought together by the goddess-planeswalker Freyalise herself. The Steel Leaf are zealous in their efforts to maintain the purity of Llanowar. To this day, any non-Llanowar risk their lives when entering territory controlled by the Order, which has been known to kill intruders (not merely goblins) without trial. A few arrows and the unfortunate strangers' bodies soon "feed the forest."

The Steel Leaf have even been known to direct their isolationist zeal against other Llanowar, for they disapprove of any cooperation or "collusion" with non-elves. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that someday the Order might turn their swords and arrows on those of their own people whom they consider traitors for consorting with outsiders.

In their fervor to preserve their people, will the Steel Leaf be the Llanowar's savior--or its executioner? 

 

 Main Encyclopedia Entries: 

The Amber Prison: This magical golden stone fits easily in the palm of a large man's hand. Although small, the amber prison contains great power. When wielded by a mage, the prison is capable of trapping a single being (of any size) in its amber depths. The unfortunate prisoner remains in stasis for as long as he or she is trapped in the prison. Although the prisoner apparently retains some vague, dreamlike awareness, time has little if any affect on the physical body. Upon release, the prisoner appears exactly as he or she did at the moment of imprisonment. 

 Asmira, Holy Avenger: Since her youth, Asmira has possessed the gift of prophecy. Although in recent years this gift has grown stronger, even Asmira's early teachers -- Femeref priests -- recognized her ability. Detesting violence and loving all the peoples and lands of Jamuura equally with all her being, Asmira has recently become the reluctant head of the Femeref resistance to Kaervek's advance. Although many Femeref cities have fallen, Asmira remains a shining example of goodness and hope to all the people of Jamuura. Her devotion to Jamuura and her will to see this terrible war ended have forged Asmira into a Holy Warrior of unparalleled skill and power. 

Bassorah is one of the most established cities in all of Rabiah, found in the vast majority of the plane's incarnations. Bassorah boasts a tremendous variety of inhabitants (from bird maidens, to desert nomads, to gypsies) and a truly stupendous bazaar, known for the vast array of merchandise one can find there. Only the Bazaar of Baghdad is larger, and it does not have the same curious variety of goods.

Strange items from other planes somehow make their way into a Bassoran merchant's stall. Often even the merchant has no idea where he picked up an item. Such finds are often called "Shahrazad's gifts" due to their uncanny tendency to fall into the hands of those who most need them.

Bird Maidens: Although bird maidens are found in other lands of Dominia, Rabiah is almost assuredly their true home. A beautiful, flying race of humanoids, bird maidens, as their name implies, are always female. They make their sparse homes high in the craggy caves and outcroppings of rock created by the constant winds and updrafts of the deserts.

One of the more curious arts the bird maidens practice is wind sculpting. Talented maidens place diamond dust in sharply funneled bone tubes, which they tie to rock formations. As the wind blows the dust against the stone, the rock erodes faster than usual. Over the course of several--even tens of--years, the sculpture appears.

Bird maidens mate with humans, and the resulting offspring is either bird maiden if female, or human if male. The human children are given back to their community, while the females are raised by the maidens. All bird maiden births are twins, and all twins are of the same gender. Bird maidens hold their birth-sisters extremely dear, although they seldom feel true kinship to their other siblings. Legends abound about the male offspring's exceptional strength, luck, and magical talent, which is why any village finding abandoned twin boys will almost invariably adopt and honor them.

Brass Man: Clumsy and slow, the brass men are mechanical-magical constructs of limited intellect. Although phenomenally tough and capable of withstanding extremes of temperature and weather, the brass men suffer from a strange malaise. Any action they take seems to use extreme effort, and no brass man will function long without intermittent, regular infusions of mana. Is this a flaw in their initial construction, or in their very nature? Such questions are for planeswalkers and wise ones, and outside the scope of this encyclopedia. 

Breathstealers: The Breathstealers are an ancient assassin guild from Urborg known for their ability to kill with complete accuracy and utter silence. In fact, the Breathstealers pride themselves on being able to kill a man without waking his wife sleeping beside him. The Breathstealers are currently insinuating themselves into Suq'Ata society, and although silent, these killers may be an even greater danger to the noble Suq'Ata than Kaervek's armies. The Breathstealers can work minor magics, including controlling certain darling creatures, and they worship a terrible force known as the Spirit of the Night. It is the ultimate honor for a Breathstealer to sacrifice himself to become part of the Spirit of the Night made manifest. 

The Church of Angelfire is perhaps the most popular church in present-day Benalia. Upwards of twenty percent of Benalkin (a term used by Benalish to describe themselves, particularly within the city of Benalia) proclaim themselves to be worshippers of Angelfire.

The church is named for the legendary warrior Gabriel Angelfire, whose spirit, it is claimed, burns on to this day. The main altar of every Angelfire church glows with the peculiar red-green candlelight of this "spirit-flame." The candles are thought to represent Gabriel's indomitable will, and are almost impossible to snuff once lit. The candle-making formula is considered a religious secret.

A number of historians believe the Church of Angelfire arose to replace the somewhat similar Church of Serra, whose worship is condemned in Benalia. This condemnation dates back to the days of Benalia's forerunner, the Sheoltun Empire. The growing settlement of Epityr cast off the ruling chains of Sheoltun when a priest of Serra called forth the angels of Serra to free the town. This uprising was the straw that broke the empire's back, and the already fading Sheoltun soon after lost all control of eastern Terisiare.

City of Brass: This mystical city is a shining paean to pain and rage. Legend has it that the city was built long ago by an aggrieved planeswalker who wished solace from some great pain. Located somewhere on the farthest reaches of Rabiah (or perhaps even in the plane of Wildfire), the City of Brass constantly shimmers with heat, easily maintaining a temperature some 20 degrees warmer than the surrounding desert. Constructed entirely of stone and brass, the city's structures reflect the sun, shimmering blood-gold from sunup to sundown, and glowing dimly with heat radiance for hours after nightfall. Even the nearby mountains are coated in brass, and although snow and ice often forms in the peaks at night, it melts within an hour of sunrise.

Due to the unbearable conditions of the city only a few creatures make their home there. Djinns and efreets frequent the city, although brass men are by far the most numerous inhabitants. Other beings who attempt entry often do not survive the experience. Despite all this, the City of Brass attracts a number of magic-workers with its high concentration of readily available mana. Unfortunately, the mana burns as hot as molten brass, and no wizard may use it without pain.

Desert Nomads: Found in even the harshest of dunes, the desert nomads are ubiquitous throughout Rabiah. It is difficult to believe that at one time this hardy people was almost lost forever to a series of terrible plagues. Yet today's nomads are tougher than ever, and they are truly unequaled at moving unseen and unheard through desert wastes. The nomads claim that even a desert child of six years can survive a fortnight lost in the sands. Although this claim is undoubtedly an exaggeration, the nomads do possess unrivaled knowledge of the desert and its ways.

The dragon engines were first introduced to Dominaria by the renowned artificer Mishra. Powerful artifact creatures capable of destroying almost anything in their path, Mishra's dragon engines were nevertheless only pale shadows of the original Phyrexian creations. Phyrexian dragon engines are as intelligent and swift as organic dragons, not in the slightest hampered by their mechanical origins. Many of Dominaria's goblin tribes believe that carrying a gear or cog from a dragon engine will keep other dragons from attacking the bearer.