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.
![[Encyclopedia Dominia]](https://web.archive.org/web/19990422081115im_/http://www.wizards.com/images/Banners/Banner_Encyclopedia.gif)
![[Taysir's Journal]](https://web.archive.org/web/19990505013701im_/http://www.wizards.com/images/Icons/Taysirs_Journal.gif){kind=icon}
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. 
