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Astral Scrying – The occult method by which the SPECTRE Corps allegedly monitored dissidents during the Reign of the Witch-King. Although some 190,000,000 citizens of the Imperium claimed to have suffered some form of Astral Scrying during the 29th Solar Revolution, recent studies have thrown the entire science of Astral Scrying into question with noted archmagi proving that it is impossible to scry inside the warded territory of someone’s home. In any case, even generous estimates of the capability of Scrying Thaumaturgy would require constant Astral Scrying, around the clock to produce those kind of numbers, by no less than 910,000 trained Necromancers. Since the Necromancy Directorate numbered only 451,000 at its recorded height the claims are clearly spurious. Astral Scrying paranoia was advanced during the 41st Imperial Summit, in which posters were disseminated reading “YOU ARE BEING WATCHED”. These, combined with the Hallucinogenic Flu Pandemic of that period led to a marked increase in the reported claims. These posters were later revealed to have been printed by Krieger and Paladin, whose other noted hoaxes are well documented elsewhere. During the SPECTRE Corps Inquest, Bonded Servitor Tai-Quek famously quipped “Astral Scrying? Perhaps we should blame the Eruption on Galos 7 on the Spectre Corps as well!” This remark so incensed Lohengrum that he censured Tai-Quek, making him the first victim of the Week of Bloody Gloves.

– Neil Deuteronomy

See also: SPECTRE Corps Inquest, Hallucinogenic Flu Pandemic.

Ape-Lords of Raxis, The – Recent investigations of the ruins of the Silver Citadel of Raxis-Prime have unveiled great details about the workings of pre-Domination Raxian society. The few uncovered written works, currently unavailable for critical review by edict of the Department of Protection and Wardings against Semiotic Hexing & Cursing, lend great strength to the views of the Imperial scholars this writer strives to follow. The evidence specifically suggests to this humble servant that some scholars and mythographers, whom I this servant shall refrain from naming publicaly, have perhaps oveemphasised both the technological achievements and the socio-political impact of the Ape-Lords of Raxis. Though it is clear the Ape-Lords did have access to alchemical and microchip technologies essential to their iconic quantum-computational axes and swords, the aforementioned evidence points to these devices being the work of the Mystorrian seers that did indeed previously inhabit the Gorran planetary system. Further, it must be revealed that the ‘unstoppable weapons’ were constructed by the humans these degenerate ape-men kept as slaves. Beyond these weapons, this insightful if insignificant personage suggests that the Ape-Lords were not the potent “third side” in the Crusade, but were instead naught but brutal and barbaric philistines. Their so-called principled stand against the Draconic Fleet at Syrius Plane was only to sate their apeish instinct for blood and plunder and the actual value of their 6000 troops is perhaps not as absolute as certain popular fiction would suggest. While Lord Kelpa of the Paladinate spoke glowingly of Ghloris, the Greatest, and his single combat against Frennick, the draconic Bonded Servitor, there is certainly compelling reasons to interpret this as [i]realpolitik[/i] in action and not an accurate representation of the days events. For this reason, among more pressing modern issues outside the scope of this text, it is clear that the beloved and wise Teijani Miamosi’s policy of denying citizenship to the Uplifted Primates of the Imperium is indeed wise and in tune with historicity.

– Yanasawa Aoi

See also: Mystorria; Syrius Plane, Battle of

Absolom – The fabled weapon of the Witch-King; the traditional oral retelling of the legends states that the Great Sword of Witchdom was forged in the Black Fires of Zureal by the Wyrding Monks of the Sea of Diamond Sands back in the mists of time when the Land was a blighted and windswept rock after the Deconstruction Assault by the Yevedian Empire. The Wyrding Monks forged the sword in the hopes that it’s mystical resonance would heal the land and summon a Champion worthy to remake it purple and whole again. While it is undeniable that the Witch-King rose and retook the land under a carpet of red rather than the more traditional purple, and furthermore, it is undeniable the impact he had upon the political state that lead up to the Glorious Teijani Imperium, the lack of evidence supporting the existence of Absolom is unnerving to any scholar worth their Sash of Learning. No physical records of the weapon exist in holo or engraving, and accounts detailing the physical aspects of the weapon are non-uniform at best. More likely the stories of Absolom were created to cement the Witch-King into the public consciousness as a People’s Champion by tying him into the sociologically immature legends of a Weapon of Power; stories that were common and rampant before the current enlightened age.

– Erasmus Vindicci

See also: Yevedian Empire, Wyrding Monks

Ark of Yrketh, The- Thaumaturgic war-engine deployed against Witch-King forces by the Brass and Copper Generals of the Ilusian armies. Notably less efficient in actually stopping the advancement of said forces than at causing large-scale destruction and long-term scarring of the land. Quite contrary to earlier texts describing its´ use as restricted to the Gorge of Thulos, later findings seem to point at it initially being used on the Fields of Kinresh Tor, more recently known as “The Scar of Sorrow” and/or “The Scarred Land”. Possibly due to the artifact´s larger-than-expected capacity for destruction, there are notably few eyewitness reports of its´ operation, leaving its´ actual mechanics of operation or effects up for speculation. Early reports of it being capable of severing the links between astral forms (“souls”) and their physical shells and/or permanently destroying said forms remain uncomfirmed, though the “Scarred Land” is notably one hundred percent free of residual spiritual intrusions (ie “ghosts”). Current whereabouts of the Ark of Yrketh is unknown. Speculations about the artifact being kept at the Four-Wind Pagoda in Vargheim remains uncomfirmed.

- Seraphine Mandeus

See also: Gorge of Thulos, Four-Wind Pagoda