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Age of Wonders, The

The 'time before' or age of myth when the world was divided into princely realms ruled by, most notably, Bolobobnar the Delightful, Grubblemir the Silent, Wungo Bung the Lovière, Biscuity Biscuity, Ongo the Ready, Jingles the Merry, Penelope Goblinbegotten and Pumpkin the Large, who fought great battles both amongst themselves and against the Ancient Sorcerers. Strange creatures also roamed the wilderness at this time, such as Ograe and Musical Trolls. The Age of Wonders came to end with the collapse or abandonment of the princely realms and the visitation of the Owl People to the Ancient Sorcerers.

Angel­ica

A Guide who assisted the questing knight Peredur's Sister in entering the Diamond during the events of 12 PEOPLE OF FISH. They also feature alongside Marfisa in a Three-Headed Beer Goddess commercial.

Beans of Gold

Universal currency of the Oikoumene; small golden beans. Due to the latent functioning of artificial reproduction, money has no value in the Oikoumene and material scarcity is impossible. Instead items for 'sale' are priced arbitarily as a method of instantiating Bull-Princesses, spirit-entities that convey the stipulated amounts of Beans to Borkliss, a divine courtier of the sub-deity Fǣġe-Dionysus. In this way commercial locations, such as Mr. Wonderful's restaurants, can have magical potentiality.

Beauty Icon, The

A piece of religious technology, venerated and operated by the Sorcerers. It consists of a depiction by Giovanni Jean Brindesi (1826-1888) of a Yol Haseki, Çuhadar and Bölükağası of the Ottoman Empire, overlaid with the word ‘BEAUTY’. On auspicious occasions, an eye will appear on the surface of the Icon. This eye is a manifestation of the functioning of the Bells (it perceives and destroys).

Beer

Liquid form of the fundamental bread substance, that when poured into a glass under auspicious circumstances becomes a technology of earth-based creation/reproduction (see: Bell & Cup, The). An alternative to wine as a method for creating Worlds-Within-Worlds only known to Sphinxes, as taught to them by the Three-Headed Beer Goddess following their Choice within the Cave of Choices.

Beer (list of known labels)

Brineisfine, Bruggisbier, Dark Faun, Good Beer, Joy to Behold, Mnt Star, pY RA mid, Reelz Ale, Robobob, Rouge Slosh, Three-Headed Beer Goddess, Win, Yokel.

Beer Glass

A reproductive technology granting knowledge of earth-based creation; a method of creation achieved through emanation of bread substance. See: Bell & Cup, The.

Bell

Destruction, an unproductive technology. See: Bell & Cup, The.

Bell & Cup, The

Technologies that grant calcified knowledge of reproduction and unproduction; the Bell destroys while the Cup-Goblet creates (the Bell is an inversion of the Cup). Both are methods of affecting narrative change (magic-working) without needing advanced knowledge (other than that of the technologies' use) or recourse to a spirit-entity.

Bells

Bells are primarily used by Sorcerers to rip portals, thereby observing and influencing the world, and Gardeners to maintain the form of the Tree. Major repositories of Bells can be found in the Pyramids of the Sorcerers and in the clocktower of the Village of Brug Night. Bells are associated with the sub-deity Lord Bruggis.

Cups

Cups are used to instantiate ground (Worlds-Within-Worlds), objects and figures (people). The creation of a Cup involves the pouring of a hypostatic substance, usually either wine or beer, into a vessel under auspicious circumstances. The Tree, as appearance emanator, is responsible for the Cup's functioning and suitable receptacles are often found buried near its roots. Worlds-Within-Worlds created by Wine Glasses are composed of wine-substance emanation (water) and are suspended above primordial waters, while those created by the Beer Glass are composed of bread substance emanation and are buried underground, as with the Cave of Choices. Use of the Beer Glass is only known and practiced by Sphinxes. Cups are associated with the sub-deities Fǣġe-Dionysus and Three-Headed Beer Goddess.

Icosahedrons

An Icosahedron is an object made of Grollid substance. Because Grollid substance contains the potential to both create (through its emanation from the Tree) and erase (or rather replace, through partial instantiation of Biggis), it is possible to combine a Bell with a Wine or Beer Glass to create an Icosahedron, as the Punchinelli did in THE STARS GO OUT. The Icosahedron can grant the knowledge required to open doors between the Oikoumene and Negative Space. Any use of an Icosahedron does not erase cleanly, as would a Bell, but instead replaces parts of the world with Biggis particulates (through Grollid fission). This can have strange effects. Icosahedrons are associated with the sub-deity Grollace.

Bert­rand

A notable Sorcerer. See: Wardary, The Wizard.

Biggis

The largest possible object. Biggis may be found inside the Windmills upon the back of Forgotten-Name Creatures, the particles that make up Grollid substance. Instantiation of parts of Biggis beyond the Windmill is the process that gives Grollid substance its destructive/displacing property.

Bis­cuity Bis­cuity

A ruler during the Age of Wonders, associated with waterfowl and often depicted with a goose's head. Biscuity Biscuity is the creator of Magic Cards.

Bolo­bobnar Comp­uters

A ubiquitous brand of computers, found throughout the Oikoumene. Mr. Wonderful's Automated Region Service and the Ranger communication terminal in the Forest, for example, are made by Bolobobnar Computers, as are BOLOfone mobile telephones and BOLODisc laser-disc devices. Bolobobnar Computers was founded in Bugworth Fug during the Age of Wonders by famous orc prince, Bolobobnar the Delightful.

Bolo­bobnar the Delight­ful

A famous orc prince, lord of the Goblin-city Bugworth Fug. They fought with, and were ultimately defeated by, Wungo Bung the Lovière during the Age of Wonders. Bolobobnar is the founder of Bolobobnar Computers.

Brug Night

A festival held by the Pear People to honour the sub-deity Lord Bruggis. Brug Night is held at some point in late May/early April in the Village of Brug Night, near the Forest. It is on Brug Night that Bruggis's influence upon the Pear People; and through them thus the world at large; is at its height. In THE STARS GO OUT, the Pyramid at the centre of the Ziggurat City was sundered on Brug Night, the Sorcerers dwelling within were cast out and imprisoned in the Pear Hotel, their bodies used in Brug Night magicks to assist in the Punchinelli's opening of a portal into Negative Space.

Brug Night, The Village of

Decaying fastness of the Pear People, wherein they hold their Brug Night celebrations. The Village is located close to the Forest and at the time of THE STARS GO OUT consisted of three buildings; a house with a clocktower and two ruined structures; plus a crudely fashioned totem of Lord Bruggis. The clocktower contained Bells that allowed the Pear People to create portals. By the time of LITTLE NODULES: PART 1 only the fountain and the totem remain. The Village is also the location of the Village Store.

Bruggis, Lord

Sub-deity associated with Negative Space, the Bell and the destructive functioning of Grollid substance. Enemy of Sorcerers. The Pear People say of Bruggis: “the stars go out, give thanks to Bruggis,” which is to suggest that they believe that it swallows the stars and brings about the flooding of the Oikoumene by the Real Ocean, life-blood of plants. In depictions of Bruggis; found as totems, posters and paintings in the Village of Brug Night, the Pear Hotel and the Ziggurat City; it has a large round head, small moustachioed face and prominent angry eyebrows, atop its head is often found the phrase “human or animal”, a question asked of Grollace.

Bug­worth Fug

The lost capital Goblin-city of Bolobobnar the Delightful, once a centre of culture and learning before being destroyed by Wungo Bung the Lovière.

Bull-Prince­sses

Spirit-entities associated with Beans of Gold, the universal currency of the Oikoumene. Bull-Princesses are depicted as horned cow-like beings, wearing elaborately decorated armour, cowbells around their necks and carrying large swords, often zweihanders. They convey Beans of Gold up a mountain of hats and squares to the spirit-entity Borkliss--an avid collector of both hats and squares--associated with the Fǣġe-Dionysus, sub-deity of Wine substance. Bull-Princesses are held in particular regard by insect-like people, who are often depicted alongside them. Insect-like people indentify three principle Princesses that they especially revere; Sabri, Buffo and Milde. Due to their dual association with both Fǣġe-Dionysus (creation) and Bells (uncreation), Bull-Princesses are also sometimes linked to Grollace.

Association with commercial space

Money is worthless in the Oikoumene as objects can be infinitely reproduced, instead items for 'sale' may be priced to invoke the image of Beans of Gold and therefore a sub-sub-fictional financial transaction. This in turn implies the ministrations of Bull-Princesses, through whose location in the present→future may allow communion with the Worlding Witch and consequent narrative change. In this way, while no monetary transaction will ever take place in shops, restaurants, etc., the appearance of such an intent creates a place of magic potential.

Card-Giver

Communication technology. A disembodied head, floating (as in IN THE SUBURBS) or otherwise (as in OCEANPRINCE), that may either speak audibly or through the apparition of Magic Cards. Once presented, each card has a specific meaning, a set of them forming an utterance; thus a Card-Giver can be a vital device if one cannot speak or cannot hear. Since it has a face, it is possible also for the Card-Giver to have a mind of its own (see: Person) and to speak of its own accord. The Card-Giver in OCEANPRINCE is exclusively this way inclined, declaring for example “Pear Tart For All!” of its own volition.

Cave of Choices, The

A magical World-Within-a-World, created using the Beer Glass by the Three-Headed Beer Goddess. It is held as sacred by Sphinxes, who, when first encountering the Cave, were offered all of the Choices. Upon choosing beer, they were taught the knowledge of creating it from Bread substance and of using it to fashion Beer Glasses. The entrance to the Cave of Choices is located in a cliff-face in Torte and is only accessible in the Sphinxes' festival month of February. It was found by Peredur and Pyrrha with the aid of the Pear Tart Person and the Wizard Wardary in LITTLE NODULES: PART 1.

Choice­master, The

The first Sphinx, who became the Three-Headed Beer Goddess through their knowledge of the Beer Glass. In their avatar present-body, they present Choices to those entering the Cave of Choices. They taught their knowledge of the Beer Glass to the Sphinxes, who chose such within the Cave.

Ciné

A cinema. See: Pear Cinema.

Circles, Flash­ing

A technology of knowledge-swapping a person, typically used to turn Punchinelli into autonomous persons by separating individuals from the hive-mind, as seen at the end of 12 PEOPLE OF FISH and at Henry's Hotel in LITTLE NODULES: PART 1.

Cloister, The

A microcosm/diagram of the Oikoumene and thus an important place for Gardeners and the more auspicious of the locations of the Tree. It is the site of two sealed doors leading beyond the bounds of the Oikoumene into Negative Space. The Cloister does not necessarily have a fixed location, but in THE STARS GO OUT it was located on an island close to the Distant City, after having been awhile located inside the Diamond in 12 PEOPLE OF FISH where it briefly contained a hedge maze.

Demi-­Spirits

A half-deity or hero. A person possessed of, and thereby transformed by, extraordinary knowledge. As past→present knowledge will affect the present-body and thereby present→future movement, a demi-spirit often possesses wings upon their present-body granting advanced and occult movement. Notable demi-spirits include: Pyrrha, the Owl People, the Choicemaster, Marie.

Dia­mond, The

A mountain known as Mount Fish, venerated in the Village of Fish to whose inhabitants it may appear in avatar form at auspicious occasions. The Diamond is a storage technology, capable of entrapping/storing places and temporalities in an a priori space. The interior of the Diamond is occasionally accessible as concrete space in the area demarcated by its associated Gateposts (encompassing a region in and around the Village of Fish). At one point (12 PEOPLE OF FISH) the Cloister and the Tree were temporarily relocated to the Diamond. For some time it was hoped by the People of Fish that the Diamond would prevent Brug Night and the subsequent fall of the Ziggurat City Sorcerer Pyramid.

Distant City, The

A city created by the Punchinelli, its name derives from its location in a priori space and therefore the inability of any person to approach its bounds. The city sits upon a lake or ocean, suggesting that it is beyond the rim of a World-Within-a-World created through the use of a Wine Glass. The Cloister and the ruins of the Magical Kitchen were drawn into the orbit of the city during the events of THE STARS GO OUT.

Duck & the Pyra­mid, The

A pair of power. Influential when drawn together from a Magic Card deck, probably due to the association of ducks with Biscuity Biscuity.

Edward

A notable Tourist and apprentice to the Wizard Wardary. They also work at a drive-through branch of Mr. Wonderful's fast food restaurant, where they are unhappy. They were present at the discovery of the New Species and at the creation of the Punchinelli.

EXCEL­LENT! Apart­ments

An apartment building in Torte, situated opposite Henry's Hotel and at the terminus of the principle road. Angelica lives on the second floor, one of seemingly only two other residents. They were visited at the Apartments by Peredur's Sister during the events of 12 PEOPLE OF FISH.

Fish, Mount

A conical mountain located at the centre of the Village of Fish. The present-form of the Diamond.

Fish, The Village of

A suburb of the Ziggurat City, ranged around the base of a conical mountain (Mount Fish) and surrounded by fogbound moorland. It is notable as the location of the Diamond and as the dwelling-place of the twelve People of Fish.

Fish People

Twelve inhabitants of the Village of Fish who venerate and utilise the Diamond, identifiable by their cowls designed to look like fish heads. They went on to form the Knights of the Table Round under the errant knight Peredur following the failure of the Diamond to prevent the fall of the Ziggurat City Pyramid.

Fish Ships

Mode of transport particular to the Knights of the Table Round.

Forest, The

A rhizomatic pine forest that grows wherever there are ruins, its roots nourished by the ingress of the Real Ocean. As scar tissue, transitional regrowth after destruction (damage to Oikoumene), the Forest is associated with the Cup (as are all trees, including the Tree). Due to its size and unmoored spatiality, only small parts of the Forest are ever concretely instantiated and accessible to people. However, there is a massing of Forest-space located near to the Village of Brug Night that encompasses ruined structures perhaps related to the origin of the Sorcerers (see: Ancient Sorcerers), such as the 'Sorcerers' Fountain', alongside more recent facilities for tourism, such as a cafe and miniature railway.

Forest Rangers

Guardians of the Forest. Forest Rangers, or Fore-Strangers, are to the Forest as Gardeners are to the Tree. Unlike Gardeners, however, Forest Rangers use Wine Glasses rather than Bells. When within the boundaries of realised Forest-space, Rangers are capable of functioning as Guides, as seen in THE STARS GO OUT. They are friends with animal-like peoples, such as Sphinxes.

Foun­tain, The Sorcerers'

A fountain located in the Forest, on auspicious occasions it is capable of turning water back into wine for use in creating Wine Glasses. The Fountain is carved to resemble the mask of a Sorcerer, and is referred to by a Sorcerer in THE STARS GO OUT as their “birthplace,” suggesting that it, and the various other ruins found in that area of the Forest, are the remnants of Ancient Sorcerer constructions.

Frog People

Large green frogs with human-like faces. Mysterious people, possibly friends or associates of the Wizard Wardary.

Gard­eners

Guardians of the Oikoumene, Gardeners act to ensure that the world does not entropically collapse, flooded by the Real Ocean. They achieve this by intervening, pruning and recording (gazing), work aided by, and associated with, their use of Bells. As part of their interventionist function, Gardeners may act as Guides, as done gently (along with recording) by the Gardener in THE STARS GO OUT. The care of the Tree, as emanator of positive space, is of extreme importance to Gardeners. Occasionally some Gardeners may become reclusive, turning to the maintainance of smaller land-parcels; often a World-Within-a-World created by themselves; becoming Hermetic Gardeners.

Gard­eners, Herm­etic

Gardeners who concern themselves no longer with the Tree and the Oikoumene as a whole, instead tending to small parcels of land, usually a private World-Within-a-World created by themselves. Unlike regular Gardeners, Hermetic Gardeners use Wine Glasses over Bells. Hermetic Gardeners are responsible for the creation of various new plant-like peoples, such as the Punchinelli and the Potato People. Notable Hermetic Gardeners include the Ocean Princess and the Potato Friend.

Gate­posts

Grounding agents of the Diamond, of which there are probably four, located at equal distances from the mountain at the centre of the Village of Fish (four were photographed by Peredur's Sister in 12 PEOPLE OF FISH). They both conduct and mark the borders of the Diamond's influence, wherein the Diamond's avatar may appear. In 12 PEOPLE OF FISH, Peredur's Sister and Angelica used reproductions of the Gateposts to enter the Diamond artificially.

Gibbon Guide, The

A Gibbon who assisted the Wizard Wardary and their Courier in their escape from the Pear Hotel, guiding them along the train network to Mount, a location of the Magical Kitchen. The Gibbon Guide went on to return to the Gibbonhome in a human-like form.

Gibbon Mart

Supermarket chain. Probably unrelated to Gibbons.

Gibbon Woman, The Wise

A Gibbon in human-like shape. They perform divination with dice and act as a Guide to the Searcher of the Magical Kitchen in KITCHENDREAM.

Gibbon­home

An a priori space, created either for or by the Gibbons, 'located' beyond the top of the Tree. Only Gibbons (and, it must be assumed, Owls) know how to get there (only Gibbons can climb the Tree). Once in the Gibbonhome, Gibbons no longer 'exist' as part of the Oikoumene's narrative flow.

Gibbons

Soft and spry animal-like people, fond of train travel and inclined to act as Guides due to their knowledge and motion that allows them to climb the Tree and enter through the canopy into an a priori space, the Gibbonhome. Gibbons can change their present-body into a human-like form, making it a possibility that all who are Guides (of human-like appearance) are actually Gibbons as well.

Grollid Sub­stance

The rarest of the three hypostatic substances that compose the Oikoumene; an unsettling, unwholesome and gasseous substance associated with the sub-deity Grollace and its courtiers, Clumpiss and Farmhand. Uniquely, Grollid substance can both create (through its emanation from the Tree) and destroy (by displacing parts of the world through partial instantiation of Biggis), reflecting the dual nature ('human or animal') of Grollace itself.

Composition

Unlike the other two substances--bread and wine--Grollid substance is composed of sub-unitary particles; microscopic, insect-like beings of long-forgotten name. Upon the back of each such entity is a Windmill, through which Biggis is accessible.

Guides

Entities conducting guidance, usually to Tourists. Notable Guides include: Angelica, Pyrrha (after becoming a demi-spirit), the Gibbon Guide, Marie, the Wizard Wardary.

Henry

Very mysterious entity, proprietor of Henry's Hotel and formed of the Magi of Henry. Responsible for the evolution of the Potato People into the Pear People through teaching them the knowledge of hotels.

Henry, Magi of

Three confidants, brought together by shared and obscure ambitions, who together are the entity Henry. The Magi comprise a Sorcerer, a Gibbon and the Ocean Prince (who attends their meetings through their Avatar), together they run Henry's Hotel. The Magi engineered the evolution of the Potato People into the Pear People.

Henry's Hotel

A famous seaside hotel, run by Henry. It is located in Torte, a resort World-Within-a-World created by Pyrrha in LITTLE NODULES: PART 1.

Icosa­hedron

An object made of Grollid substance. An Icosahedron is a technology granting the knowledge to open doors between the Oikoumene and Negative Space. See: Bell & Cup, The.

Juicy Juice

Juice.

Knigh­trees

A hillock notable as the location of a Sphinx communication terminal and a dock for aircraft such as Fish Ships. The Wizard Wardary visited here with their Valet in LITTLE NODULES: PART 1 in order to send a postcard to the Pear Tart Person.

Knights, Questing

Knights errant; Tourists.

Knights of the Table Round, Safe­house of the

Peredur's house and fastness of the Knights of the Table Round. It is the foremost meeting-place of the Knights and also the location of their Round Table.

Knights of the Table Round, The

A group comprised of the twelve People of Fish--reconfigured for a questing, touristic role beyond their native Village of Fish and the influence of its Diamond--plus the demi-spirit Pyrrha. They wear circular white masks with black circles at their centre, representative of the Round Table around which they gather in Peredur's bungalow. These masks also have anti-surveillance properties, disrupting the view of anyone observing a Knight through a Bell-made portal. They venerate the Owl People and seek their knowledge. Notable members include: Peredur, Marfisa, Pyrrha. The Wizard Wardary has assisted them on occasion.

Group chat

The Knights maintain an ongoing group chat through the BOLOfone messaging app, accessible from both computers and mobile telephones. Each member uses an abbreviation of their name and an animal profile picture, those which are currently known are listed below:

gris, frog: Grifles.

hecdmr, rabbit: Hecate de Maris.

perdur, badger: Peredur.

pinr, cat: Pellinore.

??, stoat: Pyrrha.

Know­ledge

Knowledge of a thing allows a greater degree of interaction with that thing. Anything is feasible in an artificial, immaterial world, but access requires knowledge. A holder of greater knowledge knows how to use a greater variety of systems to a greater degree of functionality. This may for example be the knowledge of using Bells that is possessed by the Sorcerers, or the knowledge of achieving advanced forms of movement that is possessed by demi-spirits. Knowledge is often calcified into functional objects (technologies) that renders it accessible to a user. Application of knowledge is in essence magic-working.

Travel

Knowledge of/about movement or action preordains its execution. In the case of travel through the Oikoumene (the world)--more precisely, instantiations of the Oikoumene over time--demi-spirits may move about effortlessly while others require the knowledge to do so, given to them through guidance (see: Guides) or technologies (such as trains, Bells, the Nodal Network, etc.).

Live-Action

Roiling waveforms of Negative Space, extremely objective.

Lobster, The

Owner of a seedy store, is also the guardian of a portal/backdoor into the Pear Hotel as used by the Courier of the Wizard Wardary in PEARHOTELSPIRAL.

Magic/­Narra­tive

Within the Oikoumene there is no material and no inherent material laws,* instead things function through a magical process, a subjective narrative ('as we agree with the Worlding Witch, things just happen', or more precisely 'as we agree with the Worlding Witch, things just happen over time'). For subjects/figures, interaction with, and influence in, the way in which the world unfurls into the future must be achieved through knowledge (comprehension of a ritual or 'magical working' (thus a narrative change)), either directly held or accessed through a technical object (such as a Bell or Cup) or spirit entity communication (embodiment through an image):

*Reliable practice of science is impossible within the Oikoumene.

Magical Kit­chen, The

An ancient, proprietary World-Within-a-World accessible/known only to Owls, Sorcerers and Gibbons, although it was for awhile a shrine for the Punchinelli. It is one of the locations of the Tree and a microcosm of the whole Oikoumene.

Magical Kit­chen, Search­er of the

Tourist who searched in vain for the Magical Kitchen in KITCHENDREAM. They wear a special hat that allows them to open and jump though portals.

Marfisa

A Person of Fish and subsequent member of the Knights of the Table Round, casting off their Diamond-shaped fish-mask during IN THE SUBURBS. Marfisa appeared alongside Angelica's in a Three-Headed Beer Goddess commercial in LITTLE NODULES: PART 1.

Marie

A human-like demi-spirit-ish entity who is a friend and Guide to Edward in KITCHENDREAM. They have antlers, a stubby tail and wear a skirt made out of leaves, perhaps associating them with animal-like peoples and the Forest. They are fond of mayonnaise (which they can reproduce) and Pear Tart. They encouraged the Searcher of the Magical Kitchen to give up their quest to find the Magical Kitchen by declaring: “the Magical Kitchen does not exist, therefore you cannot find it,” suggesting that the Kitchen is a proprietary World-Within-a-World, accessible only to those with knowledge of it.

Masks

Technology used to assign faces. Used by various groups to assist in forming a single entity with a consensual purpose out of many individuals (the adopting of one present-body by a multitude). Can also be used to give faces to inanimate objects, thereby creating people.

Matter

Within the Oikoumene there is no physical matter, only appearance. Such appearance emanates from hypostatic substances within a magical substrate (narrative).

Money

See: Beans of Gold.

Mount

World-Within-a-World visited via train by the Wizard Wardary, the Courier and the Gibbon Guide in PEARHOTELSPIRAL. At Mount is a train station and a single house, the house contains a method of reaching the Magical Kitchen guarded by a Sorcerer.

Mr. Wonder­ful's Rest­aurant

A fast food restaurant chain, branches can be found throughout the Oikoumene. Mr. Wonderful's restaurants have an especially magical atmosphere (from the effect of Beans of Gold) and thus are places where unexpected events and revelations may take place. This happens, for example, to Edward in KITCHENDREAM and Peredur's Sister in 12 PEOPLE OF FISH.

Negative Space

Beyond the sub-created reality of the Oikoumene. Entropic and scientific live-action. It is accessible through cracks/damage in the Oikoumene, through a pair of sealed doors in outer wall of the Cloister and at the roots of the Tree as the Real Ocean.

New Species, The

A mysterious entity, created by the Beauty Icon from the body of a Sorcerer. It was observed by Edward, the Wizard Wardary and the Wizard Wardary (present in duplicate) in PEARHOTELSPIRAL. Wardary remarks of it: “it is an honour to be present at the discovery of a new species.” Pyrrha is also described as a “new species” by a Card-Giver in OCEANPRINCE, perhaps referring to their newly attained existence as a demi-spirit.

Nodal Net­work

A network used by the Punchinelli to portal-travel without immediate access to Bells. Each node is a receptacle designed to fit a Punchinello's hand, upon the insertion of which the node projects a flesh-map of possible destinations; the locations of further nodes in the network. It is likely the network is a pre-existing system, 'tunnelled' out by a group with advanced knowledge of Bell use (possibly Gardeners) before being revealed to the Punchinelli (possibly by their creator, the Gardener Ocean Princess) or discovered by them independently. Used by a Punchinello in THE STARS GO OUT to travel from an instance of the Forest to the Village of Brug Night.

Ocean, The Real

Endless live-action ocean. A/the sea of Negative Space. It is located outside the Oikoumene, at the roots of the Tree and the Forest (the connection and balance between negative and positive space), to which it provides nourishment. The Ocean surrounds the Pear Hotel, making escape for those imprisoned there extremely treacherous. It is the dwelling-place of the Ocean Prince and the location of their underwater laboratory, the live-action nature of the Ocean allowing the Prince's practice of science. The floodwaters of the Ocean are held back from engulfing postive space by the work of Gardeners.

Ocean Prince, The

The only known scientist, inhabitant of the Real Ocean--a live-action, negative sea beyond the Oikoumene--from where they study bacteria in an underwater laboratory, a pursuit only possible in live-action. They observed the events of OCEANPRINCE, possibly transmitting the knowledge that made the Tourist Pyrrha into a demi-spirit. The Ocean Prince was once a Gardener who fell tragically out of the Oikoumene by digging too deeply at the roots of the Tree (this thus being the reason for the Tree's damaged state when taken under the protection of the Diamond in 12 PEOPLE OF FISH). They are the sibling of the Ocean Princess and, through an avatar body, a Magus of Henry.

Ocean Prince, Avatar of the

A puppet body through which the Ocean Prince can communicate and interact with the Oikoumene and their fellow Magi of Henry while the Prince themself remains trapped outside in the Real Ocean. The Prince interacts with their puppet through an Icosahedron-tunnelled portal, mounted on its back.

Ocean Prin­cess, The

A notable Hermetic Gardener. They dwell at the Palazzo, a defensive proprietary World-Within-a-World, created using the Wine Glass. They are the sibling of the Ocean Prince and associated with the Wizard Wardary, once providing safe haven to the Wizard's apprentice Edward. They are the creator of the plant-like, hive-minded Punchinelli, a plant-like people they brought into being at the end of OCEANPRINCE.

Oikou­mene, Micro­cosms of the

A place (or in the exceptional case of the Pear Tart Person, an entity) that is a fulcrum of the entire world, a privileged point at which all the Oikoumene may be accessed at once as a kind of tangible metaphor or surface. Microcosms of the Oikoumene include the Cloister, the Magical Kitchen (both being locations of the Tree), all pear tarts and the Pear Tart Person.

Oikou­mene, The

The animated film-image; a habitable, positive world; held in equilibrium with Negative Space (live-action, the Real Ocean) by the Tree and the work of the Gardeners. The Oikoumene also exists in microcosm as the Cloister, as the Magical Kitchen (both being locations of the Tree), as any pear tart and as the Pear Tart Person. The Oikoumene is a fictional phenomenological sub-creation, composed of appearance rather than matter. Narrative functions through subjective magical processes rather than through physical laws. Things (figures and grounds) within the Oikoumene (the film image) are composed of either one of three hypostatic substances--wine, bread or Grollid substance--emanated from the Tree.

Regions of the Oikou­mene

The Oikoumene is divided into three parts, each associated with aspects of a person and sections of the Tree. These regions are the Roots (associated with knowledge, inscription, past), Userspace/Userland (associated with body/trunk, the visible, present) and the Canopy (associated with action, movement, future):

Types of space within the Oikou­mene

Space within the Oikoumene consists of ground with objects. The Oikoumene can exist as two types of space, often in combination. 'Concrete space' is made up of fully-realised ground and objects, these exist at their intended (magically negotiated) level of detail and functionality. Subjects/people are able to move through and within this space, as well as interacting with objects there. 'A priori space' is not fully-realised and therefore cannot possess a clear delineation between objects and ground. Subjects cannot enact narrative nor move through a priori space and are 'lost' to the narrative functioning of the world (will lose their present-body) if/when they enter it (a Gibbon entering the Gibbonhome, for example). Often, a priori space exists in the film-image as space too large to fully realise, such as the regions of the Forest that extend 'off-worlds' or the procedurally generated Ziggurat City that does not exist with enough detail to upscale into a liveable environment.

Owl Demi­urge, The

The principal sub-deity. Associated with creation, narrative, the Tree and Owl People. See: Worlding Witch, The.

Owl People

Mysterious, animal-like demi-spirits, present-bodied instances of the Worlding Witch itself. Owls are the most knowledgeable of all peoples, and may sometimes act as Guides, albeit rarely and indirectly. This guidance is usually transmitted through the exchange of the artifact Young Woman with a Pink. They gifted the knowledge of Bell-working to the Ancient Sorcerers at the close of the Age of Wonders and to Peredur, through the screening of the film To Celebrate Memory 7: Contact! at the Pear Cinema in IN THE SUBURBS.

Pal­azzo, The

A proprietary World-Within-a-World created by and home to the Ocean Princess. As the name suggests, primarily the Palazzo is an Italianate palace, with terracotta roofs, whitewashed walls and a tiered garden featuring statuary and cypress trees. This palace is built into a rocky island surrounded by water (as is typical of worlds created by the Wine Glass). The Palazzo may be visited by those with knowledge of it, such as the Wizard Wardary in OCEANPRINCE.

Pan

A small city in which Pyrrha lived before becoming a demi-spirit, also visited by the Wizard Wardary and their Courier with a Card-Giver in OCEANPRINCE. Most notable civic feature is a ruined Pyramid, repurposed as an outdoor market.

Pan Public Library

A repository of books (knowledge) located on the outskirts of Pan. Visited by Pyrrha in OCEANPRINCE.

Pear

Train station from which the Wizard Wardary and their Courier embarked after escaping the Pear Hotel in PEARHOTELSPIRAL.

Pear Cine­ma

A cinema that has become part of the Pear Hotel, relocated by the Pear People to the Real Ocean. The cinema has an accompanying bar. In IN THE SUBURBS, the film To Celebrate Memory 7: Contact! was shown in the Pear Cinema to Peredur, gifting them with the knowledge of Bell-working.

Pear Hotel

A proprietary World-Within-a-World owned by the Pear People and used to imprison their enemies, mainly Sorcerers. It is located in the Real Ocean and--maybe due to its being outside of the Oikoumene and hermetically sealed--experiences time in a cyclical, spiralling fashion. The Wizard Wardary was taken prisoner and sent to the hotel during Brug Night in THE STARS GO OUT, though they later would escape with the help of their Courier in PEARHOTELSPIRAL.

Pear People

A plant-like people who evolved from Potatoes through the influence of Henry's hotel-knowledge. They desire the flooding of the Oikoumene so that they may taste the Real Ocean, a desire they share with other plant-like people, such as the Punchinelli. The Pear People worship the Lord Bruggis, to which they give thanks every hallowed Brug Night at their rotting fastness, the Village of Brug Night.

Pear Tart

“Pear Tart For All!” Baked good venerated by all entities except Pear People. The first batch was probably baked in the Magical Kitchen. All Pear Tarts are microcosms of the Oikoumene.

Pear Tart Person

A microcosm of the Oikoumene (a Pear Tart) and a person simultaneously. During the events of LITTLE NODULES: PART 1, the Pear Tart Person's form was created by the Knights of the Table Round from the bodies of decomposing Pear People and brought to the Cave of Choices by the Knights Peredur and Pyrrha. Within the Cave, the Pear Tart Person was given Choices by the Choicemaster.

Pere­dur

Tourist and principal member of the Knights of the Table Round (and therefore perhaps also a Person of Fish). Peredur leads the Knights, having been given preliminary knowledge of Bells by the Owl People themselves through the medium of the film To Celebrate Memory 7: Contact!. During the events of LITTLE NODULES: PART 1, Peredur and Pyrrha created the Pear Tart Person and brought them into the Cave of Choices.

Pere­dur's House

See: Knights of the Table Round, Safehouse of the.

Pere­dur's Sister

Tourist who, in 12 PEOPLE OF FISH, accompanied their Guide, Angelica, into the Diamond through the photographing (see: Reproduction, Artificial) of the Diamond's Gateposts. It is unclear whether they are associated with Peredur.

Person

A subject or figure, as opposed to an object or ground. Any one thing (subject or object) within the Oikoumene is a threefold time-image composite, made up of present body (appearance, face-mask, aesthetic quality), present→future movement (spirit, animation, travel) and past→present knowledge (soul, inscribed memory, intelligence that begets future movement). These components influence each other in chronological order (the order in which they are emanated from the Tree), so knowledge may affect appearance, appearance may affect movement. An object with a face/eye is always a subject/figure, the eye granting a 'gaze' (narrative agency); the boundary between object and subject is therefore thin. Masks can be attached onto objects, transforming them into figures through a reproductive process, such as the use of a Cup.

Potato Friend, The

A Hermetic Gardener who lives on a small island within their own proprietary World-Within-a-World, seen at the beginning of OCEANPRINCE. They created the Potato People by attaching masks onto large potatoes.

Potato People

Lumpen plant-like people created by the Potato Friend at the beginning of OCEANPRINCE. The majority of Potatoes' faces have come unstuck over time. The Pear People evolved from the Potato People through knowledge of hotels granted to them by Henry.

Punch­inelli

Hive-minded, plant-like people created by the Ocean Princess in the gardens of the Palazzo at the end of OCEANPRINCE. Learning the knowledge of working with Wine Glasses (possibly from the Ocean Princess), they created the Distant City and associated World-Within-World, wherein the Magical Kitchen was for a time located. Like many plant-like people (e.g. the Pear People), the Punchinelli desire to sup upon the delicious waters of the Real Ocean; a pleasure their kin, the Tree and the Forest, enjoy. Such desire led them to attempt entry into Negative Space through the creation of an Icosahedron during the events of THE STARS GO OUT. Individual Punchinelli may be separated from the hive through the use of a technical object, the Flashing Circle, as seen in 12 PEOPLE OF FISH.

Pyra­mids

The massive strongholds of the Sorcerers, found often at population-centres (the Ziggurat City being an exception). From their Pyramids, the Sorcerers work their Bells; observing and intervening in the world outside. Many Pyramids lie in ruins; most notably the Pyramid of the Ziggurat City, which was sundered by Pear People in THE STARS GO OUT.

Pyrrha

A Tourist who acquired knowledge by both visiting Pan Public Library and listening to a cassette tape containing the Ocean Prince's discoveries in OCEANPRINCE. This knowledge made them a demi-spirit, capable of advanced movement and use of both the Bell and the Cup. They have either blonde or pink hair and a pair of fleshly wings that often cause them considerable pain.

Exploits as Guide to the Knights of the Table Round

Pyrrha became a member of the Knights of the Table Round through their association with the Knights' principle member, Peredur. Pyrrha acts as a Guide and Wine Glass user to the Knights. In LITTLE NODULES: PART 1, they assisted Peredur in the creation of both the Pear Tart Person and the World-Within-a-World Torte (within which is an entrance to the Cave of Choices), acts culminating in the bringing of the Pear Tart Person into the Cave.

Repro­duction, Arti­ficial

Any image within the Oikoumene is real because the world itself is already an artificial and immaterial sub-creation. Any reproduction is therefore as real as (or no more real than) its 'original'; any new production or creation is an immediate part of the existing world. Knowledge of this function to achieve things such as the creation of Worlds-Within-Worlds, new peoples and spirit-entity communication can be given by the Cup, a reproductive technology. Reproduction's inverse is unproduction.

Science

Science--empirical observation of repeatable material phenomena(-ish)--is only possible in the objective, material-live-action Real Ocean, outside the Oikoumene. The Oikoumene is a sub-created and immaterial fiction and instead relies on magic to achieve said phenomena. The Ocean Prince, who necessarily lives in the Real Ocean, is the only known practitioner of science.

Space

See: Oikoumene, The.

Sorc­erers

A group indentifiable by their red robes and golden masks and association with the Magical Kitchen, who gained great knowledge of Bells from the Owl People at the close of the Age of Wonders (pre-contact Sorcerers are known as the Ancient Sorcerers). The Sorcerers' masks are adorned on the inside with lengthy spikes designed to puncture their eyesockets. They instead use Bells housed in monolithic Pyramids to provide far-reaching, super-vision.*

*Not all Sorcerers do this; the Wizard Wardary, for example, leads a extro-pyramidic and eye-retaining existence as a nomadic Guide.

Sorc­erers, Anc­ient

Sorcerers as they existed during the Age of Wonders, before their contact with the Owl People and before receiving their knowledge of Bells. It is possible the ruins found in the Forest are remains of Ancient Sorcerer structures. Ancient Sorcerers sought sole influence over the Magical Kitchen.

Sphinx, The First

See: Choicemaster, The.

Sph­inxes

Secretive animal-like people who dwell in subject-accessible regions of the Forest, usually close to magical places. Sphinxes are known to befriend and guide Forest Rangers, as seen in THE STARS GO OUT. They are the only people with knowledge of beer-brewing on account of their association with the Three-Headed Beer Goddess.

Spirit-­Entities

Entities with only a spirit (movement, present→future) component (while, by contrast, a person has a present body and past→present knowledge as well as present→future movement). These can either be sub-deities (such as the Three-Headed Beer Goddess or Lord Bruggis) or associated beings, messengers/acolytes/courtiers (such as Clumpiss and Farmhand or Bull-Princesses). With only present→future movement, a spirit-entity exists entirely before the film-image (in the future), with no visible inscription, and is therefore embedded at a narrative level, with direct magical influence. Correspondence with a spirit-entity--which must be done through interaction with images, such as a totem, icon, Magic Cards or a magical book (giving the spirit a present-body by means of artificial reproduction)--can be desirable for those wishing to alter narrative or receive knowledge.

Sub-­Deities

Gods of/in the Oikoumene, the 'sub-' prefix denotes their function as sub-created deities of a fictional world. Sub-deities are spirit-entities--existing directly within the narrative substrate (with only present→future existences)--communication with them must therefore involve the offering of a reproduced present-body (an image). Sub-deities have gathered about them various 'hangers on' or courtier spirit-entities, it is often these beings, such as Clumpiss and Farmhand, Borkliss or Bull-Princesses, that play a more involved role in the world's functioning (through Beans of Gold, for instance).

Pantheon

Sub-deities are associated with the substances emanated from the Tree, a process associated with the Owl Demiurge, the Worlding Witch that is the pre-eminent of all gods and parent-figure to the demi-spirit Owl People. The Three-Headed Beer Goddess, favoured by Sphinxes, is associated with bread substance and the beer created from it. Fǣġe-Dionysus is associated with wine substance and the Cup. The dual-aspected Grollace is associated with Grollid substance. Grollid substance contains within its makeup the possibilities of both unpleasant creation and unpleasant destruction, its creative functioning is associated with Gollace's acolytes, Clumpiss and Farmhand, its destructive functioning is associated with the Lord Bruggis. Bruggis itself is associated in its own right with Negative Space, Bells, darkness and plant-like peoples.

Sub­stances

Three substances are emanated from the Tree, as is agreed between the Worlding Witch and all peoples through magic. These are the hypostases of all positive ground (the Oikoumene): wine (water-basis), bread (earth-basis) and Grollid substance (Grollid substance-basis). The vast majority of the world has a basis in wine/water, all objects in these regions can be reduced back to wine and beneath the ground level can be found a watery substratum. Regions with an earth basis are usually underground, all objects in these regions can be reduced back to bread. Grollid substance is different and mysterious, gasseous and loathsome. No known regions have a Grollid basis, but certain objects--such as the Icosahedron--are composed of it. Grollid substance may also destroy other substances (though not cleanly as does the Bell), instantiating in their stead Biggis particulates.

Three-­Headed Beer Godd­ess (beer)

A fine and tasty brand of beer, brewed by Sphinxes using a process taught to them by their goddess, after which the beer is named. Though the Sphinxes brew many kinds of beers, Three-Headed Beer Goddess is considered sacred to them and is the only kind they use to create Beer Glasses.

Three-­Headed Beer God­dess (deity)

Goddess of the Sphinxes, embodied as its avatar, the Choicemaster, who dwells within the sacred Cave of Choices. The Goddess taught the Sphinxes the process of beer-making and its usage as Beer Glasses. It is the sub-deity of bread substance, beer and animal-like peoples, usually depicted as a leonine Sphinx with three heads, two of which are human-like skulls.

To Cele­brate Memory 7: Con­tact!

Historical science-fiction fantasy action film, set during the Age of Wonders and depicting the Ancient Sorcerers' contact with the Owl People. In IN THE SUBURBS, it was shown in the Pear Cinema to Peredur, gifting them, via artificial reproduction of the Young Woman with a Pink, with the knowledge of Bell-working.

Torte

A World-Within-a-World created with a Wine Glass by Pyrrha for/with the Knights of the Table Round while at Peredur's house. Torte is a seaside resort and the location of Henry's Hotel, an outdoor shopping area, a pirate-themed Milk-ee Jug bar, the EXCELLENT! Apartments building and the Cave of Choices.

Tour­ists

Questing entities, often assisted by Guides. Notable Tourists include: the Courier, Edward, Pyrrha (prior to becoming a demi-spirit), the Knights of the Table Round, Peredur, Peredur's Sister, the Searcher of the Magical Kitchen.

Trains

Public transport running on a rhizomatic rail network that connects Worlds-Within-Worlds, providing that they are public-domain. Trains are particularly known about by Gibbons.

Tree, The

Linchpin of the universe, holding the positive Oikoumene in alignment and balance with Negative Space through its emanation-over-time (narrative/magic) of the three hypostatic substances. The Tree is located both at the Cloister and in the Magical Kitchen, at its roots lies the Real Ocean, which provides its nourishment, beyond its canopy lies the Gibbonhome, fastness of the Gibbons. As the centre of creation, the Tree is the wizard-staff of the Worlding Witch and associated with Wine and Beer Glasses, vessels for the manufacture of such are often found buried at its roots. The Gardeners use Bells to maintain the Tree, ensuring the Oikoumene does not flood.

Un­product­ion, Arti­ficial

Within the Oikoumene, matter does not exist and therefore does not have to be retained; things can be completely and tracelessly destroyed, translated, transformed or disappeared. Knowledge of this function to create portals, teleport and see through objects and over great distances can be given through the Bell, an unproductive technology. Unproduction's inverse is reproduction.

Village Store, The

Local shopping destination. A tropical-themed, public-domain World-Within-a-World located at the Village of Brug Night, inside a human skeleton and protected by a moat of live-action. The store's proprietor is an insect-like person using a reproduction of a painting by François Boucher (1703-1770) as a face. A Punchinello visited the Village Store in THE STARS GO OUT to trade a Wine Glass for a Bell.

Ward­ary, Courier of the Wizard

A Tourist associated with the Wizard Wardary. In PEARHOTELSPIRAL the Courier delivered a video tape from an iteration of the Wizard Wardary to the Wizard Wardary themself in the Pear Hotel. They entered the hotel by travelling through the Lobster's store World Within a World. They also transported and (perhaps?) delivered a Card-Giver to a putto at Pan in OCEANPRINCE, possibly partly catalysing Pyrrha's transition into an demi-spirit.

Ward­ary, The Wizard

A notable, though atypical, Sorcerer. The Wizard Wardary travels around the Oikoumene, acting often as a Guide. They have knowledge of a particular kind of magic-working, in which they iterate present-bodies multiple times throughout time-space; perhaps using a combination of Bell and Cup or some equivalency. Similarly to other Sorcerers, they are an enemy of the Pear People, who have destroyed or imprisoned many of their kin. Edward is their apprentice, they are also associated with the Courier, Valet and the Ocean Princess.

Imprisonment in the Pear Hotel

In THE STARS GO OUT, during the Pear People's sundering of the Ziggurat City Pyramid, Wardary was captured and imprisoned in the Pear Hotel. They were subsequently used by the Pear People to assist the Punchinelli in opening the doors of the Cloister into Negative Space on Brug Night.

Escape from the Pear Hotel

During the events of PEARHOTELSPIRAL, Wardary was able to escape the Pear Hotel through the playing of a live-action video tape smuggled to them by Courier from another iteration of themself. Playing the tape reproduced a subject-to-object magical ritual that allowed Wardary and the Courier to escape objectively through the Real Ocean and board a train on which they encountered the Gibbon Guide, who helped them travel to Mount and the Magical Kitchen.

Association with the Knights of the Table Round

Wardary has rendered guidance unto the Knights of the Table Round and has travelled aboard a Fish Ship. Wardary and their Courier were involved in the demi-spiriting of Pyrrha in Pan. Later, in LITTLE NODULES: PART 1, Wardary sent instructions from the Sphinxes at Knightrees to the Pear Tart Person, thereby ensuring the discovery of the Cave of Choices by Pyrrha and Peredur.

Ward­ary, Valet of the Wizard

A blemmyae with a Pyramid standard who often accompanies the Wizard Wardary upon their journeyings.

World­ing Witch, The

Creator sub-deity, pre-eminent of all gods and parent-figure to the Owl People. Associated with the Tree and its function as emanator of the substances that form the world-over-time (narrative). The nature of any narrative progression must be negotiated with the Worlding Witch, either through a spirit-entity, magical place or technical object or through a ritual directly (if the supplicant has the knowledge to do so). In this manner, all phenomena within the Oikoumene is subjective and magical, pre-agreed with the Worlding Witch by many potential subjects (people with a gaze). The Tree is often depicted as the wizard-staff of the Worlding Witch, the delicious soup-of-many-ingredients it stirs is the Oikoumene.

Wine

One of three fundamental substances that compose the Oikoumene. When poured into a glass under auspicious circumstances becomes a technology of water-based creation/reproduction, the Cup.

Wine (list of known labels)

A XIII, AMBU fd ajkbca, Ansso Bay Nero D'Avolo, Balbo, Brond, Bupvilla, Chuog Sauvignon, Dungtwo IV Special, Eggsbo, Extri Bacu Poutalk, Gonbinakd Iuiogba PERIBOU ~ksl~, Gopilila Umbre JJ Boal, Grundf Zsfg Rfddsdf 3453, Lapin, M. Svueo, Lupiman's New Particilayenbk POP, Lugh Urwn, A Merchant's Wife, Merlot “Umbe” fin siecle, Nero Chuggy Ro, Nero Ubly Bub, NIX088, Ograe Speciale OO Ondo Rondo Bungu, Ograe Speciale XII Ondo Peloo Gru, Ou L'Art de la Guerre, Peacock, Pear Hotel house champagne, Pear Hotel house red, Pear Hotel sparkling pear wine, Pear Hotel house white, Picpoul Clumpiss & Farmhand, Pinot Noir Bob Old's, Pufrovk, Riesling, Rosso Pulau Kanjd Ckloo, Roundel, Saus, Slugrund's Favourite, Smell Beroo, Spherecorop, Tavuo, Trywn, TT TTTTT Bob Old's, Unbardien, Zucchero Rosé II.

Wine Glass

A reproductive technology granting knowledge of water-based creation through emanation of wine substance. See: Bell & Cup, The.

World-Within-a-World

A world created by use of the Cup, the contents of which can be one of the three hypostatic substances. In almost all cases this substance is wine, though, more rarely, it can be beer. Wine Glass worlds are identifiable by their basis in water, Beer Glass worlds by their basis in earth. Access permissions to a World-Within-a-World -- whether public (public-domain) or private (proprietary) -- can be decided by its creator or current owner. Notable Worlds-Within-Worlds include: the Magical Kitchen, the Palazzo, the Pear Hotel, the Village Store, Torte, the Cave of Choices.

Yellow Room, The

A restaurant, part of Henry's Hotel, not particularly yellow. Peredur arranged to meet Pyrrha and the Pear Tart Person for breakfast in the Yellow Room in LITTLE NODULES: PART 1.

Young Wo­man with a Pink

Painting from the late 1480s, once part of a diptych, and attributed to Hans Memling (c.1430-1494). It is a technology and a symbol of the transmission by the Owl People of their knowledge to others. As a symbol, it is venerated particularly by the People of Fish and subsequently the Knights of the Table Round.

Zig­gurat City

A procedurally-generated, tiered city nested within a priori space (see: Oikoumene, The). It's unresolved nature makes it unliveable and inaccessible to people and therefore narrative. The city is dressing for a (concrete-space) Sorcerer Pyramid, which was sundered by Pear People in the name of the Lord Bruggis during the events of THE STARS GO OUT, its resident Sorcerers imprisoned in the Pear Hotel.

Zuc­chero

A drinks brand. Zucchero produce both a soft drink, known and celebrated for its very high sugar content, and a rosé wine.