Encyclopaedia Elyden updates vol 3

Here's the 3rd Encyclopaedia update for your perusal!

Please  let me  know what you think and let me know if there's any mistakes or typos as these entries are heading straight to the Encyclopaedia at the end of the month :)  

You can keep up with these by looking for the  'Encyclopaedia Entries' tag.  

DALAK HOTHABBIR: in mth. of ancient Elyden a scion of the Demiurge Talantehut. Dalak Hothabbir is described as a slender giant with 4 gangly arms. One pair of arms has 6 digits, and the other has 5, with an extra joint, one of which has been removed. Its face is forever concealed beneath a featureless white mask that is thought to depict in fine bass relief upon its surface a map of the otherworld.

The Scion Dalak Hothabbir is featured in many ancient accounts, including the Mythologia Elyden, as an arbiter of the dead upon the material realm, inspecting the soul pearls of those who perished soulless, destroying those belonging to mortals who lived a worthy life and creating artificial spirits from their ground remains, which are bound to the material realm in a manner similar but not identical to the way in which naturally-formed spirits dwell in the otherworld.  

TEMPLE OF THE JANISAARS: bombastic cathedral of the Church of the Machine, with six adjoining chapels (two of which are dedicated to Queen Hetepheres and the Archpotentate Malichar, respectively). It is famed for its lavish baroque interior, and for the intricate marbled tombs that cover the entirety of its floor, each of which is occupied by a famed janisaar and their families.

VENTHIRI ROYAL ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS: expansive gardens forming a large part of the W-outskirts of the city of Hetepheropolis in c Venthir. The gardens are known for their exotic collection of flo. and fau. many examples of which come from distant parts of Elyden.

PANOPTICUS, the: ancient observation post of great power, buried in a temple in W Sammaea. It was likely crafted by a Demiurge, mentioned in the Mythologia Elyden. It takes the form of a large hollow sphere (20-ft. in diameter, though in some accounts, it is claimed to be as large as 66-ft. In diameter). The interior of the sphere depicts the surface of Elyden in such miniscule details as to be unimaginable to mortal eyes. Various methods of magnification have been used, revealing astonishing levels of detail, making some believe that the sphere is an exact replica of Elyden, its details shifting to match those of Elyden herself. The sphere is thought to have been buried by an earthquake in c 1600 RM, the temple-complex surrounding it destroyed.  

CARNIVALE TECHNARCANE: steampunk carnival in Parthis with steampunk elephants etc, cute displays of technarcana, some shaping, though mostly technaracana and fleshaping.

LEVELLED CITY, the: - large city levelled by an earthquake. Survivors and refugees scatter, some integrate with neighbouring people and other remain nomadic to this day, garnering an undeserved reputation. They are shunned. The remnants of the city are ignored, left to rot. 1000 years later most of it is overgrown, buried, covered in scrub, with only small echos of the old city remaining. Many have explored it since then, and korachani archeologists have emerged from the area with vast treasures, though it is not without perils - tremors are common and cave-ins and collapses follow them. And many chthonic beasts now dwell there, not to mention the dishonoured descendants of the nomads of the original city, who have become little different to degenerates after drinking tainted water.

FELORS: fau. cat/bear with small face, big shoulders and large pointy ears. Scavenger, very powerful, sometimes brawls with large sloths if very hungry. Savannahs.

OFFICE OF EXORCISM: org. department within the Korachani empire, specialised with exorcising people and places of tainted spirits. It has close links with the Church of the Machine as well as the Grigorian and Avenethi Fraternal Orders, though operates independently of either, and answers only to the Seven. Its headquarters are situated in the city of Elaarh in c Laaskha, though it has annexes across the Korachani empire.

HUSS: Mil. title in Ahrishen, Virahan, and Baatan that is attained through prowess in battle. The title can be attained by any individual, regardless of prior social standing and bestows nobility, including the granting of land and other privileges. In battle the huss are organised into regiments known as hussars and are often mounted - one of the few mounted units in the Ahrisheni mil.

HUSSAR: noble mounted regiment in the Ahrisheni mil. Composed of those who have attained the rank of Huss.

KNIGHT OF VULTURES, the: in the myt. and legends of Llachatul (primarily Azazem, Korachan, Laaskha, Pelasgos and Vârr) a figure that is said to follow the destitute and downtrodden, though whether as a helpful or hindering force is open to interpretation. The figure is often the intent of the various tales surrounding him. See Vol II: Legends and Folk Tales of Elyden.

THE EMPIRE WITHOUT: common term for the high-empire of Korachan within the Republic of Almagest, referring to its presence outside the influence of Almagest itself.

PYROTECHNICS: the science of using materials that are able to undergo self-sustained chemical reactions, producing gas, heat, light, sound, and smoke, most commonly seen in the manufacture of fireworks and explosives. 

Many cultures value the use of fireworks, particularly across the high-empire of Korachan, which are used in various festivals and other celebrations, such as the Symphony of skyfire in Laaskha. 

SKYFIRE: Laaskhan term for Pyrotechnics. See Pyrotechnics. 

FIREWORKS: see pyrotechnics. 

SYMPHONY OF SKYFIRE: a large cultural firework festival celebrated across Laaskha during the two Solstice holidays, where rival church clubs and their followers compete for the loudest and most impressive display of pyrotechnics. Such events can last for days and are accompanied by feasting and revelry and often escalate into fights between rival gangs.