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Aeon (updated 10/9/14)
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<blockquote data-quote="Sepulchrave II" data-source="post: 5753316" data-attributes="member: 4303"><p>Some Random Thoughts</p><p></p><p><strong>On <em>Kschiff</em></strong></p><p><em>Kschiff</em> (“kss-chiff”) was first encountered by Ortwin and Mostin on their visit to Siir Traag; I invented the name on the fly – or rather I <em>stole</em> the name: the <em>Kschiff</em> are a race of “little green men” who appear in a <em>Traveller</em> adventure called “Green Horizon” from an old copy of <em>White Dwarf</em>. Even though it was out of keeping with what I’d determined at that point would form the basis of the Tongue of Shûth – i.e. Sanskrit – I decided to keep it. </p><p></p><p><em>Kschiff</em> is a cocktail of psychoactive alkaloids dissolved in alcohol – something like laudanum, I suppose, but with the ritual and religious overtones of <em>soma</em> and lotus extract. Whether as an intoxicant, aphrodisiac, gateway of mystical experience – or whatever else was useful to advance the plot at the time – <em>kschiff</em> always had the connotation of being something <em>forbidden</em> or <em>dangerous</em>. The concentration and balance of alkaloids varies, depending on quality of local supply and intended use; Shomei gets the good stuff, naturally.</p><p></p><p>As it appeared more and more – especially with regard to Shomei’s addiction/dependency – the name began to aggravate me more and more. Its etymology was eventually back-engineered: <em>kschiff</em> became the “Northern” (i.e. Wyrish) pronunciation, a corruption of the “Southern” (i.e. Shûthite) <em>kas’shiv</em>, which means “auspicious sound” – a reference to the experience of some kind of Aum/Shabda/Nam/Logos which is induced by the drug when used in its proper ritual context. Soneillon – as one invoked in such rites – is more familiar with this pronunciation; as one of her appellations is <em>Kaalakamala</em> – the Death Lotus – contact with her in the dream-state is probably deemed perilous.</p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>On Stars</strong></p><p>I’ve used familiar stars – although not our constellations – when describing objects in the night sky of Wyre. I also track lunar cycles; it gives me ideas. </p><p></p><p>The Eye of Cheshne is Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion; its symbolism has been explored at length for the last ten years, so I won’t belabor the point. It is invisible in the night sky for around 6 weeks prior to the winter solstice and for a few days afterwards, due to its proximity to the Sun. </p><p></p><p>The Follower – the star associated with the <em>Eleos</em> – is Aldebaran in Taurus; in opposition to the Eye of Cheshne: as one reaches its zenith, so the other reaches its nadir. Al Dabaran actually means “The Follower” in Arabic – probably because it follows the Pleiades; this might also be a reference to Nehael in her guise as <em>Eleos</em> – Sovereign Compassion – following the seven “original” Sovereignties. Symbols – fictitious or otherwise – have a habit of organizing themselves without any real intervention required.</p><p></p><p>The Rod’s Tip – associated with an enkindled Shomei – is Regulus in Leo. It is approximately square to both the Eye of Cheshne and The Follower, and can be understood as a fulcrum of power. Ancient Akkadian belief envisaged Regulus as a part of a sceptre (Pa-pil-sak); notions of rulership have always been associated with it.</p><p></p><p>Together, these are three of the four “Royal Stars” of Persian antiquity.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Sepulchrave II, post: 5753316, member: 4303"] Some Random Thoughts [B]On [I]Kschiff[/I][/B] [I]Kschiff[/I] (“kss-chiff”) was first encountered by Ortwin and Mostin on their visit to Siir Traag; I invented the name on the fly – or rather I [I]stole[/I] the name: the [I]Kschiff[/I] are a race of “little green men” who appear in a [I]Traveller[/I] adventure called “Green Horizon” from an old copy of [I]White Dwarf[/I]. Even though it was out of keeping with what I’d determined at that point would form the basis of the Tongue of Shûth – i.e. Sanskrit – I decided to keep it. [I]Kschiff[/I] is a cocktail of psychoactive alkaloids dissolved in alcohol – something like laudanum, I suppose, but with the ritual and religious overtones of [I]soma[/I] and lotus extract. Whether as an intoxicant, aphrodisiac, gateway of mystical experience – or whatever else was useful to advance the plot at the time – [I]kschiff[/I] always had the connotation of being something [I]forbidden[/I] or [I]dangerous[/I]. The concentration and balance of alkaloids varies, depending on quality of local supply and intended use; Shomei gets the good stuff, naturally. As it appeared more and more – especially with regard to Shomei’s addiction/dependency – the name began to aggravate me more and more. Its etymology was eventually back-engineered: [I]kschiff[/I] became the “Northern” (i.e. Wyrish) pronunciation, a corruption of the “Southern” (i.e. Shûthite) [I]kas’shiv[/I], which means “auspicious sound” – a reference to the experience of some kind of Aum/Shabda/Nam/Logos which is induced by the drug when used in its proper ritual context. Soneillon – as one invoked in such rites – is more familiar with this pronunciation; as one of her appellations is [I]Kaalakamala[/I] – the Death Lotus – contact with her in the dream-state is probably deemed perilous. [B]On Stars[/B] I’ve used familiar stars – although not our constellations – when describing objects in the night sky of Wyre. I also track lunar cycles; it gives me ideas. The Eye of Cheshne is Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion; its symbolism has been explored at length for the last ten years, so I won’t belabor the point. It is invisible in the night sky for around 6 weeks prior to the winter solstice and for a few days afterwards, due to its proximity to the Sun. The Follower – the star associated with the [I]Eleos[/I] – is Aldebaran in Taurus; in opposition to the Eye of Cheshne: as one reaches its zenith, so the other reaches its nadir. Al Dabaran actually means “The Follower” in Arabic – probably because it follows the Pleiades; this might also be a reference to Nehael in her guise as [I]Eleos[/I] – Sovereign Compassion – following the seven “original” Sovereignties. Symbols – fictitious or otherwise – have a habit of organizing themselves without any real intervention required. The Rod’s Tip – associated with an enkindled Shomei – is Regulus in Leo. It is approximately square to both the Eye of Cheshne and The Follower, and can be understood as a fulcrum of power. Ancient Akkadian belief envisaged Regulus as a part of a sceptre (Pa-pil-sak); notions of rulership have always been associated with it. Together, these are three of the four “Royal Stars” of Persian antiquity. [/QUOTE]
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