"Beyond Eden's Shores", A Deranged Fan's Work-in-Progress

Not unlike "NGE", my doujinshi is bloody complicated and has plenty of individuals, places, jargon, etc., associated with it. The more I work on it, the more complicated it gets, so, for the dual purposes of (A) keeping track of all these little items for the sake of my own sanity and (B) having something to put online for the he11 of it, I started working on this page. It's not quite as detailed as it might be if I were writing it solely for my own reference -- since BES has its fair share of sPoiLeRz -- but, eh, it's still rather useful [especially for cRoSs-rEfErEnCiNg!!].

As if you didn't already know, many of these characters and terms were originally from "Neon Genesis Evangelion", though the descriptions here encompass my own bizarre interpretations. [Yes! They are not canon!! They're not supposed to be!!!] Just as many are things I've pillaged from various angel-related lore (mostly "Jewish stuff") I've encountered in my "research" and corrupted to suit my own needs. ^_^ A few things are completely the result of my imagination (or just the result of looking up words in Hebrew), as well. I'm not actually giving my various sources credit, though (not at the moment, anyway), so if you want to know the source of something you'll have to ask. [But, then, you wouldn't want to deprive yourself from hours of fun looking up the origins and etymology of all of this stuff, would you?]

Just for fun, I've included most of the entry titles in Japanese characters, so if your web browser supports them you should be able to view them [if they appear as gibberish, just go to View/Encoding/Japanese (Shift-JIS) -- if you're using IE, anyway]. The entries that were originally part of NGE canon, naturally, have their original NGE Japanese next to them (being a pitiful nerd, I knew most of these off the top of my head, though I did have to do some research to find a couple). The katakana versions of traditional angelic terms are, hopefully, "official" (but the kanji versions I include in the appendix were made up for fun). Many of the katakana versions of various other Hebrew-derived terms are probably technically incorrect (pronunciation-wise; for one thing, I think "ch"/"kh" is supposed to be uvular rather than simplified to a hard "k", though I only maintain this in "Akhoth" because it sounds cooler that way ^_^'), but, eh, they serve their purpose!

The listing was getting overwhelming, so I finally broke it down into sub-categories:

I already made disclaimers about the identities for the Evas (except Yui and Kyoko) on the previous page, so we'll have none of that here... Along with Sachiel and Zeruel, the Evas have the privilege of being the main characters in BES (as if the "Rundown" page didn't make that obvious enough), so these blurbs are rather long.

Barb (Barbara Caraway/Tehorah/EVA-03) (バルバラ・キャラウェー / テホラー / 参号機 ) Originally the key programmer of the MAGI-04 System of Nerv's First Branch in Massachusetts and the primary candidate for the Contact Experiment of EVA-03. Although her union with the Eva was a success, her new existence was entirely ill-fated: During her aerial transportation to Matsushiro in Japan, the Apostle Bardiel entered her subdued body and completely took over, leading to Barb's extermination as "the Thirteenth Angel". Reborn in Eden, Barb's Evangelion body is once again her own, and Caraway soon seeks out the companionship of her fellow Evas. Upon discovering the identity of EVA-00's soul, she quickly becomes drawn to her cycloptic sister (as a Lilim, Barb was, coincidentally, an avid admirer of Akagi and her work) -- and is surprised and delighted to behold the very real spiritual connection that forms between them and grows with a manifesting passion. While haunted by the complete lack of closure she feels about her abruptly-ended, and quite happy, Lilim existence, and troubled to a somewhat lesser degree by an Evangelion existence marked only by pain, passivity, and parasitic predation, Barbara marches on with life without letting the past weigh her down. Both easygoing and very down-to-earth, she enjoys bringing her own brand of warm levity to many situations, though her sense of professionalism, when it be needed, is nothing to laugh about.

Diana (E. Diana Ischariot/Abedah/EVA-04) (イー・ディアナ・イスカリオット / アベダー / 4号機 ) As a Lilim, the super-solenoid expert working for Nerv's Second Branch in Nevada and the secondary candidate for EVA-04's Contact Experiment. Unusual circumstances forced Ischariot to become the test subject, and, although her soul and mind completed Abedah, the Eva's research group was deprived of one of its key minds. Without Diana there to supervise the "installment" and activation of the Super-Solenoid prepared in Germany, something went unforeseeably awry, and EVA-04 (and everything within a 49 kilometer radius of her) was absorbed into the Sea of Dirac. However, with the reluctant help of the Apostle Leliel (whose body is a gateway to the Sea), the salvage of Abedah eventually becomes possible through an operation which Yui plans and Kyoko carries out (completely by choice -- not unlike her daughter, she has a penchant for the "dirty work"). Afterwards, Yui takes a keen sisterly interest in Di's well-being and invests herself heavily in the Eva's rehabilitation, which is more successful than Yui could have hoped for. However, while Diana's participation in the Akhoth is more than adequate, it is completely mechanical, uninvolved, and she remains cold and shady -- even Kyoko has "a bad feeling about her", which probably goes to say something.

Emilie (Emilie Mantell/Mardani/EVA-11) (エミリー・マンテル / マルダニ / 11号機 ) Once a local biologist on the team assigned to the Mass-Production Model Evangelion "constructed" in the United Kingdom, she was deceived, like nearly every other, on the nature of the Contact Experiment for which she had been the primary candidate. For largely unknown reasons, she and her eight sisters start their existences in Eden trapped in an uncertain group consciousness that prevents reacquaintance with their souls and, hence, existential independence. Emilie is the first to break away, to her sisters' disdain, and quickly seeks to take responsibility for ills done upon her older sisters -- namely, Kyoko. It is uncertain whether Kyoko is spiritually capable of forgiving Emilie and the others, though she at least seems able to call a 'truce'... In spite of her initial (and understandable) animosity, Kyoko and Emilie eventually become the most unlikely of friends. With the archangels' consent, Yui allows Emilie to join the Akhoth around the same time as Diana.

Kyoko (Sohryuu Kyoko Zeppelin/Sharsheret/EVA-02) (惣流・キョウコ・ツェッペリン / シャルシェレット / 弐号機 ) The bioengineering mastermind behind EVA-02 at Euro-Deutsch Gehirn (later the Third Branch), she participated in the Contact Experiment without knowing her humanity was at stake. Although a passive and "well-behaved" Eva, she suffered exponential physical and mental trauma (including a psychological "mind-hack" by Arael). When things seemed their darkest, Kyoko achieved a miraculous reconciliation with both herself and her daughter -- which, in a final, irreparable blow to her psyche, was followed up by her brutal slaughter minutes later. In Eden, she has nothing to exist for, and Kyoko isolates herself within a self-destructive prison, keeping others far away with über-bitch hostility. After being persuaded -- with considerable difficulty, considering her mysterious hostility towards Yui -- to join the Akhoth, Kyoko's mind is distracted somewhat from her many sources of personal misery, but the underlying problems remain unresolved. Emilie eventually becomes Kyoko's Akhoth partner (and, on some tentative level, friend), though she is still subject to Kyoko's trademark caustic sting. Mysteriously, Sachiel (of all people) is the only one to whom Kyoko is genuinely friendly.

Naoko (Akagi Naoko/Khevelha/EVA-00) (赤木ナオコ / ケヴェルハ / 零号機 ) The creator of the original MAGI supercomputers and a privately tortured genius. As a Lilim, she had ended her life by suicide, only to find herself within the body of a prototype Evangelion (a transferal she will most likely never be able to explain). For Naoko, this unexpected rebirth was infernal punishment rather than blessing, and her eventual death -- a suicide explosion instigated to destroy the Apostle Armisael -- did not provide much of a release. Naoko's life in Eden began with brooding bitterness, her only satisfaction derived from commiseration sessions with Kyoko, but it was in such miserable company that Naoko fortuitously met Barbara Caraway (the soul of EVA-03). Naoko finds herself compelled by Barb's refreshingly down-to-earth and forgiving nature and, in a mutual attraction that ascends all truths Naoko had thought about herself and everything else, her intrigue quickly gravitates into another, infinitely more powerful force. With Barbara's unconditional love, Naoko is able to confront her remembered sins and afflictions and emerge truly reborn -- just in time to give motherhood another go.

Regellah レゲラー The angelic name of Yui, given to her even though she was never "reborn" into Eden.

Sharsheret シャルシェレット The angelic name of Kyoko, by which she, generally speaking, hates to be addressed.

Yui (Ikari Yui/Regellah/EVA-01) (碇ユイ / レゲラー / 初号機 ) Once a brilliant metabiologist working for Gehirn in Hakone, she knowingly sacrificed her Lilim existence to bestow life to EVA-01. After attaining "divine" status as a result of Fourth Hayah, she seemed fated to spend the rest of eternity as an immortal monument to the Lilim's existence -- but instead enters Eden with the aid of powers even she doesn't understand. Fully freed from an existence of passive servitude, Yui no longer needs to go on "berserk" rampages to get things done, and her personality reverts to the calm and collected nature predominant before her unification with the Eva; she is virtually a saint, able to regard all with eyes unclouded by judgment or hate. The archangels personally appoint Regellah their "holy crusader", a task which Yui voluntarily accepts, and she subsequently forms the Akhoth to aid her. Although similar genetically to the other Evas, Regellah's physical body was produced by Lilith, which has given Yui certain "perks" -- most notably the ability to regenerate spontaneously, observable in her on a level rarely seen elsewhere (to the fascination of the ophanim). Not long after entering Eden, Yui finds herself enigmatically drawn to Zeruel -- whose Peri she had claimed as her own upon the Apostle's defeat on Earth -- but, not surprisingly, he isn't especially appreciative of her attentions. Eventually, the two of them produce the Second Yaliyd, Yorkami.

I.e., the Apostles (at least, the ones that have a confirmed role in BES at the moment), plus two others (guess...). "Alephel" and "Bhethel" are the replacements I concocted for "Kou" and "Otsu" -- they sure sound a lot more "angelic", don't they?

Adam アダム The virgin mother of the Apostles, reborn, though Lilith, a child-like innocent completely unaware of her past on Earth. Kept by Lilith's side, far away from the Apostles and Evangelions that bear Adam's flesh, the mother of the Lilim treats Adam as her own. Ultimately, however, this isolation is breached, and Adam comes in contact with the First Scion, who inadvertently aids the revival of Adam's suppressed memories.

Alephel アレフェル Israfel's golden, masculine half, fairly meek and prone to act in accordance with Bhethel's wishes.

Arael アラエル A many-winged Apostle who has aligned herself intimately with the ophanim. Her primary endeavor is the inner workings of the angelic mind and the curious constants that seem to prevail in spite of the endlessly variable forms angels can assume. Though perceived by Kyoko as a loathable mental assailant, Arael's intentions on Earth were, in fact, far more innocuous. Arael, like many of her siblings, lacked interest in the mission given her by the archangels and instead acted upon her curiosities while she could; she considers it a terrible pity that Kyoko and her Lilim daughter reacted as badly to her as they did. By a strange twist of fate, Arael is also the primary confidant of "archenemies" Yui and Zeruel (which, in the end, works to the former's advantage...).

Armisael アルミサエル An Apostle who normally appears as a "wheel of fire", but can swiftly transform into a glowing, serpentine strand with metamorphic properties. On Earth, Armisael's insatiable curiosity in the bodies and minds of others (which she sates via invasive "biofusion") is what ultimately destroyed her -- she was trapped within the core of her victim, Khevelha, who subsequently self-destructed. Still, the lamentable encounter was not entirely without merit, as the Apostle had somehow managed to fertilize an ovum within the kasahn's (formerly) inert reproductive system, an anomaly that followed Khevelha into Eden and eventually produces Zukori. Armisael's peculiar tendencies don't make her very popular in Eden (especially among the Tsaphim), as she is wholly inconsiderate of the feelings of others, even sadistic. Khevelha has every right to despise the "worm", and it will take quite a bit of work before she lets Armisael get anywhere near their daughter.

Bardiel バルディエル A disgruntled greyish-purplish blob (or, erm, something) who constantly laments his lack of a "true body". As such, he seems to envy anyone who possesses such a form, eyeing with a peculiar persistence the body of Tehorah, which he had successfully invaded and occupied during his stay on Earth. Bardiel has thus won the scorn of Barb (who is, otherwise, a hateless individual), though perhaps he may eventually find a way to mend matters with her... Bardiel is, despite appearances, a poetic and highly intellectual individual (his rampage on Earth using EVA-03's body thus being somewhat uncharacteristic...), spending most of his time either working out angelic verse or contemplating existence in general. He keeps company with his Apostle sister, Armisael.

Bhethel ベセル Israfel's silver, feminine half. She is by far the more dominant, assertive personality, with hedonistic tendencies that have earned her some degree of infamy.

Gaghiel ガギエル The vaguely delphinic Apostle who is never far from Eden's "river" (actually an artificial construct that channels the water-like shephek continuously issued by several angels towards the Akal'yam) and is almost always accompanied by his younger sibling Sandalphon. Rather gregarious, he takes it upon himself to regularly collect his siblings from across Eden and hold "family reunions".

Israfel イスラフェル An Apostle who takes the concept of Siamese twins to another level -- it contains two different souls within the same body and the same core. Most often, these souls act as a unit and complement one another, though at moments of inner turmoil Israfel splits into two different bodies: the gold Alephel and the silver Bhethel, virtually identical in appearance and able to act in perfect unison. Although Israfel's separate personae are drastically different from one another, each cannot tolerate being separate from its other half for very long, and they eventually recombine. The Apostle feels most at home among the ishim due to its penchant for writing music, though it maintains close ties with its siblings -- save for Zeruel, who holds a grudge against the twins neither can understand.

Leliel レリエル An Apostle whose body -- an incredibly thin "shadow" that can contract and dilate like a pupil -- is dictated by completely abstract principles and serves as a gate to a dimension called the Dirac Sea. Conversely, her true "shadow" -- a black-and-white striped orb that floats above Leliel's body -- is the only known exit. Once Yui realizes that Abedah -- the only Eva, after Yui, not to reach Eden -- is lost within the Dirac Sea, she approaches Leliel for her help in a salvage operation.

Lilith リリス A mysterious white entity, humanoid in appearance, from whose blood life on Earth -- the Lilim -- originally developed. She morphed into the gigantic Shekinah to complement the souls of her offspring, but, upon its failure, her body disintegrated and petrified, and Lilith ascended the realm of Heled with Adam and the souls of her "redeemed" children in tow. Now liberated and restored to her original state, Lilith's increased proximity to Eden renders her a threat to the intentions (much as they conflict) of both the elohim and Sammael -- the only ones who know of Lilith's true nature. Wherever she now lurks, Lilith serves as the guardian of a youthful Adam and broods over her newly-formed "egg", patiently awaiting the inevitable reunion with her daughter.

Sachiel サキエル The first Apostle to return to Earth -- and fail somewhat embarrassingly. Following the suicide explosion that ended his halfhearted rampage there, Sachiel develops an inexplicable fascination with the Evangelions, most notably with his assailant, Regellah. At heart, Sachiel has a childlike nature -- playful, whimsical and naïve -- though being forced into pain, conflict, and ultimately death by the elohim has had the effect of bringing out his more philosophical, brooding side. Sachiel regularly wanders the length and breadth of Eden and tends to be well-liked wherever he goes (the occasional skirmish with xenophobes nonwithstanding). He never manages to really "hit it off" with Regellah, though he seems to have a personal talent for bringing out the best in bitch-extraordinaire Sharsheret without really trying. Shamshel can usually be found at Sachiel's side.

Shamshel シャムシェル A vaguely arthropodic Apostle armed with retractible tentacles that can be amplified with energy to cut through most anything. A bit on the skittish side, Shamshel flails her light-whips around wildly whenever she feels threatened (regardless of who else might be in her immediate vicinity!), but she is hardly a fighter at heart. Oddly, Shamshel's illumination seems to be on a wavelength incomprehensible to most, though both Sachiel and Ingethel appear to have a grasp of what she is "saying" and, thus, regularly act as her "translators". She is very close to Sachiel and remains by his side with commendable, if not somewhat blind, fidelity, although she also regularly converses with Ingethel (who is technically Zeruel's buddy). True to her appearance, Shamshel demonstrates somewhat aralic leanings and occupies herself processing the filament-like shephek she produces.

Zeruel ゼルエル The Apostle infamous for most nearly succeeding in contacting Adam -- but far more infamous (among Lilim circles, anyway) for arms eerily reminiscent of toilet paper. Zeruel's pre-Earth days in Eden were difficult but effectively toughened him up; he found his sole solace in developing his innate angelic powers and his keen sense of efficiency. Following his failure at the green-eyed Evangelion's pearly-toothed maw, he becomes an increasingly broken individual, despite regular psychotherapy sessions with his sister Arael. The only thing keeping the limmud on his feet is nearly contemptible pride in his own "badass" reputation, though those close to him know that it's really just a front. Regellah, being the source of many of Zeruel's most disabling problems, is not surprisingly the primary object of his personal loathing -- which makes things all the more awkward when she begins to approach him in the interest of, ahem, "mutual understanding". Zeruel shares an abode with his siblings Sachiel and Shamshel (much as he claims he can't stand one of them) and frequents a "gym" with his clique of shinnanim idolizers (Ingethel among them).

Alkhoel アルコエル An ish who -- being somewhat uncharacteristic of his Todah -- runs an establishment serving a collection of liquid shephek (a "bar", Lilim might call it) to interested angels. Khevelha and Tehorah have found many of Alkhoel's wares to have an effect on their Eva physiology pleasantly (or, sometimes, unpleasantly) similar to that of alcohol on a Lilim, and they regularly meet there to talk over drinks.

Azazel アザゼル An ancient kerub whose demonic red exterior and cold, calculating expression instill apprehension in most angels, and rightfully so. Virtually every part of her body doubles as a weapon, which, combined with her uncanny speed and versatility, allows her to excel undisputed in close combat and grants her a long-standing reputation as "the ultimate warrior" -- albeit in name only, as, long bored by the competition, Azazel has taken to watching activity in Eden from the shadows. It is common knowledge in Eden that she was once Sammael's right-hand satan, though how she managed to evade exile is more abstruse. In Sammael's absence, and right under the archangels' proverbial noses, she commandeers all covert satanim activity in Eden, but restricts all of the major "action" to herself and two long-trusted comrades. Azazel is intrigued by Sharsheret and watches her with peculiarly avid intent, despite the untouchable reputation the blue-blooded Eva has rightfully developed in Eden.

Azrael アズラエル The Third Scion, conceived during Second Shift within Sharsheret. Azrael is the first and only male Evangelion and, due to the cyanocytes in his blood, matures unusually fast. Unusual circumstances force him to feed and rear Abedah's offspring, Kayin.

Azza アザ One of the original Anshe'shem (with Azzael), a jaundiced, eyeless (but with his core's placement this is not immediately obvious), winged, hook-legged kerub with a giant mouth so filled with teeth there is no room for a tongue. He is raucously vocal, but makes no sense to anyone except Azzael (a little like the Shamshel-Sachiel situation, but not really). Between the two of them, they have a bizarre spiritual "brotherhood" of sorts, which they seem to express by both wearing a ring in their general nasal region. Where one is, the other is never far away, and, because Azazel only has real influence over Azza through Azzael (the latter whom she can trust to follow her every command), the two carry out her operations as a team. Azza is unapologetically brutal and straightforward about what he doesn't like, a tendency that can get him into trouble on occasion.

Azzael アザエル Azazel's "second-in-command", an unusually large, blue, vaguely theropod-like brute with a conspicuous nose ring and a rather... unusually-placed core. He seems to hold Azazel in a peculiarly high regard (almost like a controlled romantic infatuation) and happily carries out her every last wish. Against the Akhoth, he and Azza make a formidable fighting team, though Yui suspects the duo's skills are refined more for diversion than mere bloodletting. His intimidating appearance and somewhat misguided deeds aside, Azzael has an intriguingly eloquent personality and is, surprising at it may seem, a pacifist at heart.

Chayyiel チャイィエル A powerful kerub -- and one of the few never to side with Sammael -- whose armor is one of the strongest substances in Eden.

Enoch エノク A member of the Heavenly Council appointed to stay in touch with Regellah, so as to eliminate the need to repeatedly bring her before the archangels. Enoch is, obviously, not his elohah designation, but, rather, an alias he uses during time spent in Eden.

Ingethel インゲセル A shinnam who vaguely resembles a peg-legged turtle-penguin, armed with multiple retractible light-whips (a la Shamshel) but not powerful enough to do much with them. Like many of his choir, he is intrigued by the Apostles and feels rather lucky to be considered Zeruel's best friend. Although he lacks much in the way of tact, Geth is a nice guy and gets along quite well with just about anybody. Along with Sachiel, he is the only individual known to understand Shamshel, though he also seems to know something about Shamshel that Sachi as yet doesn't.

Irah & Kadassah イーラーとカダサー The fifth and fourth Yaliyd (respectively), identical twins born to Tehorah.

Kayin カヤィン The sixth and last Scion, born from Abedah. Unusual circumstances force the second Scion, Azrael, to feed and rear her in Gehinnom.

Metatron メタトロン The archangel set over shinnanim, chosen to replace Sammael after the 12-winged one's exile.

Mikhael ミカエル The archangel set over marashim and one known for being particularly ruthless.

Rachmiel ラックミエル A renowned ophanim and a good friend of both Arael and Regellah. He is a specialist in the healing capacities of angels and takes keen interest in Regellah's exceptional gifts of spontaneous regeneration (which are on a level even her fellow Evas cannot match up to). Rachmiel and his assistants help Regellah with the unarmoring and rehabilitation of Abedah.

Raphael ラファエル The archangel set over ophanim and arguably the most beneficent of the lot. He helps to counter much of the wrath of Mikhael and Gabriel.

Sammael サマエル The seraph set over kerubim (although no longer an archangel), cast down from Heaven with his band of loyal satanim in eons past. Sammael's infamous reputation precedes him in both angelic and Lilim circles, though his one true name remains as unknown in the latter as his true seraphic manifestation remains to both parties (most angels know Sammael by his kerubic guise, Satan). With twelve metaphysical, Argus-eyed wings -- twice the number of his fellow seraphim -- Sammael possesses a surfeit of power, not to mention pride, that, together with clashing interests and fomenting rebellion, necessitated his original exile from Eden. The seraph eventually fell to the depths of Heled, where he evidently had an intimate involvement with Lilith and played major (albeit passive) roles in all four Hayah. The "death" of Lilith cast him away from Earth (albeit not alone), setting the stage for Sammael's "regrettable but inevitable" (in the words of the elohim) reentry into Eden. He only makes his presence there known following First Shift, though he manages to keep both his intentions and himself thoroughly elusive despite the best efforts of the Akhoth.

Satan サタン A kerubic guise taken on by Sammael to originally rally support for his rebellion in Eden, long ago. Once Sammael revealed "Satan" to be no more than an alter-ego, the term came to be used to refer to his angelic followers instead (as in "satanim"), as it is used in Eden to the current day.

Yorkami ヨルカミ The Second Scion, daughter of Regellah and Zeruel, and destined for great things. She is very close to her cousin, Zukori.

Zukori ヅコリ The First Scion, conceived within Khevelha by Armisael on Earth and born prior to the First Shift, long before the other Yaliyd start to emerge. Uniquely among Evas, her skin is virtually white and she possesses three eyes (two positioned in a semi-binocular array and a small one centered beneath her forehead). Zukori is raised primarily by her mother ("Na-Na") and Tehorah ("Ba-Ba"), occasionally left in the care of her "father" (Armisael), and known by many affectionate nicknames ("Zui", "Kori-chan", "Salt", etc.). Despite appearances, Zukori is every bit a human child -- and, unlike anyone else ever born in Eden, she gets to fully enjoy the phenomenon of childhood. She possesses a very inquisitive and keenly intelligent mind, and, even at any early age, demonstrates some kind of gift for empathy.

What it says. ;;> These are all important, though -- sorry, folks -- no action aside from flashbacks will be occurring on Earth.

Akal'yam アカルヤム The luminous, pinkish-orangey "sea" that completely encircles the vaguely hemisphere-shaped perimeter of Eden and, thus, marks the limits of the angels' world. A compressed form of the normally gaseous "ether", it gives the general impression of pleasantly tepid ocean waters and is possible to swim in, although efforts to swim beyond it, into the gaseous expanses of the ethereal universe, have proved futile. Very little is known by the angels about Akal'yam, and as a result it is steeped in eons of angelic lore and superstition, most prohibitive. The commonplace fear that staying in the Sea for too long will cause one's soul to be lost forever effectively keeps most angels away from Eden's shores. Part of the shore is haphazardly lined with several giant, winged sentinels, stone-like in composure -- though, as with much else about the Sea, they are shrouded in mystery.

Earth 地球 Once merely a barren planet in the depths of Heled, it caught the attention of the archangels when both the "demon-queen" Lilith and the exiled Sammael made it their abode. Life was reputedly brought there when Lilith's blood was spilled in eons past, and there it remains, with those members of the Lilim race who had rejected Fourth Hayah and spiritual ascension with their mother-being. Upon the "death" of Lilith and the repellence of Regellah and the Spear of Longinus from the planet, Earth ceased to be much of a concern to the archangels.

Eden エデン The homeland of angels, essentially an insular sanctuary. It floats in the midst of a universe rather unlike our own, where the absolute emptiness of space is substituted with "ether", manna in its rawest form, a type of matter virtually unknown in Heled. The colossal Tree of Life, enigmatically suspended upon the firmament of Heaven, provides the foundation for Eden. After eons of building around the Tree by aralim, Eden has taken on an appearance not unlike a pseudo-futuristic human metropolis, though the similarities are almost entirely superficial. The center of Eden directly surrounding the "trunk" of the Tree of Life, Gan Eden, is considered sacred and remains "undeveloped". The Tree has claimed for Eden a vaguely hemisphere-shaped open area and, where this ends, the "ether" is compressed into a liquid form called Akal'yam. For this reason, the outskirts of the red Edenic plane resemble the shores of an ocean.

Gan Eden ガン・エデン / エデンの園 Long ago, the "Garden" was a vast, womb-like enclosure formed at the very center of Eden by roots of the Tree of Life that grew out and upwards, towards the Tree's crown of branches. A thick wall of interweaving "foliage" essentially melded these roots together into one thick wall, reminiscent of an endometrium, on the side facing the Tree. Within this, angels-to-be -- emanated by Jahweh as naked souls -- would implant themselves, develop a mandorla, and later "hatch"; and from the mandorla's rended shell, the bud of the Fruit of Life would emerge to endow the angel with Jahweh's greatest gift. After becoming complete, newly born angels would emerge from Gan Eden to begin their lives outside. The Gan did not regenerate very quickly, and, as generations of angels were born and left the Garden, it began to visibly erode. Eventually it disappeared altogether, save for the bottom-most section, which is now preserved as something sacred to Eden's denizens. Upon their "deaths" in Heled, the souls of all Apostles and Evas remanifested in the core of Eden, utilizing the skeletal remnants of the Gan to regain their bodies (and, in the cases of the Khevelha, Tehorah, and Sharsheret, the Fruit of Life, as well).

Gehinnom ゲヒノム An elusive shadow-realm residing somewhere within Eden, where Sammael hides himself and his forces upon his return. It is a vast, dark, craggy plane, a labyrinthine landscape of twisted organic forms, where the Lucifer is, strangely, visible overhead. The true nature of this place remains unknown, although it seems to be beyond the dominion of the elohim.

Heaven 天国 The "other side" of the red earthen plane comprising Eden, where the roots of the Tree of Life emerge and generate the mysterious, invisible firmament that suspends Eden safely within Akal'yam and keeps it separately from the "world below". It is said to be impossible to reach Heaven by digging through the red earth issued by the roots, and that the only way is through the Tree itself. The archangels are said to most often convene in the center of Heaven, where shorter roots form a bulb-like cavity that echoes the form of the primordial Gan Eden. Heaven is rumored to be beyond the dominion of Eden's protective forces -- and, as a result, the archangels go to great lengths to keep their younger brethren within Eden proper.

Heled ヘラッド / 地獄 Or, simply, "Hell". Refers to the entirety of the physical universe which Earth occupies -- the "Other Side". However, Earth itself is most often singled out for the title owing to the activities of angelic significance that occurred there. Following Lilith's "death", the planet, and Heled in general, ceased to be much of a concern up above.

Moon 月 The barren satellite of the Earth -- formed as a result of the First Hayah -- and the resting place of Regellah and the Dam'romakh after they are expelled from the planet. Here, the Eva and her inert companion passively awaited the solar system's inevitable destruction, undisturbed for millennia -- until Regellah finally broke the threads of her lonely fate and left Heled. "Moon" also refers to the two giant, hollow spheres that had contained Adam and Lilith -- the White Moon and Black Moon, respectively -- prior to their discovery by Lilim. In the Fourth Hayah, the Black Moon was freed from the Earth and became a vessel within which all Lilim's souls would have been fused into one.

Tebel テベル "The Promised Land". A domain, advocated by Sammael before his exile, said to lie somewhere between Heaven and Hell, the true "Paradise" to which all angels should aspire (accepting the seraph's premise that Eden is the "False Paradise").

Tree of Life 生命の樹 Vaguely reminiscent of, but not to be mistaken with, the "Tree of Life" created by the union of Regellah and Lancea Longini during Fourth Hayah. A giant red "tree" that grows in the exact center of Eden, its roots said to somehow anchor Eden and Heaven together and provide the very foundation upon which Eden is built, its upper branches designating Eden's upper limits. The rather skeletal Tree seen today is apparently a vestige of its former glory as the Throne of Jahweh. The seven bare branches of its crown are said to have once carried feathery white foliage, enough to even block out the Lucifer's "poison light". Specialized roots once grew up towards the crown, forming the bulb-shaped "womb" of Gan Eden -- today, reduced to almost nothing. The Tree of Life is also called "Khay'ets".

This is terminology that has been appropriated, in some way or another, from "NGE" to serve the purposes of "BES". In other words, they might sound similar to the jargon of the anime, but the blurbs here reflect the various "ludicrous" reinterpretations I've made. ;;> I've fabricated "angelic versions" of many of these terms out of neccessity -- what, do you really think angels know or care what an "A.T. Field" or "LCL." is? They've had names for these things long before the Lilim ever existed! (Though, obviously, you might hear the Evas using some of the unfashionable Lilim "slander" from time to time...)

A.T. Field Short for "Absolute Terror Field", the enigmatic "light of the soul". In Lilim, this does little more than act as an ego border to protect the individual's sense of identity. It is also thought to be that which determines and maintains the physical body within which the soul resides, as, when exposed to a so-called "Anti A.T. Field", the bodies of Lilim eventually dissolve into LCL. Among angelic entities, the A.T. Field has the same basic purpose, but it is considerably more powerful and versatile: It can create a barrier blocking the intrusion of both the physical and the energy-based, propel and suspend the bearer in space (jumping, floating, etc.), damage or destroy physical objects, and even allow a unique means of communication. The A.T. Field manifests itself visually in the shape of resonating polygonal (usually either hexagonal or octagonal) "interference waves". The angels call the A.T. Field "ur'nefesh".

Apostles 使徒 / リムディン Known to Lilim as Angels, or shito, #3~16, the brood of Adam who lead existences in Eden without having ever known their progenitor. Upon the creation of their mandorlas on Earth prior to Second Hayah, their souls were summoned to Eden, where they first manifested their physical forms in Gan Eden. Eventually, the archangels gathered the Apostles in Heaven and returned them, one by one, back to Earth, given the mission of rejoining with Adam and, in the resulting cataclysm, destroying the Lilim. However, all of the Apostles failed this task (some on purpose) and remanifested in Eden, but not without memories of the struggles they encountered and the deaths they eventually faced. Aside from originating on Earth rather than, they also differ from Edenites in possessing the Fruit of Life innately -- they were born with it, rather than The Apostles are also called "limmudim".

Contact Experiment 接触実験 The means by which an Evangelion originally obtained a soul. Being as the Evangelions were originally creations of science, they innately lacked souls and were thus mere bodies, lacking true life on a deeper level. Due to their very nature as entities, only through the sacrifice of Lilim mothers could the Evangelions become complete beings, via a process that became known as the Contact Experiment. A selected "test subject" -- chosen from Gehirn's/Nerv's scientific elite, all unified by the prerequisite of motherhood -- entered the body of an Evangelion via the entry plug and, as the procedure's name implies, formed a multilevel neural connection to the Eva's brain. While this served to validate the correct functioning of the entry plug technology, the true purpose of the Contact Experiment was more than that, only ultimately successful if the contact with the Eva destroyed the subject's ego boundary and displaced her soul and mind from her Lilim body into the Evangelion. In the end, everything that had made the subject who she was, save her body, passed to the Eva, essentially making it a divine rebirth, albeit one she would not be permitted to enjoy in full... At least, not until she reached Eden.

Core コア (光球) A feature common to virtually all angelic beings, the shiny red orb that is the center, or nucleus, of their being. Within it resides the angel's soul and very lifeforce -- along with, it is generally thought, their Fruit of Life -- thus the destruction of the core is the only way an angel can truly be killed (a feat impossible in Eden, due to the protective nature of the realm). The core also contains a self-replenishing supply of manna (or, in at least one case, actual LCL), which is occasionally excreted. Interestingly, for many angels, the core is considered a very powerful erogenous zone and, by a variety of methods, can be engaged as a source of physical and spiritual pleasure, making "coreplay" the closest to Lilim-like sexuality most angels will ever get. Of course, this is not so with the Evangelions, who actually possess gender,, but nonetheless find the core indispensible erotically. Oddly, the infant Scions lack visible cores altogether, although it is presumed that they will "emerge" when a higher level of physical development is reached. The angels call the core "sahar".

Entry Plug エントリー・プラグ The socket of the entry plug was the first great mutilation imposed upon an Eva after her creation, a procedure mandated before she could be granted a soul. To create this artificial cavity, which began below the nape and went on an incline down into the chest, part of the Eva's backbone was replaced with artificial bone, forming a void in her spinal cord. Although not 100% effective, this corporeal sacrament was a key element in safeguarding the Eva's servitude -- not only did it interrupt the main neural pathway from the Eva's brain to the rest of her body, it also enabled the Evas to be "piloted" by filling this gap with the entry plug, which contained electrically-charged LCL and the Lilim child intended to play the role of brain for the subdued Eva's body. Ironically, the entry plug originally permitted the Contact Experiment by which each Evangelion became a complete and sentient being to begin with... Through rebirth in Eden, the Evas' bodies were restored to their natural states and thus purged of the Entry Plug socket and every other unpleasant modification imposed upon them. Yui and Diana, however, have to "purify" their bodies through their own innate regenerative powers.

Evangelions エヴァンゲリオン [a.k.a. Evas] Enormous female humanoids created by Lilim using Adam as a framework, requiring the sacrifice of human mothers to give the Evas souls and, hence, true life. Although part Lilim, they are nonetheless true angelic beings, with innate powers rivaling, or even exceeding, the greatest of "pure" angels. After a harsh enslavement by their creators, twelve (or thirteen, depending on whom you ask) Evangelions reached Eden after dying in Heled, the final two by other means. Although fourteen in all, the original five Evangelions are considered the most powerful, epitomized by the great Regellah (who, unlike her sisters, was produced by Lilith's very body). The remaining nine, all exact clones of one another, are the result of significant genetic manipulation and appear very different from the first five Evas in having streamlined, eyeless skulls and comparatively gracile proportions. Liberation in Eden has allowed the Evas to become reacquainted with their inner selves -- save for the younger nine, who are initially trapped in a group mentality, unable to remember their Lilim pasts.

All Evangelions, with the sole exception of the Scion Azrael, are biologically female, although "just barely". The only external sign of their femininity is -- aside from the nucleolae that emerge following childbirth* -- the rather inconspicuous vaginal orifice, all of the fleshy "bells and whistles" of Lilim females completely absent. Their reproductive system seems almost vestigial at first glance, like some kind of biological afterthought, and is inert by default, anything resembling a menstrual cycle altogether absent. Regardless, the Evas possess a very human sex drive, transcending biological necessity but nonetheless a very real need, both psychologically and physiologically. Seeming to compensate for their lack of a clitoris, the Eva vagina is much more sensitive than its human counterpart, possessing two definite "hot spots" (one attributed to the Evas' enlarged prostate gland -- which, yes, female humans apparently do have). (Strangely, though, childbirth for Evas seems less painful than in humans, the opposite of what one would expect.) In addition to this, the entire nuclear region is extremely sensitive and of enormous erogenous potential (as it is in the sexless angels, as well); the core and the four nucleolae all produce unique, and pleasant, sensations when stimulated.

Lacking males of their own kind (at least initially), Evas must be impregnanted asexually, most commonly by "biofusing" with another angel and having the incomplete genome of an ovum completed by the angel's own DNA ("do-it-yourself fertilization"). Oddly, gestation rarely begins immediately, and the fertilized ovum is usually "preserved" in the womb (in one case, for a ludicrous amount of time) until some undetermined stimulus triggers the pregnancy.

* Regellah is the sole Eva to possess surfaced nucleolae before she gives birth, an anomaly possibly attributable to her prolonged physical connection to Lilith.

Fruit of Knowledge 知恵の実 As a counterpart to the Fruit of Life, it is a figurative, abstract idea rather than an actual physical object. In simplified terms, it refers to the technology of Lilim. More specifically, it refers to the deficiencies that led the Lilim to develop science and technology to begin with -- their fragile mortality and fear of death, their desire to both protect themselves from Nature and have it work in their favor, their inherent sloth and arrogance, and, ultimately, their very lack of the Fruit of Life. Of all the lifeforms that developed from Lilith, the Fruit of Knowledge is possessed by Lilim alone. All Evas owe their existence to it, though, once in Eden, they are freed forever from its limitations.

Fruit of Life 生命の実 / ペリー "Peri", mysterious fruit-like objects produced by the Tree of Life for every angel born from a mandorla within the sacred womb of Gan Eden. When devoured (or otherwise assimilated into the body), they, traditionally, provided virtually all angels with the super-solenoid structures that allow them to enjoy physical form without the need for external sustenance (though many angels possess the abilities to eat, drink, etc., if they so desire). The last Fruit were produced upon the rebirths of the three Evangelions (Tehorah, Khevelha, and Sharsheret) who lacked innate super-solenoids -- a sign that, by some governing force or another, the Evangelions were welcome in Eden.

Impact インパクト See Hayah. (First Impact = First Hayah; Second Impact = Third Hayah; Third Impact = Fourth Hayah.)

Kousokugu 拘束具 Literally, "means of restraint" or "bindings", this Japanese term refers to the devices once used to keep the Evangelions subdued and their true power controlled. Most commonly, the term designates the "armor" that covered their entire bodies and served more to muddle the fact that the Evas were alive -- with the public convinced that the Evas were "robots", Nerv's extraordinarily inhumane treatment of them never become an item of scrutiny -- than actually protect their bodies (which was done far better and more effectively with the Evas' A.T. Fields). The "armor" was comprised of hard, metallic plates (covering the head, torso, back, and legs); more flexible, rubbery coverings (neck, feet); and stretchy plastic-like material (on the arms and probably underneath most other kousokugu). A large "pack" on the back protected the Entry Plug socket, linked an external power source to the Eva's nervous system, and contained the "internal battery"; and accessory pylons containing melee weapons were mounted on the shoulders and lower arms.* While the pylons and front pieces of the "helmets" were relatively poorly attached to the Eva, most of the kousokugu were actually bolted onto the skin or otherwise unpleasantly affixed. The kousokugu covered a grotesque array of electrodes implanted into the Eva's skin and wires that had been stapled in place. Suffice to say, upon rebirth in Eden, the Evas are quite glad to be able to go about naked for a change. [* This applies to EVA-00~04 only.]

LCL The amber-colored blood of Lilith, a fluid containing all of the physical components of organic life as we know it. Terran life originally arose from a primordial "soup" of LCL, and, conversely, any organic lifeform can be reduced to LCL under certain conditions. Lilith's "daughter", Regellah, has red blood not unlike the Lilim, though LCL is produced within her core (rather than manna, as with the Evas who died and were reborn in Eden).

Lancea Longini ランケア・ロンギニ / ロンギナスの槍 The "Spear of Longinus", known to the angels as "Dam'romakh". A long, red object essentially solenoid in form, with two large tines on one end which can encoil one another to form a single point. The Spear can serve functionally as a weapon, harboring such incredible power that it can pierce any A.T. Field (indeed, it was used by Khevelha to slay Arael), although it is actually organic in nature, even cloneable. Nine copies (dark blue rather than red, but otherwise similar to the original) were once produced by the Lilim and served as acting elements in Fourth Hayah, although they were destroyed when the Dam'romakh was split into two strands by Regellah. Subsequently, the Spear accompanied Regellah to the Moon and, later, Eden. An unknown party pilfers Lancea Longini from where it is safeguarded outside Gan Eden, although their motivations remain as unknown as the Spear's whereabouts.

Lilim リリム / 人� ﾞ Technically refers to all life on Earth born from Lilith's blood, but, specifically, to humanity or the species Homo sapiens, who evolved to most closely resemble their progenitor -- but then ceased to evolve further. Using three divinities -- Lilith, Adam, and Lancea Longini -- as their instruments, they put into action the Human Instrumentality Project. After instigating Third Hayah, they combined the power of Adam with the human mother to create the Evangelions. The earthly deaths of all fourteen Apostles set into motion the creation of the Shekinah and Fourth Hayah: From Lilith, Adam, Regellah, and Lancea Longini would arise one great being to which the spirits of humanity, freed from their bodies, could return and become one. However, the Lilim ultimately were given the choice between physical existence or a purely spiritual one, resulting in the dissolution of Shekinah. Lilim that had chosen redemption followed Lilith out of Heled, whereas those who chose to remain returned to their bodies and claimed their future on a planet abolished of all deities.

In Eden, Lilim are a mysterious and distant being, known to few others but the Evangelions and Apostles. Like other Terran organisms, they have mortality, a form common to them all, and the ability to propagate themselves, yet they, despite their differences and, it is commonly felt in Eden, utter inferiority, are curiously similar to the angels in both soul and mind. Indeed, Arael speculates -- to the chagrin of many in Eden -- that all angels, to some degree or another, possess an "Inner Human", something deeply innate that forever ties them to the puny bipedal creatures who continue to dwell in Heled, completely and forever unaware of the myriad angels condescending them.

S² (Super-Solenoid) Kikan S² 機関 Mysterious double-coil structures that provide angelic entities with an unlimited source of energy. Essentially synonymous with Fruit of Life. (Kikan means "engine" or "organ".)

A lot of these terms have long been associated with angels in the literature, though it probably goes without saying that the "definitions" here are uniquely my own. In addition, a lot of this stuff has been created from scratch, with the new terminology being derived (perhaps badly) from Hebrew. Strictly speaking, the angels in "BES" communicate on a purely spiritual level, so it's not as if they're actually talking and writing in Hebrew (although some angels do speak and write...). It's an artistic liberty, more than anything else, just thrown in for a level of "consistency" (being as, well, we've come to know the Apostles by their Hebrew-derived names and all). And, well, what can I say -- to a non-native speaker (such as myself), Hebrew sounds cool. ^_^

Akhoth アッホウト A "police force"/sorority whose creation was mandated by the archangels shortly after Regellah's arrival in Eden. Their duty, according to the archangels, is to intercept and prevent occurrences of "angelic vice" by Eden's more reckless factions, with the assistance of the grigori. The group is eventually comprised of Yui (personally appointed the leader by the elohim), Kyoko, Naoko, Barbara, Diana, and Emilie. While an industrious and devout sorority, the true purpose of the Akhoth is a matter of dispute; it is often suspected that the archangels created it primarily "for show" and to keep "the Daughters" busy. Cynicism aside, none of the sisters will deny that there's definitely something the angelic brass isn't telling them.

Anshe'shem アンシェシェム Refers to the very unusual phenomenon of two unique angels sharing, and later emerging from, the same mandorla. Although there are several Anshe'shem in Eden, the term is usually reserved for the infamous duo of Azzael and Azza, the first angels to exemplify the anomaly. While Anshe'shem always chose two completely unique forms for their bodies, they nonetheless feel spiritually connected in a manner akin to many Lilim twins and have a very unique bond with one another. A similar anomaly, exemplified by the limmud Israfel (but observed in Edenic angels, as well), is when two souls become "adhered" to one another and develop a single body within their shared mandorla, only to separate into two unique entities later (with the ability to recombine if the two souls desire it).

Aralim アラリム (Sing.: Aral) The fourth Merkabah choir, set under the archangel Barakiel. They are the "angels of creation", though only of inanimate objects produced via their bodies. These angels -- many of whom bear a superficial resemblance to Terran arthropods -- are responsible for producing every artifice in Eden, a feat that has occurred, slowly, since the aralim were first birthed eons past. Not all aralim choose to create artifices, however -- some use their corporeal output (shephek) to create "raw materials" or "products" which are used by the other choirs.

Archangels アークエンジェル / 大天使 The seven angels who serve as Eden's leaders, also known as the elohim, each "set over" its own angelic choir. For reasons steeped in eons of mysticism, they keep their true identities covert and tend not to deal directly with lower-ranking angels. (Even the grigori, the angels closest to the elohim, have never seen the archangels' true forms.) They gather as a council in Heaven (where no ordinary angel dares go), hiding their angelic identities behind an array of 7-eyed "masks". Being unknown to all but their own, they have essentially nothing to fear -- except from Sammael (and one other...). In matters where their ex-colleague is concerned, the archangels seem mysteriously reliant on their sole "secret weapon", the Evangelions. Despite this dependency, Yui, seeing through their conspicuously select treatment of her, suspects that they tolerate the Evas' presence in Eden far more than they welcome it.

Choir The Lilim term used to designate a major grouping of angels, used here simply for practicality's sake. (The angels refer to the choirs as "todah" -- "praise of Jahweh"!) In Eden, "choir" designates any of the nine generations of angels that were birthed by Jahweh. In the order of their creation, they are: seraphim, kerubim, tarshishim, aralim, ophanim, ishim, khashmallim, marashim, and shinnanim. The Apostles and Evas are sometimes thought to comprise their own choir, though such a classification is not sanctioned by the archangels.

Cyanocytes 青血球 Otherwise known as "blue blood cells", which Kyoko is the sole Evangelion to possess. They are a unique cell type, completely artificial and unrelated to the bluish blood of certain Terran organisms, meant to complement the erythrocytes in human blood and enhance the tissue's physiological performance. As a Lilim, Kyoko had originally begun developing cyanocytes for her pre-Gehirn line of work (with possible super-soldier applications in mind), though once that fell through she brought the theorem to Project E and successfully worked it into the Evangelion genome. Although EVA-02 arguably had an edge or two over previous Evas due to the cyanocytes, Nerv opted for regular blood in subsequent Evas due to the financially unacceptable number of failures that led to Nigouki's creation (though considerably less than the graveyard Gehirn H.Q. had produced for a handful of successful EVA-00's) and "unforeseeable mutations" in the mature Eva, both blamed on Zeppelin's experimentation.

Daughters 娘 Used by the archangels to refer to the Evas, shortened from "Daughters of the Lilim, born from the Fruit of Knowledge". Regellah is also described as Lilith's "daughter", though things between them are ultimately far more complicated.

Grigori グリゴリ / ツァファー A group of angels, largely marashim, who have chosen to sacrifice their free existences in Eden to serve the archangels (and, thus, Jahweh). They primarily watch over Eden and report their observations to the archangels, and, when they are witness to instances of angelic vice, custom dictates that they passively observe rather than intervene. Upon the creation of the Akhoth, they report to both archangel and Eva. Additionally, a few grigori (all marashim) are chosen to serve as the personal "helpers" for individual kasahnim. By forming a temporary bond with their Eva, they attain physical substance and cover the Eva's body protectively like living body armor, also amplifying her A.T. Field with their own. (As helpful as this sometimes is, though, there is a more insidious purpose behind the Grigori "symbiotes".) Like the term "archangel", "grigori" denotes rank rather than choir. The grigori are also called "tsaphim".

Hayah ハヤー Four great cataclysms that affected the planet Earth on a global scale -- three of which were recognized by the Lilim as "Impacts" --, all involving entities with ties to the angels in Eden -- thus making these events worthy of Eden's attention. The First, occurring when the Earth was young and lifeless, marked the arrival of two great beings to the planet, the force of which is said to have created the Moon. The significance of the Second was never recognized by the Lilim, although it was responsible for putting Adam and Lilith into a state of perpetual slumber (and temporarily crippling Earth's ecosystem). The Third Hayah was an event triggered by the Lilim, in which the slumbering Adam was awakened by contact with the Dam'romakh, resulting in the destruction of the White Moon and the melting of Antarctica, the straightening of Earth's planetary axis, and the reduction of Adam to an embryonic state. The Fourth would have created the Shekinah and evolved the Lilim into a state of spiritual unity, but, ultimately, it had somewhat different results.

Illumination イルミネーション The universal "language" of angels, a sort of "telepathy" that utilizes the A.T. Field to transmit thoughts directly. (Arael's infamous powers are actually a juiced-up derivation of this.) All angels -- including Evas -- know how to illuminate instinctively, and the "loudness" and direction of the 'waves' can be controlled with relative ease. Though most angels can intercommunicate without any problems, there are occasional quirks in the system, that is, angels with irregular wave patterns that can only be reliably interpreted by "compatible" angels [Shamshel and Azza are examples of this]. Such deviations aside, illumination is in most ways far superior to other forms of communication, though this hasn't stopped certain sects of angels from creating alternate means of communication, including spoken tongues, to serve their needs. Out of habit, the Evangelions also continue to speak the languages they used in their Lilim lives, while simultaneously illuminating to permit understanding by others. Illumination is also called "ur'dabar".

Ishim イシム (Sing.: Ish) The sixth choir, set under Uriel, dominating the realms of music and creativity.

Jered イェレッド The hero in one of Eden's "folk tales", a winged (and non-angelic) entity who fights off a slew of demonic shetan. A giant statue of Jered and the shetan is a favorite rendezvous spot for many angels.

Kerubim ケルビム (Sing.: Kerub) The second choir, to which Azazel and the Anshe'shem belong. Appearing as predatory chimaeras of various Terran vertebrates, they excel in their ability to rend and destroy and are often, in terms of physical prowess, on the same level as Apostles or Evangelions -- in other words, outdoing virtually all members of other angelic choirs. Unlike all other Merkabah choirs, the kerubim are wholly irreverent towards their lord-creator (and just about everyone else). Most of the kerubim sided with their patron seraph, Sammael, in an ancient conflict and consequently suffered the Nephal.

Kasahnim カサニン (Sing.: Kasahn) "Covered Ones", a term used to refer to the Evangelions before the Edenites knew any better. Even after the Evas arrive in Eden, "kasahnim" continues to be used, the term "Eva(ngelion)" only being recognized by the Evas themselves.

Khashmallim カシュマリム (Sing.: Khashmal) The seventh choir, set under Zadkiel. Physically, they all seem to be "macroscopic" versions of Terran microscopic forms -- giant, sentient mock-ups of the world beneath the scientist's lens. Since they first appeared in Eden eons past, they have specialized in the collection and appropriation of shephek, making them, in a sense, the janitors of the angelic realm. Perhaps appropriate to their "primitive" appearance, they are also the angels most preoccupied with physical pleasure, though never at the expense of spiritual reverence for their creator.

Lucifer ルシファー The enigmatic pupil of light that looms high above the Tree of Life's loftiest branches and the source of most illumination (i.e., light) in Eden. It slowly dilates and contracts in a relatively consistent pattern, establishing the closest thing Eden has to a diurnal/nocturnal cycle. Contrary to popular thought, the term has absolutely nothing to do with Sammael. Also called the Ur'nasah.

Mandorla マンドルラ The "chrysales" from which all Edenic angels and Apostles originally "hatched", large dark "eggs" that protected the angel until its body had assumed its final shape. In Eden, mandorlas formed in the "endometrium" of Gan Eden, whereas in Heled, the Apostles' mandorlas were isolated objects, hatching wherever Adam had deposited them. Each Apostle, interestingly, bore an uncanny resemblance to a human fetus within its mandorla before taking on a completely different form, though it is unknown if the same holds true for Edenic angels. (Interestingly, when the Evas were reborn in Gan Eden, they did not emerge from mandorlas.) When the Evas demonstrate their capacity to birthe, the Edenites, rather whimsically, use "mandorla" to describe their wombs.

Manna マナ The direct angelic equivalent of LCL, a pinkish fluid containing the constituent "ingredients" of an angel's body (once observed by the Lilim to be a type of matter resembling solidified light). As with the Lilim reverting to LCL in Fourth Hayah, certain unusual phenomena related to the A.T. Field can cause an angel's body to reduce to manna. A self-replenishing supply of the liquid surrounds the soul within an angel's core and is occasionally excreted, usually at moments of nuclear expansion (a response to extreme physical excitement or spiritual instigation). However, if for whatever reason an angel's body is completely destroyed, this capacity makes complete corporeal regeneration by the core itself possible (given enough time). Whatever matter originally constituted their bodies, the Evas are reborn in Gan Eden as manna-based as any other angel; Regellah, however, is unique in this regard. Symbolically, the Edenites refer to manna as the "sap of the Tree of Life".

Marashim マラシム (Sing.: Marashah) The eighth Merkabah choir, tied to the archangel Mikhael. Unlike most angels, they possess no core and no substantial body -- they are abstract patterns of light and energy, incapable of truly interacting with most of their world, though they are no less sentient than any other angel. Like their guiding seraph, they exhibit an almost fanatical religious devotion to Jahweh, which only intensified after their god fell silent. Many of the marashim have given themselves to the archangels as grigori.

Merkabah メルカバー Refers to the first eight angelic choirs (seraphim, kerubim, tarshishim, aralim, ophanim, ishim, chashmallim, and marashim) born of Jahweh. It excludes the shinnanim, who were born after Jahweh fell silent. Commonly, the term's usage implies the glorification of the original angels -- who were "in touch" with their Creator and are resultantly "enlightened" -- at the expense of the Ninth Choir.

Nephilim ネフィリム The "fallen ones", all of the angels expelled from Eden in the Nephal. Even after Sammael manages to return to Eden, the other nephilim remain unaccounted for.

Nopheth ノフェト Any jelly- or honey-like shephek produced by angels. More specifically, it refers to the pink gelatinous substance secreted by the papillary nucleolae of Evas for consumption by the Yaliyd (making it an analogue to breastmilk in Lilim).

Nucleolae 小さな光球 (Sing.: Nucleola) The four small core-like structures situated in the nuclear dermis of Evangelions. These are initially hidden beneath the skin and only emerge following gestation, save for in Regellah, who enigmatically possessed surfaced nucleolae from the start. The two situated at either side of the core's base are the papillary nucleolae, analygous to nipples, as they produce nopheth for a brief period following the birth of a Yaliyd. The other two, situated at the top and bottom of the core along a central vertical axis, are normally much smaller and not visible, the top one hidden underneath the flap of skin draped over the top of the core beneath the sternum (the "superior hood"), the lower nucleola obscured by the vertical folds of flesh at the core's bottom. The function of the non-papillary nucleolae is unknown, though they produce pleasant sensations when stimulated.

Ophanim オファニム (Sing.: Ophan) The fifth Merkabah choir, set under Raphael, who specialize in the realms of healing and knowledge. They are luminous entities, often possessing multiple sets of wings, "angelic"-appearing in somewhat stereotypical sense (though rarely possessing any humanlike physical qualities). The ophanim react more positively to the Evas' presence in Eden than most Merkabah angels, possibly due to the fairly neutralistic stance of Raphael himself.

Prostate Gland Most commonly known for the problems they give male Lilim later in life, this gland is found in both sexes of the Lilim, and, naturally, it is there in Evas, as well. Due to the large amount of androgens in their bodies, the Evas develop an enlarged prostate that effectively serves as a vaginal "hot spot". At the peak of physical pleasure -- whether nuclear, vaginal, or both -- Evas seem to consistently emit ejaculate produced by this gland through the urethra. When the gland was originally discovered by Gehirn scientists in autopsies of the "stillborn" prototypes, it was called Ichijo's Gland (after one of Yui's colleagues) before its true nature became apparent.

Rapture The temporary joining of two cores, which allows the separate souls to "fill" each another. For angels, who lack biological sex, rapture is the peak of intimacy and, arguably, far beyond anything humans can experience (outside of the total fusion of souls incured by Instrumentality). Edenic thought does not treat rapture lightly, and using it solely for base hedonism is frowned upon, whereas forced rapture (essentially, spiritual rape) is one of the greatest sins an angel can commit. Rapture seems to be potentially dangerous, as well, and remaining in the state for too long is warned heavily against.

Satanim サタニム (Sing. Satan) "Those who oppose", the title given to Sammael's followers both before the Fall and upon Sammael's return to Eden.

Seraphim セラフィム (Sing.: Seraph) The first angelic choir created, prior to the creation of Eden, and generally considered the most powerful, though comprised of a mere seven individuals. Even to the angels of Eden, the seraphim are notoriously elusive, keeping themselves hidden from sight. In accordance with a number of Edenic legends, however, there is a very good reason for this... The term "seraphim", as used here, is easily confused with "archangel", but "archangel" denotes rank whereas "seraphim" indicates choir; for example, Sammael, although no longer an archangel, will always be a seraph, whereas Metatron, who took Sammael's place in the heavenly council, is an archangel but not a seraph.

Seven Eyes 七つの瞳 The "Seven Eyes of Jahweh", used to refer figuratively to the archangels. (Accordingly, the elohim hide their true forms behind seven-eyed "masks" the few times they show themselves to "lesser" angels.) The fact that the first three kasahnim share seven eyes between them is considered an irrelevant coincidence -- though Lilith's possible possession of seven eyes is, presumably, not.

Sex 性 In the sense of biological gender, something ordinary angels -- true to conventional Lilim wisdom -- do not possess. Close as the angels are, genetically, to Lilim, they lack sex chromosomes and, thus, any sort of reproductive faculties. As Arael will be quick to point out, however, virtually all angels have a sense of gender established deep in their beings -- that is, they innately ally themselves with the male or the female. Or, rather, their soul falls somewhere in a continuum between two polarized points that represent an abstract quality we associate with gender; angels closer to point A are "yin" souls, "female", and those closer to point B are "yang", "male". (Granted, there are those that fall somewhere in the middle.) All nine angelic choirs, along with the Apostles, are sexless. The Evangelions and their offspring are, of course, exceptions, and both Lilith and Adam are generally believed to be "gendered", as well.

Interestingly, during the Shifts, an angels' "gender alignment" manifests itself as an actual biological sex. However, it is worth noting that, even at these times, ordinary angels are fundamentally incapable of reproducing. Even the "siring" of Scions by Apostles is not applicable, as the resultant offspring -- while carrying certain traits of the Apostles -- all have Evangelion bodies. (I.e., Arael cannot make more Araels, Sachiel cannot make more Sachiels, etc.) It is possible that this is a necessary sacrifice made by entities who have partaken of the Fruit of Life: In exchange for the ability to live forever (provided they are not killed), the angels relinquish the genetic immortality attainable by mortal creatures through reproduction. How Lilith, Adam, and the Evangelions manage to curb this limitation remains unknown, and, by some angels, a voraciously sought-after secret.

Shekinah シェキナー The liberating goddess of Fourth Hayah, a form taken by Lilith to collect the divinities of Earth and the souls of humanity (the Lilim) into one singular, perfect being. This goal ultimately failed, and the Shekinah dissolved, freeing Regellah and the Spear of Longinus; and Lilith, taking Adam and the souls that had chosen to remain with her, finally ascended the realm of Heled.

Shephek シェフェック Anything that was once part of an angel but is no longer -- whether shed blood, molted skin, excreted waste, secreted resin, the possibilities go on. Shephek has a special significance in Edenic society for several reasons. Eden is completely self-inclusive and isolated from anything the angels might use as "natural resources"; as a result, they are dependent entirely on their physical forms for all their needs. For example, the angels possess no materials with which to craft artifices or objects except that which they themselves produce (most aralim have a special ability to secrete malleable, but tough, compounds, which is why they are the "architects" of the angelic world). Additionally, Eden is a sterile environment, completely devoid of non-angelic life, which creates a problem with many of the more biological angels, who are constantly shedding and secreting biomass. Without the cleanup crew of decomposers and scavengers that Earth possesses, this type of "waste" shephek must be handled specially. An entire choir, the khashmallim, dedicate themselves to shephek (its collection and its usage) and have developed an entire sub-culture around it -- one which would come across as bizarre, ludicrous, and disgusting by Lilim standards but is just the way of things in the angel world.

Shetan シェタン Demonic entities who appear in an Edenic "folk tale" as the adversaries of Jered. They are often identified with the winged sentinels on the shore of Akal'yam, but precisely why is unknown.

Shift シフト As in "First Shift" and "Second Shift". A largely unexplained phenomenon that occurs at least twice in Eden, lasting approximately 2 days and 60 days each time, respectively. This is, evidently, caused by a unknown modification, or "Shift", in the field containing Eden. In response, the A.T. Field of every entity within drops (reducing its owner's body to manna) and reforms instantaneously to compensate for the Shift. If angels are "humans without human form", through the Shift they attain human form and essentially become Lilim, albeit only for the Shift's duration, after which they revert to their original shapes. The Evangelions, predictably, assume the forms of the bodies that originally contained their souls, whereas highly variable and unpredictable factors dictate the Lilim forms of other angelic beings.

Shinnanim シンナニン The ninth of Jahweh's angelic choirs, they are exempt from the Merkabah. Simply by virtue of the fact that they never enjoyed contact with Jahweh, as the Merkabah did, they are viewed almost condescendingly by the rest of Eden. Granted, taken as a group, they are different from the majority of the Merkabah, combining the insolence of the kerubim with an unusually high degree of awareness of their "Inner Human". Although the shinnanim are the choir with which the Evas (and, to a less prominent degree, the Apostles) can most closely relate, they are, ironically, responsible for most of the disturbances in Eden for which the Akhoth is eventually created to tackle.

Tarshishim タルシシム The third Merkabah choir, tied to the archangel Gabriel. These angels possess bodies formed either of pure energy or by abstract principles, and they spend most of their existences deep in spiritual isolation. Although they dislike interacting with other angels, they can be formidable if instigated.

Yaliyd ヤリード / サイオン Or "Scions". Children of the Evangelions, "sired" by Apostles. Unlike ordinary angels, they do not emerge from a mandorla fully developed, but instead leave the bodies of their mothers in an immature (but biologically independent) state, not unlike a human child. They are physically built like Evas (albeit in an earlier stage of growth, corresponding to a phase in the Evas' artificial, accelerated development in the Lilim laboratories), although, unlike their mothers, the Yaliyd possess navels. They resemble their "sires" only vaguely if at all -- which could possibly change after they mature -- but have nonetheless inherited the innate Super-Solenoid structure (which only becomes active after each Scion is weaned from nopheth). They are, in the order of their birthing: Zukori, Yorkami, Azrael, Kaddasah, Irah, and Kayin.

Each Eva has about three different "names", so I thought I'd throw together a little table to lessen the possible confusion. (BTW, sorry, harpy-fiend fans -- only one from their ranks is important to BES at the moment. ::evil laughter::) FYI:

Nerv Designation: How the Evas were referred to in the original anime. These are almost never used in BES and, the few times that they are, only by the Evas themselves.
Soul Name: The name that the soul inhabiting a particular Eva used when she was a Lilim (and, yes, only two of these are true to NGE canon ;;p). The angels do not recognize these names, but the Evas continue to use them regardless, typically in a sister-to-sister context.
Angelic Name: The name given to each Eva by the angelic community. It's unclear where these names originally came from, but they're considered the "one true name given every entity by Jahweh himself". The Evas have to tolerate their usage in Eden, though they don't necessarily appreciate it (e.g., Kyoko).
Country of Origin: What do you think? ;;>

The archangels and their respective choirs are REALLY hard to keep straight, so I thought I'd make a table for that, too. (BTW, "Marashah" means "principality", in case you're wondering where I pulled that choir from.)

Many of the terms in "BES" exist in a dual format -- i.e., we have two different terms referring to the exact same thing. These come in two main varieties (separated into two tables, below), but trying to explain the difference is rather difficult, so don't worry about it.

Neon Genesis Evangelion, EVA, and associated characters/ideas are the copyright © of Studio GAINAX/Project Eva and intellectual property of Hideaki ANNO. All rights reserved.
[I am but a pitiful fan who utterly respects that ownership.

"Beyond Eden's Shores" Elements page created April 04 2002. Last modified December 11 2004.
All original content © 1996-2004 Rachel K. Clark.
"Evangelion" copyright © GAINAX /Project Eva. All Rights Reserved.

rachel.k.clark@comcast.net

And should you choose to e-mail me, you may call me "Rachel", "Rachel Clark", "Reichu", "Psychotic Freak Person", anything, just call me something! E-mails that are obviously for me that don't actually address me really bother me, strange as it may sound. It's a small request to ask, methinks. But please do e-mail me, long as you have something to say besides
"nice page yor drawings R realy kewl".

Choir #	Name of Choir	Kanji Ver.	Qualities of Choir	Choir's Archangel
1st	Seraphim (sing. Seraph)	神天使	Jahweh's All-Powerful Servants	N/A
2nd	Kerubim (sing. Kerub)	力天使	Strength and Irreverence	Sammael
3rd	Tarshishim (sing. Tarshish)	禅天使	Solitude and Contemplation	Gabriel
4th	Aralim (sing. Aral)	作天使	Building and Dexterity	Barakiel
5th	Ophanim (sing. Ophan)	智天使	Healing and Knowledge	Raphael
6th	Ishim (sing. Ish)	詩天使	Music and Creativity	Uriel
7th	Khashmallim (sing. Khashmal)	喜天使	Pleasure and Jubilation	Zadkiel
8th	Marashim (sing. Marashah)	孝天使	Wrath and Piety	Mikhael
9th	Shinnanim (sing. Shinnan)	異天使	Individuality	Metatron

Nerv Designation	Soul Name	Angelic Name	Country of Origin
EVA-00 (Zerogouki)	Akagi Naoko	Khevelha	Japan
EVA-01 (Shogouki)	Ikari Yui	Regellah	Japan
EVA-02 (Nigouki)	Sohryuu Kyoko Zepellin	Sharsheret	Germany
EVA-03 (Sangouki)	Caraway, Barbara	Tehorah	U.S.A. (Massachusetts)
EVA-04 (Yongouki)	Ischariot, E. Diana	Abedah	U.S.A. (Nevada)
EVA-11 (Juuichigouki)	Mantell, Emilie	Mardani	United Kingdom