brother to Elemak, Mebbekew, and Issib. Nafai is a tall, 18-year-old-boy (14 in "temple years") who clearly hears the voice of the Oversoul in his mind. Nafai and his brothers and father are banished from Basilica and are forced into the desert from a cunning plot conceived by Gaballufix. Volemak urges his four sons to go back to Basilica and retrieve the Index (a tool or index used to retrieve information from the Oversoul). Later Nafai confronts Gaballufix and cuts off his head under the bidding of the Oversoul. Gaballufix Elemak's oldest (half) brother, son of Hosni by Zdedhnoi, and father of Sevet and Kokor by Rasa. He attempts to ally Basilica with Potokgavan against the Gorayni (also known as the Wetheads). More importantly, he tries to draw the city into a war that goes beyond the Oversoul's (failing) mental blocks, and destroy its traditional female-dominated structure with the help of holographically-disguised soldiers that roam the streets. He sets up a plot to kill Volemak, who opposes him; after Volemak and his sons retreat to the desert, they realize that they need the Index, which is in Gaballufix's possession. He is eventually killed by Nafai, who will agonize over this choice and never really forgive himself for it. Rashgallivak Steward to the Wetchik fortune. After Volemak embarks on a series of seemingly ill-advised actions, Rashgallavik takes control of the money. Though his intentions (to protect the Wetchik's funds, as per his job) are originally good, he is overwhelmed by his own power after first becoming the Wetchik himself and then taking over Gaballufix's position. His tenuous hold over Gaballufix's guards is broken by Hushidh. Hosni Volemak's "auntie" (a woman assigned to a boy as he hits puberty, to teach him about sex through example) and, by him, the mother of Elemak. She is also the mother of Gaballufix by Zdedhnoi, who is never mentioned within the series itself, only referenced in genealogy charts. Other children of Hosni's by several different (anonymous) men, whose appearance is also limited to genealogy charts, are Psugal, Azh, and Okhai. Roptat One of the three most influential men in Basilica, along with Volemak and Gaballufix. Gaballufix plots to have Roptat and Volemak killed, and frame Nafai for the crime. Elemak The eldest child of Volemak the Wetchik by Hosni. Half brother to Gaballufix. See also List of works by Orson Scott Card External links About