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Shevat

This article pertains to Xenogears: the sub-database of Xenosaga Wiki.
Shevat
14shevat

Shevat is an airborne mobile nation originally constructed from salvaged Babel Tower and Zeboim[citation needed] material. It resembles a saucer floating in the sky.

Specifics

The capital of the floating country is city of Aphel Aura. A shield protects the mobile civilization from most threats, similar in technology that protects Solaris.[1] Shevat also serves as a sanctuary for demi-humans and those against the global hostilities.[citation needed]

Most of the technology from Shevat comes from that of the ancient Zeboim civilization[citation needed], and the remains of the Babel Tower section of the Eldridge.

Modern Shevat is much smaller in comparison to its 500 year prior counterpart, consisting only of its capital city.

History

In 9226, Shevat is founded atop of Babel Tower, which was formerly a part of the Eldridge.[2] Governed by a council of Elders, Shevat researched the technology within the Babel Tower, expanding their own scientific knowledge.[3] At some point, they became aware of Solaris's existence, and kept a cautious eye on their activities on the surface.

Over time, three scholars came into the employ of Shevat, who came to be known as the Three Sages: Taura Melchior, Gaspar Uzuki, and Issac Balthasar. Sent out around the globe on various missions, the three kept an eye on Solaris' activities, while remaining distant and uninvolved in any surface governments.[4]

Just before the outbreak of the Shevat-Solaris War in 9496, Shevat, wanting to strike back against Solaris, allied itself with a gathering coalition of surface nations, forming the Anti-Solaris Alliance.[5] They declared war against Solaris, beginning the war in earnest days later.[6]

In 9499, Shevat's Elders sent a member of the Shevat Royal Family to Nisan as an emissary. During her stay, the thirteen year old Zephyr was treated with the same level of respect as Sophia, the Holy Mother of the Nisan, who left an enduring mark on Zephyr.[6][7] Zephyr, her escorts, and the Three Sages went on to fight on the front lines, operating as a mobile troop force.[7]

In order to deal a blow against Shevat, Solaris led a direct attack against the country, killing the Imperial family, save for Zephyr.[4]

As the war dragged on, the Elder Council began to desire rule of the surface, which grew complicated by a growing influence of Sophia, and by proxy, Nisan.[6][8][9] Fearing the "people's will" would be with Sophia instead of Shevat, the Elders made a deal with the Gazel Ministry in Solaris: in exchange for the Nisan rebel army and Sophia, Shevat would be granted a division of rule over the surface. In return, Shevat would take Myyah Hawwa, who had similarly become a thorn in the Gazel Ministry's side.[10][11]

Later, as Solaris forces surrounded the last of the Nisan rebel forces, including Zephyr, Sophia rammed the Excalibur into theMerkava, sacrificing herself to give everyone a means to retreat, as well as attempt to end the war.[12][13]

Zephyr, accompanied by her allies, soon returned to Shevat, where they overthrew the council of Elders.[4] With the nomination of Roni Fatima and the three Sages, Zephyr acceded the throne, becoming the Queen of Shevat.

In 9501, Myyah, having secretly wanted the trade in order to get into contact with Lacan, was soon freed by him before he set off in search of the Zohar.

In 9505, Queen Zephyr restored Shevat.

At some point in time, Shevat became the home of the Chu-Chu species.

Xenogears

During Xenogears, Shevat aides Nisan again by going to war with Solaris. Unfortunately, Shevat's military structure was severely crippled by Solaris' attacks on the mobile city.

During the most recent attack by Solaris, the party is forced to go through emergency shafts and stairways to access the hangar.

During the resurrection of Deus, Shevat was destroyed, and its remnants crashed near the south pole where it is known as the "Snowfield Hideout". Most of the population, including Queen Zephyr and her Sage advisors, survived.

Characters from Shevat

Etymology

Shevat, like the names of many places in Xenogears, is derived from the Hebrew calendar. In this case, Shevat is the 5th month of the civil year or the 11th month of the ecclesiastical year.

Shevat may also be derived from the concept of "Shevirat haKelim" or "The breaking of the vessels" from the Lurianic Kabbalah.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 48.
  2. ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 14.
  3. ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 20.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Perfect Works pg. 193.
  5. ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 22.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Perfect Works, pg. 15.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Perfect Works, pg. 23.
  8. ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 23.
  9. ↑ ZEPHYR: "Shevat instigated a battle 500 years ago to gain our independence from Solaris. However, we became overcome with the lust for power..."
  10. ↑ ZEPHYR: "Fearing the war-torn people's will would no longer be with Shevat, but with the Nisan Mother... and that the people would assemble under Sophia... ... the Council of Elders of Shevat back then, made a deal with Solaris."
  11. ↑ ZEPHYR: "Fearing the increasing power of the masses assembling in Nisan, the Gazel Ministry schemed to hand over to us their antagonist, Miang, and promised a division of the rulership over the earth's surface. But in exchange... We had to give them the rebel army that had assembled in Nisan and also their patron, Sophia..."
  12. ↑ Perfect Works, pg. 165.
  13. ↑ ZEPHYR: "And then, the rebel forces' flagship appeared with Sophia on board. She sacrificed herself so as to create a path for our retreat... Sophia's ship headed straight for the enemy's main ship on a suicide attack. Thanks to Sophia's sacrifice, we were able to survive."