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Istanbul Stories
“To venture the darkness one needs only an enlightened soul.” / From The Book of Dark Worlds
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Istanbul Stories is the tale of a once professional thief who ventures into the miles long tunnels beneath Istanbul hoping to find treasure. He soon discovers that the only thing he will find is an inescapable nightmare. Following his wife’s senseless suicide Tarik wishes to distance himself from his shady past and is made an irrefutable offer by an
old friend. He has been promised comfort beyond belief and a dream from which he may never awaken; for his old friend Salih has found “The Book of Dark Worlds” and wants to share with Tarik.
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The Book of Dark Worlds
 This tome was hand-written in the language of the Ottomans in mid-15th Century by a scientist/historian who was trying to reach Teh-i Çah (The bottom of the well). According to what has been recorded within the book, this person eventually finds Teh-i Çah but is never seen aboveground again.
It seems he wrote this book while underground in a span of eight years to enlighten, so to speak, those who would hold it in their hands. Using the dried skin of Kul (Vassals) as pages and their blood as ink he composed the book. Soon before he departed entirely from the realm of the living, he placed the book within Hamal (The Hauler). Hamal, a century later, would come alive and bring with it up to the first level; “The Book of Worlds Without Light.” The book itself talks at length about truths which are contradictory to human nature and are beyond the known laws of science.
Teh-i Cah (7th Floor of The Dark Worlds)
The road to Teh-i Cah is sometimes considered symbolic of life for some. People will go through seven different stages throughout their lifespan and will eventually reach its end. This is why it is incorrectly considered that once one fast-tracks towards Teh-i Cah that the only thing they will discover is the “death” that awaits all at the end of their lives. The only ones who know truly what is at the end of Teh-i Çah are those who are able to reach “the end”.
There are seven levels, or stages, on the way to Teh-i Cah and there is only one entrance. Each level is occupied by a variety of physical and spiritual creatures.
"There is great treasure to be found in Teh-i Çah, and it can only be found by those enlightened in the darkness "
- From The Book of Dark Worlds
HAMAL (The Porter)
 Hamal is considered the earliest form of lift/elevator on Earth. It moves in a unidirectional path (downwards) through the levels. It’s origins in regards to who built it and when it was built are lost in the pages of history but it is considered to be possibly sentient or alive by some. This lift, moved by mechanical means utilizing gears and chains, will reset itself every century to its highest level. It is believed that this machine, constructed of pure gold, was used to transport those who had been banished to the world beneath.
"It will wait you out,
to ensure you cannot tell those above what is to be found below"
- From The Book of Dark Worlds
The Creatures of the Dark Worlds
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Mohafiz (The Ancient Guardian)
Muhafiz were Byzantian exiles in origin. Driven underground during the end of the Byzantine Empire’s reign by the Ottoman conquerors these Christian Paladin’s would soon be transformed by their newfound surroundings. “The Book of Worlds Without Light” speaks of the great slaughter that would take place on the day the Muhafiz rise from the underground to exact their revenge. |
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Qhul (The Vassal)
These creatures, who supplied the ink and pages of “The Book of Dark Worlds” with their blood and skin and are referred in the book as “Vermin servants of Ahde’b, are said to be a amalgam of rat and human. Although their environs and life cycles in their current form are not well documented, it is believed that they were once people who ventured into depths of the underworld but who, for one reason or another, could not escape. |
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Ahbel (Ottoman's Idiot Soldiers)
Crazy, deranged and, he who is without mind are synonyms to Ahbel. A soldier of the Ottoman Empire, after showing great prowess on the battlefield, could volunteer to join this division of lunatics. Their senses of hearing, sight, etc. were dulled down to nothing and would eventually lead them into madness. Deployed to the underworld during the Ottoman Empire’s reign this division was abandoned there during it’s fall. |
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The Dark Bride
The spirit realm’s most dreaded habitant, The Dark Bride was once a normal human being. When the minion Ahde’b stole away her only child to the underworld the Bride followed in its footsteps and abandoned everything above in pursuit. After killing herself in anguish and guilty she was found at the mouth of a dried-up old well by Ahde’b and made his bride. In unending suffering she haunts the underworld and has merged with the darkness of her surroundings at heart for The Dark Bride has not stopped crying in centuries. |
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Al Qizi
The daughter of The Dark Bride in the spiritual realm, Nameless Girl has never been accepted in that role. This is why she’s referred as the Nameless Girl. She is a demonic creature and will play with her prey as a child would play with his or her toys. Her eyes are bright enough to enlighten the abyss but one look into those eyes will envelope the victim in their worst nightmares and will eventually lead to them losing their mind.
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