“ Every now and again, the region encounters a dense blue fog. Every now and again, things disappear into the fog never to be seen again and things appear out of it from other places or world. It seems the fog is the material form of some minor diety charged with moving things around the universe to balance cosmic forces.”
“ On a planet with an ammonia atmosphere, that is inhabited by intelligent aliens, the police carry oxygen spray, that has the same effect on that planet that pepper spray does here.”
“ Carnival revelers wear masks and concealing clothes. (Wearing of masks in Venice was first documented in the late 1200s) It allows for the social classes to mix, easing social tensions.”