This FAQ, like most things in overanalysis, began with a simple question and snowballed from there. In this case, that question was "How could Yggdrasil have emulated and reconstructed the universal Superstring?" The only scientifically plausible answer to this question led to the realization that the true nature of Yggdrasil, Heaven, and goddesses like Belldandy must be quite different from what most people think. This discovery fueled the desire to discover what other revelations were hidden among the tidbits of information about angels, etc. scattered throughout the manga.

   In the spirit of Fujishima's love for hard physics, this FAQ will attempt to form a cohesive, scientifically rigorous (as rigorous as possible - this is fantasy, after all) picture of the reality which Fujishima has created for his characters. Some of the information in this FAQ is taken directly from canon, while other information is inferred from canon. The inferred portions represent the simplest and most likely explanations for behavior in the manga, based upon our current understanding of the physics of this universe. This FAQ will attempt to remain layman friendly. In other words, ordinary people will hopefully be able to understand most of it.

   Belldandy or simply the term "goddess" will often be used in illustrations in this FAQ. Such references should be taken as meaning all gods and goddesses. Also, unless stated otherwise, most of this information will hold true for the demons (such as Mara) in the series.

   This FAQ is solely based upon the manga. The OVAs and movie present somewhat different realities which will not be examined here. However, most of the information here will apply to the OVA and movie realities. Also, this FAQ is meant to be a "this is how things work in AMG" document. It is not intended to provide general information about the characters in the series. That information is readily available on the web.

The following naming conventions will be used in this FAQ:
Mara = Marller (Spelled "ma-ra" in katakana)
Velsper = Welsper (Spelled "ve-ru-su-pa" in katakana) Dark Horse uses Velsper, and the V spelling encourages proper pronunciation for English speakers.
Nidheg will be used for the demons' computer system. (Spelled "ni-do-he-gu" in katakana)

   Despite what one might assume from the light-hearted tone of "Oh My Goddess!" and its roots in Norse mythology, the AMG universe is in fact based upon the same laws of physics and works in the same way as our own universe. Things like string theory and black holes, and names like Maxwell and Schrodinger are encountered throughout the manga. Arthur C. Clarke once said "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." Kosuke Fujishima has taken this very much to heart in AMG. What appears to be magic is in fact an application of an incredibly advanced technology, one which still follows the rules of physics as we understand them. Besides liking motorcycles, it seems Fujishima also has a thing for hard physics.

   To understand how a goddess like Belldandy does things in AMG, you first have to understand what the universal superstring is and how it works. During the Terrible Master Urd story arc, we encounter the "universal superstring." We are told that if the universal superstring is cut, the universe will cease to exist. So, what is the universal superstring and why is it so important to the existence of the universe?

    According to the branch of physics called string theory, the universe is made up of lots and lots of tiny loops of string with radii of approximately the Planck length (approx. 10e-33 cm). These strings are, in fact, every elementary particle (quark, lepton, etc.) in the universe, so there are zillions of them. String theory was developed as a way to reconcile observed behavior described by Einstein's theories with quantum mechanics (the study of how really tiny things like electrons work). String theory led to M theory* which in physics circles is the currently leading candidate for developing the long sought Theory of Everything.

   Nobel prize winning physicist Richard Feynman put a twist on string theory once in a lecture by supposing that, instead of zillions of individual loops of string, there might be only ONE loop of string. This string, in Feynman's example, would "paint" the universe like the electron beam in a TV set paints the image on the screen, becoming sequentially every elementary particle in the universe. Of course, such a string would have to move, as someone once said, at a god-like (pun intended) rate of speed. Also, since the universal superstring would be, in fact, the entire universe, if it were cut...you understand the problem.

   If this is confusing, then picture an image on a TV screen. In Feynman's example the universe is not the screen itself, but the image (picture) being presented. Now, in a standard TV that picture is made up of little red, green, and blue dots (phosphors) which are selectively lit up by a stream of electrons from an electron gun located at the back of the TV's picture tube, and which together form the image we see. In our example those dots are elementary particles, the universe is the image, and the universal superstring is the stream of electrons which light the phosphors to create the image. Now, in a TV if you can control the electron stream, then you can make the image look like anything you want. That's what Yggdrasil does. It controls the universal superstring just like the signal from the TV station (or VCR or DVD) tells the electron beam what picture to paint on the screen. Therefore, everything which exists in the universe can be affected by Yggdrasil. In fact, problems in Yggdrasil can be reflected as problems in this universe, things such as unexplained earthquakes, etc.
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*The Universal Superstring chapters came out several years before M theory was first postulated and even before 11 dimensional supergravity was generally accepted, so those familiar with such things will have to make allowances.

   Yggdrasil is the computer system of the gods. It is Located in Heaven and runs reality, at least the reality of this universe.

  Yggdrasil can both emulate and reconstruct the universal superstring. Therefore, it is likely that Yggdrasil controls our universe by manipulating the universal superstring. Although this is stated outright in Studio Proteus's translation for the Dark Horse manga, it is not stated outright in the original Japanese. However, it is the only reasonable explanation for certain events during the Terrible Master Urd story arc.

   In V6 Ch39, the Ultimate Destruction Program/Lord of Terror (UDP/LoT) says that after destroying this universe, he will construct a new one. Contrast this with V6 Ch36, when the LoT had no idea how to destroy the universe before Keiichi blurted out the existence of the UDP. Yet once the LoT combined with the UDP it not only had the power to isolate the universal superstring (so it could cut the string with Skuld's 10 dimensional scythe), but to also create a new one. Since the UDP is a program running on Yggdrasil*, Yggdrasil must have the ability to isolate and construct a universal superstring. After the universal superstring was cut, the universe did not cease to exist. Therefore, something had to be emulating the superstring. Since Yggdrasil can isolate and reconstruct the universal superstring, it is probable that it was also emulating the superstring. The only other candidate for emulator would be Kami-sama himself, but there is no evidence to indicate that he possessed either the ability or the intent to do such a thing.
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   *The UDP must have run on Yggdrasil because Yggdrasil was adversely affected by the UDP (V6 Ch41) even though the UDP/LoT never attacked Yggdrasil. But why didn't Heaven simply terminate the UDP? Without Urd, Heaven doesn't have the expertise (see the Velsper story arc) to fight a powerful program like the UDP on Yggdrasil itself and therefore had to rely on the one-shot prepackaged vaccine, Midgard, to kill the UDP.

   In addition to Urd and Skuld, there are about a dozen computer operators (V17 Ch99) who lack goddess markings but have duties which include monitoring the system. Belldandy and Peorth have some experience with the system as well, and may stand in for Urd and Skuld when they are not available or need the help. This is illustrated in V16 Ch95 when Urd is wondering why Peorth isn't there to help, and then is ready to chew her out for dereliction of duty in V17 Ch101. Similarly, Urd declines Belldandy's offer of help with the system in V16 Ch94, saying that Belldandy should stay with Keiichi because of the contract.

   On a final note, apparently Yggdrasil cannot be administered from our universe. Urd and Skuld always return to Heaven when they need to work on Yggdrasil.

   The counterpart to Yggdrasil on the demon's side is Nidheg, first mentioned in V22 Ch136. Although Yggdrasil and Nidheg are connected in some way, the nature and extent of that connection is not known. Demons are not allowed to hack Yggdrasil, and will be punished by their own high council for doing so. The punishment for hacking is severe. In V17 Ch101 Velsper's sentence for hacking Yggdrasil was removal of all powers and reincarnation as a Level 4 life form (non-sentient species of animal, in this case a cat). Usually, such reincarnation supresses one's intelligence, but in Velsper's case he cursed himself so he would remember (V21 Ch134).

   Heaven and its inhabitants exist in another universe, completely outside of this universe and all associated parallel and pocket universes such as those postulated by the Ekpyrotic alternative to the Big Bang theory. We know this because Yggdrasil was able to emulate the universal superstring after the universal superstring was cut. Therefore, Yggdrasil cannot be something which is created by the universal superstring. After all, even Yggdrasil cannot emulate itself. It must be created by another universal superstring, which means it exists in a separate universe completely unrelated to this one and its universal superstring. Yggdrasil is in Heaven, so Heaven must also exist in that separate universe.

2G. IS HEAVEN'S UNIVERSE SIMILAR TO OUR OWN?

   Yes and no. According to string theory our universe is 10* dimensional. However, looking around at our universe we only see 4 dimensions: length, width, height and time. Somehow, when our universe formed the other 6 dimensions never expanded along with the 4 we can see. You can think of them as being tied up in very tiny knots on the 10 dimensional superstring. They're still there, just too small to see. However, since Yggdrasil was able to emulate and reconstruct the 10 dimensional superstring it must be at least 10 dimensional itself. Moreover, those 10 dimensions must be fully expanded, unlike in our own universe which has 6 unexpanded dimensions. You cannot fabricate things in dimensions which you can't access. Since Yggdrasil is in Heaven, Heaven must also exist in at least 10 dimensional space. In other words, all of Heaven exists in a universe in which all 10 dimensions of its superstring have expanded.** Looking at pictures of Heaven, it's likely that forces such as 10D gravity work a little differently from our 4D versions. In this sense, Heaven is a very different place from our own universe.
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*  Again, these chapters came out in the early 90's. Those familiar with the 11 dimensional model and M-theory will have to make allowances.
** Heaven's universe could have more than 10 dimensions, but this would add unnecessary complexity. This FAQ will assume 10 dimensions, just like our own universe.

   Belldandy comes from Heaven. Since Heaven exists in a universe with 10 expanded dimensions, Belldandy is a 10 dimensional being (9 spatial dimensions, 1 time dimension) in the sense that we are 4 dimensional beings (3 spatial dimensions, one time dimension). In V5Ch33, Belldandy explains to Keiichi that the true forms of the goddesses have more than 3 dimensions. In V6 Ch39, Skuld creates several 10- dimensional devices with no special equipment, indicating she must consist of at least 10 expanded dimensions.

   Since Belldandy is a fully 10 dimensional being, she cannot be constructed by our superstring which can only create 4 dimensional beings with 6 unexpanded dimensions. However, Yggdrasil is fully 10 dimensional and can emulate our superstring. Therefore, it would be easy for Yggdrasil to insert Belldandy into our universe and maintain her true form here. This is supported by V6 Ch41 where Belldandy tells Keiichi that Yggdrasil is the support system for goddesses while in this universe. Transport mediums, the mechanisms by which goddesses arrive from heaven, will be discussed later in this FAQ.

   Since Belldandy is a fully 10D being she cannot fit into our 4D universe. Instead, she must exist in hyperspace (from our universe's point of view) which raises the question of how Keiichi can see or touch her at all. For this discussion, let's forget about the time dimension and talk spatial dimensions, 9D Belldandy vs. this 3D universe. Consider what happens when I push my 3D hand through the 2D plane formed by a surface of water. Part of me now intersects that plane. If there were a 2D being existing in that plane it would be able to see the cross section of my hand which intersects its space. Similarly, Belldandy is visible from our 3D space as long as her hyperdimensional body intersects our space.

   Now consider what happens when I remove my hand from that surface plane of water. From the point of view of the beings in that plane I have left their universe. My hand may in fact be hovering just above the water's surface, but they have no way of knowing that. From their point of view, I have left their space and entered hyperspace. Similarly, Belldandy can still be right next to Keiichi from her point of view but invisible, in hyperspace from Keiichi's point of view.

   But why fade at all? As long as Belldandy doesn't remove herself from intersecting with 3D space she shouldn't disappear, right? Apparently not. In V5 Ch33, Belldandy explains to Keiichi that it takes some energy for her to remain visible from 3D space. If she stops expending that energy she will fade from 3D space, though she will still be near Keiichi. Therefore, there must be a force trying to eject her from our space or perhaps our universe is drifting through hyperspace relative to Belldandy.

   Yes, though the extent of any effect is limited and somewhat unpredictable. Returning to the surface of water analogy, if the beings in that 2D plane were to destroy a chunk of my hand which intersected their universe, I would feel the pain. If they were to completely obliterate the portion of my hand in their universe, my hand would be cut in half. However, their 2D universe and my 3D hand are only separated by one dimension. If the difference were 2 dimensions, I would only have a hole drilled through my hand. 3 dimensions and I would only have a point affected. In Belldandy's case the difference is 6 dimensions, meaning effects on her true form are miniscule and at least to some extent unpredictable (a quantam-Like effect, perhaps?). For example, in V15 Ch90 Urd can only become drunk from alcohol, while Belldandy is immune to the intoxicating effects of alcohol but easily gets drunk from cola. While emerging from a hot cup of tea (V5 Ch32) may be painful, neither Skuld nor Urd take any damage from it. In V8 Ch50 jellyfish stings don't bother the goddesses, so goddesses are immune to at least some poisons. In general, from Urd's comments on potions throughout the manga but particularly in V9 Ch54 it's plain that divine beings and humans can react very differently to chemical substances, even magical ones.

   Taking this to an uncomfortable extreme, it is unlikely that even a nuclear or antimatter explosion would have much of an effect on Belldandy. Even if she didn't take defensive measures, all particles and energy released by such an explosion would be 4 dimensional, and even 4D antiparticles wouldn't react in any significant way (if at all) with Belldandy's 10D atomic structure. In short, there doesn't seem to be much in this universe which could pose a physical threat to Belldandy or even to a relatively powerless goddess like Skuld.

   An interesting side note is that demons seem to have special vulnerabilities. In V4 Ch29 we learn that demons are allergic to good luck charms, though the effects can be shielded against. Half demons, at least in Urd's case, don't seem to be affected by good luck charms. However, listening to certain types of music can incapacitate a demon (V4 Ch28) or a half demon in the case of Urd.

   The discussion here will assume Belldandy is wearing her power limiter earring and isn't using her angel. Without her limiter, she could accidentally destroy the planet or worse (V5 Ch36). Angels also significantly boost power levels as well as decrease reaction times. Power limiters and angels will be discussed later in the FAQ.

   Even with their true power limited, the hyperdimensional nature of goddesses combined with Yggdrasil's control of the universal superstring put Belldandy's abilities on a level that is truly god(dess)-like.

   We've seen how inherently tough Belldandy is due to her hyperdimensional nature, so now let's look at the other side of the coin. How powerful are her attacks? Attacks come in basically 3 forms in AMG:

PHYSICAL ATTACKS: A punch, kick, whatever. Belldandy uses her power unconsciously to augment the natural strength of her 3 dimensional form. Without this augmentation Belldandy is as strong as a normal girl of her size, as seen in V18 Ch105. With it, the limits of her strength and endurance are unknown. Urd and Mara have demonstrated superhero level physical strength and resistance to physical damage, but again their limits in this regard are unknown. For example, in V5 Ch35 Mara is uninjured after being blown out of a cave. In V11 Ch64 Mara's body is slightly injured and Devil Urd is uninjured by a magical explosion which completely destroys the building they're standing in, and later Demon Urd hits God Urd very hard (judging from God Urd's straight line trajectory) yet her body is uninjured. In general, however, both goddesses and demons prefer to avoid physical attacks. Goddesses from the Combat Division are an apparent exception to this. In Ch163 Rind is very physical in her fighting, using both weapons and martial arts.

ENERGY BLASTS: Consider when Belldandy fires an energy blast at Mara (presumably Mara's been threatening Keiichi again - Belldandy rarely uses attack magic). It doesn't look like much to us, but remember that we see only the 3D intersection of that attack. Since the energy from the attack is making no effort to remain visible to us, that intersection would normally be very small. In other words, most of the energy of the attack is undetectable by us.

   The hyperdimensional nature of Belldandy's attacks makes them especially difficult for anything from our universe to defend against. Consider the case of a device behind a force shield. Since Belldandy's blast is hyperdimensional, it can easily bypass the shield. To illustrate this, consider a circle drawn on a piece of paper. The paper represents a 2D universe and the circle represents a shield in that universe. Obviously, nothing in that 2D universe can get inside the circle without passing through the shield. However, it is easy for me as a 3D being to enter the circle or toss something into the circle from above without touching the shield. It is just as easy for Belldandy to bypass shields and other physical impediments from this universe.

SPELLS: The spell of a god or demon in AMG is actually a program running on Yggdrasil (or Nidheg for demons). This makes Belldandy's spells incredibly powerful in this universe. Yggdrasil controls the universal superstring and thereby the definition of everything in this universe. Therefore a spell, while requiring more time and effort on Belldandy's part than a punch or energy blast, is virtually unstoppable by anything in this universe. Returning to our original TV analogy for the universal superstring, nothing in this universe can resist a spell from Yggdrasil (or Nidheg, apparently) any more than the image on a TV screen can resist becoming whatever the video signal tells it to become. Therefore, it doesn't matter at all to Mara if the person she's changing into a lawn ornament is Keiichi or Superman. The only conceivable defense would be for the target to issue a counter order to the universal superstring in order to override the instructions from Yggdrasil. Note that souls transcend the universe so the target retains consciousness and is aware of their changed state unless the spell specifies otherwise. Note also that even Superman as a lawn ornament wouldn't have any more super powers than a regular lawn ornament.

   How difficult are spells? Skuld is only now attaining the ability to generate basic spells such as levitating small objects. The most powerful spells must be sung and have many, sometimes hundreds of, parts which must be sung in step with each other. They require either a highly skilled goddess to sing all the parts, or multiple less-skilled goddesses. They also often involve a mandala of some sort. Mandalas are often complicated and require considerable time and effort for your average goddess to complete.

   Given their hyperdimensional nature and ability to manipulate the universe at will, it is no wonder that even with sealed powers the behavior of AMG's goddesses and demons is so closely monitored by both sides. If it were not, this universe would have ceased to exist Long ago.

   According to Peorth in V21 Ch132 the goddesses have always existed and will always exist. However, given the fact that Belldandy was born at some point, goddesses apparently go through different incarnations during the course of their existence. The manga strongly suggests that the goddesses' current incarnations will live for several thousand years. For example, in V5 Ch34 Urd's license is suspended for 50 years because she tells too many lies. In V7 Ch47 Belldandy says that Urd may not be allowed to return to Earth for 1000 years.

   There is no information as to how long the goddesses have been alive in their current incarnations.

   Goddesses are native to Heaven's universe and do not seem to require a specialized energy source while there. However, a goddess cannot function well on the raw energy of this universe. This is probably due to the fact that there are no fully 10 dimensional energy sources in this universe. While they are here, Yggdrasil works as a support system for the goddesses (V6 Ch41), taking raw natural energy from this universe (used by nature spirits, mortals, etc.), refining it, and making it available to the goddesses. This is very important since if a goddess or demon depletes her energy past a certain point, she risks illness or even death. In V6 Ch37 Mara says she will die if she gives all her power to Fenrir. In V9 Ch53 Belldandy almost dies after using too much of her power (moonrock bracelet chapter) with a high level spell. In V9 Ch54 Belldandy becomes seriously ill from the effects of the power drain in Ch53.

   If Yggdrasil crashes badly enough to affect the most basic of its functions, this supporting energy flow ceases and the goddesses in this universe (ones in Heaven don't seem to be affected) must rely on their own alternate sources of energy (Belldandy = sleep, Urd = sake, Skuld = ice cream). A temporary solution to this problem is to supply each goddess with a moon rock, which for a limited time will refine enough energy for a goddess to function at a basic level. A moon rock is just what it appears to be, a rock either from the moon itself or an artificially manufactured copy. As Keiichi finds out in V6 Ch41, the shape of the rock doesn't matter, but the chemical composition and method of manufacture (metamorphic process - heat and pressure) do.

   While it's clear that Belldandy can eat and drink when she wants to, the evidence strongly suggests she has no need to. She is often seen with a cup of tea but never makes a meal for herself when she feeds Keiichi, nor does he offer her any of his (actually he did once in the early manga, but she didn't take him up on the offer). In V18 Ch106 Urd mentions that even powerless, Belldandy will be fine without food or water for a week, but Keiichi might die. Urd enjoys consuming alcohol and Skuld enjoys consuming ice cream, but those are their alternate energy sources. It is understandable that they would enjoy them and consume them even when they had no specific need.

   A goddess dissolves her old outfit on a molecular level and assembles a new one every time she changes clothes. It is likely that even Skuld does this since she, like the other goddesses, never wears the same outfit twice. It is also possible that she constructs her outfits without magic, as she does her mechanical devices, or keeps an extensive wardrobe in the same place where she stores those bombs.For the record, we have seen Belldandy, Urd and Mara dissolve and recreate their clothes. In V9 Ch55, Urd is even half way through dissolving her outfit when she changes her mind and reassembles it.

CLASS refers to the power level and skill of a goddess in performing pure magic. Urd's skill with potions and Skuld's skill with technology apparently don't count. A goddess first class is both powerful and highly skilled in using that power, while a goddess second class will have less power and/or less skill. Urd is an interesting illustration of this, as she is much more powerful than first class goddess Belldandy yet is a goddess second class because of her lack of control. Goddesses first class also have more restrictions on their behavior than goddesses second class. For example in V1 Ch1 Belldandy says a goddess cannot lie, though this rule may be bent slightly since Peorth tells "little white lies" on occasion. A goddess second class can get into trouble if she tells enough lies as Urd does in V5 Ch34, but isn't apparently held to as high a standard as a goddess first class.

CATEGORY refers to the type of job a goddess has. First category is administrative, while second category is commercial. Administrative may refer to administrators of Yggdrasil, but more likely refers to general administration in Heaven. The Commercial designation apparently indicates goddesses such as Belldandy and Peorth who work with customers, i.e. grant wishes. There is at least one other category, called "Special Duty". Members of the Combat Division are in this category.

LIMITED/UNLIMITED apparently refers to the scope of actions a goddess is allowed to take. It doesn't seem to be related to the power level a goddess is allowed to use, but rather to how she can use that power. For example, in V2 Ch14 Belldandy says that Class 2, Limited goddess Urd is not allowed to conduct surveillance.

   Demons and some earth spirits also have classes, though it isn't clear if they have categories and limitations.

Goddess markings contain programs which define who they are, as explained in V6 Ch41. The marking in the center of the forehead also functions as an I/O device as seen in V1 Ch1, communicating with Yggdrasil in Heaven. Goddesses are apparently always in contact with Yggdrasil through their markings, even while in this universe.

Demon markings also define who they are, though it is unclear whether demons share an intimate link with Nidheg the way goddesses are linked to Yggdrasil.

There is apparently hyperdimensional information imbedded in the markings which enables gods, demons and even some earth spirits to recognize rank (First Class, Second Class, etc.). For example, in V7 Ch45 the Earth Spirit Third Class which guards Megumi's apartment recognized Mara's markings as those of a demon first class even though in Ch166 Rind's instructor has what appear to be the same markings as Mara.

   No. Urd's domain is the past, Belldandy's is the present, and Skuld's is the future, but no other goddesses have specific titles that label them as "Goddess of ___". Neither Peorth nor Rind have domains or titles, and neither do Mara or Velsper. Domains don't seem to have that much to do with the day-to-day responsibilities of Urd, Belldandy, or Skuld. They are clearly linked with these domains as Belldandy explains in V6 Ch41, but Belldandy isn't normally referred to as "Goddess of the Present".

   Despite the fact that they don't control the fates of the gods, the sisters still carry the title of Norn (V5 Ch33) which is held in high regard by Heaven (Ch156).

   The purpose of a seal is to "bottle up" something. Seals always appear as physical devices. They may take the form of a mirror, a ball, etc. A seal can be designed to allow the sealed entity to remain conscious or not, and to communicate with unsealed beings or not. A seal can be made to remain in effect for any length of time, or indefinitely. V10 Ch61 contains a lot of information about seals.

   In general, a seal must be made specifically for the thing it is to seal. For example, a seal made to restrain a goddess will not hold a demon (at least not for long) and vice versa. In V11 Ch63 a seal made for goddess/demon hybrid Urd held her goddess half for only a short time before failing, even though her goddess half was unconscious and weakened at the time, unable to fight the seal. A seal can also fail if a powerful artifact is sealed along with the goddess. In V4 Ch27 Belldandy reasons that she will be able to break Mara's seal because she is holding the Gods' CD.

   These special seals are worn as jewelry and serve to safely limit the true power of a goddess. Without such a limiter, a goddess might accidentally destroy the planet. They are often in the form of an earring (V5 Ch36), hair clasp, or bracelet(V21 Ch135). Both goddesses and demons wear power limiters. Power limiters are a permanent part of a goddess's wardrobe and must not be removed. It takes considerable effort to remove a limiter. In V5 Ch36 Belldandy has to draw a mandala and enlist Skuld's help to remove her power limiter. The penalty for removing ones power limiter is severe. Skuld mentions that license termination would be a light penalty. Intense emotional stress can weaken a power limiter, as we see in V9 Ch57 when Belldandy's jealousy is so intense that it allows some of her true power to slip through.

   Angels are ethereal beings, not possessing physical flesh and bone bodies. Nevertheless, angels can lift or push things, exerting great physical force as in V15 Ch88. Their primary purpose, however, is to assist in performing magic. It isn't known whether they act as a catalyst, multiplying their goddess's power or whether they have power of their own which supplements their goddess's power.

   An angel is an extension and reflection of a goddess's soul. As Peorth says in V17 Ch98, a goddess and her angel are one heart in two bodies. Belldandy says in V15 Ch89 that her angel is the closest possible friend, a mirror reflecting her soul. An angel feels (physically and emotionally) everything its goddess feels, and vice versa (V12 Ch71). They are not "guardian angels" in the popular sense, nor is their primary purpose to protect their goddess, though they have very quick reaction times and can do so to some extent if needed. A good example of this is in V16 Ch94 where Peorth was caught off guard by Velsper's attack but Gorgeous Rose manifested to protect her, so quickly that even Velsper didn't see it happen. Though they can understand speech, angels do not appear to speak. Humans can normally see angels, but often the angel is moving so quickly that there is only a vague impression of something having been there, as happened to the Queen in V15 Ch88.

   The goddess swallows an angel egg and shortly thereafter the angel manifests from a spot between the shoulder blades of the goddess. If a goddess swallows an angel egg before she has the power and self control to manage an angel, the angel may run wild and have to be sealed as Belldandy and Urd were prepared to do with Noble Scarlet in V14 Ch79, presumably until the goddess is capable of controlling it.

   There apparently is very little regulation of the availability and distribution of angel eggs, as they are available through the divine equivalent of mail order (V13 Ch75). By the way, there is a demonic mail order system as well (V10 Ch61)

   An angel MUST obey its goddess, even if the goddess is not powerful enough to control the angel otherwise. If a goddess tells her angel "I don't want to ever see you again!" it will disappear forever, or at least until the goddess has a very great, true need for the angel and calls it back. In V15 Ch89 Belldandy explains to Urd that even though Urd's angel had to obey Urd's words to never appear again, it even more must obey the wish of Urd's soul.

   Angels also make a goddess vulnerable to attack through the angel,which is discussed below.

5C. CAN A GODDESS LOSE HER ANGEL?

   Yes. However, we see in V24 Ch155-157 that when an angel is removed from its goddess the process is so physically and psychologically painful that the goddess is rendered comatose until the angel is returned or replaced. Note that the only known thing capable of forcibly removing an angel against its goddess's will is a magical creature called an Angel Eater, of which apparently only one exists. The Angel Eater is so dangerous to goddesses and Hild was so willing to use it that it seems unlikely that more than the one exists, or Heaven would have encountered them before and the goddesses would have known from the beginning what its capabilities and weaknesses were.

   It is possible for a goddess to lend her angel to another host. Lending ones angel does not carry as great a penalty as having it removed. Apparently, when an angel is lent the goddess retains consciousness as well as some level of contact and ultimate control. After lending Cool Mint to Keiichi in Ch161, Rind is incapacitated to the point of being unable to stand until she recalls the angel. In a lending situation, the receiving host may even be a mortal if that mortal is sufficiently loved by goddesses. For example, Rind explains in Ch161 that because so many goddesses love Keiichi, Cool Mint can exist within him, supported by that love. In Ch162 she explains that Keiichi's high level of trust for goddesses enables him to use Cool Mint to launch a powerful magical attack. When Cool Mint is recalled in Ch162 Keiichi is surprised at the feeling of loss.

   The answer is unclear. So far, there are only two known cases in which a goddess has 2 angels. In one case the angels are twins (Ch167), while in the other case the second angel is a purified "servant demon" implanted against the will of the goddess. Apparently no goddess willingly possesses more than one angel. The only goddess we know who has ever sought a second angel is Urd, and only because she thought she had lost World of Elegance forever (V15 Ch89).

   It apparently requires considerable self-discipline and a true need from the depths of ones soul to manifest 2 angels simultaneously, at least the first time. By Ch166 Rind seems able to manifest both of her angels at will, though she says it isn't easy living with 2 of them.

   Apparently not. There is an organism called a "servant demon" which can be implanted into an unconscious goddess whose angel has been removed, to take the place of the angel in order to swing the goddess to the "dark side" (Ch158). However, demons do not appear to use these servant demons themselves. As a final note, a goddess can resist the influence of an implanted "servant demon", even to the point of converting it into an angel, though still with demon blood (Ch162).

   Transport mediums make it easier for a goddess to teleport from one place to another. They are primarily used when moving between Heaven and this universe, but can be used at any time. They seem to be the perferred means of transport when teleporting into an adversary's territory (V5 Ch36 and V8 Ch48). However, a goddess is not limited to teleporting only through her personal medium. A reasonably powerful goddess can use any medium she chooses, or simply disappear into thin air in a conventional teleport. Peorth has even teleported back to Heaven without using a medium (V12 Ch72). Belldandy is the only goddess besides Skuld who uses only her medium for teleportation. In Skuld's case it's because she doesn't have the ability to use anything else (V5 Ch32), but in Belldandy's case it seems to be simply personal preference.

   A goddess or demon can bring someone along through a teleport, as Mara does in V11 Ch63 or teleport someone away from them as Urd, Skuld and Peorth do in V11 Ch67. Of course, Skuld uses a machine to do this. A goddess can be forcibly sent through her own medium, even sent back to Heaven. This is apparently only possible if the sender is much more powerful than the sendee. Urd throws Skuld through a pond and back to Heaven in V16 Ch94. A recent teleport can also be traced by another goddess, though perhaps only if the second goddess is in close proximity of the teleport when it happens. Urd followed Skuld through a cup of tea in V5 Ch32. A goddess can also phase through objects, as well as hiding inside them (V2 Ch14) or performing tricks such as sticking her head into a wall and having it appear out of another surface (V13 Ch75).

   Yes, at least to some extent. As in Norse mythology from which AMG is derived, the good guys and the bad guys are not that different. They can reproduce with each other, and apparently as children gods and demons play with and can even be close friends with each other, as Urd and Mara did (V10 Ch60). It is also possible for them to switch sides (V21 Ch135), though this seems to be very rare if it's ever happened at all.

   Killing a goddess or demon is expressly forbidden. Sealing for 500 years, eternity, etc. is allowable, but killing is absolutely not.The Doublet System enforces this rule. Note that there seems to be no rule against killing mortals or magical/demonic creatures. Urd says she will destroy the anki in V13 Ch75 and Velsper is prepared to kill Keiichi in V16 Ch97.

   The Doublet System ties the life force of a goddess to that of a demon so if one is killed, the other will die also. At an age of approximately 8 (Belldandy and Velsper appear to be about that age in V17 Ch99), a child from each side is selected to undergo the ceremony. The criteria for selection is unclear, though magical ability seems to be a large part of it. Each side knows who they have selected, but not who the other side has selected. After the young goddess and demon have completed the ceremony, their memories of the event are sealed so even they don't know who their doublet is.

   It isn't clear how the Doublet System was instituted or how one side or the other is kept from cheating. However, it works very well.

   Both gods and demons honor their own contracts, though of course not those made by the other side. Divine contracts do not require payment, but the recipients are carefully selected. Demonic contracts can be made with anyone but require compensation, such as ones soul. Contracts, both divine and demonic, have force and are difficult to terminate.

   No. As Mara says in V4 Ch26, Belldandy can terminate her contract with Keiichi any time she chooses to. Judging by Peorth's reaction in V11 Ch66, the contract between Belldandy and Keiichi is unique in that it binds a goddess to a mortal. Binding a goddess against her will is apparently grounds for the summary dismissal of a contract.

   Interestingly, the contract between Belldandy and Keiichi is invalidated in V6 Ch39 but has been reinstated by the time Peorth arrives in V11 Ch66.

Besides goddesses and demons, there are several levels of magical beings in AMG. Here is a quick list:

NATURE SPIRITS: Nature spirits come in basically two forms. One is the familiar spirit from Japanese and Norse folklore which inhabits objects. The other form has markings and classifications similar tothose of a goddess. It is likely that they can form spells on either Yggdrasil or Nidheg. However, their power levels, while considerable, do not approach those of someone like Belldandy or Mara. Nature spirits derive their energies directly from the earth, not from Yggdrasil as the goddesses do. They can be weakened by interrupting the flow of one of their power conduits which run through the earth.

MINOR DEMONS: Creatures such as the anki from V13 Ch75 are called demons, but obviously aren't demons in the same sense as Mara, Velsper or Hild.

DEMON STONES: Certain minor demons are associated with a demon stone. Maxwell's demon, which can be used for jet propulsion, and the Laplacian demon, useful for tracking motion and position are examples.

GENIES: Genies appear to work for the demons, aiding them in their endeavors. At least one of them can influence a person's luck.

ARTIFICIAL LIFE FORMS: Both goddesses and demons can create or engineer life forms to perform specific tasks.

MORTALS: It seems that some mortals can access Yggdrasil or Nidheg through certain magical artifacts and symbols which may or may not be familiar to a goddess or demon.