(apologies if this appears twice)
In UOTNS, Juturna sticks her head and arm into the throne room. Severian asks her if she remembers saving him. She says she does not, that it has not happened yet, but that she will (save him, presumably) since he has spoken. This suggests that Juturna is running backwards through time similarly to Ossipago, Famulimus and Tobedwego (can't remember that last name.)
Severian thinks Juturna is dying, crushed beneath her vast weight, but when the throne room is flooded, she gives a cry of triumph. Presumably, the flooding may wash her into deep enough water that she lives.
So, it seems like Juturna is moving backwards in time, survives her suicidal entry into the throne room, and saves Severian from drowning.
I hadn't noticed before that Juturna was one of the backward-time characters. Am I barking up the wrong tree here?
Also, in UOTNS, Idas says she is as human as he, one of the people of
the lords of the ocean and underground. If creatures like Erebus, Abaia, etc. are also underground (which I had never noticed before), they may survive a flood. They must be smaller than the underwater people, since without the support of the water, they would be crushed by their own weight.
Any other mentions of these underground lords that Idas is talking about?
-Brian