Beacon

by Kyle West

  Prophets, The: One of the Seven Sects of the Seekers, who specialize in visions and prophecies. Visions are viewings of past events, while prophecies are viewings of future events. The Prophets are the least numerous of the Seven Sects. They are often derided by the other Sects for not doing much, but interestingly, Prophets typically have the strongest connection to the Xenofold of all the Sects.

  Purebloods: A term the Covenant uses to signify that a person is one hundred percent human blood, without a trace of Elekai descent. In the distant past, especially during the First Century, intermarriage between pureblood humans and Elekai was quite common. Their children would, or wouldn’t, have Elekai abilities, and often Elekai abilities would manifest in later generations. In the early days, it was also common for Godsblood Elekai and Wilders to marry, as well as for Wilders to marry pureblood humans. Beginning with the days of the Annaran Covenant, however, it was determined by the Grand Pontifex and Council that any of Elekai blood should be purged, which led to the Exile. Any who stayed behind were found and executed, and many innocents also lost their lives during the Great Purge. In later years, other purges took place on a smaller scale.

  Radaska: A Radaska is a female dragon. They are larger than the Askaleen and more numerous, and unlike the Askaleen, the Mindless kind are violent and cannot be tamed. There are Elder Radaska dragons, such as Quietus, who have no dealings with humankind, and there are Generational Radaska, who are the direct progeny of the Elder Dragons and their successive generations. Then, there are Mindless Radaska, who attack anyone they find. The Mindless are mostly confined to the Northern Wild, and often war with Generational Radaska.

  Radaskim, The: The ancient foe of the Elekai, the Radaskim were defeated by Elekim when he sacrificed himself to destroy Askala. It is said the Radaskim will return during the Second Darkness, though the time of this return isn’t known. The Covenant has all but forgotten the existence of the Radaskim, instead ascribing their deeds to the Elekai.

  Ragnarok: According to the Elekai, Ragnarok was the fallen world of the Radaskim that crashed into Earth over four centuries ago. It created Ragnarok Crater in the north, and the event is what caused the Ragnarok War.

  Ragnarok War: A war in which the world was nearly enslaved by Askala and her Radaskim swarm, but Elekim and the gods, leading the rest of the Elekai and humanity, made one final stand at Ragnarok Crater. A final battle was fought, won only because Elekim sacrificed his life in order to destroy the Radaskim host, as well as Askala. When the war was over, the surviving gods – Annara, Samal, Retha, Makai, and Larana – founded the city of Colonia, where they and their descendants would live and rule.

  Red Bastion, The: The Red Bastion is a large fortress built on Red Cliff, the city of Colonia’s highest point. It is protected by two walls, not to mention the cliff itself, and has never fallen except to the Annaran Covenant during their revolt in 150 A.R. It is from the Red Bastion that the Grand Pontifex of Colonia and Grand Council rule.

  Red Wild, The: A huge area marked by a vast spreading of xen, named because of its red appearance. It starts roughly in the center of what used to be Arizona, and spreads east as far as what used to be the Rocky Mountains, though its borders vary widely depending on latitude. It goes further north than Ragnarok Crater, though it’s unknown where it truly ends. To the south, it stops at the northern border of Nova, in what used to be Northern Mexico.

  The Wild itself is divided into four areas – Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western – and each area is different. The Northern Wild is the most untamed and the most dangerous. Reversions are more common here, and the North is the abode of Mindless animals, including dragons. It is the least inhabited, though small enclaves of Samalites make their home here.

  The Southern Wild is mostly forested, and its trees are the tallest in the world, many reaching hundreds of feet in height. The Southern Wild is also the most populated.

  The Eastern Wild is mountainous and sparsely habited, though several sizeable settlements exist among the Wild Tribes, especially in mountain passes that serve as trade hubs between the Red Wild and the Eastern Kingdoms. The Eastern Wild is also the coldest, and has many rivers, mountains, and forests.

  The Western Wild is composed of wide xen plains, though xenoforests are also numerous. Many Wild Tribes make their home in this area, which is little bothered by the outside world.

  The Annajen live in the Western Wild, and their capital is Haven. The Makai live in the Southern Wild, and their capital is Sylva. The Samalites once lived in the Northern Wild, in the city of Hyperborea, but when the city was destroyed, they mostly fled south.

  Remembrance Day: A Covenant holiday celebrating the liberation of Colonia from the Elekai. It is marked by cathedral services that are attended by all, along with a distribution of free prayer candles. Each person is allowed one prayer to Annara. Following the service, there is no work, much like the weekly Sabbath, nor is any selling of goods or services allowed. It is a family holiday, and communities often hold a feast in remembrance of the victory of Annara and her people over the Elekai.

  Reversions: Reversions are dangerous areas of the Red Wild that are caused by a weakening of the Xenofold. Reversions can be big or small, strong or weak, and they are most common in the Northern Wild. While reversions themselves are usually not dangerous, if left unchecked they can turn to Blight, becoming the abode of the Mindless, which are free of the directives of the Elekai Xenofold.

  Retha: The goddess of wisdom and wife of Samal.

  Ruins, The: The Ruins is an ancient, Precursor city north of Colonia, on the border of the Red Wild. The former site of Las Vegas.

  Sages, The: One of the Seven Sects of the Seekers, who specialize in growing and maintaining the Wild. They are skilled in Agronomy, which allows them to direct the xen’s energy to the growing of plants with a set purpose. They are also skilled at healing reversions.

  Samalites: One of the Three Tribes of the Elekai. Their patron god and goddess are Samal and Retha, and their patron dragon Tiamat. The Samalites are scattered throughout the Red Wild, ever since the fall of their city, Hyperborea. They are the least numerous of the tribes, though once they were the most powerful.

  Selvan, The: The Selvan is a thick, impenetrable hybrid forest planted shortly after the Exile in the Western Wild. It guards the Red Wild from Colonia, and runs hundreds of miles north to south.

  Scholars, The: One of the Seekers’ Seven Sects, the Scholars focus on the pursuit of knowledge. They study history and the Xenofold, and maintain the Seekers’ library in the Sanctum. They also do field work, exploring ancient ruins and collecting artifacts. Above all the other Sects, besides the Prophets, they seek the Prophecy of Annara.

  Second Darkness, The: It is foretold in the Prophecy of Annara (one of the few details that is collectively remembered) that a Second Darkness is to come, far worse than the first. The time, place, and manner of this Second Darkness is unknown, but it is believed that its events are accurately predicted in the Prophecy of Annara, which has been lost for over two centuries. It is believed that Annara herself is to return, uniting humanity with her Army of the Dawn.

  Seekers, The: The Seekers are a select group of Elekai whose strength of blood and training gives them a much stronger connection to the Xenofold than the average Elekai. This grants them unique Gifts, and depending on their Gifts, each Seeker belongs to one of the Seven Sects of the Seekers – the Champions, Augurs, Clerics, Sages, Judges, Scholars, or Prophets. At one time, the Seekers were numerous, at the group’s height numbering over a thousand strong, but over time their numbers have lessened, when those born with the potential to manifest a connection to the Xenofold became less common. Today, the Seekers number some quarter thousand, though only about half of that number will be present in the Sanctum at any one time. Along with the Seekers are apprentices and initiates, who outnumber the Seekers themselves; but a high turnover due to the rigors of training means that initiates that quit or don’t make the cut are re
placed almost as quickly as they leave.

  Seekers’ Dome: A domed chamber that makes up most of the western wing of the Seekers’ Sanctum. Constructed in 280 A.R. along with the rest of the Sanctum, the Dome is the main meeting place for the Seekers to debate and enact resolutions. Judgments are also pronounced here, of Elekai, of distant personages such as rulers, and of the Seekers themselves. A mural on the domed ceiling depicts the final battle of the First Darkness, and is considered to be the finest of its kind in the world.

  Seekers’ Grove: The Seekers’ Grove lies within the Sanctum’s outer walls, taking the majority of the space within the courtyard. It is larger in the front than it is on the sides or in the back, and it covers a large area in which there are trees – both native and hybrid varieties – along with gardens, streams, and xen. Different areas of the Grove contain different types of flora. Several Great Silverwoods are grown here, but as with the rest of the Sanctum, the Grove is only a little over a hundred years old, so the Trees haven’t grown to their full height. The Sages and their apprentices are responsible for growing and shaping the Grove, and much of its plant life can be seen growing along the western face of Nava Mountain.

  Seekers’ Sanctum: The Seekers’ Sanctum was founded in 280 A.R and serves as the Seekers’ home. It is constructed at the foot of Nava Mountain, which none but Seekers may climb.

  Seste: The smallest denomination of currency in Colonia. One thousand sestes is worth one talent.

  Seven Sects: The Seven Sects of the Seekers are the Champions, the Augurs, the Judges, the Scholars, the Sages, the Clerics, and the Prophets. Depending on the Sect, they serve different purposes within the Order (see their individual entries for details).

  Shenshi: A large, domed city on the Californian coast. Controlled by the Shen, it is inaccessible to any but those who live there.

  Silverwood: Silverwood is a hybrid tree that grows naturally in the Red Wild. It is used for construction because its trunk grows straight.

  Six Gods, The: Elekim, Annara, Samal, Retha, Makai, and Larana are the Six Gods who led humanity to victory at Ragnarok Crater. Elekim sacrificed his life to deal the final blow to Askala, the demon Radaskim goddess. Following the war, the five remaining gods founded the city of Colonia. After establishing the city and having children of their own, they departed to join the Xenofold. Annara, during her time on Earth, wrote the Prophecy of Annara, which predicted the coming of a Second Darkness and what humanity needed to do to prepare. Though the Prophecy was lost, another detail that is remembered, according to the story, is that Annara would return to save the Elekai when the Second Darkness came.

  Shen, The: A mysterious people who have little contact with the outside world. They live in various domed enclaves on the Californian coast, the largest of which is Shenshi. About fifty years ago, they conquered Brevia, a Colonian city, in what is known as the Short War, because the Shen ceased attacking as soon as the city was taken.

  Subura, The: The Subura is a large area of slums attached to the northern and western section of the city of Colonia. It expands outside the city walls for about half a mile, ending in desert. It is here where Colonia’s poor and most of its gangs exist. It’s not technically a part of Colonia, so the Peacemakers rarely patrol its streets. It’s easy for anyone not familiar with the area to get lost, because its many streets are a virtual maze; no planning was made for them. Most buildings are low and crude, but closer to the city, tenements are common.

  Sundering of the Dragons: An event that occurred sometime in the Second Century. The Elder Dragons severed their ties with humanity, along with many Generational Dragons. Some have said they did so because of humanity’s training and breeding of Mindless Askaleen, while others have said it was something else entirely. Regardless, the Elder Dragons no longer speak with the human Elekai, and not a one has been seen in over two centuries. This event has faded into myth, so much so that many don’t even believe Elder Dragons exist. Some Generational Dragons have contact with humanity, though most of it is fleeting. Most Elder and Generational Dragons greatly distrust humanity, for reasons humanity itself has long forgotten.

  Talent: The largest denomination of currency in Colonia, and also a standard of weight. One thousand sestes equals one talent of gold.

  Three Tribes, The: The Three Tribes is a bit of a misnomer – there are far more than three Elekai tribes. However, the name refers to those Tribes whose nobility is of the Godsblood – that is, direct descendants of the Six Gods. Elekim and Annara gave rise to the Annajen, Samal and Retha to the Samalites, and Makai and Larana to the Makai. Not to be confused with the so-called Wild Tribes, which refers to any Elekai tribe that isn’t one of the Three.

  Twelve Gifts: The Twelve Gifts are Dragonspeech, Inherence, Calling, Telepathy, Agronomy, Insight, Prophecy, Visions, Battletrance, Serenity, Sustenance, and Xenohealing. A Seeker’s Gifts strongly influence the Sect they belong to.

  Wild Tribes: The Wild Tribes refer to any Elekai tribe who isn’t one of the Three Tribes. Their lack of the Godsblood is the main distinguisher between the two. The First Century, also known as the Great Dawn, saw the creation of many Elekai, particularly in the earlier part of the century. While the descendants of the gods became known as the Godsblood, many typical humans were drawn by the power of the Red Wild, entering and living in it and becoming subject to the process of Xenogenesis, thus transforming into Elekai. It is said thousands of people were so drawn. While many remained in the Red Wild, forming the Wild Tribes, many yet returned to Colonia, where, over time, their descendants formed an aristocracy within Colonian society.

  The Wild Tribes have lived in the Red Wild almost from the beginning, but traditionally, those of the Godsblood have a stronger connection to the Xenofold. However, in more recent times, there is no difference in power between those of the Godsblood and those of the Wild Tribes.

  Xen: Formerly known as xenofungus, the xen is the term given to the vast spreading of fungus that forms the basis of the entire Red Wild. From it, trees, plants, and crops grow, and all Elekai live in harmony with it. Furthermore, any with the ability to manifest can connect to the xen, which collectively forms a consciousness known as the Xenofold, at the head of which rule Elekim and Annara alongside the rest of the gods. It is the xen and the Elekai’s connection to it that forms the basis of all their abilities, called Gifts.

  Xenofold: The Xenofold is the collective conscious of the vast neural network of the xen. It is the collective mind of all that is Elekai, and an Elekai’s strength of blood determines their ability to connect with it. This connection either manifests naturally through the Gift of Inherence, or it must be trained. The vast majority of Elekai, however, cannot train a Gift, but they still enjoy small boons offered by the Xenofold, such as being able to receive Xenohealing, or being able to eat certain plants grown from the xen without succumbing to sickness.

  Xenofont, The: The Xenofont was one of the wonders of Hyperborea, and the first to be constructed. It was a deep well, made from directing the xen to grow deep into the earth, until it tapped the ichor of the Sea of Creation, which made possible the construction of the vast city.

  Xenogenesis: Xenogenesis occurred mostly in the early First Century and during the Ragnarok War. It was an era marked by explosive growth of the xen, characterized by many ichorous lakes, rivers, and streams, and the absorption of many forms of native Earth life into the Xenofold. The process of Xenogenesis can obey either Elekai or Radaskim directives, and it was the victory of the Elekai over the Radaskim during the Ragnarok War that made it possible for the Elekai to take control of the process. During the Great Dawn, many humans, who later became the Wild Tribes, became Elekai when they were guided by dreams and visions into the Red Wild. It was during this time that Elekai humans enjoyed a very close connection to the Red Wild, and first began learning how to direct its energy to grow trees and plants, while also learning to evolve new ones.

  Xenogenesis began slowing during the second half of the First Ce
ntury, and the Great Blight’s multicolored hues began to subside into a subtle red, apparently a sign of maturity. It was around this time that the Great Blight began to be called the Red Wild. It no longer expanded; ichor existed only beneath the surface except in rare circumstances; and no more human Elekai were created from among humanity. Creatures native to the Wild, such as dragons, also were no longer created within the ichor, meaning any dragons that were created had to come about naturally.

  Xenoplast: The biomolecule within all xen-based plant life responsible for the absorption of light. It absorbs colors in all spectrums but red, which is what gives xenolife its naturally red hue.