by S. J. Wist
Cirrus -- 38 year old son of Alexia and Simera. Long, straight blond hair and light blue eyes. Born in an abnormal manner as a white dragon, he killed his mother during childbirth. He grew up for thirteen years afterwards incapable of unsomning into his human-like form. His 'human' half is freed shortly after he meets Serena. Later on he discovers that he's actually an Awl similar to his mother.
Custos -- Monk-like guardians of the Sanctus. A rank that requires five years of training in both spiritual and martial Arts. They were formed by the late ayame, High Priestess Kira. They include the phelan, humans and some chimeras in their ranks. Their Laws are based off of the teachings of the first Aster that revolve around peace and harmony with both Ancients, Sylvan and Eminor alike. Both females and males may become Custos and those who have talent often go on to become Priests, Callers or Masters. They are forbidden from taking a Bond while serving as a Custos.
Daath -- A demon from Earth and formerly one of the 'Four Generals' or 'Four Horsemen' who existed before the Great Flood. He fled to the first Aster to escape enslavement by Hino. Asteria takes him and his army in as refugees, unaware of the consequences it would later bring to her world. She also gives him a soul. Their children are the first Fay of light and darkness; Asil and Erebus.
Damek -- Asteria granted Daath a soul during his time on the first Aster, and he later falls in love with her and takes on the new name, Damek. When he was destroyed from the attack of the Dragon Moon, one of his bones is later discovered on Earth by one of Nephena's children and brought to the new Aster. Daath is later fashioned back to life by Tenu and Asil and reconnected with his soul, becoming Damek once again. He disappears after the Last War and is later reborn as Nafury. Daath rejoins with Nafury during his Trial of Somn and the Aeger leads Nafury to his death two years later. Sybl later frees him from Daath's control when he returns possessed by the demon, at the cost of her life.
Daoran -- A female Sylvan or female human capable of taking the form of their dragon somn.
Derel -- Cecil's younger brother. Second son born of Trista and Tynar.
Dragoon -- A male Sylvan or male human capable of taking the form of a dragon.
Dreamwalking -- Leaving the body to move about with one's psi through the spiritual plane. This is dangerous as it leaves the soul and spirit vulnerable to more malicious spirits. Those with a strong command over spiritual Thread can manipulate objects and even people.
Efereal Mountains -- The snowy home of the chimera Tribes that are led by Xirel.
Elders -- The voted council of dragoons and daorans, who assist in upholding their Laws and decisions effecting Toria and the Dragon Caverns.
Eminor -- A dark spirit consisting mostly of estus energy. In the days of the first Aster, they were called 'Nightmare Eaters' as they fed off of the negative emotions and nightmares that were unneeded by the Sylvan race. Some chose to become the somns of the reborn Sylvan souls, while many still roam the world as the True.
Erebus -- The male Fay twin born to Asteria and Daath on the first Aster. He was an airy spirit who could command all six elements. He was destroyed by the Dragon Moon on the first Aster. Asil wove his life Threads to Aragmoth so he could continue to be able to exist in a partial state of undeath on the second Aster. He dies when the Sylvan City is destroyed. His current reincarnation is Kas, whose soul energy is still bound to Aragmoth.
Estus -- A dark, heavy energy most easily channeled through Animus Thread and manipulated through darker emotions such as sadness, hate, anger and jealousy.
Exoir -- Griffin shifter, father to Mersael and grandfather to Gwa. He expands the technology of the Falls over Aster using his technical genius. He has an uncommon snowy leopard hide on his cat half as a griffin. Exoir was once Avian, the General of Pestilence.
Fay -- A creature that is able to balance both aeri and estus energy within themselves and at the same time.
Feharin Army -- The Sylvan's army.
Festra -- A curved, staff-like weapon that holds a blade within its ends. Though effective in combat, the original purpose of the festra was to control and cut Threads, killing or enslaving enemy names to it. Only Asteria, Asil, Damek and Erebus can fully wield this weapon, as most of the names bound to it will only answer to them. The Threads were broken and its slaves freed when the weapon was transported through the Soph Aur by Luna.
Four Generals -- On Earth, they were called the Four Horsemen; Pestilence, War, Famine and Death. When they left Earth to escape to the first Aster, they became Avian, Reol, Gei and Daath. They have souls that were given to them by Asteria and are no longer controllable by Hino. They are acknowledged as the highest and most powerful level of Sentry, Iynx, and Awls.
Gate -- A machine that artificially stabilizes a Rift and passage to the Keol, another Gate, or Earth with estus energy. The mer created the first Gate.
Gei -- Formerly known as the General of Famine, he was the last true form of an Iynx spirit on Aster who protected the Sanctus. Only Kira is said to have ever seen his human-like form. In an attempt to prevent Kira from falling in love with him, he strips his wings from his back and his ability to hide his form with a human-like illusion weave is lost as a result.
Gloria -- A fiery redhead, green-eyed human. Former Dockmistress of the Atrum's Harbor on the Suzerain Continent. She used to oversee all the ships coming and going from the Harbor and trading relations between the Torian Continent. Before coming to Aster, she was a singer. She was the former owner of the GLORIA.
Griffin -- Half cat, half bird chimeras. They have the head, wings, tail and front legs of a bird, and the rest of their bodies is that of a large cat. When separated from their hosts, they resemble a ribbon of electricity. They believe they are the only god-chosen (Hino) creatures worthy of commanding over Aster. They are plagued by diseases and disabilities that force their Tech and medical sciences forward out of necessity. Their home was the Falls, a Tech-rich city built in the dormant crater of a volcano that was once considered impenetrable. The Falls was ruled by Exoir. Now it exists only as empty ruins.
Gwa -- 24 years old, dusty red and white hair, brown eyes. He is a griffin shifter. His mother, Celia, is a human scientist from Earth and his father is the griffin shifter, Mersael, who abandoned them for the sake of his position. Gwa was a close friend of Kas and a Custos.
Harbor -- The Harbor is controlled mostly by the Atrum, but is occupied by independent businesses and ship owners as well.
High Guard -- Dragoons who serve in the army for Toria. It is required that they serve for at least five years before they are allowed to take a Bond for themselves and have a family. These Laws are based on the Texts of the Sylvan Order, which required military service and an acceptable status prior to marriage, thus ensuring the skill and strength to raise and protect a family. Usually one is initiated into the military after surviving their Trial of Somn that defines one as an adult with the equivalent strength.
Hino -- God of thunder and lightning and guardian of the skies of Earth. Believed to be the One Cael of Earth and the leader of the Sentry. Though speculation has also suggested that he is a consciousness consisting of many consciouses.
Iynx -- Sentry who once roamed Aster in their true forms, who were cut free from Hino's control by Asil. On Earth their bodies are usually winged and insect-like, but their forms are distorted by Aster's Animus Threads and expanded, making them look more 'fuzzy' and cat-like. All Iynx can manipulate Thread to give them the illusion of a human-like appearance or whatever appearance they learn. Gei is the last known Iynx to exist on Aster in his true form, as other Iynx have much shorter life expectancies.
Jru -- Former Armsman and Custos of the Sanctus. A martial and spiritual Arts teacher who served and tutored Kas as his own, never forgetting the tragedy of what happened to Kira as she trained him as one of her first Custos. His peaceful Tribe that consisted mostly of phelan shifters were taken in by the Sanctus when it was annihilated by Simera's High Guard when he was still a child. His father is bel
ieved to still be alive, but he went into exile to carry the sins with him of failing to protect Jru's ayame mother who was killed in the attack.
Kas -- 28 years old and son of Kira and Vanir. The youngest Priest ever anointed on the Suzerain or Torian Continents. He fears the darker force of Erebus' spirit within him and often chooses to be alone so he can better control his emotions. His spiritual and military prowess is well beyond his years. He fades into Aragmoth before Sybl's death.
Kenshe -- 24 years old and one of Kas' best friends and a former Custos. Dark auburn hair and grey eyes. He is a grizzled brown in his phelan form. Son of Hain and Kayla. Born as a True phelan, he discovers his soul and ability to unsomn later when he is four. But his mother never accepts him as her own despite it. After Kas dies, he is elected as the new Atrum Lord.
Keol -- Also called the 'Blood Tears' of Aragmoth. The phelan often use this fiery tempest of a desert and lava plane to travel, as the cold estus energy of their being keeps them from igniting or being burned. Phelan blood can open a Rift in and out of this plane, as well as creatures consisting of mostly estus energy.
Kira -- Ayame founder and the first High Priestess of the Sanctus. Once the best Caller of the Atrum, she chose to leave the corruption that Vanir ruled it by. She is killed by Vanir by accident when she steps between what would have been a lethal strike to Master Gei. Her son is Kas.
Kyrie -- A deer-like creature that is muscularly built for harder labours like a workhorse and is often captured and trained to be put to use as such. Individually, they are timid and controllable but become dangerous and difficult when within a herd. Their single, thick horn is curved down to their backs. Their feet are cloven like a goat's and their tail is like that of a lion, giving them the nickname of 'unicorns' by humans from Earth. They can be anywhere from white to black, and countless shades of brown in between.
Loki -- 33 years old and son of Crystal and Estar. Thin, light green hair to shoulders and orange eyes. His frailer physique has green, star-like markings over his eyes. His brother was Lintrance and his half-sister is Kayla. He has mixed feelings for Sybl, mostly as the memory of his mother's death and unborn sister still haunts him. Sybl helped fill the gap in his heart left by their loss. He dies after the collapse of Mer City, but returns as an Awl.
Mei -- A connection of Animus Threads between two individuals, usually Bonds, that allows for greater protection by eliminating the disadvantage of using the slower-conducting spiritual Animus. Its literal meaning is 'shield.' Its meaning is now a more general one that includes the glyph-like silver Threads on both sexes. The individuals share each other emotions and thoughts and it is useful for different species in different ways and circumstances, particularly dangerous ones. It is an unbreakable connection between Bonds, and often when one mate dies, the other shortly follows.
Mer/Mermaids -- Descendants of Tenu and humans, they once dwelled in the depths of the Eternal Waters, where the estus energy they need to survive is the strongest. They take mentally and physically ill extremely easily and weaken when near aeri energy for too long. There are no mermaids known to still be alive.
Mersael -- Griffin shifter and son of Exoir. Long straight white hair, yellow eyes. Former husband to Celia and father of Gwa. He was engineered by Exoir as a perfect child and was born without a mother, which many blame his cold, uncaring nature for.
Moon -- The dark, estus essence of the Dragon Moon and Eminor of sacrifice. Given as a gift to Asil from Nephena, he is raised by Asil as the avatar of Aragmoth's will. When he accidentally kills Asil after he finds his soul, his being is split back into two in his fight against the Phoenix that ends the Last War. He later becomes Cirrus' somn for a while, and his sacrifice contains and helps destroy Daath when the demon is separated from Nafury.
Nafury -- 25 year old former Prince of Toria. Wavy brown hair and sapphire blue eyes. Born to Serena as the purposeful reincarnation of Damek. Simera adopted him as his own son out of his love for Serena. He is born with Sybl in Mer City and is separated from her when she is immediately sent to Earth.
Nephena -- Chimera Mother of the second Aster. She has a lion's body and head, a goat's head on her shoulder, and a snake for a tail. All three heads have separate minds. Fashioned to life by Aragmoth from many animals of Earth. She cannot give her children souls, making her dependent on Asil.
Outcast -- Another word for chimeras.
Pack -- A phelan Pack has two to a dozen members. Although several males answer to one female, it is only the Alpha who is her mate, and he alone is responsible for using the ayame's psi and foresight to issue orders to the Pack. This is not a guaranteed position, and if he becomes incapable of being the Alpha, he is usually disposed of by a challenge from the next most powerful in the Pack. If at any point the ayame dies due to a failure on her Pack's part, the Pack usually splits off and its members are either driven out or have the utmost difficulty being accepted by another ayame.
Phelan -- Large, wolf-like creatures with many cat-like features. They use their own blood to travel in and out of the Keol and to sync with their Pack. Females are called ayame and are more slender-featured and cat-like, though they tend to be of a dark black in fur and hair as opposed to the males who can be seen as lighter grays, browns and black. Most have red eyes, though they cannot see the color red and see the color of the other's intentions, instead. Any phelan referred to as 'True' exist without a human-like form and soul, and are still a spirit. On the first Aster, they were a type of 'Nightmare Eater' resembling wolves that came from Earth to escape their enslavement to Hino. They were later refashioned into their own species on the second Aster by Damek.
Phoenix -- Somn of Solar, the Phoenix was a massive, winged serpent surrounded by a constant fire. Once a smaller serpent, it expanded considerably in its battle against Moon, and even more so for the last three hundred years on Earth under its sun. Its sickening fire of radiation burns Animus Threads and it is lethal when exposed to creatures of Aster for too long. The Falls helps Rose, Solar's reincarnation, to venture to Earth where she regains her Phoenix.
Pluma -- The Asterian word for winged cats. When angered, they are a formable enemy that unleash their full extent in swarms. Regals are the larger male plumas.
Prisca -- A 19 year old ayame. Daughter of Tank. Sybl unknowingly meets her in the Harbor shortly after arriving on the Suzerain Continent for the first time. She is currently Kenshe's High Caller.
Psi -- Also known as telepathy. It is limited by distance which can be extended by a strong Caller, Novaist, Mei, or an Awl. Gold also amplifies psi tremendously.
Regal -- Male plumas born larger with colourful wings to serve as frontline defenders and watchers. Their bodies resemble that of a lion's and their impressive wingspans are coloured and printed like that of a peacock's. A full grown Regal can be as massive as a dragon mostly by bulk. They can fold their feathers together in such a way to make them into knives, and propel them like darts at their adversaries. A swarm of them is an unstoppable storm of sharp feathers, claws, teeth and sheer weight. Their wings and bodies hold high concentrations of aeri energy, allowing them to fly with ease, but it makes them vulnerable to fire and the Keol. They can be found on the Casus Beli fields with their wings folded tightly together and raised like lightning poles to the sky.
Rift -- A 'tear' in the spiritual Thread of Aragmoth that serves as a passage into the Keol. A deep enough Rift can reach as far as Earth. Phelan and creatures consisting of mostly estus energy can create Rifts.
Rose -- 40 years old and Cecil's Bond who was adopted by Ishtar and Jasper. Short red hair, green eyes. She has a natural ability to see the future as Solar's reincarnation. Yri goes out of her way to push her from Cecil's life, fearing that Rose's talent surpasses her own. She is later manipulated by Mersael and the Falls, crafting her into a decimating weapon to their cause after she heads to Earth through the Gate at the town of Berion. There she is reunited with her somn, the Phoenix. When she attacks the Sanctus and destroys
it, Gei springs a trap on her and separates her soul from the fiery spirit. He returns Rose to Cecil.
Sanctus -- Founded by the ayame Kira, this former temple of peace was built on the Sylvan Laws of the first Aster. Safe haven and neutral sanctuary to all religions and races alike. Its guardians were the Custos who can be almost any kind of shifter. It is completely destroyed by the Phoenix.
Sano -- Another word for a Master over aeri energy in the Arts of Healing.
Sentry -- Servants of the god Hino, they reside mostly on Earth. Visible only by a strong spiritual sense, they aggressively protect Earth and its humans from Asterians by killing any eminor or Ancients who venture near them. They are massive, insect-like creatures.
Serena -- Sybl's and Nafury's human mother, who went through a Gate to find her best friend, Alexia. Kira later finds her and she spends some time at the Sanctus, where she befriends her. She later gets taken by Simera and falls in love with him. She dies after Simera leaves for Earth to find her daughter who was taken from her after being born.
Sial -- A unicorn given to Asteria from Damek as a wedding present. His horn is the festra that had the names of all 3000 Eminor loyal to Damek Threaded to it. Sial is reincarnated through Nephena at the end of the Last War, after Damek strikes the Chimera Mother with the festra. The festra returns to Sial as his horn, and he escapes with it. He presently follows Nafury around as the fabled 'Deathmare.'
Simera -- Former King of Toria and the dragons. His Sylvan form is that of long, wavy mauve hair and light blue eyes. Simera's age is unknown, but few question his bloodline that supposedly leads directly back to Moon, as his physical and spiritual strength is unmatched. Rumor says that he is another illegitimate son of Svarog, while others claim he is the son of a True. He becomes King by his unmatched power when the dragons take Toria from the chimeras after the Last War, killing those who challenge him for leadership. He is never seen again after he goes to Earth to find Sybl.
Solar -- The first shifter daughter from Nephena. She holds a bitter jealously towards Asil and tries to take the Sylvan City from the Fay behind her back. Her reincarnation is Rose and her somn is the Phoenix.