A

Adherent: a follower of an Aspect, usually faithful.

Aeonian: a unique Immortal.

Age: a span of well-defined time on Shem, usually connected to an Aspect.

Agent: a person who works for an Aspect.

Ailanea: the nation of elves, once the name of a continent on which said nation existed.

Ailsilver: basically, mithril.

Alchemy: mixing magic and science.

Ambrosia: the currency of the Divine.

Amulet: a physical symbol used to concentrate faith. A holy symbol.

Animalman: an anthropomorphized animal, including partials such as centaurs, minotaurs, harpies, and nightingales.

Animism: worshiping spirits.

Ansulym: the continent in the east where the Obsidian and Sable gods left their mark.

Apostle: a follower of a Messiah. They retain their influence in the Court of the Law after death, but do not interact with the Mortal realm; post-Reformation, they have a 12-point vote.

Appointed: an Aeonian in Parliament.

Archmage: one who has achieved Excellence in all magical Aspects.

Archon: the head of a Pantheon; post-Reformation, they have a 33-point vote.

Artifact:

Ascendant: a Mortal who has become Immortal; post-Reformation, they have an 8-point vote.

Aspect: the general characteristic of the world/universe that a Court represents.

Assembly: the second house of the Soma, consisting of the Diversity.

Athezant: one who is no longer Divine.

Attendant: a basic member of Parliament; post-Reformation, they have a 2-point vote.

Avatar: the form of a Divine.

B

Baal:

• A race of Divine.
• A word indicating a blasphemous Aspect.

Bailiff: an enforcer in Parliament; post-Reformation, they have a 5-point vote.

Bastion: the dwelling of a Divine.

Belief: acceptance of the existence of a Divine and its affect on one's life, but not worship; 1-3 faith score

Blazon: the heraldic symbol of a Divine.

Blazonry: the study of the heraldic symbols of the Divine.

Blood Moon: the second full moon of the Green Moon during a single month.

Blossom: the primary symbol of the Pantheon of empowerers.

Blue Moon: the second full moon of the Grey Moon during a single month.

Blue Zone: an area that will trigger wild magic

Body Magic: Cutting or damaging the body in order to channel magic. This learned form of magic requires extensive mental training (especially to resist pain) & of course, bodily preparation. There are also specific ways to cut that will channel magic.

Bonding: forming a connection with another thing, living or not, to use the inherent magic thereof.

Bondsmage: a mage who practices magic that connects the user to another person or thing.

Broker: a Paradoxical being who can transfer and manipulate the powers of Paradox.

Brotherhood: the international Guild of Thieves.

C

Candidate: someone capable of becoming Divine.

Cassaru: the northern most continent, where the World Tree is.

Caste: a rigid social order.

Casting: using magic intentionally.

Catacombs: The plane of judgment. All souls come here when they die, to face the five trials. If they fail, they enter one of the punishment planes. If they succeed, they go to their place of rest, or to reincarnation.

Ceremony:

• a complex ritual designed to invoke the power of the gods (ceremonial faith).
• a complex ritual designed to channel magic (ceremonial magic).
• a complex ritual designed to show proper respect ("Let's not stand on ceremony.").

Champion: The most powerful servant of a Divine, cause, or concept, created by completing the trials on the Mountain of Trials post-Reformation, they have a 14-point vote

The Chancellor: "Out of respect for the Chancellor" is a saying that indicates that someone is forbearing on working against an enemy because of extenuating circumstances. Derived from the circumstances of the funeral of Chancellor Damon Argent of Maraddon.

Chosen: one who is picked by a Divine to serve post-Reformation, they have a 13-point vote.

Circle:

• a group of 11 witches.
• a group of more than one Divine worshiped in a single religion.
• a perfectly round thing not very useful for throwing at politicians.

City of Mists: The home plane of all the gods, every deity of Shem has an abode here, but only some permanently reside here.

Commons: normal Mortals in the Hierarchy.

Congregant: a follower of a religion.

Conjuror: a magic-user who specializes in calling forth objects.

Consequent: the last of a Race or Species post-Reformation, they have a 9-point vote.

Consort: the paramour of a Divine post-Reformation, they have a 17-point vote.

Consul: an advisor or scholar in Parliament post-Reformation, they have a 4-point vote.

Constituent: a member of the Synod.

Consuming: The ability of dopplegangers to steal the identity of others via touch.

Contradiction: two or more opposing things that are in conflict.

Court: the Hierarchy of a specific Aspect or Pantheon.

Courtier: a member of Divine Courts above Parliament, Synod, or Assembly.

Coven: a group of 3 witches.

Cult: a group that worships a Demiurge or subaspect.

Curate: a non-Divine ruler of a Court post-Reformation, they have a 28-point vote.

Custodian: a Servitor who is responsible for a Champion's Relic; post-Reformation, they have a 3-point vote.

Cycle: a group of Divines worshiped at different times by a single group or individual.

D

Dabusen: southeastern continent loosely based on Asia.

Dedicate: someone who has willingly spoken the Name of a Divine post-Reformation, they have a 13-point vote.

Dedication: Creating something in honor of a god. This will make having your prayers answered easier.

Deity: a neutral term for a Divine

Delegate: a member of the Soma.

Delegation: the section of the Hierarchy in the Soma.

Demihuman: a being with a human-like frame, usually physically slight, with a domed forehead and longer fingers.

Demiurge: a non-Divine that is worshiped by a religion; post-Reformation, they have a 25-point vote.

Denomination: a segment of a religion differentiated by relatively minor dogmatic issues.

Destiny:

Deviate: a species that is completely different from the other standard categories.

Disciple: a follower of an Aeonian post-Reformation, they have a 1-point vote.

Diversant: a member of the Diversity or Assembly.

Diversity: a plant, animal, fungus, or object that is a unique Immortal.

Divine: a God or Baal, a being that is defined by and rules over an Aspect.

Domain:

Drawing: pulling mana from an outside source.

Durant: a prisoner of an Aspect.

E

Echo: a person, place, or thing that has come to be on Second Shem in a form exactly or nearly exactly like it was on First Shem for a mysterious purpose that it is probably unaware of. It will, upon completeing its purpose or dying, fade out of existence rather than decomposing or contuing in the normal manner.

Ecclesiastical: relating to a structured religion.

Ecstasy: religious trance.

Ecumenical: combining all the denominations or sects of a religion.

Elemental: a being that is a fundamental embodiment of an Aspect.

Eminent: moderate ranking members of the Courts.

Emissary: one who is powered by Paradox and represents an Aspect; post-Reformation, they have a 21-point vote

Enchantment: using the magic inherent in certain objects to combine them into a single, magical object with a specific effect.

Enchiridant: a DIversant whose role is to guide post-Reformation, they have a 6-point vote.

Epoch: a portion of an Age ruled by a Champion or its Hand.

Era: a very long portion of time, multiple Ages long.

Exalted: Mortals who have gained the favor of the Divine.

Excellence: a 16 or above in an Aspect of magic.

Exemplar: a Mortal who perfectly embodies a religion.

Extinction: the complete loss of a Race or Species, resulting in a Consquent.

F

Faeborn: those descended of Faeries.

Faith: belief that an Aspect, Divine, or religion is the controlling force in one's life.

Fasune: the continent where Starfall occurred.

Favor: a common currency amongst the Divine.

Ferine: a Diversant that has gained its freedom.

Fetish:

Fiduciary: one who benefits from an Aspect without being part of it.

Fuligin:

• the shade of black that is darker than all others.
• the metal, sand, and fabric of the Pit.

G

Genius locus: the protective spirit of a place; a locational elemental.

Gerent: the Divine ruler of a Court.

Gift: An item created by the Divine with power that rivals that of the Divine, but that cannot be used by a Dvine.

Glorified: highest non-voting members of Parliament.

Gnomish culture: In the first Shem campaign, Nathan established several aspects of gnomish culture via his own quirks: they like stinky food, they make what we would describe as new wave music, & they are utterly & completely insane.

God: a race of Divines.

Green Moon: once called Zue; this moon has a greenish atmosphere and outlandishly color plants; it is studded with pink crystals; it is associated with the cosmos.

Grey Lands: a plane where the undead get their energies from.

Grey Moon: once called Sana, this is the largest moon, it is associated with the Mother of Cycles.

Guardians of Mortality: A group of individuals who have taken an oath that rejects the gods' sovereignty. Often merely called "the Guardians."

Gyrah: the flying continent.

H

Hand:

• The second-in-command to a Champion.
• A fundamental being of forces.

Harbinger: one who bears the Token of a Court or Pantheon; they are required to ride forth in war and conquest to proclaim for their Aspect; post-Reformation, they have an 11-point vote.

Havens: the first plane a soul is aware of after death, this is the way station between death & final rest.

Heart Magic: Using emotion to fuel magic channeled through the body. This ability is inborn. Only extensive training can keep a person from burning themselves out.

Hedgemage: also a hedgewizard; a professional dabbler in magic.

Hells: the epitome of a punishment plane, here dwell the Sable and Obsidian gods, though some also dwell elsewhere. The Webweaver rules this domain.

Helot: a rank between a Villein and a Serf in the Hierarchy of mortals.

Herald: one who proclaims for an Aspect; post-Reformation, they have an 11-point vote.

Hierarchy: the Arbiter's imposed structure of Divine Courts, legislature, and worldwide rank.

Humanoid: vaguely human-shaped beings with deformed featues.

I

Immortal: a being that will not die from age.

Incultant: a wild Diversant; post-Reformation, they have a 5-point vote.

Inmortal: a being that will not die from age, but is not unique (shemir, valkyries, watchers, etc.).

Irrito-: the prefix for void-related things.

Island Bridge: the string of islands that stretches from Ranu to Mati to Taggarus to Dabusen and Palhur.

J

Jack: a male Consort; post-Reformation, they have a 17-point vote.

Jesenya: continent connected to Lyrilla in the southeast corner; it is southwest of Ranu and based on Western and Central Europe.

Jester's Balls: a common swear utilizing the title of the Father of Celebration.

Jument: a Diversant of burden; post-Reformation, they have a 2-point vote.

K

Keeper: one who holds a piece of the Paradox that empowers a Divine; post-Reformation, they have a 3-point vote.

L

Law: the rigid rules that the Divine and Salients must follow.

Ley: one of an invisible set of lines of magical current that span the globe.

Lieutenant: second-in-command of a Parliament committee; post-Reformation, they have a 7-point vote.

Littany: name of a family that runs a worldwide corporation that is involved in a vast criminal conspiracy.

Living Soul: a category of beings whose flesh and souls are as one.

Locus: a place.

Lore:

Lyrilla: a continent northwest of Jesenya, connected to it by a narrow landbridge called Tarenthal; where most faeborn dwell; home of the faerie courts.

M

Mage: anyone who uses magic for a living.

Magical Glossary: definitions of magical things

Magician: an unstudied but professional magic-user.

Mana: magical energy.

Manifest: the first of a race; post-Reformation, they have a 9-point vote.

Mantle: the major symbol of the Pantheon of esoteric Aspects.

Marshall: the head of all the forces of a Pantheon post-Reformation, they have a 19-point vote

Martyr: one who has died for an Aspect.

Mastery: forcing a Gift to change Aspect or to shift purpose, power, or nature, or to increase in power, via harnessing outside powers and channeling them through said Gift with the intention to do so. The three parts of Mastery are a source of power, a channel for that power, and a trigger for the change.

Materials: useful for making things.

Mati: central continent on the map; includes Iberian, South American, and Middle Eastern-based nations.

Medium: one who can connect to lost souls and channel their innate magical energies.

Merukis: island in the Reever Sea notorious for its connection to reevers.

Messenger: an Aeonian who brings messages between committees in Parliament; post-Reformation, they have a 6-point vote

Messiah: the most powerful force on Shem. There have been a very few true Messiahs and several "false" Messiahs. A true Messiah will return from death.

Mind Magic: using language (spellcasting), song (spellsinging), dance (spelldancing), gestures (sealcasting), or ceremonies (ceremonial magic) to channel magic. It takes extensive training of the mind to be able to allow one's body to do this.

Minion: a Diversant that serves post-Reformation, they have a 1-point vote

Miracle: an impossible act of faith.

Monsapple: a family that runs a major worldwide corporation that opposes the Littany family out of an ancient rivalry.

Mortal: one who will die of age; any member of a race or species on Shem that is not inmortal; also a person who was at one time a Mortal is still considered part of the Mortal Hierarchy and not the Divine

Mouth, The: refers to Paralaxyl, the Mouth of Chaos. The cult that he created serves the concept of chaos & opposes any deity who thinks it can control chaos.

Myrmidon: a tamed Diversant; post-Reformation, they have a 4-point vote

Mystic: one whose job is to use their inborn magical talents.

N

Name: the whole of a thing.

Nemesis: a being comprised of the attributes of a Champion oppositional to their Aspect; post-Reformation, they have a 14-point vote

Night: when the sun don't shine; a cult that wants to reclaim the Night from the Aspect of Darkness.

Night Watch: an order dedicated to protecting women; lead by Marilyna Isral.

Nu: a worldwide corporation with ties to media.

O

Obelisk: the primary symbol of the Pantheon of harmful Divines.

Occult:

Offerant: a false Messiah; one who attempts to become a Messiah and fails; they retain their influence after their deaths, but do not interact with the Mortal realm; post-Reformation, they have a 21-point vote

Order:

P

Palhur: massive continent in the southwestern quadrant of the world; it contains the homelands of many humanoids and dragons.

Pantheon: a group of similarly aligned Divines.

Paradox: this statement is a lie; the consequence of two realities coming into conflict with each other; an incredible source of power.

Paragon: one who perfectly embodies an Aspect; post-Reformation, they have a 17-point vote

Parliament: the body of the Soma made up of Aeonians.

Parliamentarian: a member of the Parliament.

Partisan: one who is obsessed with an Aspect to the point of being one with it without question.

Patron: a Divine who supports or protects a nation, race, or group.

Period: a length of time comprised of Ages.

Pillar: the primary symbol of the Pantheon of natural Divines.

Pilgrim: one who visits a locus patroned by a Divine for the purposes of faith.

Pit, the: the location where Starfall took place; a supposedly bottomless pit 100 miles wide.

Planar Being: a being with ties to other planes of existence.

Plane: another realm of existence with a different set of natural laws.

Poker: a game of skill and chance played with cards.

Prayer: the act of speaking to a Divine.

Proctor: a Mountain-born servant of an Aspect that commands Servants; post-Reformation, they have a 4-point vote.

Prominent: the heads of Courts or Pantheons or Aspects in the Hierarchy.

Promised Land: the epitome of a reward plane, the only deity to have a permanent home here is the Mother of Vision. After First Shem was destroyed, the gods warred for the right to rule this domain, & good eventually won. As such, the souls of the Messiahs of First Shem came to dwell here.

Prophet: one who can view the paths to Paradox; post-Reformation, they have a 18-point vote

Psionics: mental ability to connect to others mind-to-mind, non-magically.

Pseudohalfling: a being that is like a halfling, but of a separate species.

Pseudohuman: a being that is like a human, but of a separate species.

Psychagogue: a necromancer focusing on phantasmal undead.

Q

Queen:

• a female Consort; post-Reformation, they have a 17-point vote.
• a female ruler equal to a king.
• a British arena rock band.

R

Race: a subset of a species that is distinct from other members of the species.

Ranu: continent northeast of Jesenya based loosely on Eastern and Central Europe.

Red Moon: a Blood Moon.

Reever: a pirate.

Reformation: a series of restructuring Laws passed while the planes were closed during the Age of Hours.

Relic: an person, place, or thing that contains the power of a Champion after their death.

Religion:

Rending: the ability of obsidian enders to cut flesh & break bones via their touch, fueled by the emotions of others.

Representative: a member of the Soma.

Retainer: a person who is hired to work for an Aspect; post-Reformation, they have a 5-point vote.

Ring: the primary symbol of the Pantheon of control and power.

Rune: magical writing of any kind.

S

Sacrifice:

• a dedication that involves either an exceptional feat or the loss of something dear to the one praying. Can make having your prayers answered very easy indeed.
• another name for a false Messiah or Offerant.

Saint(e): someone who has shown due dedication to a faith in their lifetime & been canonized either by the church of their choice or by the deity in question. Invoking a saint in your prayers, o praying to a specific saint for a specific cause, can make having your prayers answered easier.

Salient: the highest non-Divine rankings in the Hierarchy.

Sather:

• the individual who wields the Gifted Sword of Movement, and is thus the leader of the Order of Sather.
• an Order of criminals loyal to above-mentioned individual.

Savant: one who is naturally powerful in an Aspect.

Scales: the primary symbol of the Pantheon of all other Divines not included in one of the 7 other Pantheons.

Schism: a split in a faith.

Schwartzmann Mystery: The greatest mystery on Shem. Everyone knows his name: Alfred Schwartzmann. He's famous for never existing. And yet, he had to exist for everyone to know his name. No history books, birth records, tax records, or anything else exist to reflect his existence. And yet, everyone knows his proudest achievement is not existing. Footage exists of an empty stage where he was supposed to perform some feat, and millions were watching the broadcast, but...nothing happened.

Secretary: one who heads a committee in Parliament; post-Reformation, they have a 8-point vote.

Sect:

Seeker: one who quests for an Aspect; post-Reformation, they have a 6-point vote.

Seer: one who views the threads of Destiny.

Serf: one who unwillingly serves an Aspect.

Servant:

• a noble of post-civil war Maraddon.
• someone who has, during a period when all the slots for Champions are filled, climbed the Mountain of Trials & declared service to a god, cause, or concept; post-Reformation, they have a 2-point vote

Servitor: someone who is chosen, either by a Champion, immortal, or deity, to serve that sphere or cause post-Reformation, they have a 1-point vote

Shaman:

Shem: the world. It has existed before & been destroyed (First Shem). It is currently in its second incarnation (Second Shem). Some say there will be a third incarnation (Third Shem).

Shield: the primary symbol of the Pantheon of protection.

Sin: a negative action according to a faith.

Soma: the legislative body of the Divine Hierarchy.

Sorcerer: one who uses soul magic without bonding.

Soul: the essence of a person which is the immortal portion of most individuals. Not to be confused with spirit.

Soul Magic: magic inborn into the soul of a person. Using techniques to focus the mind & prepare the body, one can learn to channel this magic properly.

Speaker: one who defends a person or group in Divine Court; post-Reformation, they have a 22-point vote

Species: a set of beings defined as a group of races.

Sphere:

Spirit: a being that embodies a particular divine sphere, invisible to most people. While a spirit has a soul, it is not, in fact, a synonym for soul.

Starfall:

• the impact event that reshaped the world at the end of the Dark Age following the Age of Mantles.
• the continent of Fasune, post-Starfall.
• the region of said continent where the Pit is.

Steward: one who can fill in for a Marshall; post-Reformation, they have a 15-point vote.

Subaspect: an Aspect that is part of a larger Aspect.

Subsequent: the second member of a race.

Summer Country: the realm of the seelie.

Summoner: a magic-user who specializes in bringing forth other beings.

Supplication: complete subjugation to an Aspect.

Sword: symbol of the Pantheon of severe Aspects.

Symbiont: a Diversant that serves as a companion to a Divine; post-Reformation, they have a 8-point vote.

Symbol:

Synod: the house of the Soma for Constituents, former Mortals ascended to inmortality.

Synodian: a member of the Synod.

T

Taggarus: a continent loosely based on Africa.

Talent: an innate magical ability.

Talisman:

Thaumaturgy: the study of magic.

Thrall: a slave of an Aspect.

Token: a Gift that is the symbol of a Court or Pantheon.

Trickster: a Paradoxical being that can and does create Paradox, more or less the same as a Broker except in their habits; post-Reformation, they have a 24-point vote.

Trinity: a trio of Courtiers, or a three-part Courtier, who has a combined power well above that of a single unit due to their access to Paradox; post-Reformation, they have a 16-point vote.

True Name: the whole of a thing.

Tutelar: a Diversant whose role is to guard or defend something, some place, or someone; post-Reformation, they have a 3-point vote.

Tuth: an order of thieves dedicated to the WAR GOD.

U

Utmost: the rank above the Divine.

V

Vahana: the steed or vehicle of an Aeonian or Divine; post-Reformation, they have a 10-point vote.

Vassal: a worldly leader who is aligned with and serves an Aspect; post-Reformation, they have a 7-point vote.

Vergeant: the lowest ranks of Courtiers.

Vestment: an official ceremony making someone a recognized follower of a faith.

Vicegerent: one who may act in stead of a Gerent or Archon; post-Reformation, their votes are worth 20 points.

Virtue: a positive quality according to a faith.

Void:

• the negative energy that cancels out magic, and can be altered to nullify anything.
• the plane from whence this energy comes.

Vote: in the Divine Courts and Soma, a Vote is one's official support for a measure of the Arbiter's Court; there are no rules against buying, selling, or trading votes; some people's votes are worth more than others'.

W

Walker of the Path: A strange order of monks that represent every divine sphere & challenge strangers to odd challenges. If the Walker wins, the challenged party must reward them & if the Walker loses, they reward the challenged party.

Ward: one who is protected by an Aspect.

Warden: one who has Mastered a Gift; post-Reformation, they have 12-point votes.

Warlock: a user of curses.

White Moon: the smallest moon, once called Rys, this moon is home mostly to void beings; magic is very ineffective here.

Wild Magic: uncontrollable magic, often in "blue zones," that interferes with controlled magic.

Witch: a worshiper of magic.

Witness: one who has experienced Paradox outside of themselves; post-Reformation, they have 23-point votes.

Wizard:

Worship: the process of actively honoring a Divine; anything above a 4 in faith.

Wounding: The ability of enders to cut a person's flesh with a touch.

X

Y

Z

Zealot: an especially fervent Adherent whose faith exceeds 10 without ceremony.

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Ages . Diversity . Geography . Gifts . Divines . Groups . Hierarchy . Immortals . Magic . Countries . Planes . Species . Religion . Setting . Spheres . Symbolism