This chapter is a not so comprehensive comprehensive guide to explain some terminology. Some terms will be stated but tersely explained, others will be left undefined, and some will be left out altogether to avoid spoilers.
Please point out anything confusing so I can reword it. I'll fix it unless it was left vague on purpose >.<
╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬
♥︎ Power system ♥︎
► Aether: Aether is the underlying elemental principle by which the world is governed. Every living being contains Aether to varying degrees. It is the natural, primordial substance that connects the soul to the body and the body to the world.
► Aspect: An ability that manifests upon awakening.
►Class: Class is the innate power of one's Aspect and dictates how much Aether they can hold. There are two different kinds of beings that can awaken — Flesh and Aether Constructs. Tiers (low-to-high):
Aether Construct: [Aberrant, Mutant, Monster, Wretch, Anathema, Demon, Vice]
Flesh Construct: [Orthodox, Prime, Absolute, Paragon, Consecrated, Seraph, Virtue]
►Rank: Path of ascension which both beasts and humans follow.
Tiers (low-high):
[Nascent, Emergent, Bloomed, Elevated, Boundless, Numinous, Empyreal]
[Visual commented here]
► Items: Items are well… items. Depending on their rank, they can hold more enchantments (abilities).
Item ranks: [N, C, R, SR, SSR, UR, M, Vice]
Note: The enchantments and description of an Item can only be read by someone with an Appraisal ability/Item.
► Traits: Abilities a Construct can awaken as they rank up (though a rank-up is not necessary). Some Traits can be improved by interpreting their descriptions.
► Racial Traits: This is never explicitly stated, but some races have racial abilities that will not appear in their status, but they still have access to them.
(Clarification note: Salome's Vitality Drain is a 'Trait', but succubi naturally possess a vastly lesser version (Racial Trait), which allows them to absorb things to slightly heal and temporarily gain a small amount of Aether.)
► Other terms: Aether Shard, Relics, Contractors/Apostles, Curses, Title, Soul, Body, Soul's Cry, Appraisal, Nemesis, Level, Status/Soul Scripture.
♥︎ Constructs (examples) ♥︎
► Flesh - humans
► Aether - beasts
► Insensate - plants
♥︎ Vice ♥︎
► The Vice are the seven most dangerous dungeons with the highest potential; however, they have a weaker starting point.
Seven Vices: Sloth, Gluttony, Lust, Pride, Wrath, Envy, Greed
♥︎ Virtues ♥︎
► The Virtues are the Nemesis of the Vices and can either weaken or nullify their abilities.
Seven Virtues: Diligence, Temperance, Chastity, Humility, Patience, Kindness, Charity
╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬
♥︎ Dungeon Terms ♥︎
► Dungeon Core: The heart of the Dungeon. If destroyed, the Master and their Legion will perish. This Core also serves as an infinite storage space; one can enter and exit it freely by interacting with it.
► Dungeon Master: Those summoned who command a Dungeon. If they die, the core dies too, and vice versa.
► Legion: Forces tied to a Dungeon, mostly through summoning, but some loopholes exist.
► Aether as a resource: Aether can be collected within the dungeon or stored in the Dungeon Core for later use. This stored Aether can also be used to summon Workers, Warriors, Archers, Mages, or for gambling.
► Satisfaction: A resource of the Dungeon used for summoning Champions
► Champion: Beasts summoned with Satisfaction points (usually)
►Other: Affiliated, Loyalty, Blueprint, Mapping, Mystery Boxes, Throne, Level.
♥︎ Warrior / Archer / Worker / Mage ♥︎
► There is inconsistent capitalization of these terms, but that is on purpose.
Warrior (Capitalized) - refers to the troop
Archer (Capitalized) - refers to the troop
Worker (Capitalized) - refers to the troop
-
'warrior' (lowercase) - refers to the entire Legion, regardless of specialization.
'archer' (lowercase) - refers to something wielding a bow.
'worker' (lowercase) - refers to… a worker!
╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬
♥︎ Extra ♥︎
Council of Vice: Le monthly council of the Vice
Corrupted: Beings that have had their Soul and Aether tainted. Can spread their infection through touch alone.
Worlds: ???
Pandora: The world in which the story takes place.
Portals: ???
Origin: ???
Defier: ???
Great Defier: ???
Seeds: Mini portals through which the Corrupted find their way to Pandora. They have different levels of severity.
╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬╬
…Sorry, I know that was a lot!
Hopefully I got everything! I wrote this mostly from memory, but if I forgot something or misexplained it, I'll fix it later.
PS: Please comment any extra questions here or under my review. Also, I would love it if you'd leave a review yourself after reading! Either telling me how awful I am at writing or calling me dumb! A compliment would suffice, too.
(:
If you come back to this (no spoilers tho):
Which character is your favorite?
Which is your least favorite?
What's the best/your favorite chapter I've written?
What's the worst/stinkiest chapter I've written?
<3