Dragon Frost (23 page)

Aeri -- Light energy channelled easiest through Animus Threads by positive emotions such as love, happiness and contentment. Used best as a restorative healing energy, but can be channelled into an intense, pure fire that is most effective against those infused with estus energy.

Alexia -- Originally believed to be a human woman from Earth who Dyaus caught after venturing through a Gate from Mer City to Earth. She later becomes Cirrus' mother and Dyaus' Bond. Once loved and remembered by the dragons for her beauty, foresight and singing voice. She lives on as her original form now, as an unusually powerful Sentry from Earth.

Aliyr -- Twins on the first Aster were born as a Mei (shield) and an Aliyr (sword). Usually it was the male of the twins if one is a boy and the other a girl. In the case of Bonds on the new Aster, it is usually the male.

Animus -- Also known as 'Thread,' it serves as connecting lines for telepathy, shifting, and can be manipulated by estus and aeri energies to heal or destroy amongst many things. It's an endless weave of spiritual links that can only be seen in a trance, by trained Novaists or Callers, Awls, or by those who are connected to the inner realm of death and Aragmoth.

Aragmoth -- The immense, living essence that supports the world of Aster. The first Aster was destroyed by a moon-size monster of energy, known as the Dragon Moon, that was sent by Earth. After the destruction of their world, the Eminor spirits combined their energies and Aragmoth was formed. Aragmoth defeated the Dragon Moon and absorbed its dark energy into itself and hurled the Dragon Moon's light essence back to Earth. It then tracked down and absorbed into itself the lost souls of the Sylvans and Ancients. From Aragmoth, the second Aster was recreated within Earth, and the Sylvans, Ancients and Eminor were later reborn onto it.

Asil -- The female Fay twin born to Asteria and Daath on the first Aster. She was an airy spirit who could command all six elements. Aragmoth releases her onto the new Aster without her Sylvan energy in her body, making her more of a physical creature. She is killed by Moon before the end of the Last War and then later reincarnated as Sybl.

Aster -- A spiritual and physical world existing inside Earth by means of a Great Dragon known as Aragmoth.

Asteria -- While most Sylvan on the first Aster were born as twins, Asteria was born as a Sylph -- a treasured rarity that was able to exist by itself without a twin. The spirit of aeri energy was chosen as the leader of the first Aster by the Sylvan kind. Aster was also named after her. Her Bond would later be Daath.

Atrum -- A black, tower-like castle, on the center of the Suzerain Continent. It serves as the base of the estus Aur, the death energy from the Great Dragon. It provides a heavier light accompanied by rain and haze and it amplifies negative emotions. It was ruled by Vanir, then later Kas for a short time. Kenshe presently reigns as Atrum Lord.

Atrum City -- The city surrounding the Atrum. While it was heavily industrialized from relations with the Falls, it has decayed back to its previous dark-ages state over the last ten years.

Aur -- Concentrated estus or aeri energy, usually from the Soph Aur of Toria or the estus Aur of the Atrum. They lighten and darken most of the atmosphere of Aster when they rise individually.

Awls -- A creature or shifter possessed by a Sentry who has chosen to 'fall' to Aster and live out their existence. They are natural fortune tellers who can read the Animus Threads connected to one's Fate. Dangerous if angered or insulted, Awls can utilize Thread to their needs, but cannot alter the Threads of gold. Most prefer to live quiet, solitary lives, which also helps them in avoiding Aragmoth's wrath. Considered immortal, dark angels and demons by many. They hide in their human-like appearances that are merely an illusion over their true form, which resembles a dark, winged demon when it touches the Animus Threads of Aster.

Ayame -- A female phelan shifter.

Berion -- A former town of phelan on the Torian Continent that was not controlled by the Atrum. Jasper and his Bond, Ishtar, were its leaders. Named after Master Berion who is Jasper's father. It is completely destroyed by the Deathmare.

Bond -- Another word for mate.

Cael/Caelestis -- The Asterian words for god/goddess.

Caller -- An ayame capable of creating a Nova which is a powerful song that affects Animus Thread. Ayame are the leaders of their Packs for this reason, as their mastery over the Thread allows them to control their Packs and avoid conflict where possible. In battle, it is often the most powerful ayame Caller who determines the victorious Pack. Similar rules apply to daoran Novaists, with the exception being that they are all connected to the High Priestess as assistants, instead of being individual leaders like female phelan shifters.

Casus Beli Canyon -- Territory of the plumas. Created by Nephena when she hurled Livry across its field in anger of his failure.

Cecil -- A 42 year old dragoon, and first born son of Tynar and Trista. His blood falls under the Line of Moon. A mild-hearted dragoon once, Cecil became bitter over the years because of his born blindness, combined with the pressure put on his family by Yri's influences in Toria. His Bond is Rose.

Celia -- Gwa's human mother, and a scientist from Earth who once worked for the Falls. She later falls in love with Mersael, but she flees when he tries to kill her and his son, Gwa.

Chimeras -- Also known as 'Outcasts.' Soulless and animal-like descendants of Nephena. Chimera are usually a combination of two or more animals. Many have allowed their bodies to be possessed by the Sentry, giving them souls and a human-like form in becoming an Awl.

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 believed 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.