TERMINOLOGY OF SANCTUARY
i. descriptors for people
Blessed: the individuals chosen by the gods as their representative on Earth. They are the most powerful human magic users.
High apostle: otherwise known as the Unblessed, former blessed who were inadvertently stripped of their blessing, and granted the role of high apostle.
Apostle: high priests of the temples, the most dedicated of followers to their gods. They are religious leaders.
Disciple: committed followers of their gods. May refer to those who work in the temple, or any strong followers of the gods.
Elder: the de facto leader of a realm. Often passed down by blood, like a trade passed onto future generations. They are trained for their entire lives to inherent the responsibility to care for their realm.
Oracle: chosen messenger of the gods amongst humans.
ii. magical terms
Magic: the innate energy within the universe. Everything was built with magic, and through magic, the world may be altered. There are different types of magical energies, belonging to each domain, but to influence the world using any of these energies, is the practice of ‘magic.’
True magic: the magic of the immortals; that which to them is akin to breathing, or moving their body.
Blessed magic: the magic bestowed upon the blessed, akin to that of the very god they represent on earth.
Domain feature: a magical gift for all the blessed belonging to a domain.
Core magic: magic achieved only by those most faithful to their god.
Crude magic: the most basic magic achieved by a follower truly dedicated to their domain.
Vessel: any item imbued with magical energy; this magical energy can come from the prayers of ordinary humans, or from the gods themselves.
Offering: vessels offered to the gods as tribute; offerings are representations of dedication and once bestowed upon a shrine they are considered sacred.
Artifact: ancient vessels of Sanctuary, most often blessed by the gods themselves, that enhance the magical power of the blessed.
Halo: the magical energy surrounding a blessed, bestowed upon them by the gods themselves.
Aura: the interactions between a blessed’s halo and the world around them, the magical interference produces effects that have come to be known as auras.
iii. locations
Domain: the 4 domains represent 4 facets of this reality; the ethereal domain representing the heavens, the physical domain representing the earth, the psychological domain representing the psyche and the primordial domain representing the end. The domains exist alongside each other harmoniously, and without one, the others would surely collapse.
Realm: the 4 realms of Sanctuary are echoes of the 4 domains, built as refuge for the blessed, but becoming a place of worship and sanctity for the gods themselves. Each realm is humanity’s attempt to understand and honor the domains; at least as much as is possible.
Plane: the mortal plane is that which is obvious to humanity, but the immortal planes are far less obvious. They exist adjacent to our planes, accessed easily by the immortals who call them home. The heavens and the end have their own immortal planes, unseen by humanity, where the gods dwell.
iv. ethereal
Ethereum: colloquially called the heavens, this is the great space existing above and around the earth, and everything within it.
Ether: the magical energy of the ethereum.
Celestialism: the following of the ethereal gods.
Celestials: those blessed by the ethereal gods.
Heaven’s folk: followers of the ethereal gods.
v. physical
Mana: the magical energy of the earth.
Naturalism: the following of the physical gods.
Elementalist: those blessed by the physical gods.
Nurturer: followers of the physical god.
vi. psychological
Psyche: the mind of conscious beings, including both mortals and immortals.
Essence: the magical energy of the psyche.
Sagacity: the following of the psychological gods.
Cognants: those blessed by the psychological gods.
Altruists: followers of the psychological gods.
vii. primordial
Primordium: the energy of the old gods, the ancient matter of this universe that still exists.
The End: where the dead reside.
Arcanum: the magical energy of the primordium.
Seeking: the following of the primordial gods.
Arcanist: those blessed by the primordial gods.
Seeker: followers of the primordial gods.
Arcane: refers to anything relating to the primordium, e.g. dark matter is arcane.