Halflight

Here is a place that is full of tasty knowledge about the Halflight world, any mysterious terms you might come across, and, of course, a bit about the races, places, and cultures of this universe. If you came here looking for something you don’t see here, please tell me and I will add it! Also, it’s in alphabetical order.

THINGS:

The Blood – A Listi’in phrase. The Blood refers to particular family bloodlines that have a status akin to nobility in the Listi’in culture. Being “Of the Blood” means you’re genetically related to these family lines. Often but not always the source of the dark haired, dark eyed Listi’in, and usually accompanied by a natural gift with certain unique magics, sometimes but not always associated with creatures out of myth. The Blood is divided up into Houses that each have a close association with one or another such mythical creature.

Clanmother – The head of the clan in Draeshi culture. She does not necessarily have to be old, but often is. It is said that only those with the gifts of Eye, Heart, and Tongue can become Clanmother. These usually are taken to mean prescience as well as being gifted in the Draeshi forms of magic, which are quite shamanistic.

Gates – a Listi’in construction, these are rare devices built of Resonant Crystal that connect two locations, shortening traveling distance by a great deal. There are some in University City that connect to outlying Listi’in lands, but only a few exist outside of the hands of the Listi’in people, since their misuse can be disastrous, occasionally resulting in “Insane” Gates. These can seriously hurt, even kill, the people who travel through them, and the end location can change as well. See also: Mirrored State.

The Grove – An extra-dimensional watery forest accessed in the upper reaches of the university. The networked energy of the trees creates an ambient atmosphere that greatly speeds healing and recovery from all manner of illnesses or wounds. People travel from far and wide to stay here, though most refer to the experience later as one long and peaceful dream. See also: University City.

Magic – The placement of will onto the workings of the universe.

Mastery – That area of magic in which a student studies, or which a scholar is recognized to have knowledge and power in. Masteries are usually represented by colors, though the combinations are unlimited, and it is not unusual for the denizens of University City to study their whole life, whether on one or multiple subjects. Known colors include Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, White.

 Mirrored State – The principle behind the Gates. This has something to do with the Resonant Crystal, which has the curious property of one-as-many, where something done to one stone can affect another, separate stone, across great distances as long as the two are in this state. The stones of Gates are carefully tuned to one another; using scrying stones to communicate works on similar principles. See also: Gates, Resonant Crystals

Resonant Crystals – Often referred to simply as “Crystals”. A certain mineral element capable of channeling and storing vast quantities of energy. Many of these can be seen around University City, having been refined to not only store lessons, knowledge, and spell templates, but also having the ability to show memories or images on their surfaces. They are also the main material used in the construction of Gates, and work well as a focus for most magics. See also: Gates, Mirrored State.

Sky Path – A term coined by Farseers to refer to their curious habit of walking blindly into open space, sensing rather than seeing the next step and the next. This is a form of moving meditation, and the particular Sky Path labyrinth at the University is composed of many small pieces of petrified wood from a vast tree that was once struck by a meteorite. This, and possibly the help of some magi, caused the peaces to float and encircle a stationary heartstone, all movements at random heights and speeds. These “stepping stones” are the stairs to the path, an exercise used by those studying the Farsight mastery to gain better focus, concentration, and understanding of the art.

RACES:

Draeshi, Drae’shiri – The most visually different race, Draeshi usually have dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes, somewhat lighter variants occur naturally. The most commonly mingled race is Listi’in, introducing a light eyes and silver hair to the genetic pool.

The Draeshi are a private and xenophobic people, rarely interacting with others outside of their own culture. They are very traditional and family-oriented. Honor and duty are some of the most important considerations for both an individual and a clan. Many but not all clans are matriarchal, with elders being revered and respected while children are raised as a whole. Often the structures of their homes are shaped in stone, whether above or below the ground, and their homelands are rich in resonant crystal.

Kalthilias – A forest dwelling, often nomadic people. They are said to be wild and uncivilized, and closer to nature than most of the other races of elves. Not much is widely known about their culture or history.

Listi’in, Listi’i – These guys are the source of the great magi in the world. Their homeland is chilly, often mountainous, and fairly isolated from the rest of the world with the main point of interaction, trade, and cultural mingling being University City. Plenty travel outside the borders of home, however, to mingle with and learn from other cultures. Usually sporting pale skin, pale hair, and light eyes, (with occasionally darker variants) they are cold-tolerant and deeply philosophical as a whole. The Listi’in are the mysterious, if well known, keepers of knowledge of the era.

Tulariin – The most populous of the nations, living mostly in the lowland forests and grassy rolling plains. With societies tending towards small to largish villages where each family unit has their own residence, they are the farmers or craftsmen or traders of the world. Also known to have a more complete system of government than the other peoples, though this is still far from unified. Their homes are rounded and made of red clay and plaster, and they are both superstitious and proud.

In appearance, they have hair colors ranging from golden blonde to dark brown and skin colors between tan to pale peach. The only other race they have many dealings with are the Listi’in. Often the popular opinion on the other races is that they are too different to make sense of.

PLACES:

Chiri’tzi – In the era in which this story takes place, this is the main Tulari’in center of culture and government.

Clanhome – What some Drae’shi villages are referred to. The clan is usually comprised of several families that have a shared society and often live in the same general area – which is usually a pre-existing cave system, or carved or built from stone. Na’hale’nya’s Clanhome, in this case, is on the border of the Listi’in lands and the Drae’shi lands.

University City – A network of universities, libraries, and a supporting town that is located close to the border of Listi’in lands. While it is technically a Listi’in establishment, it has a long history of acting as a cultural portal between Listi’in culture and other cultures, as well as being a center or learning and knowledge unrivaled elsewhere in the world. While no one really knows the full extent of the rooms, passages, hidden doorways, and other aspects of the University, it is generally accepted as a part of the mythos of the place itself. Several well known sections have been known to disappear and reappear as a result of experiments by professors and scholars, as well as mishaps by the teachers. While part of the function is for students to come and learn to do magic, it is also a place where people spend their whole lives happily immersed in their studies, unbothered by the outside world.

At the foot of the University itself is a large town that grew up around the people who came to trade or study or seek knowledge without being students themselves. Full of mages and merchants from all parts of the world, there is plenty cross-cultural food, music, and entertainment to be found here.

More entries to be added as the story progresses.