Key vocabulary and terminology used throughout the Aethelgard wiki.
A
Arcane
Relating to magic that is studied and learned rather than granted by deities.
Aethelgard
The name of the world/continent where all events take place.
B
Bread Riots
Widespread famine-driven riots in Valoria-City 200 years ago that led to the creation of the commoners’ seat on the Council-Of-Seven.
C
Cataclysm
The great disaster that occurred 1200 years ago, reshaping the world’s geography. See Cataclysm.
Cities and Settlements
Major population centers including Kingdom-Of-Valoria, Cities-And-Settlements, and smaller towns across the realm.
Circle of Elders
The governing body of the Elven-Enclaves, making decisions through consensus. See Circle-Of-Elders.
Council of Seven
The supreme advisory body of the Kingdom-Of-Valoria. See Council-Of-Seven.
D
Deep Song
An Earthbound-Order resonance technique allowing ward-smiths to commune with stone. Central to dwarven lithomantic tradition.
Deepdark
A catastrophic underground incursion from the deep Ironspine-Mountains that devastated the Dwarven-Holds 40 years ago. See Deepdark.
Deepforge
The legendary dwarven smithy lost during the Deepdark incursion. See Deepforge.
Divine Magic
Magic granted by deities to their followers, as opposed to arcane magic.
Dwarves
A race of stout, hardy people who excel at mining and craftsmanship. See Races and Dwarven-Holds.
E
Economy and Trade
The commercial systems and trade routes of Aethelgard. See Economy-And-Trade.
Elven Enclaves
A loose network of independent elven communities bound by shared culture. See Elven-Enclaves.
Eternal Flame
The sacred fire of Solara maintained at the Sun-Temple, central to Solaran worship and healing traditions.
F
First Empire
The dominant civilization of Aethelgard for over two thousand years before the Cataclysm. See First-Empire.
Forgemaster’s Circle
A guild of the most accomplished dwarven ward-smiths, lost at Deepforge during the Deepdark.
G
Geography
The physical layout and regions of Aethelgard. See Geography.
Great Rift
A massive geographical feature created by the Cataclysm, now a dangerous wasteland. See Great-Rift.
Greywood
The ancient forest that existed where the Ash-Wastes now stand, destroyed during the Cataclysm.
H
Haven’s Edge
The largest Rift-Touched settlement in Aethelgard. See Havens-Edge.
History
The recorded past events of Aethelgard, from the Age of Creation to present. See History.
K
Kingdom of Valoria
The primary human kingdom, center of most political power. See Kingdom-Of-Valoria.
King’s Pass
The primary mountain route through the Ironspine-Mountains. See Kings-Pass.
L
Ley Lines
Invisible channels of magical energy crisscrossing the continent. See Ley-Lines.
Living Flame
A natural volcanic vent at Deepforge, believed by some to be a gift from the Primordial-Ones.
Long Memory
The elven tradition of perfect historical recall through communal memory-sharing, maintained by the Elven-Enclaves.
M
Magic
The fundamental force that allows for spells, enchantments, and magical creatures. See Magic.
Mage Conclave
The supreme magical authority of the First-Empire. See Mage-Conclave.
Mage Wars
Century-long magical conflicts 700-800 years ago. See Mage-Wars.
Magic Schools
The seven schools of magic: Evocation, Abjuration, Transmutation, Divination, Necromancy, Illusion, and Conjuration. See Magic-Schools.
Moon Circle
A decentralized religious order devoted to intuitive magic and lunar rites. See Moon-Circle.
P
Peace of Rivergate
The treaty ending the Mage-Wars, establishing the regulated study of magic and the Council-Of-Seven.
Politics
The governmental structures and power dynamics of Aethelgard’s nations. See Politics.
Primordial Ones
The ancient creator beings of Aethelgard. See Primordial-Ones.
R
Races
The various sentient species: Humans, Elves, Dwarves, Rift-Touched, and others. See Races.
Radiant Guard
The Sun-Temple’s elite military order of holy warriors. See Radiant-Guard.
Religion and Cults
The pantheon of deities and religious organizations across the world. See Religion-And-Cults.
Rift-Shards
Crystallized fragments of wild magic found in the Great-Rift. See Rift-Shards.
Rift-Touched
A mysterious people born from the wild magical energies of the Great-Rift. See Rift-Touched.
Rift Watch
An elite military order headquartered at Fort-Sentinel. See Rift-Watch.
S
Sentinel Bridge
The only reliable crossing point over the Great-Rift. See Sentinel-Bridge.
Shadow Council
A mysterious organization with unknown goals, considered the greatest long-term threat to continental stability. See Shadow-Council.
Shadow Cult
A secret network of Umbra worshippers. See Shadow-Cult.
Shadow Magic
Forbidden magic associated with darkness and corruption. See Umbra.
Shadow Trade
The illegal network of Rift-Shard trafficking. See Shadow-Trade.
Silver Circuit
The primary maritime trade loop connecting Port-Haven along the Silver-Coast. See Silver-Circuit.
Solara
Goddess of the sun, light, and renewal — the most widely worshipped deity in western Aethelgard. See Solara.
Stone Throne
The physical seat of dwarven power. See Stone-Throne.
Stormcallers
The informal priesthood of Velos, organized into Storm Readers, Tempest Priests, and senior Stormcallers.
T
Technology and Innovation
The level of technological development in different regions. See Technology-And-Innovation.
Thorne Directives
Intelligence reform guidelines authored by General Thorne. See Thorne-Directives.
U
Umbra
The forbidden deity of death, secrets, and hidden power. See Umbra.
Underway
The dwarven tunnel network connecting holds beneath the Ironspine-Mountains.
University of Valoria
The premier institution for magical study in Aethelgard. See University-Of-Valoria.
V
Valoria City
The capital of the Kingdom-Of-Valoria. See Valoria-City.
Velos
God of storms, the sea, and change. See Velos.
W
Ward-Smith
Dwarven artisans who combine metalworking with Earthbound-Order stone-singing practices.
Weave
The magical energy maintained by Mystra that flows through all living things and certain locations.
Whispering Forest
An ancient woodland home to the Elven-Enclaves. See Whispering-Forest.
Wildlands
The untamed territory east of the Great-Rift. See Wildlands.