Terminology
The Abyss : The deepest level of the Archives. Contents known only to the Sovereign. Believed to contain weapons that could destroy civilization and knowledge so dangerous that knowing it exists is classified.
The Architect : The immortal mind behind the Necrosynth resurgence. Over a thousand years old. Original leader of the Threshold Walker heresy. Believes Source is annihilation and that trapping souls in matter is salvation.
The Archives : The central repository of all knowledge, maintained by the Fifth Order (Exemplars). Has multiple access levels from Open Stacks to the Abyss.
The Armada : The Watcher fleet that returns when the ancient pact’s conditions are fulfilled. Brings the weapon that can defeat the Necrosynths.
The Ashen : The Order of Fire. Philosophy: purification through destruction. Primary role: front-line combat, Purging Protocols.
Beacon : Watcher technology scattered across space. Hums the ancient songs. Activated when someone sings along and means it. Luden’s activation of one triggers the main plot.
Bond-brother : A Knight bonded to another, sharing Companion resources. When one dies, resources transfer to the survivor. Luden’s bond-brother’s death enables the Beacon Scene.
Companion : Neural AI entity that shares consciousness with a Knight. Provides counsel, manages suit systems, enhances cognition. The relationship is intimate, often lifelong.
The Core : The heart of civilization. Location of the Senate, Order headquarters, and the Archives.
The Coverup : The Thirteen’s decision to conceal the Necrosynth return from the public. Authorized by 8-4 vote. The coverup’s economic fingerprints lead to its eventual unraveling.
The Current : The Order of Spirit. Philosophy: connection to Source, healing, guidance. Primary role: medical, spiritual care, soul-shepherding.
Deep Space Host : The hidden Necrosynth army built over a thousand years in uncharted space. Billions of Reanimated waiting as an invasion reserve.
Distributed Failure Doctrine : Necrosynth sabotage strategy. Don’t cause obvious failures — increase failure rates slightly across many systems simultaneously.
The Emissary : A Watcher in human guise who makes contact with Luden after the Beacon activation. Reveals the truth about the ancient pact.
Exemplars : The Fifth Order. Not aligned with any element but drawing from all four. Serve as arbiters, elite forces, and keepers of the Archives. Luden is an Exemplar.
The Fringe : Frontier worlds at the edge of civilization. Site of the visible Necrosynth war. The Architect uses the Fringe to drain Order resources.
Gestures : The haptic movements that interface with power suits to produce effects. Range from simple hand positions to complex full-body katas.
The Instrument : The Architect’s primary subordinate. “You are my Instrument.” Functions as the executing hand of the thousand-year plan.
Knight : A warrior of any Order. Standard operative rank. Uses power suits, gestures, and Companions.
Linkstone : Rare resource enabling quantum communication across any distance. Backs the galactic currency. Critical for military coordination. One-time use; consumed when entanglement is utilized.
Lord Commander : Rank IV. Second-in-command of an Order. Sits on The Thirteen.
The Mark : Symbol burned onto Luden’s neck by the beacon. Identifies him to the Watchers and grants him access/responsibility for walking the path.
The Mole : Compromised member of The Thirteen. Identity unknown. Either reanimated or living collaborator.
Necrosynths : The eternal enemy. Those who trap souls in dead flesh, denying passage to Source. Emerged from the Threshold Walkers a thousand years ago.
Ordermaster : Rank V. Leader of an Order. Sits on The Thirteen.
The Orders : The four (originally six) military-religious organizations that protect civilization. The Ashen, The Weave, The Current, The Veil, plus The Exemplars.
Processing : The Necrosynth method of creating Reanimated. Kill/capture, trap the soul before passage, reactivate the body.
Purging Protocol : Planetary sterilization. Last resort against Necrosynth-compromised worlds. Requires 8+ Storm Lords linked via Linkstone.
Reanimated : Dead bodies with trapped souls, controlled by Necrosynth technology. The soul is aware but cannot act except as directed.
The Sequence : The conditions that must be fulfilled to summon the Watchers. Includes public acknowledgment, Archives opening, unanimous agreement, the Sovereign’s sacrifice, a threshold child’s choice, and the signal.
The Sovereign : The Philosopher Monarch who sits atop the hierarchy. Must master all four Order philosophies. Votes only to break ties on The Thirteen.
Source : The cosmic unity souls return to after death. Central to Order theology. The Necrosynths believe it’s annihilation; the Orders believe it’s transcendence.
Storm Lord : Rank III. Can participate in Purging Protocols.
The Thirteen : The supreme council. Four Ordermasters + four Lord Commanders + four Senate representatives + the Sovereign (who votes only to break ties).
Threshold Walkers : The lost Order that became the Necrosynths. Originally studied the boundary between life and death.
True Believer : A living person who chose the Necrosynth path. Believes the Architect’s theology.
The TV Commentator : Disgraced financial analyst who notices the economic fingerprints of both the coverup and the infiltration. The Cassandra of the story.
The Veil : The Order of Shadow. Philosophy: victory through hidden action. Primary role: intelligence, infiltration, assassination.
The Watchers : The alien species humanity mourned as extinct for a thousand years. Actually withdrew to deep space. Wait to be summoned through the ancient pact.
The Weave : The Order of Pattern. Philosophy: understanding through analysis. Primary role: strategy, technology, piloting.
“Where Worlds Touch” : The location where the signal must be sent to summon the Watchers. Exact location to be discovered in the Archives.