Reference

Glossary

Terms, rites, and lore from the world of Prism — spoiler-free.

A
Aeden / Tween Place
The waiting-place where the Onerace lived before Prism was ready for them.
Archaic, The
A tome of dreams and interpretations written by the god Herald over his long isolation, believed to hold clues to undoing the Banishment.
B
Banded Man / Banded One / "One Who Is All"
A prophesied figure, born of Elite and another caste, said to redeem the Calico from their plight.
Banishment
The spell woven into the Onestone that trapped Prism's gods on the world after the Corruption, unable to leave or fully reunite.
Bonding
The ritual by which an Elite gains a limited empathic hold over a Blooddread, compelling loyalty and obedience.
C
Calico
The casteless offspring of two different castes (excepting the Elite); considered without worth by the rest of Prism.
Corruption, The
The catastrophic event that shattered the Onestone, split Prism into continents, and transformed the Onerace into distinct castes.
E
Essence
The finite, sought-after substance that powers the gods — and, in smaller measure, the castes' Sense.
Everlasting
The Elite afterlife.
H
Heartshards
The seven scattered fragments of the shattered Onestone, each tied to one god's Essence.
K
K'hmpat
The Blooddread ritual challenge by which any warrior may contest the Dreadlord's position.
K'hmpat'he
The ritual bloodletting performed before a K'hmpat.
O
Onerace
The original, unified people brought to Prism by Etheria — now remembered only as legend.
Onestone
The device Etheria built to focus and channel the Essence of the Nine of Light and make Prism habitable — shattered during the Corruption.
Overlord
The Elite ruler of all Prism, seated in Lineage.
R
Rainbow
A rare, devastating natural phenomenon said to herald the Banded Man's coming.
Reunion / Reunification / Endspell / Mending
The long-awaited ritual that would restore the Onestone and, with it, the Onerace's place on Prism.
S
Sacred Parity
The Elite holy book.
Sense
The sixth, race-specific ability every caste carries as an echo of the Essence that transformed their ancestors.
Soul
A feared secret society within the Elite church, used as spies and enforcers.
Supreme Gatherer
The title held by whichever of the Nine of Light has amassed the most Essence — currently Etheria.
T
Trustoath
A binding oath of fealty sworn by members of the purecaste races; Calico are considered unworthy of taking it.
Turning
A severe Elite punishment that strips a person of their caste color and standing, replacing it with another at minimum saturation.
W
Walk in the White
The Elite ritual execution of a purecaste woman found to have borne a Calico child.