Post by Reno on Mar 20, 2020 7:13:34 GMT
(Note: New entries to be added as things develop.)
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Abel: The sole survivor of the Eldridge, which crashed on Xenogaia after Deus went berserk. He was the only original human on the planet. All other humanoid lifeforms were created by an artificial progenitor, the biological supercomputer Kadomony.
AERODs: Animum Ether Response Offensive Drones. Advanced Ether-guided weapons that can only be effectively controlled by individuals possessing great Ether power and advanced spatial awareness.
A.G.W.S.: Anti-Gnosis Weapon System. Small-scale mecha units (typically between 3 - 5 meters in height) that were designed to be deployed rapidly against sudden Gnosis attacks. Utilized special slave-generator technology that drew energy from their assigned motherships, allowing them to run indefinitely as long as the ships remained within a close enough distance and operational. Overall limited in terms of power, and ultimately ended up being phased out in favor of various other superior weapons and tactics.
A.M.W.S.: Assault Maneuver Weapon System. Full size mecha units (typically between 16 - 20 meters in height) that were designed for a multitude of purposes. While there were some that were utilized in the civilian sector (construction, exploration, excavation, etc), they were primarily used as weapons of war. Mass produced units served a variety of roles, and custom units could be quite powerful. These were the precursors to contemporary Gears, and operated on essentially identical principles and technologies, including the usage of slave generators connected to the Zohar Modifier, as well as the implementation of Ether Amplification Engines which enabled pilots to unleash unique Ether-based abilities while piloting.
Anima Relics: Ancient artifacts dating back to Kadomony's creation of the Xenogaian Humans. They are used to power gears up to Omnigear status. There are twelve in total, and can only be aligned with a very small fraction of Humans who can trace their lineage to the Xenogaian gene pool. The twelve Anima Relics are: Dan, Joseph, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Judah, Dinah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Naphtali. Currently, all Anima Relics save for Naphtali are in the possession of the U-TIC Organization.
Antitype: A subdivision of Deus, born of the mother's will instilled within the Wave Existence when Abel made contact with it as he sought his mother. Destined to be eternally reincarnated alongside the Contact, she was always identified to him as "Elly", regardless of the name she may be given in any set era. Whether by fate or coincidence, the Contact almost always experienced a great tragedy, which ultimately resulted in the death of the Antitype. The word "Antitype" refers to her being the figurative opposite of Miang.
Since the "Fall of Deus", the Antitype is thought to have vanished, though this is actually unconfirmed, and there are various theories regarding potential phenomena that may have subsequently emerged as a "replacement", as it were.
Armageddium: A powerful extra-dimensional substance that can be refined into extremely durable materials. The full potential of Armageddium-based materials has yet to be fully realized. Highly unstable in its raw form. A potential replacement for the exceptionally rare LEA Material.
Armored Module: A type of mobile unit employed by the Dimensional Federation, and by extension, U-TIC. Typically bipedal in design, they tend towards being more suited to aerial and mid to long range combat, though there are some units that have been customized to excel in close quarters as well. The main point where they differ from Gears is the fact that they do not operate via slave generators, and are not normally equipped with Ether Amplification Engines. The reason for this is because Armored Modules are almost exclusively A.I. drone units, though there are exceptions to this.
AVALANCHE: A group of eco-terrorists who were active during the days of Shin-Ra, prior to Reno Cascade's reign. They were largely responsible for the downfall of the original Shin-Ra Administration, and are also credited with averting the Meteor Crisis. Their leader, Cloud Strife, personally slayed the man responsible for bringing about the Crisis, a maniacal Ex-SOLDIER general named Sephiroth.
Cetra: A space-faring race that arrived on Xenogaia several thousand years after the Fall of Deus. They were humanoid, and biologically compatible with Xenogaian Humans. They were highly in tune with nature, and the Lifestream. Unfortunately, they were almost completely exterminated by JENOVA, and eventually wiped out entirely when the last Cetra was killed by Sephiroth during the age of Shin-Ra.
Contact: The term for a person who makes contact with the Zohar Modifier and the Wave Existence. The Contact was the only person with the power to destroy both Deus and the Zohar, which would thus have freed the Wave Existence from its "corporeal prison" and allowed it to ascend back to the higher dimension from whence it came. The first Contact was the young boy Abel, who made contact with the Wave Existence and the Zohar shortly before the Eldridge crashed on Xenogaia. From there the Contact (Abel), and the corresponding Antitype (Elly), have been continually reborn throughout history emerging as a distinct new person in every generation, yet still appearing like the original Contact, Abel. Notable Contacts throughout history have included the doctor, Kim Kasim, the Painter from Nisan, Lacan (who eventually became Grahf, the Seeker of Power), and the final incarnation, Fei Fong Wong. The Contact was able to use all the latent power of the Zohar at will and was therefore, for all intents and purposes, the most powerful corporeal being in the universe. Each Contact throughout history was born with the memories or knowledge of the previous Contact who existed before him, so if a previous Contact realised that he was the Contact, then died, that knowledge was carried over to his successor. Three other types of Contacts are known to exist: Imperfect Contacts, Artificial Contacts, and Neo-Contacts. Grahf was an Imperfect Contact, as when he found the Zohar, the corresponding Antitype (Sophia/Elly) had already died. Both Contact and Antitype were needed in order to establish a perfect Contact. Kahran Ramsus was an Artificial Contact created by Krelian, with the intent of using him in his plan in place of the true Contact, Fei Fong Wong. However when Fei was discovered, Ramsus was simply disposed of. Since the Fall of Deus, the original form of the "Contact" has been replaced by the "Neo-Contact".
Demi-Humans: A Human who is not entirely Human. Demi-Humans are the result of genetic modification, mutation or sometimes just race. They are sometimes (but not always) considerably more powerful than normal Humans. They also face a great deal of discrimination, due to their oftentimes freakish appearance.
Deus: The advanced planetary-scale weapon system that seized control of the Eldridge, causing the ship to crash land into the planet Xenogaia. In order to repair itself, Deus used its biological generator, Kadomony, to create the first batch of Humans that would propagate and ultimately repair Deus in order to free it from the planet. However, at the same time as the Eldridge crash, Deus took complete control over the Zohar Modifier, trapping the higher-dimensional being known as the Wave Existence in the process. The physical/superweapon portion of Deus, Merkava, housed the system's core, which originally appeared as a larvae. The core eventually evolved into an enormous monster that served as the final barrier between the Contact (Fei Fong Wong) and the freedom of the Wave Existence. Ultimately, however, Deus was not completely destroyed, rather, it was sealed away within the planet itself. In a final act of self-preservation, Deus merged itself with the planet's Lifestream, which fundamentally altered both entities. The Lifestream was eventually purged of Deus through the efforts of AVALANCHE and Shin-Ra, Inc.
Dimensional Federation: The multiple-universe spanning empire that is essentially the public front for the U-TIC Organization. Incomparably vast, exercising control over hundreds of thousands of universes, and constantly increasing its influence through endless conquest. The vast majority of territories within its domain have no idea that they are even part of it, continuing to live out their existences as though they were "free".
E-Cells: Sub-molecular nanomachines that automatically repair damage at astonishing rates. Employed by U-TIC on a small number of their more advanced mobile units.
Eldridge: A massive 270 kilometer-long colony ship that was commissioned over 10,000 years ago by the Galaxy Federation. Its primary purpose was to transport Deus and the Zohar Modifier following a disaster that resulted in the destruction of an entire planet. During the journey, a young boy named Abel entered a restricted area while looking for his missing mother. He saw the Kadomony in the eye of the Zohar, and sensing his longing for his mother, Kadomony created a woman: Elly. Abel then contacted the Wave Existence, a being from a higher dimension imprisoned within the Zohar Modifier. Deus became aware of the situation, and in self-defense, attempted to take control of the ship. Although the crew attempted to stop Deus from spreading to different sectors, the weapon was too powerful. To prevent Deus from being unleashed upon open space, Shigeyoshi Inoue, the captain of the Eldridge, activated the self-destruct sequence which destroyed the majority of the bridge and engine sections of the ship, causing it to crash on the surface of the planet that would eventually become known as Xenogaia.
E.S. Units: Precursors to the Omnigears, these are exceptionally powerful machines that utilize "Vessels of Anima" in order to draw more power from the Zohar Modifier than average Gears and AMWS. In the absence of a connection to the Zohar, they are capable of drawing from "Zohar Emulators" in order to achieve similar (if not quite as high) performance levels. Unlike Omnigears, one does not need to be from a specific genetic lineage, or even be Xenogaian at all, although a high degree of Ether power is certainly a benefit. "E.S." stands for "Ein Sof", which can be loosely translated to "unending", which speaks to the original intent behind the E.S. project.
Like the Omnigears, there are twelve E.S. Units in all. Each is currently on board the Yggdrasil V.
Ether: A broad term used to describe any form of "mystical", "spiritual", or otherwise "supernatural" energy-based phenomena. Things such as magic, mana, alchemy, ki, chi, and so-forth.
Galaxy Federation: Precursor to the Dimensional Federation. Collapsed tens of thousands of years ago, only to rise up again thanks to the efforts of the newly revived U-TIC Organization.
Gate: A highly advanced defense system that utilizes dimensional barriers to phase regions out of normal space in order to prevent outsiders from observing and infiltrating target areas. Requires tremendous power to be utilized with any real effectiveness.
Gears: Powerful combat mechs, typically humanoid (but not necessarily), which were originally built by the Galaxy Federation tens of thousands of years ago. Unearthed on Xenogaia from the remains of the crashed Eldridge colony ship, Gears are the mainstay of U-TIC and Dimensional Federation forces. Two main elements that distinguish Gears from other similar types of mechs are that they are primarily powered via slave generators that draw energy from the Zohar Modifier, and that they incorporate "Ether Amplification Engines", which enable the pilots to utilize their personal Ether-based abilities in augmented forms, channeled through their Gears.
Geardams: Essentially identical to Gears, save for the fact that they are not powered via slave generators, but rather various alternative sources (most commonly, "ultracompact" nuclear fusion reactors). Geardams are the mainstay of the Yggdrasil Space Pirates. Performance-wise, they are generally on par with Gears. Yggdrasil Crew Geardams are generally made using design schematics from other machines, rebuilt using superior materials and with much higher performance output.
Gnosis: Also known as the "Pilgrimage Fleet", were monstrous non-corporeal entities that wreaked havoc across the Galaxy Federation tens of thousands of years ago. They were apparently defeated, as there have been no sightings of them since. The records have been sealed by U-TIC, and the general public has no knowledge that they even existed.
God Fear Weapons: Originally a unique set of weapons (twelve in all) that were meant to be complimentary to those who were compatible with Anima Relics. However, there have been numerous incarnations of these weapons, and the originals may have been lost entirely. They were considerably powerful, to the point of granting their wielders god-like abilities on top of whatever natural powers they already possessed.
Holy: The name given to a supernatural force that was, at one point, contained within a unique Materia orb known as the "White Materia". It was supposed to have been used to generate a magical barrier that could protect the planet (Xenogaia) from the destructive force of its counterpart, "Meteor" (controlled via the "Black Materia"). Has not been seen for thousands of years.
JENOVA: Originally thought to be a hostile alien species bent on eradicating the Cetra (along with humanity), it was in reality the result of twisted experiments on the part of [REDACTED] in order to construct a physical [REDACTED]. The experiments were deemed a failure, but the data was considered to be valuable in its own right.
Kadomony: Kadomony is a biological supercomputer capable of creating artificial sapient life. It was originally located within the "eye" of the Zohar Modifier. Kadomony was initially developed by the Galaxy Federation for the purpose of managing the entire Deus System. After the Eldridge fell to Xenogaia, Deus used this system to create Cain, the Gazel Ministry and the rest of the Xenogaian humans, which were all intended to be used as "parts" in order to repair itself. At some point after the crash, Kadomony was separated from the Zohar and perched on a cliff overlooking a valley somewhere near where the Zohar landed, (referred to in historical records as "The Land of Bethlehem"). Kadomony is also responsible for the creation and maintenance of "System Hawwa". [See: Miang]
LEA Alloy: LEA Material that has been refined with other substances in order to stabilize it into a form that can be used. Depending on the substance, LEA Alloys can be forged to the point of indestructibility, which obviously makes it ideal for weapons and armor. Unfortunately, given the rarity of not only LEA Material, but also the specific materials that can be combined with it, equipment forged of LEA Alloys are exceedingly uncommon and prohibitively expensive.
LEA Crystal: LEA Material that has been refined via a specialized Ether-treatment process. Once the material has been refined in this manner, it cannot be reforged again, as it becomes essentially indestructible. This method is considerably less expensive than the alloy refinement process, however, it is just as difficult, as it requires the expertise of exceptionally skilled and powerful Ether-users (typically high-level mages) in order to shape the crystalline forms into anything remotely useful. Has the unique trait of being immune to antimatter attacks, so it is ideal for both armor and weapons.
LEA Material: An extremely rare and powerful material that is harvested from rare and peculiar living beings. "LEA" (Luvitae Elementa Antimateria, so named due to its innate antimatter properties) is highly volatile and dangerous in its raw form, and needs to be refined with other more stable materials in order to become viable for use.
LEA Metal: An essentially raw form of LEA Material that has undergone a minimal refinement process. An indestructible yet extremely dangerous substance which has the seemingly paradoxical ability to generate antimatter. For this reason, it is used exclusively to produce weapons, as armor made of LEA Metal would only harm the wearer. Typically forged into bladed weapons, though highly restricted for obvious reasons. The handle of an LEA Metal weapon can only be made from LEA Crystal, as it is the only known substance that is immune to the antimatter produced by LEA Metal.
Lifestream: "Life Energy" that inhabits the interior of some planets. In the case of Xenogaia (which was particularly abundant), the Lifestream was merged with the leftover energy and consciousness of the planetary-scale weapon system known as "Deus", where it slumbered for thousands of years before awakening and wreaking havoc on the people of Xenogaia.
Mako Energy: The name given to Lifestream energy after being extracted and processed via Mako Reactors. Materia is produced as a byproduct of this process.
Mako Reactor: Power reactors that were once widely utilized by Shin-Ra, Inc. They drew energy directly from the planet's Lifestream, which was eventually found to be highly dangerous and detrimental. Eventually all Mako Reactors were decommissioned, save for a few small reactors which were exclusively maintained in order to manufacture Materia. These reactors did not draw enough energy to be a threat, as the Lifestream replenishes itself far more quickly than the reactors could draw from it.
Materia: Crystalline orbs that grant people the ability to cast various spells, along with numerous other useful abilities. Typically "slotted" into weapons and armor, but not necessarily. A highly versatile tool, especially in the hands of a savvy individual. Utilized frequently by the Yggdrasil Space Pirates, as well as many others.
Meta-Titanium: A high-grade alloy that utilizes various trace amounts of LEA Material in order to drastically increase overall durability. Not indestructible, but so strong that it might as well be, since most conventional methods are fully incapable of even putting a dent in it.
Merkava: The colossal mobile attack fortress that once housed Deus. The original was destroyed, but it has since been rebuilt by U-TIC, several times over. Roughly the size of a continent, Merkava is capable of massive planetary-scale destruction. A single Merkava fortress can easily overwhelm entire fleets, and is able to deploy hundreds of thousands of smaller ships and mobile units on its own. The destructive power of its main weapon is enough to wipe out a solar system if unleashed at full power.
Meteor: A legendary force of destruction that was contained within the "Black Materia". Used by Sephiroth in an attempt to destroy the planet. While it ultimately was summoned, it failed to achieve the desired result. It has since been lost, having not been seen for thousands of years.
Miang: The designation given to "System Hawwa", which is a sapient human entity that acts as an agent among the Xenogaian population, assuming positions of power and authority throughout history. "System Hawwa", or Miang, exists within the genome of all Xenogaian females, and manifests if/when the current "Miang" is killed, essentially overriding and overwriting the personality of the new host body as she assumes control. At one point, she was a central element to the control system of Deus, but she has since been reclaimed and given new purpose by [REDACTED].
Nanomachines: Sub-molecular machines that are utilized for a wide variety of purposes, from advanced medical treatments (eradicating cancer cells, regenerating limbs, etc) to mechanical repairs and construction. The most advanced forms of nanomachines are able to effectively extend a person's lifespan indefinitely by continually repairing cell and tissue damage at a genetic level. Similarly, such advanced nanomachines can also be used to rapidly repair damage inflicted on ships and mobile units in the midst of battle.
Nanoreactor: Specialized medical equipment, utilizing nanomachines, that is used to treat severe illnesses and injuries.
Nanoshift Armor: A type of armor plating that is most often utilized by mobile units such as Gears and Geardams, which employs nanomachines that temporarily reinforce specific points of an armor's surface at the precise moment they are struck by an physical attack. Ineffective against beam and Ether-based attacks.
Neo-Contact: The current designation given to the entity who is capable of physically interfacing with the Zohar Modifier in order to draw directly from the Wave Existence itself. At this point in time, the Neo-Contact is Wolfgang, Grand Inquisitor of the U-TIC Organization, and supreme leader of the Dimensional Federation. As such, his power is thought to be nigh infinite.
Neo-Titanium: Titanium-Mithril alloy. Approximately as durable as Gundanium Alloy, with the added benefit of being highly resistant to Ether-based effects.
Omnigears: Gears that have been merged with an Anima Relic. Omnigears are extremely powerful, but can only be piloted by a select few individuals within the Xenogaian gene pool (carrying ancestral genetic markers dating back to specific ancient bloodlines). Thus, they are not a common sight on any battlefield. Currently, all Omnigears are in the possession of U-TIC, save for the Omnigear Alpha Weltall, which was stolen by Crim El Furaga, which was then subsequently stolen from him by an unknown party.
Razael's Tree: The ancient supercomputer that was once housed in the Yggdrasil. Prior to that, it was part of the Colony Ship, Eldridge. Now it serves as the backbone of the Yggdrasil V's mainframe. It is impossible to hack into Razael's Tree through conventional methods, largely due to the fact that it is not networked like a normal system. Furthermore, since being combined with the Yggdrasil V's default computer core, it has gained additional safeguards, including an advanced AI suite that acts as an administrator of sorts.
Realians: Artificial humans that bridge the gap between biological and mechanical. Not quite androids, not quite humans. They can be programmed for a wide variety of purposes, ranging from combat to information processing to hard labor. Historically looked down upon and heavily persecuted. They still retain very little in the way of basic rights, but are treated marginally better under the current Dimensional Federation than they once were under the Galaxy Federation of old. Some individual Realians have managed to ascend to high ranking positions, rising well above their station within the meritocratic system of U-TIC.
Runes: Magical symbols governed by the 27 True Runes. Contained within crystalline orbs that are magically grafted onto the body by "Rune Sages". Typically, most people are only able to bear three Runes at a time: one on each hand, and one upon the forehead. Some people are unable to bear a third symbol on their forehead due to a lack of adequate innate magical ability. Conversely, there are some who have apparently been able to bear many more than the usual three, but those are exceptional cases. Runes can also be attached directly to weapons, for a variety of special (typically passive) effects.
Shevat: A city that once existed atop the structure known as "Babel Tower", which was actually a portion of the massive Eldridge Colony Ship that had crashed to the surface of Xenogaia. The city itself was driven into a state of perpetual exile following their rebellion and eventual defeat at the hands of Solaris, and was ultimately all but destroyed some 500 years later as a result of the rise of Deus.
Currently, a reconstructed version of this cursed city exists within an isolated sub-dimension, inhabited by shadows of former residents and maintained by an AI construct that takes on the appearance and personality of Shevat's Queen, Zephyr.
Shin-Ra, Inc.: A global conglomerate that effectively ruled over all of Xenogaia, and eventually, spanned a multiversal empire. Collapsed when the command structure fell apart due to the leadership (President Reno Cascade) abandoning the company.
Seraph Angels: Terminal Interface Weapons of Deus. They were constructed using former humans (Wels) as parts, assuming various terrifying "Angelic" forms. Their individual powers were enough to, at times, even push Omnigears to their limits. Hundreds of thousands of these entities were activated simultaneously.
Solaris: An empire that spanned the world of Xenogaia several thousand years ago. Collapsed as a result of the rise of Deus.
SOLDIER: The most elite combat section of Shin-Ra, Inc. Comprised of several tiers (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class), members of SOLDIER were enhanced via a process known as "Mako Infusion", which granted them greatly enhanced physical and magical abilities. Notable members of SOLDIER include: Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal, Zack Fair, and Elyk X. Cloud Strife, the leader of AVALANCHE, underwent Mako Infusion himself, but was never actually a member of SOLDIER.
Mako Infusion was also coupled with the injection of "JENOVA Cells", a nefarious project that was initiated by Professor Hojo. This was what eventually led to the creation of Sephiroth, who ultimately went insane and perpetrated the Meteor Incident, which nearly caused the destruction of the planet itself. The true purpose behind this project remains sealed by order of [REDACTED].
The Turks: A special clandestine agency that worked for Shin-Ra, Inc. They were exceptionally skilled individuals, both in and out of battle. After the planetary Meteor crisis, members of the Turks took over the Shin-Ra command structure, with the leader of the Turks, Reno Cascade, assuming the role of President of the company.
True Runes: Minor deities that reside and rule over the pocket-multiverse known as the "Million Worlds", which was created as a result of the excess energy generated during the battle between Xenogears and Deus. There are 27 True Runes in total, each one possessing its own will and objectives. True Rune bearers are granted great powers, including agelessness and immunity to diseases, but generally at the expense of a unique "curse" that each True Rune inflicts.
U-TIC Organization: The Unknown-Territory Intervention and Creation Organization, or "U-TIC". The true power behind the Dimensional Federation. Highly secretive, yet omni-present throughout the hundreds of thousands of universes that are under the control of the Federation. U-TIC is led by Wolfgang, the Neo-Contact, holding the rank of "Grand Inquisitor". Killiak, who possesses power thought to be equal to that of Wolfgang himself, serves as the General Commander of the U-TIC Fleet, which in turn effectively makes him the highest ranking military officer in the Dimensional Federation. The sheer amount of resources at the disposal of U-TIC are staggering to the point of being incomprehensible.
The true extent of their power structure is currently unknown, as is their ultimate goal.
Vessels of Anima: Precursors to the Anima Relics. These appear as spine-like devices that are merged with the frames of ES Units, granting them greatly enhanced performance capabilities by increasing the amount of power they are able to draw from the Zohar Modifier.
Wave Existence: For all intents and purposes, this is "God" (capital "G"). Or rather, a fraction of God's "Will", that was forcibly dragged from a higher dimension and imprisoned within the Zohar Modifier, for use as an infinite source of energy. It desires nothing more than to escape from the Zohar and ascend back to the higher plane from which it originated.
WEAPON: The name given to the terminal interface weapons of Deus after it merged with the Lifestream. Several WEAPONS emerged all at once, spreading chaos and destruction across the planet before finally being taken down by members of AVALANCHE and Shin-Ra.
Wels (Reapers): Grotesque beings that were originally created by Krelian's twisted experiments after he defected to Solaris. His works have since been carried on by the scientists of U-TIC. The purpose behind the current Wels experiments remain unknown to all but a select few within the upper echelons of U-TIC's command. Wels (also referred to as "Reapers") assume many forms, all of which are nightmarish. They are all former humans who have been genetically altered, but still retain some semblance of their former selves. Their existence is one of constant pain and misery, generally driven by a singular desire to feed on the flesh of non-mutated humans, as that is the only thing that eases their suffering.
Xenogears: The "Diabolos" Gear that surpasses the power of even Omnigears. This is the perfect Gear, meant to interface with the Contact (or Neo-Contact) in order to draw out the maximum potential of the Wave Existence housed within the Zohar Modifier. Has not been seen in thousands of years, though it is assumed that Wolfgang (the current Neo-Contact) has it in his possession.
Zohar Emulator: False Zohar Modifiers that tap into extradimensional sources in an attempt to mimic the power of the true Zohar. While they do not produce truly infinite amounts of energy, they in essence the next best thing, and can be utilized in a similar fashion for "practically endless" amounts of power. There are a total of twelve Zohar Emulators, and
Zohar Modifier: A monolith-like structure that was excavated on Earth (known now as "Lost Jerusalem") tens of thousands of years ago. It is a source of infinite energy, as it has contained within it the trapped essence of God, or rather a fragment of God. Its power has been the source of continual conflict throughout the ages, and it continues to be at the center of everything to this day. Currently in the possession of the U-TIC Organization, which uses it to drive its seemingly endless war machine on its path of infinite expansion from universe to universe.
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Abel: The sole survivor of the Eldridge, which crashed on Xenogaia after Deus went berserk. He was the only original human on the planet. All other humanoid lifeforms were created by an artificial progenitor, the biological supercomputer Kadomony.
AERODs: Animum Ether Response Offensive Drones. Advanced Ether-guided weapons that can only be effectively controlled by individuals possessing great Ether power and advanced spatial awareness.
A.G.W.S.: Anti-Gnosis Weapon System. Small-scale mecha units (typically between 3 - 5 meters in height) that were designed to be deployed rapidly against sudden Gnosis attacks. Utilized special slave-generator technology that drew energy from their assigned motherships, allowing them to run indefinitely as long as the ships remained within a close enough distance and operational. Overall limited in terms of power, and ultimately ended up being phased out in favor of various other superior weapons and tactics.
A.M.W.S.: Assault Maneuver Weapon System. Full size mecha units (typically between 16 - 20 meters in height) that were designed for a multitude of purposes. While there were some that were utilized in the civilian sector (construction, exploration, excavation, etc), they were primarily used as weapons of war. Mass produced units served a variety of roles, and custom units could be quite powerful. These were the precursors to contemporary Gears, and operated on essentially identical principles and technologies, including the usage of slave generators connected to the Zohar Modifier, as well as the implementation of Ether Amplification Engines which enabled pilots to unleash unique Ether-based abilities while piloting.
Anima Relics: Ancient artifacts dating back to Kadomony's creation of the Xenogaian Humans. They are used to power gears up to Omnigear status. There are twelve in total, and can only be aligned with a very small fraction of Humans who can trace their lineage to the Xenogaian gene pool. The twelve Anima Relics are: Dan, Joseph, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Judah, Dinah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Issachar, and Naphtali. Currently, all Anima Relics save for Naphtali are in the possession of the U-TIC Organization.
Antitype: A subdivision of Deus, born of the mother's will instilled within the Wave Existence when Abel made contact with it as he sought his mother. Destined to be eternally reincarnated alongside the Contact, she was always identified to him as "Elly", regardless of the name she may be given in any set era. Whether by fate or coincidence, the Contact almost always experienced a great tragedy, which ultimately resulted in the death of the Antitype. The word "Antitype" refers to her being the figurative opposite of Miang.
Since the "Fall of Deus", the Antitype is thought to have vanished, though this is actually unconfirmed, and there are various theories regarding potential phenomena that may have subsequently emerged as a "replacement", as it were.
Armageddium: A powerful extra-dimensional substance that can be refined into extremely durable materials. The full potential of Armageddium-based materials has yet to be fully realized. Highly unstable in its raw form. A potential replacement for the exceptionally rare LEA Material.
Armored Module: A type of mobile unit employed by the Dimensional Federation, and by extension, U-TIC. Typically bipedal in design, they tend towards being more suited to aerial and mid to long range combat, though there are some units that have been customized to excel in close quarters as well. The main point where they differ from Gears is the fact that they do not operate via slave generators, and are not normally equipped with Ether Amplification Engines. The reason for this is because Armored Modules are almost exclusively A.I. drone units, though there are exceptions to this.
AVALANCHE: A group of eco-terrorists who were active during the days of Shin-Ra, prior to Reno Cascade's reign. They were largely responsible for the downfall of the original Shin-Ra Administration, and are also credited with averting the Meteor Crisis. Their leader, Cloud Strife, personally slayed the man responsible for bringing about the Crisis, a maniacal Ex-SOLDIER general named Sephiroth.
Cetra: A space-faring race that arrived on Xenogaia several thousand years after the Fall of Deus. They were humanoid, and biologically compatible with Xenogaian Humans. They were highly in tune with nature, and the Lifestream. Unfortunately, they were almost completely exterminated by JENOVA, and eventually wiped out entirely when the last Cetra was killed by Sephiroth during the age of Shin-Ra.
Contact: The term for a person who makes contact with the Zohar Modifier and the Wave Existence. The Contact was the only person with the power to destroy both Deus and the Zohar, which would thus have freed the Wave Existence from its "corporeal prison" and allowed it to ascend back to the higher dimension from whence it came. The first Contact was the young boy Abel, who made contact with the Wave Existence and the Zohar shortly before the Eldridge crashed on Xenogaia. From there the Contact (Abel), and the corresponding Antitype (Elly), have been continually reborn throughout history emerging as a distinct new person in every generation, yet still appearing like the original Contact, Abel. Notable Contacts throughout history have included the doctor, Kim Kasim, the Painter from Nisan, Lacan (who eventually became Grahf, the Seeker of Power), and the final incarnation, Fei Fong Wong. The Contact was able to use all the latent power of the Zohar at will and was therefore, for all intents and purposes, the most powerful corporeal being in the universe. Each Contact throughout history was born with the memories or knowledge of the previous Contact who existed before him, so if a previous Contact realised that he was the Contact, then died, that knowledge was carried over to his successor. Three other types of Contacts are known to exist: Imperfect Contacts, Artificial Contacts, and Neo-Contacts. Grahf was an Imperfect Contact, as when he found the Zohar, the corresponding Antitype (Sophia/Elly) had already died. Both Contact and Antitype were needed in order to establish a perfect Contact. Kahran Ramsus was an Artificial Contact created by Krelian, with the intent of using him in his plan in place of the true Contact, Fei Fong Wong. However when Fei was discovered, Ramsus was simply disposed of. Since the Fall of Deus, the original form of the "Contact" has been replaced by the "Neo-Contact".
Demi-Humans: A Human who is not entirely Human. Demi-Humans are the result of genetic modification, mutation or sometimes just race. They are sometimes (but not always) considerably more powerful than normal Humans. They also face a great deal of discrimination, due to their oftentimes freakish appearance.
Deus: The advanced planetary-scale weapon system that seized control of the Eldridge, causing the ship to crash land into the planet Xenogaia. In order to repair itself, Deus used its biological generator, Kadomony, to create the first batch of Humans that would propagate and ultimately repair Deus in order to free it from the planet. However, at the same time as the Eldridge crash, Deus took complete control over the Zohar Modifier, trapping the higher-dimensional being known as the Wave Existence in the process. The physical/superweapon portion of Deus, Merkava, housed the system's core, which originally appeared as a larvae. The core eventually evolved into an enormous monster that served as the final barrier between the Contact (Fei Fong Wong) and the freedom of the Wave Existence. Ultimately, however, Deus was not completely destroyed, rather, it was sealed away within the planet itself. In a final act of self-preservation, Deus merged itself with the planet's Lifestream, which fundamentally altered both entities. The Lifestream was eventually purged of Deus through the efforts of AVALANCHE and Shin-Ra, Inc.
Dimensional Federation: The multiple-universe spanning empire that is essentially the public front for the U-TIC Organization. Incomparably vast, exercising control over hundreds of thousands of universes, and constantly increasing its influence through endless conquest. The vast majority of territories within its domain have no idea that they are even part of it, continuing to live out their existences as though they were "free".
E-Cells: Sub-molecular nanomachines that automatically repair damage at astonishing rates. Employed by U-TIC on a small number of their more advanced mobile units.
Eldridge: A massive 270 kilometer-long colony ship that was commissioned over 10,000 years ago by the Galaxy Federation. Its primary purpose was to transport Deus and the Zohar Modifier following a disaster that resulted in the destruction of an entire planet. During the journey, a young boy named Abel entered a restricted area while looking for his missing mother. He saw the Kadomony in the eye of the Zohar, and sensing his longing for his mother, Kadomony created a woman: Elly. Abel then contacted the Wave Existence, a being from a higher dimension imprisoned within the Zohar Modifier. Deus became aware of the situation, and in self-defense, attempted to take control of the ship. Although the crew attempted to stop Deus from spreading to different sectors, the weapon was too powerful. To prevent Deus from being unleashed upon open space, Shigeyoshi Inoue, the captain of the Eldridge, activated the self-destruct sequence which destroyed the majority of the bridge and engine sections of the ship, causing it to crash on the surface of the planet that would eventually become known as Xenogaia.
E.S. Units: Precursors to the Omnigears, these are exceptionally powerful machines that utilize "Vessels of Anima" in order to draw more power from the Zohar Modifier than average Gears and AMWS. In the absence of a connection to the Zohar, they are capable of drawing from "Zohar Emulators" in order to achieve similar (if not quite as high) performance levels. Unlike Omnigears, one does not need to be from a specific genetic lineage, or even be Xenogaian at all, although a high degree of Ether power is certainly a benefit. "E.S." stands for "Ein Sof", which can be loosely translated to "unending", which speaks to the original intent behind the E.S. project.
Like the Omnigears, there are twelve E.S. Units in all. Each is currently on board the Yggdrasil V.
Ether: A broad term used to describe any form of "mystical", "spiritual", or otherwise "supernatural" energy-based phenomena. Things such as magic, mana, alchemy, ki, chi, and so-forth.
Galaxy Federation: Precursor to the Dimensional Federation. Collapsed tens of thousands of years ago, only to rise up again thanks to the efforts of the newly revived U-TIC Organization.
Gate: A highly advanced defense system that utilizes dimensional barriers to phase regions out of normal space in order to prevent outsiders from observing and infiltrating target areas. Requires tremendous power to be utilized with any real effectiveness.
Gears: Powerful combat mechs, typically humanoid (but not necessarily), which were originally built by the Galaxy Federation tens of thousands of years ago. Unearthed on Xenogaia from the remains of the crashed Eldridge colony ship, Gears are the mainstay of U-TIC and Dimensional Federation forces. Two main elements that distinguish Gears from other similar types of mechs are that they are primarily powered via slave generators that draw energy from the Zohar Modifier, and that they incorporate "Ether Amplification Engines", which enable the pilots to utilize their personal Ether-based abilities in augmented forms, channeled through their Gears.
Geardams: Essentially identical to Gears, save for the fact that they are not powered via slave generators, but rather various alternative sources (most commonly, "ultracompact" nuclear fusion reactors). Geardams are the mainstay of the Yggdrasil Space Pirates. Performance-wise, they are generally on par with Gears. Yggdrasil Crew Geardams are generally made using design schematics from other machines, rebuilt using superior materials and with much higher performance output.
Gnosis: Also known as the "Pilgrimage Fleet", were monstrous non-corporeal entities that wreaked havoc across the Galaxy Federation tens of thousands of years ago. They were apparently defeated, as there have been no sightings of them since. The records have been sealed by U-TIC, and the general public has no knowledge that they even existed.
God Fear Weapons: Originally a unique set of weapons (twelve in all) that were meant to be complimentary to those who were compatible with Anima Relics. However, there have been numerous incarnations of these weapons, and the originals may have been lost entirely. They were considerably powerful, to the point of granting their wielders god-like abilities on top of whatever natural powers they already possessed.
Holy: The name given to a supernatural force that was, at one point, contained within a unique Materia orb known as the "White Materia". It was supposed to have been used to generate a magical barrier that could protect the planet (Xenogaia) from the destructive force of its counterpart, "Meteor" (controlled via the "Black Materia"). Has not been seen for thousands of years.
JENOVA: Originally thought to be a hostile alien species bent on eradicating the Cetra (along with humanity), it was in reality the result of twisted experiments on the part of [REDACTED] in order to construct a physical [REDACTED]. The experiments were deemed a failure, but the data was considered to be valuable in its own right.
Kadomony: Kadomony is a biological supercomputer capable of creating artificial sapient life. It was originally located within the "eye" of the Zohar Modifier. Kadomony was initially developed by the Galaxy Federation for the purpose of managing the entire Deus System. After the Eldridge fell to Xenogaia, Deus used this system to create Cain, the Gazel Ministry and the rest of the Xenogaian humans, which were all intended to be used as "parts" in order to repair itself. At some point after the crash, Kadomony was separated from the Zohar and perched on a cliff overlooking a valley somewhere near where the Zohar landed, (referred to in historical records as "The Land of Bethlehem"). Kadomony is also responsible for the creation and maintenance of "System Hawwa". [See: Miang]
LEA Alloy: LEA Material that has been refined with other substances in order to stabilize it into a form that can be used. Depending on the substance, LEA Alloys can be forged to the point of indestructibility, which obviously makes it ideal for weapons and armor. Unfortunately, given the rarity of not only LEA Material, but also the specific materials that can be combined with it, equipment forged of LEA Alloys are exceedingly uncommon and prohibitively expensive.
LEA Crystal: LEA Material that has been refined via a specialized Ether-treatment process. Once the material has been refined in this manner, it cannot be reforged again, as it becomes essentially indestructible. This method is considerably less expensive than the alloy refinement process, however, it is just as difficult, as it requires the expertise of exceptionally skilled and powerful Ether-users (typically high-level mages) in order to shape the crystalline forms into anything remotely useful. Has the unique trait of being immune to antimatter attacks, so it is ideal for both armor and weapons.
LEA Material: An extremely rare and powerful material that is harvested from rare and peculiar living beings. "LEA" (Luvitae Elementa Antimateria, so named due to its innate antimatter properties) is highly volatile and dangerous in its raw form, and needs to be refined with other more stable materials in order to become viable for use.
LEA Metal: An essentially raw form of LEA Material that has undergone a minimal refinement process. An indestructible yet extremely dangerous substance which has the seemingly paradoxical ability to generate antimatter. For this reason, it is used exclusively to produce weapons, as armor made of LEA Metal would only harm the wearer. Typically forged into bladed weapons, though highly restricted for obvious reasons. The handle of an LEA Metal weapon can only be made from LEA Crystal, as it is the only known substance that is immune to the antimatter produced by LEA Metal.
Lifestream: "Life Energy" that inhabits the interior of some planets. In the case of Xenogaia (which was particularly abundant), the Lifestream was merged with the leftover energy and consciousness of the planetary-scale weapon system known as "Deus", where it slumbered for thousands of years before awakening and wreaking havoc on the people of Xenogaia.
Mako Energy: The name given to Lifestream energy after being extracted and processed via Mako Reactors. Materia is produced as a byproduct of this process.
Mako Reactor: Power reactors that were once widely utilized by Shin-Ra, Inc. They drew energy directly from the planet's Lifestream, which was eventually found to be highly dangerous and detrimental. Eventually all Mako Reactors were decommissioned, save for a few small reactors which were exclusively maintained in order to manufacture Materia. These reactors did not draw enough energy to be a threat, as the Lifestream replenishes itself far more quickly than the reactors could draw from it.
Materia: Crystalline orbs that grant people the ability to cast various spells, along with numerous other useful abilities. Typically "slotted" into weapons and armor, but not necessarily. A highly versatile tool, especially in the hands of a savvy individual. Utilized frequently by the Yggdrasil Space Pirates, as well as many others.
Meta-Titanium: A high-grade alloy that utilizes various trace amounts of LEA Material in order to drastically increase overall durability. Not indestructible, but so strong that it might as well be, since most conventional methods are fully incapable of even putting a dent in it.
Merkava: The colossal mobile attack fortress that once housed Deus. The original was destroyed, but it has since been rebuilt by U-TIC, several times over. Roughly the size of a continent, Merkava is capable of massive planetary-scale destruction. A single Merkava fortress can easily overwhelm entire fleets, and is able to deploy hundreds of thousands of smaller ships and mobile units on its own. The destructive power of its main weapon is enough to wipe out a solar system if unleashed at full power.
Meteor: A legendary force of destruction that was contained within the "Black Materia". Used by Sephiroth in an attempt to destroy the planet. While it ultimately was summoned, it failed to achieve the desired result. It has since been lost, having not been seen for thousands of years.
Miang: The designation given to "System Hawwa", which is a sapient human entity that acts as an agent among the Xenogaian population, assuming positions of power and authority throughout history. "System Hawwa", or Miang, exists within the genome of all Xenogaian females, and manifests if/when the current "Miang" is killed, essentially overriding and overwriting the personality of the new host body as she assumes control. At one point, she was a central element to the control system of Deus, but she has since been reclaimed and given new purpose by [REDACTED].
Nanomachines: Sub-molecular machines that are utilized for a wide variety of purposes, from advanced medical treatments (eradicating cancer cells, regenerating limbs, etc) to mechanical repairs and construction. The most advanced forms of nanomachines are able to effectively extend a person's lifespan indefinitely by continually repairing cell and tissue damage at a genetic level. Similarly, such advanced nanomachines can also be used to rapidly repair damage inflicted on ships and mobile units in the midst of battle.
Nanoreactor: Specialized medical equipment, utilizing nanomachines, that is used to treat severe illnesses and injuries.
Nanoshift Armor: A type of armor plating that is most often utilized by mobile units such as Gears and Geardams, which employs nanomachines that temporarily reinforce specific points of an armor's surface at the precise moment they are struck by an physical attack. Ineffective against beam and Ether-based attacks.
Neo-Contact: The current designation given to the entity who is capable of physically interfacing with the Zohar Modifier in order to draw directly from the Wave Existence itself. At this point in time, the Neo-Contact is Wolfgang, Grand Inquisitor of the U-TIC Organization, and supreme leader of the Dimensional Federation. As such, his power is thought to be nigh infinite.
Neo-Titanium: Titanium-Mithril alloy. Approximately as durable as Gundanium Alloy, with the added benefit of being highly resistant to Ether-based effects.
Omnigears: Gears that have been merged with an Anima Relic. Omnigears are extremely powerful, but can only be piloted by a select few individuals within the Xenogaian gene pool (carrying ancestral genetic markers dating back to specific ancient bloodlines). Thus, they are not a common sight on any battlefield. Currently, all Omnigears are in the possession of U-TIC, save for the Omnigear Alpha Weltall, which was stolen by Crim El Furaga, which was then subsequently stolen from him by an unknown party.
Razael's Tree: The ancient supercomputer that was once housed in the Yggdrasil. Prior to that, it was part of the Colony Ship, Eldridge. Now it serves as the backbone of the Yggdrasil V's mainframe. It is impossible to hack into Razael's Tree through conventional methods, largely due to the fact that it is not networked like a normal system. Furthermore, since being combined with the Yggdrasil V's default computer core, it has gained additional safeguards, including an advanced AI suite that acts as an administrator of sorts.
Realians: Artificial humans that bridge the gap between biological and mechanical. Not quite androids, not quite humans. They can be programmed for a wide variety of purposes, ranging from combat to information processing to hard labor. Historically looked down upon and heavily persecuted. They still retain very little in the way of basic rights, but are treated marginally better under the current Dimensional Federation than they once were under the Galaxy Federation of old. Some individual Realians have managed to ascend to high ranking positions, rising well above their station within the meritocratic system of U-TIC.
Runes: Magical symbols governed by the 27 True Runes. Contained within crystalline orbs that are magically grafted onto the body by "Rune Sages". Typically, most people are only able to bear three Runes at a time: one on each hand, and one upon the forehead. Some people are unable to bear a third symbol on their forehead due to a lack of adequate innate magical ability. Conversely, there are some who have apparently been able to bear many more than the usual three, but those are exceptional cases. Runes can also be attached directly to weapons, for a variety of special (typically passive) effects.
Shevat: A city that once existed atop the structure known as "Babel Tower", which was actually a portion of the massive Eldridge Colony Ship that had crashed to the surface of Xenogaia. The city itself was driven into a state of perpetual exile following their rebellion and eventual defeat at the hands of Solaris, and was ultimately all but destroyed some 500 years later as a result of the rise of Deus.
Currently, a reconstructed version of this cursed city exists within an isolated sub-dimension, inhabited by shadows of former residents and maintained by an AI construct that takes on the appearance and personality of Shevat's Queen, Zephyr.
Shin-Ra, Inc.: A global conglomerate that effectively ruled over all of Xenogaia, and eventually, spanned a multiversal empire. Collapsed when the command structure fell apart due to the leadership (President Reno Cascade) abandoning the company.
Seraph Angels: Terminal Interface Weapons of Deus. They were constructed using former humans (Wels) as parts, assuming various terrifying "Angelic" forms. Their individual powers were enough to, at times, even push Omnigears to their limits. Hundreds of thousands of these entities were activated simultaneously.
Solaris: An empire that spanned the world of Xenogaia several thousand years ago. Collapsed as a result of the rise of Deus.
SOLDIER: The most elite combat section of Shin-Ra, Inc. Comprised of several tiers (1st, 2nd, and 3rd Class), members of SOLDIER were enhanced via a process known as "Mako Infusion", which granted them greatly enhanced physical and magical abilities. Notable members of SOLDIER include: Sephiroth, Genesis, Angeal, Zack Fair, and Elyk X. Cloud Strife, the leader of AVALANCHE, underwent Mako Infusion himself, but was never actually a member of SOLDIER.
Mako Infusion was also coupled with the injection of "JENOVA Cells", a nefarious project that was initiated by Professor Hojo. This was what eventually led to the creation of Sephiroth, who ultimately went insane and perpetrated the Meteor Incident, which nearly caused the destruction of the planet itself. The true purpose behind this project remains sealed by order of [REDACTED].
The Turks: A special clandestine agency that worked for Shin-Ra, Inc. They were exceptionally skilled individuals, both in and out of battle. After the planetary Meteor crisis, members of the Turks took over the Shin-Ra command structure, with the leader of the Turks, Reno Cascade, assuming the role of President of the company.
True Runes: Minor deities that reside and rule over the pocket-multiverse known as the "Million Worlds", which was created as a result of the excess energy generated during the battle between Xenogears and Deus. There are 27 True Runes in total, each one possessing its own will and objectives. True Rune bearers are granted great powers, including agelessness and immunity to diseases, but generally at the expense of a unique "curse" that each True Rune inflicts.
U-TIC Organization: The Unknown-Territory Intervention and Creation Organization, or "U-TIC". The true power behind the Dimensional Federation. Highly secretive, yet omni-present throughout the hundreds of thousands of universes that are under the control of the Federation. U-TIC is led by Wolfgang, the Neo-Contact, holding the rank of "Grand Inquisitor". Killiak, who possesses power thought to be equal to that of Wolfgang himself, serves as the General Commander of the U-TIC Fleet, which in turn effectively makes him the highest ranking military officer in the Dimensional Federation. The sheer amount of resources at the disposal of U-TIC are staggering to the point of being incomprehensible.
The true extent of their power structure is currently unknown, as is their ultimate goal.
Vessels of Anima: Precursors to the Anima Relics. These appear as spine-like devices that are merged with the frames of ES Units, granting them greatly enhanced performance capabilities by increasing the amount of power they are able to draw from the Zohar Modifier.
Wave Existence: For all intents and purposes, this is "God" (capital "G"). Or rather, a fraction of God's "Will", that was forcibly dragged from a higher dimension and imprisoned within the Zohar Modifier, for use as an infinite source of energy. It desires nothing more than to escape from the Zohar and ascend back to the higher plane from which it originated.
WEAPON: The name given to the terminal interface weapons of Deus after it merged with the Lifestream. Several WEAPONS emerged all at once, spreading chaos and destruction across the planet before finally being taken down by members of AVALANCHE and Shin-Ra.
Wels (Reapers): Grotesque beings that were originally created by Krelian's twisted experiments after he defected to Solaris. His works have since been carried on by the scientists of U-TIC. The purpose behind the current Wels experiments remain unknown to all but a select few within the upper echelons of U-TIC's command. Wels (also referred to as "Reapers") assume many forms, all of which are nightmarish. They are all former humans who have been genetically altered, but still retain some semblance of their former selves. Their existence is one of constant pain and misery, generally driven by a singular desire to feed on the flesh of non-mutated humans, as that is the only thing that eases their suffering.
Xenogears: The "Diabolos" Gear that surpasses the power of even Omnigears. This is the perfect Gear, meant to interface with the Contact (or Neo-Contact) in order to draw out the maximum potential of the Wave Existence housed within the Zohar Modifier. Has not been seen in thousands of years, though it is assumed that Wolfgang (the current Neo-Contact) has it in his possession.
Zohar Emulator: False Zohar Modifiers that tap into extradimensional sources in an attempt to mimic the power of the true Zohar. While they do not produce truly infinite amounts of energy, they in essence the next best thing, and can be utilized in a similar fashion for "practically endless" amounts of power. There are a total of twelve Zohar Emulators, and
Zohar Modifier: A monolith-like structure that was excavated on Earth (known now as "Lost Jerusalem") tens of thousands of years ago. It is a source of infinite energy, as it has contained within it the trapped essence of God, or rather a fragment of God. Its power has been the source of continual conflict throughout the ages, and it continues to be at the center of everything to this day. Currently in the possession of the U-TIC Organization, which uses it to drive its seemingly endless war machine on its path of infinite expansion from universe to universe.