Glossary
Glossary items define how terms are used within stories and commentary. Glossary entries are updated to incorporate more information revealed within a story. All glossary items are available here. Browse glossary items in alphabetical order, by date published or sort them by the date they were updated.
Glossary in Alphabetical Order
P
- Potable Water Station
A stand-alone sink providing water suitable for ingesting and preparing food.
(view full entry) - Programming Transfer Interface
- Psych Stability Tests (PST)
The Foundation first utilized Psychological Stability Tests in the 1960s. The data gathered from these initial tests played a crucial role in identifying potential habitat residents.
(view full entry) - Public Consensus of 102
The focus of the Public Consensus of 102, approved by all Chartered residents of all the habitats, was to choose a viable path for humanity to work and strive toward.
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Q
- Quadrant
All habitat floors were divided into four equal parts, each identified by its location on a compass and named according to the two they bordered.
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R
- Recompense
The name of the units each person received into their accounts monthly as a result of completing their Community Tasks.
(view full entry) - Recruitment
The Foundation recruited its members on a voluntary basis. It did so by identifying those who first met the psychological requirements through the Psychological Stability Tests (PSTs).
(view full entry) - Renumeration
Those who create something significant to the community through their work or research or who have regularly (over a five-year term) gathered the maximum amount of holdable units, $50,000 annually, shall be granted an annual payment of the maximum amount for the rest of their lives.
(view full entry) - Reservations
Most classes and events, even private groups, were arranged through an online reservation system, which alleviated lines and allowed for prompt unit transfers.
(view full entry) - Ritual Poetry
Poetry, songs and chants play a large role in pagan rituals. Some are rhythmic, and repetitious, which can place someone in a state where they are more open to what is between. Others evoke subconsciously, even outside of rhyme and meter.
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- Project SideStep
The name of the project worked on across the habitats to implement hyperspace as a viable option for humanity to explore the stars in the hopes of finding a new, untouched planet to emigrate to.
(view full entry) - Sabbats
The eight rituals which make up the Pagan Wheel of the Year. Happening approximately every six and a half weeks, each one revolves around that particular time of the year and follows the sun and the seasons.
(view full entry) - Sacerdote
A gender-neutral term for “Priest” and “Priestess”, Sacerdos was initially used in the ancient world to mean one who facilitated the rites.
(view full entry) - Sanctuary, The
Built during the renovations to Alexandra Hanlon’s office space six years prior to the Catastrophe.
(view full entry) - Satellite Network
Before and after the Catastrophe, the Habitats were connected to the satellites that orbited the planet. Each habitat had several satellite dishes that could communicate with the outside world and the other habitats.
(view full entry) - Section
Sections were distinct miniature cities within the habitat. Each one contained everything necessary for its residents to live, work and thrive. In an emergency, sections could be self-contained, each able to supply life support to the floors it held.
(view full entry) - Shield (energetic)
As used in these stories:
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An energetic shield may protect a person from harmful energies coming from another entity. - Sigils
A magical symbol using correspondences to represent an elemental force or desired outcome that can be activated energetically when desired.
(view full entry) - Sky Dome
The name applied to the shallow concave ceiling on the living floors, which usually depicted a 24-hour video mimicking the sky on the surface on a similar date.
(view full entry) - Slice
A manner of referencing a distinct portion of a quadrant. Each quadrant was divided horizontally into three curved “slices”, commonly referred to by number.
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