the Heavenly Plane (strongly preferred for out-of-universe discussions and lore-writing but also used in-universe)

/ the World of Gods and Spirits
: the plane of existence within which most gods and other ethereal beings reside.

the Immaterial Plane (strongly preferred for out-of-universe discussions and lore-writing but also used in-universe)

/ the World Beyond
: the plane of existence to which most souls pass after death.

the Material Plane (strongly preferred for out-of-universe discussions and lore-writing but also used in-universe)

 / the Mortal World

 / the Living World

 / the World of Men (used mainly by humans)
: the plane of existence within which Gess is situated and most mortal beings reside.

the Plane of Atonement (strongly preferred for out-of-universe discussions and lore-writing but also used in-universe)

 / the World In-Between
: a transitional plane of existence situated somewhere in-between the Immaterial Plane and Material Plane. It occupies the same space as the latter plane and is thus a parallel incarnation of it. It is the place where the souls of those who have committed grave injustices and/or atrocities during their lives end up if they never atoned for their sins in the eyes of the gods. Some who end up there are permanently stuck in limbo while others are given an opportunity to go back to the Material Plane as Spirits and atone for their sins.

Dragonborn
: any being which is the direct offspring of a Dragon and something else.

Demigod (if male) / Demigoddess (if female)
: any being which is the direct offspring of an Immortal and a Mortal.

Ethereal
: any being born outside the Material Plane.

God (if male) / Goddess (if female)
(The term is self-explanatory.)

Halfborn

: any being which is a cross between two species or races.

Halfrenn
: any being which is a cross between a Human and a non-human humanoid.

Humanoid
: any bipedal being which has hands and a human-like torso.

(This term is only used out-of-universe.)

Immortal
: any being which is unable to die from old age and disease.

Mortal
: any being which is able to die from old age and disease.

Sentient

: any being which can be classified as a Basal Sentient, Low Sentient, Primal Sentient, Primitive Sentient, Barbarian Sentient, or a High Sentient.

. . . are unable to communicate directly, but they can indicate their presence and availability as a mate through pheromones or bodily fluids and they may also be able to perform threatening displays.
. . . are unable to make or use technology at all. At most, some races/species may use shells for protection.

. . . live in the nude.

Pre-sentients

. . . are not able to speak, read, or write, but they can convey danger, affection, status, availability, and the intent to mate through body-language, posture, and vocalizations.
. . . are unable to make or use advanced technology but some races/species do make bedding or nests out of foliage and a few are even able to use natural objects as makeshift weapons or tools.

. . . live in the nude.

Basal Sentients

. . . are not able to speak, read, or write, but they can communicate in a limited fashion through grunts, facial expressions, and very simple hand-gestures.

. . . are able to use things like shaped pieces of wood and sharpened rocks and bone as weapons and tools and they can also construct highly rudimentary shelters using things like logs, rocks, and foliage.

. . . live in the nude and totally lack any stigmas around nudity.

Races/Species belonging to this level of sentience: Girlnefaiyn, Fargr, Wemr, Virmgr?

(I did not make any of the images shown above. They are personally modified versions of existing media that have been included merely to provide visual representations for what one would expect of races/species at this level of sentience)

Low Sentients

. . . are not able to speak, read, or write, but they can communicate through advanced hand-gestures, facial expressions, grunts, and special vocalizations.

. . . are able to make primitive weapons and tools – such as clubs, spears, and daggers – using things like wood, string, bone, ivory, and flintstone and they can also construct primitive tents and shelters using things like logs, rocks, thatch, and animal hide.

. . . live in the nude and totally lack any stigmas around nudity. That said, some Low Sentients have managed to develop rudimentary shoes and a few races living in colder climates may even wear simple pelts for insulation while outdoors.

Races/Species belonging to this level of sentience: Esner, Maugr, Idner

(I did not make any of the images shown above. They are personally modified versions of existing media that have been included merely to provide visual representations for what one would expect of races/species at this level of sentience)

Primal Sentients

. . . are able to speak, but only in a primitive, often ungrammatical fashion where the vocabulary is extremely basic, everything is said in present-tense, and most sentences only consist of 2-3 words; e.g. “Me like human”, “Meat good”, “Her give water?” or “Woman tall”. They are unable to read or write.

. . . are able to make primitive weapons and tools – such as clubs, spears, and daggers – using things like wood, string, bone, ivory, and flintstone and they can also make clothing out of string and animal hide (or foliage) as well as tents and wooden huts using things like animal hide, bone, logs, rocks, and thatch.

. . . tend to have a stigma against showing genitals and thus cover them up on the basis of embarrassment. Some Primal Sentients living in colder climates also wear more extensive clothing for the purpose of insulation, but most Primal Sentients are very lightly dressed, often only wearing a thin, revealing garment over the crotch.

Races/Species belonging to this level of sentience: Hirlfaiyn?, Boegen, Goblahr, An'weiyn, Coh’weiyn, Fal'weiyn, Mer'weiyn, So'weiyn, Yao’weiyn, Lilritten, Rhet

(I did not make any of the images shown above. They are personally modified versions of existing media that have been included merely to provide visual representations for what one would expect of races/species at this level of sentience)

Primitive Sentients
. . . are able to speak, but their vocabulary tends to be quite limited and straightforward. Primitive Sentients are rarely able to read/write unless they have been taught by a more advanced race, and even then, they are rarely able to do it very well.

. . . are able to make fairly advanced weapons and tools – such as flint swords, axes, and even bows – using things like wood, string, bone, ivory, and flintstone and they can also make fairly advanced clothing as well as simple pottery and buildings using shaped wood and clay.

. . . tend to have a stigma against showing genitals and thus cover them up on the basis of embarrassment. Primitive Sentients also tend to wear clothes for insulation, status, and/or protection, but the amount of clothing worn can vary a lot depending on the race and time-period in question.

Races/Species belonging to this level of sentience: Imnr, Rainr, Elfaiyn?, Aoren, Hipponen, Rheenen, Ohtehn, Rennlahr, Renn'weiyn, Mmorokar?, Sonmer?, Dalmer?, Koimer?, Kishaari, Vulpen, Rekaari?, Setaari?, Vemaari?, Skekaani, Llekaani

(I did not make any of the images shown above. They are personally modified versions of existing media that have been included merely to provide visual representations for what one would expect of races/species at this level of sentience)

Barbarian Sentients

. . . are able to speak, even in a sophisticated, formal fashion, but they tend to prefer blunt, direct language. Most Barbarian Sentients can read and write.
. . . are able to forge weapons and tools from iron or alloys and they are also advanced enough to build large structures with stone.

. . . usually have stigmas around being nude, though the degree to which nudity is stigmatized can vary a great deal by race and society.

Races/Species belonging to this level of sentience: Koiydnr, Goehirenn, Khwen?, Dirshr/Droshr, Draellr/Dreshr, Drokmar, Oromar, Ansaari, Lishaari, Pantaari, Anuuten, Drekaani

(I did not make any of the images shown above. They are personally modified versions of existing media that have been included merely to provide visual representations for what one would expect of races/species at this level of sentience)

High Sentients

. . . are able to speak in a clear and coherent fashion that would sound mostly normal to anyone out-of-universe and most individuals are also able to read and write.
. . . are more technologically advanced than other Sentients.

. . . usually have stigmas around being nude, though the degree to which nudity is stigmatized can vary a great deal by race and society.

Races/Species belonging to this level of sentience: Anahr, Yoenahr, Aldnr, Dvaifnr, Kemnr, Lobsnr, Eiyhirenn, Estrenn, Elrenn, Valhirenn, Yoerann, Nessessi, Sivaiessi, Viveissi

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The Difference between Uncivilized, Semi-civilized, and Civilized

When a race, species, or lifeform is referred to (or described) as "uncivilized," it means that it has a Basal ~ Low level of Sentience.

When a race, species, or lifeform is referred to (or described) as "semi-civilized," it means that it has a Primal ~ Primitive level of Sentience.

When a race, species, or lifeform is referred to (or described) as "civilized," it means that it has a Barbarian ~ High level of Sentience.

ESCAPADE

KING AND SUBJECT

Litswitch Ignition refers to an array of chemical reactions that will happen consistently when the powder interacts with certain other compounds and materials.

Carnatheene is the oldest known form of Litswitch solution, and has been known about for thousands of years, even all the way back in the early First Era. It has a coarse, thick, pasty consistency, and is naturally luminescent with a somewhat greenish yellow color. It's most widely used by primitive races, often as a sort of glowing body-paint, but also for painting and in the decorating of sacred sites. That said, more advanced civilizations do often use it to mark trees for lumber or to make points of interest easier to see at night (chiefly, so that you can find your way around in the countryside or wilderness without having to use the stars). Some primitive societies also know that Carnatheene can be given a bright red glow if you combine it with iron.

Canathoreene Stones are hard, often sharp crystals that emit an incredibly strong, white light. In fact, they can in many cases be significantly brighter than your average light bulb. They are formed through a fairly labor-intensive process called Litswitch Crystallization, which has only been around for a few hundred years.

Litswitch Crystallization refers to the practice of repeatedly heat-treating and compressing Litswitch powder until it turns into a solid form; or in other words, a Canathoreene Stone.

Saraata is a heavy, partially Litswitch-based paste used as a condiment by a race called the Catharni (who live primarily in Idia). It's a mix of coarsely grained Litswitch, plants, and another material called Linosheen.

Linosheen is a hard, black material with an almost obsidian-esque look to it. It was a commonly used Eleven armor material during most of the Classical and Modern eras owing to its rigidity and durability, but it immediately fell out of favor when it was discovered that it quickly dissolves when in contact with Litswitch. As Litswitch canons and explosives universally use partially Litswitch-based ammunition, it simply became too dangerous to wear it during battles.

Griovuain (or Larkin, as it is often called) is an expensive, frothy, slowly bubbling solution. It's made of concentrated Litswitch, a highly acidic and toxic compound called Niratine, heavy amounts of iron, small amounts of Linosheen, and various animal fats. It's pitch-black in color and can cause severe burns to the skin. Breathing in heavily concentrated Griovuain fumes can also cause a wide array of different illnesses, most of which are fatal if left untreated. When combined with a gas called Aeathels (or its concentrated form, Keiolin), it can cause bones and muscle tissue to quickly dissolve. The combined use of Griovuain and Aeathels by wealthy countries on the battlefield has led to terrible scenes of unimaginable suffering and carnage. Small dosses of the combination are also sometimes used as a form of torture in some societies.

Niratine (or Larmansprayl, as it is often called) is a compound made of various acids and natural toxins. Since the start of the Eleventh Era, it's also been common to add a small amount of Litswitch to the base.

Aeathels (or Keiolin, as it's known in its concentrated form) is a highly expensive, fragrant-smelling gas (or liquid) that is often used by royals and nobles in some societies to scent their homes. It's actually a vapor released when you boil the blood of the Keia oyster that is then bottled and sold.