A reference book for Light and Dark Forces

This reference book on hand shall be of use to Light forces authorized by the Night Watch during their final exams.
- The Inquisition -

A

Amulet: A special type of artifact designed and created by an Other; may be used as means of defense as well as attack. Must be magically charged with power from the Gloom.

Artifact: Magical aid capable of storing powers of the Gloom for easy access. First used by the Dark Ones (especially witches), now commonly employed by both Light and Dark Others.

B

Blue Moss: Only known 'plant' native to the Gloom; not found in the lower levels. Parasitic in nature, it feeds on human emotions.

C

(The) Call: A psychic ability possessed by vampires which allows them to draw out their prey. While the use of mind manipulation on humans is expressly forbidden by the Treaty, vampires are permitted by license to utilize this ability on occasion. It is one of the first gifts taught to a Vampire initiate.

Chalk of Fate: Valuable artifact which can be used by either Light or Dark forces. Entries in the Book of Destiny can be written or erased with the chalk; this allows the destiny of an Other or a human to be altered either retroactively, by changing the past, or by changing the course of future events. Destinies can’t be completely rewritten, so changes may be limited in scope i.e. it is virtually impossible to alter the nature of another being; humans can’t be turned into Others, Light Ones can’t be remade into Dark Ones, etc. The chalk was said to have been last used by the Transoxanic ruler Tamerlan in the 14th century. Recent rumors claim the chalk has been found again, though where or by whom is unknown at this time.

Coma: A sometimes dangerous and potentially fatal unconsciousness, a coma is the direct result of the interaction with the Gloom. This condition is frequently described by newly initiated or potential Others, occurring when the Gloom is allowed to drain too much energy from an Other. Initiates must be trained to limit their exposure to the Gloom's powers to prevent these comas. Victims take on a lifeless, ashen appearance. Expedient and direct contact with another life force can revive a victim, though not without considerable risk to the rescuer.

D

Dark: One of two opposing types of magical power; opposite of Light. Dark typically describes power used for selfish or offensive (attack)purposes. It also describes negative energies, or the use of energies to elicit a negative effect. Dark Forces: In opposition to the Light Forces, the Dark Forces are also called Dark Others or the Dark Ones. They are Others who have committed to following a Dark philosophy. Dark Others selfishly put themselves above all beings, human or Other, and strive towards forcing the world to commit to their standards. They are not above engaging in underhanded strategies to achieve their goals and consistently look for loopholes which would enable them to come out ahead.

Day Watch: A globally connected organization comprised of Dark Ones who insure the Light Ones obey the tenants of the Great Treaty. They are also responsible for recruiting and educating those Others who share their philosophies. The Day Watch also maintains records of those Others who fall under their jurisdiction.

G

Gloom: Parallel dimension which can only be entered by Others. The Gloom is subject to special space, time, and color divisions/restrictions and is said to be composed of numerous layers. It is also the source of magical energy for Others but at the same time it deprives them of energy. That is why beginners often end up in a Gloom coma.

Great Treaty: After innumerable wars between Dark and Light without victory for any side they came to an armistice agreement which became the Great Treaty. The GT may only be read aloud not recited from memory; its copy is found in the gloom. The inquisition watches over the keeping of the treaty. All matters of Others are regulated by the appendixes of the GT.

H

Healer: Healers may employ a combination of methods, but their goal remains the same: to preserve life. Contrary to initial assumptions, there are both Light and Dark healers. Light healers take most of their power from the natural world, utilizing herbs and crystals and occasionally tapping into the Gloom when the situation requires it. On the other hand, Dark Healers prefer to exchange life forces, draining one source to the advantage of another. Healers often work in close proximity with humans, either exploiting their gifts for profit in private practice or working in clinics or hospitals for the benefit of human patients. Healers have the capacity to become the most humane or the most depraved of Others. While many Others regard healing as a weaker form of magic, those who understand the powers required to battle with life and death know it is hardly a trivial art.

Humans: A prolific and sentient species who represent a natural source of power to Others. Humans emit energy, which then collects in the Gloom where the Others are able to access it in vast quantities and use it to fuel various types of magic. Most Others are born human, with few exceptions, but then become Others during their youth.

I

Initiation: Process by which an Other is transformed into either a Light or Dark One. Initiation begins when an Other first learns of their unique capabilities. Awareness is usually marked by a traumatic event, though they may not fully recognize it until they step into the Gloom for the first time. Few initiations occur after the age of 18, though adult initiation is not impossible if the Other has lead a particularily routine existence. During the initiation period, the Other is allowed to decide whether they wish to be Light or Dark. If they have not already accidentally done so, the initiate may make a trip into the Gloom, accompanied by an experienced, high-ranking Other. This Other will explain the Light-Dark dichotomy so that a decision can be reached, but neither side is permitted to pressure the initiate to choose a particular side.

Inquisition: This organization of Others is formed by both Light and Dark Ones to administer justice to the Watches and negotiate the terms of the Great Treaty. The Inquisition prosecutes offences through tribunals. In order to maintain a balance between the sometimes unequal forces of Light and Dark, members may use artifacts which are usually not allowed or available to any Others.

L

Light: One of two opposing kinds of magical power; opposite of Dark. Light is typically associated with good in colloquial terms, though this is not exactly true. Altruistic, or beneficial to all life, is a better way to think of the Light.

Light Forces: Opposite to the Dark Forces, the Light Forces are also called Light Others or Light Ones. These are Others who have decided to follow the philosophy of the Light. They are for the most part humane, or humanitarian, in nature. Generally, Light Forces utilize more positive forms of Power and employ magic that is considered to be beneficial. License: Documents issued by the Night Watch to regulate the Dark Ones and specific Light Others. Shape-shifters and Werewolves, as well as vampires wishing to consume human blood or create new vampires, are each required to obtain the appropriate licenses. Some regions may require additional licenses for certain magical practices as well. Licensing was first proposed in the Great Treaty and all details are explained in the appendix.

M

Magician: (short form: mage) This term has been used broadly to describe any Other who uses Gloom energies to affect the natural world. Recently, it has come to imply someone who uses magic, but has not yet attained the gifted level of a Sorcerer. For many Others, including Shape Shifters and Healers, magic is a secondary gift. As a general rule, all Others are capable of becoming magicians, but those who publicly claim to be Light or Dark Mages must be fully capable of working magic in the Gloom.

N

Night Watch: A globally connected organization of the Light Forces who insure the Dark Ones adhere to the rules set forth in the Great Treaty; in charge of regularly recruiting new Others who share in the philosophies of the Light Others; responsible for registering all Others and issuing authorized licenses to vampires and shape-shifters (both Light and Dark).

Non-Initiated Other: Simply put, an Other who has yet to step into the Gloom. Since some Others are born to Other parents, it is accepted that they will most likely become Others themselves. They are considered non-initiated until they are able to enter and percieve the Gloom, an event which typically occurs between the ages of 8 and 18. Other non-initiated Others may be entirely unaware that they are Others. It is possible for an Other to remain ignorant of the existence of the Others and the Gloom, at which point they would also be known as a non-initiated Other.

O

Others: A distinct species derived from humans, gifted with supernatural powers and the unique ability to move in the Gloom. There are two opposing forces, called the Dark and Light Others, who are subdivided into various subspecies. They are constantly at odds with one another and actively watch for and acclimate new Others, called initiates, who share their same abilities and philosophies. To prevent a full-fledged war, the Great Treaty was signed in the 14th century. Insuring the Treaty is strictly adhered to by both sides is the primary task of the Inquisition.

P

Power: Power is a freely floating form of energy that is emitted by humans and Others, but is absorbed and used only by Others. The Gloom is a reservoir of unused energy, requiring Others to travel into the Gloom to tap into this resource.

Power Circle: A specialized ritual process for extracting magical energy. Several Others form a circle (and physically touch) to channel their powers into a single Other. The Power Circle is known to both Light and Dark and, in exceptional cases, a Power Circle may be formed by a group of both Dark and Light Ones.

R

Remoralization: The process of changing another's state of mind used by both Light and Dark Others on humans, as well as on their own kind. Remoralization adjusts an individual's personal moral concepts to better conform to the standards of the group. It is a relative process, however, as there is no such thing as universal morality. e.g. after remoralization, a vampire will still continue drinking blood because it isn’t immoral to his kind, but the bloodsucking will now occur within the established framework of the Great Treaty.

S

Seer: Since the invention of the computer tracking system, used by both Watches, this form of magic has fallen out of favor. Still, some enterprising young Others may employ tarot cards, runes, or scrying mirrors to percieve past or future events in the lives of paying clients. A few of the more complex methods of seeing require direction connections with Gloom energy, which can be unpredictable and dangerous. Clairavoyance, the most accurate kind of scrying, requires the Seer to take on a vunerable trance-like state where part of the Other is active in the Gloom, retriving information, while another part relays the knowledge to a witness in the natural world.

Shape-shifter: Subspecies of the Light. Because of their unpredictable animal natures, there are extra regulations governing their behaviors which are spelled out in the Great Treaty. While the term Shape-shifter generally applies to any Other who can shift into an animal form, Dark Ones alone are limited to the shape of werewolves (see the description below). It is suggested that the use of negative magic prevents Dark Ones from altering into alternate beasts.

Sorcerer / Sorceress: It used to be the term Sorcerer was granted with age and experience, though now it is equated with a high level of mastery. Typically, in a title, it is proceeded by the word “Grand”, indicating an ultimate level of ability. Most Grand Sorcerers are employed by the Watches, as their age and authority are necessary to enforcing the rules of the Great Treaty.

V

Vampire: A particular subspecies of Dark Other, vampires survive on blood and posess numerous supernatural abilities. A Dark Other cannot simply decide to “become” a vampire. A vampire may be artificially created through the consumption of vampiric blood or inherit the condition from a parent. Any Dark Other wishing to become vampiric would first need to convert to blood as a primary food source, then seek out another Vampire to fully undergo the change. The conversion process requires a license, issued by the Night Watch. The one undergoing conversion must be an Other. Vampire-human hybrids are not unknown; while they age normally, hybrids are still considered Others and require blood to fuel their abilities. Because of their unnatural lifestrong and hunger for human blood, vampires are required to register with the Night Watch nearest to their place of residence. While blood is integral to their survival, most vampires live on blood legally obtained from meat markets or donated from blood banks.

W

Watches: Globally operating organizations of Light (Night Watch) and Dark Others (Day Watch). The Watches were established after the creation of the Great Treaty to regulate the activities of both forces. The Watches insure no initiate is unfairly coerced into joining one side or the other and also monitor human-Other interactions. (see appendix)

Werewolves: The Dark subspecies of Shape-shifters. Large, hairy canine forms of human legend, they possess a brutal strength and formidable teeth and claws. Their abilities are greatly impacted by phases of the moon. While they are able to change at will, the full moon affords them extra power. During this time, hey are much more suceptible to fall victim to the Gloom and may refuse to revert back to human form, a condition known as Lunacy.

Whip of Schaab: A peculiar piece of weaponry, described as a whip-like flash of energy. Documented usage of the weapon is restricted to Dark Ones.

Witches: In the past, this term was used to imply all Others who employed artifacts when practicing magic. In current usage it has come to describe very powerful female Dark Ones who use artifacts as well as powers from the gloom. The male version of this term is wizard or sorcerer.