Character List:
Reyna Valerius (RAY - nuh vuh - LAIR - ee - us)
Lucius Silverthorn (LOO - see - us SIL - ver - thorn)
Kael Draven (KAYL DRAV - vən)
Lyrus Silverthorn (LIE - rus SIL - ver - thorn)
Nex Hawthorne (NEKS HAW - thorn)
Mira Hawthorne (MEER - uh HAW - thorn)
Shilo Moonfang (SHY - loh MOON - fang)
Thessalia Moonfang (thuh - SAH - lee - uh MOON - fang)
Nero Fawkes (NEE - roh FAWKS)
Thalen Draven (THAY - len DRAY - vən)
Seraphina Valeir (seh - ruh - FEE - nuh vuh - LAIR)
Celosia Aerin (seh - LOH - shuh AIR - in)
Ryker Valerius (RYE - ker vuh - LAIR - ee - us)
Varyn Ashgrove (VAIR - in ASH - grohv)
Asher Noctheris (ASH - er nok - THER - iss)
Velessa Sunmere (vuh - LESS - uh SUN - meer)
Nyza Thornveil (NYE - zuh THORN - vayl)
Erydon Sunmane (AIR - ih - don SUN - mayn)
Iselyn Faebright (EYE - suh - lin FAY - brite)
Damaris Shadowfang (duh - MARE - iss SHAD - oh - fang)
Zulras Aldin (ZOOL - ras ALL - din)
Callista Dawnhelm (kuh - LISS - tuh DAWN - helm)
Malgrin Sorrowshade (MAL - grin SORR - oh - shayd)
Bryce Valehart (BRYCE VAYL - hart)
Thalos Lighthollow (THAW - los LYT - hol - oh)
Alec Valerius (AL - ik vuh - LAIR - ee - us)
Vexira (vek - SYE - ruh)
Noctis (NOK - tiss)
...
Realms:
The Shadow Realm: The Shadow Realm is a land of constant darkness. The skies are cloaked in thick clouds with no moon, sun, or stars. The Shadow Realm is cold, silent, and thick with energy from the Veil. It is home to twisted forests, vampires, werewolves, and Nightbeasts. The Shadow Realm is split between four different kingdoms: the Vampiric Court, the Werewolf Clans, the Sorcerous Dominion, and the Demonic Legions. Each of the kingdoms ultimately answers to the Shadow King, Alec Valerius.
The Light Realm: The Light Realm is a land that is bathed in constant sunlight. The skies are always blue with sparse clouds. The Light Realm is warm, bright, and welcoming in nature. The Veil's influence is weaker here, making Veilwalkers harder to come by. The Light Realm is split into three different kingdoms: the Fae, the Equarians, and the Caprith. Each of the kingdoms ultimately answers to the Light King, Lyrus Silverthorn.
The Veil: The Veil is a place of myth and ancient reverence, where the boundaries between realms grow thin. At its heart stands the Veiltree—a colossal, split-barked tree said to anchor both the Shadow Realm and the Light Realm. One half of its trunk gleams white, crowned in golden leaves that shimmer with radiant light. The other half is ash-gray, its branches cloaked in dark, obsidian foliage. Beneath the surface, entwined in the roots of the Veiltree, lies the Core—a source of unimaginable power and balance. It is said that if the Core is ever damaged or destroyed, the harmony between realms will collapse, unraveling both Light and Shadow in a single breath.
...
Glossary (will be updated as the story goes):
Shadowbeings: Native to the Shadow Realm, Shadowbeings are humanoid in form with pale or ash-toned skin. Their powers draw from darkness allowing them to shadow travel, energy manipulation, and enhanced physicality. Light magic weakens Shadowbeings. Shadowbeings place great value on culture and bloodlines.
Lightbeings: Native to the Light Realm, Lightbeings are tall, luminous, and tanned humanoids. Their magic is rooted in light and purity, often times used for healing in Light Realm Temples. Dark magic weakens Lightbeings. They are often bound by their own rigid traditions.
Races and Classes:
Veilguides: a spirit that takes the form of a creature. They guide Veilwalkers along their path.
Veilwalkers: those who are connected to the Veil through dreams and prophecies.
Caprith: creatures that are man on the upper half of their body, and the shaggy legs of goats.
Equarians: creatures that are half man/half horse.
Hours of Night:
Veilwake: this is the time when the mists begin to lift from the forests and spirits from the Void begin to stir. Lux Stones tend to brighten during this hour. People travelling the roads and forests may hear whispered names or catch glimpses of spirits out of the corner of their eye. Veilwalker dreams tend to intensify during this time and many seers begin their meditations during this hour. (it is equivalent to early morning)
Gloamrise: this is the time when life slowly begins to return to the Shadow Realm. The mist clears further. Mages and sorcerers find their magic most stable during this time. Markets open in the safer of villages such as Silverdenn, Windrip, and Eastcliff. Mages perform rituals of protection against the Nightbeasts on villages during Gloamrise. (equivalent to mid morning)
Duskwane: this is when the Veil is the thickest within the Shadow Realm. It is when the world falls into its deepest silence and Lux Stones begin to dim. High rituals are performed during this time, especially ones that involve blood rites, binding pacts, or magical trials. Those who walk outside during Duskwane often report a feeling of being watched. (equivalent to midday)
Graveshade: this is when the Veil begins to thin again. The temperature often drops noticeably during Graveshade. Shadows grow longer and move unpredictably. Many spiritual ceremonies often occur during Graveshade, the most prominent ones being those involving communication with the dead or restless spirits. (equivalent to afternoon)
Felllight: this is the time before the silence of Nullrest. Felllight is considered sacred. It is the preferred time to conduct secret meetings, perform forbidden magic, and take forbidden oaths. Lux Stones pulse faintly, their glow growing unstable. The boundary between the Shadow Realm and the Veil grows impossibly thin. (equivalent to evening)
Nullrest: the final hours of a Veilturn. Nightbeasts roam freely, and the most haunted places in the realm become gateways to deeper, more dangerous layers of the Veil. Only the desperate, the cursed, or the mad dare walk the land during Nullrest without protection. It is also the hour most sacred to Veilwalkers, who say this is when true visions come. (equivalent to midnight)
Months in the Shadow Realm:
Nightturn - a Nightturn is a full year in the Shadow Realm. Each Nightturn is 9 months. Each month in a Nightturn consists of 7 Veilcycles. The months are Umbralis, Fellbloom, Graysorrow, Nightmoor, Dusklorn, Veilsreach, Ashenfall,
Veilcycle - a Veilcycle is a week in the Shadow Realm. The days in a Veilcycle are Veilwake, Gloamrise, Duskwane, Graveshade, Felllight, Nullrest.
Umbralis - Umbralis is known as the Month of Silence. This is the beginning of a Nightturn, though the year does not begin in celebrations but in stillness. Umbralis is a solemn time used for quiet reflection when even the most vocal cities fall silent. Temples seal their doors for three days to honor the rebirth of the Veil and many people retreat into a personal solitude to meditake on the Veilcycles ahead. It is said that those who speak too loudly during Umbralis invite forgotten spirits in to listen.
Fellbloom - Fellbloom is known as the Month of Grim Beauty. During Fellbloom the land begins to briefly stir with an eerie elegance. Black blossoms bloom on the skeletal trees of the forest, their petals sharp and cold to the touch. Though beautiful these blossoms are poisonous to most and are often used in rituals involving fate or sacrifice. Sorcerers and mages consider this the ideal month for weaving spells tied to beauty, illusion, or deception.
Graysorrow - Graysorrow is known as the Month of Ancestors. It is the month of mourning. Families often gather together to honor the dead and lost loved ones. Ancestral altars are built or restored and names of the lost are spoken aloud so that they are not forgotten by the Veil. This is the month when ghosts and spirits are the most active.
Nightmoor - Nightmoor is the Month of Stirring Beasts. Marshes and lowlands swell during Nightmoor and with them comes the cries of the Nightbeasts. Some Nightbeasts that hibernate or stay silent most of the year emerge to hunt or mate, many of them being tied to Veil corruption. Warriors and hunters will often perform rites of strength during this month in hopes of proving themselves against these beasts.
Dusklorn - Dusklorn is the Month of Conflict and Propechy. Tensions often rise during this month. History shows most of the major wars and magical uprisings begin in Dusklorn. This causes Dusklorn to be seen with suspicion or dread. It is considered both a cursed and sacred time.
Veilsreach - Veilsreach is known as the Month of Which Dreams Become Real. This is the month when the Veil stretches the thinnest across the Shadow Realm.
Ashenfall - Ashenfall is known as the Month of Fire and Blood. This month is often marked with harsh winds and intense storms that leave streaks of strange black marks across the land. It is said that the Veil remembers pain more vividly during this month. Blood magic becomes more volatile and sacrifices - whether willing or otherwise - carry a heightened effect. It is a time of reckoning for many and a favored month for executions and vengeance.
Nullmarch - Nullmarch is known as the Month of Withering Magic. Magic often wanes during the month of Nullmarch, often times causing spells to falter. The Lux Stones in the Realm grow more dim. The Veil feels far away and silent during this time
Gloomrest - Gloomrest is known as the Month of Decay and Closure. Everything begins to gie in Gloomrest. If not literally, then emotionally, spiritually, and symbolically. It is the closing of the cycle. During this time, offerings are made to the Veil in gratitude. Farewells are spoken to the year. Homes are often sealed and contracts are ended. No new oaths are made during Gloomrest, and all debts must be repaid before the arrival of Umbralis.
Days of the Week in The Shadow Realm:
Darksun - Darksun is known as the Day of Rememberance. This day is quiet and reverent. It was a time to honor the dead, revisit dreams, and to reflect on past choices. Seers believe that dreams on this day are the clearest and most prophetic. Memory magic is the strongest during Darksun, making it an ideal time to work on spells that involve ancestral and blood rites. Shrines are often visited, offerings are made, and silence is seen as a form of respect. Some common practices seen during the day of Darksun are lighting candles in the memory of loved ones, dream rituals, and taking note and journaling visions seen during Nullrest.
Ashfall - Ashfall is known as the Day of Mourning and Purification. Ashfall is known for letting go. It is a day of silence and of spiritual cleansing. People and beings in the Shadow Realm often fast, bathe in sacred warded springs, or burn tokens of pain or grief. It is common to see people scatter sacred ashes along thresholds to ward off lingering spirits. Some common practices seen during Ashfall are cleansing rituals with water that has been purified or enchanted, the creation of ash circles for protection.
Gloamday - Gloamday is known as the Day of Study and Creation. It is the most productive day of the Veilcycle week. Artisans, scholars, and mages all consider this the best time to begin new work or deepen their studies. The Veil is more stable on this day of the Veilcycle, and Lux Stones tend to glow brighter making magical calculations and crafting easier. Enchantment work, binding spells, and alchemy are more potent when performed on Gloamday.
Hollowtide - Hollowtide is known as the Day of the Dead. This is the most spiritually volatile day of the Veilcycle. The boundary between the living and the dead weakens, and spirits are often easier to be seen this day, some coming to be honored while others coming to haunt and be feared. Mediums, necromancers, and Veilwalkers perform rites to calm or guide the dead. It is also a day when the risk of possession or spiritual interference is highest, which is why protective wards are often reinforced. Some common practices seen during this day are people wearing talismans or charms for protection, public ancestor rituals led by spiritual leaders, and avoiding certain areas known for hauntings or cursed activities.
Shadowrest - Shadowrest is known as the Day of Oaths and Communion. Shadowrest is a social day that is often marked by feasts, political meetings in the Shadow Council, and binding ceremonies. Oaths that are taken during Shadowrest are considered spiritually enforced and unbreakable. Many weddings, pacts, and alliances are solidified during Shadowres as the Veil closely listens and remembers everything said. It is also a favored day for storytelling, music, and sharing family histories. Common practices seen on this day are feasts among nobles and royalty, oath binding rituals, and taverns being more popular.
Wraithmoon - Wraithmoon is known as the Day of Prophecy and Judgement. During the day of Wraithmoon, the Veil is more thin heightening all magical sensitivity. It is the day of truth seeking, divination, and of judgement. Trials are often held during Wraithmoon, and the sentencing is carried out in the belief that the Veil itself will bear witness. Oracles and prophets often prepare for days before speaking their visions aloud on this day. Common practices on this day are trials and the discussion of visions.
Nightbane - Nightbane is the most sacred and the most feared day of the Veilcycle. It is said that on this day the Veil watches directly and that all lies spoken aloud will carry consequences. Magic cast during Nightbane tends to reveal deeper truths than intended and even minor deceptions can unravel spells or curses. Most citizens remain quiet and reverent, using gestures or written communication instead of speech. Religious rites are at their most solemn. Common practices seen this day are ritual vow renewals, avoiding all acts of deception, and wearing veils or hoods to show humility before the unseen.
...
Months of the Year in the Light Realm:
Sunturn - a year in the Light Realm is referred to as a Sunturn. Each month of the year is named after a celestial event or a significant occurrence.
Solcycle - the Solcycle is a week in the Light Realm.
Radiance: Radiance begins the Sunturn in a blaze of celebration. Solar pressure is steady and uplifting, believed to cleanse the soul and sharpen intention. Cities erupt with golden banners, fire-dancers, and open feasts. Children receive their first solar blessings, merchants forgive minor debts, and lovers exchange tokens of devotion. The first sunrise of Radiance is said to determine the luck of the year, so many families stay awake to witness it together.
Lumina: Lumina is calm and restorative. Solar healers perform renewal rites, temples overflow with petitioners seeking emotional or physical cleansing, and sacred springs glow faintly with amplified magic. This is when Lightbeings often end old grudges or reconcile strained family ties. Clerics encourage personal reflection, guiding the realm toward balance before the more active months begin.
Sunweave: During Sunweave, solar magic pulses with gentle warmth that enhances creativity. Artisans, illusionists, and weavers all work in a frenzy of inspiration. The air shimmers with drifting threads of light that cling to fingertips and spark ideas into brilliance. Important works of art, enchanted fabrics, and heirloom pieces are traditionally crafted during this month. Many Lightbeings believe objects made in Sunweave never lose their glow.
Goldbloom: During the month of Goldbloom, Golden pollen drifts through the air as trees bloom in radiant sprays of shimmering petals. This pollen is harmless but believed to carry luck. Farmers plant new crops. Couples announce engagements. Merchants make bold investments. Children chase pollen trails, laughing as it coats their hair like sunlight dust. Even cynics find themselves hoping for miracles during Goldbloom.
Heliowind: Heliowind is carried by gentle, heated currents that sweep across the realm, lifting songs, seeds, and stories from place to place. Travelers journey easily. Caravans cross the plains without resistance. Festivals of music fill the air with drifting melodies. Many Lightbeings write wishes on solar paper and let the winds take them, believing the sun reads their hopes as they fly.
Auroralyn: During Auroralyn, Solar pressure softens into a gentle, humming resonance that blurs the boundary between waking and dream. Priests record visions nightly. Prophets seek solitude to interpret the realm's collective dreaming. Auroralyn is a quiet month, filled with omens, signs, and whispered warnings. Many claim that the sun speaks most clearly here, and that truth walks closest to the soul.
Dawnswell: During Dawnswell Crops surge with life. Vines stretch overnight. Blossoms open so quickly that petals scatter like rainfall. This abundance fuels major trade routes, leading to prosperity festivals and renewed alliances. Ships and caravans carry goods across the realm in steady rivers of color. Dawnswell markets overflow with fresh produce, glowing fruit, and magical herbs found only during this radiant month.
Solstice: Though the Light Realm never darkens, Solstice carries a solemn reverence. Solar pressure centers into perfect equilibrium. Rituals honoring balance between the Light and Shadow Realms take place across temples and courts. Priests read the solar lines etched into sacred stones. Lightbeings meditate on restraint, harmony, and the delicate tension that keeps both realms from collapsing into each other.
Celestara: Celestara is pure joy. Festivals stretch late into Lumenrest. Illusionists paint the skies with shimmering light. Musicians perform competitions judged by the clarity and brilliance of their aura resonance. Children perform plays, dancers move like living sunrays, and families gather to share stories passed down through generations. Celestara is widely considered the happiest month of the year.
Brilliance: Brilliance is the month when Lightbeings pay tribute to heroes, ancestors, and fallen leaders. Monuments are cleansed, solar flames are lit upon palace steps, and families mark their lineage with storytelling feasts. Warriors hold duels of honor. Scholars recite ancient histories. Priests carry lanterns that glow with ancestral energy, walking through cities as crowds follow in reverent silence.
Suncrest: Suncrest is the month when solar pressure climbs sharply, reaching near dangerous intensity. Magic burns hotter and becomes harder to control, which means mages are monitored carefully and rituals are performed cautiously. Despite the volatility, Suncrest is revered. Many believe it tests courage and intention. It is also the month when dragon transformations are easiest, though often unpredictable. Storms of light sometimes sweep the land as surges crackle through the sky.
Hours of Light:
Dawnhold: Dawnhold is when the solar aura's pressure is at its lightest. The air feels softer and warm. During Dawnhold temples are known to hum with quiet chants and Solar Clerics are often seen performing clarity rites. Light magic is most stable during Dawnhold. Most Lightbeings believe Dawnhold is the hour when the sun listens rather than speaks.
Solrise: Solrise is when the pressure of the solar aura begins to climb creating a warm and invigorating current across the land. The surge is subtle in the air but is unmistakable. This is when the Realm begins to wake. Trading districts explode into activity, scholars and mages begin their lectures, craftspeople rely on the heightened aura for precise work, and diplomats begin their meetings. Emotions feel more vivid during Solrise and laughter rings brighter.
Sunspeak: Sunspeak is when the solar aura pressure is at its highest. The air thrums with radiant force that almost vibrates against the skin. Many Lightbeings describe it as standing inside the heartbeat of the sun itself. Durinf Sunspeak councils meet for major decisions. Coronations and public declarations are traditionally held. Warriors are seen conducting sacred trials and political alliances are often forged or broken during Sunspeak. Magic is at its most potent and dangerous. Empaths feel the emotional weight of the realm like a tidal wave. Love feels overwhelming and grief often feels like a blade.
Gildentide: Gildentide is when the pressure begins to ease and the world seems to exhale. The light becomes warm and mellow, and thick enough to create a pleasant heaviness across the skin. Bonding oaths are often spoken during Gildentide as it is believed to hold stronger under the softened solar aura. Familiars gather during Gildentide and artisans create their finest work during these hours. Children often play in sun gardens and lovers find this the safest hour to confess their hearts. Gildentide is associated with comfort, honesty, and a restored balance. Lightbeings say this hour is when the sun forgives its own intensity.
Aurabloom: During Aurabloom pressure begins to dip again creating a dreamy and almost musical resonance in the air. The light vibrates at a frequency that is said to stir creativity and emotional vulnerability. During Aurabloom, musicians perform in open plazas, and young couples take even walks. Illusionists weave art from the softened aura. Lightweavers craft memory tapestries, storing emotion inside glowing threads, and storytellers gather in crowds.
Lumenrest: Lumenrest isn't as light as Dawnhold, but it is close. The pressure is gentle enough that the mind drifts inward during these hours but just heavy enough to blur the edges of thought into something softer. During Lumenrest dream journals are written in. Confessions are often spoken and priests record visions. Rituals are held during Lumenrest for couples seeking to renew their vows. Lumenrest is the hour for secrets, reflection, vulnerability and for rest.
Days of the Week in the Light Realm:
Sunfast: Sunfast is known as the day of strength and discipline. Sunfast is often devoted to martial mastery and physical endurance. Solar Knights, palace guards, and young initiates rise early to undergo grueling training sessions under the amplifying Solar Aura. Drills and ritual combat exercises often take place within the training grounds and open courtyards. It is said that children who learn discipline during Sunfast grow into adults who can withstand the full blazes of the hours of Sunspeak without faltering.
Glimmerday: Glimmerday is known as the day of art, insight, and crafts. During the day of Glimmerday, the Solar Aura fills softer and the pressure dips into an ideal range that welcomes creativity. This enables artisans, scholars, and illusionists to work at their absolute best. Painters claim that the colors in their paintings glow truer under the radiance of Glimmerday. Scholars often schedule debates and lectures during this day when minds are often sharper and more flexible. Crystal instrument makers and sunweavers all prize Glimmerday above any other time to start new projects.
Brightmorn: Brightmorn is known as the day of divination and spiritual ceremony. This day carries a tranquil and focused energy that makes it ideal for rituals, blessings, and prophetic study. Temples across the Light Realm hold ceremonies where the prists interpret the cun patterns and celestial shifts. Many Lightbeings visit the sacred springs for clarity rites. Brightmorn is also when birth blessings occur. Children named on this day are often said to be touched by the sun's watchful grace.
Solentide: Solentide is known as the day of council and diplomancy. Solentide is the day that belongs to leaders, diplomats, advisors, and the politically savvy. Solar Aura pressure becomes crisp and energizing during Solentide which makes it ideal for decision making. The Light Council meets in Solara's Reach (the Light Palace) in order to address matters of alliances, prophecy, law, and in order to settle disputes. Envoys from other provinces often travel to the capital for Solentide negotiations. Even common households use this day for serious discussions, such as settling property disputes, arranging marriages, or drafting contracts. Words hold weight during Solentide, making agreements culturally binding.
Aurafall: Aurafall is the day known for rest and storytelling. This day is often beloved across the Light Realm. It is the official day of rest, marked by warmth, laughter, and gathering. Families share slow meals and taverns brim with music and friendly competition. Storytellers travel between towns and villages recounting ancient legends and heroic histories. Solar Aura often softens into a gentle golden hue which makes emotions feel safe and thoughtful. Children play outdoors until Lumenrest and the elderly light sun candles to honor past blessings.
Starfall: Starfall is the day known for remembrance and naming. Starfall is seen as serene and reverent. It is the day when Lightbeings honor their ancestors through lantern rites, memory rituals, and offerings of light. Despite the endless day, the Solar Aura dims slightly during Starfall which gives way to a rare pale shimmer across the sky that resembles starlight. These "solar stars" are believed to be echoes of past souls returning home. Starfall is also when newborns receive their full names. Vows of loyalty, marriage, and devotion are considered strongest when spoken under this ancestral glow. Many lovers choose Starfall for their bonding ceremonies because they believe their ancestors bless any oath made on this day.
Dayblaze: Dayblaze is known as the Highest Holy Day. Dayplaze is the most sacred day of the Solcycle. Solar Aura pressure intensifies into a brilliant resonance that seems to vibrate through the soul. Every Lightbeing is able to feel it. Temples overflow with worship and priests channel powerful light rites. Families gather to offer prayers for protection and clarity. Dayblaze forbids deceit. Lying under the full blaze of the sacred light is believed to strain the soul. Some say the sun itself listens and those who lie will find their magic faltering or their luck crumbling in the months to follow. Confessions, revelations, and heartfelt truth are the heart of this day. Oaths spoken on Dayblaze cannot be broken without serious consequence.