This thread will serve to catalog all in-universe terminologies, objects, places, and people who happen to be mentioned in the RP, be they created by myself or by other users. Consider this a quick reference guide to important stuff within Altah.
- Xera: The Archipelago from which most students will likely be from. It consists of seven islands, each of which is considered a sovereign state of a larger Federation. Islands mentioned thus far are Agria, Fane, and Zest. Of the seven, Agria is the largest.
- Agria: Formerly an agrarian nation of its own - from which it derives its name - it was the first of the islands to industrialize. Gifted with tremendous natural resources, it used its new technological clout and its significantly greater population to conquer the other six islands of Xera. Its upper class, known as the Fair - named for their pale skin and blue eyes - proceeded to craft an aristocracy through which members of their own class would govern the other islands. Eventually, this collapsed due to repeated revolts on neighboring Fane and Zest, forming into the federation known today.
- Fane: The first island conquered by Agria. As part of its surrender, its own people - known for their emerald green eyes and comparatively large height - became the right hands of the Fair. In the old aristocracy, there were thus three groups: Fair, Fanes, and Commons. Since Fanes remained a permanent second, the expression "Green-eyed" thus, coincidentally, became an expression for envy. Fanes are stereotypically regarded as gruff, tough, orderly, and efficient. Fanes - especially men - tend to follow a fairly rigid dress code, often wearing the island's emblematic color - green - on formal occasions.
- Zest: The industrial powerhouse of Xera. Rich in natural metallic resources, it originally engaged in exclusive trade with Agria, providing the impetus required to kickstart the latter island's technological breakthroughs. Nowadays, Zest has a strong market for anything involving metallurgy, be it modern mechanical engineering, or more old-fashioned traditional blacksmithing. More may follow.
- The Grand Sea: The giant ocean that covers approximately 90% of Altah's surface. It's almost impossible to navigate by sailing due to the presence of great underwater currents that can result in spontaneous wave formations and water storms.
- The Maelstrom: A series of wind currents that combines with the treacherous waters of the Grand Sea to create an almost impassable band of storms passing southward from the north between the western islands of Xera and the eastern Outlands.
- The Outlands: The relatively recently discovered islands beyond the Maelstrom. So far, Midland is the only one mentioned.
- Midland: Midland is a small land far beyond the Maelstrom. Its economy is based mostly on agriculture and mining. Most of the country's land is flat plains, divided only occasionally by steep mountain ranges. Due to its good soil and convenient natural conditions, Midland specializes in food production, exporting a great deal both to the neighboring Outlands, and to Xera. Due to its unique, somewhat chilly climate, its seasons are somewhat skewed, with a long spring, short summer, cold autumn and freezing winter.
- Personal Terminal (P.T.): Handheld computers of a sort, consisting of a folding transparent "glass" interface connected to a miniaturized datachip that serves the functions of a computer. Most people use them for various purposes, including games, data management, and communication via city-wide networking, among other things.