This Glossary explains terms and principles of the Light Universe as well as elements which appear during the story of Hawks Effect. So reading the glossary may contain MAJOR SPOILERS. If you don’t like to know about some things before reading the book, it is not recommended to study this article.
The Simulacron – A world beyond what you call Earth. It is not some distant planet, but exists on a separate plane of existence. All life in the Simulacron is comprised of light in various forms. This had led to some people calling it the Light World or Light Universe.
The Carbon World – The world called Earth and its universe. This plane of existence is comprised of life based on carbon. This is also called the Carbon Universe.
CCE – Code Conversion Energy. This is the only means of power known in the Simulacron. All machines have CCE. CCE is energy bound to the waves of light flowing through the Simulacron. Sempai scientists have found a way to trap that light and siphon off pure CCE. This energy is funneled into charging stations throughout the world. The easiest way of transporting the unstable CCE is in disk form. Laurina is the only person known to have handled pure CCE and survived.
Clusters – Divisions of specialties in the Simulacron have formed their own groups called Clusters.
Sempai – The Sempai is the scientist and alchemist class. They prize knowledge and logic above feelings and as such have been a massive influence in the technological advance of the Simulacron. They were the first not of the T’haire Generis to harness the power of CCE. The Sempai chose not to migrate their Cluster from the Simulacron to Second Life, though they have sent a handful of diplomats in their stead.
Doromanbay – The Doromanbay is the political and artistic class. They are skilled at persuasion and are opposite of the Sempai in that they rely less on logic and base their decisions on feelings and the wellbeing of others. Their allegiance has known to change, but only because they recognize a shift in power and wish to ally themselves with the strongest in order to insure the survival of their cluster. They are, however, at peace with the Sempai despite their vastly different belief systems. As with the Sempai, they chose not to make the move to Second Life and have sent diplomats in their stead.
Juggs – Juggs are average people who belong to no cluster. They are often looked down upon by some and are sometimes used as sport or amusement. Juggs outnumber the clusters nearly 4 to one, but lack the ability or determination to make a difference in their own lives. A select few have pulled themselves up to join the clusters and these people have always been very influential in history.
Frags – Frags are soulless, mindless creations that act on orders given by their creator. Until recently they comprised a large amount of the Draconis army, known as the Choir, as they knew neither fear nor pain. Referring to someone as a Frag is considered an insult.
Aeternus – See tome entitled History of Aeternus
Draconis – See tome entitled History of Draconis
T’haire Generis – The T’haire Generis is not technically a cluster. Originally spawned from the ancient order of the Neddarim, the T’haire Generis is headed by the immortal Galathea, also called the Venerable Mother, and her twin sister Athena. They are the most peaceful group in the Simulacron and may be construed as having an almost religious devotion to Laurina. Before Laurina, all script modifications and enhancements were done by the sisters. In the wars of Aeternus and Draconis, both sides respected the neutrality of the T’haire Generis. Galathea is believed to be the second most powerful being in the Simulacron.
Phoenix Embers – The first cluster to be added in the Simulacron in over 2,000 years. It is headed by Laurina upon her emergence in the Simulacron and was established to bring peace and order to a warring world. For more information, see Hawks Effect, from your local bookstore.
Script – In the Simulacron, a person’s being and existence is their script. However, this is not a static state and Galathea, Athena and Laurina are able to modify a person’s script. Modifcations include but are not limited to, increased strength, agility, ability to conceive, changes in appearance and ability to wield CCE.
Grand Script – The Grand Script is the force that compels all life in the Simulacron. It is an infinitely complex and invisible path that unites each individual script. As explained in The Hawks Effect, the Grand Script has been referred to as Destiny or Fate.
The Source – (taken from the library of the T’haire Generis) The Source is the wellspring of all life in the Simulacron. It exists as an existential plane above the realm of the Simulacron. From the Source, all life was created by the Guardian of the Source. All life exists through the Source as each person’s thoughts, feelings and actions are transmitted to the Source to take their place in the Grand Script.
Guardian of the Source – (taken from the library of the T’haire Generis) Also abbreviated GotS, the Guardian of the Source is the creator of all life in the Simulacron. He made the universe from the Source and was put in place to guard its power from any who might dare to use it. More recently, the Guardian split his conscious mind into two beings, the evil Raul, and the woman from the Carbon World, Laurina. Upon Laurina’s destruction of Raul, she assumed the mantle of the Guardian of the Source as is now imbued with all his powers. The power of the GotS, of life and death and creation and destruction, is now at Laurina’s command.
The Interface / Lumen Gap – The Interface was created by the Sempai and Doromanbay as a gateway to observe and communicate with the Carbon World. This caused problems years later as a particular greedy military man called Colonel Keren sought to combine elements of light into the genetic coding of humans to create super soldiers. The Interface was destroyed by Laurina and the Lumen Gap was set up in its place. The Lumen Gap allows for the mental transportation of a person into the other universe but prohibits the body from following.