Shadow casting – An innate ability to summon shadow creatures and weapons by forming distinct hand gestures in the light, projecting matching shadow symbols to pull them from the Shadow Realm into the Tangible Realm. (Past tense: shadow casted)

Shadow casters – Those born with the ability to form shadow symbols with their hands and arms in the light. Once known as selfless protectors of Malgar, using their unique powers to keep the peace and preserve balance and compromise among all Malgarians. Prior to the Shadow Caster Purge, all with the ability to shadow cast were obligated to serve in this capacity. Following the Purge, shadow casters could choose to either serve as an official officer in the Legion of Shadow Casters, or simply remain a shadow casting civilian with some limitations on how and where they use their talent.

Shadow symbols – The specific gestures and hand/arm positions made in the light to project a shadowy shape to call forth a shadow creature. Every shadow creature has a distinct shadow symbol that must be formed in order to summon it. Some are very difficult hand positions and not every shadow symbol can be mastered by every caster.

Tseloria – The planet where the the Shadow Casters series takes place and where the land of Malgar is located.

Malgar – The nation on the planet Tseloria where Shadow Casters takes place. Malgar is comprised of a Pangea-like continent known as the Great Malgarian Plate, a single large landmass surrounded by water with a few islands around its exterior. Its inhabitants are called Malgarians, a term inclusive of both lonrelmians and shadow casters.

Shadow Realm – Much of what is known of the Shadow Realm comes from theories and legends. The Shadow Realm is believed to surround the natural world where Malgarians live, and is the supernatural domain where shadow creatures are formed and exist in harmony, and where shadow weapons are pulled from. There is a belief that the first casters discovered a way to enter the Shadow Realm, though there is no public documentation of when it may have happened or how one can enter the realm. Casters consider the Shadow Realm a part of their world they can tap into with their shadow casting ability, allowing them to animate shadow creatures with a portion of their soul when calling upon them.

Tangible Realm – The natural and physical world where all Malgarians live, separate from the Shadow Realm.

Shadow creatures – Beasts born of shadow that can be summoned by shadow casters from the Shadow Realm to fight for or alongside them. Shadow creatures have distinct powers and capabilities. Some resemble animals from the Tangible Realm, others are completely distinct. The first caster to discover a particular shadow creature has traditionally been the one to name it. When in the Tangible Realm, shadow creatures have a physical form, but are distinct in that misty tendrils of shadow follow their every movement. When defeated or ordered to dissipate by their masters, they disappear back to their native Shadow Realm. Casters can only safely have two shadow creatures summoned at a time and no more than three total in a summoned or recovery state. Exceeding these limits can put them in grave danger of stretching their capabilities too thin, resulting in injury or death.

Shadow weapons – Weapons pulled from the Shadow Realm that casters can use to fight with. When in the Tangible Realm, they have a hard physical form. As soon as they are discarded, they disappear back to the Shadow Realm.

Shadow spirals – A helix of triangle shapes, small and defined at the center, larger and faded at the exterior. The shadow spiral is a mark found on every shadow creature, distinguishing them as such.

Caster beams – Although shadow casters can use any light source such as the sun or the glow of a fire to summon a shadow creature, caster beams represent an advance in technology that has become a mainstay for all casters. The caster beam has a bright bulb inside of it and the exterior is typically a round palm-sized button that casters wear on the front of their left shoulders that can be ignited by pressing it. When turned on, the button projects a bright beam of light onto the ground in front of the caster, providing an ever-present light source for shadow casting regardless of the conditions. Standard casting vests are designed to hold the caster beam in place. Its brightness and position can be adjusted to best fit each individual caster’s preferences and circumstances.

Lonrelmians – Malgarians without the ability to shadow cast, belonging to one “lone realm”, the Tangible Realm, thus named lonrelmians. They make up the vast majority of the world’s inhabitants. They once revered shadow casters as their guides and protectors but now they are divided in their loyalties and opinions toward them. 

The Shadow Caster Purge – A period of time where shadow casting was declared illegal and many lonrelmians attempted to eradicate casters from Malgar completely. After many brutal and tragic conflicts, while originally some lonrelmians thought they had brought about an unmatched peace to Malgar, the Purge era became filled with hardship in the form of crime, conflict, poverty, and natural disasters, which would eventually lead to a shift in public opinion and the reinstatement of shadow casting.

Legion of Shadow Casters (LoSC – pronounced “Losk”) – At the conclusion of the Shadow Caster Purge when casting was deemed legal once again by the newly-elected Prime Minister Malvus Lorenzus, the Legion of Shadow Casters was set up as an official governmental branch. It allows casters to practice their art, although it carries far more rules, restrictions, and lonrelmian oversight than casters were historically subject to. Master Toshio, universally considered the greatest shadow caster, was hand-selected by Lorenzus as the Head of LoSC. Toshio appointed one of his head councilors, Rizabelle DeLange, while his other head councilor, Varom Talannis, was selected by lonrelmian vote. Often referred to as “LoSC” or “The Legion” for short.

Lonrelmian Ministry – The principal governing body of Malgar, headed up Prime Minister Malvus Lorenzus. The Ministry is comprised of several committees with varying responsibilities, each led by an individual chief official based out of Central. The Ministry works closely with local governors elected in each town across Malgar.

LoSC installed officers (LIOs) – Pairs of LoSC officers assigned to specific towns to serve as their official peacekeepers and protectors. Each town in Malgar is granted the privilege of voting whether they want to admit LIOs or not. LIO assignments are handled by the Head Council of LoSC, principally Head Councilor Varom Talannis. Each pair is split into an upper officer and a secondary officer.

Anti-casters – Those who are adamantly opposed to the existence of shadow casters and wish to eliminate them from Malgar. Anti-casters believe the goals of the Shadow Caster Purge were worthy and noble and should yet be pursued to erase casting from the world once and for all. They are viewed as disruptors of balance by shadow casters.

Rogue casters – Casters that deviate from the teachings of the Shadow Caster Pledge and traditional shadow casting ways. Their selfishness and seeking for power were a leading factor in the divide that arose between casters and lonrelmians prior to the Shadow Caster Purge.

Dawn Trials – A series of tests to prove a young shadow caster’s casting aptitudes and potential. Passing allows them to join the Legion of Shadow Casters as aspirants where they can receive further training.

Daylight Trials – A series of tests that, if passed, allow a LoSC aspirant to progress to the rank of junior officer. This grants them special documentation and permission to summon basic shadow casts wherever deemed necessary based on their LoSC assignments. Passing the Daylight Trials is a crowning accomplishment for young casters.

First commission – An initial mission for new LoSC officers immediately after completing the Daylight Trials where they prove their worth in their new rank to then determine a more permanent assignment thereafter. Results of the first commission can significantly enhance or alter the career trajectory and prestige of a LoSC officer.

Dusk Trials – A final and challenging series of tests that, if passed, allows a junior LoSC officer to advance to the rank of senior officer. Senior officers are allowed to summon advanced casts and can be assigned as LoSC councilors, LIOs, and to other ranks.

Documented/Undocumented shadows – One of the compromises that ended the Shadow Caster Purge was that all shadow creatures and weapons had to be officially documented with the Lonrelmian Ministry so that all known casts could be shared and learned by all. All publicly known casts are known as documented shadows. Any that have yet to be discovered or that are illegally casted without being shared with LoSC and the Lonrelmian Ministry for documentation are known as undocumented shadows.