This page captures commonly-used terminology in Arvor that differs from other worlds.
Arcane, Arcana
Arcane magic is
magic that flows from manipulation of
Mystra's Weave, distinguished from magic that flows from the power of deities themselves (divine magic), the power of the natural world (primal magic), or more obscure phenomena beyond Kasaman tradition (occult magic). Arcana is the plural form, used to refer to the vast collection of expertise and secrets.
Ex: The bard Kintla traveled the world, sprinkling secrets of hidden arcana through story and song.
Arvor
The name of the major continent, from Elvish for "Great Tree". The islands of Mist Shroud Isle (which was once part of the continent) and Cracked Skull are sometimes grouped with Arvor.
Ex: Arvor is a silly place.
Kasama
The
known universe, consisting of the eight outer planes, the vast outlands between them, the four elemental planes, the feywild, the plane of shadow, the ethereal plane, and the prime material plane (where Arvor is). From Elvish for "the beginning and end of all things".
Ex: The Weave flows across all of Kasama, from the shining heavens to the depths of the Abyss.
Kind or Kynd
People of the "humanoid" species, for example: elves, dwarves, and tieflings. This term emerged to distinguish these people who share some common traits from other sapient beings in Arvor, like Giants and Dragons. "People" is sometimes used instead.
Ex: The great city of Dunagan welcomes all kind, as long as they bring their coin.
Metagame: "Humanoid" sounds too scientific and human-centric for a world mostly named by Elves, Dwarves, and Dragons. This doesn't change anything about mechanics, and practically-speaking "Kind" and "Humanoid" are interchangeable.
Strands
Used to quantify how much magic power is required to produce certain effects. This originated with arcane magic, but is now used for other traditions. Expressed in terms of one to nine, though there are rumors that with the old ways, a powerful mage could grasp ten or even eleven strands.
Ex: Donnie Julias grasped nine strands of magic, warping the world with only his words to revitalize his party in their darkest hour.
Metagame: These are "Spell Levels". I wanted an in-world term with a little more mystique, romance and versimilitude, and a little less mechanical and mathy.
