Glossary

[kozeph]

Right so, if you are new to the Fate franchise and in particular to the EXTRA setting it can be a little intimidating with the sheer amount of terms, information and lore that Typemoon has built. So to help you! or in case you already know it all, help refresh the memory and make the big pill that is the Fate franchise a bit more easy to swallow.

Mainly what you'll read here is the need to know, superficial things you need to not get lost through it all! You can also get a more thorough information from the plot and setting thread, so have a read at those too. If you still have questions feel free to drop by the chat box or to PM one of the staff. 

So here's a basic run-down of things to know.

SETTING

Moon Cell: A massive photonic (see: light) crystal that makes up the core of the physical moon. Photon crystals are able to act as a computer using light as their medium, and with its scale, the Moon Cell is capable of acting as the most powerful supercomputer known to man. It is an ancient device left by an unknown civilization to observe the Earth and record everything that transpires, though it had long since improved itself beyond a mere observational device in order to truly record everything. It is within the digital world contained inside that the Holy Grail War takes place.

SE.RA.PH.: The Serial Phantasm, or SE.RA.PH., is the entity that governs and organizes the Holy Grail War. It handles the summoning of Servants, generates the multiple Reality Marbles that compose the areas present within the war as well as the NPCs that populate it, and restricts the ability to leave the Moon Cell until only one Master remains. Should a Master attempt to destroy the system or otherwise threaten it, the SE.RA.PH. will force their Servant to turn on the Master in order to protect the system. Should said Servant go against that priority and defend their Master, then they shall be deleted from the records.

Near Side: The side of the Moon Cell where the Holy Grail War takes place. It is the side that can be observed by the Earth and is properly maintained by the Moon Cell. On this side, Masters start on the first floor and proceed to the seventh floor in order to reach the core, all under the watchful gaze of the "Eye" of the Moon Cell. 

Far Side: The side of the Moon Cell that cannot be observed by the Earth, and serves as a dumping ground for malignant or otherwise harmful information. It is sealed as "Not For Use", so even the "Eye" cannot observe what goes on here. It should not be possible for lifeforms to exist within this sea of imaginary numbers, but a small area of safety has manifested along with a pathway to the core for some reason. Time flows differently, ensuring that no matter how much is done the time of day does not change. This also allows for Masters to exist without Servants, but the opposite is not true. The opposite check is constantly performed by the Servant themselves rather than the Moon Cell at the end of the day.

NAMES

Holy Grail War: The name given to the event where humans fight over the right to utilize the power of the Moon Cell, at the invitation of the Moon Cell itself. Those who win will be granted the right to access the core of the Moon Cell and utilize its power. Masters and Servants fight in a tournament-format war for the Holy Grail, which is perhaps the one "fair" war due to it not involving innocent people.

Holy Grail: The name often used in reference to the Moon Cell, though it really refers to "the right to use the Moon Cell". The Moon Cell has run simulations of every possible future for the Earth, and by browsing this records, one can find their ideal future and then order the Moon Cell to recreate it in the real world. Thus, the Moon Cell's influence over the Earth would be utilized in order to make that possibility a reality.

Master: The name given to humans that take party in the Holy Grail War. Once one is recognized as a Master, they are issued three Command Spells and a Servant by the SE.RA.PH.. Should a Master lose their Servant, if they are still alive at the end of the day the SE.RA.PH. will delete them in accordance with the rules of the Moon Cell.

Servant: The name given to Epic Spirits that take part in the Holy Grail War. Each Servant is assigned a Class and fights for their Master in order to obtain the Holy Grail. Should a Servant lose their Master, they are automatically deleted by the SE.RA.PH. though the deletion process is not instant and some Servants can survive for some time without a Master.

ENTITIES

Spirit Hackers: The common term used to describe those that can hack their souls into the digital world. They utilize Spirit Hacking to redirect the "output of the soul", originally used for Magecraft, to the new medium. This allowed for greater information acquisition and the reproduction of Magecraft in the form of Code Casts. However, this art is not limited to those of the ancient Magi bloodlines. Normal humans skilled with a computer can, intentionally or otherwise, accomplish this when interfacing with the Moon Cell. The term Wizard is often used in reference to Spirit Hackers.

Epic Spirits: Powerful entities from human history that achieved some level of fame, be it good or bad, and accomplished some great deed. Typically when one thinks of Epic Spirits names such as "King Arthur" or "Hercules" come to mind, though it is not strictly limited to widely known or even good-aligned spirits. Less famous, or even infamous individuals such as "Li Shuwen" or "Elizabeth Bathory" can also be summoned as Servants. 

NPCs: Non-human bodies created by the SE.RA.PH. to populate the area where the Holy Grail War takes place. Their purpose is to perform some task and to aid in the smooth progression of human lives. They are modeled after humans and can replicate having a personality, but they are confined by the limits in their programming.

Advanced AIs: Special classifications of NPCs that are designed with limited authority and the ability of self-judgement. Created to moderate and manage certain sections, they have certain abilities to manipulate the Moon Cell and are programmed with souls to allow for a greater degree of thought than standard NPCs. 

TERMS

Magi: A term to refer to the now non-existent sub-species of humans whom could perform Magecraft. While some still have heritage and even Magic Circuits from their clan, such things are now useless beyond aiding in Spirit Hacking.

Magecraft: A term used to refer to mysteries enacted by Magi using Mana. Due to the Mana being drained from the Earth, it is impossible to use Magecraft anymore. For those in the digital realm, the art has a spiritual successor in Code Casts.

Code Cast: The name of codes utilized within the digital space of the Moon Cell to replicate what was once possible through Magecraft. Utilizing computer code, it is possible for even normal humans to enact Code Casts with the appropriate amount of skill. This is the primary means by which Masters are able to support their Servants in battle.

Class: Each Servant is sorted into a class upon being summoned and depending on which one they will end up representing different aspects of their legend. There are seven standard classes that, with few exceptions, all Servants fall into: Saber, Archer, Lancer, Rider, Caster, Berserker, and Assassin. A Servant is referred to by their class rather than name in order to conceal their identity, and thus their weaknesses, though this applies to some more than others.

Command Spells: Powerful Code Casts that all Masters receive upon acquiring their Servant. Each Master is given three Command Spells, each one capable of issuing an absolute order to their Servant that cannot be disobeyed. However, if all three are used, the contract between Master and Servant is destroyed.

Noble Phantasm: The trump card of a Servant. Powerful anecdotes from their tales and exploits, crystallized into a particular form based on the Noble Phantasm in question. While powerful, their use is also often costly in some manner, and more importantly it will almost inevitably give away the identity of your Servant. Thus they are to be saved for when they are absolutely needed.

Reality Marble: A type of Magecraft that allows the user to overwrite the world around them with their internal world temporarily. It is possible to generate one with a computer, but even the most powerful computer on Earth can only maintain one for a few seconds. The SE.RA.PH. generates several of these at once to create the school setting for the Holy Grail War along with the various areas for battle, and even some Servants can wield Reality Marbles.