Welcome to "The Battlegate Primer!" As you'll discover, the world of Battlegate is extensive, so, we've created this Primer to keep track of all the characters, places, items, and other important story elements you'll come along in the story. Since the story has just begun, the Primer is small, but as the plot moves along, we'll add more important items to this section.

Use the index to the right to jump to the first letter of the entry you're looking for. If you're looking for a character, they're typically categorized by last name first, if they have one.
SPOILER WARNING: This Primer is meant for readers who are up-to-date with the story and contains spoilers. If you don't want the story spoiled for you, read up to the current page before checking out this primer.
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AETHER

In the world of Battlegate, aether is the primordial substance of the universe, the unitary source of all substances and energies, encircling, embracing, and interpenetrating everything from beginning to end. It is the medium for conveying energy and the vehicle for performing magic.

Performing magic or moving energy requires the capability to mold and bend aether, a skill that is typically not inherent, but learned. In the Kingdom of Battlegate, there exist ancient clans with the hereditary power of molding the aether around them.
   
AETHER MASTER

An Aether Master is a student of the art and science of bending aether to perform magic or move energy. A true Master is typically a member of an Order within the Kingdom, who is officially sanctioned to perform magic.

While the Kingdom requires those practicing aether bending to be ordained, you'll find many people in Battlegate practicing unsanctioned magic.
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BANISTERO, AGOSTO

First Appearance: Chapter 1, Page 10

Colonel Agosto Banistero is the regional military commander and public administrator of the northern Battlegate prefectures. He is headquartered in the Banistero mining town, named after his family. The Colonel is a heavily decorated military officer, having devoted his life to the service of the kingdom. He is most respected for helping the kingdom expand its borders northward. He is on the verge of promotion to General, having turned down the promotion on several occasions to bring stability to the northern prefectures
   
BANISTERO, TOWN & CAMP OF

(Pop. 7,500) The Town of Banistero was named after Col. Agosto Banistero's family, who was responsible for winning and developing the area known as the Northern Prefectures from the reigning Tribes at the time. The small town is the regional military capital for the Northern Prefectures and is home to one of the kingdom's harshest criminal labor camps. We first meet Hugo, Marcko, and Col. Agosto Banistero here.
   
BATTLEGATE, KINGDOM OF

Battlegate is an ancient, vastly fragmented kingdom with many peoples, cultures, and histories woven into a boundless, mountainous tapestry. It is a land of contrasts and is known for ancient tribes that practice mystical powers here. The kingdom was built over decades of war, earning the nation's notorious name.
BENICIO OF SKY'S EDGE

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 58

Benicio was one of Laylah's older brothers who went missing after the army came and took their father, Omar, away. It has been over 14 years since he was kidnapped at age 5. Merced and Laylah are the only known survivors of the family and have accepted the missing brothers as dead.
 
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CATORI, TOWN OF

(Pop. 10,300) Catori is located about a 4 days travel through the Quemada Desert from Banistero and is nestled on the rocky coast of the Casta Ocean. Catori was once a major port and fishing town until new settlers escaping painful pasts from other towns made it more and more isolated from the rest of the kingdom. Its citizens are suspicious of most outsiders and would prefer to be left to their peaceful, quiet existence.
 
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DARKNESS

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 41

In a dream, Hugo visualizes a figure who taunts him. From the context, we can assume that Hugo has been visited by this character on several occassions. At this point, this is all we know.
   
DIEGO

First Appearance: Chapter 1, Page 6

Diego is a close friend of Marcko Paolo's who has known him since they were children. They joined the military together since their families had long traditions of serving the kingdom through combat service.
 
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ESTEBAN

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 22

Esteban is Quito's adopted son. He's a laid back, street-smart, 14-year-old boy who reluctantly does his daily work on the piers to help his foster father. When the workday's done, he takes off to hang with his friends and flirt with town girls. Although he considers Catori his hometown, Esteban was brought to Catori by Quito as a refugee when he was only 2 years old.
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"GREEN BOOK"

Marcko's infamous "Green Book" appears first in Chapter 2. Although it hasn't an official title, the "Green Book" is issued to Kingdom parole officers to record merits and demerits given to the parolee. Battlegate parole officers are given wide power over their parolees, and can extend their parole times indefinitely should they see fit.
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HODAKO, HUGO

First Appearance: Prologue, Page 1

Hugo Hodako is a young teenage boy who has been detained at the Banistero mining camp since he was 11. His true history is vague and for mysterious reasons upper military commanders will not reveal the reasons for his detention at the camp. Now 14-years-old, Hugo has been released by order of the King himself under the guardianship of Lt. Marcko Paolo.

While charming in his own childish way, Hugo's attitude, foul mouth, and notorious kleptomania have done nothing but frustrate Marcko and extend his parole time.
H'DALGO OF SKY'S EDGE

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 58

H'dalgo was the youngest of Laylah's older brothers who was only born a year before she was. He is presumed dead along with the other members of Laylah's family who were taken away over 14 years ago.
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LAYLAH OF SKY'S EDGE

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 22

16-year-old Laylah is a newly inducted member of the ancient Topherian Order. Since she was a small child, she has been studying and practicing to become a great Aether Master.
   
LEHVEEN

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 5

Lehveen are giant, slug-like creatures that are known to inhabit the beach desert near the coastal town of Catori. They are incredibly aggressive, and feast on any living creature they encounter - even resorting to cannibalism - to satisfy their unending appetites.

A Lehveen is the first creature encountered in Battlegate shortly after Marcko and Hugo leave Banistero village.
LUKAS OF SKY'S EDGE

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 58

Lukas was one of Laylah's older brothers who went missing after the army came and took their father, Omar, away. It has been over 14 years since he was kidnapped at age 6. Merced and Laylah are the only known survivors of the family and have accepted the missing brothers as dead.
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THE MEGALITH

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 40

The mysterious Megalith first appears in Hugo's nightmare. While it's true nature is unclear, there seems to be a connection to the figure of Darkness that emerges from it in Hugo's vision.
   

MERCED

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 14

Merced is the owner of the Catori Inn and Laylah's mother. A somewhat bitter woman of great experience and wisdom, Merced escaped a painful past in a far away town to start a new life in Catori many years ago. She carries a deep distrust of the Battlegate military and other Kingdom officials.
   
MERIKO, TOWN OF

(Pop. 300) Meriko is a small forest village in the eastern Battlegate kingdom where Merced and her family once lived. Its significance will be revealed later in Chapter 2.
   
MERSTANG

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 44

Merstangs are quite common in the salt water oceans throughout the world, they're largely tamed, and stay close to the shoreline. They resemble large seahorses and are used by coastal dwellers as personal modes of water transportation or as pets. The great King Merstangs live in the deep ocean and are many times larger than standard merstangs.

Although rare, fresh water merstangs exist.
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OMAR OF SKY'S EDGE

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 58

Omar was the father of Laylah, Benicio and Lukas and the husband of Merced. In a backstory told by Merced to Laylah we find out that the Kingdom had been searching for him for sometime and had finally apprehended Omar. It has been over 14 years since he was taken and is presumed executed.
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PAOLO, MARCKO

First Appearance: Chapter 1, Page 6

Marcko Paolo is an 18-year-old military officer starting his career at a criminal detention camp in the Northern Prefectures of the Kingdom of Battlegate. Although he’s a playboy with a huge appetite for big parties and pretty ladies, he takes his career very seriously.

Marcko is rather self-absorbed, although his charm can temper the blatant vanity. He's very proud of his early accomplishments and was, until recently, very certain of his future as an officer.

Hand-picked by the King as Hugo Hodako's parole officer, Marcko must watch over Hugo until his 16th birthday - unless Hugo extends his parole through misbehavior.
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QUITO

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 26

Quito (pronounced KEY-toe) is the dock master of the Catori wharf and runs a small fishing operation on the side to make ends meet. He is a very respected man amongst his fellow dock workers and other people in the town. He is an intensely private man, like many others in Catori who came to the town to escape a very painful past. He and his adopted son Esteban, came to Catori about twelve years ago under mysterious circumstances.
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RED SYMPHONY

The Red Symphony is an ancient, supernatural mechanism that is invoked when the universal aether has been too vastly distorted. It derives its name from the terrible atmospheric disturbance that accompanies its invocation, causing the sky to turn red and the eerie, strangely melodious sound that precedes the event. Although its natural, intended purpose is to restore the aether to its natural state, it could have potentially catastrophic, worldwide effects if harnessed as a weapon.
   
REIGNA

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 48

The Contessa Reigna was just named prefect of the northeastern prefecture, putting the fiercely independent Catori Town and Banistero under her control. Her family has been influential in the Battlegate kingdom for generations.
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SERAPHIM STAFF

The Seraphim Staff was given to Laylah upon her ordination as an Aether Master by the head of the Catori Topherian Order. Rarely is such a priceless item given to just any anyone, signifying Laylah's honorable achievements as a student of aether mastery. The staff amplifies the user's control over the aether, exponentially increasing their powers.
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TINO

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 24

16-year-old Tino is a member of the Topherian Knights, a sect of the Order that is loyal only to its Aether Masters.
   
TOPHERIAN ORDER

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 22

One of the oldest and most admired aether orders in the realm, the Topherian Order and its secret society have played a tremendous, yet mostly un-recorded role in the history of the kingdom. Thanks to their intervention, they have spared the world from the ravages of the Red Symphony, a supernatural mechanism invoked by the massive distortion of the universal aether.
   
TURI, ALEXANDRO

First Appearance: Chapter 2, Page 34

Major Turi is assigned as the kingdom official in charge of the Catori Town and ports. He and Marcko had trained together 3 years ago and subsequently served their first posts together guarding Banistero Town before Turi mysteriously disasppeared.
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