#codex canon

Solinium is a unique artificial element invented by alchemist-physicists in the Lower Elements, serving as a key component of the underground Fairy nation's energy production sector and a number of other uses in other fields.

Most artificial elements are, by nature, unstable, being highly radioactive and often having half-life periods so short that very little of these materials can exist at any one time. Solinium would be no different, were it not for the careful application of magi-tech. Thanks to the fusion of ancient alchemy techniques and modern particle physics, Solinium is a relatively stable, albeit still radioactive, element.

With the proper equipment, the energy output of Solinium can be adjusted, modifying its effective half-life on the fly without requiring the massive and complex reactor systems that typical fissile elements are used in. This makes it an ideal fuel for compact reactors and hardened batteries, able to be shut down into a reasonably harmless state if the casing is compromised. LEP vehicles and equipment are frequently powered by Solinium, with their mini-reactors and battery systems emitting a distinct blue glow in operation.

The uniquely flexible half-life of Solinium provides it with another, altogether less harmless, use. One isotope, Solinium-2, can be excited into an extremely unstable state with a half-life measured in seconds, releasing a deadly radiation burst that can kill any form of life in its radius. This isotope is used in the LEP's rarest and most deadly weapon, the Bio-Bomb. Used in only the most dire emergency situations under direct Security Council authorisation, the weapon creates an energy field around itself directly before detonation, which contains the radiation burst inside an area that can be programmed down to the centimetre. This prevents harm outside of the target zone and hides the burst from any prying eyes, such as Human radiation monitoring systems. Typically, it is used in concert with Time Stop fields, which further contain the effects should any stray flares breach the primary containment field. The burst, colloquially known as a 'blue-rinse' in LEP parlance, shines a bright blue as the radiation impacts the energy field, before rapidly fading. Before long, the released particles degrade into harmless and undetectable forms, and the area once again becomes safe for habitation. The weapon's casing is designed to be disintegrated entirely in the blast, leaving no trace for anyone to find. Still, LEP operatives will conduct a full sweep of the area to ascertain the weapon's efficacy and clean up any stray flares that might somehow still be going, as well as the bodies of the target entities.

While nearly all Fairies have access to magic and the various abilities it confers, a rare few are born with an unusual mutation that results in their having internal magical cores of remarkable power. They are even capable of self-recharging, eliminating the need to perform the Ritual altogether. This level of power is something that one must learn to control from a young age. Thus, the creation of the Warlock class.

Warlocks are the most dedicated magic users in the world, each one a fount of power and vital to the ongoing survival of the Lower Elements and its people. Their education and governance is controlled by the Council of Warlocks, a semi-independent body that interfaces with the Legislative Council and its Department of Magical Affairs.

During their youth, all Fairy children are subject to a battery of magical testing, ensuring that they understand their abilities and how to properly control them. The data accrued from this testing regimen is used to identify potential Warlock candidates, whose families are then approached by representatives from the Council of Warlocks. These children will remain in regular schooling alongside their peers, but are given a different curriculum for magical education, along with access to out-of-school activities that further enhance their learning. As these children grow older and their capabilities grow, their teachings will advance in concert. By the time they reach young adulthood, they will be ready for advancement to a specialist education at one of several institutions across the Lower Elements.

By the time they reach this point, these prospectives will have discovered their own particular affinities, from enhanced healing to telekinesis and even the creation of magical wards. They are expected to gain at least a baseline understanding of all of these abilities, even if they are not particularly attuned to them. An old adage says that a Warlock's education never ends. This much is true, but their schooling must still come to an end eventually. Graduates of these years of rigorous training are finally granted the title of Warlock, along with relevant licensing, and are now able to seek employment or academic scholarship wherever they see fit.

Many Warlocks are employed by the Department of Magical Affairs, and are sent out to handle any number of issues that may arise in the Fairy world. Those with healing specialities will typically enter the healthcare service, and telekinetic Warlocks have even been known to go into the construction industry, where their abilities are heavily sought-after and thus well-paid. The LEP has its own cadre of Warlocks in its service, who typically work as medical personnel thanks to their superior healing capabilities and energy reserves. They are also entrusted with a number of other roles, such as the projection of shield barriers in combat, telekinesis to move objects and people out of the way, reconstruction of damaged structures to hide evidence of LEP surface operations, and the creation and disarming of magical wards. LEP personnel affectionately call their Warlock comrades 'Sparkies', on account of the spectacular flurries of blue sparks they create when on the job.

The recent return of the Hybrasian people, otherwise known as Demons, has brought with them two particularly unique Warlocks. Hybrasian physiology is extremely unique, with two distinct life stages separated by a metamorphic process and a near-universal lack of magic. However, the rare few that do develop magical abilities will do so at a level of power beyond that of any other Warlock in known history. Qwan is the eldest Fairy alive, having spent the past ten millennia in a petrification coma. He has knowledge of both history and magic that has otherwise been long since forgotten, and he has proven unimaginably valuable as a result. However, he doesn't get along all too well with the Council of Warlocks, claiming that "They have spent too long huffing their own sparks" and accusing them of becoming inflexible and rusted into their ways. Qwan's protégé, the juvenile Warlock known only as No1, is quite possibly the most powerful magical being to exist in known history. Despite his young age and lack of experience, his powers have grown exponentially, to the point that he has even been able to work his way into the innards of the most stubborn of the Old Magic restrictions that have traditionally governed Fairy activities on the surface. His magical core is so powerful and so quick to recharge that it is unknown if he is even capable of running dry. His knowledge of magic is so intricate that it appears outright instinctual, and his services are constantly being requested across the world, something that he is all too happy to provide.

One of the most truly unusual races in the world, Centaurs are biological hybrids of hominid upper bodies and horse-like lower bodies. They are the only officially recognised Fairy species to lack access to magic, but they more than make up for it with sheer intelligence, with many of the greatest minds in history being Centaurs. They also have the lengthy lifespans that other Fairy races enjoy, despite their lack of magic. The exact cause of this remains unknown.

The origins of the Centaur race are shrouded in mystery, even to them. The Centaurs of the Hellenic Peninsula were the first to develop a written language, albeit a very complicated and jealously guarded one, with the specific intent of recording their history no less, but even their oldest surviving records shed no light on just how they came about. One thing is abundantly clear, however, and that's the fact that Centaurs did not evolve naturally.

The most commonly accepted theory is that, many millennia ago, a group of magically-gifted people (whether they were Fairy, Human, or even a common ancestor is hotly debated) began to experiment with body modification arts, reconstructing themselves to excel in certain fields. Eventually, their skills coincided with a need to become nomadic, and over a relatively short period of time this group transformed themselves to become the union of speed, strength, and intelligence through the introduction of equine bodies.

Studies of Centaur genetic records indicate that ancient horse DNA is indeed present in their very core. However, they are not quite as beefy as the classical stories would have you believe, certainly not like the muscle-bound warrior-poets of Greek myth. Ancient horses were rather smaller than the mighty beasts of burden we know today, a fact that is reflected in the less-than-overwhelming size of the modern Centaur. As such, they can (with some effort) fit in just fine in the living spaces of other Fairies. This relatively small size did not stop the Centaurs of old from having fighters of their own. Typically favouring pole-arms and bows, they were known to fight in a highly mobile manner, always keeping their foes at a distance and retreating at high speed when necessary. Their tactical acumen was well sought-after by the old Fairy Kings and Lords, and Centaurs were frequently seen in the higher ranks of their armies... though rarely on the frontlines.

In the modern era, Centaurs have become quite uncommon. The reasons for this are debated, but not in polite company, and certainly not amongst the Centaurs themselves. Some posit that, given they are adapted to live in wide-open spaces, the underground nature of Fairy civilisation is just putting a dampener on them. Others go so far as to claim that Centaurs have become so obsessed with their intellectual works that they have... 'forgotten' to get hitched, as it were. Another theory is simple: Centaurs have inherited equine skittishness, and are liable to develop social anxiety as a result. It is likely that all these theories have some kernels of truth to them.

The Centaurs are said to have once had a cousin race in Unicorns. However, there is something truly strange here: while the classical image of a Unicorn is that of a white horse with a magic-imbued horn growing from its head, said to be able to grant wishes, no Fairy records actually contain official documentation of their appearance. The race was notoriously shy and few in number, of course, but to evade documentation from their Fairy counterparts altogether is just odd. It is possible that they had access to memory-altering magic akin to modern mind-wiping technology, being so paranoid that they did not even trust their own fellow Fairies.

This lack of actual primary sources on the nature of Unicorns has led them to take on a mythological status in Fairy society, not unlike the one they have in the Human world. They are believed to be extinct, with Human predation for their horns being to blame, but there has actually been debate about whether the Unicorns ever existed in the first place. One theory as to their appearance is rather different from the generally accepted image: they actually were near-identical to Centaurs themselves, save for the horn from their foreheads. Admittedly, this does sound more likely than a race choosing to fully take on the equine form and thus losing access to hands, which are of course the greatest advantage of the hominid races.

The Hill of Tara, an overgrown hillock of the sort purported in Irish folklore to be a 'Fairy Fort', has a very real Fairy presence, though not in the way the old tales could have ever predicted. Under the surface, hidden by all the manner of technological and magical countermeasures that confound everything from X-rays to ground-penetrating radar, the largest surface outpost of the Lower Elements constantly thrums with activity. It is primarily a travel port, sitting at the head of the massive volcanic tunnel designated as E-1, which leads directly to Haven itself. Much of the inter-city traffic to and from Atlantis transits through the Tara port as a result of this proximity.

The port is expansive, stretching out over multiple layers that reach well beyond the Hill itself. It is equipped to house and maintain a large amount of aircraft at any given time, and has received recent upgrades for dual-use that ensures consistent access for LEP operations. It includes a specialised Ascent Pod retrieval system, using tractor beams to capture and safely guide in the ungainly pods after their volcanically-assisted journey has been completed. The pod bay opens directly into the LEP station, off-limits to civilian personnel, with almost immediate access to the armoury and aircraft hangar to minimise response times. The launch bay, which takes up most of the Hill, has a massive surface hatch that can safely fit all but the largest Fairy aircraft.

Much like any decent-sized Human airport, the Tara port features shopping opportunities for civilian travellers, typically dealing in travel necessities, souvenirs, and so on, all at a significant mark-up. Recent expansions have resulted in the creation of what amounts to a full-scale shopping centre, and a hotel owned by the port authority keeps overnighters in comfortable beds. A major freight-handling facility is also in place, extending across a significant area and able to transfer containers between shuttles and storage within mere minutes.

The primary interest in Tara for Fairy travellers doesn't extend too far outside the port itself. As the most accessible and secured location in the surface world, it has become a holy location to the pious and a favoured site for performing the Ritual, which allows Fairies to restore their magical charges. Old-growth oak trees near the site facilitate the Ritual's completion, having been planted over the centuries by the endless Fairy visitations.

As this is by far the largest gathering site for Fairies in the surface world, there are stringent procedures in place to minimise risks. All ceremonial and magical matters are supervised by Warlocks from the Department of Magical Affairs, while dedicated squads of combat-trained LEP personnel hold the perimeter and patrol the site to make sure the civilians don't start acting out, 'moon-drunk' as the classic term goes. For many Fairies, visiting the Tara site may be something they can only indulge in once in centuries, and their presence there can cause certain psychological effects if they don't keep a lid on their emotions. To ensure that nobody does a runner and exposes themselves to the Human world, all civilians are tagged with tracking beacons and can be swiftly chased down and apprehended by the LEP guards posted in the area. Warlocks also throw up a temporary ward that contains sound within the area, ensuring that the typical chatter doesn't leak out to the world beyond. Naturally, procedures are in place to rapidly pack things up and herd everybody present back to the port facility, should any Humans come nosing around, but they haven't had to be used in quite some time.

The sheer amount of Fairies present on full moons, hidden by the optical illusionary power known as 'Shielding', can cause quite a lot of shimmering in the air at Tara. During 'King Moon' events, where the full moon is closest to Earth and visibly larger in the sky, this activity peaks, and it has been remarked that the area ends up looking like it's underwater due to the sheer amount of illusion shimmers.

The Hill of Tara's general area is owned and administered by Humans, but long-standing superstition and the odd implanted suggestion ensures that they keep the area private and clear, especially during nights. In exchange for their keeping of tradition, the custodians are rewarded with what would appear to outside observers to be unusually good luck. Even during the Irish Famine, the farm was untouched by the Blight, and the British occupation did not ask too much from its cattle herd, which itself has always remained hearty and healthy no matter the weather.

An indispensable part of any self-respecting Fairy's toolkit, the Omnitool is, at first glance, a simple cylinder. On one end is an interface screen, and on the other is what appears to be an empty socket of some sort.

The real trick is inside this unassuming little tube. It contains a reservoir of ferromagnetic liquid metal, a silvery substance that is the base component of the tool's function. When activated, a powerful and tightly-focussed magnetic field is projected from the tool, and the liquid metal is injected into this shaped field. Once a desired shape, selected from the rear interface, is achieved, a charge is pulsed through the liquid, forcing it to solidify into a toolhead. This head will remain solid for as long as required, and the tool can even be turned off entirely without losing it. Once its use is complete, the metal can be liquefied and returned into the reservoir.

In effect, the Omnitool lives up to its name. A basic model can create simple screwdrivers, spanners, and so on without difficulty, while more expensive, and often larger, models have even greater and more complex abilities. One particular use that LEP-issue Omnitools come pre-loaded with is on-the-fly key smithing. Human locks are typically primitive and lack additional complexities or security measures, which allows these tools to scan the interiors of locks and then create a perfectly fitting key. Certainly a far cry from old-school lockpicking, a technique that is still nonetheless taught to LEP Surface Ops personnel in case their technology fails them. LEP personnel are allowed to utilise their own personalised Omnitools if they adhere to standard security and capability protocols.

Some Omnitool programs are restricted by law. It is feasible for even a basic device to create simple blades or bludgeons, for instance, if given the right data. Another type of program, and an altogether more complex one, is 'Digi-picking'. Some Omnitools are outfitted with more powerful computer units, and this power can be leveraged to automatically bypass basic electronic security measures, and can even create special toolheads to plug into interface ports if necessary. This technology, while undeniably useful, is tightly restricted and is only authorised for LEP use, and even then it isn't loaded into their standard-issue tools, only being made available to specific personnel with prior authorisation.

The most well-equipped division in the Lower Elements Police, the Surface Operations department is dedicated to all matters relating to the world above, and even technically beyond it. The specific wording in the charter that created the Surface Operations department included the phrase "On the Surface and above it", which meant that once Fairy technology achieved spaceflight, the domain beyond the atmosphere also became the responsibility of Surface Ops' Air Group. Answering directly to the Security Council, the division is primarily based out of Haven City, with operational groups being scattered around the world.

As far as Humanity at large is concerned, the existence of the Fairy People is a myth. It is up to Surface Ops to make sure it stays that way. As such, their primary mission is to hold the line, making sure that nothing gets in or out without explicit authorisation. A sweeping surveillance regime monitors Earth for any signs of activity that runs the risk of exposure. Typically, these take the form of so-called 'runners', Fairies and other magical beings who have entered the Human world and thus present a significant security risk.

When a 'runner' is pinged, all available assets in the area are redirected to get a fix on their location and risk of discovery. Meanwhile, an officer attached to the Recon unit is immediately dispatched at the best possible speed, ideally with the assistance of an Ascent Pod being launched through a volcanic flare. Once at the surface, the Recon officer makes a direct flight to the AO and tracks the target down.

What happens next can vary, depending on local circumstances and risks. The officer may be able to tag and arrest the target on their own, wrapping up the whole affair quick and clean. However, some targets may come in groups, be heavily armed, or even be dangerous animals like Cave Trolls. When faced with these sorts of targets, the Recon officer is supposed to simply keep eyes on them and wait for backup from the quick-response Retrieval squad assigned to the operation.

LEP Retrieval teams are the best combat-trained troops the service can offer. These commandos are fast-moving, heavily armed, and drilled constantly in team tactics and securing locations. Their armour is also significantly thicker than that given to Recon officers, allowing them to stand up far better in a straight fight. As incidents on the surface are relatively rare, Retrieval teams are often called upon to serve as special response for criminal incidents in the Lower Elements proper.

Thanks to the data being piped to them from the Recon officer on-site, the Retrieval unit is able to formulate a plan while en-route to move in and rapidly secure the target, preferably without Human witnesses getting caught up in it. Depending on the nature of the situation, they may also have access to air support assets like gunships, in order to really bring the heat. In the event that Human witnesses have already made contact for whatever reason, priority is given towards detaining them. Local communications are jammed to prevent word from getting out, and Retrieval personnel typically stun any Humans in the area, whether with their weaponry or by Mesmerising them into compliance, depending on how polite they're feeling. If possible, permission to enter a building may be secured through negotiation or even threats, though this issue can usually be circumvented if a sign or other element welcoming visitors can be found.

By the time Retrieval has made contact, additional support assets should be available. While Retrieval teams carry MindWipe memory flashing equipment, these devices are fairly rudimentary and can only scrub set blocks of time from a person's memory. Depending on the length of a Human's contact with Fairies, this may prove untenable without presenting significant risks to their health. That is where the tech team comes in. Technicians, or 'Techies' as the field officers like to call them, are brought in via aircraft loaded with monitoring and control equipment, and they are outfitted to perform more in-depth memory modifications that can selectively scrub certain elements without having to remove what could be entire days. If certain magical capabilities are required, Police Warlocks, known as 'Sparkies', are brought in. Usually serving as medics, they may also be needed to disarm wards, project shield barriers during breaches, employ telekinetic abilities to move heavy objects, or reconstruct destroyed structural elements.

If a situation turns out to be especially sensitive, such as when suspects have barricaded themselves in an area and have hostages on site, a Time Stop may be authorised. What was once an ancient technique only possible through the coordination of a whole team of specialist Warlocks is now done through the power of MagiTech. Time Stops desynchronise a fixed area from the wider world's chronology, preventing the movement in or out by anything, whether it be a person or even an air current. If someone were to arrive at the site from the outside, they would find the area completely deserted, the prior occupants trapped outside the current spacetime frame of reference. Rather than outright stopping time as the name suggests, they actually slow it by a factor of ten. Inside an erected field, a maximum of eight hours may pass before the the field generators lose synchronisation.

For every one hour inside the Time Stop, ten will pass outside of it, granting a total of eighty hours for outside forces to work on planning, requisition, asset positioning, legal troubles, and so on. Personnel and assets can enter or leave the Time Stop field through a portal, which resynchronises everything that passes through to either side. This results in a rather fascinating phenomenon where the mission commander inside the Time Stop can request for an asset to be brought in and have it arrive within mere minutes, no matter the difficulties or distances involved.

Due to advancing Human technology, especially in the field of communications, Time Stops have become much harder to implement unnoticed. Entire compounds or settlements going dark all at once tends to bring unwanted attention, and people tend to get a bit concerned when they arrive at a place to find it completely deserted. As such, they are now limited to being used in isolated areas that don’t see much in the way of visitors.

Widely regarded as a highly intelligent and cunning people, Pixies are one of the more common races present in Fairy society.

Physically, they closely resemble their Elf brethren, being hominids with a wide variance in physical appearance and pointed ears. They can be most easily distinguished by their shorter stature, visibly larger heads, and delicate features, which grants them an almost childlike appearance. They are also known to have difficulty growing body hair, though some have managed at least a decent moustache. However, any illusions regarding a juvenile nature would be quickly dispelled if one were to observe a Pixie drinking hard alcohol to a degree that would render an Elf comatose, all while cussing out a rival in several different languages.

(A Pixie architect employed by the Haven Planning Department. It is common for Pixies to keep their work on them at all times. Source: Arknights)

Pixies are less powerful in the field of magic than Elves, lacking the reserves to really make an impact. They compensate for this with sheer brainpower, as Pixies with magical skills are known for being able to weave specialist spells and hexes of remarkable complexity. For the most part, however, they would rather resign themselves to the purely intellectual fields. The combination of an inquisitive and inventive mind with an ambitious and competitive nature results in Pixies being some of the most powerful people in the Fairy world. Just about every piece of advanced technology has had a Pixie's hands upon it at some point, whether in development or in manufacture. They are very dedicated to their works, and perfectionist streaks are commonplace to the point that non-Pixie colleagues have to tell them when something is simply Good Enough, lest they never release their product.

Despite this focus on intellectual fields, Pixies are nonetheless quite capable of maintaining physical fitness and enjoy athletics, though they'd rather avoid the more rough-and-tumble contact sports, as they'd likely get crushed underneath larger and burlier races. Thanks to their dexterity and lightweight frames, they excel in gymnastic disciplines, and are reliable favourites in Wingpack racing leagues.

They are prone to strong emotions, both positive and negative, and should be treated respectfully. Absolutely never call them 'childish', as this is viewed as a grave insult, and Pixies are known to hold grudges like nothing else. When they act upon these grudges, they often do so through complex schemes that might be years in the making.

Pixies likely would have attained socio-political dominance of the Lower Elements many years ago were it not for their competitiveness. The same traits that drive their successes also tends to manifest in an individualistic outlook, always searching for an angle. Even within their own families, there is a drive to outdo others, standing in stark contrast to the collective nature of Gnomes and their clans. This makes it difficult for them to support each other's interests. The worst enemy of a Pixie's ambition is that of another Pixie. Interestingly, Pixie competitiveness is largely reserved for other members of their kind, being more amicable with other races, especially getting along well with Elves. As a result, Elf-Pixie hybrids are reasonably common in the Fairy population, though one would probably never tell just from looking at them, as one side of the union tends to win out genetically over the other.

Stockily built and proud, Gnomes are an integral part of the Fairy People. They appear at all levels of society, and have cultivated an atmosphere of mutual respect for generations.

Biologically, Gnomes are predisposed to short statures, high muscle mass, and significant body fat. This gives them a distinct stout figure, belying their physical toughness and strength. Their facial structure tends to be similarly round, with large noses and ears that are distinctly less pointed than those of their Elvish and Pixie relatives. They are generally quite hairy, with thick body hair and a propensity to grow beards to notable lengths, though not nearly as much as Dwarves of course.

Gnomes have always enjoyed a close relationship with magic, with prodigious reserves and an intricate knowledge of its properties passed down through generations. Warlocks are more common amongst them than other races, and they have multitudes of ancient traditions that are said to tighten their connection with the Earth and its power. They were amongst the first Fairies to live underground, usually in close proximity to sites where magical upwelling was common. Naturally, they were quick to make partnerships with Dwarves.

Gnome culture is intricate and interconnected to a high degree. They are organised into Houses, essentially extended family units that share resources and knowledge while safeguarding them against external interference. Most Gnome Houses get along with each other well enough, but disputes and grudges have been known to last centuries. Gnomes have been known to enjoy great economic power for millennia, as their House system allows them to organise their efforts without fear of internal struggle. The Merchant Houses of old garnered such influence in the pre-descent days that they actually caused the Gnommish tongue to become the predominant trade language in the Fairy world,. Gnommish would eventually take over as an officially-sanctioned primary language for the unified Fairy People. In the modern era, Houses have become more flexible, allowing Gnomes to change membership to other groups if they find themselves a better fit. However, this process is neither quick nor simple, as one's dedication to the cause must be put to the test. Those who change House too often are derided as 'tourists'.