Wordlist
a list of words & terms relevant to the daemon verse and the stargate universe in general.
Ancestors | A common name among the natives of the Pegasus galaxy for the Ancients.
Ascension | The act of evolving into pure energy. The physical body is no longer needed. In essence, one becomes the Daemon itself and is no longer governed by physical laws or restrains (other than what applies to light and energy itself). Many Ancients chose to Ascend, by doing so by-passing death. They have rules of non-interference however in order to let life for the rest of the physical galaxy go on as usual, undisturbed. Conflict and even war has been caused by these rules.
Ancients | Also known as the Gate Builders and the Ancestors; one of the Alliance of Four Races (others are the Asgard, the Furlings, and the Nox). Humanoid species that evolved millions of years ago, similar to humans but with slight physiological changes such as a very strong immune system, a slower aging process, and the ability to survive being frozen in ice without their tissue being destroyed. They are the first known race to possess Daemons (the Asgard, for example, don't have Daemons). The closer to Ascension they are, they can also develop abilities such as telekinesis, healing abilities, telepathy, and so on. Ancients arose as one species on a planet called Celestis is their Home Galaxy. When they became technologically advanced, they developed space-flight (including Faster Than Light engines). At this point they also began thinking of seeding life in their image. Before they had achieved hyperspace capabilities, though, war - the First War - broke out, splitting the Ancient race into two groups or factions: the Ori (believing that faith and the power of Ascension granted them superiority) and the Alterans/Ancients (focusing on a more scientific approach). The Alterans fled Celestis and the Home Galaxy, passing through Ida (coming in contact with the Asgard) and possibly a number of other galaxies before settling in the Milky Way, which they called Avalon, and there they seeded human life. The Ancient named Amelius constructed the first Stargate, or had the idea of it, sometime during the long journey. Before creating the Milky Way Stargate system, they built the ship Destiny and a number of Seeder Ships to build and place Gates along its path. The Ori tried to find the Ancients and may have been the root of a Plague that struck the Ancients some time later, after which the Ancients left for Pegasus, building a new Stargate system there. The SGC made first contact with the Ancients in person when they found one, Ayiana, buried in the ice of Antarctica, perfectly preserved and in fact alive; she carried the Plague, which infected among others O'Neill.
Ancient Technology Activation (ATA) | The ATA-gene is a slice of the Ancient's genome, and it is necessary to be able to operate most Ancient technology. The particular genetic sequence occurs rarely in human Tau'ri (Terran) populations because some Ancients decided to integrate with the Tau'ri c:a 8,000 B.C. (that is, after the Evacuation of Atlantis). Some have stronger variations, like General O'Neill and John Sheppard, and some have weaker, like Lance Corporal Gladys, Markham, and Major Lorne. The gene was discovered by Dr Carson Beckett, who developed an artificial gene therapy that can be inoculated; rather than introducing the gene itself it uses a deactivated retrovirus to "turn on" the ATA-gene, and it doesn't work in all cases (only in around 47-48 % of all cases). Dr McKay possesses this artificial variant.
Atlantis Recon Team (AR) | Also called Offworld or Gate teams; a squad of normally four people, rarely more or less, sent by the Expedition to explore other planets and make contact with other humans and cultures, and establish alliances and trade relations. The goal is to gather knowledge and intelligence, and technology if they can. Usually there are mainly military personnel (marines) in a team; on friendly missions civilian scientist may come with as well. AR-1, Atlantis' premiere Gate team, is the most diverse in terms of origins, consisting of Major Sheppard (USAF), Teyla Emmagan (Athosian), Dr McKay (Canadian astrophysicist), Lt Ford (USMC) and later Specialist Ronon Dex (Satedan), making it the only permanent 5-member team from 2005. Other teams include AR-2 (Olsen's team), AR-4 (MacGrimmon's team), and AR-7 (Stackhouse's team). The equivalent of these teams on Earth are called SG-teams.
The High Council | The leaders of the Ancients in Atlantis before they left Pegasus behind ten thousand years ago. The members are elected through some kind of democratic process. Known Council members include Moros and Ganos Lal. The Council is led by a High Counselor. The Council were apparently quite traditional and conservative, and not very fond of Ianus or Ephesia, because they considered them too willful and rash; they rarely approved of Ianus' inventions (such as his timetravelling Gateship), nor of Ephesia's plan with the Aurora. Icarus did not think too highly of the Council because of their "short-sightedness", thinking they are too busy dreaming of Ascension to find a way to save Atlantis and Pegasus in the War against the Wraith.
(Wraith) Cruiser | A medium-sized Wraith ship. These usually do not have a Queen on board.
(Wraith) Dart | A small Wraith craft that can fit through the Gate. It uses its beam to bring people up (dematerialized) into their Hiveships. Many peoples call them Screamer Ships because of the noise they make in the atmosphere.
Dæmon | A metaphysical manifestation of one's soul. Normally a mammal or other land-based animal; Daemons with wings are unheard of. Those who possess odd Daemons, or no Daemons at all, are sometimes called Strangelings. Pegasus natives us the word Anima (pl Animae) which is the Ancient term. Most Daemons are of the opposite opposite gender of what the human identifies as, so humans who identify as male (whether cis or otherwise) have a female Daemon, and vice versa; genderfluid or other Daemons also occur, and "opposites" aren't necessary or a universal rule, just quite common. A Daemon usually Emerges (i.e. comes into being) minutes, seconds, or rarely hours after a person's birth. At first they are like a swirl of shadows and light, and how long it takes for the Daemon to form a first Shape varies. The Shape differs from person to person and also shifts regularly through childhood. When a single Shape is "decided" it is called Settling (to Settle), and it is a major marker of adulthood; it can happen around the ages 15-20, rarely later. (see Emerge; Merge; Shape; Settle; Strangeling)
Descendants | People (distantly) related to the Ancients are sometimes referred to this way, for example by Teyla and by Icarus.
Dial Home Device/DHD | This device is used to dial an address to activate the Stargate. The one in Atlantis holds a special crystal which enables it to dial Earth a galaxy away (an action which also requires at least one ZPM to supply power). The Ancient term for this is astria porta moderatoris, literately "Stargate controller".
elegeia | A Satedan meter or way of verse which is usually sung or recited, often at funerals. This Ancient word literately means "elegy". The form focuses primarily on syllables, but also on rhyme. Ronon Dex dreamt of being a poet and wrote two known elegeiae: one for his friend Hemí as he died (title unknown), and one, after coming to Atlantis, in memory of Sateda (Elegeia Satedum, "Elegy of Sateda"), Another form of Satedan poetry is the Ode.
Emerge, Emergence, Emerging | When a Daemon forms or begins to take shape - when they begin to exist - it is called an Emergence. It is usually described as a bright light rising and forming from a person's chest. This usually happens when a person is newborn. In rare cases it takes hours or even days; the longest recorded Emerging on Earth is around 50 days. (see Daemon)
The Evacuation | The act of the Ancients in Atlantis, the survivors of the over a hundred year long War with the Wraith, fleeing Pegasus after submerging the City on Lantea. Several hundred Ancients fled, but some stayed behind, for example Ephesia and her crew (the others thought them to be dead), or some Ancients who Ascended and refused to abandon the humans of Pegasus, such as Chaya Sar. Some, such as Icarus, took the middle route by going to Earth with the other evacuees but then returning to the City in Ascended form. Ancients known to have evacuated include Moros, Ganos Lal, and Ianus.
F-302 | Small Terran craft first based on the Goa'uld Deathgliders but built entirely from scratch by the Tau'ri. A number of these are carried about the warship Daedalus. These small fighters are very maneuverable and carry both shorter and longer-range weaponry and missiles, and are equipped with sublight engines (but possess no hyperspace capabilities). They are designed for close-range combat in space as well as in the atmosphere. All legible USAF personnel within the SGC are trained to fly them. When the Daedalus arrives at Atlantis during the Siege the F-302:s were not deployed but on stand-by.
The First War | This was the first civil war among the Ancients, culminating a long conflict between two political/religious groups which would become the Ancients/Alterans and the Ori. The First War caused the Alterans to leave their home planet Celestis behind, unaware that the Ori would soon Ascend and gain so much power to seed human life (in their image) just as the Alterans did in the Milky Way through a more scientific approach.
Forbidden Planets | A list of planets compiled by the Atlantis Expedition. Destinations deemed too unsafe to visit for any recon team or ship. By early 2007 CE, there are five planets on that list, with P70-800 being the fifth.
Ghosting, to Ghost | When a Daemon and a human do not die at the same time, this is called a Ghosting. It is characterized with immense physical and emotional pain, where either Daemon or human often cry out for each other, wailing and screaming. The term derives from the fact that either part lives on for a few moments (seconds or minutes) like a ghost. It is said to be one of the most terrifying, horrifying things that could ever happen. It is the kind of thing no one wants to endure or witness. Captain Holland and his Daemon died this way.
Great Unification of Sateda | In 1396 BCE (Terran time), the planet of Sateda was united under one government and one Chieftain following a series of bloody civil wars. The Unification took place on the hill where later they would build the Capitol, and the various factions wrote a treaty there. This began a new count of time: AGU, After the Great Unification, with the unification taking place in year 0 AGU. Once the planet's people were united they began to quickly develop more advanced technology and a better way of life, hoping to one day have a chance to defeat the Wraith.
Homeworld Command | Formerly Homeland Security, and outwardly, outside of the SGC, it still uses the old name. The primary task of HC is to keep Earth safe from both internal and external conflict, including extraterrestrial such. Currently General O'Neill sits in the chair of Deputy Secretary; he took over after General Hammond, who took the position after withdrawing from the SGC (now retired). HC keeps in contact with many agencies and bureaus, not just the SGC and NASA, such as the FBI.
intranet (Atlantis) | The Expedition has set up a server network similar to the internet in Atlantis, for communication and for fun. They have different forums there, some dedicated to organizing teams and other structures, and some to discuss general things and share news and rumors. There is one part of the forum called "Off-duty Recreation & General Fun".
Kolya's Rebel Faction/Rebellion | Acastus Kolya led a group of perhaps around a hundred Genii from a secret base of operations. They were armed warriors mostly, but also scientists were part of this faction. Kolya is labeled a rebel by Cowen, who feared Kolya sought to replace him as the leader of the Genii. Part of the plan was to neutralize the Tau'ri by taking or destroying Atlantis, but during this attempt Kolya is killed by John Sheppard in early 2005. Around sixty more Genii were also killed, but a number escaped, including Sora and Ladon Radim, a scientist with knowledge of nuclear weapons. Ladon joined Cowen once more and told him (apparently) everything about the Rebel Faction and Kolya's plans. Whether this is true is uncertain, but Cowen eventually appointed Ladon his main adviser and right-hand man. What happened with Sora and the other survivors is uncertain. In December 2005, Cowen contacts the Lanteans regarding a possible peace treaty and admits that the Rebel Faction has not been wiped out yet and remains a serious threat but the Genii "will deal with it".
lifesigns detector (scanner) | An Ancient handheld device which requires the ATA-gene to function. It detects lifesigns in the vicinity, but can also be calibrated to detect structures, energy, and radiation among other things.
Hiveship | The biggest Wraith ships. Every Hive, as they are called, has a Queen on board who controls the rest of the Wraith. Some people call these craft Motherships.
medical | Satedan term for doctor/healer. Derived from the Ancient term "medikus". The doctor of highest position in a Satedan hospital is called the Chief Medikus.
Merge, Merging | This is the opposite of an Emergence: it is when the Daemon retracts back into the body and "disappears". In order to Ascend a person has to reach complete tranquility and unity with their Daemon; the last step before one is ready to rid themself of their physical body. Once whole with their Daemon, they are free to roam. This way some Ancients chose not just to Merge with their Daemons and Ascend, but to Merge with their intelligent Cities as well - one of the reasons why the Cities are so intelligent and vast in memory. (see Daemon)
The Merged | Ancients who have become One Being with their Daemon but instead of Ascended freely has chosen to Merge with their Cityships in order to give them a greater memory and other capabilities, in a certain sense also providing power. One of the Merged was the mother of Epheisa, the bloodline of whom John is an offspring.
NCIS | Naval Criminal Investigation Service, which investigates crimes related to the US Navy and Marine Corps; has its main Headquarters in Washington, D.C., with Jenny Sheppard acting as its Director starting 2005. NCIS shouldn't have anything to do with the SGC, but a case in 2006 brings its flagship team (Gibbs et al) in contact with the Program.
Ode | A Satedan form of high poetry; it usually tells a lengthy tale of adventures, heroism, bravery and mythology. It is written in strict meter. One of the great masters of writing odes was Aram Hakum, who wrote The Ode of United Sateda roughly six centuries before the Great Siege when Sateda was Culled into oblivion.
particle magnum | An energy-based weapon shaped like a gun. It has both a kill and a stun setting, and it fires red energy bolts. Ronon Dex uses this kind of weapon (more exactly a PM-109 model). They were manufactured on Sateda along with other weapons of similar technology and fire power, developed in the fight against the Wraith, based on the Wraith's own stunners. After the destruction of Sateda, both scattered survivors and different scavengers returned to the planet in search for resources, including weapons.
potentia | (see Zero Point Module)
The Program | (see Stargate Command)
Puddlejumper | Sometimes also called simply Jumpers, these are the small but comfortable and powerful ships built by the Ancients built to travel through the Stargate (hence the nickname). They are armed with drones and a shield, but has no hyperspace capabilities, and travel by Jumper is therefore slow (by intergalactic standards) and dependent on Stargates being in range. A Jumper can store rations for several people for a longer time. It is mean for a crew of two to four, but fits up to a dozen or so people. The Ancients called them portam nava (pl. portam navae) literately meaning "Gate Ship", which is the name that Lt Ford wanted to use for them. Sheppard is the one who started using the term Puddlejumper/Jumper.
Rings | These are a form of transportation device constructed and formerly used by the Goa'uld in the Milky Way, based on the Stargate somewhat. They can be used to transport both living and other matter from a ship onto a planet, for example, or to move between Goa'uld ships. They usually use a secondary Ring Control Platform to connect to from the primary, but can be used with only one Platform if need be.
receiver | Satedan term for radio.
Runner | A person whom the Wraith have captured and implanted a tracking device in their back, before they are set lose to run. The Wraith follow and destroy or Cull the inhabited planets the Runner reaches. The case with most Runners is that they are immune themselves to being fed upon by the Wraith. Ronon Dex was a Runner for many years after the destruction of Sateda.
Screamer Ship | (see Dart)
Settle | When a single Shape is decided upon, after which the Daemon never changes again, it is called Settling (to Settle). It is a major marker of adulthood; it usually happens when the human is somewhere between 15-22 years old (Terran time); very rarely later than that. (see Daemon; Shape)
Shape | The physical form of a Daemon, which is the shape of an animal native to the person's planet. When a human is born their Daemon is at first a swirl of shadows and light, and how long it takes for the Daemon to form a first Shape varies. The Shape differs from person to person and also shifts regularly through childhood. (see Daemon; Emerge; Settle)
Stargate Command | Also known as the SGC or the Program (a common codename used in the company of people who haven't signed the nondisclosure agreements or do not have high enough clearance to know about the Stargate). Currently under the command of General Landry.
Strangeling | A taboo, demeaning insult or term for a person who somehow deviates from the Daemon norm. Maybe they Emerged later than usual, have a "strange" Shape, or rarely no Daemon at all. "True" Strangelings are rare: the word can be misused. To be called a Strangeling is often seen as one of the worst insults imaginable. Strangelings are a thing of stories and fairytales, something which is warned about. In books and movies and other media, Strangelings are often portrayed as villains without souls, who "want to burn the world"; therefore they are often feared and misunderstood. The word is kind of taboo. (see Daemon)
Stargate | Also called Astria Porta (Ancient) or Chappa'ai (by the Goa'uld in the Milky Way), this is an Ancient device built to travel between stars. The naquadah rings create a network through which travel is possible using 6-symbol combinations called addresses (sometimes, rarely, more symbols are used, depending on how far away the Stargates are from each other). One of the symbols dictates the point of origin and differs from planet to planet. Older versions of Stargates can be dialed manually, but those in the Pegasus galaxy require a DHD to function and draw power from. (see DHD)
Sucker | Wraith; a term mostly used by Tau'ri marines.
Tau'ri | A term used to describe humans from planet Earth.
telecrypter | Satedan term; telephone. A more and more common occurrence in people's homes. Some streets in the Capitol are also equipped with public telecrypter booths.
Timejumper | A timetravelling Jumper (Gateship) constructed by Ianus. When it was found and accidentally used in an alternate timeline, causing Dr Weir, Sheppard, and Zelenka to go back in time, the Ancient High Council ordered him to destroy it. Unknowing to them, Ianus took the plans with him and built a new one on Earth after the Evacuation, and this second Timejumper was used by SG-1 (in another timeline) to go back to Ancient Egypt in search for a ZPM. This ZPM was then used to take the Daedalus to Pegasus in only four days' travel in 2005.
(Wraith) Queen | The ruler of each Hive is a Wraith Queen. These are the only female Wraith and they possess great strength and telepathic abilities that can be used on Wraith and human alike. One known Queen is the Keeper Queen who guards the Wraith Who Sleep, those in hibernation in-between Cullings. She stayed on their Homeworld with a landed Hiveship. In 2004, when the Expedition arrived, the only known Keeper Queen was killed by Major Sheppard, waking those of the Wraith who were in hibernation - however, many were already awake and Culling worlds. There is one Queen who stands above the rest, called the Primary.
Zero Point Module (ZPM) | Ancient, long-lived power sources that draw vacuum energy from an artificially created region of subspacetime until it reaches maximum entropy, which usually takes up to thousands of years depending on how the ZPM is being utilized or strained. A ZPM is capable of holding back the pressure of hundreds of feet of water from a City like Atlantis for thousands of years, but would be depleted within a few days if constantly bombarded by energy-based weapons' fire. The Ancients call them potentia (pl. potentiae). Lance Corporal Gladys refers to them as "fancy alien batteries" (this is the uprising, chapter 3).