Janya: One of two sentient civilized races currently populating the Surya system, and the dominant one. This is primarily due to the ability of the Janya to wield Sādhanā, and their use of Technik.

Kravyad: Native inhabitants of the Surya system, one of two sentient civilized races currently populating the worlds of the system.

Sādhanā: the manifest psychic powers of the Janya, capable of strong interactions with matter, energy, living processes, and the foundations of the soul itself.

Surya: the local name for the blue-white primary star in the binary star system home to the Janya and Kravyad.

Technik: the advanced sciences of the Janya, which combine traditional (mundane) science with the practical and philosophical implications of Sādhanā. The counter-example is “primitive tech”, which is what the Kravyad are limited to, approximately equivalent to early to mid twentieth century terrestrial equivalents.