# REALM Framework Glossary

> Canonical HTML reference: https://realmframework.org/glossary

## Direction

### Bearing

The direction in which the Realm is moving. REALM uses bearing to keep work aligned with the Oath and Destiny instead of treating a calendar deadline as the ultimate measure of progress.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#bearing

### Destiny

The long-range destination of the Realm, usually three to ten years away. The Destiny describes what the company is becoming and gives its Sagas a shared horizon.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#destiny

### Oath

The enduring reason the Realm exists. It is the root of direction and the standard against which the Destiny, Sagas, Quests, and Tasks should remain aligned.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#oath

### REALM

A free, technology-agnostic operating framework for companies where humans and AI agents work together as a single crew with explicit roles, shared memory, and human control.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#realm

## People and roles

### Character

A human or AI role operating inside the Realm. Each Character has a defined Class, Zone, responsibilities, knowledge access, personality, abilities, and limitations.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#character

### Character Card

The human-readable definition of a Character: name, Class, Zone, role, abilities, personality, knowledge access, responsibilities, and limitations.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#character-card

### Class

A reusable operating archetype that defines the natural domain and limits of a Character. REALM has five Classes: Warrior, Mage, Hunter, Cleric, and Bard.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#class

### Cleric

The Character Class that coordinates, protects continuity, tracks blockers, delivers the Scroll, and keeps the Realm running without taking over strategy or specialist work.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#cleric

### Hunter

The Character Class that enters unknown territory and returns with raw intelligence by researching, discovering, monitoring, and surfacing information without turning it into final analysis.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#hunter

### Mage

The Character Class that turns available information into intelligence by identifying patterns, risks, trends, relationships, and implications that support Player decisions.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#mage

### Player

The human who sets direction, establishes boundaries, approves consequential action, and makes the strategic and judgment-based decisions that must remain human.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#player

### SOUL File

The Character Card translated into first person for an AI agent to use as operating context. It defines identity, behavior, knowledge, decision boundaries, and how the Character serves the Player.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#soul-file

### Warrior

The Character Class that executes clearly defined work with precision and speed once the goal, instructions, and boundaries are already established.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#warrior

### Zone

A functional area of the Realm, such as Commerce, Marketing, Finance, or Operations, that gives knowledge and responsibilities a stable place in the Codex.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#zone

## Work

### Minimum Viable Realm

The smallest useful starting structure: an Oath and Destiny, one Saga, one Character Card with a SOUL file, and one Quest broken into clear Tasks.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#minimum-viable-realm

### Quest

A specific goal with a clear outcome that advances a Saga. A Quest ends when its outcome is achieved, and its work is divided into Tasks that Characters can understand and execute.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#quest

### Saga

A meaningful seasonal chapter, usually lasting three to twelve months, that moves the Realm toward its Destiny through one or more related Quests.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#saga

### Task

A single SMART-defined action, usually measured in hours or days. A Task is complete only when its result and relevant context have been written back to the Codex.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#task

## Memory and rhythm

### Codex

The living memory and written source of truth for the Realm. It holds purpose, direction, roles, active work, decisions, results, and the context that Players and Characters read from and write back to.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#codex

### Energy

The Player's current capacity for a Session, commonly expressed as High, Medium, or Low. Energy determines how much work should be taken on without pretending that every day has the same capacity.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#energy

### Raid Response

A focused response ceremony for an urgent event or threat that requires the Realm to coordinate outside its normal operating rhythm while preserving clear roles and write-backs.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#raid-response

### Save Point

The ritual that closes a Session. Completed work, decisions, results, and carry-forwards are written to the Codex so progress becomes permanent and the next Session can resume with context.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#save-point

### Scroll

A concise briefing prepared for the Player at Session Start. It summarizes what happened while the Player was offline, what changed, and what needs attention.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#scroll

### Session

A bounded period of active play that begins with a Session Start and ends with a Save Point. Sessions are shaped by the Player's Energy and current priorities, not an arbitrary fixed length.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#session

## Boundaries and evolution

### Autonomy Tier

A boundary that defines how freely a Character may act. Tier 1 covers internal, reversible work; Tier 2 covers collaboration through the Codex; Tier 3 requires Player approval before consequential external action.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#autonomy-tier

### Guild

An external relationship documented in the Codex, such as a supplier, collaborator, partner, or alliance. A Guild record preserves its terms, value, status, and relevant history.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#guild

### Patch

A deliberate update to how the Realm operates, such as a new process, rule, Character, ceremony, or autonomy boundary. A Patch is approved by the Player and written into the Codex.

Canonical term URL: https://realmframework.org/glossary#patch