Addais

Addais refers to a class of beings or entities in fantasy fiction and game lore that are linked to memory, archives, and thresholds. The term is not tied to a single canon and appears in multiple works with varying details.

Typically described as ancient guardians, Addais can be corporeal beings, incorporeal constructs, or ethereal spirits. They are often bound to a site, to a repository of knowledge, or to a ritual system. Powers commonly associated with them include safeguarding knowledge, recalling or reshaping memories, and influencing perceptions of history. They may appear as whispers, visions, or shifting apparitions.

In many depictions, Addais embody the obligations of preserving memory and guarding sacred spaces. They protect manuscripts, archives, or memory pools, and challenge those who would misuse or erase the past. Interactions are usually mediated by riddles, omens, or vows, and communion may require a rite or oath.

Etymology and exact nature vary by setting; there is no single authoritative origin. The concept serves as a literary and gaming trope used to explore questions about memory, authority, and the ethics of guardianship.

In role-playing games and speculative fiction, Addais frequently function as plot drivers or guardians of gateways, libraries, or memory sanctuaries, prompting characters to confront what is worth remembering and what costs memory may incur.