Stage, Path, and Sequence

The first joining with bio-armor is called the Binding. Those who survive it reach Stage One: the Bound. The Path Examination comes before Stage Two. From then on, the selected Path is permanent, and every later Stage has its own Sequence name.

Stage	Flesh	Matter	Mind	Swarm
1	the Bound	the Bound	the Bound	the Bound
2	the Tempered	the Plated	the Sensate	the Mender
3	the Quickened	the Shaper	the Reader	the Keeper
4	the Breaker	the Assimilator	the Augur	the Cultivator
5	the Unbroken	the Arsenal	the Whisperer	the Devourer
6	the Apex	the Architect	the Oracle	the Many

Stage Five is rare. Stage Six has been reached repeatedly, but only a handful of known humans retain their minds and self-control at that level. Stage Seven has no regular human Sequence: a few beings in the biozones reached that degree of integration, but none remained a stable human carrier.