Aether
Aether is a natural element of Astoria. It is in low supply and high demand.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Aether can be found in solid (geode), liquid, and gaseous forms. Aether is blue and luminescent. It has a magical aura to those who can detect it. When in its gaseous form, it is nearly undetectable to the naked eye.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Aether emits atmospheric magic which effects organic material through the air or more strongly through skin contact. In its liquid form, it has the consistency and transparency of honey. Its solid form is crystalline.
Geology & Geography
Aether is found in most abundance in the Ethereal Plane in its raw, gaseous form. Some deposits had vented through into the Material Plane long ago and settled into solid geode deposits deep beneath the earth. These deposits are found primarily in the Underdark, the rich soil beneath Sylvanmere, and in smaller amounts throughout the Caligo Cordillera.
Life & Expiration
The half-life of aether is approximately 4.5 billion years.
History & Usage
History
Aetherflux Reservoir by Cliff Childs
Discovery
Aether was discovered in the Cthonic Age when the barrier between the planes was strong. A master wizard named Aminah Alamar posited that the death of a deity weakened that barrier, allowing aether winds to flow into the Material Plane. Aether portals opened up across the plane's surface, dragging creatures across time and space.
Cultural Significance and Usage
High Elves have a saying, æther Tel'Quessir Vaendaan'Rathla mah Kai'Soeh, roughly meaning "aethor is the second lifeblood of the elf; magic our second breath", emphasizing its significance and omnipresence in elven life. Aether is, however, still more accessible to the privileged, who have enough disposable income to purchase enchanted items and discard them when their magic has faded. The infrastructure of elven spire cities relies on aether to sustain itself.
Industrial Use
In Mirandus, aether is a powerful commodity sought after by Kalafrax's Wizard College. Wizards past their mastery require aether as a component to cast certain higher level spells. Wizards with lower levels of education use aether as a necessary component to craft enchanments—Mirandus's predominant export.
Refinement
Aether geodes can be liquified through dragon fire or similar state of intense and/or supernatural heat. Conversely, liquid aether can be solidified through use of liquid nitrogen into crystals. Aether's liquid and gaseous forms are most fluid and versatile in function, however, geodes are necessary to imbue a stable enchantment.
Manufacturing & Products
Most magic is impermanent—a spell is cast and its effect will last from a mere moment up to several hours at the opposite extreme. This is because arcane magic is a nonrenewable resource. A mage pulls magic from a source—in sorcerers, their own body, and in wizards from atmospheric magic, for example—which is exhausted by casting spells. When the magic sustaining a spell is used up, the spell's effect is canceled.
Aether is an element which absorbs and stores magic it comes into contact with. This allows a mage to store "extra" spells within devices made from aether. Additionally, wizards can craft items from aether and enchant it with a spell, which the item will then "cast" continuously or when activated by its user. The effect fades when the aether runs out of magic (which can take decades, depending on the aether's concentration and which spell is enchanted).
Hazards
Though not prevalent enough to be conclusive, there are links to negative health effects due to chronic exposure to raw aether. In 424 CA, The Miners' Guild of Everton reported major health problems in their miners, which they claim is due to their long-term exposure to the aether mines. Enchanters in Mirandus have exhibited similar symptoms. Symptoms of aether poisoning include joint and muscle pain, headaches, abdominal pain, mood disorders, and difficulties with memory or concentration.
Aether is not reported to have any harmful effects once it has been used in enchantments, only in its unrefined state.
Environmental Impact
Enchanting aether items results in byproducts which pollute the air with atmospheric magic. Dumping enchantments in or near sources of water results in harmful pollution which kills (or mutates) native aquatic life. This also can also spread aether poisoning to those who drink polluted water. Finally, improperly harvested aether can seep into the soil, mutating and killing flora.
The largest aether-related environmental disaster is the pollution of the River Beltz by magic byproducts. Mutated creatures, such as Mirandus' shocker lizards, were born as a result of this spilled aethor.
Reusability & Recycling
After the magic has faded from an aether enchantment, the aether within the device is exhausted and cannot be enchanted again. These items are then often discarded as trash. Sometimes "empty" aether geodes are repurposed as jewelry, especially in elven cultures.
Distribution
Trade & Market
Shielded Aether Thief by Lake Hurwitz
Storage
Raw aether is stored in insulated canisters for safe transportation. Enchantments typically have outer casings that prevent the item's aether from leaking.
Law & Regulation
Heavy regulation regarding aether is slowly gaining traction in Everton through the Miners' Guild. The Law Office of Themis & Rook has sued on the behalf of victims of aether poisoning in both Everton and Mirandus. Freeport declared raw aether illegal in 420 CA in an effort to clear the duchy's severe atmospheric magic pollution. They subsequently put heavy restrictions on imported enchantments and enacted laws for proper aether disposal.
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