"Aw hell, did the engine go out again? Let's see here... Dammit, boy! Didn't I tell you to clean the actuator? Look, all this dirt here is covering the valve to the ignition! Go get some water and clean this! Damn child don't listen for nothing..." -Loving father while working on his truck with his son
Elemental Power
After the Abandonment, wizards were finally free of the gods' watchful gaze that prevented them from experimenting with dangerous magics. With the looming threat of beasts such as dragons or devils, there was a sudden rush to find a power source for casting large spells freely. What was found was better than anyone could have imagined; a device that utilized the seemingly infinite arcane energy from the elemental planes. With later tweaks, that same arcane energy could be converted into mechanical energy with the device known as a realm engine. The only downside was a wide-open, albeit small, portal to the elemental planes.
Realm engine is a broad term used to describe a variety of different mechanical devices utilizing elemental power, but almost all can be simplified into three parts; the portal, the ignition, and the converter. A portal is usually an etched magic circle that is capable of being opened and closed. An ignition is the tool that will open and close the portal either automatically or semi-automatically. A converter turns the arcane energy into mechanical energy via a variety of different means.
Portals
Different engines run on different arcane energies, and more complex machines may even use multiple portals to different planes. Each plane provides energy or material associated with its element, each serving a unique purpose inside machines. Although elementals entering engines is not usually a concern, larger elementals can severely damage components before meeting their untimely demise. Portals vary in size based on application but are very rarely larger than one meter across, except in city power stations. Larger portals mean the potential for larger elementals and as such their use is regulated and most often guarded by
the Order.
Ignitions
The ignition of a realm engine is what allows non-magic users to utilize the device without knowing magic themselves. Simply, the ignition is an arcane rod that acts as a key to the portal and opens the gateway when in contact. Once contact is removed, the portal closes, so risk of elemental breach is mitigated while the engine isn't in use. Complex ignitions are linked to timing gears and cycle portals optimally for the engine. Newer devices use multiple ignitions running to a single portal to open and close the gate extremely quickly. Because these pieces are mechanical, coming into contact with the portal many times while in use, they are often in need of replacement.
Converters
The actual usable mechanical energy from any realm engine comes from the converter. While there are hundreds of different types of converters, there are three mainly used; steam, burst, and electromagnetic drives. A steam drive utilizes heat from the fire plane and water, sometimes provided directly from the water plane, in order to generate steam which drives a piston engine. A burst drive is similar, except that it uses the force from opening a portal to the fire plane in order to push the piston. Electromagnetic drives operate on principle of electromagnetism, utilizing electricity from the air plane in order to move a rotor.
From the Breach
The elementals that sneak through portals vary in sizes and power. Large elementals attempting to squeeze through small portals often end up breaking some component of the engine and are sealed back in their own realm. There are smaller elementals, however, that can end up inside engines and find their way out with relatively little harm; these fist sized creatures are called sprites. While these tiny beings present a very minor threat to life, they can wreak havoc on certain systems, such as electrical grids and small mechanical contraptions. Local law enforcement are usually called to handle sprites, however
gatekeepers are called for anything larger.
"Damn thing, must've been a breach. All the pipin 's busted... Hell, this is gonna set me back a fortune..." -delivery driver inspecting his broken down vehicle
Entry for WorldEmber 2020
All work (including art, designs, names, etc.) are created by ZogMadDog (Harry Hartzog) unless otherwise stated.
Love how the first reflex of the wizards was to rush and do dangerous experiments. I really liked the quotes, they bring a nice touch to the article!