The Laws of Aether

Aether is an integral part of all creations of Leaghrim, and to an extent most of the galaxy. It is the integral building block energy that dwells within all things. All things have Aether, and those that don’t frequently need to consume the Aether of others to sustain themselves. Aether is one energy, but it has multiple states as well as several forms.

The States of Aether:

1. Umbral aether, also known as “Static aether”. Umbral aether is the inactive or “stored” form of aether. Generally after Astral aether is set into motion, it calms down and settles into the surrounding environment to become Umbral aether. However, excesses of Umbral aether may coalesce into Aether Crystals. This phenomenon is more common underground within the earth, but there are documented cases of aether crystals materializing on the surface- generally as a reaction to an immense shift of aether.
2. Astral aether, also known as “Dynamic aether”. Astral aether is the active or “activated” form of aether. When set into motion- either by Anima or Elpis- it is granted form and function. The lost art of Creation Magic would temper Astral aether into a desired form before setting it back to Umbral aether or Anima.
3. Anima, also known as “The Living Aether”. It acts in tandem with Elpis. Anima is the aether that makes up a creature’s life-force. All but a select few creatures have Anima, and very few can survive without absorbing it.
4. Elpis, also known as “The Aether of Intention”. It acts in tandem with Anima. Elpis is a rather unique state of Aether, as it can only be formed by sentient creatures or creatures with a capacity for intelligence. Elpis is generated when a creature either thinks or emotes in such a way to compel their Umbral aether or their Anima into action. Elpis forms their intention into reality, manifesting into Astral change. For drastic changes, a larger wellspring of aether is required. This is why someone as powerful as Leaghrim can create a whole planet, but us small and sundered humans can’t use traditional creation magic at all.
5. Occuriam, also known as "The Mysterious Aether." It is not a proper form of Aether, and is not recognized by many Aetherologists. It is however, a useful blanket term for Aether that exhibits strange qualities. There are very few examples of Occuriam in the wild, as it is mostly a research term to classify unknown phenomena.

The Laws of Aetherology

1. Aether cannot be created or destroyed, it can only change from one form to another.
2. All aether returns to the star eventually, this is known as “Entropy.”
3. The Entropy of a 100% pure Aether Crystal is 0.

Elemental Aspect of Aether

Oftentimes when left to sit on its own, especially in an elementally charged area or near elementally charged material, a pure aether crystal can be infused with an elemental aspect. When this happens, the aether crystal is no longer pure until the energy inside is released. After which, the crystal must be refilled with Unaspected Aether or Anima to replenish it as a pure aether crystal.

Aether crystals can also be shaped via Elpis. By expressing immense emotion- or sufficiently faking it, one can coax a pure crystal into an elementaly aspected one. It doesn't matter if the emotion employed overlaps with another one, because the intention and elemental affiliation is what comes out on top. If one person is violently angry, the crystal would only react based on if they were angry in a fiery way or like a crashing wave, and aspect itself based on that.
Rules-wise, attempting to aspect a pure crystal requires the proper knowledge (usually an Arcana roll if one is unfamiliar) and the ability to trick themselves into expressing a certain emotion. This requires a Performance check against the character's own Will DC. After all, you are attempting to trick your own Elpis. If a character is already feeling the target emotion, they need not make the check to trick their Elpis. It just works.

Aether crystals can be infused as so:

• Fire aspected: Coloration of a reddish orange tint. Infused either by placing a full pure crystal into fire, lava, recently made ashes, or by shaping it with burning Anger or fiery passion as an Elpis focus.
• Water Aspected: Coloration of a deep ocean blue tint. Infused either by placing a full pure crystal into a non-distilled body of natural water, or by shaping it with either calm concentration or the temperament of a tempest tide as an Elpis focus.
• Lightning Aspected: Coloration of a bright purple tint. Infused either by letting a full pure crystal be struck by lightning, be struck by unfocused electricity, or by shaping it with righteous judgement as an Elpis focus.
• Earth Aspected: Coloration of a bright yellow tint. Infused either by intentionally burying a full pure crystal underground for a night, exposing it to a sandstorm, or by shaping it with stalwart conscience or the temperament of a crackling earthquake as an Elpis focus.
• Wind Aspected: Coloration of a light green tint. Infused either by letting a full pure crystal be struck by a tornado or hurricane, or by shaping it with the temperament of a calm breeze or the whirling chaos of hurricane force winds as an Elpis focus.
• Ice Aspected: Coloration of a sky blue tint. Infused either by placing a full pure crystal into a pile of snow, placing it into a wet substance and freezing it with ice, or by shaping it with the somber reflection of a cold winter night or the cruel coldness of a violent blizzard
• Light Aspected: Coloration of either a white or bone yellow tint. Unlike other elemental crystals, it cannot be created by exposure to the elements, and must instead be shaped exclusively by Elpis. To shape it, one must channel either a desire for stability or divine judgement. Which emotion is required is inherently dependent on the user's own morals.
• Dark Aspected: Coloration of either a black or dark purple tint. Unlike other elemental crystals, it cannot be created by exposure to the elements, and must instead be shaped exclusively by Elpis. To shape it, one must channel either a desire for change or desire for vengeance. Which emotion is required is inherently dependent on the user's own morals.

Why Aspect Aether Crystals?

While pure aether crystals are great energy sources in their own right, particularly for inscription and magitechnology, aspected crystals can be used for a number of purposes. For one, having a crystal that radiates a certain element is a handy tool in many households. Fire aspected crystals can power a stove through an entire winter, water aspected crystals can produce clean drinking water for up to a week, earth aspected crystals can be used to sniff out ores or precious minerals by tracking aetherflow, wind aspected crystals can be used to grant additional lift to airships, and ice aspected crystals can be used to cool rooms or freeze food for proper storage.
ontop of practical usages, the elemental energy inside a crystal can be unleashed into a powerful elemental blast depending on the quality of the crystal. For more information, see the Aether Crystal item.