Aether and Aetherstorms

When the gods were struck down, the force of the event was so great that reality was torn and broken. The crystals known as Corstones might be considered a blessing to Nerians, as it gives them more access to stronger magic than they would have ever dreamed about before, but the aetheric storms that began as the crystals were created certainly could not be. 
Nerians find themselves with not only easier access to magic, via the presences of Corstones, but find that they seem to have an easier time learning, understanding, and controlling it. It is believed that the environs of Neria became infused with what essence of the gods couldn't be contained within the crystals; this infusion has come to be known as aetheric resonance, a term for measuring how stable magic is in an area - that is, how much of the area is permeated by aether. The more stable an area, the easier magic becomes to cast; by contrast, naturally, disrupting the aetheric resonance of an area could have extremely detrimental effects on someone's ability to cast magic. 
Some consider aetherstorms to be the gods' last trump card, allowing them to control how magic is used in Neria even in death. Some maintain that the aetherstorms are a natural result of the ambient magic in the air, just as other weather patterns depend on their environment. Whatever the reason for aetherstorms, the effect of them is understood enough to be feared. Aetherstorms appear as normal storms, but never rain. The clouds are thin and translucent, tinted pink and purple as the lightning strikes. Exposure to the storms over an extended period of time results in one's abilities to cast magic being altered greatly, if not permanently hindered.