Gemforging
Devices, vehicles, and most Forged creatures are most commonly powered by sunshards, crystals said to be shed by the Great Phoenix. They are mined, and rarely differ in size or shape. A normal sunshard emits 15Θ, is 107 mm long, 16mm wide, and has a volume of 15,400 mm3.
Sunshards radiate this energy in the form of thaumic particles, which can be converted into one of the domains through the use of gemstones. Sunshards do eventually run out of thaumic energy, but it is a fairly slow process with visible decline. Over time the shard will become dimmer and dimmer. Without powering a gemstone, sunshards will often last for a century before running out of energy, but when used with a gemstone will run out far faster. Sunshards can power gemstones directly through touch, even through relatively thin layers of other materials. Due to this, smaller apparatuses often use layers of silver to prevent thaumic particles from seeping into unintended gemstones.
The effects vary wildly depending on the gemstone, and each gemstone seems to be associated with one of the magical domains. Rubies are associated with fire, lapis with water, quartz with storm, etc. When thaumic particles are creating an effect with a gemstone, the gem is considered to be in an ‘excited’ state.
The shape and size of a gemstone can be important as well. A tapering gemstone will have a stronger effect at the point of it. The size of the gemstone is relative to how much magic can flow through it at once without it cracking or shattering. Applying a third sunshard to a welder’s ruby will crack and quite likely shatter it. A larger gemstone also requires more sunshards to create an effect as strong as that of a smaller gemstone, though the effect will always be larger.
The output of a gemstone is measured in Zelters. Any size of gemstone has a recommended power input measured in Thaums, which is slightly below what a gemstone could do for its size. Giving an input higher than this will cause the gemstone to eventually crack and subsequently shatter.
Though sunshards are the most commonly used power source for gemforging, in theory any source of neutral thaumic energy can be used. As such, another energy source comes in the form of astralium batteries. Besides sunshards, neutral thaumic energy is almost never found in nature. As astralium absorbs thaumic energy, if energy of all domains is properly applied to and absorbed by the astralium battery, it will function as an artificial sunshard.
Rather interestingly, spirit thaumic energy can also be used in place of this neutral thaumic energy. However, it is noticeably less powerful, and so is rarely used for more intensive devices. It is most commonly used in small, passive things, in the form of a rune or collection of runes on a gemstone, such as those found in many light fixtures, though resonance is typically used instead.
Resonance is a unique effect in which a thaumic essence of the same domain as a gemstone appears to power it. This is, however, an illusion. What is most interesting about this is that the effect of the rune is instead directed along the gemstone, and as the thaumic energy flows across its surface it grows in power as well. This is used for more advanced gemforging, such as the artificial minds of Forged creatures which use mind runes on diamonds. Some Savants have also found it possible to use resonance to empower their own spellcasting.
Resonance has additional uses as well. A https://www.worldanvil.com/w/paradigm-robotics5/a/wild-magic-article of comparable energy to a sunshard may be used to power a gemstone of its same domain, which many have found useful as a cheaper alternative. Additionally, resonance between domains has been noted to create odd effects.
Formulae:
The total output of a radially symmetrical gemstone is defined by the following formula, g being the refractivity of the specific gemstone:ʐ = g(∛r * Θ/s)
The area affected by a radially symmetrical gemstone is defined by the following formula, f being the number of ends the gemstone is split into, ʐa being in cubic centimeters:
ʐa = 1/∛r * 5s * f
The dimensions of this area (or each area in the case of branching gemstones) are given by the following, measured in centimeters, g indicating the gemstone, D being depth, W being width/diameter, B being the base, and measurements all being in cm:
Da = (ln(Dg+1) / Wg) * s
Wa = 2 * √(Ba / π)
Ba = ʐa/Da
The intensity of the effect relative to the area of effect (average zels) of a radially symmetrical gemstone is defined by the following formula, f being the number of ends the gemstone is split into, ʐi being in zels per cubic centimeter:
ʐi = ʐ / ʐa
r is the ratio between the input and output sides, both measured in mm2. A sharp point is considered 0.1:
r = r0 / 5rf
s is equal to the volume of the gemstone relative to the size of a sunshard:
s = Vg / Vfs
Anything past r = 100,000 is considered non-functional, as the area it affects is too small to be noticeable.
Intensity exceeding 45,000ʐ/cm3 will cause a gemstone to shatter instantly.
Nolton’s Laws of Gemforging:
The larger the gemstone, the greater the area of its effect, and the more energy it requires. The smaller the gemstone, the less energy it needs to create a stronger effect.Any force output by a gemstone is applied to the gemstone itself and any attached materials. (AKA Swith’s Constant) The higher the ratio of energy input to gemstone size, the quicker it will crack. At high enough ratios, it will crack instantly.
Gemstones:
Ruby: Converts thaumic energy into heat.- g = 1.08
Metals:
Zepine:An alloy of fulgurite, alsinite, and titanium. Used in gemforging. Thaumic particles can flow along lines of zepine, allowing power to easily be applied to various gemstones. It appears as a sort of dirty steel. Prismir: Prismir absorbs thaumic energy (may crack). This is occasionally used in the event of accidents where unintended gemstones are powered. Silver: Due to silver's high thaumiretardance, it is often used to ensure the effects of gemstones don't expand past their designated areas within smaller contraptions. Aluminium: Due to aluminium’s low thaumiconductivty, resonant diamonds are capable of directing the flow of thaumic particles through aluminum when under the influence of the proper runes. This allows for the artificial minds of Forged creatures to move the amethysts commonly used for their limbs. Thaumiretardants: Thaumiretardant metals prevent the flow of some or most thaumic particles through them. These metals range from Silver, which is highly retardant, to brass, which is barely thaumiretardant. Smaller apparatuses often use layers of silver to prevent thaumic particles from seeping into unintended gemstones from sunshards.The amount of thaumic energy a metal can block is referred to as its thaumic resistance index (TRI), which is ranked on a scale of 10 to -10 based on the percentage of thaumic energy that can flow through it. Higher numbers are more resistant, lower numbers are more conductive.
- 9.8 - Silver
- 8.7 - Valkanite
- 7.0 - Slinium
- 6.7 - Iron
- 5.5 - Platinum
- 4.9 - Chromium
- 4.2 - Lead
- 3.4 - Zinc
- 2.3 - Alsinite
- 2.2 - Lithium
- 0.4 - Brass
The amount of thaumic energy a metal can conduct is referred to as its thaumic resistance index (TRI), which is ranked on a scale of 10 to -10 based on the percentage of thaumic energy that can flow through it. Higher numbers are more resistant, lower numbers are more conductive.
- -9.9 - Zepine
- -9.2 - Mercury
- -8.4 - Gold
- -6.7 - Copper
- -5.2 - Titanium
- -3.4 - Nickel
- -0.4 - Aluminium
A welder, an example of sunshards’ usage. Often used for the construction of Forged creatures, another common sunshard use. To use, click the button on the right half. The gemstone will now be hot, but not enough to weld. Squeezing the two halves together will heat it enough to weld with.
ʐ = 7,861.76045
ʐa = 0.02061cm3
ʐi = 381,526.40396 ʐ/cm3
ʐa = 0.02061cm3
ʐi = 381,526.40396 ʐ/cm3
ʐ = 7.5
ʐa = 10 cm3
ʐi = 0.75 ʐ/cm3
For a gemstone equal to the size of a sunshard, with no tapering, powered by a single sunshard:
ʐ = 15
ʐa = 5 cm3
ʐi = 3 ʐ/cm3
For a gemstone half the size of a sunshard, with no tapering, powered by a single sunshard:
ʐ = 30
ʐa = .25 cm3
ʐi = 12 ʐ/cm3
For a gemstone equal to the size of a sunshard, with tapering of 1/8, powered by a single sunshard:
ʐ = 7.5
ʐa = 10 cm3
ʐi = 0.75 ʐ/cm3
For a gemstone equal to the size of a sunshard, with tapering of 8, powered by a single sunshard:
ʐ = 30
ʐa = 2.5 cm3
ʐi = 12 ʐ/cm3
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Aw yeah. I hope this means goofy stuff like swimming through the ground or a sword that can go through armor is possible.
Unfortunately that would be more Savants or runesmithing territory. This is more devices and vehicles.