Ether
"The knowledge of their weakness — their susceptibility to the very thing that fed them, to the thing that we humans were able to naturally produce — was the only reason humans were able to fight, a knowledge brought to us by one of them. We didn't know what happened to the Pureblood who helped us; we just knew it wasn't merciful."Ether is a determining aspect of all life forms present within the planet of Somnium. Over the years, several scholars have tried to get to the origin of what Ether was, but their technologies were not enough to reach any conclusive results. Even in a relatively modern and developed age, Ether is confined to the realm of myths, the ravings of madmen, and, even when applied by those who managed to maintain knowledge of its nature, persecuted by the devourers who secretly control human society. The substance known as Ether is more than multifaceted, playing a role in sustaining human life, in the survival of the species after the introduction of Chronite, and also in the practice of Etheromancy. Despite their rampant differences, Ether is so similar to Chronite in its composition that it is possible for devourers to subsist off it instead of Chronite, as they need to in the surface.Such a practice is, however, far more than harmful to humans, as it takes away from them the only barrier they have against the deadly radiation that surrounds them, and also their very life essence. As such, devourers may be said to be a parasitic species to humans.— The Daybook of Slyerseckle Dob'L, volume III.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Ether looks vaguely like a cloud of dust surrounding a person, as if they were somehow channeling wind and making it swirl around them, similar to how a whirlwind or a tornado might behave. The amount of Ether a person possesses seems to increase the potence of this wind, increasing the amount of "dust" or "debris" colected around the person, thus making their Ether more noticeable. To see Ether, as described, is commoner, though some have also claimed to be able to smell or hear Ether, or just sense a pull towards fonts of Ether.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Like Chronite Radiation, and any other radiation other than sound or light, Ether is not easily felt or detected. While it does influence its environment's temperature, flow of the air and the way other things may behave in its presence - the bigger the amount of Ether, the more noticeable it becomes - it still is hard to detect due to the average human producing so little of it, and observers able to detect it in anyway being rare. Currently, there is no known way of measuring Ether through man-made detectors.
Geology & Geography
The more Ether is needed, the more it is produced. With the center of Chronite concentration being Askria and Denisove, an enduuriaard human, for example, produce much less Ether than an askriish. That being said, Chronite is indeed present in the whole world, albeit by its own or the action of devourers. Someone living underground in one of the many separatists' cities, for one, would be exposed to a much higher concentration of Chronite, and would produce much more Ether than someone living on the same area's surface.
Origin & Source
Unlike Chronite, which was deposited after the Slohkar's Impact, it is not known how the creatures of Somnium began to produce Ether in the first place, though it is certain that the advent of Chronite greatly increased the rate of production of Ether by all species that managed to survive. Nevertheless, for unknown reasons, only the Ether "produced" or "emitted" by humans may be used by devourers when feeding.
Life & Expiration
The average human body is capable of producing enough Ether - if undisturbed or spent - to keep itself alive for an average of a hundred years. It is known that humans can stimulate Ether production through certain techniques to reproduce spent Ether, but only up to a certain limit. On the occasion of the anticipated death of a human being, all the Ether in his body will disperse in nature in a very few moments.
History & Usage
Discovery
Ether was discovered by humans millions of years before pureblooded devourers made their appearance from the Askriish underground, though the names of those responsible for its discovery have been lost to the ages. Pureblooded devourers were attracted to the presence of Ether, which greatly resembled Chronite, and so made their way out of the Askriish subterranean after the Great Cold that had ravaged Somnium. Though the knowledge have either been lost, forgotten or hidden by the devourers, some of them remember that the practice of Etheromancy was stronger by humans inhabiting the regions of Fahantia and Denisove, and that they were important pillars in the development of Chronolurgy by Devourers.
Distribution
Storage
It is not possible to store Ether; once a human dies, their Ether eventually disperses around the body. It is possible to channel Ether consciously through materials, such as items made from Cambriain steel, but such a process requires the human to be alive and in possession of sufficient skill and will of mind to control their Ether. This also carries the implication that, after a certain amount of time, their Ether will drop to levels where it cannot shield them from Chronite radiation, thus leading to their death. All in all, it is not viable to store Ether.
Type
Metaphysical
Value
Ether is highly valuable for devourers, and they go to great lengths to ensure their survival
Rarity
Every human on Somnium produces Ether, though generally on small amounts
Color
The color of the Ether around a human can be influenced by many factors.
Common State
Energy
Related Species
Related Items
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild