Shatterglass
Shatterglass is a technology that evens the playing field when it comes to magic, at least a little. With the use of shatterglass, anyone can cast spells, at least if they have the money for it.
When it shattered on the ground, the spell was released - and Milo found his son, family pet, and most of his workship hanging in midair when he returned. Fascinated, he began experimenting as soon as he'd rescued everyone and everything. He learned that a spell, imbued the right way into glass of the right type, could be activated by even someone with no magic ability or training, if it was broken.
Uses
Magic for Non-Magic-Users
One of the two primary uses for shatterglass is supplying on-demand magic for non-magic-users. Any spell stored in shatterglass can be cast by simply breaking the glass, at any time.Saving Spells for Later
Magic-users also use shatterglass. They can store a spell in a piece of shatterglass when they have the time and energy, and have it available later when they need or want it.Complexity
The use of shatterglass is alarmingly simple - break the glass, unleash the spell. The complexity of creation depends, as magic often does, on how powerful the resulting spell is.Access and Availability
The use of shatterglass is not restricted or rare, but how common it is depends to some extent on the user's wealth and social class. It is available to anyone, but can be expensive and hard to get. Smaller, simpler spells are widely available and cheap. Bigger or more complicated spells can be exhorbitantly expensive.Discovery
Shatterglass was discovered on accident - a mage named Milo Perlic had used a decorative glass vase to hold a levitation spell one day when he didn't have a stone or spell focus handy and wasn't ready to use it. Not needing it immediately, he put it up on a shelf and forgot all about it. A few years later, family iguana Spicy knocked it off the shelf playing chase-me-catch-me with Milo's toddler.When it shattered on the ground, the spell was released - and Milo found his son, family pet, and most of his workship hanging in midair when he returned. Fascinated, he began experimenting as soon as he'd rescued everyone and everything. He learned that a spell, imbued the right way into glass of the right type, could be activated by even someone with no magic ability or training, if it was broken.
Creation
The first step to creating shatterglass is the creation of glass. Different types of glass can hold spells of different power and intensity. Once the glass is obtained or created, the mage casts the intended spell into the glass. It is a simple process in theory, and indeed, most magics of any skill level can do it with very simple spells. However, channeling more intricate magics into glass without just exploding the glass takes a keen mind, a lot of patience, and years of practice. It is not something you can blunt-force-magic your way into.A Story of Three Glasses
Annealed Glass
Annealed glass, which is most glass that is pressed or poured or pulled into objects intended for art and daily use, is the easiest to come by, but holds only the smallest and simplest spells. It is used for cheap and everyday spells, like washing-up spells, mending spells, or keep-me-dry spells. Only the most skilled of shatterglass makers can use it for anything else without exploding their glass pieces all over the place, and even they tend to avoid it.Tempered Glass
Tempered glass is produced by reheating and then rapidly cooling annealed glass, which creates extra surface tension and causes the glass to break into smaller, granular chunks instead of splintering jagged pieces. Tempered glass can be used for more complex and powerful spells, and is the go-to choice for most shatterglass makers.Natural Glass
Natural glass is created when natural materials are exposed to sudden, high heat and stress that changes them into glass. Natural glass must be harvested, not created. The only known (observed and documented) cause of natural glass is lightning strike, but some deposits have been found that are clearly the work of something else. Naturally occuring glass can hold incredibly complex or powerful spells, but is also very difficult to work with. Most shatterglass makers won't even try, and those who can do it are considered the elite of the elite.History
Shatterglass was discovered by Milo Perlic, who was at the time a tailor. Quickly realizing that he had an opportunity to make life better for his family, Milo left Delryn and took his technology to the Free Territory of Galanthis, establishing a Guild to make it. The Guild grew quickly with the popularity of the technology and is now a large organization with groups all over the world.
Shatterglass
Cast Magic
Header photo created in gencraft ai.
Milo Perlic (& Spicy)
Before discovering shatterglass, Milo was working as a tailor. He did both the routine, mundane work of actually tailoring the clothes for his clients, as well as adding enchantments as requested (and paid for). His wealthy clients paid him to add spells such as luck, protection, and repellant of dirt and grime.
On the side, he kept a workshop for tinkering and inventing. After discovering shatterglass in his workshop, he was able to capitalize on his discovery to build a better life for his family.
Read More About Milo
I love this idea! Though it must be very annoying for people to constantly having to clear glass shards from anything XD Do they have something like a special bin in which they can throw the shatterglass so that it breaks inside without getting everywhere?
I hadn't thought about clean-up...I'll have to give it some more thought! Regular users probably do need a recepticle.