Magic and Aether

In Aethervale, magic is not an abstract concept; it is a tangible resource known as Aether.

Aether Currents

The world is wrapped in invisible, flowing rivers of magical energy called Aether Currents. Where these currents intersect, they form "Nodes." Cities built on Nodes, like Kigum, have naturally dense ambient magic, making spellcasting easier and more powerful.

Aether-Crystals

Over millennia, Aether condenses in deep subterranean pockets into physical crystals.

• Refined Crystals (The Kigum Method): Used to enchant items, power wards, and act as arcane batteries for spellcasters. They are clean, stable, and highly controlled by the Grand Arcane Bank.
• Raw Crystals (The Steamfort Method): Used as a highly volatile, combustive fuel source. When burned in specialized dwarven engines, they produce massive amounts of heat and steam, powering Steamfort's mechanical marvels.

The Cost of Magic

Magic in Aethervale is not without consequence. Areas where Aether has been drained or corrupted turn into "Mana Wastes"—desolate landscapes where gravity is distorted, elements run wild, and mutated creatures roam. The largest of these is located on the Western Continent, a scar from the ancient Age of Ruin.