Arcane Energy

Castrella remains a habitable planet thanks to arcane energy abundant in the world. The study of biology, ecology, and the arcane are deeply entwined with each other, assisting its residents in carefully learning, exploring, & harnessing the capabilities of all things magical in Castrella.

The ⁠Arcane Sciences Division primarily studies the arcane, its origins, and uses in every day life. Since science and magic are so tightly knit together and its involvement together explains how Castrella remains habitable, there is still plenty of information that its residents currently do not know about the source of magical energy. However, we do know a lot still, so here's what we can explain!

Aether

Currently, the organic form of the arcane comes in the form of aether. Aether is invisible and undetectable to the commonfolk. Only centuries-old Elvaari are able to see traces of aether in the environment, and that heavily depends on their natural aspect, wisdom, and age. Some Elvaari may never be able to see aether, while others may be able to see multiple elements.

Aspects

Every living individual on Castrella is born with an aspect. This means their body is more attuned to one specific element -- the reasoning is currently unknown for certain, but scientists believe it may be a result of mixing the most potent aether in environment they were born in with their parents' aspects. It is entirely possible for two parents aspected to the same element to produce offspring aspected to a different element if the environment allows. (This is official lore talk for "do what you want with your character's element")

Aspects do not necessarily mean the individual is cursed to only learn that element's magical spells. It is entirely possible for an earth-aspected individual to learn wind magic, but it will be slightly more difficult. Aspects may also play into this individual's personality, but this is unconfirmed.

Elements

Right now, the AS Division has confirmed the existence of nine total elements in the world, split into three categories: Basic, Harmonic, and Chaotic. Each element has traits associated with its aspect, a certain shape to its aether traces, and supposed personality traits. (These, of course, are just building blocks/suggestions to compliment your OC or start a foundation!)

This section probably better serves as a synopsis, while each arcane category and element can have their own page.

Basic Elements

The basic elements are all capable of offensive and restorative spellweaving. The basic elements include: fire, water, wind, earth, and ice.

Fire

• Associated Traits: Mental Fortitude ꕀ Justice ꕀ Passion
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: Highly potent aether that clusters together in high concentration. If an element coexists in a controlled environment with fire aether, the latter will overshadow the other. Many environments have an abundance of fire aether, especially in deserts, volcanic regions, and cities.
• Usage & Handling: Fire aether take a resolute and bustling soul to control. It is one of the easier elements to handle, however, and is often introduced first in spellweaving studies. Its restorative spells involve engulfing a wound in warmth, and offensive spells involve enhancing weapons & shaping flames.
• Aspected individuals tend to be...: Prideful of their arcane competency, happy about the small things in life, competitive.

Water

• Associated Traits: Balance ꕀ Relentlessness ꕀ Deep Focus
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: Very subtle traces of aether that lingers in streams and threads. Sometimes, it can remain completely hidden and undetectable, and it takes high amounts of focus and meditation to be able to extract it correctly from its traces to cast spells. Water aether traces can be found near inland bodies of water, bogs & swamps, beaches, and farmland.
• Usage & Handling: Water aether, as mentioned beforehand, requires a lot of concentration to keep a certain flow consistent. It is a mid-difficulty element to control, and is often only taught to or learned by individuals wanting to lean into environmentalism or battle support. Its restorative spells involve submerging a wound in sparkling water, and offensive spells are rare - most are there to enhance battle abilities.
• Aspected individuals tend to be...: More thoughtful & perceptive of their surroundings, avoidant of the frontlines of battle, calm & collected.

Wind

• Associated Traits: Freedom ꕀ Dexterity ꕀ Carelessness
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: Wind aether often appears and disappears inconsistently, making it difficult to pull from. Fortunately, wind spells do not require much aether to cast. It is very abundant much like fire aether, and can be located in almost any environment known on Castrella's surface. Wind aether does not exist underground.
• Usage & Handling: Wind is the most flexible element, and supplements other elements rather well. It plays a fearsome support role rivaling water, & some wind spellweavers will dedicate their studies to enhancing other elements. Its restorative powers involve wrapping a wound in a constant gust of wind, & its offensive powers are rare - they mostly provide support.
• Aspected individuals tend to be...: nonchalant, easily entertained, readily excited to learn new things.

Earth

• Associated Traits: Sturdiness ꕀ Dedication ꕀ Guidance
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: Earth aether is tightly packed like blocks & hangs low to the ground. Despite being heavily packed, earth aether is easy to pull from, & rivals fire in ease of use. Earth aether, like wind aether, can be found almost anywhere on Castrella. On the opposite end, it cannot be found in high elevations.
• Usage & Handling: Earth is a very simple element to learn spellweaving with. Most adventurers are recommended to take courses on earth prior to their official registration if they are to be travelers. Its restorative powers involve harnessing energy from plants & applying a magical salve to wounds, & its offensive powers involve manipulating the ground to form shapes.
• Aspected individuals tend to be...: tough on the outside, gentle on the inside, & good at winning arguments.

Ice

• Associated Traits: Controlling ꕀ Stoicism ꕀ Unpredictability
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: Ice aether did not exist originally in Castrella and was only discovered by the Guild a few centuries ago. It seems to be a mutation of water aether that formed under severe conditions. Its traces are sharp and pointed, scattered in the environment like glass shards. It is difficult to locate in most environments, but so far can be found in mountains and cave systems.
• Usage & Handling: Ice aether is the most difficult element to handle. It is volatile & finicky, & inexperienced spellweavers can pose a danger to those around them. However, a master of ice should be feared and respected as their offensive abilities are second to none. Since its aether traces do not come in stable patterns, its spellweavers must take care to craft that stability. Its restorative powers involve channeling ice aether into one's hands to touch a wound and close it, & its offensive magic involves torrential assaults.
• Aspected individuals tend to be...: egotistical & pompous, or humble & quiet.

Harmonic Elements

The two harmonic elements are Light and Dark. These two elements are required to be kept in perfect balance by their representative deities else Castrella may fall into temporary ruin. Similar to the chaotic elements, it is difficult to find an individual aspected to this element, but when discovered, they are often regarded highly. Too much aether leaning to one side of the harmonic elements' balance may cause severe repercussions to ensue, dependent on which element is more abundant. There exist only a few known and practiced light or dark element spells, and they are all taught in a high-level magic course provided by the Guild.

The harmonic elements are capable of mass destruction when incorrectly handled, with no notes of restorative capabilities.

Light

• Associated Traits: Emptiness ꕀ Destruction ꕀ Beginnings
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: Requiring a harmonious balance with dark aether in the natural environment, light aether is difficult to see and feel. Think of the harmonic aether as multilayered thread entwined together. They require a lot of effort to be pulled apart and added to, but Light more easily so. Some reports say that light aether is cold and that seems into an individual's veins.
• Usage & Handling: Light aether can be used to destroy preexisting objects and matter without a trace. Courses to master light aether is only offered at the highest level of spellweavers registered in the Guild, and spells will have to be monitored due to the potential of imbalance.
• While incredibly rare, aspected individuals tend to be...: Frugal, Obsessive, Irrational

Dark

• Associated Traits: Wholeness ꕀ Creation ꕀ Conclusions
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: Requiring a harmonious balance with light aether in the natural environment, dark aether is a bit easier to notice within threads of harmonic aether. While these elements require a lot of effort to be pulled apart and added to, dark seems to be a bit "simpler," comparatively, to handle. Some reports say that dark aether is warm and inviting, but does not scratch further than the surface level of skin.
• Usage & Handling: Dark aether can be used to fill a space with completely new matter. Courses to master dark aether is only offered at the highest level of spellweavers registered in the Guild, and spells will have to be monitored due to the potential of imbalance. As of right now, there are no restorative magics associated with dark.
• While incredibly rare, aspected individuals tend to be...: Conniving, Reclusive, Impartial to Biases

Chaotic Elements

Don't be alarmed, as the Guild has everything under control! Due to extreme aetherical imbalances, certain areas on Castrella's map are corrupted with law or whimsy. Since aether is very successful at spreading into other regions, we've managed to seclude these realms into bubbles so they do not seep through to the environment and continue to corrupt our lands.

Individuals who are aspected to law or whimsy were either born within it, or had extreme exposure to it within their lives. As the ⁠The Outerworld Division typically handles the research and control regarding these realms, employees that are often dispatched to the realms of law or whimsy wear heavy PPE gear and must consume supplements to increase their resistance to aether sickness.

Law & whimsy are unnatural, & a danger to the balance of aether within the environment. Individuals with high exposure to these elements must often retreat into solitude for a certain amount of time, depending on its intensity.

The chaotic elements are capable of mass destruction when incorrectly handled, with no notes of restorative capabilities.

Whimsy

• Associated Traits: Freedom ꕀ Release ꕀ Ignorance
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: An opposing force to Law, this Aether takes its residence as a force of reality, creating pockets of Chaos & Unnatural Terrain. We are not currently sure of how this fully plays a role within the world, but it has a habit of spreading, so the Guild has taken the time to slow the corruption. Those within the area will find theirselves freed from rules & can even experience intense hallucinations.
• Usage & Handling: Whimsy Aether is used in destroying rules bounding you, at a cost. This form of freedom serves to enable you to do things beyond your normal limits. There are currently no known ways it can be used to heal.
• Aspected individuals tend to be...: Chaotic, Jovial, Impulsive

Law

• Associated Traits: Restriction ꕀ Understanding ꕀ Principle
• Aetheric Traces/Notes: An opposing force to Whimsy, this Aether takes its residence as a force of reality, creating pockets of square & constructed surfaces. We are not currently sure of how this fully plays a role within the world, but it has a habit of spreading, so the Guild has taken the time to slow the corruption. Those within the area will find theirselves bound by rules & can even experience intense hallucinations.
• Usage & Handling: Law Aether is used in establishing limitations both to yourself & others. One aspected to this will find an ability to create rules in exchange for temporary power. Its restorative power often comes with a price, however.
• Aspected individuals tend to be...: Simple-Minded, Well Groomed, & Strict.