Sundering
Contents
Introduction
The general term for manipulating Sunderscraps, Sundering also touches on the ritual hunting of mages for the Marks of Control they possess. These markings are Sundered from the very soul of the mage, resulting in Sunderscraps which are then corrupted by Magithermal Entropy into Relics, tortured artifacts notorious for the decimation of entire armies.
Sundering is new to the current age. Long ago it was the well-kept secret of the Ald’Norai, an edge that helped to dispense shock and awe as a tool of war. Since the fall of elven dominion, it has become infamous as the most amoral application of World Magic. Many regions ban Sundering with the penalty of murder without proper licensure. Others such as Daravin and the Grisic Empire cruelly endorse it.
Origin
With the fall of the Ald’Norai, their technologies were lost to flame. The passage of time brought ruin to the greatest innovations of Sundering, and soon even the knowledge to Sunder a Mark of Control was lost, and Sundering fell into obscurity for a time.
Partway through the Fragmenting Revolution of the current age, Sunderscraps slipped into existence with a shudder. The crystallized ether of a mage was rediscovered in Daravin, and Candor spread the word like wildfire. Fragmenters abroad learned of its existence and began to hypothesize its inner workings, and soon the first corrupted Relic of a new age came to be, the process co-opted by both the wielders of the Mark, and the Grisic Empire which hunted them.
Sundering Instruments
Some tools within the Sunderer's Kit are derived for the purpose of murder. Unlicensed possession of Sundering Instruments may be equated to the intent to commit murder, or even treason. Only in the Grisic Empire are these tools fully legal without license, as the practice of sacrificing mages is regulated elsewhere out of fear.
Sunderstrike: The most well-known tool of the Sunderer, a Sunderstrike is a basic tool for the conversion of a Mark of Control to a Sunderscrap. The stake is made of pure brass with a lens at the hilt, coating a sturdier material beneath that is capable of plowing through bone and musculature.
Sunderwell: This vast, deep centrifuge of dark iron is coated along the inside with hundreds of brass mirrors, then filled with Lightwater which naturally circulates into a neverending whirlpool of glowing waters. The Sunderwell is built expressly for the conversion of mages to their myriad of Sunderscraps. The Sunderwell is a rare structure that cannot be purchased. It is not a part of a Sunderer’s Kit.
Tonal Susser: A handheld claw-like contraption of black iron with deep brass engravings upon the exterior of the claw mechanism. When the claw is clutching a Sunderscrap, it will thrum with soft vibrations when within range of an active mark of control of the same kind. It is used optionally with the Sunderstrike to hasten the process of Sundering.
Sundering
Sunderscraps are produced through the act of Sundering. This entails the location and restraint of another being in possession of a Mark of Control. The point of the Sunderstrike is thrust into the heart of the mage where the Mark of Control meets the soul. This is done through the back, through the ribs, or through the sternum.
Once the heart is touched by a Sunderstrike, the mage’s arcane stamina dissipates to nothing. The body becomes steadily inoperable, the conscious victim forced to feel as their ruptured heart struggles to pump, ears ringing, eyes drawn wide with shock. Wriggling and pushing aside the ventricles of the heart for several moments, the Sunderstrike will hum violently with vibrations once it finds the traces of a Mark reaching towards the soul. The mage may choose between Marks of Control, each flaring brilliantly with light as the Sunderstrike bumps different connections.
The Mark of Control will begin to have its presence crystallized from the soul with prolonged contact by the Sunderstrike, hardening the heart into a jewel of potential, a Sunderscrap. As the mage dies, the Sunderscrap is formed embedded upon the tip of the Sunderstrike, ready to be plucked from the victim’s chest. The Tonal Susser may channel a held Sunderscrap or Relic with the same Tone to immediately crystallize a Mark of that type directly from the soul on contact with the heart, hastening this entire process from several seconds down to just a couple of heartbeats.
A Sunderwell may be employed to harvest multiple Marks of Control at once, drowning victims in churning Lightwater and crystallizing every Mark within the mage’s body in one go, the flesh and bone disintegrating to nothing except for the Sunderscrapts themselves. Once drained, the Sunderscraps in the shape of the mage’s many organs: heart, stomach, spleen, brain, lungs, kidney, liver - one for each Sunderscrap - may be retrieved. This entails the risk of parading captured mages across the countryside, often executing many at once in a public display. Sunderwells are rare objects maintained by large institutions. They cannot be purchased and must be constructed by a Master Fragmenter aware of the necessary Convergences.
Relics
Powerful artifacts of tightly bound corruption, Relics are the result of harnessing and further tainting Sunderscrap energies - Magithermal Entropy - towards specified qualities. These objects may be capable of immense fireballs, repulsion of force, or other wonders dependent upon the Sunderscrap used in its creation.
Tonality: The natural resonance of a Relic is its Tonality, the ‘Tone’ of the Relic referring to the Sunderscrap that was used to create it. This governs the strength and type of abilities it may channel, and sometimes even the weight of the object. Many Relics possess a ‘Grace Period’ indicating how long one must wait for the Tonalities to be activated in succession.
Every Relic exhibits an aura shimmering across its surface with effects detailed in the write-up for that Sunderscrap. Furthermore, the stronger its Tonality, the more the object will ‘sing’ with the qualities of that magic, offering a soft hum or even a grating screech to those in its presence, chirping ever more loudly when the abilities are actively channeled.
Structure: The structure of the Relic is dependent on the base object. This can be anything from a sword, to a piece of armor, a pair of gauntlets or a ring. Each separate object must be on one’s person in order for the Relic to channel its abilities. Darkforging will then multiply these structural values; steel will be tougher than iron provided the skill and Tonal Strength are similar. These enhancements will almost always warp or twist the object into something that looks artfully offensive.
Shattering: The destruction of a Relic is referred to as Shattering; its energies lash out violently from the broken surface in an explosion that leaves the surrounding area awash in corruption. Those caught in the blast will suffer burns as well as (1) point of Mageblight per tier of the Sunderscrap used in its Strickening.
Mercies (Tools)
The dark tools for the Sundering of Relics, Mercies are similar, yet fundamentally different to those of Fragmenting in the way they utilize Magithermal Entropy to mimic the Mark of Control through a Sunderscrap. Many Mercies serve the dual purpose of torturing people, inflicting pain and Mageblight.
Mercy Suit: The Mercy Suit is a collection of safety equipment that all Sunderers must wear. Most striking is a blackened, beak-like mask of smooth dark iron covering the entire face used to lens all facets of Magithermal Entropy towards the visual spectrum, informing the Sunderer’s actions. Upon the torso sits an apron of plated metal sheets and a thick, brass lined robe contributes even more protective layering against the corrupting energies. Unwieldy gauntlets of dense metal lined with arcane circuits are used to shield the Sunderer from the lapping tendrils of Magithermal Entropy. These are worn for nearly every process, as direct exposure will mean certain death or contamination by Mageblight.
Isotopic Chamber: A compact, pyramid-shaped forge for use with Strickening. Tiny brass mirrors line the rounded internal structure of the forge, arcane circuitry flowing behind every panel to carry the raw, Magithermal Entropy of Sunderscraps towards the tip and focus them into a beam.
Strickening Chains: Chains of alternating brass and dark iron are hung from dark iron hooks screwed into the ceiling above an Isotopic Chamber. The weapon, object, or raiment to be enchanted is bound in these chains, suspended above for the process of Strickening.
Tonal Maiden: A large man-sized cabinet of dark iron filled with an innumerable number of resonating prongs and brass focusing circuitry, a Tonal Maiden is operated by dozens of dials and levers for use with Flaying, tuning and strengthening a Relic towards its potential.
Lightwater: Derived as a byproduct from Fragmenting, Lightwater is used with Darkforging to make a Relic reel with repeated quenching, rendering it vulnerable to the Scab and Keelbrand. Sunderers must source their Lightwater from Fragmenters.
Scab: The Scab is a menacing tool of dark iron with several protrusions and bends upon the flanged, curved end. It is used with Darkforging to tweak, twist, prod, and jab a Relic to torture away its structural weakness.
Keelbrand: A pair of twisted dark iron prongs with many awful teeth, the Keelbrand is used with Darkforging to gnash sections of a Relic towards finer points, honing its sharpness.
Scaphist: The Scaphist is used with Malefaction to cast multiple Sunderscraps together using Lightwater as the catalyst. This is a spherical dark iron vessel covered in window-like dials for tweaking the energies within towards a singular essence.
Processes
Those that learn the Mercies of Sundering are usually supported by an institution or else their own desire for revenge or power, as Sundering is both expensive on the wallet and taxing on the soul. Sunderers who begin as accomplished mage hunters, artisans, and Fragmenters will have an easier time approaching this field due to the need for Sunderscraps, well made creations, and Lightwater that these trades yield. Every process in the creation of Relics ultimately makes use of at least one of these labors.
Strickening
To Stricken an object is to convert it into a Relic. Hung from Strickening Chains above, an Isotopic Chamber is fitted with a Sunderscrap and placed beneath. Magithermal Entropy will begin to circulate within before erupting as a beam of light from the top-most point of the forge. As the Sunderscrap disintegrates, its information is imparted through the corrupting beam, irradiating the object above.
The Sunderer must be wearing the Mercy Suit as they turn the would-be Relic over by hand, irradiating every possible surface with focused light as they intimately expose the object to their soul through touch. Sunderers suffer unavoidable Mageblight because of this, ascending (1) point on the Mageblight graph for every Relic created. Understudies can be invaluable resources for this reason.
There is usually enough energy in a single Sunderscrap to Stricken a large weapon, two small weapons, two gauntlets or boots, a piece of torso armor, or equivalently sized objects. The resultant Strickened Relic is dangerous but rapidly decaying, the untuned abilities subjecting those around it to moderate Mageblight at the slightest touch to bare skin. If the Sunderer fails to coat every surface in Strickened light, then the object will explode in subsequent steps. Strickening is learned at Novice.
Flaying
The process of tuning the corrupted energies of a Relic with sound, Flaying is accomplished by placing a Strickened Relic within the Tonal Maiden, then adjusting the internal prods to hold the Relic in place. The door is then shut, and the Sunderer begins to adjust the dials as necessary, reading and binding the resultant Magithermal Entropy. This process is incredibly loud, akin to screaming as dangerous energies rattle violently within the machine, threatening to explode if overtuned. The visible tendrils of corruption will begin to wrap and bind tightly to the Relic as they are Flayed before disappearing altogether, rendering it resistant to further tuning, fully functioning, and safe to wield.
Flaying allows the Sunderer to tune for Utility capabilities at Novice, and eventually they learn to impart Offensive and Defensive Tonal Types as well by Apprentice. By Expert, a Sunderer is able to halve or double the weight of a Flayed Relic purely by adjusting its Tonalities. The maximum Tonality Strength is dependent on both the skill of the Sunderer, and the tier of the Sunderscrap used. Flaying is learned at Novice.
Darkforging
Darkforging is the art form for torturing structural improvements into a Relic. Lightwater from a Fragmenter must be obtained and poured from a dark iron vessel upon the Relic, awakening its Magithermal Entropy. Once those tendrils of corruption begin to rise from the sizzling surface, the Darkforger may take the Scab to twist, prod, bend, stab, and strike the corruption into submission until the object is far more durable than normal. Similarly, the Keelbrand may be used to squeeze and stretch the points and edges of the Relic and its corruption to render them more deadly. Both tools horribly disfigure a Relic, contorting its surfaces and edges into twisted abominations of uneven bends, pock marks, dimples, and angles.
The Relic hardens itself towards Lightwater faster the weaker the Tonality Strength is, becoming impervious to further change without Shattering. The amount of additional sharpness and structural improvement a Sunderer may impart upon a Relic is directly tied to skill and the tier of Sunderscrap. Only a Master may Darkforge a Relic that appears without disfigurement.
Malefaction
The merging of Sunderscraps for the purpose of imbuing Relics with multiple properties, Malefaction is performed with the Scaphist by inserting up to three Sunderscraps within the device and drowning them in Lightwater. The energies within are then manipulated by dials to harmonize the Sunderscraps until they begin to melt and crystallize with the surrounding waters. The result is a spherical, artificial Sunderscrap with the tonalities of each. Three of the same mundane Sunderscrap can create an Artificial Sunderscrap of the next tier, and Artificial Sunderscraps are impervious to further merging.
Relics made with multiple Sunderscraps merged into one tend to ‘sing’ more loudly than their counterparts, and one made with several powerful mages could be deafening to the point of nausea in its presence without being encased by additional shielding.
Progression
Novice
A Novice Sunderer is often someone of questionable morality. They will spend their time hunting and learning about newly initiated mages and the many Marks and Sunderscraps derived from them. They will use Sunderscraps to learn Strickening and Flaying, operating the Isotopic Chamber and Tonal Maiden under the watchful guise of a mentor to avoid disaster in the creation of their first Relic.
At this stage, they may only impart Utility Tonality upon a Relic, unable to progress beyond T1 Tonal Strength. It is no more durable than a normal item, and thus faces the heightened risk of being Shattered.
Apprentice
Apprentice Sunderers begin to study the art of Darkforging and its intricacies, seeking out Fragmenters for coveted Lightwater. They have a more detailed understanding of Strickening and Flaying, the risks to them mitigated through experience. As a hunter, they can begin to operate the Tonal Susser with some measure of success provided they have the correct Sunderscrap, allowing them to specialize in hunting specific types of mages.
An Apprentice Sunderer is capable of imparting T2 Tonal Strength from T2 Sunderscraps, and they may begin to impart Offensive or Defensive Tonality types. Darkforged Relics from T2 Sunderscraps are half again as sturdy and sharp as the original item.
Journeyman
As a Sunderer begins to fill the shoes of a Journeyman, they have become menaces to the mages around them, often sickened with Mageblight from several Strickenings. They begin to dabble with Malefaction, merging Sunderscraps together to create Relics with multiple Tonalities.
The Journeyman Sunderer may impart T3 Tonal Strength from T3 Sunderscraps, and their Darkforged Relics from T3 Sunderscraps are twice as sturdy and sharp as the original item.
Expert
The Expert Sunderer is often a true wretch of Mageblight. They are sought by many, either to be a patron of their craft, to employ them as a torturer and hunter of mages, or to bring about their end. At this point, a Sunderer’s skill with the Tonal Maiden is so remarkable that they are able to Flay half the very weight from an item, or else double it. Their Darkforged items can begin to look somewhat normal, if still villainous.
Expert Sunderers may impart T4 Tonal Strength from T4 Sunderscraps, and their Darkforged Relics from T4 Sunderscraps are three times as sturdy and sharp as the original item.
Master
The Master Sunderer is a strange thing. Perhaps a dozen in the entire world openly admit their existence, and many of them are Blighted or other abominations. The scarce few that serve the Omen of Lorien, the Grisic Empire, or the Daravinic Entente are the disfigured and rotting husks of men and elves conspiring to bring about the downfall of powerful mages. Their Relics can be as beautiful as the sins enacted to create them, throbbing with their auras and singing powerfully with haunting melodies. The Tonal Abilities these Relics wield are capable of true wonder or utter catastrophe.
Master Sunderers may impart T5 Tonal Strength from T5 Sunderscraps, and their Darkforged Relics from T5 Sunderscraps are five times as sturdy and sharp as the original item.
