Sundering

Introduction

In some sense, Sundering is very new to the world. It has existed for thousands of years in reserved elven laboratories and smithies, but its innovators did not share their knowledge with any outside of their own for the entirety of the time they commanded it. It was their well-kept secret, an edge on the rest of the world that helped keep the Ald'Norai ahead of the competition, and it served them best as a tool of war. Since the elven domination of the craft, it has grown both in popularity and infamy as one of the most lucrative and immoral applications of Arcanacrags.

Sundering is the general term for tampering with Sunderscraps, but heavily revolves around the concept of hunting and sacrificing those that command Marks of Control and using their power in the creation of Relics; powerful artifacts that can command tremendous might and decimate armies. Because of this, many regions ban Sundering with the penalty of murder (unless sufficient licensing is achieved) and monitor its practitioners very closely.

Origin

Shortly after the manipulation of Arcanacrags became widely available to the Ald'Norai, the Sunderscrap was discovered, and from that, more types of Fragments and greater magical technologies soon followed. The Ald'Norai were the greatest users of Sundering in all of history, millennia ahead of the rest of the world's knowledge. They possessed powerful Relics and a means of purifying, refining, and even farming Sunderscraps; massive swaths of slaves were initiated with the intent of being harvested to fuel their Sundering. At their peak, they created powerful artifacts that have persisted through to the Age of Industry.

With their fall, their technologies and innovations were lost, utterly destroyed in the flames of war as no more than 'Elven Trinkets' in the eyes of their executioners. The passage of time brought ruin to most of their research on Sundering, and when the knowledge that was to Secure and collect a Mark of Control from a subject was lost, so too was the art of Sundering. The craft vanished from the world for a time, broken by the vengeful wroth of humanity.

Modern Methods

Partway through the Fragmenting Revolution, Sunderscraps slipped quietly into existence. The crystallized ether of a mage was discovered in Daravin, and though the existence of such a thing was tried for secrecy, the workings of the Candor found the truth, and word spread like wildfire. Fragmenters all over the world learned of its existence and began to hypothesize how something could come to be, and what its applications might entail. And with their reserves of knowledge and research, they found the answers they sought in the form of Relics.

A new branch of Fragmenting was founded. Sundering, as it was called, was built with a focus on mage hunting, and the gathering of Sunderscraps by extension. Grisic's Fragmenters saw the most growth in this practice, and because they didn't care for the well-being of mages that were executed in the acquisition of the Sunderscraps, no innovations toward the longevity or sparing of the Donor Mage were looked for, but only greater tools purposed for the murder and cannibalization of a mage's ether.

The weapons and armor created through Sundering changed the tides of war and decimated opponents that relied on steel and bullet alone. Quickly, it was established that Grisic's innovations in the efficiency of extraction and destruction of mages were a superior means of obtaining Sunderscraps, and the wild arms race that was the Sundering Revolution hit its head.

Now, Sundering is the common name for the practice. Countries, scholars, politicians, and peasants are usually divided politically on the practice, as some regard it as a World Magic, and others, a blasphemous misuse of the Mark of Control. It is both lucrative and dangerous to study, both for the potential of wealth within the soul of the Mage, and the perils of engaging such dangerous wielders of Ether in combat.

Tools

Some of the tools used in Sundering are primarily used in the art of Fragmenting but can be repurposed for the sake of shaping the extremely durable and tough nature of Imbued metal. Other tools will usually need to be purchased in less-reputable rings, or crafted by the Sunderer themself. The intent of a Sunderer's kit is to murder another for-profit and seldom serves any other purpose. Depending on the region, unlicensed possession of a Sunderer's kit can be considered upwards of pre-meditated murder, and even treason. Grisic is perhaps the most famous of the exceptions to this rule, where the hunting and murder of Mages are encouraged large scale.

• All the descriptions below are in nature of the tool's appearance and its general purpose in the art of Fragmenting. For more detailed uses and the processes these tools are involved with, please refer to the Processes section beneath.

Fragment Catalogue: A staple in any Sunderer's kit is some form of documentation to record the applications and uses of all Sunderscraps obtainable. While this is not a magical item, it's well known by any that dabble with Fragments that such documentation is completely necessary.

Shaping Bench: A large anvil of black iron, almost akin to a table in its size, often carved and engraved with golden-brass lining on the faces where work is not performed. A peddle is usually built into the foot of the Bench to allow for ease of control. Generally, it is used to reshape Arcanacrags. When used in the context of Sundering, however, the Shaping Bench helps eliminate dozens of hours in the process of shaping Imbued metal.

Dividing Rod: The tool is a single metal pick-like object, akin to a heavy black iron chisel in appearance, but with a brass core that can be seen through engravements in the body. The Inlays, which shine a shade of metallic gold, end right before the sharpened tooth of the tool. A small dial is usually affixed to the head of the chisel, where a hammer would strike on a Mundane tool, which can be used to alter the time that the loop cut it produces remains active. While this is primarily used as a Fragmenter's tool, it also serves to help the splitting of a clump of Imbued metal when used in conjunction with the Shaping bench.

The Etherforge: An enormous tower-like contraption that stands as a necessity in any Sunderer's kit. Akin to a blast furnace in shape and design, but often built with a door that yields access to a cavity within the trunk and a single faucet with a fixture for a hose. The Etherforge is used primarily in the art of Fragmenting but also aids in the creation of Relics by evenly granulating Sunderscraps and generating Sunderdust.

Sunderstrike: The tool that will undoubtedly land an unlicensed practitioner on the chopping block if they're discovered with it. The Sunderstrike most commonly appears as a stake of pure brass with a lens at the hilt. The brass is a coating for a sturdier material, capable of breaking through bone. Sunderstrike is used in the conversion of mages to Sunderscraps. It is named for the process in which a mage's Marks of Control are Sundered from their soul.

Shimmertrough: This dark iron barrel or vat is engraved with a series of brass veins that extend from a broad brass plate at the bottom of the structure. It creates a substance known as Shimmershine, which is created by pouring water and Sunderdust into the tool, and leaving it to process for twenty-four hours. While Shimmershine is primarily used in Refinement and Purification to protect the Fragmenter from corruption, it is a necessity in the creation of Relics; Shimmershine in this context is used for Quenching Imbued metals and finalizing the creation of a Relic.

Founding Vessels: These crucibles come in a variety of sizes for the completion of different jobs. The inner lining is always a metal with a higher melting point, while the outer shell (or the casing) is a dark iron with a specific grind of Brass Inlays through the body that's designed for heat vectoring. They are a necessary tool in casting Relics as they hold the ability to make Sunderscraps Soluble in Molten Metal.

Casting Molds: Casting molds usually take the form of cast iron crates of various sizes with brass inlays of various designs and complexities. They usually bare a single seam that runs the whole way around with hinges to hold the two halves in place. A single funnel extends from one end of the Casting Mold, which can be used for pouring Imbued Metal into more complex, three-dimensional shapes. The appearance of the inside varies based on what the Sunderer has forged with mundane metals and placed there, which depends on what is being cast.

Processes

Those that delve into Sundering are normally fairly experienced with very few shortcomings in terms of skill. The processes below reflect that skill and knowledge, as all Sunderers are accomplished smiths and Fragmenters.

Sundering

Sunderscraps are produced through Sundering and are later used in the process of Imbuement and Casting. While this is fairly straightforward, it does come with some complexities that the Sunderer will need to overcome in order to fully utilize the process.

The only tool needed for the process is the Sunderstrike. However, the Sunderer also needs to locate, and usually (but not necessarily) restrain another being with a Mark of Control. To aid with Locating the mage, a kit of Tonal Resonators is infinitely valuable.

The point of the Sunderstrike must first be thrust into the heart of the mage, where the soul rests. This can be done through the back, through the ribs, or through the sternum if the Sunderer is strong enough to break through the bone. The gem at the pommel of the Sunderstrike will begin to glow at its core when a soul is found, which usually only takes a few seconds depending on the closeness of the point to the center of the heart.

The victim will find their strength waining unnaturally quickly. Signals from the brain to specific body parts that would otherwise command movement become interrupted and spotty with most attempts to move only partially succeeding. Speed and strength are very quickly sapped from the victim until they're rendered utterly paralyzed with muscles that tense and lock them in place. The victim is still conscious and aware at this point, usually only ten seconds after being impaled.

When complete paralysis is achieved, the Sunderer will have the opportunity to peer into the gem at the pommel of Sunderstrike, which is fully illuminated when complete paralysis is achieved. Within the gem, the soul is visible as a core of light that radiates with different intensities and subtle colors depending on the variety of marks and claims attached to the soul. Various strings and webs litter the outer reaches of the soul, and some of these root-like strings lead to specific marks around the body of the mage. More potent marks have more complicated, surging roots that branch in all sorts of directions, like a sprawling system of roots that course through the body whereas weaker marks have more linear, direct, undeveloped roots that are much easier to find without getting lost.

The Sunderer is able to map their way through the victim's soul by touching the gem to follow the indicated roots toward specific Marks of Control. When a Mark is Located, it will glow as its own ball of light with root-like capillaries reaching in all directions, but a major artery of luminescent ether reaching toward the direction of the soul. The Sunderer needs only to hold a digit on the mark for two seconds to Secure it, where the light will become luminescent green, and the path toward the soul will also become enveloped with that same emerald green hue. When the Mark is secured, the Sunderer needs only to trail their way back to the soul and search for more paths to other Marks of Control.

Altogether, the mage has around sixty seconds to locate and Secure as many Marks of Control as the victim possesses. After which, the Sundering process ends.

All through the ordeal, the victim will feel their body hardening with impossible weight and stiffness. Their diaphragm will eventually fail to pull air into their lungs. Their vision will fill streaks of blurs and floaters, like the mess on the lens of glasses, and pressure will gradually build in their heads. Before unbearable pain and anguish overcome them, their ability to feel altogether is removed, followed by their sense of taste, smell, hearing, and vision. Death follows shortly after, most victims utterly unaware of what has become of them.

Gradually, the body of the victim is converted into jagged crystalline structures known as Sunderscraps. The body begins to shrink as more and more of it is gradually converted to crystal. As they near a critical point of density, the warped formations of crystal are very vaguely reminiscent of body parts in their shape with little to no features to separate hands from shoulders. It's around this point that the Fragment will break apart and produce a Sunderscrap for every Mark that was Secured. Other parts form Markless Sunderscraps, which can be ground to dust as fuel for the Etherforge and the Shimmertrough.

Imbuement

Imbuement transfers the power of a Sunderscrap to the Sunderer's chosen metal. This is an important step in the creation of Relics; most Sunderers are well versed in Metallurgy and Smithing because Sunderscraps cannot imbue other materials. High-quality steels and other strong, durable metals are used in the process as Sundered gear is often priced on the quality of the metalwork.

The Sunderer needs access to a Sunderscrap, a metal of their choice, Markless Sunderscraps, the Founding Vessels, and the Etherforge.

First, the Markless Sunderscrap must be crushed and ground to a fine grain, similar to salt's consistency. This is achievable with a Mortar and Pestle as Markless Sunderscraps are brittle in nature. This creates a substance known as Sunderdust, which is used as fuel for the granulation process in the Ether Forge.

With Sunderdust in the fuel port of the Etherforge, the Sunderscrap used for Imbuing should be placed in the Ether Forge. When the Etherforge is ignited, the Sunderscrap will be granulated and reduced to a similar consistency as the Sunderdust used as fuel. The Sunderer's chosen metal should be melted in a mundane forge, then poured into a Founding Vessel of appropriate proportions. It's ill-advised to try and melt the metal in the Founding Vessel as most desirable metals have a higher melting point than the brass Inlays of the Founding Vessel.

The molten metal is kept in its molten state by the Founding Vessel, as regulated by the Arcanacrag technology that has was used in its creation. It's even safe to hold the outside of the Founding Vessel while it's filled with molten steel, thousands of degrees in temperature, and the surface will be no warmer than the air around a lit fireplace.

The granulated Sunderscrap must be poured into the molten metal within the founding vessel, where they will sink beneath the surface of the metal. It's only in this precise circumstance that the Sunderscrap becomes soluble and dissolves under the molten surface. It's for this reason that the Sunderscrap must be ground to dust, as larger chunks might take longer to dissolve, which leads to severe impurities and weak points in the Relic. Some Sunderers will even leave the Founding Vessel to work overnight to be completely sure that there are no impurities in the final product.

The ideal ratio of Sunderscrap and metal for optimally strong Relics is 1 part Sunderscrap and seven parts metal.

Casting

Casting is the creation of Relics, otherwise known as Sundered Gear. Because most metals used in the creation of Relics are incredibly durable, a lot of them also have exceptionally high boiling points. While achieving heats of that magnitude is no mean feat, it's also imperative to ensure that the metal doesn't cool too quickly after it has been imbued as the metal can shrink, crack, and warp. That is where the casting mold becomes infinitely valuable.

To Cast a Relic, the Sunderer needs access to a Casting Mold and the Shimmer Trough. The inner section of the Casting mold is usually interchangeable with whatever the Sunderer is trying to create, and can be made from iron in the desired shape with mundane smithing tools. The Shaping Bench and Dividing Rod should also be used, but aren't completely necessary.

If the Relic being cast is of a simple shape, then the mold should be laid flat and open. If a relic with a specific shape, dip, or curve is being Cast, then the Mold should be closed and stood with the funnel upright. When the mold is prepared, the Sunderer will need to pour the molten Imbued metal into the cast either through the funnel or the deepest point of the Mold until it's full.

The Casting Mold will regulate the heat loss for the Imbued metal and will ensure that the heat loss is gradual by draining the heat from the iron template and recycling it into the air and back into the Imbued Metal.

From there, the creation of the Relic is largely dependent on the Mage's Smithing skill; Their ability to temper, quench, grind and shape the metal is the only limiting factor from there.

Shaping, Cutting & Quenching

The Shaping Bench will allow ease of shaping extraordinarily tough Imbued metal when it has advanced to the white stage. The peddle must be pressed and held while the Imbued Metal is atop the Shaping Bench. It will begin to glow amber, then gold, then white. It's only after the Relic has accumulated the Apex of the Shaping Bench's energy that it becomes easy to shape with the likes of a mundane smithing hammer or a whetstone.

The Imbued metal can be cut freely with the Dividing Rod as many times as the Sunderer wishes while it's in the white stage upon the Shaping Bench, but the smaller portion will lose the imbuement as a result. This enables the creation of smaller Relics that retain the potency of larger Relics, for example, a ring-sized Relic will have just as much potency as that of a war hammer if they're imbued with the same Sunderscrap.

When all the adjustments, bevels, and sharpened edges are made, the Relic will need to be quenched while red-hot in the Shimmertrough, which will vaporize most of the oil in the container, rapidly cool the Relic, and strengthen it with the Sunderdust in the solution. Once the Relic has been quenched in the Shimmertrough, it cannot sustain damage that breaks away more than ten percent of its total mass or the Imbuement will be lost forever.

Relic Abilities

Common Relic attributes are listed below; these apply to all Relics, regardless of their potency or type. The specific descriptions of the Relic's Tonalities are listed in the Variants section of the Sunderscrap write-up.

Tonalities: The Tone that manifests in a Relic largely depends on the intent of the Sunderer during Casting. For example, if the Relic is forged with the intent to cause harm, the Relic's Tone will manifest with more offensive capabilities. If the Relic is built with the intent to protect, the Tone will manifest with greater defensive capabilities. If there is no greater desire to do harm or protect in the Sunderer's will, the Relic's Tone will manifest in similar means with no discernable offensive or defensive abilities, but a combination of both or neither. These are often regarded as Tertiary or Utility Relics.

Strength: All Relics are extraordinarily physically strong. For example, if a lump of steel is processed by a Sunderer, and half that lump of steel is fashioned into a Mundane sword and the other half is Imbued with the power of a Sunderscrap, the Imbued steel sword will cut through the mundane weapon even though both are fashioned with equal quality steel and equal smithing skill. The addition of a Sunderscrap to a metal etherically increases its durability and hardness twofold. This makes them extraordinarily difficult to work with mundane smithing tools, but also assures that the wear and tear of regular use doest destroy them.

Sharpness: Relics with a sharpened edge will seldom blunt as a result of the extraordinary toughness they display as a universal quality. Striking coarse, unyielding surfaces like the face of a cliff might result in blunting if struck frequently or with reckless abandon. In such cases, an insignificant portion of the Relic is destroyed to make the edge narrow once more. Over time, this can result in the loss of the Imbuement and has occurred with some of the oldest Relics developed with modern Sundering.

Weight: Relics are a little lighter than the mundane counterparts of the metal they were forged with, this is due to the lower density of the Sunderscrap, which, when combined with the sturdier metal used in the Imbuement of the Relic, comes out just slightly lighter.

Sound: When a Relic encounters the resistance of the air, it hums with a specific tone unique to the Relic's strength and the type of Sunderscrap that was used in its creation. This tone can be deciphered with an Appraisal Skill of 75 or more and may be used to evaluate the strength of a Relic without a live demonstration.

Overlay: The completion of a Relic leaves a finish that will uniquely resemble the Magic the imbued Sunderscrap. As the potency of the Relic scales, this effect becomes more and more obvious, some of which yield auras that tell of their dangerous potential, and make it very difficult to conceal such Relics.

Impact

When the first Sunderscrap was discovered in Daravin, Grisic's Fragmenters were quick to learn of its true nature. With sufficient funding and a bounty of research, they created the first modern Sunderstrike as a means of converting mages into usable Sunderscraps. The discovery of the Sunderscrap has largely affected countries like Grisic and Lorien where magic is feared and detested. To some, it stands as a beacon of hope that the mortal man can hope to fight the evils of the Mark of Control on equal ground.

That same anti-mage, anti-religious sentiment seems to follow the practice through its applications in all cultures. Many Sunderers are driven by their bitter hatred of mages; these Sunderers often revel in their toxicity as a form of strength, as though their resentment of the Mark of Control spurs them on. Many others describe the act of Sundering another as an appropriate means of asserting justice. This mentality attracts those with vendettas against mages and Gods, and only further adds to the toxic, hateful culture that is most Sunderers.

The Relics they create have the potential to change the tides of war, alter climates, erase ecosystems and obliterate opponents of considerable strength. That is to say that this application of Arcanacrags is not without its own self-made demons, as many view the practice with fear and uncertainty.

Progression

Novice

The Novice Sunderer should invest a lot of time developing their Dexterity and Perception, as the craft demands a lot of attention to detail and a keen eye. Knowledge of specific Fragments and their effects are very much vital for the Sunderer’s development. Research should be conducted on the physical properties of Arcanacrags and their safe handling practices. Many of the stones react poorly with biology and should be treated with care. All the dangers of Arcanacrags, corruption, poor handling, and the like are studied early on in the Sunderer’s career, and various other processes are taught afterward. The inner-workings of an Arcanacrag, Fractals and their relation to Melding, the complexities of Inlays and Mounting are all learned after the Novice has retained the most basic safety procedures, as one wrong move can doom both the Novice and the Master. Traditionally, the end of their preliminary training involves a written test and some mock demonstrations using wooden replicas of tools and Arcanacrags.

Untraditionally, learning Sundering without the aid of a tutor is immensely difficult. Even the most comprehensive written guides are steeped in terms and jargon that anyone unfamiliar with the practice is unlikely to understand. Harsh failure, the danger of death, disfigurement, mageblight, and endless trial and error pave the way for the novice that learns without the aid of a more experienced practitioner, but they should find themselves with the ability to Imbue and Cast Novice-level Relics, refine Arcanacrags from tier 2 to Tier 1, and reshape Arcanacrags with some minor deviance to their original shape. The Novice is also able to Sunder marks of Novice quality. Purification is also plausible for the Novice, but even so much as the slightest oversight can result in the destruction of themselves and/or their workshop. Players that pursue Sundering without the aid of a mentor are expected to gain at least six mageblight in their time as a novice and either destroy all their tools at least once or suffer severe injuries (repairable with Necromancy) from misuse of tools and poor handling of corruption.

Apprentice

It's after the Novice has proven their retention of basic safety procedures, the outlines of processes, and the translations of all the terms that Sunderers use on a day-to-day basis that the tutor will allow the aspiring world mage to attempt working with live Arcanacrags. Before such can be achieved, the apprentice will need to learn the workings of live tools, and display sufficient knowledge and understanding to begin. The first Arcanacrags an apprentice will usually touch are those with minuscule effects that do not react harshly toward biology. Most lessons will revolve around the safe-handling of Arcanacrags during shaping and cutting. Purification and refinement are supervised with a close eye, but the apprentice can manage such alterations to the Fractal that advance the properties of the stone from Tier three efficiency to Tier one with relative ease. The basics of each process are covered, and the tutor gradually peels away from their apprentice's work with scaling reassurance that the budding Sunderer can handle themself.

If the lone wolf still has yet to cave to the endless misfortune that befalls them at this point in their journey, they will be able to refine Arcanacrags from Tier three to Tier one, reshape Arcanacrags to a significant degree, Imbue and Cast Relics of Apprentice quality or lower, and Sunder Apprentice-level Marks. The aspiring mage will likely start to get an idea of what it means to be safe with the Arcanacrags. Players that pursue Sundering without the aid of a tutor are expected to gain at least three points of Mageblight and destroy three pieces of Sundering equipment in their time as an apprentice.

Journeyman

By the time the apprentice can be considered a Journeyman Artificer, they are able to perform most processes without the aid of their mentor, and even without their supervision. It's possible that the mage will have been instructed heavily on the process of Sundering and should be able to Sunder marks of Journeyman strength without too much hassle (Apprentice and lower will yield with incredible ease). Purification and Melding still require heavy oversight, but they're not impossible for the Journeyman Sunderer to achieve. It's at this stage that the Sunderer can be comfortable in their position with few problems and processes that they require their tutor's guidance on. Journeyman Sunderers are the bog-standard, middle-lane practitioners of their field.

It's at this point that the self-taught Sunderer has usually mapped out most causes of corruptive infection and can safely perform most processes without disastrous consequences. There is little difference between the self-taught Sunderer and the Mentored Journeyman at this point. The quality of the lone wolf's work is still subpar to the student that learned from a Master, but only slightly. Arcanacrags can be Shaped and Cut with very significant deviance to their original shape, Marks of Journeyman quality and lower can be mapped with some degree of ease if the user has encountered any mages, and Purification almost never results in corruption floods. Melding is still very dangerous, but the Sunderer is likely to have a good idea of what they need to do and what to watch out for. Players that opt to learn Sundering without the aid of a Mentor are expected to gain at least one point of Mageblight in their time as a Journeyman and botch their first attempt of Melding.

Expert

Expert Sunderers are likely renowned in their areas as 'good at what they do', unless, of course, the world mage's intent is to remain secretive about their occupation. They can produce Relics of Expert quality or lower with the power of Casting and Imbuing, and are likely to have created many potent Relics. They understand all processes with detail and can create some very specifically shaped Arcanacrags with just about any requested dimensions. The lone wolf is likely to still struggle with melding at this point, as even the mentored practitioner is unable to successfully complete every Melding, but both know the danger signs and proper procedures for when such disaster strikes. Some experts might take on Novices of their own, but despite all their knowledge, they're still learning the properties of Arcanacrags, and the complexities of Fractals.

Master

In common day-to-day operations, there isn't much that sets the Master ahead of the Expert, but when it comes to knowledge of Arcanacrags, their appearance, their effects, the shape of their fractals and the achievable effects that come with Melding them, the Master dwarfs the Expert. There's almost nothing that the master doesn't know about any given Fragment, and all the complex roots of a Master Mark can easily be navigated and captured by extension, though not all Sunderers ever get the chance to Sunder a Master Mark of Control because of the mage's power and the obscurity of such a thing. The master is able to innovate better tools, and even created tools of their own to sell for a profit. The master is also likely to charge through the nose for lessons in Sundering with a few dedicated novices to teach at any given time. Some Masters are capable of creating Relics with multiple Imbuements, but these individuals are so very few and far between.

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