Sundering
Contents
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. Outside the elven domination of the craft, it was vastly used as a primitive means of aiding in survival, and an odd novelty that sat in treasuries gathering dust.
Sundering is the general term for tampering with Fragments, though it has carried many different names in the past. The practice is often viewed as controversial, even on an individual basis, for its ability to harness Arcanacrags but also the creation of Sunderscraps. While some countries condone the execution of mages that the darker side of Sundering necessitates, others aggressively rebuke all aspects of the craft for that reason, and the relentless pollution of the ecosystem on all levels, and seek retribution against all its practitioners. Regardless of the stance a country might take on Sundering it cannot be denied that the benefits the Sunderer provides are revolutionary.
A lot like Necromancy, Sundering has held back the world on the exploration of traditional sciences, as the convenience of Fragments has historically fulfilled the need to innovate new technologies. That was until the craft withdrew into obscurity as the populations of Mortal races grew, and eventually returned to the world when corrupted Adac began to appear after the Bleeding of Venedak.
Origin
It should come as no surprise to any that know them that the Ald'Norai were the first to unlock the hidden potential in Sundering. Arlain, previously known as Indorin, the homeland of the Ald'Norai, is rich in copper and zinc, both metals used in the creation of Brass, a metallic alloy similar to gold in appearance. Though largely inexpensive and plentiful, the alloy made the perfect conductor for the magical effects that Arcanacrags could produce. Early tools were made entirely from brass and later evolved to transfer the effects through less conductive metals like iron and steel. It was during this time that Indorin began an inquest for the collection of the finite resource that was Arcanacrags.
Shortly after the manipulation of Arcanacrags became widely available to the Ald'Norai, the Sunderscrap was soon 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 destroyed most of their knowledge and research on Sundering, and when the knowledge that was to maintain and repair their great forges was lost, so too did their tools fade into obscurity, and eventually, extinction.
Modern Methods
Fragmenting was the original name of the art as it dealt solely in the application of Arcanacrags, which was the only Fragment in existence for the majority of history. It is well known that Fragmenting was made by no intention of the Gods, and instead came to be when the first Hyr'Norai discovered the crystalized remains of Noradac and all the wild and bizarre properties they had. They were plentiful at the beginning of mortal existence but became rare and obscure as the Mortals became more populace. The stones that provided such comfort and convenience were very finite, and only so many had been discovered. As such, Fragmenting gradually tapered from a common life skill that nearly every mortal knew and practiced, to a specialized art that very few understood or even knew about.
Then, everything changed after The Bleeding of Venedak. It was discovered that Noradac, the Spirits, became Arcanacrags when they were slain. A series of great hunts were launched over a period of only fifty years, and Arcanacrags were placed in the hands of ambitious scholars and scientists. With a much higher floor of education than early society, as well as better advances in metallurgy, these scholars discovered alternative uses for the Arcanacrags. The Fragments that were once considered to be indestructible, could be manipulated and altered to bend and shape other Arcanacrags to the will of the crafter through the use of Brass as a conductor.
These Scholars, or Fragmenters as they were named at the time, created specialized tools that could bend and shape Arcanacrags as they saw fit. Anvils and hammers capable of doing so became common in the castles of kings and the palaces of emperors. When Arch Hollows were discovered, and the supply of Arcanacrags only grew as rulers and usurpers sought to claim control of them where they appeared, Fragmenters only innovated more and more with the crystallized essences, and eventually discovered means of refining and purifying the corrupted fragments collected from the Hollows.
As new technologies and applications of Arcanacrags began to explode in popularity, 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. Lorien'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 Lorien'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. Scholars are usually divided politically on the art, 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 as a Fragmenter and a Sunderer for various reasons.
Tools
Though all the tools used in Sundering are created by manipulating Arcanacrags and brass alloy, it is much easier to create these tools with ready-made and available Sundering tools. The process can be compared to creating a frigate with naught but hand tools and raw materials versus a lumber mill to accurately and quickly cut lumber into the required sizes, and a forge to shape the nails and fittings. It's for this reason that most Sunderers see it as a much more worthwhile investment to simply purchase their tools from another Sunderer, who can create tools with much greater ease.
All the descriptions below are in nature of the tool's appearance and its general purpose in the art of Sundering. 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 the Arcanacrags and Sunderscraps in the world. While this is not a magical item, it is strongly recommended to just about every aspiring novice that they start one of these as soon as possible.
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 conjunction with the Dividing Rod and the Welding Hammer, it has the potential to split and meld fragments. Without the addition of those tools, however, Fragments altered on the Shaping Bench must retain the same mass and take more time to alter without experience. The Shaping bench also makes it much easier to shape Imbued Metal, which is almost too tough to work for mundane smithing tools.
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. It can be used to cut Fragments into smaller, more manageable pieces 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 in multiple processes including, but not limited to, the creation of Relics, Purification, and Granulation.
Welding Hammer: Another tool that must be used in conjunction with the Shaping Bench is a large, brass-engraved hammer. It's often used as a means of combining Arcanacrags to achieve a variety of creations. The Hammer itself is normally designed for one-handed use, short with a larger flat head; the surface of which is usually dark iron in contrast to the brass engravements that line the body.
Sunderstrike: The tool that revolutionized modern Fragmenters and infamously dubbed them 'Sunderers'. 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.
Hacking Bellows: A large set of Bellows that are usually made with a white material that's easily stained to help inform the Sunderer of potential problems. The interior of the bellows is where an Arcanacrag tool is hidden, which can be used in the process of Purification by extracting corruption.
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 ground Markless Sunderscrap shards into the tool, and leaving it to process for twenty-four hours. Shimmershine can be used to retain the toxicity of an Arcanacrag for use in refinement, as well as protect the Sunderer from excessive exposure to corruption. In the creation of Relics, Shimmershine can be used for tempering and enhancing the toughness of Imbued Metals.
Fixing glass: The tool comes in a variety of designs, but most often appears as a spyglass with a bright green lense. While it can in theory appear as a monocle, a set of goggles, binoculars, and even a magnifying glass, the working lense will always appear bright fluorescent green with a brass rim wrapped around it. The tool allows the Sunderer to Refine and Meld Arcanacrags by correcting and merging Fractals.
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
Just about anyone can take up the tools of the trade and begin tampering with the dangerous carcinogens known as Arcanacrags, but very few will survive without knowledge of the different processes and the risks associated with them. Arcanacrags are very volatile and sensitive, with the most corrupt variants exploding on contact with so much as a warm breath. To that end, the processes listed below should be read with a mind for safety and security.
More difficult processes, or those that involve greater risk for harm, shouldn't be performed by the Novice or the Apprentice as they require a thorough understanding of the Arcanacrags they're working with, as well as knowledge of the force they should be using and correct timings that are learned with experience. Any player that defies this warning will be expected to fail with spectacular consequences or be subject to Mod Intervention, as this may be a gross oversight of Sundering's lore or abuse of the open progression system.
Shaping & Cutting
Shaping & Cutting are the most simple processes in Sundering, but also one of the most beneficial. Before the shaping and cutting of Arcanacrags were available, handheld tools that wielded their power were inconceivable unless one was lucky enough to obtain a fragment that was naturally of the correct size and shape. The development of the Shaping Bench and the Dividing rod revolutionized Sundering, and have made way to a variety of other processes. In a sense, this is the root of all Sundering's potential.
Arcanacrags are infamously indestructible despite the chaotic bursts of power they release when struck, and cannot be reshaped or split by regular means. This property necessitated the creation of the Shaping bench and the Dividing Rod.
Objects placed on the Shaping Bench gradually accumulate heat, which alter the hue of the object as time progresses. This can be controlled by the peddle built into the foot of the Shaping Bench if the model has one, as putting pressure on the step will activate the Bench and begin the accumulation of power in the object that retains constant contact with the working face of the Bench. The three stages of Power are as follows.
The Arcanacrag will accumulate heat and begin a warm amber in color, which then escalates to a vibrant gold before the outlines of the object appear to blur with light, and the body of the object turns a spectacular glowing white. The time spent in each stage can be juggled by pressing the peddle attached to the Shaping Bench and releasing the pressure to cool the Fragment.
The correct stage for shaping the Arcanacrag is when the Fragment is glowing Amber. At this stage, there will be a protective cushion of air around the Fragment that will prevent direct transference of kinetic energy to the Arcanacrag but will still allow the shaping of the Fragment's Structure as if the crystal structure was struck by phantom blows. The Sunderer will need to use a well-made mundane hammer to strike the protective skin of the Fragment as the protective cushion is hard enough to break materials of strength lower than tempered steel.
The protective layer of air is lost when the Fragment advances to the second stage, which more often brief on the Fragment's journey to stage three, but it's at this stage that the Sunderer is able to gently tap the fragment with the tip of the dividing rod to form an etheric band all the way around the section of the Fragment. The band will always take the shortest path around the Fragment and will always create a perfect loop around the fragment.
The Sunderer will have a window that depends on the attached dial to check the band, which acts as a sort of preview for the actual cut before they either allow the band to dissipate or gently tap the same spot a second time to safely cut the fragment all the way through. There is no limit to how many times a Fragment can be cut, but its area of effect becomes more and more limited the smaller it is made.
A Sunderer cannot Cut an Arcanacrag when the Fragment is glowing amber due to the protective shield that surrounds it, and the energies in an Arcanacrag when it's glowing White are much too volatile to Shape or Cut; attempting such will cause a catastrophic burst of power in the immediate area.
Mounting
Mounting existed before it became possible to cut and shape Arcanacrags. The process is simple, but requires a lot of finesse with mundane metallurgy and forge prowess to complete. Just by setting the uncut Arcanacrag in a brass cradle, affixed to a series of brass roots and veins throughout the body of a larger structure, the power of the Arcanacrag can be Routed to another surface without exposing the sensitive and volatile Fragment to the possibility of being struck.
It's imperative that Arcanacrags are completely covered in the process to keep them sheltered from external sources of energy and to inhibit their bleed of corruption in the process for ether conversion. More often than not, the Fragment is encased within the tool or machine for the utmost protection from uncontrolled exposure to energy. Though this can result in the tool soaking the corruptive isotope that the Arcanacrag bleeds, this is almost completely negated through Refinement.
The system of brass roots and veins which extend from the central mounted Arcanacrag Nexus can take any shape, but it's important to understand the purpose and the importance of the markings.
Brass acts as a conduit for the power of an Arcanacrag, but not like Electricity through gold. The Arcanacrag's power will be Routed through the brass channels, and fed through the next material it comes in contact with. That is to say that if an Arcanacrag-powered machine was made entirely of brass, it would feed its effect through the floor, through the operator to touch it, and anything else to come in contact with it. For that reason, there are often third-party materials involved in Arcanacrag technology.
The inlays will transfer the power of the Arcanacrag to the densest material they are in contact with, which is why a lot of Sundering's tools are made with black iron. It's safe to touch the Brass only when the metal is in contact with something with a higher density than the operator, as the Inlays will prioritize Routing power through the denser material first.
The brass Inlays bear another property unique to the craft; they will not extend their effect to any third-party material if its range of influence overlaps with the range of influence generated by another Inlay. That is to say that if two Inlays are adjacent to one another with a three-inch surface of black iron between them, the black iron will not bear the effect of the Arcanacrag as one Inlay inhibits the other. This inhibition is useful in that the power of the Arcanacrag can be routed to a single working surface, which will be the only working surface where the Arcanacrag's effects are present.
Any Sunderer should know that an Inlay's range of influence is exactly one-hundredth of the Arcanacrag's range of influence, which should be taken into account when they are designing their machines and tools.
Refinement
Arcanacrags are miniature crystal engines that emit an effect in the form of a magical product. The fuel for this engine is the raw ether in the world around them, and the waste product for this reaction is a dangerous Magithermal Isotope known as Corruption, the cause of Mageblight. Refinement can be used to enhance the crystalline engine's efficiency, thus creating a more potent magical product while eliminating the production of waste. It should be noted that the Magithermal Isotope the Arcanacrag emits is not synonymous with how much corruption the Fragment holds; the bleed of corruption into the surrounding environment doesn't necessarily indicate that the Fragment itself is corrupted, just that it's unrefined.
The tools needed in Refinement are the Shimmertrough and the Fixing Glass. A source of corruption or some sort of long-range weapon is also needed, lest the Sunderer wishes to risk destroying themselves and their workshop in the process.
When the Sunderer looks into the body of an Arcanacrag through the fixing glass, they will see a series of Fractals frozen in place. These Fractals are made up of small spherical shapes that are joined by webs of straight lines. The orderly structure of these fractals determines the efficiency of the Arcanacrag, with messier Fractals generating more Magithermal Isotope than the magical product.
The brass rim of the Fixing Glass has the potential to align the Fractals seen within Arcanacrags, but it's impossible to alter an Arcanacrag as they are indestructible. To begin editing the structure of the Fractal, the fragment itself must become corrupted. This is achieved in a variety of methods, but one of the most common is to strike the fragment from afar to intentionally flood the structure with corruption. Though this quickly bleeds from the crystalline, the Shimmer Trough can be used to retain most of the accumulated corruption in the body of the fragment. It's well known that Arcanacrags are especially volatile and dangerous when loaded with corruption, as so much as a forceful tap can trigger a second explosion. The Sunderer should take great care when handling Arcanacrags in this state.
When the Arcanacrag is corrupted, the fractals will appear to drift and ripple, as though the iron stability of the Arcanacrag is offset by the dangerous levels of Magithermal isotope held within. In this state, the Fixing Glass can be made to focus on the spherical parts of the Fractal's structure and can relocate them to the Sunderer's will by twisting the brass rim around the lens.
While coated in Shimmershine, the Arcanacrag's waste product is retained and stockpiled in the Arcanacrag, which raises the level of pollution within the Fragment more and more significantly depending on the amount of time the Fragment retains that protective coating. When the Shimmershine is removed (which is easily done with a rag), all that corruption is released at once through the first opening, which can be devastatingly lethal and inflict upwards of fifteen mageblight on anyone present at the time of removal.
Purification
The process of Purifying an Arcanacrag usually follows after the Refining process, a means of safely extracting the accumulated corruption from an object. Some Artificers forgo Purification altogether and allow their refined Arcanacrags to bleed their corruption into designated hotspots in the wilderness. Because this often has disastrous consequences for the wildlife in the area, this is usually forbidden depending on the region of practice.
The process requires access to The Etherforge, Hacking Bellows, the Shimmer Trough, and a container of thick tempered glass. The Etherforge should be dormant before Purification starts as the flames can evaporate the Shimmershine coating.
First and foremost, the object being Purified needs to be coated with an even layer of Shimmershine from the Shimmer Trough; an oily, clear substance with a violet-indigo shine. Next, the object should be placed in the front door of The Etherforge with great care to not disrupt the Shimmershine coating. Next, the door should be securely closed, and the Hacking Bellows should be fastened to a built-in faucet on the side of The Etherforge, but this varies from model to model. Once the Hacking Bellows are attached, the tempered glass container should be fastened to the hose leading from the front of the Etherforge.
Both hands should be used to operate the Bellows, as its structure can be heavy. Engaging the Sunderer’s body weight, they should pull down on the handle to empty the Hacking Bellows into the dormant forge. This pushes all the air inside into the body of the Furnace and creates a vacuum in the Hacking Bellows. When the Sunderer pushes up on the handle to open the Hacking Bellows, two reactions take place:
The corruption withheld by the object is pulled into the Shimmershine Coating, filling the shards of Markless Sunderscraps in the oily fluid with various levels of corruption, and the corrupted Shimmershine is dripped into the hose at the front of the Etherforge, pushed through the tubing, and delivered to the tempered glass container. If the fastening is done correctly, all the clear fluid will be deposited in the container.
If there is any damage to any of the tools used in the process or the fastening isn't completely secure, the Sunderer risks bathing their workshop in condensed corruption. The substance extracted, depending on the volume, can inflict up to the late stages of mage blight if it's touched, inhaled, or consumed.
Melding
Melding is the process of combining multiple Arcanacrags to achieve an array of effects. This can be done in two ways that both have their merits and drawbacks. Arcanacrags can be permanently melded together with the Welding Hammer and the shaping bench, or their effects can be melded by Routing the energies of multiple Arcanacrags to the same working surface during the process of Mounting. This is arguably the most critical step in the process of innovating new Arcanacrag technologies.
To physically combine Arcanacrags, the Sunderer will need access to the Fixing Glass, the Welding Hammer, and the Shaping Bench. It's also advisable to bring some personal protective equipment in the form of heavy armor, thick canvas gloves, and tinted goggles with complete facial covering. No skin should be seen in the process of Melding, and a wide-open space without clutter or hard surfaces is advisable.
The benefits of physically combining the Arcanacrag is that the effect the combined Fragments produce can be controlled to some degree with the aid of the fixing Glass, it saves time that would otherwise be spent painstakingly designing a product with multiple sets of Inlays, and that the final product is more compact and versatile. Whereas simply mounting multiple Arcanacrags with a complex web of inlays directed to the same surface can be unreliable, time-expensive, and inflexible in the effect it produces with no discernable means of control or alteration. Simply mounting multiple Arcanacrags, however, is much safer than physically Melding Arcanacrags.
There are two stages to physically Melding Arcanacrags, both of which can be quick depending on the skill of the Sunderer.
First: The Arcanacrags will both need to be placed on the Shaping bench for work to begin. They will both begin to accumulate energy as siphoned from the working face of the anvil, turn red-hot, then glow a golden amber, then turn white when they have been left to gather energy for long enough. It's when they're both glowing white-hot that the molding process can begin. At this stage, it's dangerous to touch the fragments with any tool that isn't the Welding Hammer.
Using the Welding Hammer, the Sunderer should ensure the fragments are as close to one another as they can be before striking them both with the face. It's at this point that the Sunderer should close their eyes (if they do not have goggles) or risk blindness at the immense light of the reaction at the center of the two Arcanacrags. An Ambient humming will begin to resonate from both the fragments, not unlike the sound a wineglass can produce when it's trailed along the rim.
When both frequencies are in perfect harmony with one another, producing a sort of choir of ambient humming, the reaction is complete. It's at that stage that the Welding Hammer should immediately be removed.
Failure to remove the tool at the correct time will result in the brief flicker of the light, followed by darkness. Seconds later, the melded Arcanacrags will lose their color and come apart from one another, and the immediate area will be flooded with lethal levels of corruption that almost always result in a gain of more than six mageblight for all those exposed. All sundering tools, including the shaping bench and Welding Hammer, caught in the flood are rendered inert and will be unable to function unless the internal Arcanacrags are purified.
Premature removal of the Welding Hammer will result in a brief flicker of lightning-blue sparks from both Fragments, followed by a small-scale explosion of kinetic energy equivalent to a high-speed car crash. it's not uncommon for this to throw the Sunderer a considerable distance from the shaping bench, break just about every bone in their body, dismember them, and kill them. The lethal levels of energy released in the explosion quickly taper off the further the Sunderer moves from the shaping bench, which is to say if they notice the sparks and immediately turn to run and make it even six feet from the blast, they could survive with moderate trauma to the head, a few broken bones, and some internal bleeding. Almost all power in the explosion falls off after twelve feet unless it's transferred to another object and thrown like a projectile.
It should also be noted that the Fragments will fall apart from one another given time if the hammer is removed prematurely. Fragments that lose their color and become flooded with corruption must be Refined and Purified before they begin working again.
If the melding is correctly executed, the ending product will be a physically fused Arcanacrag of unique appearance. It cannot be melded a second time and the Melding process is thus far irreversible. Despite being physically joined, the Arcanacrag will continue to produce effects similar to its parts. For example, if an Arcanacrag that produces heat is combined with an Arcanacrag that emits light, it will simply perform both functions as if both Fragments were set next to one another. This is enough for the Sunderer's needs a lot of the time but isn't the apex of what melding can achieve.
Normally, there is a bounty of corruption held within the body of the Melded Arcanacrag post-Melding, which sets the stage for the second half of the process.
Second: The Fractals within the combined Arcanacrags must be joined with the Fixing Glass. This step of the process is mostly safe but requires the diligent connection of the fractals from both Arcanacrags. All fractals must be joined at the exact same points or the product will be broken and chaotic in its consistency. Depending on how the Fractals are joined, a wide array of product effects can be achieved.
The maximum efficiency of a melded Arcanacrag also depends heavily on a Sunderer's skill.
Entire volumes of research are written on the complexities of merging Fractals and the science of which Spheres should be joined in order to produce specific effects, but it's still largely undocumented because of the wide variety of Arcanacrags that can be melded and the different combinations they can produce.
For example, if an Arcanacrag that produces heat is melded with an Arcanacrag that emits light and later have their fractals combined, it can produce a focal laser that aims at a specific point and concentrates all the produced heat and light on a single spot, or it can emit a brighter cone-shaped light with the purpose of illuminating the dark. If it's tampered with enough, it can even provide a means of illuminating all sources of thermal energy within range of the Arcanacrag.
- Players that wish to combine Arcanacrags and achieve different effects should seek Moderator input beforehand to ensure the product is appropriate for the sum of the parts used.
Sundering
The process of Sundering is what rebranded Fragmenters of old as Sunderers with its infamy. Sunderscraps are produced through Sundering and are later used in the process of Imbuement and Casting.
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.
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. The Shaping Bench will allow the extraordinarily tough Imbued metal to be shaped as easily as hot iron when it has advanced to the white stage.
The Imbued metal can be cut freely with the Dividing Rod as many times as the Sunderer wishes, 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 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 twenty percent of its total mass or the Imbuement will be lost forever.
Relic Abilities
The abilities a Relic can produce largely depend on the intent of the Sunderer during forging. For example, if the Relic is forged with the intent to cause harm, the Relic's powers will manifest with more offensive capabilities. If the Relic is built with the intent to protect someone or something, the power 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 power 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. Common Relic attributes can be read below, with specifics detailed based on the type of Sunderscrap.
Donor Mage The Mage the Sunderscrap was extracted from is often referred to as 'The Donor Mage'. The mage's proficiency in their Mark of Control dictates the potency of the Relic it creates. The Appraisal skill can be used to identify the potency of a Sunderscrap if the individual is familiar with Sundering.
Active Time: Some Relics have a passive effect that can only be active for a certain amount of time. For example, if the Relic is active from 09:00 to 14:00 and it can only be active for five hours in a twenty-four-hour time span, the wielder will need to wait until 09:00 the next day to begin using the Relic again.
Strength: All Relics are unnaturally tough. 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.
To Resist: Victims are able to resist the effects of certain Relics if specific criteria or a skill level is met. These are indicated in the tables of each applicable Relic.
Grace periods: Some Relics have Grace Periods, in which they can strike and be struck without the activation of their inherent ability. This is sometimes referred to as a 'Reload', or a 'Recharge'. The Relic will not activate any of its abilities during these Grace Periods, but can still be used as a Mundane armament.
Unique Relics: In rare cases, the most experienced and knowledgeable Sunderers are able to produce Relics with multiple Sunderscraps. Those rare few Relics display wild and chaotic abilities unlike the sum of their parts and, according to research, differ wildly from each other based on various factors, even down to the Donor Mage the Sunderscraps were extracted from. These unique Relics cannot be created without 100 Knowledge in Sundering, and 100 xp. All unique Sunders should be requested in the Support Forum.
Impact
The Manipulation of Fragments has existed throughout the history of Atharen. It began in early civilization as a means of preserving food and keeping warm; a crutch to the development of science in the world. There was a time where the manipulation of Fragments receded into obscurity because of the finite supply and the ever-growing population that was supported by forced innovation, but the general supply of Arcanacrags has since bolstered with the discovery of Arch-Hollows and innovation in traditional science has suffered as a result of their convenience.
There is more interest in the field of Metallurgy, as the development of Relics benefits greatly from stronger and more durable metals. Entire nations employ Relics large-scale in their militaries with Lorien’s Argent Knighthood as the most famous example. Most Nations will employ Sunderers for their ability to manipulate, meld, and mount Arcanacrags if nothing else, as their application has greatly improved the quality of life of a lot of the sentient races.
In other parts of the world, Sundering is detested in part or in its whole. The pollution of corruption has had disastrous consequences in some parts, and has been forbidden and purged large scale in such regions. Improper regulation and purification methods can cause disastrous problems for the local ecosystem. What is more, some of the stronger Relics have the potential to change the tide of war, but these are exceptionally rare and are almost exclusively reserved for the richest, most powerful, and most influential people of the world.
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.
