Fragmenting
Contents
Introduction
Fragmenting, or Fragmentia, is the worldly arcana of manipulating and incorporating Arcanacrags - a crystalline alloy composed of divinity and raw ether harvested from spirits - into a wide variety of mediums. Fragmenters utilize these magical batteries in the creation of tools for World Magic, the study of the Arcanacrag itself, and the creation of any derived techno-arcana.
The importance of Fragmenting is hotly debated, not only for its hand in industrial-ecological disasters, but for leaving the scientific community financially hamstrung; the convenience of the Arcanacrag has economically invalidated the need to invest in new innovations.
Origin
The Ald'Norai were the first to crack the secrets of Fragmenting. They discovered brass alloy perfectly conducted the etheric energies that Arcanacrags produced. This sparked a revolution for the Ald’Norai, who quickly learned to shape, cut, and meld these Arcanacrags together. Even with few Fragmentia Forges within Indorin, the Ald’Norai swiftly conquered their neighbors.
The boom of Fragmenting saw a rush to collect this finite resource of limitless potential. The Ashen Elves preyed upon the Noradac on a scale never before seen in history, inventing arcane contraptions that still have yet to be replicated in the current age. When the Ald’Norai fell, their secrets were lost with them, and Fragmenting itself vanished from the world.
Fragmenting resurfaced followed the bleeding of Venedak, transforming the new world in its image within fifty short years, and this was spurned by the butchering of countless Noradac spirits to that end. Fragments once considered to be indestructible could again be manipulated and altered utilizing arcane tools and brass. The supply for Arcanacrags further skyrocketed as Arch Hollows were discovered, and smitheries capable of shaping this magical alloy have become so common within the halls of rulership that entire wars and conflicts are justified over this pursuit. The world continues to revive processes once known to the Ald’Norai, and Fragmenting remains an active field of study for scholars across the world.
Tools
The tools of Fragmentia are created by manipulating brass alloy and the Arcanacrag; this feat is nigh-impossible to recreate without utilizing a pre-existing set, as attempting to do so without them would necessitate several years of trial and error. Some are also immobile fixtures, requiring a workshop to be built to fully ply the trade. All Fragmenting tools are purchased in full sets for this reason, and some are included with the workshop.
Shaping Bench: A table-sized anvil of black iron, the Shaping Bench is used to reshape Arcanacrags. When plied with the Frag Hammer or Dividing Rod, it may be used to shape and cut fragments using the pedal beneath its bench.
Frag Hammer: A large, brass-cored hammer of dark iron, the Frag Hammer is used to shape Fragments or weld them together. The hammer is short with a larger flathead and spiraling brass engravings lining its surface.
Dividing Rod: The Dividing Rod is used to cut Arcanacrags into smaller pieces upon a Shaping Bench. This heavy, black iron chisel with a brass core is engraved such that the brass shines through in intricate patterns. A small dial - used to alter the time that the loop cut it produces remains active - is affixed to the head of the chisel.
Channeling Wand: A tapering rod of dark iron ending in a pointed, finely engraved scoop, the Channeling Wand simultaneously pushes apart metals to engrave up to an inch in depth and a quarter inch in width if operated at an angle. As it carves, it oozes energetically charged brass that solidifies within the channels for the purpose of Routing.
Fixing Glass: Taking the form of a spyglass or a form of headwear, the Fixing Glass is a bright, fluorescent green lens rimmed with brass. The tool allows for Fractals to be seen within a settled Arcanacrag for the purpose of Refraction.
Lensing Gun: The Lensing Gun fires a flash of light that allows Fractals within a settled Arcanacrag to be manipulated for the purpose of Refraction. It is composed of dark iron and engraved with brass spiraling towards a tip of concentric mirrors.
Lightbasin: Bathing an Arcanacrag in the Lightbasin subjects it to Pristination provided certain conditions are met, bleeding off Magithermal Isotope into the surrounding waters. The resultant byproduct, Lightwater, is used by Sunderers to temper Relics.
Harmonizing Lapper: This spinning brass plate upon the end of a spiral-engraved dark iron gun is used with Convergence. The plate is set upon the face of a Convergence Nexus as the Fragmenter alters active Routing circuits using their Channeling Wand. It hums discordant melodies the closer one gets to bridging multiple energies correctly as it rapidly spins.
The Demiurge: An incredibly rare artifact of ancient Ald’Norai origin, only a handful of Demiurges have been rediscovered. The staff functions as a remote Channeling Wand, capable of repairing Routed circuitry from up to a hundred feet away, and more spectacularly it may deduce Convergence harmonies without subjecting oneself to Mageblight. Only operable by a Master, these staves are often magnificently ornate in design.
A Shaping Bench and Lightbasin cannot be carried on one’s person; a Fragmenting kit is not something to be taken from one’s home without a vehicle to carry it.
Arcanacrags
The four qualities of an Arcanacrag are size, clarity, color, and cut.
Size: The size of an Arcanacrag refers to its physical dimensions and is an important factor in determining its power potency. A larger Arcanacrag will generally be more powerful than a smaller one. The scale of size quality ranges from tiny, which is considered trash, to large, which is considered perfect.
Clarity: The clarity of an Arcanacrag refers to the presence of inclusions or defects within the crystal. An Arcanacrag with few inclusions will be more transparent and able to transfer its magical energies more efficiently, while an Arcanacrag with many inclusions will be less transparent and have a lower energy transfer efficiency. Clarity is divided into three grades: murk, frost, and diamond. An Arcanacrag with murk clarity is considered trash, one with frost clarity is considered average, and one with diamond clarity is considered perfect.
Type: An Arcanacrag's type is determined by the Noradac who left it behind in the wake of their death. As Arcanacrags are effectively the crystallized corpses of Noradac, their relative habitats affect the deposits of Crags found in a given area. This also means that while there are often mines or large deposits of Crags based on habitats and homes for Noradac on Atharen, many Arcanacrags can be found at random, if a Noradac was slain while performing their duties on the planet's surface.
- Courser (Jaxkrag): Courser is the primary stone left behind by Jaxkael's Noradac. It is an ethereal stone in appearance, radiating a warm, pale blue that readily imbues into surfaces for long periods of time; the etheric blue color of Courser is often imprinted into a Fragmenter's eyes, for example, for a long period of hours or even days after tempering and working with the stone. Courser is used to harness, channel and connect electrical and etheric energy between points, or around the stone. It can be connected to other stones of its class via conductive metal tubing, and is commonly used to power and connect other Fragments or even electrical machinery. In addition, Courser can be used to draw in and ionize electrical energy from surrounding particles, generating power and static electricity to both shock and catalyze reactions.
- Tarnishstone (Venakün): x
- Pyrestone (Malekran): x
- Firelight (Vendrax): x
- Brightseed (Shendral): Brightseed is the primary stone left behind Y'shendra's Noradac. The raw form of Brightseed is jagged and rough, with a shimmering surface that reflects the light in a dazzling spectrum of greens. It has a vine like central stalk that emanates a soft, jade-like color in the dark. It grows in the shape of a long vine with crystalline, teardrop shaped gem-clusters sprouting from the tips like grapes on a vine. It is often found deep within the earth, radiating a warm, life-giving energy that causes plants and animals to flourish in its vicinity. When mined, the gemstone exudes a thick, luminescent fog that envelops the area around it, dyeing the miner's skin a leafy green color for up to a week. When refined and planted in soil, nearby flora will grow their roots towards the ethereal energy pouring out from the Brightseed into the soil, which will accelerate the growth and improve the vitality and longevity of flora whose roots marinate in its potent ethereal flow. The same principle can be used on mortals to achieve a healing factor that aids in the overall rate of recovery, though mortals (due to their soul) can experience over-exposure to Brightseed, causing Magithermal radiation in the face of long-term, direct exposure (such as if an individual attempts to use Brightseed to extend their lifespan, or permanently improve upon their natural regeneration). Brightseed is usually given in doses, to increase the speed of recovery and overall health and wellbeing.
- Stillwell (Kyridax): Stillwell is the primary stone left behind by Kyrikain's Noradac. It is an opalescent stone with brilliant prismatic hues, shining a colorful radiance as it reflects incoming light off of its many internal prisms. Its name was derived from the fact that in darkness it appears completely mute, empty and still, a transparent and colorless rock. Stillwell uses imagery, typically imagery derived from memory, to generate holograms. Stillwell can be imbued with specific images by engaging in recollection while holding the rock, and the detail and number of objects, individuals or depth placed within Stillwell's holograms depends on its clarity and tier. If Stillwell is left in pitch-darkness for long periods of time its associated holograms will visually recede in detail, while if it is held under any semblance of light, the person touching it can intuitively dive through and project the image or image(s) imbued within it. Speaking into Stillwell while creating a hologram can imbue it with an audible explanation or narration of the image, and higher-tiered stones of this classification can even pull audible effects from memory, such as the sound of muddy footsteps or birds echoing in the distance.
- Chemtide (Gevakrag): Soak chemicals/corruption. WIP. x
- Crucifier (Valtrax): x
- Huntstone (Nathkrag): x
- Blackrock (Tenkrag): x
Cut: The cut of an Arcanacrag refers to its shape and the alignment of its fractals during the refraction process. A well-cut Arcanacrag will have its fractals perfectly aligned, allowing for more precise manipulation of its magical energies. The scale of cut quality ranges from poorly cut, which is considered trash, to expertly cut, which is considered perfect.
Overall, an Arcanacrag with all four qualities at the highest end of the scale (large size, diamond clarity, vibrant color, and expertly cut) would be considered a perfect Arcanacrag, while an Arcanacrag with all four qualities at the lowest end of the scale (tiny size, murk clarity, dull color, and poorly cut) would be considered trash.
Tiers
Tier 0 Arcanacrags:
- These arcanacrags are the weakest of the four tiers and are primarily used for minor enchantments and basic energy manipulation, such as powering a small electrical device with a Blue Tier 0 Arcanacrag or accelerating the growth of plants in a small garden with a Green Tier 0 Arcanacrag.
Tier 1 Arcanacrags:
- These arcanacrags are more powerful than Tier 0 arcanacrags and can be used for more complex enchantments and energy manipulation, such as generating a small amount of heat with a Yellow Tier 1 Arcanacrag or creating a minor explosion with a Red Tier 1 Arcanacrag.
Tier 2 Arcanacrags:
- These arcanacrags are even more powerful than Tier 1 arcanacrags and can be used for advanced enchantments and energy manipulation, such as creating a powerful barrier with a Violet Tier 2 Arcanacrag or manipulating the kinetic energy of objects with an Orange Tier 2 Arcanacrag.
Tier 3 Arcanacrags:
- These arcanacrags are the most powerful of the four tiers and are primarily used for powerful enchantments and advanced energy manipulation, such as accelerating the growth of plants to an extreme extent with a Green Tier 3 Arcanacrag or powering a large electrical device such as a generator with a Blue Tier 3 Arcanacrag.
Processes
Arcanacrags are volatile and sensitive, with the most corrupt variants exploding on contact with so much as a warm breath. The processes below should be read with a mind for safety. In-depth study of both the Arcanacrags themselves and the correct timings and tolerances allowed by the tools are required before more advanced concepts can be considered safe.
Any gross oversight of Fragmenting's lore - or abuse of the open progression system - will be subject to moderator intervention.
Heating
The first process a beginner Fragmenter learns is to heat an Arcanacrag. This is accomplished by placing the Fragment upon the Shaping Bench before pressing upon the pedal to quickly accumulate heat, the magical material changing in hue towards a molten amber to reflect its readiness to be Cut.
When the Fragment is heated to its near maximum temperature, it will display a thin blurry outline of charged air circulating around the object necessary for Shaping. The pedal must be managed carefully through the process to keep the heat at an ideal level to maintain this.
If too much heat is applied, brilliant streaks of blurring light will erupt from fractures in the Fragment. It will rattle and may eventually leak corruption, and there is a significant delay between actions on the pedal and the adjustment of heat that makes this difficult to control. Heating is learned at Novice.
Cutting
Provided the Fragment is a molten amber, the Fragmenter is able to gently tap the glowing hot material with the tip of the Dividing Rod and gently tug it to form a constricting band of ether around a section of the Fragment dependent upon the direction they drag. This will always create a perfect loop along the surface, connecting around the other side.
Upon the Dividing Rod is a dial the Fragmenter may twist to finely angle the orientation of the band before lifting the rod. If too much time passes, the band will dissipate, or the Fragmenter may tap the band a second time to safely cut the fragment all the way through.
Once cut, an Arcanacrag must be heated again before it may be cut once more, and each part is fractionally as powerful as the whole. Fragments may only be cut to an inch in diameter before they lose their power entirely, and should the Fragment be cut while the charged air current is present, it will explode in a catastrophic burst of power. Cutting is learned at Novice.
Shaping
Shaping is performed by striking the charged air with the Frag Hammer until the Fragment beneath the swirling energies deforms into the desired shape. This is a time of great caution; striking the Arcanacrag too hard can release chaotic bursts of energy, and doing so too softly will yield a finished product with imperfections in the form of cracks and uneven surfaces. It takes true skill to understand how striking at this swirling mass will translate the impact to the volatile material.
Every Fragment has a tolerance for how much it may be worked. Unlike metal, a Fragment will bleed its energies and begin to settle its air current if worked too harshly or heated for too long, becoming resistant to further tampering. For this reason, they cannot often be reused and tend to be impervious beneath the hammer when salvaged from existing works, even when heated to extremes. Cutting away a third of the Fragment recontextualizes its energies and thus allows the air current to form again, but with thinner and more volatile margins; there will be less time and less material for subsequent attempts. Shaping is learned at Novice.
Routing
Routing is used to circulate power throughout an object or structure, outputting the energy for various functions and manipulations based on the type of Arcanacrag powering a network of brass engravings.
An Arcanacrag must be mounted within an inlay connected to brass rods, veins, or roots that each extend to more accessible engravings of the same material that swoop and run the length of a larger surface. Sheltering the Arcanacrag is recommended, as a direct strike runs the risk of detonating the crystalline battery. The object may also be rendered inoperable should any of its brass channeling be damaged.
Engraving is accomplished through the use of a Channeling Wand, digging trenches through metal, and leaving rivers of brass behind that direct the flow of energy towards fine points or vents in the material. An endpoint in the circuitry will detonate its charge through anything that it comes into contact with, and the size and number of these endpoints determine how much of the Arcanacrag charge may be dispensed at once.
The Engravings may be further altered with constraints and commands through Runic Script from the discipline of Artificing, and Artificers have been known to work closely with Fragmenters to produce logically intelligent networks of energy to operate important infrastructure or weaponry. Routing is available at Apprentice.
Refraction
To Refract an Arcanacrag is to improve its stability and efficiency. This is accomplished by ordering the structure of Fractals with the Fixing Glass and then manipulating them with a Lensing Gun. Arcanacrags with disordered Fractals are highly volatile and generate corruption during their use in the form of Magithermal Isotopes.
When the Fragmenter looks into the body of a settled Arcanacrag through the lens of a Fixing Glass, they will see a series of Fractals frozen in place. These Fractals consist of small spherical shapes that are joined by webs of straight lines. The brass rim of the Fixing Glass can then be twisted like a dial, remotely aligning the Fractals seen within Arcanacrags.
To edit the structure and render this alignment permanent, a Lensing Gun must be used to strike the Fractals with highly energetic Magithermal Light, bending their lines and irregularities into place until all webbing and Fractal sides are equilateral to one another, but not so much that the lines snap and lash out with violent energies upon the Fragmenter. There is a specific Fractal pattern to be understood for each type of Arcanacrag, and this process can take hours if not days as the largest of them can possess hundreds of Fractals. Tier 1 Refraction is available to the Journeyman, but only the Master is capable of perfect Tier 3 Refraction.
Pristination
An Arcanacrag is impure; it is an engine that bleeds corruption into the surrounding air as a byproduct, and Pristination is the process of nullifying this dangerous Magithermal Isotope. This can only be done once the Arcanacrag has been Refracted to a suitable degree, as the amount of Pristination that can be achieved is directly tied to how equivalent and ordered its Fractals are. Without Pristination, impure Arcanacrags must routinely bleed corruption into the wilderness or else risk Magithermal Meltdown. Pristination cuts this necessity down tenfold at Tier 1 Refraction and removes the concern entirely for a Tier 3 Perfectly Refracted Arcanacrag.
Pristination is performed with the Lightbasin. By placing the object within, the Magithermal Isotope will bleed into the surrounding waters over a period of days, causing them to retain the entropy as a form of Mageblight Isotope-laced light until a Pristine Arcanacrag is the result. The glowing and irradiated byproduct from this, Lightwater, must be stored within cold iron barrels for use in Sundering, or else disposed of in coordination with local governance. Pristination is available at Journeyman.
Convergence
The process of Convergence is to Route the energies of multiple Arcanacrags towards a Convergent Nexus carefully carved with the Channeling Wand. If any of the Arcanacrags are Fractally disordered or undergoing Magithermal Meltdown, the channeled energies will collide and annihilate one another, resulting in an explosion. If they are compatible and delivered at the proper frequency however, a new form of energy will be produced capable of unique miracles dependent on the power and type of differing Arcanacrags. Many small Arcanacrags of the same type may act as redundancies towards a larger output in this way, allowing for massive, stationary siege weapons of unfathomable power.
The composite engravings must be alternated with differing swoops and bends alongside one another until the Harmonizing Lapper begins to hum when operated above the Nexus, signifying that all converging energies are resonating at the same frequency. The resultant merged energies must be tested to confirm their effects. Some combinations are thought to be so esoteric in function that their ability can never be deduced.
Converging more than two types of Arcanacrags is only possible for the Master Fragmenter. Only mages of Resonance or Relics of Blaryl are capable of true understanding without working from example, and every attempt to understand just one of the composite frequencies will incur feedback in the form of light Mageblight upon the Fragmenter. Convergence is available at Expert. Unless working from a formula listed on the wiki, the result is determined and recorded by an Architect. Please request a result through the Help Desk or Support Forum linking to the thread where a new Convergence was created.
Progression
Novice
A Novice Fragmenter has just begun to explore the very fringes of the trade. They will spend much of their time learning about Arcanacrags and their properties, as well as the Shaping Table, the Frag Hammer, and the Dividing Rod. At this stage, they are still getting comfortable with Heating, Shaping, and Cutting Arcanacrags. They must contend with great risk, as a single misstep may prove fatally disastrous.
Apprentice
Apprentice Fragmenters begin to understand and apply the Channeling Wand within the process of Routing. They have a better understanding of Heating, Shaping, and Cutting, but now they must consider fostering other skills to ply their rudimentary Tier 0 Arcanacrags with.
Journeyman
As one progresses into the role of a Journeyman, the Fragmenter begins to learn Refraction and Pristination via the Fixing Glass, Lensing Gun, and Light Basin. They are known to amplify and stabilize their Arcanacrags, purifying them to make them safer while manufacturing valuable Lightwater. They may now purify Tier 0 Refracted Arcanacrags into Tier 1 Pristine Arcanacrags which are more powerful and bleed Magithermal Isotope into the surrounding air at a rate 1/10th of normal.
Expert
An Expert in the field of Fragmenting begins to understand and explore the vagaries of Convergence, merging energies together with the Convergence Nexus and a Harmonizing Lapper to form unique effects. They may now experiment to discover more such combinations, even replicating certain World Magic tools, but they are still limited to merging just two energies together. The Expert may purify Tier 0 Refracted Arcanacrags into Tier 2 Pristine Arcanacrags which are more powerful and bleed Magithermal Isotope into the surrounding air at a rate 1/100th of normal.
Master
The Master Fragmenter is seen as indispensable to any society, and they should take care that they are not strong armed into serving despots. A World Mage of this caliber is capable of manufacturing powerful, perfectly Refracted Tier 3 Pristine Arcanacrags that no longer bleed corruption into the air, and they may even begin to study three, four, or five pointed Convergences. The Master may manufacture or replicate almost any World Magic tool provided they know the proper Convergence formula. Should the Fragmenter ever discover the Ald’Norai Demiurge, they may wield it to great effect
