Aether is the lifeblood of modern Adlanthea.
It exists naturally within the world, pooling along ley currents, beneath ancient ruins, inside rare crystal deposits, and in regions where magic has saturated the land for centuries. In its raw state, aether is volatile, difficult to contain, and dangerous to living beings. Once refined, however, it becomes one of the most valuable resources on the continent.
Refined aether powers much of Adlanthea’s industrial revolution. It fuels engines, lights entire districts, stabilizes airships, drives rail systems, powers laboratories, and allows increasingly complex machinery to function without relying solely on steam or traditional magic.
This marriage of magic and engineering is known broadly as arcane industry.
Aether is not identical to spellcasting. A sorcerer may shape magic directly, while a machinist can operate an aether engine without possessing magical talent at all. Aethermancers occupy the space between the two, studying magical energy as something that can be measured, redirected, disrupted, and weaponized.
The Brass Consortium controls much of Adlanthea’s refinement and distribution, while the Aetheric Collegium studies its properties and attempts to regulate dangerous applications. Their relationship is cooperative when convenient and hostile whenever money, patents, or forbidden research become involved.
Prolonged exposure to unstable aether can alter both creatures and environments. Some populations, such as the Aetherborn, developed through generations of exposure. Others suffer burns, mutations, magical illness, or stranger consequences.
Entire monsters have emerged around damaged refineries, abandoned laboratories, and corrupted ley sites.
The greatest concern, however, is one few officials discuss publicly.
Aether production continues to increase every year.
The world is being mined for magic faster than anyone knows how to replace it.
And in several regions, the ley currents have begun to behave strangely.