Lecture: Ether, the Bio-Energy & Lifeblood of Auriga

As we have already discussed, many scholars believe Auriga itself is a living being. The creation born from her, the natural wildlife exhibits what has been noted as "bio-energy" from the Sapphire Light Research Commission. The natural wildlife on Auriga display bio-energetic traits, being able to manifest the very elements in their physiology. This energy is drawn in a variety of ways, even civilization is learning how to manifest the power of the world itself. This Ether is said to resonate in the very air of Auriga. Interesting note, in Celestial the word for Ether can be translated as "Nanobot" or "Nanomachine" that just does not sound good in Elvish so we will continue to refer to it as Ether from this moment on, besides what in the world is a nano? Sounds like Union propaganda to me. Anyways, ether has its foundation based on Elementals.

Elementals

The cosmology surrounding Auriga is up to much debate, but one thing is consistent is the sighting of elementals such as water weirds or acidic oozes.
The Aeons contained these great Elder Dragons in what would be apart of the planes which formed a sort of "Planegea" before the world broke. in these planes the Elder Dragon's energy would emanate and through osmosis create the elemental planes such as the plane of water, fire, air, earth. After the Elder Crossing and the release of these Elder Dragons opened these planes, this break of containment has released the elemental energy and the elemental creatures back to Auriga, it became a part of the ecosystem before Planegea broke. But even now traces of the Elder Crossing remain.
Energy can be extracted or gifted by these elemental creatures to perform truly wonderous effects. Some items can even be infused by the empowered energies of these Elementals. For example the newly design Airship is made by capturing and utilizing Air Elementals. In Xurugan you can take the "Lightning Rail" that uses Lightning Elementals to propel a cart of passengers along a rail. The morality of binding elementals into matrices invites philosophical pondering. Well I've never seen an elemental cry in pain nor raise a question. So I think its safe to continue using this practice, they didn't develop pseudo freewill like those warforged! But let us discover the single greatest achievement the previous civilization developed that gave us a fast track in founding society.

Astral Marks

A design that endured and was recovered from the civilization of Auriga's great past. For centuries we have used this design to give mortals the power to speak and command the very energy of Auriga, sometimes researchers refer to this as a kind of Weave that can be tapped into. This use power to manifest the world's bio-energy can be accomplished by a variety of means such as by casting that energy using a focus, or absorbing a natural component, or through more esoteric means such as a bards command of the near invisible "echos of creation" lifeform that respond to their call or through a Wizard's careful study and understanding of the Aeon's mathematically equations. Some are born with a mark that manifests later in life; this thus proves that there is a chance that an Astral Mark can pass on through birth. The energy expenditure of an Astral Mark is immense. Even those who have achieved mastery of this command of raw bio-energy require time to prepare and time to rest as casting this energy will deplete the very soul of the individual. This expenditure of power has been dubbed "Ether Casting"
The nature of the mark and how it manifests physically depends on the species and person performing it. Mine for example manifests from top of my forehead. I've grown use to it, I think it makes good use of the empty space my bald head occupies. But the far more interesting aspect is how Ether actually can be triggered. We will now discuss the fundamental basics of how casting works. At least according to the latest research that we have uncovered.

Components

All Ether powers require a set number of components to function properly. When someone has acquired his mark, or his way of broadcasting himself out to the ether. He needs to understand how to manifest his ability. For instance some abilities are very precisely required as what we call 'verbal' or 'tonal frequency' where the user, regardless of the language they speak, with deep focus of their mind must reach out and speak. The civilization before us called this method "Command Codes" Now each species produces its sounds in different ways, so the discovery of mastering the verbal component rests with them. The right tone and pitch can cause an invisible vibration to reverberate, drawing ether to the caster. As if supplying fuel to a fire, verbal components are not chants and superstitious mumbo jumbo, we are scientists! we hold up to a higher standard! A word of caution, you cannot perform verbal components, quietly, the sound tends to travel a good distance, you cannot simply whisper the verbal instruction, unless you were gifted with the ability to ignore that, than if that is the case why are you listening to my lecture?
At the same time it is often required to use what we in the field call 'somatic' or physical components. One way to think of it as a fighter requires muscles to swing his weapon. A caster must exercise his mind and body to use Ether. Precise physical movements, intricate and full range of movement is often required. Watching a skilled caster can almost remind someone of a skilled martial artist using his body as a weapon. A word of caution is like a fighter needs hands to wield a weapon, you do too. If you are tied up or brutally maimed, it would impair your ability to perform somatic components.
A final component is a unique one, we have called it "Material" or component casting. Some objects, ingredients and minerals produce and radiate a very specific kind of ether. Like the dropping of the bats produce an essential quality to produce a fireball. We reason that the previous civilization had experimented with mundane things to satisfy their power that they wanted to achieve. Some abilities are so powerful that it actually consumes the material entirely. Diamonds in particular are unusually heavy loaded with very specific qualities, high powered medicinal ether was discovered on the unseen scale within diamonds.
Now as I lecture and ramble on about components and the origins of ether, you might as why is it so powerful, yet at the same time so utterly specific in it's application?

All the Knowledge that Remains

The reason for this fact is simple and perhaps depressing when viewing the limitations of our own science. What the civilizations left is what we have to use. They stored specific formulas onto large metallic disks. Through several human lifetimes of study we have come to understand those formulas and thus casting can be accomplished. But one cannot simply begin to formulate a fireball to suddenly also act as a acid ball! Well unless you are one of those cheaters born with the ability to do that. These formulas or powers are hardwired a specific way and cannot be altered. Each formula has a law and rule to follow. It amazes me the civilization before would understand Auriga so well they could even accomplish that.
Now some incredibly gifted individuals through significant research and practice can create their own formula, the resulting research is often times unproductive and the results can be unexpected. Not everyone can be a showoff like Tenser. But when you accomplished your formula and plan to release it to the public be sure to include your name as a form of bragging rights on the scientific community. Or Tenser might steal your work for his own....
But the key element to understanding how ether formulas can be manifested is to first consider it's...

Source of Power

Well this is obvious professor! You just said that ether comes from Auriga. Well you are right and also wrong! As we had already mentioned, it is true casting ether has a variety of means to accomplish it. There are atleast two umbrellas in which casting can be derived from.
Tech Casting, or as some primitives call Arcane casting, since we are going with primitive names, your wizard, sorcerer, bard's and a warlock's sugar daddy will likely use this most common form of casting. This power is not natural. But manufactured from natural factors. Unprocessed diamonds I think are quite ugly, but when refined their beauty can be revealed. Likewise Tech Casting can take natural unprocessed ether, and generate something beautiful like a lightning bolt or fireball. Even a disintegration ray. Ever wanted to know the command word to kill someone with a word? Heh heh, then Tech Casting is for you.
Natural Casting, or as some ignorant knaves might call it, Divine casting. In simple terms, a druid and ranger might have a deep connection to the natural source of energy floating about, bards like to play the field and flirt with both aspects, they are gentle and convincing in their approach. Clerics and paladins use a natural phenomena known as the 'Sky Network' this net has something called as the great "Terms & Conditions" that great celestial installations require to transmit their power. Some are quite bizarre, like making an oath or following certain tenants which can actually cause this Sky Network to suspend it's service. Since this natural phenomena is beyond our research. It is highly impractical to divulge more time to it. Let those who call on Sky Network put faith and make themselves slaves to these unknown powers. I will stick to my equations thank you very much.

Powerful Entities

When a being has achieved a great level of attunement and mastery of bio-energy they themselves start to generate this energy naturally without drawing from Auriga. Elder Dragons are chief example of this. Powerful creatures have been noted to grant a small fraction of their own power to another being. Examples can be a Kraken providing its power to a willing servant, or an enigmatic fey can grant a degree of mania and dementia to a mortal for power. Many of these powerful creatures were imprisoned by the Aeons yet can reach out and grant these powers even through a different world or plane while they themselves are trapped and cannot walk the soil of Auriga. Most of the time when a powerful entity gives of itself it is usually to perform Tech or manufactured casting. Some entities of great unknown power can actually act as a replacement for the "Sky Network" by imposing a more personal "Terms & Conditions" contract with someone.

Slots and Levels

Describing slots and levels can be a bit of a well, you have to see for yourself. As is Ren tradition, we preserve the minds of the fallen. So my assistant will now display four different preserved brains, let us note the difference between them.
The first brain is an ordinary farmer, crushed to death by a rampaging Owlbear... Well by all intents and purposes a standard brain. The next brain is what we would call the brain of a 2nd level caster. This poor person thought concentrating on a Web and hiding under the kitchen counter was a wise tactic, unfortunately that counter was a mimic. Notice here that his brain has 2 new developments that the normal ordinary brain did not have. These are called slots, now if we follow the slots they lead to what is called a level. Now with that knowledge in mind... heh heh... Let us consider  the brain of a 5th level caster. Counting these slots of his brain, they allow him to channel ether to a 5th level of power. Very rare and special. This powerful man met his end when his flesh was melted by the acid breath of a black dragon. But the intricate designs of his brain would allow him to channel Ether abilities such as a "Wall of Force" very impressive. If we connected his brain to a resonator we could figure out what formulas he had prepared that day. It is understood that the most a brain can contain is what we call the 9th level. Of course our great Jade Emperor would be a living example of that.
The final brain is a brain of a psionic, as you can see it almost appears alien. Well that is a discussion for an entirely different lecture but I figured you would like to see it.
When someone uses a powerful formula, the slot is spent and needs to be regenerated. If you look closely at an Astral Mark, you will see the design reflect the slots and levels happening in the brain. We have determined that the fastest and most reliable way for the mind to regenerate is to sleep at a deep enough level that allows for dreaming. Or for us Ren to understand, enough time to fulfill a complete trance cycle. Casting also expends a great deal of calories. That is an explanation why it is rare to see a fat man casting. It is always recommended to take a fifteen minute break to exercise between your study sessions. A good cardio routine is a good caster. You don't know when you need to run away from an angry Rathian....
That concludes the lecture for this afternoon. Please check the report on the proper way to scribe formulas and how to quickly and efficiently prepare your mind with the best formulas for an average day. No questions please.

Professor Zorthos, Xurugan Blossoming Light Academy