Shards of Zolgar

The Shards of Zolgar is a colloquial name for the collection of side effects that come with using magic. It is also referred to as "The Pains" by casters and common folk alike. The belief is that these pains come from Zolgar, the Deity of Opposition, and Magic.
Once magic was damaged and fractured by The Shattering, casters found they had an additional problem besides a lack of reliable magical energy. When one first began casting spells, there would be a vague sense of unease, maybe some faint nausea or muscular pains. Slowly, these symptoms would intensify, and the more a caster used magic, the faster they developed. After some time, casting anything requiring more power than the most basic of spells would lead to sharp and sudden muscle pains. There would also be a feeling of intense nausea as well as blinding headaches.
As the years passed, it was discovered that these were not the only symptoms. Over time, consistent magic use would lead to muscle fatigue and joint pain that persisted long after the acute symptoms faded. The final stage of side effects affected the mind, leading to memory degredation and insanity. This was a highly dangerous side effect for those who were magically talented. Many disasters in the early years after The Shattering were caused by casters and not natural occurences, often leading to multiple fatalities.
Strangely, even those who tried to limit their spellwork would find themselves experiencing effects over the long term, if more slowly. Many casters believed that the cause was a buildup of some sort from being in tune with the mystic plane, where raw magic resides. Commonly, this was referred to as "mystic residue," although there was no way to isolate it and identify exactly what it was.
Growing resentment towards casters, blamed for the devastation of The Shattering, was exacerbated by the news that casters were losing their minds, but not their powers. Anyone who practiced magic could find themselves shunned by the community, or even meet open hostility. Casters who went insane were often dealt with harshly and immediately, usually fatally. Often mobs formed when even the slightest hint of odd behavior was detected in a caster.
Over the decades, many treatments and homebrewed recipes, frequently spurious and even laughable, were attempted to try to stop the Pains. Most famous of these was the concoction known as "Caster's Brew," which actually did deal with the most acute symptoms, provided one found the proper recipe for it.
The most effective treatment for the Shards of Zolgar came to be discovered by a group of exiled casters in what is now Khaldi, around 220 AS. Knowledge of the cure traveled to Polira near 235 AS. It was a mineral substance that could stave off the effects of using magic. This mineral was known as Aspium, and when mixed with wine (or vinegar, if one could not afford even cheap wine) it made a tonic that, if taken regularly, treated most of the symptoms. Unfortunately, whatever residue built up in the casters remained, and senility and dementia were inevitable. No true cure has yet been found.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Uncommon