Essence

Essence is technically an alchemical substance, which was first created in Luminessa (before it flew), around 100 years ago, almost completely by accident during an experiment involving bottled Connection. At its most basic level, essence functions as an enormous source of energy, both chemical and magical, and is used to power almost every modern invention since its discovery.
Essence can be prepared in all three states of matter depending on what it is required to do:

• As a solid essence is incredibly strong, and if prepared in a certain way can join seamlessly to other pieces of essence, such as can be seen in the design of Suns. While still technically a solid, if powdered, essence becomes highly volatile, and is used in both Engines and in Firearms.
• Although its liquid state has by far the least practical applications, it is easiest to store in the condition, since very little space is wasted. It is also supposedly used in the creation of magical items, however the process is deeply esoteric.
• As a gas, essence is completely inert and massively lighter than air. As a result of this its most common and visible application is in the creation of Airships, and in the flying city of Luminessa.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Light yellowish in colouration. As a solid, essence is stronger than steel and less than half as heavy. It can be used to create weaponry such as swords and axes, however doing so is rarely cost effective. When powdered, it is highly explosive. As a liquid it retains its yellow colouration and is usually only slightly thicker than water. As a gas the colour is much less noticeable, with only a faint yellowish tinge. It is also substantially lighter than air and completely non-flammable.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Essence is always warm to the touch, a result of the significant amount of potential energy contained within it. As a solid essence is at its most volatile, being highly flammable and even explosive in a powder. Both the liquid and gas forms of the substance however are far less so, although they are somewhat more difficult to create.

Compounds

Combining essence with anything else usually renders the substance inert, and so it is rarely a compound of any use.

Geology & Geography

Essence is an alchemical substance made up of numerous different substances, including mundane metals such as copper and tin, along with natural substances such as saltpeter. While these are commonly available across Nalan, the key ingredient of the mixture is Connection itself. This means that the only way Essence can be created without turning people into Greys is by refining Mal'Haran into connection.

Life & Expiration

As a solid, essence does not seem to lose potency over time. As a liquid however, over the course of many years the substance will slowly degrade (represented as a loss of heat) until it becomes completely inert. When a gas, Essence deteriorates significantly faster than it does as a liquid.
For reference, the enormous balloons which provide some amount of lift and stability to Luminessa have the gas exchanged every two weeks, as this is around the time it takes for essence to lose its potency as a gas on this scale.

History & Usage

Discovery

Essence was discovered almost completely by accident when a bottle of contained Connection was knocked off a shelf by a passing gust of wind and mixed with a collection of elements and substances laid out for a completely different experiment.

Hazards

Considering what goes into Essence, it would likely be fairly toxic to drink or eat, however no one has ever been reported to have died as a result of it.

Odor

Whatever smell essence gives off seems undetectable to the noses of most creatures, however bloodhounds and other creatures with exceptional noses appear to become agitated when initially around essence, suggesting there is an odor undetectable to most.

Taste

Essence is usually described by those brave enough to consume it as being spicy, with a strong metallic tinge.

Color

Yellowish, almost transparent as a gas

Common State

Solid