Ether
Ether (also known by many other names such as mana and quinessence), is a powerful form of energy that, despite centuries of intensive study, is still not fully understood. There are three facts that seem to be concrete, however: a) Ether is the energy that powers magical feats, b) it emanates from the center of the galaxy, and c) the higher the concentration of Ether in a given area, the more likely it is that children born there will develop magical talent. However, how it powers magic or why it is produced at the center of the galaxy are still mysteries.
Properties
Origin & Source
Ether is life energy extracted from the souls of living beings. As a rule, sentient beings have more ether then non-sentients, and beings with psychic powers (known legally as Ethites) have the most. It can also occur naturally in atmospheres, but this is very rare, and is very expensive to extract.
Life & Expiration
Ether is renewable, but the more a being ages, the more ether is used up to keep the body working. Eventually, the ether produced is less then the ether needed to maintain life, and this leads to death. Events like injury or illness can also lead to a severe drain of ether, but it will stabilize with recovery.
History & Usage
History
While most species had some idea of an energy that allowed magic, in 600 BKC the Vakav and the Drazard collaborated to be the first species to prove that not only did souls exist, but the soul produced the energy that kept the bodies of sentient beings running. This energy, with training, could be channeled to perform incredible feats of athleticism and psychic power.
The Great Empires of the past took this discovery and developed it further, and drafted almost all who showed potential to use this power into their armies. These soldiers were the special forces, and they were given the name Ethites, a name which still holds to this day. They also developed the system of classifying different forms of magic that is still used today.
During the Warphole Convention in 53 AKC it was discovered that ether is also present naturally in some atmospheres and is an important material for creating stable Warps.
Everyday use
In the modern day, there are many schools that train one to channel ether, each of varying reliability. "True" Ethites (mostly known as Psychics, those able to tap into ether from birth) only make up about .005% of the galactic population, and even they need training to be able to use their powers effectively.
There have been attempts to use ether as a power source, but so far all attempts to curb its volatile nature have failed.Cultural Significance and Usage
Ether use is recognized throughout the galaxy, but the species where it has a formalized place in society are the Afavi, the Drazard, and the Scyll. The Scyll, by far, have entwined magic most with their society. It is believed that this is because they live closer to the center of the Setareh Galaxy then any other known species, and because of that their local environment contains a higher concentration of ether, increasing the probability of Psychics being born.
Hazards
Too much use of ether in a short amount of time can cause exhaustion, wear and tear on the body, and sometimes even death. This is true whether the ether is naturally produced or artificially injected. These effects can be so severe, Ethites with physical or mental illnesses are strongly encouraged to use their powers sparingly, or not to use their powers at all, and to focus only on recovery.
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