Aether

The key to the Blue's existence

The atmosphere has some inherent property, which neatly fits into Momus' theory on Aether, that dictates how much mass can be held afloat. Aether trends upwards closer to the Depths, and usually is loosely matched with density. This study will determine several high and low Aether areas where this is not the case, but further experimentation will be needed to determine the full effects of this variation on buoyancy.

— Variation and Exceptions in Density and Buoyancy, and the Effect on Airship Travel, Aetis et. al., 1383 POA

The Aether is the name given to the unnatural buoyancy found beneath certain levels of the atmosphere. Some things are affected more than others, though determining what exact rules this follows has been the lifelong project of several generations of Imperial Scholars.

Knowledge Through History

First Discovery

Existence of the Aether has been well-known since before the first ships left Ilysium, so a definite discovery date is hard to pinpoint. Airships were much more primitive back then, relying on huge heat-generating machines to fill large sacks of air. Sailors at the time knew that there was a certain height when this would start to fail, and large areas were deemed "hot" or "cold" based on how well each ship would float or sink. These first "heat-maps" of the area around Ilysium and Olympus very loosely correlated with denser and weaker pockets of Aether. However, it was not until much later that this phenomenon was given a name.
Early studies into buoyancy focused on making both the ships as light as possible and the hot air provide as much lift as possible, instead of trying to figure out why certain areas were "hot" while others "cold". Certain configurations of loosely-separated gasses proved to work better than others, though there were several accidents when mixtures proved more flammable than expected. It is from these experiments that the term "Aether" was coined, by Stephanus Traius, an Imperial scientist who thought that the buoyancy of each type of gas was determined by a chemical property. He dubbed this chemical "Aether", but further experiments to prove its existence did not pan out.

Aether and Sorcery

Initially, when Sibylle Lichti was found, floating without any sort of buoyancy to keep her from sinking into the Depths, many theories were considered as she was studied. One of these theories is that she was altering the "heat" of the area around her. Traius' "Aether" was also considered, and those two theories merged together when some initial experiments proved that she was, in fact, causing an area to be capable of holding more than the atmosphere usually is. The term "Aether" slowly changed to mean the inherent ability of the air to hold things afloat, which was spearheaded by Sosicles Momus. Later experiments proved that she was not altering the buoyancy but rather the density of the air and the term fell out of use once again.

Plasma Engines

The next thing to bring back studies into Aether was the advent of plasma engines in the early Industial-Sorcerous Age. The new technology made it possible for airships to completely forgo older and more primitive buoyancy devices if they so desired, as well as make ships much larger and more sturdy. However, the "hot" and "cold" spots still affected the airships, despite no longer needing heat to stay afloat. A study by the lengthy name of "Variation and Exceptions in Density and Buoyancy, and the Effect on Airship Travel", funded by the Imperial Navy, found that certain areas had, unrelated to the density of the atmosphere, higher and lower buoyancy. As this fit neatly into Momus' earlier theories about Aether, the term was re-purposed once again.
There was some debate over whether to attempt to "heat-map" the entirety of the Blue, but in the end it was pointless, as the stronger plasma engines proved more than capable of handling the low-Aether areas.

Current Day

Aether studies are still a large part of the Imperial Navy's research department. There has been little success in finding out why certain things like wood and cloth are affected more heavily by Aether than metals and alloys. Initially it was thought that the more organic an object, the more the Aether would support it, but there has been no reliable evidence to support this theory. Currently, the Navy prioritizes stronger materials over any benefit that would come from being more buoyed by Aether, but some Clans are known to use ships of almost entirely cloth that can travel high above where most others can travel, allowing them to slip past blockades and patrols with ease.
A very recent discovery is that the amount of Aether changes slowly, over time. It is not thought to be possible to increase or decrease the amount overall, and no methods have been found to change it on a small scale either. However, it does ebb and flow around the islands where it is monitored, on a scale only really visible after close study for generations.

Effects and Uses

Mapping

While some small attempts have been made to fully map the pockets of high and low Aether, they have all been individual projects by Clans and Houses, and most were quickly abandoned. Neither the Empire or the Trade Union has made any effort to map their territory's Aether levels.

Collection

After the proof of its existence, the Navy tried to figure out if it was possible to affect the Aether, as it was initially thought Skybloods did. However, no methods were found that actually altered the amount of Aether even in small, sealed, rooms.

In Case of Emergencies

The Navy, once a year, produces a small brochure dictating the best procedures for what to do if you find yourself adrift. They freely distribute these to all Imperial Citizens and Colonists, and many of the older versions have found circulations among the Trade Union.

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"In the case of a buoyancy emergency, don't panic. Worst case scenario, you have roughly two hours before reaching the Depths, which is plenty of time for a ship to spot and rescue you. Follow the following steps, and you can extend the time you have to be rescued to a maximum of almost indefinitely.

1. Search for a buoyancy device (BD). All Imperial ships, by mandate, have twice as many BDs as passengers and crew, so in the case of a ship with lost buoyancy, find and attach the BD to your person as directed by the instructions you find with it. BDs are able to sustain one person's weight for up to ten hours. If you cannot find a BD, do not worry. You still have plenty of time to be rescued.
2. Discard any metals on your person. Metal can easily drag you down to the Depths much faster than you would sink by yourself. This includes coins and devices. The only device not to be discarded is a distress beacon, if you have one. Large pieces of metal will not sink more slowly than small ones, that is a myth.
3. Distance yourself from any wreckage or other adrift persons. The larger the distance between you and the nearest sinking object, the slower you fall."

- Buoyancy Emergency Procedure, 62 RA

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by Griclav

An early "heat-map" of Aether around Ilysium and Olympus

Notable Scientists

• Stephanus Traius: Coined the term "Aether"
• Sosicles Momus: Developed the theory of an inherent buoyancy property
• Modia Aetis: Lead researcher who discovered proof of Aether's existence

Aether Monitoring Stations

Olympus has the only current Aether monitoring station. Many such stations were constructed, but after decades of no or little change, they were all shut down to save funds. The Olympus monitoring station is often considered to be a "dud" position, for scientists who have offended the navy in some way.

Current Studies

Plasma Waste and its Effect on Atmospheric Composition and Aether Distribution
Some concern was levied by citizens that the waste produce of plasma engines would cause problems, so this study was issued to determine both the changes in the atmosphere that the engines were causing and what could be done to mitigate them.
New Islands, a Theoretical Guide
This study, funded by the Trade Union, is focused on the possibility of creating self-buoyant habitats, ending the problem of overpopulation.
Flow of Aether Around the Shattered Worlds
The question this study wishes to answer is why the Shattered Worlds seem to have a much higher level of Aether than anywhere else in the Blue. It has not gone anywhere in the four years it has been going, and the Clan who funded it has considered cutting their support.
Aether Curvature and its Implications
Aether, though not uniform across the Blue, does conform to a general guideline based on altitude. Past the Shattered Worlds, where only a handful of ships have ever returned safely, is this still the case? Could an absence or excessive presence of Aether be the reason why so few ships survive the journey? This study promises to find the answer.