About Magic

CC

CC - Cosmic Crystal ¹Your humble historian has heard that they are called Control Crystals in a certain part of the world.:

CC's discovery originates from ancient times when the Six Gods visited our Realm. It was the God of Magic, Wyland, who introduced it to us, teaching our ancestors how to use it to channel the power of the heavens and control magic. Since then, CC has been the resource of mages, and its properties are so unique that it is proof that CC is a resource from Heaven.

Mining CC is hard and demanding work, overseen by state officials, no matter the country. Unique tools made out of CC itself are required to mine this special resource of our world.²No known territory exists where CC is not state-owned.. There is no known defining factor in CC mines and their appearance. They were found at the same rate in caves, mountains, and flatlands or riverbeds. To our knowledge, it is completely random.

Most, if not all, countries limit the sale and ownership of CC. Every piece of CC, in the hands of a non-state-qualified mage³No matter if it is raw CC or part of an artifact, must be authorized by the state, and when asked, a certificate must be presented that proves that the individual has the rights to own it⁴Failing to do so is punishable by death.

CC, even with the hard and strict laws guarding it, can not escape the fate and greed of humans. Throughout history, there have always been underground dealings where shipments of CC are being traded back and forth. Be it the work of curious researchers, nobles who want to flaunt their reach, or rouge mages, the gift of the Heavens will find a way⁵There were multiple instances when large, underground crime syndicates, in different countries, were backed by opposing, hostile neighbors, distributing CC and inciting revolts. These organizations are usually led by rebellious mages.

Known properties⁶Studying CC is only allowed for selected individuals. Experimenting with it is forbidden in most countries and punishable by death:

• Its weight always remains the same, no matter its size, shape, or form.
• No natural elements or force can damage or influence it besides another CC or magic.
• It is known that using CC for magic spells degrades its integrity⁷The latest research shows that the larger the CC, the stronger it is. There are known blocks that could operate flying warships for multiple decades before requiring a change..
• The larger the CC, the harder it is to be used by a mage or get a reaction from spells that any human could perform.
• CC that has been grounded into powder loses its special properties⁸It becomes highly poisonous for mages. Ingesting or inhaling it can cause anyone magical to fall sick or even die if the dose is large enough..
• Energy storage⁹It is possible to fill CC with magic. The mage must let their powers flow into it, which in turn charges the CC. This can greatly weaken a mage, requiring them to rest for multiple days, so it is rarely done unless they are required to perform it. For example, when creating an artifact or any type of magical technology requiring it to function as intended..

CC sizes¹⁰Every country has their own system. This one is based on the one in Ishillia:

• Strands¹¹CC that has been turned into fine strands that can be woven into cloth or armor. It is the known smallest yet still usable form of CC. It is a state secret of the Ishillia Empire.
• Pebble¹² Mostly used in arrays and formations by the dozen. They are quick to erode, and they break down easily. They are usually one-time-use items.
• Fist¹³Based on the hand-size of the first emperor of Ishillia. The most frequently used size by mages, integrated into their magical devices.
• Skull¹⁴Based on the size of the first Emperor's head.
• Human¹⁵Human-sized CC is the biggest, practically useable and viable version of CC. They are usually found on advanced machinery, operating it.
• Gods' Tear¹⁶No known thing ever used something that is bigger than a human-sized version. They are broken down and turned into something of the above-mentioned sizes.

Examples of CC usage:

• Formations
  • Many formations are using CC as their fuel source or focus point, helping its activation, even if there are no trained mages nearby.
•  Spellcasting
  • The most regular usage of CC by mages of any tier or origin. They usually are in the Fist-sized range, sometimes Pebble-sized, but mostly the former. They can come in many shapes and forms; they are not restricted to only their natural appearance.¹⁷
• Artifact Creation
  • A magical artifact can vary in size and function, only limited by the mage and/or its creator. Any mage capable of crafting an artifact is usually known by name in the country where they live. ¹⁸Artifacts tend to use a multitude of CC sizes, ranging from Pebble to Skull-size.
• Magic Technology
  • Anything that requires at least 5 pieces of CC is counted as Magic Technology, no matter their usage or the amount of formations used in its creation.¹⁹Only Magic Technology level items are capable of making use of Human-sized CC. For example, the engines of flying ships.

This Codex excerpt was written by Authorya Cortyn, your humble historian.