Atmosphere Resonance Crystal

An Atmosphere Resonance Crystal (ARC) is a giant worldshard harvested by Geomancers after the Sundering. These aeroshards, one per Island, were imprinted to their respective Island with the primary purpose of maintaining the atmosphere around the Island. Before the ARCs, several Aeromancers on each Island had to maintain a constant concentration to preserve the air. Many died in the effort.
== Ritual of Breath (Rite of Noe) ==
Once the ARCs were created, an Aeromancer could perform a ritual with the giant shard that would preserve the atmosphere for up to a week before it would start to slowly dissipate into the Void. At the beginning of the ritual, the Aeromancer channels all of their elemental energy into the ARC. Doing so sets up a resonance within the crystal matrix multiplying the energy so that there is a sufficient amount to sustain the atmosphere. This energy is equivalent to 2800 MYR or four high powered Aeromancer's entire energy for a day for seven days. Depending on the power of the person performing the ritual, more energy can be stored so that the ARC lasts longer before needing to be recharged.
This ritual takes approximately an hour. During this time, the Aeromancer is completely drained of their mystical energy and vulnerable. Moreover, their focus is within the crystal itself and they are barely aware of events transpiring around them.
A brief note about the older term, Noe or Pnoe is from the Dialektos Magos and means "breath".
== Other Uses ==
The ARC has other uses besides maintaining the atmosphere, which is the purpose for which they were imbued. Because of the resonance within the crystal matrix, a large quantity of energy (called MYR) is stored there. However, that energy can be drawn out of the crystal and used by Aeromancers to perform powerful spells they normally could not. So long as an Aeromancer remains in physical contact with the ARC, they can draw on the MYR and cast spells. Doing so is somewhat dangerous to the crystal, though, as it creates discord within the matrix. Researchers have concluded that there is a ratio of how many spells cast to the maximum MYR the ARC can hold between Rituals. This ratio relates to how likely an ARC is to shatter each time a new spell is cast.
Since the ARC is tied to the Island itself, though, the range of the spells cast is as far as the edges of the Island itself.
Category:Artifact