The Skein

The Skein was created by the Outsiders to regulate and control the flows of magical energy unleashed by the Night Wars. Before the Skein, the barriers between worlds were much more permeable, and magic was more easily drawn out of the Aether. But the sheer, destructive forces called forth by combatants in the Night Wars threatened to rip Vala apart. Even when Nyx was banished, vast amounts of wild magic remained, twisting and changing the landscape, which was infested with invading spirits. The Outsiders, who had been drawn to Vala by the Night Wars, raised up the Needle of Heaven to serve as a focus for wild magic, and then Ystarte showed her fellow gods how to weave this energy into the Skein. Not only did the Skein control the flows of magic, it also acted as a web to ensnare spirits attempting to infiltrate Vala from the Abyss. Slowly, excess, aetheric energies were drawn into the Skein, and hungry spirits cast from Vala and prevented from returning. 
When mages call on their powers, they attempt to twist the Skein, channeling raw magic into tangible effect. Patterns of potential energy exist in the Skein, and this energy can be shaped by the mage's will into a variety of often rote effects. This was not intended by the gods, who had no way to deny mortals access to the Skein, just as the gods cannot seal off the Aether from mortals. Magic pervades everything, the gods can simply try and control its flows. 
However, while mages can perceive the Skein, it is difficult to control and rebels against being reshaped. The chance of dangerous backlashes is high, and the less experienced the mage, the higher the chance of a deadly mishap. Worse, manipulating the Skein can draw the notice of the araneas, Ystarte's Skein spiders that sense threats to the web of magic and converge to contain and eliminate said threats. More than one foolish mage has been dragged screaming into the Gloam by araneas, never to be seen again.
Category:Magic