Stardust

## Overview

Stardust is believed to have been left behind by Celestial Prime when the universe was created, and is therefore a lingering touch of divinity in the mortal plane as well as the link between the mortal plane and other higher planes of existence. Stardust was and continues to be the key for higher levels of civilization to function because space-age technology is based on it. Many people consider Stardust to be a blessing and form of love from more powerful beings, because existence as is known to everyone alive presently wouldn't be possible without it.

Stardust is found in multiple naturally occurring forms:

* Stardust is used to overarchingly describe all forms, as well as the particulate matter that is present throughout all of existence.
* Crystal is the specific term for the solid, condensed form of Stardust, and is often found in space as large clusters, or on planets, either in large chunks and outcroppings or just scattered everywhere. It is mined and processed into everything from fuel/energy cores for starships and reactors, to weaponry, to medicinal purposes.
* An artificially created liquefied form dubbed “Stardust Serum” that is generally used in the medical field

## Crystal

Crystal refers to an individual’s personal Crystal, and is a piece of Crystal that they are bonded to. This bond is otherworldly and cannot be forced. It serves as the link between the great cosmic energy and the individual, and they channel energy through this stone and are able to manipulate the energy around them. Crystal typically is seen as a vaguely diamond/bullet shaped pendant that is worn on a necklace (about the size of a pebble or (small) egg), but some people have theirs embedded in a bracelet or some other wearable accessory, or if their Crystal is unusually small, perhaps a circlet. Even if a person is born with enough Stardust within them to have abilities, they are not able to channel energy around them and manipulate their surroundings without a Crystal.

An individual can only have one Crystal (at least one Crystal that they are bound to). People seen with multiple Crystals either are only bonded to one of them and the other(s) are just worn as decoration, or belong to someone else (ex, a child who may not be trusted to wear something so precious on their body quite yet). Or, it might be a much rarer case of the person being able to structurally manipulate their Crystal to take on a different form, such as a bracelet instead of the typical pendant form. Since a person’s Crystal is bonded to them, it is directly linked to their life force. If the Crystal is severely cracked or shattered/otherwise broken, this will result in the individual’s death, even if they may otherwise be in good health. This is quite rare, but not impossible.

As a material Crystal is very durable, and it will take an extensive amount of (typically repeated) damage to have an individual’s crystal become damaged enough to result in death. Despite the fact that most Crystal-related deaths occur due to extensive and repeated damage to the individual’s stone (typically seen in soldiers or other people who have a very physical and dangerous occupation), it is common in some cultures and regions for individuals to not display their Crystals publicly, especially in times of hardship, war, or if they are considered to be a target of some sort. This is because in an event of an attack, one might aim for another person’s Crystal.

Crystals can be found for sale at nearly any market, and can also be found out in nature. One must buy or otherwise obtain the Crystal that calls to them, it cannot just be picked at random based on what is prettiest or cheapest or whatever other arbitrary quality an individual may desire. Crystal comes in just about every shade and color. The vast majority of Crystal is a turquoise color, typically on the paler side. This color of Crystal is much more commonly found in the universe (and so this is the color that anything Stardust powered in the industrial or technological realm will take on because it is mined and processed en masse). Additionally, it is cheaper to buy for personal use, but it works just the same as any other color of Crystal. In this case, price ≠ quality. Oftentimes, family members will keep a Crystal of a loved one that has passed on as a keepsake, and it is possible that new children born into the family may bond to this family heirloom. Regardless, Crystal predisposition is not necessarily hereditary, but, it is a common phenomenon that family members tend to have Crystal colors in similar color groupings

## Ability Levels:

Stardust abilities, magic, powers, etc (all these terms work as descriptors) range vastly from person to person and tend to be proportionally equivalent to an individual’s Stardust concentration. Abilities exist on a continuum and fall into different “tiers” (these are not strict definitions and are not terms used within the universe itself, and are just used for establishing a baseline description). People’s abilities follow an exponential curve in terms of power output, and the amount of people with a given power output also follows an exponential curve (decreasing). Tiers and their associated qualities are as follows:

### Tier one:

This is the most basic level of power that an individual can have. The vast majority of people in the universe have at least some abilities (over 75%), and most people who have abilities fall into this category (over 50%).

* Levitating decently small and light objects (ex, dishes, a potted plant, tablet)
* An individual can manipulate the energy around them so that their aura/essence will start to condense around their hands, which will shimmer/glow slightly and grow warm
* Stardust-based medicine and transportation are categorically compatible with an individual's body chemistry

### Tier two:

Similar to tier one, just more advanced in terms of energy output. Tier two is the minimum to have abilities that are useful in a fight, because this is when people are able to channel their energy at a target and do some damage.

* Levitating larger objects that would normally be hard or impossible to lift up for the average person (ex, large box/crate, chunk of rock)
* An individual can manipulate their aura and absorb more of the residual energy around them, to the point where their hands grow hot and they are able to project this energy

### Tier three:

Similar to tier two, just more advanced in terms of energy output. Tier three is where very rare forms of abilities might begin to appear, including teleportation/portal formation and healing abilities.

* Levitating very large objects (ex: very heavy furniture/appliances, a boulder)
* Being able to very effectively channel energy at a target and do a significant amount of damage, can be as effective (if not more) than having a gun or a blade of some sort in a fight
* An individual is able to use their powers to propel themselves in various ways, such as: jumping very long distances, increased speed, momentarily being able to hover
* An individual is likely able to manipulate the structural form of their Crystal from its original shape. Instead of the common diamond-shaped pendant that is worn on a necklace, the individual may choose to form it into bracelets or another wearable form
* If the individual is able to manipulate their Crystal shape, they might be able to manipulate it into a weapon. This is a rare and refined ability, and the individual must also be able to conceptualize their weapon of choice before they are able to pull in residual Stardust from the environment and mesh it with their Crystal at will

### Tier four:

Similar to tier three, just more advanced in terms of energy output. Much greater chance of rare ability forms occur with this tier.

* Much higher likelihood that an individual will be able to manipulate their Crystal into a weapon
* If they are able to form one weapon, an individual is more likely to be able to form a second (or third, etc). Most people who are able to form a weapon can only manage to form one, and cannot form any others.
* Teleportation/portal formation/wormholes are much more likely to be an ability that is possessed at tier four (versus three)
* Healing abilities are more likely to appear, though they are still incredibly rare. Even if an individual can form 3+ Crystal weapons and can create portals does not predispose them to healing abilities. In the same sense, an individual could be a healer but is unable to form multiple weapons or create portals (though this is even rarer, most people who possess healing abilities can also create wormholes and have advanced Crystal manipulation abilities)

### Tier five: Star Seeds

* There are only ever five individuals in the entire universe at a time who can be considered tier five individuals, and these are the Star Seeds. Star Seeds are mortals who are essentially channeling divine power directly. Instead of tapping into the residual cosmic energy that exists on the mortal plane, they have a direct link to the Celestials and are more or less “borrowing” the power of the Celestials and bending it to their will
* Star Seeds generally are able to make portals, and all of them are capable of manipulating their Crystal into multiple weapons, but not all of them have healing abilities. (Statistically speaking, roughly half of all Star Seeds have healing abilities, but in any given moment in time, the number of current Star Seeds with this ability can be anywhere from zero, to all five).
* Star Seeds also have elemental powers (fire, water, earth, air) on top of all other abilities. Four of the Star Seeds each have one element they are able to manipulate, and the fifth (Star Seed Prime), is able to manipulate all elements