Shimmersand

## What is Shimmersand?

Shimmersand is a captivating natural phenomenon exclusive to the vast desert landscapes of Xiros, intriguingly overlooked by the locals. Present ubiquitously in Xiros but virtually absent elsewhere, this unique spectacle transforms the desert floor into a radiant canvas of red-orange luminescence after nightfall. The key to this mesmerizing display lies in the peculiar composition of Xirosian Sand, distinguished by fine particles that absorb sunlight during the day, only to release it as a luminous glow at night. Despite decades of research, the exact mechanism behind this luminescence remains an enigma.

## The Shimmersand-Generator

### The beginnings of electricity in the Empire

In the 47th I.C., a member of the Imperial Research Department released a paper in which he shared special findings regarding the Shimmersand: After the sand has spent a short time in a centrifuge, the shimmer particle separates from the remaining sediment and can be removed. Now, in its purest form, the glow of the particles is impressively bright. Furthermore, when exposed to the sun now, the particles become “aggressive,” as the paper put it. Today we know he got an electric shock from the particles. In the following years, a huge team from the research department developed the Shimmersand-Generator.

### How does a Shimmersand-Generator work?

The extracted particles are first mixed into an optimized paste, which consists of the particles, some water and glue imported from Lounasügav. A panel is then cast from this paste. The panel is built with T'sukitsalp insulators and a chassis made of T'sesaret and so that you don't get shocked when you come into contact with the panel, but it still gets sunlight, there is a layer of non-conductive glass on top of it. There is also a device in the chassis that regulates the panel's power output. Together with the invention of electricity storage, which was finished a few segments later, the new technology was ready to spread across the continent.

## New possibilities

Electricity. What is the right answer when someone asks what electricity makes possible? Over the next Imperial Cycles, new opportunities developed throughout the Empire. Cities used to always stay dark at night, but electric light changed everything.

### Military Advancements

The Shimmersand's unique properties did not confine themselves to the illumination of cities alone. Military strategists quickly recognized the potential of incorporating shimmer sand paste into weaponry. Blades and armor adorned with a carefully applied layer of the paste exhibited enhanced electrical effects during daylight combat, providing a tactical advantage on the battlefield. This development reshaped military doctrines and led to the establishment of specialized units trained in utilizing these electrified weapons.

### Economic Shifts

Following the introduction of the Shimmersand-Generator, there remained only two intervals before the upcoming election. Surprisingly, the subsequent ruler opted to cease both imports and exports, steering the empire towards a prolonged period of protectionism that endures to the present day. Because the spreading of word cannot be stopped, the innovation the imperial house tried to hide reached the other nations in a matter of days. Since then, the xirosian protectionism is a heated topic in the entire world, as the other nations are very interested in xirosian technology and the political opposition desperately wants to share this highly developed technology with the rest of the world receive the foreign wonders they hear so much about.