Aethyrium-Sea

*The Aethyrium-Sea, also simply called the Aethyr by the inhabitants of the galaxy is a scarcely understood extra dimensional substances that exist between the physical Mortal Realm and the spiritual Astral Realm. To most it is simply a substances which allows one to breathe freely among the void without need of a sealed suit, it is also worshiped as a gift from the gods, prayed to and given offerings. However, it is so much more than what the Mortal Realm believes. Sailing among the shifting tides of the Aethyr is entering literally the Space Between All Things and while the Aethyrium-Sea encompasses the entirety of the Apocalypsa Galaxy, it is not a substance native to the Mortal Realm of existence. When utilizing the Gates & Ways or any other form of faster than light travel, starships are transported to a realm between the material world and immaterial world consisting entirely of the Aethyrium. Though even less of this realm is understood than the Aethyrium-Sea of the Mortal Realm, within this otherworldly realm energy flows more freely and gravity has little role. There also exist various different and extremely dangerous creatures within the Aethyrium Plane. The Realm of the Aethyrium, allows for shortening distances between worlds when traversing the galaxy. A starship enters the Aethyr realm by either creating a relatively stable wormhole or by utilizing one of the Gates & Ways present throughout the galaxy. As a starship leaves the material universe it enters a corresponding point within the Aethyrium Plane. The starship is then carried along by the tides and currents of the Aethyrium, like a pebble in a raging ocean. After travelling in this fashion for an appropriate time, the starship uses its Quest Engines to drop back into the Mortal Realm.*

*Because the material universe and the Aethyr move relative to one another, the starship reappears in a new position several or so light years from the starting position. Journeys through the Aethyr are usually undertaken in cursory jumps of up to a few dozen light years, this is because longer jumps are unpredictable and dangerous. The tides of the Aethyr move in complex and inconsistent patterns, and starships attempting longer jumps often end up either wildly off-course or hopelessly lost. Were this limitation to apply to all Aethyr travel, then Humanity would not have spread throughout the galaxy as it has. It is possible to make long jumps of many light years by steering a starship in the Aethyr itself -- sensing, responding to, and exploiting its currents and thereby directing the craft towards a corresponding point in the material universe. Only powerful psychic individuals known as Quasi can pilot a craft through the Aethyr's tides in this way. Quasi are especially sensitive to the movements of the Aethyr.*

*Psychics can sometimes tell that a starcraft is approaching before it drops back into Mortal Realm. Celestial bodies do exist within the Aethyr and pose yet another obstacle to those wishing to traverse it. Ranging in size from that of a planet to a small asteroid, these spheres float freely in the Aethyr, sometimes enough to significantly change their positions with respect to each other over time. While most of these spheres randomly float in the Aethyr, in rare cases, stable configurations, comparable to a planetary system, exist that ensure reliable routes between spheres. The flow of the Aethyr around them, however, remains unaltered, so navigation between the spheres remains possible. Due to their somewhat fixed location, many such celestial spheres are used by the spacefaring races as a means of navigating the Aethyr to limited success. Charts which attempt to map out their locations within the Aethyr Realm are widely employed. Whether or not the celestial spheres are habitable remains a mystery. For no starship that has ever descended to the surface of a celestial sphere has ever returned.*

*Because of the obscuring nature of the Aethyr, celestial spheres are usually not visible during most of the duration of a trip. They only became visible at relatively close distances and, due to their enormous sizes, could often pose a threat to nearby vessels as they maintain their own gravitational pulls. The wrecks of countless vessels lost to the many dangers of the Aethyr are common sight, some dating back to the time of the Old Empire itself. There are believed to be over 1,000 celestial spheres with fixed locations which contain stable routes through the Aethyr. Alternately, the Gates & Ways are a safer method of traversing the Aethyr, as they are connected to a fixed point, limiting the dangers. The Aethyr is far from homogeneous. The fluid itself varied in its density from place to place and also displayed river-like flows, sometimes connecting regions of space. Quasi can make use of this flow to greatly increase the speed of travel for their vessels through the vast distances within the Aethyr. Increasing the contact area with the flow to acquire greater speed is also the reason some starships have sails.*

*The intensity of the Aethyr can change depending on its realspace alignment with the Mortal Realm. For example, Aethyr travel to and from Phyrr Space is extremely volatile due to its more chaotic nature and nearly impossible to accomplish without a Quasi. The waves of the Aethyr shift and flow freely, sometimes enough to significantly effect the positions of celestial bodies with respect to each other over time. The flow, however, remains unaltered, so navigation between certain points remains possible. Many of these rivers flow in both directions, but some flow in only one way, forcing a return trip to take a different route. Most of the currents of the Aethyr change randomly. However, in rare cases, stable configurations exist that ensure reliable routes between specific regions. One such stable configuration is Bastion's Gate, located in Wyld space. Bastion's Gate has a strong current that flows between Nier Space and Wyld space, making two-way travel between the two regions relatively simple.*

*There are one-way flows from a few known regions of Phyrr Space to Wyld Space and Nier Space, but not in the opposite directions. Due to its chaotic currents, it is impossible to travel directly from either Wyld space or Nier space to Phyrr Space. From Faar Space, however, their does exist a handful of very unstable pathways through the Aethry which makes it a relatively simple matter to travel to Faar Space, owing to the strong currents leading to this region. The Aethyr is an opaque, brilliant, multicolored substance that does not resemble any of the known elements. It cannot exist outside of its own realm and quickly dissipates if brought into the Mortal Realm. It also cannot be reproduced. Battles within the Aethyrium between starships are not unheard of and the wreckage's of various vessels which had been destroyed during such engagements can be found.*

*Aethyrium storms do occur and while most pass without being noticed, there are those fierce enough to cut off travel to whole regions of the galaxy for prolonged periods of time. The most severe documented Aethyr storms have severed all contact and travel with whole star systems for centuries at a time.*

## *History & Origins*

*Before the arrival of the Aethyrium-Sea, the Sea of Stars was a barren void where few habital worlds could be found.*