Category:Wells Primer

What is a Well?

A well is crystallized energy of some form. The majority of these are made from Ether, the energy that comes from Emea. But any form of energy that achieves a crystalline form constitutes a well. Wells have several different states. Raw wells are those that have not been altered since their harvest or creation. Refined wells have had energy run through them, giving them new properties. Ensorcelled wells have been cut and crafted, changing the properties they bear. Finally, fragmented wells are the leftover pieces, too small for their full power, but still keeping some aspects.

Raw Wells

Wells often appear like large, uncut gemstones, and in many ways, they are jewels. In their raw form, they are limited to one effect until they've been changed. This raw effect tends to be the effect that type of well is most known for, but isn't necessarily their strongest. Raw wells can be manipulated, usually by Ensorcellors, shaped as needed.

Refined Wells

When energy is run through a raw well, it refines it, granting power based on the location of the refining. A well refined in a workshop in Idalos will not have the same effect brought out of it as an identical well refined in Emea. Location means everything in the refining process.

Mages tend to have the easiest time refining wells, as they can feed their ether through them. However, any energy source can be used, be it ether (domain or divine), ectoplasm or ephemera, even electricity. The energy used does not matter as much as where it is applied. Once refined, the well becomes rigid, harder. For many who deal in wells, it is important to shape the well prior to refining, for shaping it after is difficult as they are easier to break. This refining adds new effects to wells.

The rigid, refined wells are the bread and butter of Ensorcelling. Ensorcellors are the craftsman who further shape and change the refined wells. It is an incredibly dangerous trade to get into, for not only are the precious (and often expensive) wells fragile in this state, they are also volatile. Ensorcellors break, shape, polish, and cut down the well. But each step of this process triggers a reaction, which can be different from well to well. A well struck by a chisel one day might cause a flash of lightning to arc off it, and the next day cause the chisel to melt. It truly is chaos in an Ensorcellor's workshop.

Well Cores and Fragments

One of the goals in the Ensorcelling process is to cut the well down to its most concentrated and flawless point. All wells have a bit of perfection in them, where their connection to their energy source is strongest. This flawlessness is what Ensorcellors seek. So they cut the refined well down, doing their best to not be destroyed in the process. There doesn't seem to be any perfect rhyme or reason to the process, and the best Ensorcellors say it is often a combination of experience and a whole bunch of intuition. This intuition is key, to know that striking your chisel one face may kill you, and the other grant you your boons. It is far from an exact science, but it is one of the most lucrative in Idalos.

Once the flawless core is cut free from the well, the remaining pieces become fragment wells. These wells still hold power, but being severed from the core diminishes it. These fragments are often made into working tools for the Ensorcellor or sold to those who wish to use their curious properties for other purposes.

Acquiring Wells

Wells can be acquired from every plane of existence through a wide variety of means. They are often classified based of the regions they come from, because of having different energy sources.

Emean Wells

The most commonly known wells come from Fractures. These wells are part of the Emean wells class, and all of them are made from crystalline ether. In addition to the fractures, these wells are found throughout the various sections of Emea. The energy in these wells is often sought after by mages, as it is the same as their own. These wells appear in strange ways, or at least as strange as Emea is. Some of them are embedded in stone, seeming no different than gemstones. Others might be found in the body of an Emean creature, acting like a stronger type of "heart". Others can be found moving around in Emea, some found in plants, or occasionally simply floating around in a gas state. When it comes to collecting Emean wells, there simple is no standard.

Divine Wells

The next class of wells are the Divine wells. These wells are made from ether that has been used by the Immortals. These wells are almost exclusively found within the Emean Domains of the Immortals. However, they are known to grow on the outside of the Emean Domains as well, allowing them to be harvested without trespassing. These wells contain powers associated with their Immortal's domains. They tend to be fairly rare, as their powers can be used for, or against, the Immortal. Divine wells do all share one particular thing in common, and that is their ability to act as a type of compass to lead people through Emea and to the domain the well came from. Additionally, the Divine well acts like a key, granting entrance to the Immortal's Domain. Immortals have occasionally gifted these wells to their most loyal and trusted followers, but often tell the follower of the potential dangers of it falling in the wrong hands.

Spirit Wells

Spirit wells come from the Beneath, more specifically, the Imaginings. While these wells can be found in either of the two planes of existence, they are much more abundant in the Imaginings. They are formed from crystallized ephemera. This is often generated by the Imaginings itself, however, spirit wells are also formed when a spirit is destroyed in its entirety, which is no simple task. If the spirit loses all of its ephemera, its connection to the Imaginings crystallizes. The spirit itself cannot be recovered from the spirit well, but new spirits can be born from them. These wells are quite rare, and often viewed as less useful, for very few people have experience in the use of ephemera.

Soul Wells

Soul wells come the Beneath as well. These are created from crystallized ectoplasm. They are naturally existing in the Beneath, particularly in areas with an abundance of ghosts. Ghosts are also able to create these wells through their Hex and Syphon abilities. Finally, if a ghost is completely depleted of ectoplasm, reduced lower than even a Whisper, their soul and connection to the Beneath crystallizes into the well. Those with an affinity to ghosts and souls can feel the consciousness within the well, even recognize it. But there is no communication between a soul well and anyone else. These wells are somewhat rare, as they tend to mostly be used by ghosts, who fight over them if discovered.

Universal Uses of Wells

Aspects

All wells can store aspects (spells, abilities, etc) within them, so long as those stored aspects are of the same energy type as them. For many of these, they are limited in just how high of an aspect they can store. Higher tier wells can store higher leveled aspects, but are also much more rare. All wells can only store one aspect at a time.

These aspects can be called upon anyone with access to the energy type used. This allows mages and blessed alike to store spells and abilities for later use. However, those without access to the specific energy type cannot use them unless the well has been Ensorcelled to allow it.

Emean wells can store aspects of Domain Magic. These may only be triggered by a domain mage of any kind. The mage does not have to be the same level as the aspect that is stored.

Divine wells can store aspects of Immortal Blessings and curses. These may only be triggered by an individual bearing a Divine Mark of some sort (blessing and cursed). These marks do not need to be the same tier as the aspect stored.

Soul wells can store aspects of Ectoplasm, Domain Magic, and Immortal Blessings and curses.

Spirit wells can store aspects of spirits, ephemera, and the natural world.

Well Absorption

Emean wells and Soul wells can have their energy absorbed by Mages through the act of flaying, which instantly drains the desired amount, making it much faster and efficient than flaying a person. The mage can choose to drag this process out, to make it take longer, if they so desire. This will deplete raw wells, though they recharge. Fragments can be drained, but will not recharge and will shatter when they run out. Energy absorbed in this manner will replenish the mage's ether reserves. This does not increase the Mage's Thirst nor does it invite Overstepping. However, if the well is capable of a higher tier than the flaying mage, Flaying will rebound on the mage, causing them to start wildly dumping their raw ether into the well, often causing a loss of control. This will invite Overstepping if the mage isn't able to sever the connection.

Divine wells and Soul wells can have their energy absorbed by those who have Blessing from an Immortal or are a mortalborn. This method varies greatly based upon the Immortals that have blessed them or are their parent. This can manifest itself in methods such as a Faldrun born having to burn a well with his blessing and inhaling the smoke or a Cassion marked having to eat the well. The absorption of a divine well by a Marked individual often allows them to go above the limits of a specific ability, or to instantly recharge the ability if it has been used up. Additionally, the absorption of a Divine well by a mortalborn (must be from the mortalborn's parent domain) can greatly reduce existing Fracturing. If no Fracturing is present, it has the potential to grant new abilities or a new domain to the mortalborn.

Spirit wells can be absorbed by spirits and ghosts, but unless a mortal has some special access to ephemera control, typically cannot be absorbed by mortals, regardless of their magic or divine status.

Emea Wells

Novice and Competent Tier

Expert Tier

Master+ Tier

Divine Wells

Soul Wells

Spirit Wells

Spirit Wells are only given by Moderators, either through a moderated quest or as a review reward they do. These cannot be given by standard moderators. The raw, core, and fragment effects are created by the moderator who awards it, and each spirit well is unique.

Refining a Well

Energy Types

To have more energy types added, please define their existence and submit to the PSF.

Location Refinement

Emea Areas

Fractures

The Beneath