Essence towers gather Essence into cores, providing stored power for mages and machinery. Their charging artifacts restore depleted cores so the same objects can be used again. Towers stand within cities such as Irrathis and Zeydrith, as well as in the countryside around Xalatun.
Charging and distribution
Irrathis's tower has black crystalline walls that refract light. Inside its central chamber, a metallic artifact hangs among converging iron beams. Machinery around it holds slotted essence cores, gathering the power needed to recharge them.
Recharging takes time, and customers may wait in long queues. Buying another core can be quicker. Attendants manage supplies and can exchange depleted cores for charged ones; Kaelion received priority access when gathering equipment for a mission.
In Zeydrith, Seralyth oversaw the inventory of cores brought for recharging and redistribution. The stored power can then be carried away to support magic elsewhere.
Sources and old machinery
Towers gather essence from their surroundings, including from dead mages. Charging towers are also directed at the stars, gathering energy beyond their immediate surroundings. Eira discovered dead Tenari near the towers at Xalatun and recognized how much power their deaths supplied.
Tower buildings vary with regional materials. An abandoned tower near Xalatun was made of local stone, yet it held the same familiar metallic artifact and core slots. The original makers of this technology had been forgotten in Xalmyrra. Seeing the familiar machinery beyond her homeland, Eira recognized that it predated Xolterra.
Essence towers gather Essence and concentrate it into cores, supplying power for mages and machinery. They stand within cities and in less populated areas, with regional designs surrounding familiar metallic charging artifacts. Some serve uses beyond charging portable cores, including the reservoir that sustains Atraxis Prime.
Charging and distribution
At Irrathis, the artifact hangs in a large central chamber, supported by converging iron beams. Its machinery holds slotted cores that receive the gathered essence. Recharging takes time, and public queues can form. Attendants can exchange depleted cores for charged ones; Kaelion received priority access while gathering mission supplies.
Seralyth managed recharging and redistribution at Zeydrith's tower. These supplies move power to where it is needed. Towers also gather essence from dead mages, as Eira discovered around Xalatun. Charging towers are also directed at the stars, gathering energy beyond their immediate surroundings.
Irrathis's black crystalline walls refract light. Elsewhere, tower buildings use local materials: an abandoned stone tower near Xalatun retained the same familiar artifact and core slots. The technology's original makers had been forgotten in Xalmyrra.
Shaper dependence
Essence shapers require recharging of their core-infused bodies. Where towers were depleted or ruined, survival depended on reaching the remaining supplies. Stronger shapers received priority at the few towers still serving their communities.
Jin studied tower clusters on a map to identify where Zharrek's forces were likely recharging before Raindawn. Replenishing so many mages would take time, making those sites useful places to scout.
Atraxis Prime
The massive black tower at Atraxis Prime works differently from ordinary charging towers. It contains an immense reservoir that releases essence outward, sustaining the atraxi, their town and the living landscape around them.
Eira found that tower machinery across Valrindor channelled drained essence into the void, where it converged to feed this realm. Jorhan explained that he had once obtained enough from towers across the world but was now replenishing the supply personally. His people had built towers for humans as well as for their own use.
Essence towers gather Essence and condense it into cores used by mages and machinery. They house metallic charging artifacts within buildings whose designs vary by region. The atraxi copied and improved existing towers after arriving in Xalmyrra, using the technology for both human supplies and their own survival.
Charging and regional designs
At Irrathis, the central artifact is suspended by converging iron beams. Its machinery holds slotted cores and gathers essence to restore their charge. Recharging takes time, and customers may wait in public queues. Attendants can exchange depleted cores for charged ones; Kaelion received priority access while preparing mission supplies.
Seralyth managed recharging and redistribution in Zeydrith. Cores carry the gathered power elsewhere, supplying magic without an immediate draw from the surrounding land. Towers also gather essence from dead mages, as Eira found around Xalatun. Charging towers are also directed at the stars, gathering energy beyond their immediate surroundings. Excessive extraction can leave corrupted, uninhabitable land.
Irrathis's tower has black crystalline walls that refract light. Towers near Xalatun used local stone, yet one abandoned building held the same familiar artifact and core slots. Thalena used an abandoned tower north of her Erenmyr home to charge the cores she forged into her weapons. Hrzai estimated that recharging those weapons after use would take years.
Atraxi use
Irrathis's tower already served local technology before the atraxi arrived. Amos and Jareth learned to copy the machinery, improving existing artifacts and building more towers across Valrindor. Jareth acknowledged that they had built many towers, rather than the originals.
When atraxi bodies began imploding, Amos took one sufferer near the artifact he had upgraded in Irrathis. The collapse stopped, though he could not promise how long the relief would last. Jorhan ordered his people to settle near towers. Their sickness returned after they fled to an area without them.
Essence shapers likewise depend on recharging their core-infused bodies. At the few remaining Shroudvale towers, stronger shapers received priority. Jin used maps of tower clusters to identify where Zharrek's forces were likely replenishing themselves before Raindawn. Tower-rich Haverloch could also supply cores for Brighthaven's machines and ships.
Atraxis Prime's reservoir
The massive black tower at Atraxis Prime released essence outward, sustaining the atraxi and their living landscape. Tower machinery across Valrindor had channelled essence into the void, where it converged to feed this realm. When that supply no longer sufficed, Jorhan replenished the reservoir personally.
Atraxis Prime was attacked while Jorhan was away near the end of the final Xalmyrran cycle. The central tower collapsed, leaving essence leaking from its ruins.
Essence towers gather Essence and concentrate it into cores. They supply portable power for mages and machines, and their charging artifacts share a familiar design despite differences in the surrounding buildings. The atraxi copied and improved existing tower technology after arriving in Xalmyrra.
Machinery and supplies
At Irrathis, a metallic artifact hangs in the central chamber, supported by converging iron beams. Its machinery holds slotted cores and gathers essence to recharge them. Recharging takes time, and attendants manage queues, exchange depleted cores for charged ones and organize supplies. Kaelion received priority access when preparing for a mission.
In Zeydrith, Seralyth oversaw recharging and redistribution. These supplies let mages and equipment operate away from the place where the essence was gathered. Towers can also take power from dead mages, as Eira discovered around Xalatun. Charging towers are also directed at the stars, gathering energy beyond their immediate surroundings.
Tower exteriors reflect regional materials. Irrathis's black crystalline walls refract light, while abandoned towers near Xalatun were built from local stone. One retained the familiar artifact and its core slots. Thalena used another abandoned tower north of her Erenmyr home to charge the cores forged into her weapons. Hrzai estimated that recharging those weapons after use would take years.
Atraxi construction
The atraxi found Irrathis's tower already supplying local technology. Jareth and Amos copied and upgraded its machinery, then helped build towers across Valrindor. Isandriel accepted their assistance for Malverand. Jareth said they could match Malverand's best architects and construct towers in months.
Kaldaryn was founded near one. Isandriel oversaw building in regions able to sustain it, while carefully allocating cores when towers could not meet demand. Excessive extraction could leave corrupted, uninhabitable patches.
Dependence and unusual results
Essence shapers must recharge their core-infused bodies. At the remaining Shroudvale towers, stronger shapers received priority. Jin used a map of tower clusters to identify likely recharging grounds for Zharrek's forces before Raindawn.
The atraxi also relied on towers during their early illness in Xalmyrra. Amos halted one sufferer's implosion temporarily near Irrathis's upgraded artifact. Jorhan ordered his people to settle near towers; sickness returned when they escaped to an area without them.
Near the Plains of Eternity, towers could produce unusual results. Tarazhi identified Aurelia's essence-saturated ibrashi, a sheep-like animal, as one example from the towers where he had lived.
Jorhan's reservoir
Atraxis Prime's massive black tower released essence outward to sustain the atraxi and their living landscape. Tower machinery across Valrindor channelled essence into the void, where it converged to feed this realm. When the wider supply no longer sufficed, Jorhan replenished the reservoir personally.
Near the end of the final Xalmyrran cycle, Atraxis Prime was attacked while Jorhan was away. The central tower collapsed, leaving essence leaking from its ruins.
Essence towers gather Essence and concentrate it into cores, supplying portable power for mages and equipment. Their buildings vary by region, but they house similar metallic charging artifacts. The technology originated with the god-forger Arcanis in the early Malverand Empire; the atraxi later copied and modified it.
Charging machinery
At Irrathis, the central artifact is suspended by converging iron beams. Its machinery holds slotted cores and gathers essence to recharge them. Recharging takes time, and public queues can form. Attendants may exchange depleted cores for charged ones; Kaelion received priority access while gathering mission supplies.
Workers manage stored supplies and redistribute them. Seralyth oversaw the inventory at Zeydrith. At Chronasis's western tower, Caius and the attendants charged Thalena's cores, clothing and silver sword. The sword's compressed cores could draw from the artifact. Hrzai estimated that recharging her core-forged weapons after use would take years.
Towers take essence from their surroundings, including from dead mages. Charging towers are also directed at the stars, gathering energy beyond their immediate surroundings. Heavy extraction can leave blackened corruption around the machinery.
Malverand origins
Arcanis developed storage crystals mined from beneath the earth and taught selected engineers and mages to recreate the large metallic gathering devices. Proximity to the machines was dangerous for most people, so they were housed in large isolated towers.
The devices' draining left patches of corruption that could take months to heal. At Eremion's insistence, draining within Maraveth was banned. The council reorganized tower locations and expanded production in essence-rich lands away from the city, helping establish Morindel. After Barachiel disappeared, the guardians reduced tower capacity and restricted essence use. The ability to build towers survived Arcanis's disappearance, though innovation slowed.
Atraxi construction and dependence
When the atraxi arrived in Xalmyrra, Irrathis already had a tower. Jareth and Amos copied and improved the machinery, and Jareth and Kheran built more across Valrindor. Isandriel accepted their help in Malverand and arranged building in regions that could sustain towers, allocating cores carefully when supply fell short.
The towers helped the atraxi survive illness caused by their response to essence. Amos used the upgraded Irrathis artifact to halt one sufferer's implosion temporarily. Jorhan ordered his people to settle near towers; their sickness returned in an area without them.
Essence shapers also require recharging of their core-infused bodies. Stronger shapers received priority at the remaining Shroudvale towers. Jin used tower clusters on a map to locate likely recharging grounds for Zharrek's forces before Raindawn.
An expedition to Vireen planned to build towers to replenish its supply after arrival. During the later war in Solvarria, cutting off tower-rich Redcliffe helped exhaust Sol's shield reserves. Near the Plains of Eternity, towers sometimes produced unusual results; Tarazhi gave Aurelia's essence-saturated ibrashi, a sheep-like animal, as an example from his former home.
Regional designs and the reservoir
Irrathis's black crystalline tower refracts light, while Chronasis has dark reflective towers with roughly hexagonal shapes. Towers near Xalatun were built from local stone, and one abandoned building still held the familiar core-slotted artifact. Thalena used an abandoned tower north of her Erenmyr home to charge cores for her weapons.
Atraxis Prime's massive black tower served as an outward-flowing reservoir, feeding essence to the atraxi and the surrounding life. Other tower machinery channelled drained essence into the void, where it converged to supply this realm. Jorhan later replenished the reservoir personally when the wider supply no longer sufficed.
Atraxis Prime was attacked while Jorhan was away near the end of the final Xalmyrran cycle. Its central tower collapsed, leaving essence leaking from the ruins.
Essence towers gather Essence and concentrate it into cores. Their charging machinery supplies portable power for mages and equipment. Tower buildings vary by region, while the metallic artifacts housed inside share a familiar design. The atraxi copied this existing technology and used a modified network to sustain Atraxis Prime.
Charging machinery
At Irrathis, the artifact is a metallic construct suspended within the central chamber by converging iron beams. Its machinery holds slotted cores, gathering essence to restore their charge. Recharging takes time; attendants can exchange depleted cores for charged ones while other customers wait. Kaelion received priority access when preparing mission supplies.
Workers manage core inventories and redistribute them for use elsewhere. In Zeydrith, Seralyth oversaw these supplies. At Chronasis's western tower, Caius and other attendants charged cores, essence-infused clothing and Thalena's silver sword. The sword's compressed cores could draw power from the artifact. Hrzai estimated that recharging her core-forged weapons after use would take years.
Towers take essence from their surroundings, including from dead mages. Charging towers are also directed at the stars, gathering energy beyond their immediate surroundings. Excessive extraction can leave blackened corruption around the gathering machinery.
Origins and expansion
The god-forger Arcanis developed the charging machinery in the early Malverand Empire. Specially mined crystals could hold essence, and he taught a select group of engineers and mages to recreate the large metallic devices needed to gather it. Proximity to the machinery was dangerous for most people, so large isolated towers were built to house it.
The devices drained so heavily that corrupted patches could take months to recover. At Eremion's insistence, draining within Maraveth was banned. The council reorganized tower locations and expanded production in essence-rich regions away from the city, helping establish Morindel. After Barachiel disappeared, the guardians reduced tower capacity and restricted essence use. Tower construction continued after Arcanis vanished, although further innovation slowed.
When the atraxi arrived in Xalmyrra, the Irrathis tower already supplied cores for local technology. Jareth and Amos copied and improved the machinery; Jareth and Kheran built towers farther across Valrindor. Isandriel accepted their help for Malverand, where supplies remained in demand. He also arranged tower construction in regions able to sustain it and adjusted core allocations when production fell short.
Other uses and limits
Essence shapers depend on recharging their core-infused bodies. At the remaining Shroudvale towers, stronger shapers received priority. Jin used maps of tower clusters to identify where Zharrek's forces were likely replenishing themselves before the Raindawn battle.
Towers also became important to the atraxi's survival. When their bodies began imploding, Amos used Irrathis's upgraded artifact to halt one sufferer's collapse temporarily. Jorhan ordered his people to settle near towers; their sickness returned when they fled to an area without them.
Gates and machines require large supplies of stored power. Thiravos and Theryssa built towers to sustain their elite gate routes. An expedition to Vireen planned to build towers after arrival to replenish its reserves. In a later Solvarrian war, cutting off tower-rich Redcliffe helped exhaust Sol's shield supplies.
Towers near the Plains of Eternity could produce unusual results. Tarazhi identified Aurelia's essence-saturated ibrashi, a sheep-like animal, as one such result from the towers where he had lived.
Designs and Jorhan's network
Irrathis's tower has black crystalline walls that refract light, while Chronasis's towers have dark reflective, roughly hexagonal exteriors. Elsewhere, towers were built from local stone. An abandoned tower near Xalatun still held the familiar artifact and core slots. Thalena later used another abandoned tower north of her Erenmyr home to charge cores for her weapons.
The massive black tower at Atraxis Prime worked differently from ordinary charging towers. It held an immense reservoir and released essence outward, sustaining the atraxi and the living landscape. Tower machinery across Valrindor channelled drained essence into the void, where it converged to feed this realm. When that supply no longer sufficed, Jorhan replenished it personally.
By the end of the final Xalmyrran cycle, Atraxis Prime had been attacked while Jorhan was away. Its central tower collapsed, leaving essence leaking from the ruins.