Orreries are machines that gather and concentrate essence for mages to draw upon. Thalvian developed them in Soltheris at Aurion's request, initially to strengthen the kingdom's defenses against darkness.
Construction and power
The first celestial orrery was a colossal machine of polished wood and mirrors. Its mirrors and glyphs directed a white beam toward the stars as it gathered essence. Five essence cores fitted into a central slot started it.
On the first model, opening a lid at the back released condensed essence for a mage to absorb. The released essence had to be taken in promptly or it dispersed back into the world. Aurion supplemented his carried cores with the orrery's power to cast a vast starfield barrier. The effort still fatigued him, and Seralyth healed him afterward.
Thalvian warned that the first design could drain weaker mages nearby and that multiple devices would need to be placed far apart. It charged slowly.
Development
During the first demonstration south of Zeydrith, black smoke approached the machine's beam. Thalvian removed the five starter cores to shut it down, but it continued pulling essence, running on what it had already gathered. Brynor broke its wooden structure and mirrors, yet the central metal core survived by using its own essence as protection. He crushed that core with repeated blows. The released essence spilled out like liquid and still spiraled toward the smoke above.
After the Cataclysm, Aurion commissioned another orrery to demonstrate that the technology could work safely. Thalvian made the replacement easier to dismantle. Aurion wanted Eira to amplify her magic and restore corrupted land, but her darkness magic did not draw on essence, and she could not use the machine. The replacement was later swallowed by the darkness she released during her confrontation with Aurion and Xarion.
Aurion ordered further production and authorized Thalvian to take the resources he needed. At a later gathering in Zeydrith, he offered orreries to the other nations of Xalmyrra in exchange for sharing information. Access to the machines also gave Soltheris political leverage.
Orreries are machines that gather and concentrate essence for mages to draw upon. Thalvian developed them in Soltheris at Aurion's request, initially to strengthen the kingdom's defenses against darkness.
Construction and power
Models have used polished wood, mirrors, carved metal frames and rotating wheels. The first celestial orrery was a colossal device whose mirrors and glyphs directed a white beam toward the stars as it gathered essence. Five essence cores fitted into a central slot started it.
On the first model, opening a lid at the back released condensed essence for a mage to absorb. The released essence had to be taken in promptly or it dispersed back into the world. Aurion supplemented his carried cores with the orrery's power to cast a vast starfield barrier. The effort still fatigued him, and Seralyth healed him afterward.
Thalvian warned that the first design could drain weaker mages nearby and that multiple devices would need to be placed far apart. It charged slowly. Later orreries also needed time to recharge between uses.
Development
During the first demonstration south of Zeydrith, black smoke approached the machine's beam. Thalvian removed the five starter cores to shut it down, but it continued pulling essence, running on what it had already gathered. Brynor broke its wooden structure and mirrors, yet the central metal core survived by using its own essence as protection. He crushed that core with repeated blows. The released essence spilled out like liquid and still spiraled toward the smoke above.
After the Cataclysm, Aurion commissioned another orrery to demonstrate that the technology could work safely. Thalvian made the replacement easier to dismantle. Aurion wanted Eira to amplify her magic and restore corrupted land, but her darkness magic did not draw on essence, and she could not use the machine. The replacement was later swallowed by the darkness she released during her confrontation with Aurion and Xarion.
Aurion ordered further production and authorized Thalvian to take the resources he needed. At a later gathering in Zeydrith, he offered orreries to the other nations of Xalmyrra in exchange for sharing information. Access to the machines also gave Soltheris political leverage.
Uses and limits
Two transportable orreries accompanied the expedition into the Land of Darkness. Brynor and Khoradyn took turns dragging them and drew on their stored power to send an enormous lava wave against a temple. The wave passed through the temple without damaging it.
At Aurion's suggestion, Ilyra used orreries to stabilize Lirien's damaged essence. The machines supplied the power for her healing rather than performing it themselves.
At the gate beneath the council hall in Irrathis, Aurion and Renneth first channeled orrery power into the structure. Only five symbols lit before the mechanism stopped, leaving both mages exhausted. After Thalvian improved the gate's isolation with equipment in its slots, Brynor and Renneth channeled power from two orreries and opened it to the void. Thalvian could then keep the gate stable.
Orreries are machines that gather and concentrate essence for mages to draw upon. Thalvian developed them in Soltheris at Aurion's request, initially to strengthen the kingdom's defenses against darkness.
Construction and power
Models have used polished wood, mirrors, carved metal frames and rotating wheels. The first celestial orrery was a colossal device whose mirrors and glyphs directed a white beam toward the stars as it gathered essence. Five essence cores fitted into a central slot started it.
On the first model, opening a lid at the back released condensed essence for a mage to absorb. The released essence had to be taken in promptly or it dispersed back into the world. Aurion supplemented his carried cores with the orrery's power to cast a vast starfield barrier. The effort still fatigued him, and Seralyth healed him afterward.
Thalvian warned that the first design could drain weaker mages nearby and that multiple devices would need to be placed far apart. It charged slowly. Later orreries also needed time to recharge between uses.
Development
During the first demonstration south of Zeydrith, black smoke approached the machine's beam. Thalvian removed the five starter cores to shut it down, but it continued pulling essence, running on what it had already gathered. Brynor broke its wooden structure and mirrors, yet the central metal core survived by using its own essence as protection. He crushed that core with repeated blows. The released essence spilled out like liquid and still spiraled toward the smoke above.
After the Cataclysm, Aurion commissioned another orrery to demonstrate that the technology could work safely. Thalvian made the replacement easier to dismantle. Aurion wanted Eira to amplify her magic and restore corrupted land, but her darkness magic did not draw on essence, and she could not use the machine. The replacement was later swallowed by the darkness she released during her confrontation with Aurion and Xarion.
Aurion ordered further production and authorized Thalvian to take the resources he needed. At a later gathering in Zeydrith, he offered orreries to the other nations of Xalmyrra in exchange for sharing information. Access to the machines also gave Soltheris political leverage.
Uses and limits
Two transportable orreries accompanied the expedition into the Land of Darkness. Brynor and Khoradyn took turns dragging them and drew on their stored power to send an enormous lava wave against a temple. The wave passed through the temple without damaging it.
At Aurion's suggestion, Ilyra used orreries to stabilize Lirien's damaged essence. The machines supplied the power for her healing rather than performing it themselves.
At the gate beneath the council hall in Irrathis, Aurion and Renneth first channeled orrery power into the structure. Only five symbols lit before the mechanism stopped, leaving both mages exhausted. After Thalvian improved the gate's isolation with equipment in its slots, Brynor and Renneth channeled power from two orreries and opened it to the void. Thalvian could then keep the gate stable.
Renneth later reached an isolated island gate without an orrery. His carried cores and nearby essence were insufficient to open it; help from the other side completed the opening.