Aetheria

Overview
Aetheria are equippable items that provide a primary set bonus, enhancing a variety of things, and secondary "surge" ability, that at random times, dramatically improves the wielder or penalizes the opponent for a short duration. Unlike other magical items in the game, Aetheria's power is based upon a "level" system where the Aetheria starts at level 0 and levels up to a maximum level indicated by the icon. The higher the level, the more powerful the enhancement. Aetheria is found on monsters and in chests as Coalesced Aetheria, which must be "revealed" first before being equipped by using an Aetheria Mana Stone from the Aetheria Quest. When a character is created, initially he or she cannot wield any Aetheria. See the Aetheria Quest for details for opening the slots.

Lore & Background
By researching the ancient writings of Empyrean magic, the Archmages of the Arcanum have unlocked the secrets of a new kind of magic that the Empyreans called Aetheria. In ancient times, powerful Empyrean mages learned to infuse Aetheria in Dereth with pure mana to empower it. By infusing this Aetheria with pure mana stored in enchanted gemstones, they could coerce Aetheria to crystallize into patterns that the ancient mages called sigils. These sigils could be manipulated to increase personal power. The Empyreans found that it was the nature of Aetheria to grow in power as it was used. The more you used these Aetheria sigils, the more powerful they became.

Long ago the ability to recognize and manipulate Aetheria was lost. Although this magical energy wells freely from the menhir mana fields into Dereth, these potent magical energies have in recent times remained undetected as they flowed throughout the lands. That is about to change.

With the help of explorers, adventurers and mercenaries the Arcanum has drawn this Aetheric magic from the Menhir mana fields into specially prepared mana stones enchanted to hold Aetheric power. The Arcanum have traveled from the corners of Dereth to perform a complicated ritual. Calling forth ancient magics, the circle of mages were surrounded by hundreds of glowing gemstones infused with the Aetheric power of the menhir mana fields. The mages have enacted a ritual to reveal the Aetheria that flows out of the mana fields and rains down upon Dereth.

Once hidden from untrained eyes, the power of the Arcanum has caused this Aetheric magic to be revealed. The Aetheria appears as three distinct colors, as it once appeared to the mystic sight of ancient Empyreans. Now that the Aetheria that flows from the mana fields has color and has coalesced into form, it can be found on all manner of creatures that inhabit Dereth. More importantly, the Arcanum has agreed to teach those it deems worthy to empower this Coalesced Aetheria so it once again forms into the ancient sigils of power and can be wielded by those who have learned its secrets.

Tutorial Videos
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Revealing and Equipping Aetheria
Note: You must first complete the Aetheria Quest in order to wield or reveal Aetheria.

Initially, Aetheria is found as Coalesced Aetheria in one of three colors: Blue, Yellow, or Red. Before it can be wielded, the sigils must be revealed using the Aetheria Mana Stone. Once revealed, it may be equipped into the corresponding slot, i.e. blue Aetheria into the blue slot; thus in order to wield three, you must have one of each color. Note that the color of the Aetheria also dictates the minimum level to use them:


 * A sigil rises to the surface as you bathe the aetheria in mana.

Leveling Aetheria
When first revealed, Aetheria is level 0, offering no benefit to the wielder. In order to for to be useful, it must reach at least level 1, where it provides a set bonus and surge capabilities. Aetheria are leveled by wielding it and earning experience through quest rewards or hunting, but receive no XP from vassal passup, fellowship XP, nor additional XP from trinkets imbued with Augmented Understanding. It is unknown whether the Quick Learner (+5% XP hunting XP) Augmentation provides any benefit. Aetheria can be leveled very quickly using Stipends. Each Aetheria has an inherent maximum level beyond which it cannot be leveled further; this is indicated by the small number in the upper-right corner of the icon image. Additionally, when assessed, the level and XP of the Aetheria can be found. The current and maximum level are found on the line reading "Item Level: X/Y". The first number (X) is the current level of the Aetheria, and the second number (Y) is the maximum level. The total and next level XP of the Aetheria are found on the line reading "Item XP: X/Y". The first number (X) indicates the total XP the Aetheria has so far, and the second number (Y) represents the XP required for the next level, i.e. not the total amount to fully level it from 0 to its maximum level. Blue aetheria, which are equippable at level 75, start with an initial 750,000,000 XP. This was done so that getting an initial bonus from them at a lower level is easier.

The XP earned by Aetheria is in addition to whatever is earned normally and not divided among Aetheria. For example, if you earned one million XP from a quest, then you would receive one million XP to distribute (as normal), and every equipped Aetheria would additionally earn one million XP each.

In general, an Aetheria of level N requires 2^N-1 billion XP to fully level it (750 million XP less if it is blue since it starts with that.)

When an Aetheria levels, you will see an animation indicating leveling up (but in a different color,) and receive a green text message with the new level of your Aetheria : Your Aetheria has increased in power to level 1! Your Aetheria has increased in power to level 2! Your Aetheria has increased in power to level 3! Your Aetheria has increased in power to level 4! Your Aetheria has increased in power to level 5!

Aetheria Powder
Characters can also utilize an Aetheria Desiccant to destroy any Aetheria they do not wish to keep and turn it into Aetheria Powder, which may be redeemed for a reward. The blue and yellow Aetheria turn into Aetheria Powder, while the Red Aetheria turn into Aetheria Powder (Red). The maximum level of the Aetheria has no effect on the result. The Aetheria Powders stack, while the Coalesced Aetheria do not, making this useful to carry many powders with limited pack space. The Aetheria Desiccant itself may be purchased from Janier al-Evv in Xarabydun. Due to its low cost (1,250 pyreals), zero burden, and high stack size (1000), it is optimal to carry many at a time rather than buying a few and making frequent trips to Xarabydun purchase more.



You use the desiccant on the aetheria to create an Aetheria Powder.


 * Originally you could get a Mana Forge Key from any color Aetheria Powder handed in to Cypher the Apprentice. This was updated in the Quiet Before the Storm event and now yellow powder is produced from blue and yellow aetheria and will give 1 MMD per 10 powders from Cypher the Apprentice. Red aetheria now produce Aetheria Powder (Red) and this is the only Powder to reward a Mana Forge Key when handed in, Hand Cypher the Apprentice 10 Aetheria Powder (Red) to receive a Mana Forge Key.

Aetheria Sets
Every Aetheria is one of five sets. Each set has a different symbol on the aetheria icon, making them easy to distinguish. Which set an Aetheria belongs to is randomly determined when the Aetheria is revealed using the Aetheria Mana Stone.
 * Sigil of Growth Set
 * Sigil of Defense Set
 * Sigil of Fury Set
 * Sigil of Destruction Set
 * Sigil of Vigor Set

Like other sets, wielding many items of the same set gives an increased set bonus. The set bonus depends on the sum of current level(s) of the equipped Aetheria in the same set. All Aetheria sets follow a pattern of diminishing returns, meaning as the set level increases the benefits diminish. Depending on need, it can be beneficial to combine Aetheria which are all the same set (maximize the benefits of a single set) or combine Aetheria of different sets (maximize the total set bonus level across multiple sets).

Aetheria Surges
Any Aetheria that is level 1 or greater grants your character a Cast on Strike property called a "surge". These surges activate based on a single offensive attack, meaning multi-target spells and the cleaving property of two-handed weapons does not equate to an increased chance of Surging (nor will you surge on multiple targets). It is unconfirmed, but believed, that the act of being hit or attacked increases the chances of a surge triggering. The act of attacking causes the surge to activate, so it is not required that the attack successfully strikes the target.

Like normal buffs/debuffs, having a surge trigger before the previous one has expired merely surpasses it (i.e. extends the duration) and does not stack. However, equipping multiple Aetheria with the same surge property improves the chance that a surge will activate, likely by a straight linear factor (i.e. 2 means twice as often, 3 means three times as often). An active Surge appears as both a spell in effect and by a ring of symbols circling your character (green symbols) or your opponent (red symbols). See the image section for screenshot examples. Surges are considered short-term buffs, and can be dispelled by monsters.

Aetheria must be revealed and ID'd to view what surge they have on them. Like the Aetheria set, the surge on an Aetheria is randomly determined when the Aetheria is revealed using the Aetheria Mana Stone. There are 5 possible surges:

Surge of Destruction : Your Damage Rating is increased by 20 for 10 seconds. This provides an additional 20% damage bonus and has devastating implications in Player versus Player combat.

Surge of Protection : Your Damage Reduction Rating is increased by 20 for 10 seconds. This effect is most noticeable (and useful) when War Magic spells hit the player, due the large damage base damage. Weaker physical attacks may have a reduction in damage of just a few points.

Surge of Regeneration : You begin to regenerate at an increased rate. You gain 150 points of health over 19 seconds in increments of 30 every 3.8 seconds. These Surges are not considered healing effects per the Sigil of Growth (i.e. no bonus is received).

Surge of Affliction : The target loses 150 points of health over 19 seconds. This is considered a drain attack and attack spell debuff (for purposes of some monsters who then start vulning you in return).

Surge of Festering : Your opponent is cursed so all healing effects are reduced by a Healing Reduction Rating of 20. For the next 20 seconds any healing effect from spell, potion, food, or kit is reduced. This is probably the weakest of the effects. It is also considered an attack debuff.

The probability of a surge activating is affected by the number of Aetheria equipped with the same surge, the level of the equipped Aetheria, and the number of Aetheric Vision luminance auras the player has. Nalicana offers a luminance aura which increases the amount surges activate. This aura can be received 5 times.

Combinations
Due to the random combination of set and surge that come with each revealed Aetheria, there is a large variety of Aetheria combinations which can be equipped. Choosing what to equip is entirely personal preference, however it is common for many players to utilize "offensive" type Aetheria (destruction/fury set, destruction/affliction/fester surge) and "defensive" type Aetheria (defense/growth/vigor set, regeneration/protection surge). See the Aetheria talk page for further discussion and examples of specific Aetheria combinations.