Crysium Shards

Crysium Shards are without a doubt one of the most important resources to be discovered in the cluster. The murkiness of their origins aside, not only do they aid those with a born aptitude for magic, but they also allow for the cultivation of brand new spellcasters, too! That said, their wondrous power comes with downsides and dangers... and little is more dangerous than a poorly used Dimension Crysium Shard.
— Chief Librarian Palladius

Crysium Shards are magically-infused crystals known to exist in space on asteroids and meteors, as well as on a precious rare few planets, such as Aldrin. Many tales are spun with regards to the origin of the shards.

Origins

Crystals Rising

Crysium Shards are a peculiar thing indeed; extremely rare - being found only in isolated asteroids and even more rarely on planets, - they have little intrinsic value as a crystal; they're impure, lack any special qualities, are impossible to artificially cultivate for the inhabitants of the cluster, and are extraordinarily expensive, all while having a relatively minor impact on the economic prospects of the cluster... when they were first discovered, at least. The first discovery of shards of crysium were made by a Terran vessel hundreds of years ago, during the first wave of colonisation across the gate network by Earth prior to the severing of Earth from the network itself, Earth had little initial care for the material, but did note its rarity in their astronomical charting endeavours, which led to the first crysium mines - and as such, the first studies of the material. It was Earth's studies that determined the infeasibility of artificially cultivating crysium shards. Magic ability in the cluster has always existed, but it was only possible to wield magic if naturally blessed with the ability to do so, which is known to be semi-random, with some species within the cluster being more prone than others to developing it. These differences still appear to be present today, as the Elves are known to have countless magical bloodlines.

Crystals by gbrgraphix

The Memory of Argus by Galder

Crystalline Spellcraft

Crysium Shards can be found the cluster over, albeit in small, highly contested amounts, but their true utility would become clear as studies were made into them; elven casters quickly discovered that crysium shards had a peculiar property in that their composition made them capable of enhancing certain classifications of magic and elevating their power, with shard colours corresponding to the type of magic improved. While not all types of magic had corresponding crysium shards, most did, and it become extremely common for the shards to find use in all kinds of magical foci - staves, rifles, and so on - across the sector, while also allowing for more advanced forms of magic as their properties became more and more well understood.

Crysium Casters

The uses of crysium shards appeared to stagnate for a time, as those with the shards sought primarily to solidify their positions in society and were less concerned with expanding the knowledge of the crystals, but eventually advances were made, one of which would give way to a brand new era of spellcasting. While a natural-born spellcaster could cast any form of magic in the cosmos, their magical bloodline acts as a significant restriction, being generally limited to a single type of magic, making them specialised casters by their very nature. Crysium Shards were eventually discovered to have a use that could change everything, though; through the performance of certain rituals - first recorded by the Aurelian Scientific Committee - it was possible to absorb crysium shards nonlethally into the body. This process, once complete, would enable that person to cast magic of that type, the magical power of the shards being inherited. This marked the beginning of the current age of spellcasting, enabling a new way for accessing spellcasting for those species that are not so magically inclined. Becoming a well-rounded caster in this manner still required a large number of crysium shards to be infused, and several forms of magic were bloodline-specific and unavailable this way, but for those who could afford the shards - no mean feat, to be sure - it was well worth it. Most new casters as a result, are from wealthier families, but even getting a hold of a single crysium shard can be a great boon, as it allows one to become a specialised magic user, such as a Pyromancer.

Aldrin

Crysium is found naturally on Aldrin, and as such its uses have been known for a long time. Combine that with its isolation from the cluster's gate network and the general lack of dangers that the cluster faces - though, make no mistake, Aldrin faces its own problems - and it's of little surprise that Crysium Shards are far better understood on Aldrin, and far more plentiful too; on Aldrin, basically anyone who wishes to learn magic and has a few dozen gold pieces can acquire a low-end beginner shard, and many Aldrin-based institutions offer them to magical students inherently, too.

Types of Shard

There are many types of Crysium Shard, each possessing a different colour and utility. A caster who lacks the natural-born capacity to utilise magic must consume a large enough shard of the kind the caster wants to use to unlock access to those powers.

Anemo Shard

Anemo Shards are known for the elemental air magic they wield. Their magical powers range from control of the wind to creating lightning or thunder. Skilled casters are even able to fly or create vast wind barriers as a versatile defensive tool. These shards have a vibrant green colour.

Radiant Shard

Radiant Shards grant powers which are primarily useful for healing, though some offensive abilities are granted too, which rely heavily on light-based effects. Skilled casters are even able to use the magic to resurrect the dead, with difficulty. These shards have a yellow-golden colour.

Pyro Shard

Pyro Shards are known for their elemental fire magic; they can be used for magical purposes ranging from smoke creation to fiery effects and damaging spells. Skilled spellcasters can even resist fire-based attacks, either partially or wholly. These shards have a vibrant red colour.

Psionic Shard

Psionic Shards are used for illusionary and control magic. They can be used to manipulate the unwitting, but are also capable of damaging the brain with some finesse. Skilled spellcasters can even use this magic silently kill others. These shards have a vibrant pink colour.

Hydro Shard

Hydro Shards can be used for elemental water magic, including the control of water flows, rain, water purification and ice-based magic for offensive purposes. Skilled spellcasters can even breath underwater indefinitely, and grant the ability to others. These shards have a teal blue colour.

Nature Shard

Nature Shards possess magic that is linked to nature. Their abilities range from influencing plant growth to communication with animals and plant life. Skilled spellcasters can even control entire forests for offensive and defensive means. These shards have a light green colour.

Geo Shard

Geo Shards can be used for elemental earth magic, including the manipulation of the earth around them to attack or restrain their foes, or even to protect them and their allies. Skilled spellcasters can even create tremors around themselves. These shards have a dull yellow colour.

Necrotic Shard

Necrotic Shards grant powers related to death, allowing for the draining of life force and much more. This is a relatively shunned magic form due to its ability to create the undead. Skilled spellcasters can even create multiple undead at once. These shards have a dark green colour.

Dimension Shard

Dimension Shards allow for control over dimensionality. These crystals are very rare and dangerous, allowing for the local alteration of gravity and the creation of kinetic blasts. Skilled spellcasters can even use this magic for teleportation. These shards have a pure black colour.

Pure Shard

Pure Shards grant powers related to shielding wards. These forms of crystal can be used to ward allies from harm from a variety of effect types based on the potency. Skilled spellcasters can even cancel magic entirely in a wide area. These shards have a pure white colour.

Memoria Shard

Memoria Shards grant powers related to summoning and conjuration magic, beyond the basic elemental summoning the elemental crystals allow for. Skilled spellcasters can even bring forth incredible familiars or summons, and sustain many of them at once. These shards have a violet colour.

Temporal Shard

Temporal Shards allow for the manipulation of time in limited ways. It's a very rare and temperamental form of magic, being able to slow or speed up time - but never stop it. Skilled spellcasters can even use the magic on large numbers of targets at a time. These shards have a deep blue colour.

Rune Shard

Rune Shards are exclusive to the isolated world of Aldrin, and grant powers related to runes and enchantments. These shards are fairly nonstandard, allowing a caster to scribe magical effects onto physical mediums, either to cast later or imbue onto an item. This also extends to various forms of mystical enchantment runes cover. These shards have a vibrant cerulean colour.

The Vekh

Kha'ak Fleet by Egosoft

Insectoid Involvement

It would be remiss to ignore the Vekh when discussing the crysium shards; highly intelligent - if non-verbal - insectoids that form a vast hivemind, the Vekh are an ancient species believed to predate the gate network itself, and has historically caused incredible problems for the cluster in response to encroachment upon their territory, up until an enormous war was waged against them, which didn't entirely drive the insects out of the cluster. The Vekh are notable in the discussion of crysium shards as being natural sources of them, their organic spacecraft being comprised of a significant number of crysium shards which the Vekh use as foci points for powerful weapon-systems, the likes of which the cluster still doesn't truly understand. The Aurelian scientific ship Menaphos' Triumph famously catalogued a Vekh nursery sector, noting the insectoid's cultivation of crysium shards on all of the asteroids in the system. This was a major revelation that it was even possible, as until this point no significant headway had been made by the cluster on doing the same thing. Unfortunately, the hostile relations and eventual war ensured that the knowledge held by the Vekh with regards to the shards would remain held by the Vekh for the foreseeable future, and even now, decades past the end of that war, the Vekh remain extremely hostile.