Fafnir Fenn
patreon
Hot Springs Spread, Lore Dump
🕑 Added 2025-06-17 16:16:32 +0000 UTCI don't share world building often, but I'm not sure when, or if, I'm ever gonna get to lore dump like this. So, here's a little bit of nerdy worldbuilding to go with this spread.
Deep under the largest tree, at the heart of the Tanglewood, lies one of the richest pockets of Aether in the world. This is where you'll find the Aetheric Origins Springs. A natural underground pool saturated with Aether, providing a delicious, relaxing, and rejuvenating experience.
The waiting list to visit is extremely long, and near impossible to get on. (unless your mom is the Matron of the ruling clan, and you recently decided maybe she's not all bad, so why not hit her up for a favor.)
Aether is the invisible flow of energy that connects all things. It is like air, but for the spirit. And much like how air is thinner in certain areas, so too, does Aether density fluctuate from place to place. Aether flows through the world like the currents of the ocean. Multiple currents collide here, in the Tanglewood, giving the wood it's saturated, vibrant flora. In addition to sunlight and water, the large trees populating the wood absorb Aether, drawing it's energy deep down into their roots, where it will sometimes pool into underground pockets.
Aether being processed by these massive trees sometimes condense along the roots in nodes, forming crystals. These crystals are mined, and used, in Rune crafting. They are very valuable, and command a high price. This isn't the only place to find such crystals, other aetheric phenomenon's around the world produce similar results. But the Tanglewood's crystals are particularly strong, and in high demand. The Tanglewood has many commodities like this that make it one of the richest trading hubs in the world. But it is tightly controlled. Non-dragon races need permission to visit, under threat of your ship being sunk by a dragon.
Physical bodies also require Aether, like air. The body metabolizes it into mana. To most parts of the world, this means very little. And in some places, like Elias' village, the flow of Aether is so thin, people living there grow up mana deficient. Which doesn't mean they can't live perfectly healthy lives. But you'll never see a mage come out of this town, that's for sure. Not that humans have the potential to be very powerful anyway, their Aether metabolism is quite bad compared to an elf's, or... a Dragons. Dragon physiology is particularly Aether greedy. So, these hot springs are extremely rejuvenating, and energizing for them.
The End, of my long nerdy worldbuilding rant. 😋
Thanks for reading!
Comments
Some Body
I spy a silver. You keep your claws away from our halfling.
Electrum
Nice lore, great job an fleshing out the world (no pun intended toward the picture, lulz). Also, an obligatory "aw hell" - looks like our main man isn't going to get any relaxation after all, given the scene and his propensity toward modesty.
Anubislaughed
Very cool lore.
Fafnir
Less racism, more controlled trade borders.
PkmnTrainerLucas
That's really interesting lore, but what got my attention the most is how only non-dragon races need permission to visit the Tanglewood or else their shio gets sunk by a dragon. I know we've seen little of it so far, but it's always expected for racism to be something that happens in medieval fantasy stories. It also makes me wonder if it's totally true that stuff about those dark days where dragon ruled over the other races unchecked being gone.
