Aetherite Harvest is a 1st-level transmutation spell used by Artificers to transmute raw Aetherite Crystal into a purer form and levitate the result for safe extraction.
Level: 1st School: Transmutation Casting Time: Bonus Action Range: 60 ft. Components: M (a specialized set of dowsing rods designed to find Aetherite veins) Duration: Concentration, up to 1 minute Classes: Artificer
Effects
The spell operates within a range of 60 feet and requires the caster to maintain concentration for up to one minute. Upon successful casting, the artificer can utilize a bonus action to initiate the transmutation process, converting a raw Aetherite Crystal into a purer crystal point, the size of which is subject to the discretion of the Dungeon Master. Concurrently, the caster may allocate their movement to levitate the newly transmuted crystal in any direction, facilitating its extraction from the mining site. Casting requires no verbal component; it is initiated by intricate hand gestures together with the specialized dowsing rods.
Should the caster’s concentration be interrupted or voluntarily broken, the affected crystals revert to their volatile state, becoming temporarily immobile and unresponsive to magical manipulation for a period determined by a 1d4 roll. This period of instability poses a setback to mining operations but is generally not catastrophic, and the spell produces no harmful physical or mental side effects on the caster. It does, however, consume the caster’s entire action economy for its duration, requiring a full commitment to the mining process and leaving the caster vulnerable to external threats.
Casting is accompanied by distinct sensory phenomena. The caster’s hands emanate a soft, iridescent glow that extends toward the targeted crystals, signaling the stabilization of their volatile energies, while the air around the caster and the crystals hums with a low-frequency resonance noticeable to those in proximity. The spell produces no discernible olfactory or tactile effects.
Its power is drawn from the arcane expertise of the caster rather than from ley lines, divine beings, or external artifacts, reflecting the Artificer class’s characteristic manipulation of magical energies for practical ends. Components used in casting are typically the property of the mining operation and are returned at the end of a shift, though commercial scrolls of the spell are available; its use is limited by Artificer exclusivity and by the potential scarcity of specialized dowsing rods.
History
Aetherite Harvest was conceived by Daren Tor, an artificer of considerable renown and a former pupil of the late Master Aberran. Inspired by the teachings and research of his late mentor, Daren Tor dedicated himself to exploring the potential of Aetherite Crystals after retiring from his adventurous life, and the spell’s invention was a critical milestone in the development of Gemcore Technology.
The spell was designed to facilitate the extraction of Aetherite Crystals on an industrial scale, a necessity for the production of Gemcores, the specially treated crystals that form the core of Gemcore Technology and enable applications ranging from powering mundane tools to enhancing weapons and armor. It was developed in the Laboratorium of Tatharia Capitolina and remains held exclusively by that institution.
Significance
While Aetherite Harvest itself has not yet been woven into the legends and folklore of Rolara, its impact is undeniable. It has democratized magical power, altering the balance of power in Rolara and enabling the creation of armies equipped with powerful and versatile weapons.