Sylvan Weave

The Sylvan Weave is the network of Dunamic power (Mana) made from Sylvana energy; the fundamental network from which Sylvan-type Magic (also known simply as Nature Magic) is drawn. The Weave is both the collector and bonding agent of Sylvana energy, allowing for it to establish a usable form within the Material.

In a manner similar to the Arcane Weave, the Sylvan Weave occurs naturally wherever Sylvana permeates, forming in a manner similar to that of rivers and streams, though the "flow" of these energies moves in both directions. The nature of these structures is slightly different to Arcane Weave in that it typically follows patterns more like those of a fungal network or root system, and therefore appears to hold more stable form within natural elements such as the earth, trees, and seas. However, like the Arcane Weave, the structures take centuries to form, so when they are destroyed they can be difficult to rebuild without Divine Intervention.

Origins of the Sylvan Weave

It is currently unknown where Sylvana originates from, but the presence of the Sylvan Weave within the Material Plane of A'arde is attributed to the Ascension of Sylvanus to Godhood by the Sleep Shield, Aegis. Unlike Arcania, who had to craft the Arcane Weave from scratch and alone, Sylvanus found that the Sylvan Weave was thriving within the newly opened Planes of Tìr na Sìthe and Tìr nan Dubhar, monitored and cared for by Titania, Oberon, Caitir, and Dagda, as well as the Ancients known as the Divine Mothers of Light and Shadow. He was therefore able to replicate the Weave with the assistance of these Deities from the offset, pulling the energies from these alternate Planes and infusing it into the Material Plane.

With the Sylvan Weave being relatively well established by the time the War with the Titans ended, due to the influence of the other Nature Deities, Sylvanus was able to move straight on to utilising the Weave to rejuvenate the near-devastated world.

Within the other Planes of the A'arden Cosmology, the general consensus is that the Sylvan Weave has always been present, for longer than Sapient entities have inhabited them. Due to its similarity with the construction, it is believed, that the Sylvan Weave may have some link to the Mycorrhizal Network, a precursor to known magics and the supposed origin of the entities known as Ancients.

The Fall of the Age of Arcana

While the Sylvan Weave was not directly impacted by the Arcane Explosions that damaged the Arcane Weave, the shockwaves sent out by the catastrophe did cause some instabilities that allowed the Sylvan Weave to likewise fluctuate. These fluctuations were relatively mild compared to the explosive forces impacting the Arcane Weave, but some places within the world found themselves temporary cut off from the main Convergences and Leylines of the Sylvan Weave.

These connections were reestablished fairly quickly, but the chaos that ensued across the world saw the Sylvan Weave suffer at the hands of corrupting influences attempting to take control of it.

The Sylvan Weave and Anti-Magic

The presence of Anti-Magic Phenomena does not destroy the Sylvan Weave so much as it inhibits it. While the Weave is still present, the flow is disrupted, which causes a blockage of sorts within the Weave and prevents the energies from flowing. The raw energy within the Weave is unable to change or adapt, and therefore becomes stagnant, before decaying and leaving the Leyline empty. This makes the Sylvan Weave different to Dunamic Organs such as the Mana Pool, as the Arcana within these is purified and does not decay. Weave Ribbons will therefore naturally change their course and avoid such areas in order to preserve and maintain their flow.

Manifestation

The Sylvan Weave manifests as a series of Major (large) and Minor (small) Leylines that criss-cross across the world. Under normal circumstances, the Sylvan Weave is completely invisible to the naked eye; only visable to a See Latent Energy spell or by a creature with Enhanced Truesight.

When viewed by one of these methods, the Sylvan Weave is visible as ribbons of green plasma-like energy. The green colour of the ribbons represents the "raw" power of the Sylvan Weave; when Sylvana is purified, it turns yellow. Yellow Sylvana within the Sylvan Weave is incredibly rare, as the processes required to purify it do not typically occur outside of living entities.

The only exception to Arcane Weave being invisible is when the Ribbons converge to form a Convergence. These manifestations are visable as shifting, coalescing balls of vibrant green to white energy that resemble plasma.

Localization

The Sylvan Weave appears across all Planes of the A'arden Cosmology. Within the Material Plane of A'arde it is the second most commonly used form of Mana. This is also true of the Primordial and Lateral-Elemental Planes, where Primis is the most abundant form of Mana.

It features more prominently in the Border-Fey, Border-Shades, Tìr na Sìthe, and Tìr nan Dubhar, where Sylvana is the most prominent form of Mana. While it can still be found within, Sylvan Weave is less prominent in the Planes of Empyrean and Navia, which have their own unique form of Mana, though the realms of the Nature Gods often have abundant Sylvana.

In the Material Plane, Sylvan Weave is at its most concentrated at Convergences, where the Weave itself coalesces and can be physically seen.

Contents

Type

Metaphysical, Elemental