Essence Mechanics

My theories here were born as hypotheses from pure empiricism. Over time they developed alongside some various pieces of logic and have come out as what I am very confident is a functional theory. In the beginning, I experienced and interacted with a strange something that I was unable to explain. Originally, I termed this something "ether." Although slightly misleading, I still use this term because of its magical implimentations.           Originally, I classifed ether as an estranged type of energy. Over time I began to think of it more as a type of matter because of its behavioural patterns. Now that I have done much more contemplating and experimenting, I classify ether as a property of matter. This all finally came together when I began to examine the magical use of a fuzzy concept called "essence." An important note to make is that everything is matter, gas included. Thus ether is a property of all measureable things.           I believe that the magical substance called "essence" is not so much a substance, but a given pattern or property of ether. Just as chemical properties can greatly change a substance and its interactions with its surrounding world, a few changes to the etheric properties of any given piece of matter can greatly effect its interaction with its surrounding world. For example, all one need do is toss out a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom, tack on some chlorine, and presto: water has now become hydrochloric acid. Of course, as always, the process is not quite so simple as the idea.           "Essences," being the particular patterns in or of the ether, are just as anything else. They occur naturally and can be synthesized. This allows for not only for creativity and flexibility, but ease of use. Being able to draw upon something that is already there makes for a much quicker and easier casting. While being able impress your own patterns into ether (virtually create your own essence) makes for a wide range of abilities, much more valuable experience, and a more well rounded caster.           This is where things such as death essence (necromancy), entropic essence (black magic), life essence (white magic), elemental essence (guess where that came from), and other such ideas have come from. Changing the etheric properties of matter can greatly effect its future interactions with other matter in a controlable way, thus essence magic. The castes mentioned above are simply examples of the applications of different types of properties that can be imposed or found imposed on matter. In order to use entropic essence, there must be a property inherent in the ether that causes a tendency of breaking down whatever it comes in contact with (including the caster). In order to use water essence, there must be an inherent property which causes a tendency of harmonization and purification. (Note: I am neither a black magician nor an elementalist.)           Essence magic normally operates in a superphysical manner (see physics section). For the majority of the population, directly manipulating anything on a physical level by a nonphysical means is beyond difficult. Thus the origin of the name "ether." The etheric plane is almost a mirror of our own physical domain, given its close proximity. Even so, it is slightly more impressionable mentally. So, normally the desired impressions are made on the etheric (or another more maleable plane) and the changes trickle down on a quantum level (see physics section again).           Ether works in the same way as other types of diffusion: radiation, convexion, and conduction. Just as with heat and electromagnetism, the pattern and intensity differential determines the speed and effectiveness of a given change. In order to incite an accurate change, the situation must already be known. Casting blindly won't profit anything. If you wish to heat something, you must expose it to something hotter than the desired temperature and they will normalize. (Note to the simpletons: ovens, stoves, and microwave ovens do not count here, as they are constantly fueled and thus will not lose heat. Hell, microwaves don't even get hot.)           Even with all the stipulating physics involved, it's no great wonder why essence work is so very popular. It is simple, yet still retains great potential. Theoretically, any type of essence can be created when proper thought is applied, if it does not already exist. This is only a basic outline of the physics involved, but it should suffice for those willing to work and learn with it. Work and learn well.