Banner by Jeevas
Amber Mages are defined by their close relationship to Starwood trees and their ability to use a combination of Arcane and Fire magic to cure the magically-potent Starwood sap into a magic-dense amber. The magical density of Starwood amber makes it a very unstable substance, and unless handled by a highly-trained mage, will explode, wreaking a special kind of destruction only created by a marriage of Arcane and Fire. (Yes, if you are wondering, forest fires in the Starwood Strand are very destructive indeed). Amber mages are saturated with this magic to their very core, and spend their entire lives managing a magical equilibrium within themselves. Too much magic and they explode; too little and they die. And while all Amber Mages share this magic in common, their interaction with it and the trees they live by split them into two distinct groups:
Amber Weavers
Breed Requirements: Fae
Color Requirements: Rust/Fire/Sunset
-Ideal blend of orange and purple when used with the genes below
Element Requirements: Fire or Arcane
Gene Requirements: Skink or Petals/Butterfly/Opal
-Illustrates the fluid, globular warmth of amber, with the Opal representing the amber
This group is comprised entirely of Faes, and it is easy to see why. The Faes’ behavior of weaving sap into nests and structures carries over into these Mages’ use of Starwood amber. Appearance-wise these Mages are identified by the half-cured sap flowing across their bodies, constantly giving off a warm glow and sticky texture. It is unclear how the Faes’ bodies and the amber are integrated, but some speculate that it is somehow connected to their upbringing as hatchlings in amber nests. As one would expect, these Mages are constantly dripping with the magic of their amber, forcing them to regularly seek outlets for their pent-up energy. To solve this, these Mages can be found constantly curing Starwood sap into amber to release excess magic. The exact shape and pattern the amber takes depends on the individual, but the products created by these crafty Mages can be used as magically-potent tools and objects when handled by the right claws.
An Amber Weaver will become a very active member of a clan. They have more energy than a typical Fae and could easily keep up with a manic Spiral. While sociable, these Mages need plenty of space to properly regulate their magic. It is recommended to respect a Mage’s personal space, especially around their trees and during their sap-curing process. Once their magic is released into the amber, the Mage is usually happy to share their crafts with the clan. The magic in the amber they create becomes less potent with time, possibly making the tool less effective but also making it safer to use.
Amber Eaters
Breed Requirements: Skydancer
Color Requirements: Rust/Fire/Sunset
-Same as Amber Weavers
Element Requirements: Fire or Arcane
Gene Requirements: Skink or Petals/Trail/Opal
-Trail represents the more rigid, slow growth of this Mage's amber
This group is comprised entirely of Skydancers. These individuals are similar to the Weavers in that they, too, secrete amber magic from their bodies. However, this form of amber is more brittle and crystalline, taking the form of fragments continuously shed from the Mage’s body. This form of amber is similar in potency to the crafts of the Weavers, and some may find them useful as crude tools and weapons. Instead of crafting the amber they cure, as their name suggests, these Mages eat the amber as a key part of their diet. No one is sure where this behavior originated from. Skydancers, however, are plant-eaters; something that distinguishes them from their Weaver cousins. One could speculate that eating the amber allows for the Eater to regulate their stores of magic, perhaps in a more direct way than weaving it. Amber Eaters, in this way, seem to have the opposite problem to that of the Weavers. Weavers have too much magic and must rid themselves of it, while Eaters have evolved a dependency on the amber they consume, and must consume it in regular quantities to keep their magical reserves at a healthy level. Their balancing act revolves around consuming enough amber in order to fuel the magic they use to cure the Starwood sap for consumption. What these Mages gain from this process is a steady, yet unstable, source of magic that endows them with powerful magical abilities that aid them as casters, healers, and in other magical endeavors. Amber Eaters that are able to survive their explosive diet have the potential to become valuable allies or feared enemies.
Amber Eaters distinguish themselves as being more introverted and less active than a typical Skydancer, due to trying to conserve their energy and magic. Their bouts of lethargy are spiked with moments of hyperactivity, usually taking place after a meal. They also lack the emotional sensory abilities of their kind, as their magic distorts their intuitive perception of others, which leads them to be far less trusting of strangers. They are very protective of their Starwood trees, so it is advised that these Mages, similar to their Fae cousins, be given their own space to rest and practice their amber magic. Don’t be surprised to find plants or insects encased in their amber for later consumption. Amber is the basis of their diet, but they must seek other sources of nutrients to survive as well.
Flight Shields by osier | Subspecies by Jeevas
___
___
