Editing Aether spores

{{magic
|image=DeathOfTheDream.jpg
|related=[[Luhel bond]], [[Aether]]
|world=Lumar
|universe=[[Cosmere]]
|books=[[Tress of the Emerald Sea]]
}}
{{update|tress}}

'''Aether spores''' are a type of entity that is formed by [[aether]]s on Lumar.

== Functioning ==
Each Aether spore is associated with one of the 12 [[aether#Lumar_aethers|Lumaran aethers]]. When exposed to water they immediately transform into the associated aether, this is because of the unstable nature of the Lumaran aethers. The water serves as a catalyst and begins a process where in it draws [[Investiture]] from the [[Spiritual Realm]] in order to allow the transformation to take place.{{book ref|tress|28}} This expansion is very rapid, comparable to lightning.{{book ref|tress|10}} Despite expanding even more when put into contact with more water, they do have a maximum extent to which they are able to grow. When they reach this maximum growth potential, they stop reacting with water.{{book ref|tress|37}} The direction and speed of this expansion can be changed by various factors, such as the cognitive phenomena surrounding it, shaped by thoughts and commands.{{book ref|tress|41}}{{book ref|tress|44}} It is also pushed away by steel and attracted by iron.{{book ref|tress|26}}

Aether spores can be killed by silver and salt, turning grey and losing their reactivity when they touch it.{{book ref|tress|1}}{{book ref|tress|10}} The substance they produce upon expanding also grows grey and dies when coming into contact with silver.{{book ref|tress|11}} Dead aether spores will stick to almost anything and can be washed away with soap.{{book ref|tress|16}}

Aether spores at the bottom of the spore seas undergo a certain method of decomposition which contributes to the seethe and the water cycle. The exact details of this decomposition are unknown, and are a source of confusion and curiosity by in-world scholars such as [[Xisis]].{{wob ref|16136}}{{wob ref|16142}}{{wob ref|16131}}

== Types ==
Aether spores are found on the planet [[Lumar]], where they rain down in [[lunagree]]s from the twelve moons, forming seas on the planet.{{book ref|tress|1}}
{| class="infobox" width=100%
|- class=title
! Spore name !! Sea of Origin !! On contact with water forms !! Uses
|-
|Crimson || [[Crimson Sea]] || Bright red spines that are needle sharp and deadly.{{book ref|tress|35}}||
|-
|Zephyr || [[Sapphire Sea]] || Air,{{book ref|tress|16}} and dioxygen{{wob ref|16128}} || Propel and detonate cannonballs, launch flares,{{book ref|tress|37}} and is used as emergency propellent in space.{{wob ref|16128}} Production of breathable air.{{wob ref|16128}}
|-
|Verdant || [[Emerald Sea]] || Vines{{book ref|tress|1}}  || As fuses in cannonballs,{{book ref|tress|37}} immobilize opponents,{{book ref|tress|64}} and as an emergency food source.{{book ref|tress|22}}
|-
|Sunlight ||  || Light and heat{{book ref|tress|41}} || Flares,{{book ref|tress|41}} and cooking.{{book ref|tress|40}}
|-
|Roseite || [[Rose Sea]]{{book ref|tress|15}}  || Crystals{{book ref|tress|10}} || Patch holes on a ship hull,{{book ref|tress|10}} and in the detonation component of cannonballs.
|-
|Midnight || [[Midnight Sea]] || Midnight Essence{{book ref|tress|31}} || The creatures made of Midnight Essence can be used for spying{{book ref|tress|31}} and by the [[Riina| sorceress]] to control the Midnight Sea,{{book ref|tress|46}} using the Luhel bond.{{book ref|tress|31}}
|}

==== Crimson ====
{{quote
|One moment you’re enjoying a nice book. The next, you take in an unfortunate breath, get a few crimson spores in your system, and suddenly you’ve turned your skull into a colander.
|Hoid on crimson aether{{book ref|tress|38}}
}}

Crimson aether takes the form of bright red spines or spears that are sharp as a needle and can be deadly on contact.{{book ref|tress|35}} The spines are made of coral, meaning that crimson aether corresponds roughly to the Rosharan Essence of Sinew and the Heliodor Polestone.{{wob ref|16171}} Nothing is known of crimson aetherbound or their associated bud. On the planet [[Lumar]], the local crimson spores rain down from the moon into the [[Crimson Sea]], one of the deadliest of the spore oceans on the planet.{{book ref|tress|5}} When crimson spores are wet and express their aether, the spines of crimson aether are often the bane of ships, forming impenetrable walls of spines or simply tearing ships apart directly.{{book ref|tress|38}} This danger, in addition to the random patterns of the rainlines in the Crimson Sea,{{book ref|tress|35}} makes the area uninhabitable{{book ref|tress|5}} and made it nearly impossible to travel{{book ref|tress|23}} or trade across the sea without additional precautions.{{book ref|tress|epilogue}} Inadvertently inhaling crimson spores can pierce a person's head with spines, killing them instantly.{{book ref|tress|38}}

==== Zephyr ====
Zephyr aether comes from the [[Sapphire Sea]] and releases a burst of air when watered.{{book ref|tress|16}} They are a sapphire blue and appear crystalline.{{book ref|tress|17}} It seems to be a more harmless type of aether unless harnessed properly.{{book ref|tress|16}}

These spores are used for a variety of purposes on [[Lumar]]. It seems to replace gunpowder for their explosives. It is used in the cannons to launch the cannonballs.{{book ref|tress|16}} When these cannons are fired it releases a blue puff of spores.{{book ref|tress|25}} They are also used inside the cannonballs, to shatter the ball when a Rosite and wax canister of water is pierced, activating the spores under enemy ships.{{book ref|tress|37}} [[Tress]] also uses them in her modified flare gun charges, allowing for firing the flare as well as depositing Verdant spores to entrap the target.{{book ref|tress|44}}

The air produced by Zephyr aether is breathable, implying that it contains oxygen.{{wob ref|16128}} It is used as a low-tech and cheap emergency method of propulsion in space, and for various forms of pneumatic weaponry.{{wob ref|16128}}

==== Verdant ====
Verdant aether spores grow into vines after contact with water.{{book ref|tress|1}} The growth rate of expanding Verdant aether is extraordinary, being comparable to lightning.{{book ref|tress|10}} Breathing in these spores is known to often lead to death, as they react with saliva and expand, clogging the throat and sinuses. However, they don't often reach the brain.{{book ref|tress|10}} The vines can be given basic commands when fed water, such as grab but don't destroy.{{book ref|tress|48}}

If the vines are fully grown, they can be eaten if soaked for a day.{{book ref|tress|22}} They don't provide many calories or nutrients, and people can only survive off of them alone for a few weeks.{{book ref|tress|56}}

==== Sunlight ====
Sunlight aether produces light and heat when watered. The spores are used to create signal flares,{{book ref|tress|41}} as well as power ovens.{{book ref|tress|40}}

==== Midnight ====
{{for|Midnight Essence}}

Midnight aether spores create [[Midnight Essence]], draining hydration from the sprouter through a [[Luhel bond]] after initial contact with water.{{book ref|tress|30}}{{book ref|tress|31}} Feeding the bond more water increases the control the human has over the creature.{{book ref|tress|55}} Therefore, under the right circumstances, a person can break another's Luhel bond by offering the Midnight Essence more water than the current host.{{book ref|tress|55}}{{book ref|tress|58}} Midnight Essence are able to mentally communicate with those they have bonded with.{{book ref|tress|31}}{{book ref|tress|62}}

Midnight aether, while a Midnight Essence, are highly resistant to silver.{{book ref|tress|31}}{{book ref|tress|59}}

==== Roseite ====
Roseite aether spores produce crystals when they interact with water, which makes them useful to sprouters, who use them to seal holes in hulls.{{book ref|tress|10}} Although the spores can be deadly, they are not as dangerous as crimson or midnight spores, and the [[Rose Sea]] on Lumar is inhabited.{{book ref|tress|10}} 

Among the aethers, roseite is particularly good at resisting silver.{{book ref|tress|17}}{{book ref|tress|26}} It has also been shown to be repelled by [[steel]], and attracted by [[iron]], this likely applies to all aethers.{{book ref|tress|26}}

==== Bone spores ====
<!--While a lot of evidence exists that Bone Spores and White Sand are at least related, we cannot say for sure, therefore do not include such claims here. This was decided upon by Keeper consensus.-->
Bone spores are a rumored thirteenth variety of aether spores on Lumar. The stories are unclear whether they are black or white in coloration, or potentially both. Some consider bone spores to be a fanciful legend.{{book ref|tress|23}}

== Technology ==
Various forms of technology make use of aether spores. 

=== Cannonballs ===
Some cannonballs made use of aetheric internal mechanism in order to increase their usefulness in naval combat on the Aether seas.{{book ref|tress|37}} 

In the center of the cannonball was a sphere made out of roseite aether containing water, which was insulated from the water with wax, and therefore did not react with it. This sphere was surrounded by a charge of zephyr spores.{{book ref|tress|37}} 

In another part of the device was a small glass container of water adjacent to a clipping of verdant aether. This glass container shattered upon launch, soaking the clipping, thus causing it to expand down a short tube leading to the central mechanism. This pushed a silver-tipped plug towards the roseite sphere, and killed the roseite, leading to the release of the contained water, which reacted with the zephyr and caused a large explosion dousing the target with water and shrapnel.{{book ref|tress|37}}

== Notes ==
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[[category: Aether]]
[[es:Esporas de éter]]