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Originium is a high-energy crystal prevalent across Terra, serving as both its most important energy resource and a key industrial material. Techniques converting its energy are called "Originium Arts." Contact risks contracting Oripathy. Humanity's history is intertwined with studying, mining, and using Originium.
Ancient prospecting relied on Prospector Casters practicing dowsing: inefficient, dangerous, range-limited, and consuming more Originium than it yielded. Modern prospecting uses Energetic Scanning, Density Inspection, and Geologic Analysis. The three major deposits were located in the Originium Rush after the Gaulish-Leithanian War.
Activation releases Originium's energy; combustion is common, and Adaptivity allows conversion into electrical, chemical, and radiation forms. Originium self-propagates, and Originium Clusters emerge in Catastrophe-affected areas.
Forms include: raw ore (denser and more valuable when deep); the core ("Kernal Ore"), refined as fuel; the crystal shell, processed into high-density crystals—densest shells come from ancient, deeply buried ores; hazardous, easily activated shards found in polluted areas; and solidified crystals—inert, extremely strong, used for precision equipment or luxury goods.
Three Main Distribution belts exist: the Kolossal, the Targangils (holding roughly 60% of known deep deposits), and the Jingyu. Some reserves remain inaccessible; Catastrophes are more frequent near concentrated Originium.
Processed shells found at the 1500-year-old Ancient Town of Tal'sas mark the earliest known Originium workshop; a mass grave there showed executed, early-stage Oripathy victims. Modern products include Originium ingots, Originite Prime, and Orundum. Safety measures reduce but do not eliminate inherent dangers.
Originium is a high-energy crystal prevalent on the Terran continent, present from the surface to thousands of meters underground in several forms. It is both Terra's most important energy resource and a key industrial material. Techniques that convert and utilize its energy are known as "Originium Arts". Originium has been observed to propagate in nature and is thus believed to be a viable long-term energy source, but contact with it carries the risk of contracting Oripathy. Humankind has known of Originium since ancient times; the bulk of its history involves studying, mining, and manufacturing Originium and performing Arts, so the story of humanity on Terra is interwoven with it.
Ancient prospecting was performed by Prospector Casters practicing dowsing, who cast Arts to activate their Originium at survey sites to provoke resonance with nearby Originium. This was highly inefficient, limited to surface observation, dangerous due to Originium's volatility, and consumed significant Originium. It was gradually replaced by Energetic Scanning, Density Inspection, and Geologic Analysis. The distribution of the three major deposits was determined in the Originium Rush following the Gaulish-Leithanian War.
Originium releases energy under certain conditions, a process called "Activation", during which it breaks down into smaller granules. Exposure to active Originium is highly hazardous and can cause Oripathy almost immediately without protection. Energy is most commonly released through combustion, while Originium Arts convert it into electrical, chemical, and radiation forms; releasing energy under manual manipulation is the "Adaptivity" of Originium. Originium appears to self-propagate, with quantity gradually increasing; Originium Clusters surely emerge in areas freshly affected by Catastrophe, and existing veins grow after Catastrophes.
Originium ore has a hard surface and smooth crystal shell of varying colors; removing it reveals the core, a high-purity ore with a yellow glow, which gradually forms a new shell when exposed to air. Cores, called "Kernal Ore", were once used directly as raw material; today a portion is extracted and refined as a primary energy source. The crystal shell, though unusable as fuel, is processed into high-density Originium crystals for industry; the densest, strongest shells come only from aged ores buried deep underground, and demand for them has accelerated mining technology. Originium shards, protruding from heavily polluted ground, are easily activated, risk mutation, and are listed as hazardous in the Columbia Center for Disease Control's Toxicity Database, yet are widely harvested as the easiest form to gather. Raw ore is denser and more valuable the deeper it is buried; deep ores, with shells sometimes over 40% of the structure, require specialized heavy machinery, and their large-scale use defines modern industry. Solidified Originium crystals, found in deep veins, are black, smooth, extremely strong, difficult to process, virtually impossible to activate, and used in advanced materials and precision equipment, occasionally as luxury items. They are inert and not an Oripathy risk, though processing can injure workers when cutters and sawblades break.
Three Main Distribution belts stretch east to west: the Kolossal Belt from northwest Sargon through Bolívar, northern Columbia, southern Sami, and into Ursus, rich in shallow deposits; the Targangils Belt from eastern Victoria through Rim Billiton, containing roughly 60% of known deep deposits, 30% within Rim Billiton; and the crescent-shaped Jingyu Belt from Yan's two-river basin, indispensable to eastern civilizations. Originium was once believed evenly distributed because surface and shallow Originium exist virtually everywhere; the belt concept arose with deep mining technology. Some reserves remain inaccessible: many Targangils deposits cannot be precisely located or lie in unusual geological conditions, and Catastrophes are more frequent and severe near high Originium concentrations, making mining nearly impossible.
The oldest use of Originium is as the medium for casting Arts, in which it is consumed; applications have expanded massively. Its high power density makes it Terra's most important energy resource, and refined-fueled Originium equipment is the bedrock of modern industry. In 1020, explorer Pierre Leroy, funded by the Victorian Duke of Gododdin, discovered the Ancient Town of Tal'sas in Sargon, a 1500-year-old site containing processed Originium shells—the earliest known Originium workshop—and a mass grave of remains showing Oripathy infection, many in early stages and believed executed.
Originium is also an industrial material found in machine components and crystalline electronic units. Modern safety measures such as isolators, dust collectors, and filters reduce risks, but further breakthroughs are needed. Originium ingots—refined cores sealed in compressed shells—are common products; Originite Prime, from extended refining, is a major energy source and Arts medium; Orundum, crystallized Originium mixed with minerals, is used in electronics and sometimes as currency.
EPIGRAPH
Our age is known as the Crystal Age, for Originium crystals are virtually ubiquitous in people's lives in the modern era. The progress of Terran civilization is inexorably tied to the widespread application of Originium. While we have yet to fully understand the nature of Originium, Originium-based technologies have reached a mature stage in the wake of rapid development in recent years. Although Oripathy is becoming an increasingly serious problem, and experts have noted a potential connection between the expansion of the modern Originium industry and an increase in Catastrophe occurrences, it is clear that our society can no longer do without Originium. The people of Terra must embrace Originium and face everything that comes with doing so. This is the only path to progress.
—Preface to Crystal Age: Originium and Modern Society
Originium is a type of high-energy crystal prevalent on the Terran continent, present from the surface to thousands of meters underground in several different forms. It is both Terra's most important energy resource, and a key industrial material. Techniques that convert and utilize the energy contained in Originium are known as "Originium Arts". Originium has been observed to propagate in nature and is thus believed to be a viable long-term energy source. Contact with Originium, however, carries the risk of contracting the condition known as Oripathy.
Our ancestors have known about the existence of Originium since ancient times, and attempted to understand and utilize it. The bulk of humankind's history has been one of studying Originium, mining Originium, manufacturing Originium products, and performing Originium Arts. Such is the significance of Originium that the story of humanity on Terra is intricately interwoven with its own.
In ancient times, Originium prospecting was performed by casters practiced in the ancient art of dowsing. These dowsers, referred to as Prospector Casters, would cast Arts to activate their Originium at the survey site, in an attempt to provoke a resonance with nearby Originium. The specific method used differs greatly between casters, and Originium responds to the caster's calls in distinct ways. This process is repeated until the resultant phenomena are sufficiently pronounced to be observed by accompanying surveyors. This primitive method may seem absurd now, but for many centuries it remained the primary method of prospecting. Its drawbacks are obvious: It was highly inefficient, little better than taking blind shots in the dark. The prospector caster and surveyors had a limited range of "perception", often confined to merely surface observations. It was also highly dangerous. Considering how uncontrollable and volatile an active Originium is, even a small-scale reaction could cause heavy casualties to the prospectors. Finally, this method also required significant amounts of Originium, to the extent that the losses outweighed the gains.
As Originium industry developed, this inefficient and dangerous method was gradually replaced by less intrusive and more effective ones. Today, large-scale prospecting relies primarily on Energetic Scanning, Density Inspection, and Geologic Analysis. The distribution of the three major Originium deposits was determined in the Originium Rush that followed the conclusion of the Gaulish-Leithanian War. They have been the focus of research in a variety of fields in the past several decades, from geographical exploration, utilization and development of Terra's energy resources, to retrospection of Terra's history.
Originium crystals release the tremendous energy they contain under certain conditions, a process known as "Activation". During this process, active Originium begins to break down into smaller Originium granules. Exposure to active Originium is highly hazardous and can cause Oripathy to develop almost immediately if proper protection is not worn.
Crystal Shell Core
Inactive Activation Breakdown Deactivation
An illustration depicting the process of Originium activation.
Energy stored in Originium can be released in a variety of ways, combustion being the most common method. Originium Arts further allow that energy to be converted to various forms, such as electrical, chemical, and radiation. Originium's property of releasing energy under manual manipulation is referred to as the Adaptivity of Originium.
Originium appears to self-propagate in nature. While the mechanism behind this is still unknown, it is clear that the quantity of Originium in nature gradually increases over time. Of particular note is the sure emergence of Originium Clusters in areas freshly affected by Catastrophe. Existing Originium veins have also been noted to grow in size after a Catastrophe.
Originium clusters are a familiar sight to those who frequently roam the wilderness. Ranging from the size of a pebble to that of a mountain, they make for a spectacular and dangerous sight across the land.
Originium is a naturally occurring ore with a hard surface and smooth crystal shell. The crystal shell can take on different colors based on mineral composition and geological factors. Removing the crystal shell reveals the core, a piece of high-purity ore with a yellow glow. A new shell is gradually formed when the core is exposed to air.
Originium cores have their own applications and are referred to as the “Kernal Ore.” They were used directly as raw material before the advent of the advanced Originium industry. Today, Originium ores undergo a refining process in which a portion of the core is extracted and refined to serve as a primary energy source.
The crystallized casing surrounding an Originium ore is called the “crystal shell”. Though unable to be used as fuel, it nonetheless has widespread applications in modern industry. It can be processed into high-density Originium crystals, an important industrial material. Machineries of the utmost precision and complexity demand the highest quality of these processed crystal shells. The densest and strongest shells are found exclusively in Originium ores of advanced age. They are often buried deep underground, and hence exceedingly difficult to extract. Demand for high-quality shell product has accelerated the development of new mining technologies.
Cross-section of a raw Originium ore. Originium grows from the core under suitable temperature and pressure conditions: The outer part reacts with air and other minerals to form a crystal shell, while the high-purity core continues to grow on the inside. The result is an onion-like structure.
Originium shards can often be seen protruding from the ground in areas under heavy Originium pollution. Easily activated and with risk of mutation, Originium shards present a significant infection hazard. They are considered a key hazardous substance in the Toxicity Database of the Columbia Center for Disease Control. As the easiest form of Originium to gather, however, they are still widely harvested and used for industrial purposes.
An Originium shard. Originium shard lacerations are one of the leading causes of Oripathy. Originium shards are also among the most easily obtained and effective weapons in the wilderness.
Raw Originium ore is essentially Originium ore, characterized by its typical structure and found in large quantities in nature. In general, the deeper the ore is buried, the denser it is, and the greater its value. Raw ores from the surface and shallow mines are less dense, with a thin and fragile crystal shell, but are easier to mine. In contrast, raw ores from deep underground are denser, with the shell sometimes comprising more than 40% of the ore structure, but can only be mined using
specialized heavy machinery. The large-scale application of high-density raw ore as a key raw material is what defines and distinguishes modern industry.
Solidified Originium crystals are found in deep Originium veins, alongside raw Originium ore. These large Originium crystal formations are often wrapped in other Originium veins, appearing as black, smooth, irregular polyhedrons. Solidified Originium crystals are extremely strong and stable in structure. They are difficult to process and virtually impossible to activate. These crystals are used in the processing of advanced materials and the manufacturing of precision equipment. Occasionally, they are circulated as luxury items.
■ A solidified Originium crystal.
Solidified Originium crystals are inert and not considered an Oripathy risk. Nevertheless, there are still potential hazards in its processing. Due to its hardness, cutters and sawblades have been known to break, posing injury risks to assembly line workers.
There are three Main Distribution belts, stretching from east to west. The Kolossal Belt (or Kolossal Prime Vein) begins in northwest Sargon, stretching through the Bolívarian heartlands towards the Great Lakes in northern Columbia, through southern Sami and over the northwest border of Ursus. It is rich in shallow Originium deposits. The Targangils Belt is slightly shorter than the Kolossal Belt, beginning in the upstream mountains of eastern Victoria and cutting a path through Rim Billiton to the east. The Targangils Belt contains roughly 60% of Terra's known deep Originium deposits, with 30% in Rim Billitonian territory alone. In addition to these two belts, there is an independent crescent-shaped deposit in the east, known as the Jingyu Belt. Originating from the center of Yan's two-river basin and extending into the northwest, it has played an indispensable role in the history of eastern civilizations.
Kolossal Prime Vein
Jingyu Prime Vein
Targangils Prime Vein
■ Known Main Distribution belts.
For a long time, it was believed that Originium was evenly distributed across Terra, as surface and shallow Originium can be found virtually everywhere. The concept of "Main Distribution belts" is a product of the advent of deep Originium mining technology, enabling access to valuable deep veins that were previously unreachable.
The quantity of Originium reserves known to humanity far exceeds imagination, but to make full use of it requires research in a different direction from prospecting. Some underground Originium reserves cannot be accessed with existing technology for various reasons. For example, while the Targangils Prime Vein was believed to possess the highest theoretical Originium reserves than any other during the Originium Rush, many of its deposits either cannot be precisely located or are situated in unusual geological conditions that present significant obstacles to mining. These conditions can trigger severe disasters if mined recklessly. Catastrophology studies also indicate that Catastrophes are more frequent, more severe, and longer lasting in areas with a high concentration of Originium, making mining work near impossible. The hazards of Originium itself are ever-present, including the risk of Oripathy infection due to exposure during the mining process.
Originium, so abundant in these lands, has long been a highly coveted fruit. Many believe that the difficulty in mining and utilizing Originium is the sole obstacle to civilizational progress. Therefore, overcoming these difficulties has been a lifelong pursuit for many researchers at the forefront of their fields.
The oldest use for Originium is as the medium for the casting of Arts. Our ancestors sought various ways to unleash the energy inside Originium and shape it into a desired form. The Originium is consumed in this process. These techniques now fall under the broad banner of “Originium Arts”, and their applications have been greatly expanded, massively increasing the demand for Originium.
Owing to its high power density, Originium is the most important energy resource on Terra. Originium cores had been used as fuel long before the advent of modern industry. As technology evolved, Originium equipment fueled by refined Originium became the bedrock of the modern Originium industry.
Arts Unit equipped with high-purity Originium crystal. Not only are high-purity Originium crystals excellent conductors, they also have a gem-like translucency to them. A skilled Yanese Tianshi is said to be able to gauge a crystal’s purity and conductivity by sight alone.
In 1020, the Gaulish explorer Pierre Leroy, on an expedition funded by the Victorian Duke of Gododdin, discovered the site of an ancient city in Sargon. It was named the "Ancient Town of Tal'sas", after the territory of Lord Ameel of Tal'sas, on which it was located. An important archaeological discovery was made when processed Originium shells were found in one of the workshops in this 1500-year old site, making it the earliest known Originium workshop. The site also revealed a gruesome fact: a mass grave was found on the outer rim of the site. Analysis of the remains showed signs of Oripathy infection. Many of those buried here were still in the early stages of infection and believed to be executed.
Overhead View
Schematic Diagram of an Originium power plant and fuel buffer tank.
Originium is also an important industrial material. It is utilized in all its forms in its entirety, and heavily processed Originium can be found in Originium machine components and crystalline electronic units for Originium electronics.
Machinery with Originium electronic component.
Originium's impact is not only profound from a macro-historical perspective but also direct and evident in our daily lives. It is difficult to imagine what life was like before the advent of Originium manufacturing. We do not approach Originium with the same wariness and awe as our ancestors did. Although our utilization of Originium has changed, the fundamental nature of Originium and its inherent dangers remain the same. Despite numerous safety precautions adopted in the modern Originium industry—such as Originium isolators, dust collectors, and filters—which significantly reduce the risks posed by the mineral, further technological research and breakthroughs are necessary to ensure the safe and regulated use of Originium, as well as to mitigate its harmful effects.
Crystalline circuit that uses Originium crystals as the key conductive component.
ORIGINIUM INGOT
Originium cores that have gone through preliminary refining and are sealed into compressed crystal shells to create Originium ingots for further processing. They can come in various densities, depending on the need. Easy to store, transport and process. Originium ingots are one of the most common Originium products.
ORIGINITE PRIME
Originite Prime is created by putting raw Originium ore through an extended extraction, refining and crystallization process. Originite Prime is an important source of energy that is widely used in industrial manufacturing. It is also an excellent Arts medium.
ORUNDUM
Orundum is created by mixing crystallized Originium with other minerals. A stable material, it is often used in electronics. Due to its stability and utility, it is sometimes also used as a form of currency.