Mindtech

Includes Mindshards, psychic simulations, golems, memory devices, dream cradles, and other Mind-related Aethertech.

Mindshard

Mindshards are Aethertech devices that contain a Mindscape, allowing users to see and interact with its psychic projections when within range of its psychic field. Many Mindshards are gemstones fitted into rings for convenience, but there are many designs available. Early generations of Mindshards required touching one's forehead to the device, but modern variants can generate psychic fields. For privacy purposes, users have the option to reduce the field's range or set it to contact-only. Typical Mindshards can support only some basic programs and roughly a hundred Constructs.

Advanced Mindshards are far more powerful. They can project complex environments, support thousands of Constructs, and include Sprites: entities capable of intelligence. Some are designed for activities involving multiple users, making them ideal for theaters, training centers, gambling dens, and other large venues. Most are custom-designed for a specific purpose and audience, with complex environments and Sprites capable of monitoring and facilitating their intended functions.

Beastmaster Mindshard

Beastmaster Mindshards are specialized Aethertech gemstones that are surgically implanted into a creature's forehead to grant it access to a Mindspace. Their Mindscapes are enhanced with Constructs and Sprites that are suitable to the mannerisms of animal handling and training, allowing them to learn and understand far more than any natural animal could. They can also communicate psychically to anyone touching the shard, bypassing any language barriers.

Creatures with these shards, known as Familiars, are usually chosen as Adventurer's companions-though wealthy nobles may also purchase the procedure for their pets. The Beastmaster Mindshards do not tame a creature, but can significantly enhance the relationship and knowledge transfer between animals and sapients.

Sync Mindshards

Sync Mindshards refer to Mindshards that are specially tuned to receive broadcasts being relayed from the Stormcrest Broadcast Tower. Rather than producing their own constructs or environments, they recreate the environments and experiences being relayed. These Mindshards experience a delay relative to their distance from the tower, so events may be experienced up to two hours after their real-time broadcast.

Psydives

Psydive Mindshards, more often called Psydives, are rare, very expensive Aethertech devices that can generate a full Psydive simulation. These devices can usually generate psychic fields upwards of 100 meters from their source, and support a multitude of complex virtual realities with advanced rulesets and monitoring systems. Each Psydive Mindshard is custom built for a specific venue and audience, such as military wargames, gaming simulators, demon-slaying simulations, sporting competitions, and more.

Golem

Golems are physical constructs or machines that are socketed with an advanced Mindshard, allowing Sprites to operate their mechanical systems in the real world. Golems can observe the real world, which is necessary to perform their functions.

Golems are generally not considered as intelligent as sapients, but can benefit from multiple Sprites at once, sometimes allowing them to be much more effective in certain ways. Areas with high saturation of Earth Aether tend to have more useful Golems since they can be built to utilize magnetic fields and Earth Aethertech, making their mechanics much more lifelike.

Chronarium

These ornate, chair-like devices allow users to relive past memories as perfect simulations, immersing them fully in the experience. A connected headpiece, resembling a silver tiara, gently rests upon the user's brow to facilitate the simulation. This process is mentally taxing, so prolonged or frequent use will result in significant fatigue.

Dream Cradle

Dream Cradles are elegantly curved, pod-like structures constructed from smooth, pale stone, which can be fitted with interior padding. Users recline within the cradle, accelerating their natural sleep and recovery processes. Fatigue and exhaustion melt away, doubling the restorative power of sleep, reducing one's rest period by half.