Aethar

Aethar is a fictional realm used in fantasy and science fiction works, including novels, tabletop games, and multimedia campaigns. Because it has been developed by multiple authors and creators, there is no single canonical depiction; common elements include a world where magic and early industrial technology coexist, and where ancient ruins and floating isles appear across the map.

The continent of Vael forms the political and cultural heart of Aethar, bordered by the Ebon Sea to the west and the Shattered Ocean to the east. The north features tundra and boreal forests, while the south contains deserts, jungles, and archipelagos. Notable landmarks include the floating city of Aeris, the Ember Peaks, and the Crystal Wastes.

Aethar hosts human populations alongside magical and nonhuman races such as wind-dwellers and stonekin. Society ranges from city-states and merchant leagues to feudal kingdoms, with guilds and academies regulating the practice of magic. Religions blend celestial motifs with earth-based traditions, reflecting a culture of exchange and adaptation.

Historically, Aethar cycles through empires, uprisings, and recovery. A legendary early empire known as the Aetheric Crown is often cited as a source of ancestral legitimacy. In contemporary portrayals, power centers on shifting alliances, trade networks, and frontier conflicts that shape regional balance.

As a flexible backdrop, Aethar serves as a canvas for world-building, enabling writers and game designers to reuse or adapt names, histories, and factions to suit new narratives.