Zeals - energy objects

NB: This is a in-game description of Zeals, written by @Idés as his in-game character Professor Idés Lynn Chapmann. It is, however, still informative for users off-game, as it does describe Zeals in an easy, understandable way. And it's a fun read. So thank you, Idés!

On the nature and creation of Zeals

Article by Prof. Idés Lynn Chapmann

What is a Zeal?

A Zeal is in simple terms an inanimate host for magical energy. This object can take many forms and can have a Thousand different practical uses – such as the automation of tasks, such as cleaning or doing the dishes.  Though the purpose depends on the kind of Zeal and the amount of energy stored within them.

Zeals have existed in some form for as long as Warlocks have been around. In the past, it has been a way to aid the weakened in a community, or to create weapons. However, technology has made the manufacturing of a Zeal faster and more effective, making them more widely available than they ever have been. The mass-production of Zeals has come with a new field of research and innovation, as we push the boundary of what a Zeal could possibly be capable of.

A Zeal depletes in energy over time and never lasts forever. Eventually, it will return to its state of non-magic. However, its life-cycle depends on the subtype.

Subtypes:

Roughly speaking, there are five subtypes of Zeal

Ehwaz-Zeals - everyday Zeals that take care of mundane tasks, such as cleaning. These are by far the most commonly used and produced Zeal, as they aid close to every single citizen in their day-to-day life in some way. These Zeals last for a good amount of time and don’t often need a new boost of energy.

Idhol-Zeals  - Zeals that lends power to its user. This can be used as either a boost in power in an already capable warlock, or as a disability aid for those who are weakened. It can also grant a human the ability to cast simple spells, although, with some difficulty. This can also be used as a learning tool, to anchor a young warlock still learning their craft.

These are harder to produce and therefore usually more expensive and harder to get your hands on. There are also laws in place that determine the amount of power a Zeal can boost their user with.

They also deplete in energy faster than most Zeals.

Ogwe-Zeals - Zeals that feed on the energy given from the user. These are powerful Zeals that can grant the user some very special abilities. This can for example be the illegal shapeshifting-jewel, which allows the user the ability to cast an illusion onto themselves, that changes their appearance completely.

These Zeals are restricted so that only those authorized by the government are allowed to use them.

As they have the ability to feed energy from the user, they often last longer, but are also dangerous to use, especially for humans. Extended use can lead to symptoms such as weakness, fainting, seizures, or in the worst case, death. Thus, it’s an extremely restricted market.

Puth-Zeals - consumable Zeals, often in the form of food. Most are used as narcotics and are illegal. Others are strictly used as medication and can only be obtained by prescription.

Some combine the traits of Zeals with puth. Such as an idhol Zeal, which makes magical energy available to the consumer, making even a human able to manipulate energy for a limited time. These are rare, however.

Laic-Zeals - These are Zeals made unstable from the huge amount of energy stores within. The research done on these is very limited, as they are the hardest to produce. The exposure to energy often breaks the Zeal before it's done, making it completely useless. But they have a huge potential as an energy source, but must be handled with care. It goes without saying that such a Zeal isn’t available to the public.

Manufacturing:

To make a Zeal, one has to brand the Zeal with a specific activation rune, which is what grants the Zeal with a specific quality and then expose the desired object to a source of magical energy for a certain amount of time. The frequency of the energy will determine the subtype.

There are two ways to do this:
The first way was mostly seen before the industrial revolution. This is a warlock storing their power into a desired object, through manual use of their powers. However, this handcrafted process is tedious and time consuming, often leading to less effective and less powerful objects.

The second one is far more useful. This is where the invention of the Energy Zeal Processing Exposure Chambers (EZPEC for short, or just Development Chambers) are important. These chambers are able to feed on energy through the air, through a process called Particle Sparing. This grants the machine the ability to expose a given magical frequency, and thus automate the process of Zeal creation. The Zeal is then produced with very little output from the producing Warlock.
This is also the main kind of machinery you will find in a Zeal producing factory.

The choice of material is also important in manufacturing. Material such as wood is notorious for cracking and burning during  the exposure process, and thus most opt for steel or crystal instead. But in theory, every object could be worked into a Zeal.

Controversy:

Though a popular piece of merchandise, Zeals remain a controversial topic for many. As aiding tools, they have been criticized as being a crutch for lazy warlocks or as holding back those who could stand to learn on their own. Others claim that the use of Zeal tarnishes the sacred bond between a warlock and their God. Then there’s the argument that it makes magic less pure and therefore, should only be used sparingly. Then there’s the safety question, as many Zeals can be dangerous if not handled correctly,

I, however, think it’s holding the vast population back to treat a Zeal as something taboo. Non-powered humans in this world face the world at a disadvantage, as our systems of powers are shaped around our powers. The cursed, sick and disabled also stand to benefit, as more widely available aids and medication in the form of  Zeal-products can vastly improve their quality of life.

It also seems that contrary to the belief that it will tarnish the magic of a warlock, that it instead seems to strengthen it and evens out the playing field of every type of magic user. And while I don’t advocate for a completely Zeal powered society, perhaps it is time we move towards where progress is already headed?