Technology & Gadgets

Vitality Ether

Vitality Ether was a blue, glowing substance produced by the evolved giant creature housed within Devil's Mountain, harvested by the Wyranth Empire for use in its military and studied with great interest by Rislandian researchers and alchemists. It possessed potent restorative properties surpassing conventional medical elixirs, but also carried significant side effects including heightened aggression and a psychic link to the creature from which it was derived.

Vitality Ether

Vitality Ether

Vitality Ether was a blue, glowing liquid substance produced by the evolved giant creature confined within Devil's Mountain and harvested by the Wyranth Empire. Known internally to the Wyranth by the name vitality ether, the substance was also referred to colloquially as "the goo" or "blue goo," and appeared in earlier field observations simply as "blue ether" or "the blue liquid." It was considered a substance of significant military and scientific interest by both Wyranth and Rislandian parties.

Note: A separate substance called ether also appeared in the series. See the Ether (Anesthetic) section below for details. These two substances share a name but are distinct in origin, appearance, and function.

Description

Vitality Ether presented as a blue, glowing liquid, sharing the same luminescent azure quality as the light emanating from the pit within Devil's Mountain. It was described as an extremely volatile fluid. The substance carried a notably unpleasant odor, described as worse than wombat droppings by at least one observer.

The ether was stored and transported in a variety of containers depending on context. Wyranth soldiers in the field carried it in small stoppered vials. In the extraction facility at Devil's Mountain, it was pumped through tubes by machine, collected in large buckets by Wyranth soldiers, and poured into barrels via a large valve requiring tremendous strength to operate. Smaller samples were also collected in personal containers such as canteens.

When consumed—administered by dropping onto the tongue or ingested as a dose—vitality ether produced several documented effects:

  • Restorative properties: The substance provided healing and recovery beyond what standard medic elixirs could achieve. It was administered to Zaira von Monocle after she had lost significant blood from her wounds, and caused Talyen von Cravat to remain active despite her injuries.
  • Increased aggression: Even in limited quantities, the ether produced a marked increase in aggressiveness in those who consumed it. Marina du Willet was described as nearly uncontrollable when in proximity to a canteen of it.
  • Physical signs of consumption: Observed effects upon ingestion included shaking, an eerie grin, and eyes with an almost glowing quality. At least one Wyranth soldier reported feeling "better" after consuming it.
  • Psychic link: Ingestion of vitality ether was confirmed to provide a link to the evolved giant inside Devil's Mountain. This effect was documented in the cases of both Talyen von Cravat and Zaira von Monocle, who had each been given a dose.

Production and Extraction

Vitality Ether was extracted from the giant creature held within the pit at Devil's Mountain by means of tubes and a mechanical pumping apparatus. The extracted fluid was transported in large buckets by Wyranth soldiers and stored in barrels on site. The extraction operation was observed firsthand by at least one Rislandian party, who collected a sample in a canteen for later study.

Role in For Steam and Country

In For Steam and Country, vitality ether appeared across several distinct contexts, initially without the observers understanding what they were witnessing.

Early in the narrative, a captured Wyranth soldier was observed fumbling with a small stoppered vial containing a blue, glowing liquid. Upon consuming it, the soldier exhibited shaking, an eerie grin, and eyes with a glowing quality, and reported feeling better. Matthias du Gearsmith stated he had never seen anything like it, and Marina du Willet stated she had never heard of blue ether. Du Gearsmith indicated that Baron Theodore von Monocle would be the person to consult regarding such a substance. The blue liquid was also referenced in a written report submitted by Captain von Cravat to King Malaky XVI, though the nature and purpose of the substance were not elaborated upon in that document.

Later, the extraction operation at Devil's Mountain revealed the substance's origin. The glowing azure fluid was drawn from the giant creature in the pit via tubes and machine, collected in buckets, and stored in barrels. Zaira's father collected a sample in Cid's canteen, believing researchers would find it of interest.

The substance was subsequently identified by name as vitality ether—the Wyranth designation—and its properties were more fully understood. It was noted that the ether had restorative properties exceeding those of standard medic elixirs, and that it was used to supply something within the Wyranth military, possibly contributing to the relentless nature of Wyranth soldiers. Zaira von Monocle was administered a dose following severe blood loss from her wounds. Talyen von Cravat also received a dose and remained active despite her injuries. Marina du Willet was described as nearly uncontrollable when Baron Theodore von Monocle carried a canteen of the substance.

It was later confirmed that ingestion of vitality ether provided a psychic link to the evolved giant inside Devil's Mountain, a fact documented in the cases of both Talyen and Zaira. Commander Marina du Willet also ingested the substance.

At the conclusion of events, a sample of vitality ether was in the possession of King Malaky XVI's alchemists for study, described as a good sample. The Wyranth, for their part, intended their own scientists to study the side effects of the substance at a later time.

Known Consumers

Research and Study

Following the events at Devil's Mountain, vitality ether attracted the attention of multiple parties:

  • Rislandia: King Malaky XVI's alchemists obtained a sample and were positioned to study it.
  • Wyranth Empire: Wyranth scientists planned to study the side effects of the substance.
  • Independent interest: Zaira's father believed researchers would be interested in the sample he collected. Matthias du Gearsmith had no prior knowledge of the substance and suggested Baron Theodore von Monocle as the appropriate expert to consult.

Ether (Anesthetic)

A distinct substance also referred to as ether appeared in The Blood of Giants. This substance bore no apparent relation to vitality ether beyond sharing a partial name; it was a colorless anesthetic and painkiller rather than a restorative fluid, and had no documented connection to the Wyranth Empire or the evolved giant at Devil's Mountain.

In The Blood of Giants, this ether was kept in a jar by Ensign Wandrey, who introduced it to the narrator with the words: "This is ether. It'll help with the pain of it all." It was applied by soaking a rag and holding it to the face of the recipient. Wandrey cautioned the narrator not to breathe it in too fast. The substance took effect very quickly, producing a fuzzy sensation in the mind described as resembling a soft wool blanket, and caused injured soldiers to go loopy. The narrator subsequently used the ether-soaked rag to render a Nightman unconscious by holding it over his nose and mouth.