Magic in Nubimancy isn’t abundant—it’s scarce, expensive, and regulated. But when the Aethernet Assembly unlocked the Nubimancy Engine, they transformed magic from an exclusive art into a scalable technology.
The Pre-Nubimancy Era
Before the Assembly’s breakthrough, magic was the domain of the rare few:
- Innate Casters: Born with magical talent (sorcerers, warlocks)
- Scholarly Wizards: Decades of study to master arcane formulas
- Divine Channels: Clerics and paladins granted power by deities
- Natural Mystics: Druids and rangers attuned to primal forces
Magic was inconsistent, unpredictable, and exhausting. Casting depleted personal reserves, requiring rest to recover. Large-scale magical effects were virtually impossible.
The Nubimancy Engine
The Aethernet Assembly changed everything with their revolutionary discovery: distributed magical processing.
How It Works
The Nubimancy Engine operates from Nimbuspire, the floating city, using these core principles:
1. Pooled Mana Reserves
Instead of individual casters burning their own energy, the Engine draws from a collective mana pool maintained by hundreds of lesser mages working in shifts. Think of it as a magical power grid.
2. Spell Templates & APIs
Wizards submit standardized spell patterns to the Engine. These templates are verified, optimized, and stored in the Assembly’s vast libraries. Users don’t need to know how to cast—they just invoke the template.
3. On-Demand Execution
When someone activates a Nubimancy-linked device, the Engine remotely executes the spell, drawing from the pooled reserves. The user experiences the effect without personal magical drain.
4. Subscription Access
Access to the Engine requires an Aethernet subscription, managed by the Assembly. Different tiers offer varying levels of magical throughput and priority execution.
Practical Applications
The heroes’ businesses rely heavily on Nubimancy:
- Bran’s wagons: Climate control and preservation spells powered by the Engine
- Thorin’s brewing: Automated temperature regulation and fermentation monitoring
- Delyra’s pocket dimension: Permanent portal maintenance linked to Engine infrastructure
- Rini’s arenas: Crowd safety barriers and illusion effects
- Weltina’s preserve: Habitat spells and creature health monitoring
Magical Economics
Nubimancy didn’t make magic cheap—it made it accessible and predictable.
Costs
- Subscription Tiers: Basic (everyday conveniences), Professional (business operations), Enterprise (large-scale effects)
- Usage Fees: Complex spells cost more mana, reflected in billing
- Peak Pricing: High-demand periods (festivals, emergencies) increase costs
- Latency Issues: Remote locations experience delays in spell execution
Traditional Magic Still Exists
Personal casting hasn’t disappeared:
- Immediate Response: No latency—instant effects when needed
- Custom Effects: Unique spells not in the Engine’s library
- Off-Grid Locations: Areas beyond the Engine’s reach
- Security: Private casting can’t be monitored or throttled
Skilled mages remain valuable. The Engine complements traditional magic rather than replacing it.
The Assembly’s Role
The Aethernet Assembly governs the Engine with strict oversight:
- Safety Standards: All spell templates undergo rigorous testing
- Ethical Review: Harmful or unethical magic is forbidden
- Infrastructure Maintenance: Constant monitoring of mana flow and server stability
- Research & Development: Expanding the Engine’s capabilities
The Assembly operates as a quasi-governmental body, balancing public good with sustainable revenue generation.
Limitations & Challenges
The Nubimancy Engine isn’t perfect:
- Dependency Risk: Engine downtime cripples businesses relying on it
- Coverage Gaps: Remote areas lack connectivity
- Monopoly Concerns: The Assembly controls all access
- Resource Strain: Mana pool can be exhausted during crises
- Security Vulnerabilities: Hacking attempts and unauthorized access
These challenges create ongoing business problems for the heroes to solve—and opportunities for innovation.
Magic as infrastructure. Spells as services. The future is Nubimancy. ☁️⚡✨