Fraying

Idea; Magic
See also: Frayed

Fraying is drawing power by damaging the Weave. Many beings and spells can reshape the Weave, allowing raw magic to flow around something: the strands can be distorted, but ultimately left undamaged. In contrast, Fraying rips the strands apart. Spirits who do this are called the Frayed.

If Fraying is limited and short-term, the Weave can eventually heal on its own. But repeatedly Fraying the same area can impede this process.

On the Prime Material Plane, a deeply Frayed area will typically become an apocalyptic wasteland. The Mournland on Eberron is one such wasteland, although it's unclear whether Cyre was intentionally use Fraying.

Fraying the Weave is widely viewed as reckless and wasteful. Even among the most selfish and ruthless gods, devils, and demons (and their followers), Fraying is generally regarded as anathema. Metaphorically, on the Edge Fraying is as bad or worse than deploying nuclear weapons. It can leave an area unsafe and uninhabitable by almost any being. Thus, any widespread or long-term use of Fraying or the Frayed will inevitably attract the attention of powerful beings. In some cases, such beings will even set aside their own rivalries or hatreds to stop the Fraying.