Unstable Mana

Unstable Mana is a type of mana that is fluctuating wildly. It is often created when powerful spells are cast.

Overview
Unstable mana often occurs when powerful magic spells are cast and is often directed away from the casting of the aforementioned spell as a nuisance. The unstable mana causes minor magical disruptions in the surrounding area when discarded in this way. Magi casting spells in their labs catch the unstable mana and bring it to a location away from their delicate experiments as it is known to cause havoc on instruments of a magical nature.

Effects of Unstable Mana
Unstable mana seeks to stabilize itself usually by attaching to a source of mana. The consequences of this are often negative and unwanted. Despite the name unstable mana the changes it has on things are often one of a few effects that occur with varying degrees of frequency.

Spells:
The effects of unstable mana on spells are that the spell be dsirupted and dispelled, or that the intentions of the spell are changed. The spell being disrupted and dispelled happens 90% of the time and means that should unstable mana latch on to a spell being cast by a person or artifact it would stop the spell from being cast and get rid of any effects the spell has already caused. The other 10% of the time the unstsable mana will change the intentions of the spell. For example changing a fireball spell into a portal spell.

Magical Items:
The effects of unstable mana on magical items is always one of two things. It either removes the magic completly from the item or changes the strength of the item. Their is an even chance for both and an even chance to make the item stronger or weaker should the mana change the strength.

Flora:
Magical plants such as lotus, mageroyal, mana thistle, etc. always die when coming into contact with unstable mana. There have been no known observations to say otherwise.

Fauna:
Magical creatures such as mana wyrmlings, lesser elementals, etc. are almost always weakened for sometime after contact but can recover to back to normal. If the creature had been previously weakened the unstable mana has been known to kill them.

Sentient Beings:
The effects of unstable mana on sentient beings such as Humans, Orcs, Gnomes, etc. are unpredictable and different almost everytime to some degree.