Thancred: Right, then. With that in mind, be aware that nigh all aspects of mankind's lives involve either directly manipulating either or using its crystallized form. The traditional methods of forging, carpentry, culinary arts, and all such other methods of craftsmanship have fallen mostly out of use in favour of synthesis via crystals, though a certain amount of traditional knowledge, equipment, and skill is still applicable. Thancred: Similarly, all forms of martial art include some degree of aetheric ability, and thus a lack thereof is a significant impediment. There is but a single people I am aware of who cannot directly manipulate it, and they have invented quite advanced technologies to do so in their stead. Thancred: Nevertheless, there are limits to what even the most talented caster can accomplish. As mentioned, aether in sufficient excess is poisonous. Overuse of it has also been known to warp the natural landscape to the point of great calamity. Thancred: In lieu of simple casting, therefore, many people have, over the ages, constructed deities we refer to as Primals. These "gods" are, without exception, false. They are mere wishes made form, taking on an appearance, personality, and skills based on the desires of their followers and the amount of aether provided at summoning through crystals or live sacrifices. Thancred: Unfortunately their grip on their peoples is very much real. Those present when a primal is summoned, or when it chooses to exert its power, are bathed in its aether and turned to thralls: "tempered", as it were. Tempered individuals might retain some degree of their original personality, to varying extents, but they become focused completely on feeding more aether to their primal, and providing further servants. This is what affects your beloved unitmates. Thancred: As far as we have discovered, there is no way in our world to remove tempering from the mind, though those I work with are doing their best to find one. The typical treatment is a merciful death. Thancred: That said, from here I'll need some direction if you have further questions. Aetherology is a broad and difficult field of study and despite my education I am not, in fact, a mage of any kind.
Re: day 272 sometime
Thancred: Similarly, all forms of martial art include some degree of aetheric ability, and thus a lack thereof is a significant impediment. There is but a single people I am aware of who cannot directly manipulate it, and they have invented quite advanced technologies to do so in their stead.
Thancred: Nevertheless, there are limits to what even the most talented caster can accomplish. As mentioned, aether in sufficient excess is poisonous. Overuse of it has also been known to warp the natural landscape to the point of great calamity.
Thancred: In lieu of simple casting, therefore, many people have, over the ages, constructed deities we refer to as Primals. These "gods" are, without exception, false. They are mere wishes made form, taking on an appearance, personality, and skills based on the desires of their followers and the amount of aether provided at summoning through crystals or live sacrifices.
Thancred: Unfortunately their grip on their peoples is very much real. Those present when a primal is summoned, or when it chooses to exert its power, are bathed in its aether and turned to thralls: "tempered", as it were. Tempered individuals might retain some degree of their original personality, to varying extents, but they become focused completely on feeding more aether to their primal, and providing further servants. This is what affects your beloved unitmates.
Thancred: As far as we have discovered, there is no way in our world to remove tempering from the mind, though those I work with are doing their best to find one. The typical treatment is a merciful death.
Thancred: That said, from here I'll need some direction if you have further questions. Aetherology is a broad and difficult field of study and despite my education I am not, in fact, a mage of any kind.