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.
paloma: Mm—well, it's interesting, in that I'm familiar with something I'd describe as akin to tempering. There are beings we call kakkati that are able to take possession of mind and body, and drive individuals to act out, alter their personality, similar to how you described. paloma: We generally submit such individuals to an exorcism, which involves ritual deflation of the pruugaa—that'd be the area in which the soul is stored—which then reinflates over time. It has the adverse effect of resetting their personality, but we, similarly, consider it merciful. paloma: I understand most other peoples do not consider themselves to have a physical soul, but I wonder if there are principles one could apply... paloma: Intriguing that the use of aether is more or less required in all areas of work. If there are those who cannot use it, as you described, is the ability to manipulate aether inborn, or could those people be taught to use it with practice?
Thancred: Souls are not generally considered physical, no. But working directly with them is the best lead we have. Thancred: As to your question: aetheric manipulation is an inherent ability of most people. What is taught is technique, though some men are born with greater sensitivity and deeper personal reserves. Some are not suited to any type of arcane art, but all can make more mundane use of it. To be unable to wield aether entirely means one is of the garlean race, or that one has experienced a sort of metaphysical injury.
paloma: Interesting; I admit I'm curious whether if I found myself in your world in the future I'd be able to do it or not. Especially since honestly that experience of monsters and magic being thrown around everywhere was, frankly, rather alarming, speaking as a simple politician. paloma: As for the matter of souls, it seems that the additional problem would be to stabilize someone tempered emotionally, if one was able to conduct a successful exorcism. paloma: That and someone specifically told me not to touch Emecchi's soul, but I'm not a stranger to breaking rules for results.
Thancred: Presuming you could remove the tempering, they have eons of nightmarish memories to confront. Lahabrea is remarkably coherent, to be completely honest. I know not how one could begin to address those emotions. Thancred: Nor am I sure this should be treated the same way as possession. They are two different but similar things, and that will affect both magical and emotional treatments.
paloma: I suppose there's psychotherapy, although I'm not sure I'd trust anyone here to actually be any good at it. paloma: Especially not that so-called doctor on LiliS.
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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.
Re: day 272 sometime
paloma: We generally submit such individuals to an exorcism, which involves ritual deflation of the pruugaa—that'd be the area in which the soul is stored—which then reinflates over time. It has the adverse effect of resetting their personality, but we, similarly, consider it merciful.
paloma: I understand most other peoples do not consider themselves to have a physical soul, but I wonder if there are principles one could apply...
paloma: Intriguing that the use of aether is more or less required in all areas of work. If there are those who cannot use it, as you described, is the ability to manipulate aether inborn, or could those people be taught to use it with practice?
Re: day 272 sometime
Thancred: As to your question: aetheric manipulation is an inherent ability of most people. What is taught is technique, though some men are born with greater sensitivity and deeper personal reserves. Some are not suited to any type of arcane art, but all can make more mundane use of it. To be unable to wield aether entirely means one is of the garlean race, or that one has experienced a sort of metaphysical injury.
Re: day 272 sometime
paloma: As for the matter of souls, it seems that the additional problem would be to stabilize someone tempered emotionally, if one was able to conduct a successful exorcism.
paloma: That and someone specifically told me not to touch Emecchi's soul, but I'm not a stranger to breaking rules for results.
Re: day 272 sometime
Thancred: Nor am I sure this should be treated the same way as possession. They are two different but similar things, and that will affect both magical and emotional treatments.
Re: day 272 sometime
paloma: Especially not that so-called doctor on LiliS.