Aethery

Aethery is the practice of manipulating the chaotic energy of the universe, or aethora, in order to exert influence on the physical plane. It is most commonly confused with the human concept of magic. Those who practice the art of manipulating aethora are called **aetherists**.

Unlike the human concept of magic, aethery isn't a magic that 'comes from within'. Niradians aren't aethic, they simply have the ability to warp chaos that already exists. If no aethora was around, Niradians and other creatures in the Niriad would not be able to perform aethery.

To use a human analogy, aetherists are not electrical outlets, they are power cables that direct energy to where they want to go. It is the monar that produce the electricity itself.

> *"It is your will, not your power." - Akoras Ido*
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## Origins

The practice of aethery has existed since the dawn of time. The original aetherists in The Niriad were the monar who built the universe. When they created the physical plane, they infused it with chaotic energy. Their aethic tethers create a constant passage for aethora to pass from the Plane of Imethis into the physical world.

### Instinctual vs. Deliberate Aethery

As life developed in The Niriad, it became a useful adaptation to be able to connect with aethora. Even now, creatures use it to sense danger before they can hear or see it, some use it for mating displays, or even as a way to communicate. There is very little conscious control over this use of the aethora. Acts of aethery occur in specific moments based on survival and evolution, similar to breathing, blinking, or the fight or flight response. This is classified as *instinctual aethery.* In common parlance, it is usually referred to as an *aethic spark.*

Many creatures, not just Niradians, have developed a sense of awareness of the aethora and sometimes even the monar. With focused effort and practice, these creatures can focus their will and manipulate chaotic energy when and how they please. This is technically classified as *deliberate aethery*; although most simply refer to this as aethery; when aethery is referenced, 99% of the time they are speaking about this version.

It is thought that a considerable amount of self-awareness/sentience and intelligence is required for a creature to make the jump from instinctual aethery to deliberate aethery. After the monar, the earliest creatures known to practice *deliberate aethery* are the d'ryyop. It is unclear when Niradians made the leap themselves.

### Aethery & Niradians

It is known that the early evolutionary ancestors of today's Niradians had an aethic spark, although there is debate about what this instinct was used for. For Niradians as we know them today, deliberate aethery has been an intrinsic part of culture and life. Different groups of Niradians have built varying philosophies on the use of the chaotic plane, however it is incontrovertibly woven into the fabric of Niradian life.

Early Niradians in the Wild Days of the world watched other creatures and how they used the aethora. In turn they began to learn their techniques for themselves. They started to use the chaotic plane as a tool to accomplish simple tasks such as starting fires, telling stories, lighting darkness, protecting themselves and others. These were simple actions, and in modern time, these are considered basic aethic rudiments. However, these early studies formed the foundation of aethic practice today.

## The Aethic Ability Matrix

The aethic ability matrix is a way to conceptualize how powerful an aetherist is.

There are three main attributes that influences an individual's ability to be an aetherist. *Aethic capacity*, *Omoshet*, and *nadaelym.* In broad terms, **aethic capacity** affects how much aethora an individual can allow to flow through them at a given time. **Omoshet** affects how much control an individual has over how the aethora is used. **Nadaelym** is a supporting elements that could increase one or both of the former attributes, but is not required for the practice of aethery.

### Aethic Capacity (AC)

This is the individual's mental and physical ability to allow energies from other dimensions to flow through them. A larger AC allows creatures to use more aethora at any given time and therefore more power to manipulate. Niradians are each born with different aethic capacities. Like a muscle, aethic capacities can grow larger with training, or smaller with neglect.

**Capacity Potential (CP) Theory**

There is a prevalent theory that there is another axis to aethic capacity known as Capacity Potential (CP). The theory posits that each individual has a maximum threshold their aethic capacity can grow, regardless of how hard they train. This theory rose to prominence to explain why some aetherists who were highly-trained but not naturally gifted could outstrip others who were both naturally talented and equally trained. Some aethery academics condemn this theory as being "pseudo-intellectural rehetoric thrown around by childish aetherists with delicate egos" and "realistically unprovable", as it is impossible to know what anyone's true potential is.

### Omoshet

If an aetherist is unable to control the Aethora as it flows through them, the results will, at best, be wildly inconsistent or at worst be apocalyptic. Omoshet, named after the solejin Omo, is the practice of inner balance. It is a critical axis of aethery as it keeps an individual from being overwhelmed by chaotic power and losing control while they perform an aethic action.

Like aethic capacity, Omoshet can be improved with practice. However, Omoshet fluctuates far more than aethic capacity does. Without proper training and discipline, Omoshet can change on a moment-to-moment basis. Even the most trained aetherists may experience inconsistent Omoshet if they are experiencing an unfamiliar emotional state such as grief or elation.

### Nadaelym

Nadaelym is the term used for an allegiance between a monar and an aetherist. Having nadaelym is not essential to successful aethery, but aetherists who align themselves with monar gain abilities and advantages they may not have been able to access on their own. Depending on the nature of the alliance, nadaelym can give an aetherist improved aethic capacity, deeper Omoshet, or even abilities that can only be accomplished by the monar. There are three categories of nadaelym; connections, bonds, and binds.

## Common Aethic Imbalances

Well-executed aethery requires a balance between Omoshet and aethic capacity, and assisted by nadaelym of a similar level to the aetherist when desired. Those who focus too much on only one of these elements will fall victim to one of the common aethic imbalances; brute force aethery, or spiritual aethery.

**Brute Force Aethery**

A crude form of deliberate aethery where the focus is only on the practical aspect of aethery. In this form, an individual relies only on their aethic capacity to harness chaotic energy.

These aetherists are far more unpredictable with their abilities, as they are unable (or unwilling) to regulate an inner balance through Omoshet. Desired actions will often turn out more powerful or less powerful than they intend, as they are not fully in control of the energy they are directing. These individuals will rarely be capable of Nadaelym and will eventually hit an ability ceiling regardless of whether they have a naturally high aethic capacity. Brute force aetherists may also only be effective under specific physical or emotional circumstances, for example; if an individual learns in a low-pressure, loving environment they will be unable to produce a strong aethic flow in a scary or intense situation.

**Spiritual Aethery**

An imbalanced form of deliberate aethery where the focus is put only on the spiritual aspect of aethery. Some believe those who practice spiritual aethery are not true aetherists because they lack 'practical application'. These people are often brute force aetherists.

These aetherists have deep Omoshet, but little to no aethic capacity. Similar to brute force aethery, spiritual aetherists will eventually hit a ceiling in their abilities because advanced spiritual practices often require substantial aethic capacity. However, dissimilar to brute force aetherists, these individuals are able to achieve low levels of Nadaelym.

1. ↑ V. Fenay-Degezzor, *Aethery culture and rhetoric and its use in modern class control,* 38