Arcanist

Arcanists tap, draw and channel aetherial energy through themselves, shaping spells quickly and organically while risking mind, soul and body to produce magic.

Unlike Artificers, who are forced to learn their craft through arduous study and practice (as well as a shattering of their rational mind), Arcanists are born with the ability to shape aetherial energy. However, the risk of harm is far more likely compared to an artificer. Training, discipline and practice is required for an arcanist to safely wield their power.

When channeling, the aetherial energy moves through an arcanist as they give it shape and purpose, producing visible light from beneath their skin that follows qi pathways through their bodies. Learning how it feels to shape and testing the results is a long process, different for every arcanist.

Tapping into the aetherium is almost always intentional, accidentally tapping into the aetherium is rare, but on occasions of heightened emotion or stress, an arcanist can instinctively tap and draw power, producing raw magical effects. Most arcanists discover their ability this way, having no idea before hand.

Some Arcanists don't even discover their abilities until their twilight years.

On top of being mostly deliberate, channeling is often an uncomfortable process for an arcanist. Not unlike a gag-reflex, their mortal bodies rebel against the sudden influx of aetherial energy, seeking to shunt it as quickly (and often violently) as possible. Pushing through the discomfort while maintaining the focus to shape the aetherial energy is incredibly difficult.

Over time, an arcanists body becomes accustomed to this unnatural intrusion and some can even draw direct physical benefit while channeling. Overcoming this discomfort is only the first step in managing their power.

### Tattoos

Learning how to shape the energy they channel is an incredibly difficult and dangerous process.

Because of this, most arcanists elect to have Aetheric arrays tattooed into their skin, allowing them to have more direct and predictable control over their powers rather than learn to shape it internally. These tattoos are extensive, connecting qi points all over their bodies with aethrous ink.

These tattoos are - by necessity - very specific, usually limiting an arcanist to no more than a dozen specific spell modulations. The arrays are inked into their skin in such a way that the simple folding of a few fingers or touching a digit to a control point on an arm completes a circuit to produce their desired magical effect.

For example, each fingertip is a control point, closing a fist and touching the fingertips to control points tattooed on the palm creates a close range percussive effect, allowing the arcanist the punch the air in front of them. Or closing three fingers with the index finger extended creates a plasmic projectile which can be infused with fire by gripping the forearm with the free hand and touching fingertips to specific control points on the main arm.

Since the aethrous ink is the most important part of the tattoo, the design can be aesthetically pleasing to the arcanist without having to sacrifice function. Or the aethrous ink itself can be placed without tint, effectively hiding the presence of the tattoos until the arcanist channels.

### Arcane Focus

Arcanists often elect to adopt an arcane focus: an item inscribed with Aetheric Arrays using a Aetherically conductive material to allow them to better focus their power, allowing the focus to shape the spell.

The focus is a far less permanent solution compared to tattoos, but it also far less flexible and is limited on the amount of power that can be conducted through it.

Most commonly, an arcane focus is a type of staff, rod or wand but any type of object can be used, including items of clothing such as gloves or even rings.