Aether
| Aether | |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites | Unknown |
| World of Origin | Unknown |
| Universe | Cosmere |
Aethers are an ancient variety of Invested entities present in the cosmere.[1] They originate on an unrevealed planet where the twelve primal aethers reside, although the aethers have since spread to other worlds of the cosmere.[2] Those who are bonded to one of the twelve primal aethers and are able to manifest that aether are known as aetherbound.[3][4] Aethers have existed since prior to the Shattering of Adonalsium, and some believe that they predate Adonalsium itself or are totally independent from its creations.[4]
Culture and Mythology
The people of the core Aether planet hold it as a sacred tenet that the aethers predate Adonalsium and are independent of its creations.[4] Aethers are revered by these people. They believe that aethers made all people, creating them to each think differently from one another.[5] They also believe humans were gifted with rebirth by the aethers to encourage, bless, and uplift their fellow people.[6] Those that follow the aethers also hold that people return to the aethers upon their deaths to reflect upon their choices in life.[7] It is believed that people who have made poor choices are cursed to wait a long time until their next rebirth. [6] They often swear with phrases such as "by the first aether".[1]
Mechanics
It is not known how aethers work or what abilities that they grant, with the exception of Roseite. There are supposedly many types of aether.[8] Only certain people can activate aethers, and physical pieces of aether are not particularly useful to anyone else.[9] Even cosmere scholars such as those in Silverlight do not yet understand how to control them.[10]
On the Core Aether world, multiple people bond to one singular core Aether.[11]
Types of Aether
Roseite
Roseite can be used to make constructs. On planets without certain fields of investiture, the aetherbound must remain in contact with the constructs; if contact is broken, the constructs crumble to a fine powder, and then vanish. Creating constructs drains water from the aetherbound. An aetherbound must understand an object to create it; creating a gun would require knowledge of its mechanisms. A pen made of roseite requires separate ink.[1][4]
Properties
Mraize is confirmed to have at least one piece of an aether in his collection of curios on Roshar.[12][13] Shallan Davar describes several of Mraize's trophies; through the process of elimination, it is likely that the aether is an exceptionally delicate pink crystalline substance, which would make it likely roseite.[14][1]
History
Aethers have been present in the cosmere since at least prior to the Shattering of Adonalsium, and may predate Adonalsium altogether.[4] While they were initially native to a single world, different variants of the aethers have since spread to other planets,[11] and now claim to have no specific planet of origin.[2]
As Mraize is a worldhopper,[15] the provenance of the roseite aether in his collection is unknown, but he is not able to make use of that piece of aether.[9] Later his laundress Mem was tasked with removing an aether stain on Mraize's Azish cavalrylord's suit. She thought it might be a combination of oil and blood and had a great deal of difficulty removing the stain, but eventually cleaned it off without damaging the suit's delicate Mycalin dye. Mraize was surprised by her success and gave her a bonus.[16]
Foil is trying to achieve control over the aethers. Khriss thinks that the discovery of anti-Investiture may disprove some of his theories about them.[10]
In the later stages of the cosmere, the aethers are also useful for space travel.
Known Aetherbound
Trivia
- Aethers originated in the unpublished novel Aether of Night. Elements of the novel have already been repurposed into other works,[17] and it would be completely rewritten before the world is introduced to the cosmere.[18] Aethers and their home planet are confirmed to exist, but the details have not been canonized.[19][20][21]
- Aethers are the only "major" magic system that has not yet been used extensively in any cosmere work.[20]
- The planet where aethers originate is not central to the overall cosmere arc.[22] Brandon has not decided how many aether novels he will write or where to fit them into the cosmere release timeline. He has considered doing a trilogy towards the end of the cosmere sequence,[23] but he may need to introduce the magic system sooner in a novel or novella since it is relevant to other planets.[24] Aethers claim to not be native to any one world.[2]
- Aethers are expected to be "relevant to space-age cosmere".[8]
Notes
- ↑ a b c d The Lost Metal chapter 39#
- ↑ a b c Mini-Con 2021
— Arcanum - 2021-11-22# - ↑ The Lost Metal chapter 40#
- ↑ a b c d e The Lost Metal chapter 42#
- ↑ The Lost Metal epilogue 1#
- ↑ a b The Lost Metal chapter 51#
- ↑ The Lost Metal chapter 47#
- ↑ a b Waterstones RoW Release Event
— Arcanum - 2020-11-18# - ↑ a b Emerald City Comic Con 2018
— Arcanum - 2018-03-01# - ↑ a b Rhythm of War Ars Arcanum#
- ↑ a b Secret Project #1 Reveal and Livestream
— Arcanum - 2022-03-08# - ↑ Skyward Houston signing
— Arcanum - 2018-11-19# - ↑ Idaho Falls signing
— Arcanum - 2018-12-29# - ↑ Words of Radiance chapter 43#
- ↑ Orem signing 2014
— Arcanum - 2014-12-06# - ↑ Oathbringer interlude I-8#
- ↑ Oathbringer release party
— Arcanum - 2017-11-13# - ↑ State of the Sanderson 2017
— Brandon's website - 2017-12-18# - ↑ General Reddit 2014
— Arcanum - 2014-12-18# - ↑ a b YouTube Livestream 14
— Arcanum - 2020-07-30# - ↑ General Reddit 2020
— Arcanum - 2020-07-13# - ↑ YouTube Livestream 23
— Arcanum - 2020-12-17# - ↑ State of the Sanderson 2019
— Brandon's website - 2019-12-19# - ↑ Tor Instagram Livestream
— Arcanum - 2020-11-25#