Ether
The energy of the universe, Ether comes in many forms and is used in the process of Cultivation and in the forming of Either Arts.  All beings capable of using it possess an Ether Core or have one implanted within their heart, allowing Ether to travel through the bloodstream and strengthen the body.  Its base form is Pure Ether, possessing no elemental influences and the easiest to shape into other forms.  This form is the only one accessible to those without an Ether Core and serves as the foundation of an Ethereal Artist.

Elemental Ethers, while able to be sensed by any Artist, are generally unusable without an Ether Core.  Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind serve as the basic forms, with more complex forms revealing themselves to higher-level Artists.  These are often referred to as the Primal Forces, which can take new forms when combined in certain ways, such as using the solidity of Earth Ether to make Water Ether turn to Ice Ether.  These forms are referred to as the Higher Forces.

Light and Dark stand opposed to each other in many ways.  Light Ether is used to strengthen other Ethers, making them more potent and enhancing their effects.  This makes it highly useful for healing arts or raising old techniques to new heights through increased output.  Dark, meanwhile, serves to destroy and corrupt, weakening the abilities of others, as well as being vital in the creation of poisonous techniques.  While opposites, they can also be used together by advanced Artists, breaking down and rebuilding things in new forms.  These two are known as the Noble Forces.

The effects of Ether on the mind and body can be felt while channeling them.  A person using Fire Ether, for example, will feel more passion and intensity, leading some to channel for the sake of emotional control.  Someone overwhelmed, for example, might channel Wind Ether to experience their cares fading away or Pure Ether to calm the mind to a rational state.

Ether properties:
Pure - Neutrality, Calm
Fire - Heat, Acceleration, Passion
Water - Flowing, Cooling, Cool-headed
Earth - Solidity, Density, Stoic
Wind - Vaporous, Lightness, Free-spirited
Light - Strength, Life, Clarity
Dark - Weakness, Destruction, Bleakness


Cultivation
The process by which Ethereal Artists grow and strengthen, there are as many paths as there are people, but it generally breaks down into honing the body through physical training, honing the mind through meditation, and using catalysts, such as Elixirs or Mystical Items to increase the energy inside one’s body.

Items, too, can be cultivated, by introducing stronger catalysts to them, such as improving Elixirs with rarer ingredients or improving weapons and other items with more advanced scripts or materials.  As such, items are given a ranking equal to the Dawning it most closely matches, before being classified as Regal or Godly status when they become suitable for those Realms.

Cultivation, like many things, needed quantification to be fully understood, leading to the measure of Years, supposedly referring to the amount the average Ethereal Artist can meditate in a year’s time.  For example, a Ten-Year Elixir is a potion said to provide ten years' worth of cultivation to the person who ingests it.  This has, in turn, led to Years referring to how powerful an Artist is, as an Artist with Thirty Years of Ether in their body is more powerful than one with ten.  Raising in rank is one way in which the amount of Ether a person can store inside is increased, with First Dawning Artists without Ether Cores only capable of holding Ten Years of Ether in their body at one time.


Realm
A mark of status, your realm explains how far in the Cultivation process one is.  All Artists start in the Foundation and Enlightenment Realms, referring to their body and mind still being a work in progress.  Upon completion of both, they prepare to enter the Regal realm through means that are unknown to the regular Ethereal Artist.  Finally, the Godly Realm is reached by leaving the confines of mortality behind, shedding the human body, and ascending as a spirit to a new existence.  It is a process that precious few achieve or even know how to go about attempting.



Willcrafting
A school of Ethereal Artistry that manipulates intent to powerful effect.  At its most basic form, Willcrafting is as simple as using the Ether Core of another being as a weapon, techniques used by the creature or person becoming imprinted upon the Ether Core.  A Fire Elemental’s Ether Core, for example, can generate heat and fire, allowing it to be bound to an object to generate the same effect to create portable furnaces.

Beyond this basic form is the utilization of Willscripting, a language that can impart the techniques upon an object with a form of instruction.  This allows a user to specify how the Ether Core’s techniques activate and removes some of the need to maintain the technique.  This creates a double-edged sword, in that more advanced techniques are possible within a Willscripted item but that it takes more skill to use it.  Generally, a Willscript of the Fifth Dawning can only be used by one of the same rank, for example.

At the Regal realm, Willcrafting goes beyond using the Cores of others and instead forces the user to make use of their own inner will to affect the world around them.  These form the Regal Realm’s foundation, though the methods and practice are considered a closely guarded secret, leaving precious little information to go on for Fifth Dawnings looking to ascend to the next level.  At the Godly Realm, it is said that Willcrafting can be used to reshape the cosmos itself in ways no mortal mind can possibly understand.


Samsara
The cycle of Death and Rebirth.  It is said that at the end of time, Kaitos, god of Time, has the power to regress the universe, turning the world back from a cataclysm.  This allows the gods to attempt to prevent the end from coming by undoing their mistakes or preventing certain disasters.  Mortals are unable to perceive when a Samsara occurs under normal circumstances, though there can be rare occasions where such an event can take place.  A tremendous cost is required for Samsara, though not one known to those outside the Godly Realm.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:18, Sun 06 Feb 2022.

Realm of the Foundation: The basis for an Artist’s power, the Foundation are physical transformations brought on by training, mystical influences, or transforming their physical forms through other means.
Body - Transforms the body, allowing for greater strength, endurance, and other physical benefits, as they move further through the Dawnings.
Ether Core - The heart of mystical energy, an Artist must merge an Ether Core to their heart, allowing Ether to spread through their bloodstream to the body.  Further Dawnings increase the power of this core and the effects on the body.  Without an Ether Core, it is impossible to go beyond the first Dawning.
Eyes - Mystical insight or powers can be granted by obtaining different forms of eyes.  Like the body, these can be trained or acquired by various means.

Realm of Enlightenment: The cultivation of the mind and soul, Enlightenment increases the overall power of an Artist.  This is generally done through the Ether energy flowing through their body, which is refined by a combination of catalysts, such as elixirs and herbs, and meditation designed to disperse the catalysts throughout the bloodstream.  Though this process can help a person grow stronger, the true power comes from a Dawning, which sees a massive increase in an Artist’s power. The First Dawning is reached upon the first step down the path of Cultivation, while all others require a revelation, a deep personal truth that allows the Artist to reach a higher level of personal enlightenment.  Though it is possible for Artists of a lesser Dawning to defeat higher ranks, it becomes more difficult as the ranks increase, which those of the Fourth or Fifth Dawning generally seen as fighting toddlers if facing off with even Third Dawning Artists.

Regal Realm: The ultimate goal of all earthbound Artists, the Regal Realm refers to those with the power to rule.  Like the Foundation, it is divided into three categories, though precious few ever achieve them all.  As such, there are names given based on how many are achieved, ranging from Lord to Prince/Princess to King/Queen.  Children of Regals are often recognized as coming from superior breeding, referred to as Lordlings, Princelings/Princesslings, and Kinglings/Queenlings to note their status but not declaring them like their parents until they have achieved it for themselves.

Godly Realm: Achieved by shedding the physical form and becoming a spiritual being, Godhood can release one from all earthly limitations, making whatever powers they possess held back only by their imagination.  Gods and Goddesses achieve more power through belief, with worshippers or followers adding to their strength.  As such, Godly Artists will often find Avatars to act as their agents in the Mortal Realm or create powerful mystical items that are highly coveted as cultivation tools or weapons by lesser Artists.