Here's some lore on what Arcanists are and how they use their magic!
From what we've gathered, modern day Arcanima stems from the remnants of Nymian Scholars who lived on and around Vylbrand roughly 1,600 years ago, beginning sometime near the end of the 5th Astral Era until some point in the early 6th Astral Era when their entire civilization was wiped out by a horrible plague. These tactical magi of Nym created an Elemental-like creature called Fae in order to unlock greater forms of Succor, a magick which had been granted to the Amdaporians.
Scholars, in turn, are descendant from an even more ancient form of magic called Summoning, a famed practice of the ancient Allagans from 5,000 years ago.
So, to recap: The Allagans created Summoning to enslave the essences of defeated Primals to their will. Over 3,000 years later, Nymians, using a derivative form of Summoning, create and bond with an Elemental-like creature called a Fae to bolster their arcanima. The ability to summon or commune with these Fae is lost during the Green Rot and over the next 1,600 years, descendants of these Nymians are left with the most basic form of this 5,000 year old art, called Arcanima.
These Arcanists rely on ancient glyphs, mathematical equations, and the written word to channel their own aether into highly specialized spells. And by imbuing certain precious stones with their own aether, Arcanists are able to call upon a Familiar called Carbuncle, another creature of the "Lesser Elemental" taxonomy. So the essence of Arcanima's previous iterations remains to this day, even if the knowledge of the existence of such ancient jobs has been lost to most common Eorzeans.
Also, how Arcanists channel their aether and cast their spells is a bit different from other disciples of magic, as I've outlined in the quoted post below:
Hope this helps! ^^
Thubyrgeim Wrote:The roots of arcanima can be traced back to the esoteric calculations practiced by the people of the south sea isles. It was their efforts to express the nature of aether in mathematical terms that gave rise to the exacting science that we practice today. These definitive formalas are represented by "arcane geometries"--patterns that allow arcanists to manipulate aetheric energy and produce specific effects. The ability to shape this energy also allow practitioners to manifest arcane entities known collectively as "Carbuncle." This is perhaps the most defining power attributed to the art of arcanima.
From what we've gathered, modern day Arcanima stems from the remnants of Nymian Scholars who lived on and around Vylbrand roughly 1,600 years ago, beginning sometime near the end of the 5th Astral Era until some point in the early 6th Astral Era when their entire civilization was wiped out by a horrible plague. These tactical magi of Nym created an Elemental-like creature called Fae in order to unlock greater forms of Succor, a magick which had been granted to the Amdaporians.
Las Vegas Lore Panel Wrote:Q: To follow up on a question from the stream earlier- the taxonomy that fairies fall into. Is there an origin to how they become fairies of Scholars. Were they fairies and then bound to scholars? or did the scholars create them?
MCKF: Yes, the second one. Fairies again, while they fall under the taxonomy of elementals, they are actually beings that were created. They did not exist before. The Scholar would take the energies and elements from around them and would basically create these beings that were made of the elements.
Scholars, in turn, are descendant from an even more ancient form of magic called Summoning, a famed practice of the ancient Allagans from 5,000 years ago.
Y'mhitra Wrote:Let us review the history and role of the summoner, that we might never forget the tragedy that befell the unfortunate Tristan.
A summoner is a unique type of mage who harnesses the energy of the primals and reshapes it into a biddable avatar. In the ancient Allagan tongue, these avatars are known as "egi." Only those who are present at the defeat of a primal and have captured its savage essence are able to manifest such aetheric entities. Now, any explanation of the summoner is not complete without a brief history of its origin.
The Allagan Empire reached its peak during the Third Astral Era. Dissatisfied with dominion over Eorzea alone, this thriving civilization sought to expand its borders to ever more distant lands. Eventually, the empire cast its avaricious gaze upon the southern continent of Meracydia. The peoples of these nations did not, however, take kindly to being invaded, and they summoned the primals to repel the Allagan forces. Hard-pressed by these incarnations of elemental wrath, the leaders of the empire's military were forced to alter their tactics. They ordered the mages under their command to devise some manner of magic with which to counter the primals, and, after much experimentation, the art of summoning was born.
The magic invented by these arcane pioneers met with great success, and, within the Allagan Empire, the title of "summoner" earned the bearer an uncommon measure of awe and respect.
So, to recap: The Allagans created Summoning to enslave the essences of defeated Primals to their will. Over 3,000 years later, Nymians, using a derivative form of Summoning, create and bond with an Elemental-like creature called a Fae to bolster their arcanima. The ability to summon or commune with these Fae is lost during the Green Rot and over the next 1,600 years, descendants of these Nymians are left with the most basic form of this 5,000 year old art, called Arcanima.
These Arcanists rely on ancient glyphs, mathematical equations, and the written word to channel their own aether into highly specialized spells. And by imbuing certain precious stones with their own aether, Arcanists are able to call upon a Familiar called Carbuncle, another creature of the "Lesser Elemental" taxonomy. So the essence of Arcanima's previous iterations remains to this day, even if the knowledge of the existence of such ancient jobs has been lost to most common Eorzeans.
Also, how Arcanists channel their aether and cast their spells is a bit different from other disciples of magic, as I've outlined in the quoted post below:
(03-17-2015, 04:52 PM)Sounsyy Wrote: An Arcanist's grimoire isn't just a focus like staves for Thaumaturges and Conjurers, but also an amplifier of their aether. According to the lodestone text on the mediums, it's the actual glyphs and symbols drawn in the book that are the focus for an Arcanist's spells, but it's the quality of the ink in which they are drawn which facilitates easier casting. Where as a Thaumaturge's strength comes from within himself and a Conjurer's strength comes from nature, perhaps an Arcanist's strength is more or less dependent upon the quality of their weapon?
Anonymous Arcanist Wrote:For an arcanist to weave his spells, he must conjure in his mind the image of distinct mystical diagrams known as arcane geometries. These geometries are inscribed upon the pages of a grimoire, such as the one you constructed at my request.
The most important aspect of any grimoire is the quality of the ink used to illustrate its pages. Geometries drawn with ink that is especially conductive to the flow of aether allow the arcanist to more effectively channel his magical strength.
Lodestone Wrote:“Adepts of the art of arcanum derive their might from symbols of power born of geometric techniques hailing from across the southern seas. Held within occult grimoires, these symbols lend shape to the arcanist's aether, thereby allowing him to produce myriad powerful spells.
Using the selfsame symbols to unlock the latent power contained within gemstones, arcanists are also able to summon forth the familiar known as Carbuncle to carry out their bidding.â€
Hope this helps! ^^
