Interesting thoughts in this thread. While I don't have an answer for any of your questions, it raises some issues I should be looking into. My character is blind from a retinal detachment in her right eye, but has perfect vision in the left, so aside from less-than-stellar binocular acuity she doesn't suffer badly, and she's been that way since childhood.
I don't believe a system of sonar to be feasible within the realm of battle, since movements are often too quick to rely on an intermittent sound to determine location, let alone being able to hear a sound return through the intense noise of battle. However, I am in your school of logic that in the Aether, you should be able to have visions. Even the life-long blind have been known to describe colours, patterns and visions in their minds.
Do recall that the human body (and by loose association, the races of Hydaelyn) has more than 5 major senses. All in all, it's been agreed that there are at least 25+ measurable and reliable senses, geomagnetism, thermal sensing, nervous proximity location, etc. And taking a page from The Last Airbender, even completely kinetic and tangible senses such as vibration in the ground and changes in air pressure are feasible, too.
Using Aether to "see" is feasible as far as I'm aware. With my limited knowledge of how aether works I could imagine such a system providing a reliable "sight". After all, Thancred and the other Scions have masks to see Aetherial flow, and aether exists in all things, correct? I say go for it, unless someone can put a hard counter to that argument.
I don't believe a system of sonar to be feasible within the realm of battle, since movements are often too quick to rely on an intermittent sound to determine location, let alone being able to hear a sound return through the intense noise of battle. However, I am in your school of logic that in the Aether, you should be able to have visions. Even the life-long blind have been known to describe colours, patterns and visions in their minds.
Do recall that the human body (and by loose association, the races of Hydaelyn) has more than 5 major senses. All in all, it's been agreed that there are at least 25+ measurable and reliable senses, geomagnetism, thermal sensing, nervous proximity location, etc. And taking a page from The Last Airbender, even completely kinetic and tangible senses such as vibration in the ground and changes in air pressure are feasible, too.
Using Aether to "see" is feasible as far as I'm aware. With my limited knowledge of how aether works I could imagine such a system providing a reliable "sight". After all, Thancred and the other Scions have masks to see Aetherial flow, and aether exists in all things, correct? I say go for it, unless someone can put a hard counter to that argument.
