(05-19-2016, 09:12 AM)GhostlyMaiden Wrote: Corrupted Aether.
What is it exactly? What association does it have with Void things? Can someone have corrupted aether inside of them? What does corrupted aether do, how does it form?
(06-02-2016, 06:29 AM)Valence Wrote: 1) I'm also interested into corrupted aether. Most specifically corrupted crystals (which are concentrated aether in any case). What is that corruption? Void shenanigans? Umbral corruption (though I would not call it corruption then)? Something else? Also, they use it extensively from time to time in the MSQ.
Asking the tough questions...
Corrupted Aether is caused by a sudden, severe imbalance in the aetherial properties of the crystal or aether concentration. This can occur in a few different ways:
- A crystal formation begins leaking aether after suffering damage.
- A crystal formation is feasted upon by Voidsent.
- Aether becomes stagnant overlong and for whatever reason cannot return to the Lifestream.
Corrupted crystals are far more prevalent due to the recent destruction to the land caused by the fall of Dalamud. Severe loss of life or the death of the land, according to Erik, causes a violent separation of aether from its host. Usually, aether returns to the Lifestream and rejoins the Aetherial Plane before cycling back to the Physical Plane to become new life. However, only so much aether can make this journey at a time, a limit called the Aetherial Threshold. When this is reached, any excess aether remains behind. If a large enough concentration remains, a crystal will form.
This was seen widespread across Eorzea due to the Calamity.
006 Vista Record "The Salt Strand Wrote:When struck by a fallen shard from Dalamud's outer shell, a massive amount of concentrated aether was released from just below the surface of the Rhotano Sea, immediately fusing with and crystallizing the towering fount of salt water which was expelled during the impact. City-state-funded exploratory forays into the inner crater have all yet to return...
So what does corrupted aether do? Well, as it is corrupted, the aether can be incredibly dangerous to both environment and creatures nearby. Overlong exposure to the corruption can distort one's own aetheric balance. Corrupted crystals which are leaking aether or reacting with other nearby clusters of corruption can become highly volatile, as seen in places like Pharos Sirius and Dzemael Darkhold.
Earthbound Wrote:Since the Calamity, there has been much imbalance in the elements. Founts of over-aspected aether erupt from the soil and manifest into corrupted crystals. These crystals, in turn, attract the most unsavory of creatures, the most common of all being elemental sprites who, upon absorbing the crystals, become corrupted themselves. The Brass Blades are seeking adventurers to comb the desert and find the crystals, slaying any corrupted sprites encountered.
Papalymo Wrote:Being intangible matter, aether is given to dispersion; only in its crystallized form is it a stable source of energy.
Moenbryda Wrote:Why would we need to tap the river when there's veritable reservoirs jutting out all over the land? Aye, I speak of corrupted crystals. It might be that their aspect is out of balance, but a crystal's a crystal - it contains aether, and we can help ourselves to it.
Alphinaud Wrote:We speak of the manifestations of over-aspected aether that can be found throughout Eorzea. Since the Calamity disrupted the land's aetheric currents, such crystals have become comparatively commonplace. ...Which has been a cause of great woe, as they are known to warp aetheric energies, including those of living organisms.
Lodestone Wrote:The Calamity, however, would change everything. The lighthouse was destroyed in the wake of Bahamut's onslaught, and the surrounding area's aether would soon give way to a formation of corrupted crystal. While efforts to rebuild the lighthouse were impeded by these crystals, the peoples of Limsa would soon face a threat much more sinister.
Over-aspected Crystal Wrote:A crystaline manifestation of aetheric energy exhibiting an extreme elemental charge.
Over-aspected Cluster* Wrote:A large crystalline manifestation of aetheric energy exhibiting an extreme elemental charge. When released, the energy has been known to restore the corporeal and spiritual state of those otherwise incapacitated.*Appears identical to Corrupted Crystals.
Lamberteint Wrote:But to the matter at hand─did you say you wish not to conduct field observations, but to harvest a corrupted crystal? Egads, woman! At least take the necessary precautions so that you do not suffer from exposure to its harmful energies! I'm beginning to wonder if you've sufficient qualifications to handle such hazardous materials...
The Raven: Dalamud Approaches Wrote:One theory states that Dalamud may actually be moving towards us, thus the illusion of gradual growth. I had the good fortune to speak with Domitien, an Ishgardian scholar and proponent of the “moving moon†theory, and he was kind enough to elaborate further on the subject.
According to Domitien, the red moon's growing proximity is wreaking havoc on the natural balance of the elements. As evidence to support this claim, he points to the recent and wide-ranging discovery of crystals that either exhibit an extreme concentration of a particular elemental property, or appear to have lost any such properties altogether.
And what might the consequences of such a disruption to elemental balance entail?
Domitien hypothesizes that the disturbance could give rise to peculiarities among monstrous wildlife, as well as alter the flow of aetheric energy. This last point is especially worrisome, as the “rivers†of aether that run through the land are what make instantaneous travel between aetheryte locations possible. Should the aetheric flow become sufficiently warped, it may well prevent us from using aetherytes altogether.
Deaspected Crystal Wrote:This translucent crystal seems to have been completely drained of its elemental aspect.
Ronan Kognan Wrote:Muaha, muahahaha! You could read all the literature in Eorzea, friend-every last treatise and tome-and still you would know nothing of deaspected crystals. Nothing! But even if books could help you, you'd have no need of them. Nooo, not a single page. Ronan Kognan knows all! For the Ashcrown Consortium is his employer, and crystals his employment, muahahaha!
Most curious… It seems the crystals share some bond with the moon Yeees, the lunar phases seem to influence the flavor - errr, the rate at which the crystals lose their aspect.
I could be wrong, but I have a feeling the greatest loss of flav- errr, power occurs on cloudless evenings when the moon is clearly visible. Ahhh, but I must know the truth… Bring me more! Mooore! I shall unravel this mystery! Muahahaha!
The Ashcrown Consortium has dealings with many peoples and tribes - beastmen among them. Yeees, we trade crystals with even the Amalj'aa and Ixal. That is how we came to learn that they, too, are attempting to solve the mystery of this deaspecting phenomenon. They claim this Ifrit of theirs - the flame deity conjured by their vile rituals - consumes crystals. I thought perhaps the dead ones were all that remained after the foul god's feasting - crumbs after a meal. But they told me I was wrong in this.
Hm? What will I do with them after my studies are complete, you ask? Why, I shall restore their lost power, of course! Yeees, certain corners of this realm are awash with aether. You need only bury a deaspected crystal there, and what once was dead will soon be alive again! Alive, do you hear!? Aliiive! Muahahaha! Yet many will never know such joyous rebirth. My studies take their toll on the crystals, you see. It's all the probing. Often, I am left with mere fragments. Even the tiniest of these seem to interest the moogles, though. Might you know why? They're rather odd, if you ask me.
These will prove invaluable to my studies. Invaluable! Muahahaha! Tore them from the corpse of a foul beast, did you? Many of the crystals I collect are formed faaar below the earth, where aether flows in abundance. Yeees, but aether flows through living things, as well.
And so it is with us, muahahaha! Even now, as we speak, that strapping adventurer's body of yours is coursing with the stuff! Yeees, you too have an aspect! Perhaps there is even a colorless, deaspected Lalafell running about somewhere in Eorzea…
No doubt about it, the aspects of these crystals have been utterly obliterated. Muahahaha!
I've seen blindingly brilliant crystals, darkened dead crystals, and crystals with only a hint of their aspect still glimmering within. That is how I know these deadened crystals were not always so, but once shone as magnificently as any. But why has their light gone out? Why? <sigh> If only we had the knowledge of the crystals of Sharlayan… Though, I have heard the Archons have left there and come to Eorzea. They are pious souls who devote themselves to studying the prophesies of the Divine Chronicles. Perhaps they could shed some light on these mysteries.
Yeees, my precious little beauties are hard to come by of late. Every clan and creed south of the Bloodbrine is after them, each for their own ends. You see, the fate of Eorzea is tied to the crystals, my friend. So bring me any deaspected crystals you come across, adventurer. I shall cut them to pieces and grind them to powder, muaha! Touch them, smell them, taste them, muahahaha! I shall do whatever I must and more to discover the cause of their death! Muahahaha!
___________________________
(06-02-2016, 06:29 AM)Valence Wrote: 2) I went through the Heavensward MSQ part where you go beg Cid to bring you over to the Aery to go confront Nidhogg, so he offers you to try his manacutter prototype that Biggs and Wedge designed. They say mainly that it uses corrupted (??) crystal technology to turn ambiant aether into elemental wind that go blow into the sail and bits of the thing. They also say the power output it brings is pretty shitty though, so it only flies in places where wind aspected aether is really strong (like the Aery). Does that mean they can only fly there? Or they seem to imply that it's a problem they have to fix before doing anything, so you then get to deal with things with the Sultana while they are working on it. So, the question is, they fixed that issue right? Found a way to go around?
Okay, here's the lore behind how Manacutter functions:
Cid Wrote:Impressive little thing, isn't she? My talent for ship design has plainly rubbed off on them. They've adapted the principles of corrupted crystal technology, and constructed a mechanism which converts aether from its surroundings into elemental wind. Said wind is then harnessed by the specially engineered sails, providing the craft with propulsion and lift. All in all, a most elegant solution...
Remember the aforementioned "corrupted crystal technology" is part of the storyline where you outfit Cid's Enterprise with corrupted Ice crystals to distort Garuda's control of her storm so you could fight her. Because corrupted crystals "warp aetheric energies" the manacutter's engine is taking in an abundance of an element and using the energy to sustain propulsion/flight.
Wedge Wrote:The design does, however, come with one small flaw...
Biggs Wrote:The energy conversion ratio's bloody awful. To generate enough power to get you off the ground, you need to be in an area awash with predominantly wind-aspected aether.
Wedge Wrote:In other words, there are a few places you can fly...and lots of places you can't.
This is the limitation of the manacutters, and it's something that they did not fix, hence why you can't fly your manacutter in the old ARR zones. The problem is that they have to fix the manacutters to handle the extreme winds of the Aery. The manacutters can fly, just not into the Aery safely. The Garlond engineers set out to fix this problem while you're away doing other things.
Cid Wrote:Leave the manacutter with us. We'll see that she's airworthy and suitably equipped to slice through those winds.
Biggs Wrote:We've been working on a second vessel while we perfected the prototype. Don't worry─they'll both be able to handle the winds you're expecting.
Wedge Wrote:The finer adjustments cost us a few sleepless nights, but we got there in the end!
Biggs Wrote:Which means you can get where you need to go. I tell you, these little beauties'll tear through that wind barrier like a cermet drill through cottage cheese.
But unfortunately no, manacutters still cannot fly in areas without thick wind-aspect density. The conversion rate on their engine is still bloody awful.
Manacutter Wrote:Supervised (in spirit) by the ever-absent Cid, Biggs and Wedge (with a little bending over by Biggs) put their heads together to create this flight-ready miniature airship, powered by the realm's first corrupted crystal engine.
___________________________
(06-02-2016, 06:29 AM)Valence Wrote: 3) Heh then, how do airship fly? Not the garlean stuff mind you. The eorzean version that is everywhere and stems from Ixali designs.
Ceruleum still! Almost all modern airships are based off Garlean magitek technology brought to Eorzea by Cid Garlond and his team of Garlond Ironworks Engineers. Though you are correct that the original Highwind Skyways design was based off the Ixali dirigibles, most of Tatanora's original airship designs never took flight or were so costly that they were neither a practical nor affordable means of transportation.
Lodestone Wrote:Airships are miracles of the Eorzean skyscape—flying vessels born from the ingenuity and ambition behind the Garlean Empire's most advanced technologies. The airships of the realm's free nations most commonly achieve flight by either one of two means—large balloons of hide and cloth filled with gases less dense than the surrounding air, or wings of magitek making, made to beat by powerful ceruleum-burning engines. Despite whatever technological simliarities they may share, however, the realm's vessels are easily distinguishable on sight from the enormous and sinister juggernauts of Garlemald—armored monstrosities designed for the sole purpose of destruction.
Ceruleum Tanks Wrote:Airship-grade refined ceruleum. Required to fuel vessels traveling to the Sea of Clouds on exploratory voyages.
Bronco-type Sail Wrote:A simple yet highly durable sheet of thick canvas designed to serve both as a receptacle for lighter-than-air ceruleum gas, as well as a sail to assist propulsion.
Enterprise-type Bladder Wrote:The unique shape of this ceruleum gas bladder directs the flow of air around it, reducing wind resistance.
Invincible-type Propellers Wrote:Airship lift is achieved by the rapid spinning of ceruleum-powered propellers mounted atop masts placed around the fore and aft decks.
Tatanora-type Propellers Wrote:Taking inspiration from the aether-manipulating flying fish found in the Sea of Clouds, these radical new propellers have been treated with wind-aspected crystals, allowing for increased lift.
Propulsion Engine Component Wrote:A component to be used in finishing the Dezul Qualan's main ceruleum propulsion engine.
Ceruleum Tank Component Wrote:A component to be used in creating the Dezul Qualan's main ceruleum fuel tank.
Sightseeing Vista #064 Wrote:Ceruleum Pipeline
Even before airships and engines were commonplace in Eorzea, Amajina & Sons Mineral Concern recognized the potential value of ceruleum and laid claim to nearly all of the untapped deposits in northern Thanalan. In an ironic twist, for many years before the Garlean invasion, the Concern's biggest customer was, in fact, the imperial army.
So, a little more on Ceruleum. It is made from refined aether. While the specific process is unknown, what we do know is that refineries artificially deaspect aether crystals and use the liquid residual as fuel. This process off-gasses a blue fog-like vapor, hence the Bluefog area surrounding the refinery.
Ceruleum is most commonly found on Ilsabard, the northern continent, but a small incredibly fertile patch of natural ceruleum exists in the mountains of northern Thanalan. However, it is controlled by Amajina & Sons Mineral Concern, and the tariffs they inflict to export the product are ridiculous.
Though most commonly used in airship engines, it does have other applications across Eorzea, from the Maelstrom flagship's engine, to Ul'dah's lighting its streetlamps, to Ishgard's ballistas, to the occasional overzealous lighting of the Stone Sentinels in Gridania.
Hope this helps! ^^
