Aetherbind Cufflets

Aetherbind Cufflets are slim, metallic wristbands created in secret deep within the Southern Kingdoms, particularly A'Nota where magic is considered heretical. These devices are designed to suppress or delay the transformative process that occurs when a person begins to cross the threshold into Aetherihood - the “becoming,” as it’s known among the magically gifted.

Though disguised as decorative or penitential adornments, these cufflets are actually pieces of archaetech - a blend of ancient forbidden magical theory and cutting-edge anti-Aetheric engineering. Crafted from silverspike alloy and lined with a filament called 'shalevein thread', they create a closed-loop field that subtly dampens the resonance of Aether in the wearer’s blood.

• Form: Twin cuffs, worn on both wrists, bound by invisible Aetheric tethering. Each cuff is no wider than a ribbon and etched with religious symbols.
• Material: Silverspike alloy (harvested from mines deep beneath the Fireblood Mountains) is known for its natural Aether-resistant properties.
• Core: Woven within is a hidden thread of shalevein - a black, vine-like filament harvested from an near-extinct vine said to have once grown only in cursed, Aether-barren lands. Shalevein is known to consume ambient Aether.

The Aetherbind Cufflets work by disrupting the internal flow of nascent Aether - essentially pausing the magical metamorphosis before it crosses the point of no return.

However, this is only a delay, not a cure. Eventually, the Aether builds to dangerous levels, leading to:

• Severe physical illness (vomiting, fevers, seizures, unconsciousness)
• Psychological strain (paranoia, hallucinations, Aetheric nightmares)
• Explosive transformation if the cufflets are suddenly removed or damaged after too long a delay.

They must be worn continually to remain effective. If removed, the suppressed transformation often returns in full force, far more violently - with some Aetheri spontaneously combusting into flame, ice, or uncontrolled light. In a controlled environment, the cuffs can be removed but only if the removal is performed with powerful healers.

Though the official doctrine of A’Nota denies the existence of magic among its people, there have always been secret enclaves and underground networks formed by families desperate to protect loved ones from execution or exile.

The cufflets are believed to have been invented decades ago by Sereth Anvarra, a rogue engineer-priestess who disappeared after the prototype was complete. Rumours claim she was aided by a half-mad ex-Aetheri who taught her how to reverse the flow of magical resonance.

Only a handful of blacksmiths in A’Nota, Treyshill, and Amaraexal know how to make them. The knowledge is passed on orally, never written. Possession of an Aetherbind Cufflet is punishable by death in A’Nota - but some noble families are said to keep them hidden, just in case a child shows “the signs”.