High Aetheri

The High Aetheri are among the most revered magical beings in all of C’Naelia — a title fewer than two dozen individuals hold at any given time.

While all High Aetheri are part of the elite upper echelon of magical society, not all serve on the Aetheri Council, though many aspire to.

The High Aetheri dwell in the Aetheri Citadel, a sprawling bastion of arcane knowledge, celestial architecture, and ancient secrets.

Becoming a High Aetheri is not a matter of age, origin, or even talent alone. It is a transformative path that demands not only mastery over magic but deep spiritual resilience, intellectual breadth, moral clarity (or the cunning to fake it), and unwavering loyalty to the Order’s deeper, often obscured, purpose.

High Aetheri serve as the spiritual and magical elite of the Aetheri order. Their duties vary according to the branch of magic they wield, their chosen specialisation, and their moral alignment — but they include:

• Training apprentices through the Rite of Concordia, binding themselves magically to a single Aetheri student at a time.
• Overseeing magical law and determining whether magical anomalies are natural or signs of corruption.
• Mentoring and judging Aetheri who demonstrate rare magical awakening.
• Crafting or sealing magical artefacts, particularly those too dangerous or too complex for standard Aetheri.
• Leading expeditions to unstable Aetheric zones, regions tainted by rifts, corrupted , or forgotten war remnants.
• Petitioning the Aetheri Council on behalf of outlying magical communities, or rebelling factions of Aetheri.

A High Aetheri’s influence may quietly shape kingdoms, even while they outwardly claim neutrality. Many have personal alliances, patronage webs, or hidden histories with monarchs, priestesses, or ancient races.

The journey begins with recognition. Aetheri who display both exceptional talent and unwavering discipline may be chosen as an apprentice by a current High Aetheri, often one who sits on the Aetheri Council. This is a sacred pact, one that binds mentor and student through the ancient rite of Aetherra's Accord—a magical vow of guidance and allegiance.

Core Requirements:

Mastery of all basic Aetheri disciplines:

• Elemental Manipulation (Fire, Water, Air, Earth)
• Kinetics (telekinesis, momentum control)
• Energy Manipulation (pure Aether shaping, light/dark essence, force barriers)

Deep competence in at least two advanced branches, such as:

• Healing
• Nature
• Magic Psionics (mental manipulation, astral projection)
• Abjuration (warding, banishment)
• Advanced Elemental or Kinetic forms

An Ascendant must earn their title, not inherit it. The Crucible Trials are a gauntlet of magical, emotional, and mental rigour. No two Crucibles are the same—each is tailored by a secretive panel of Ascendants to test the apprentice’s true limits.

Part One: The Proving Ground

The candidate must demonstrate superior control over the core triad of Aetheri magic.

They must then pass specially designed trials in their chosen branch of specialism - under hostile, high-pressure conditions designed to simulate extreme magical crises.

These trials often take place within controlled reality warps inside the Citadel itself - “living spells” that simulate natural disasters, battlefield trauma, and arcane anomalies.

Part Two: The Maze of Dissonance

• The candidate is plunged into a vast psionic illusion maze, crafted from their own mind.
• Here, the threads of their fears, traumas, secrets, regrets, and desires are pulled into sharp, often cruel relief.
• The trial cannot be “won” through magical power. Instead, it demands emotional honesty, humility, and self-reconciliation. Any deception - even subconscious - is punished.
• Many emerge broken. Some never return. It is said no Aetheri emerges unchanged. Some lose their ambition. Some emerge stronger, tempered like steel. A few become unstable, though this is kept quiet.

There are several perks to gaining the title of High Aetheri:

Unrestricted Access to the Aether Citadel

High Aetheri can roam all areas of the Citadel, including sealed chambers, ancient libraries, magical vaults, and arcane laboratories forbidden to lesser Aetheri. They can study lost or dangerous knowledge at will, unlocking secrets others can only dream of.

Command over Ancient Magical Artefacts

Only High Aetheri are entrusted with wielding or safeguarding artefacts of immense power and risk — relics that could destabilise kingdoms or tear rifts in reality if misused. Their connection and mastery over these items far exceeds that of ordinary Aetheri.

Enhanced Magical Abilities

Their power is inherently greater, allowing them to:

• Push elemental manipulation, energy control, and kinetics to near-mythic levels.
• Maintain prolonged and complex spells without fatigue.
• Effortlessly manipulate multiple branches of magic simultaneously.
• Sense and analyse magical auras, disturbances, or lies at a glance.

Direct Line to the Aetheri Council

Even if not Council members themselves, High Aetheri have privileged communication channels to the Council, allowing influence over major magical or political decisions. Their advice often carries heavy weight in crises or arcane diplomacy.

Personal Apprentices and Influence

High Aetheri are entitled to select and mentor apprentices, shaping the next generation of Aetheri. Their chosen protégés receive favoured training, resources, and status from the moment of their selection.

Immunity to Magical Law Enforcement

Within the Citadel and under Aetheri jurisdiction, High Aetheri cannot be arrested or imprisoned without the unanimous consent of the Council. This protection prevents petty power struggles or vendettas from limiting their work.

Access to Exclusive Magical Resources

• Rare elemental reagents.
• Forbidden tomes and spell components.
• Magical familiars or Aether Motes loyal only to them.
• Personal sanctuaries infused with stabilising magic, granting rest and regeneration impossible elsewhere.

Arcane Status Symbols

High Aetheri often bear physical marks of their status, such as:

• An intricate glowing sigil appearing on their skin or robes - a sign of the Crucible’s blessing.
• A unique Aether Prism - a crystalline artefact worn around the neck that enhances their magic and can act as a communication device or magical compass.
• Their robes and regalia shimmer faintly with ethereal light visible only to other Aetheri.

Diplomatic Privileges and Nobility Recognition

High Aetheri often receive deference from nobles and royalty, sometimes earning honorary titles or lands. They can petition kings or councils directly, and their presence alone commands respect or fear in many courts.

Expanded Lifespan and Vitality

While not immortal, the intense discipline, powerful magic, and mental clarity gained from passing the Crucible grants High Aetheri enhanced longevity, quicker recovery from injury, and resistance to poisons or curses.