[4.1 MSQ] Another Tempering question

So in the 'Lakshmi ambush' scene, we discover that the guards outside the room had been secretly enthralled beforehand in order to block our escape. But how was it done?

Doesn't a Primal have to be physically present to enthrall people, or was there some remote method used that I somehow missed the mention of?

The primal doesn't have to be physically present. The most prominent example I remember is in the Sahagin daily quests - we are sent to rescue a group of captured Maelstrom soldiers who have been tied up and sat down in front of an altar to Leviathan, next to Reaver Hide. By the time we get there, we are able to save some, but others have become enthralled due to exposure to residual aether, and we are forced to put them down.

The tempered Ala Mhigan Resistance guards may have at some point been captured and brought to Lakshmi's summoning room.

Primal aether can actually be stored. They can summon Lakshmi whenever they want, store some aether, and then expose it to those they wish to turn into agents later.

The Sylphs are the other really good example of no-primal tempering; they temper all the Sylphs they can and actively seek to temper the little solace Sylphs without summoning

The actual mechanics of how Beastmen temper individuals without the actual Primal present are never explained in detail, but it's undeniable that this is something they can do. In the case of the guards, it is likely that these people have been tempered for a long, long time, and have been hiding their loyalties so they could infiltrate. The tempering of the guards was likely NOT done after the Qalyana's "diplomatic" party arrived, but well before.

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Originally Posted by LineageRazor

In the case of the guards, it is likely that these people have been tempered for a long, long time, and have been hiding their loyalties so they could infiltrate. The tempering of the guards was likely NOT done after the Qalyana's "diplomatic" party arrived, but well before.

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The idea that they were tempered before the arrival of the Qualyana diplomats is also evidenced by the fact that they had the time and inclination to smuggle in and hide crystals in order to allow the summoning of Lakshmi. That wasn't something that oculi have been done in an instant, especially since the Qualyana were more than happy to surrender the crystals they had, safe in the knowledge that they had more hidden away. It is true that the specifics of the tempering are not clear though. They could have been turned at anearly any time, even while they were just members of the resistance.

Actually, I'd like to add a caveat... The implications in the Main Scenario make it seem likely that the Broodmother's grief-stricken summoning of Lakshmi was the VERY FIRST instance of Lakshmi being summoned in her "hostile" form. When inquiring with the Vira about the summon, they note that Lakshmi is a benevolent goddess. They worry that the Qalyana may have summoned a twisted version of their goddess and warn us to be cautious when we go to treat with her - but if it was something the Qalyana had ever done before, it would be more than a concern, it would be an expectation.

So, I believe that Lakshmi as we encountered her in game was the very first hostile Lakshmi summoning, and those Qalyana tempered by her were the very first thralls of Lakshmi. Any tempered guards would likely have been tempered AFTER this encounter. So, we're looking at prep time of weeks, not years. The Qalyana must have been subtle and clever indeed to pull all this off without anyone noticing! Though, given the chaos involved in the struggle against the Garleans, perhaps it wasn't that uncommon for soldiers to go missing and then turn up again later - some of them tempered by the Qalyana.

Titan is a benevolent god as well. He is the father that protects the Kobolds.

Primals take on the aspects of the summoner's emotions. Ba Gu was striken with grief and consequently Titan was as well. Bahamut as well was summoned as a vengeful shade of his former self due to Tiamat's sorrow and rage towards the Allagan Empire.

The Vira also make the distinction that the Vanu Vanu make between the actual deity and the primal version of that deity, expressing everything from skepticism (at the authenticity of the primal as the deity) to outright disgust (as though the primal is a blasphemous gesture of disrespect to the deity). So, agreed, very possible that the enthralled guards would either have had to be tempered and planted well in advance or that they were rapidly tempered by a reserve of primal energy at the time the Qalyana arrived at the city.