Warrior of Light Primal Plot Twist (spoilers)

[Reinhart]

We are, in a sense, the light version of the Ascians and are ourselves immortals. This would, I think, also serve to justify the game mechanic of resurrecting at aetherytes after having been "killed." Since we attune ourselves to the aetherytes instead of a crystal, we are able to resurrect without the consumption of a crystal like the Ascians do.

Actually, if you talk to the explanation NPC near the Aetheryte of one of the main three cities, they explain that some people will reflexively Return to their home point upon falling unconscious in battle. (I would grab the exact text, if not for emergency maintenance.)

[Enkidoh]

Yes, falling in battle in the game is not actually true death - it's officially known as 'incapacitation' or 'KO', and is more akin to being knocked unconscious. Accordingly, the Return spell acts like a reflex action upon this happening where the aetheryte you've set as your home point acts as a safety net that 'snaps' you back to it upon being KO'd, all that aether that is used in the process being enough to 'revive' you upon arrival at your home point.

True death in Eorzea is something that is stated as almost impossible to come back from - except in some situations where the results are not pretty.

[Reinhart]

That reminds me, I'm in game right now...

Sundhimal: However, our ancestors discovered ways in which, through meditation and focus of spiritual energies, one could reduce her body to aether without losing the grip on her spirit, in turn allowing for travel upon the Lifestream. These methods have been given the names Return and Teleport.
Sundhimal: As you travel through Eorzea, you will oft come across large floating deposits of a crystalline substance known as aetheryte. The one before us here is a fine example.
Sundhimal: It is said that aetheryte is the solid manifestation of the planet's lifeblood, aether, and that by touching it, the aether which makes up our bodies resonates with that contained in the crystal. This is called “attunement.”
Sundhimal: Normally, when one's body is reduced to aether, it will naturally gravitate to the location with which it resonates the greatest─or one's “home point.” This is why upon losing consciousness in battle, many wake to find themselves back at an aetheryte.
Sundhimal: In other words, aetherytes act as lodestones, assuring that the body, in its aetherial form, is not lost to the pull of the greater flow.

[Kallera]

Does that mean the key to loving a ripe old age whilst in a deadly profession is to link with an aetheryte?

We have the secret of immortality, and its a blue crystal floating in town. :3

I say this because our bodies reducing to aether both sounds like the process of teleporting, and death. And im not sure Minfilia's slideshow got into the details of the difference.

[Reynhart]

Back in 1.0, a conversation occured with Ifrit where he stated than he can't temper us because we're already tempered.
Some peole think that we're tempered by one of the Twelve, since we choose a deity when we create our character, but maybe it's our own essence that's close to a primal.

After all, one of the few people we saw having the Echo basically turned into a primal.

As for "Death in battle", I've thought of something...really creepy...
What if, each time we "die", we stole someone's body ? Like that sahuagin, who had the Echo, could transfer its essence into another and change its shape to retain its appearance.
...
...
...
...
And we'll maybe see Minfilia again transferred to another body after the events of 2.55 o_O

[dragonflie]

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we just have an expansion where we sided with one Primal to slay another? I know Shiva sucked against Ravana, but it doesn't change the fact that we had Shiva, a Primal, help us out... Twice...

I was under the impression that due to Ysayle's own ideals, the Shiva brought forth was simply following those belief and thus not our enemy. Besides, we don't even know how much control Ysayle had while possessed by Shiva.

[Reinhart]

Does that mean the key to loving a ripe old age whilst in a deadly profession is to link with an aetheryte?

We have the secret of immortality, and its a blue crystal floating in town. :3

I say this because our bodies reducing to aether both sounds like the process of teleporting, and death. And im not sure Minfilia's slideshow got into the details of the difference.

Surviving to a ripe old age? Sure.

Living forever? I don't think aetherytes are the key to that or else people (like the Sharlayans who seem to know a lot about this kind of stuff) would already be doing that. Let me get his entire text...

Sundhimal: Greetings, adventurer. Do you wish an explanation of aetherial travel? I am here to answer any queries you might have.

What is aetherial travel?

Sundhimal: Aether is the source of all life, and the underlying force that makes all forms of arcane manipulation possible.
Sundhimal: This ephemeral substance, though unseen and unfelt, flows around and within every single living creature.
Sundhimal: In the moment of our death, it is believed that a separation occurs between our spiritual and physical forms. Our bodies break down and are absorbed back into the aetherial river, while our souls continue on to the afterlife. This final journey is sometimes called “returning to the Lifestream.”
Sundhimal: However, our ancestors discovered ways in which, through meditation and focus of spiritual energies, one could reduce her body to aether without losing the grip on her spirit, in turn allowing for travel upon the Lifestream. These methods have been given the names Return and Teleport.

What is aetheryte?

Sundhimal: As you travel through Eorzea, you will oft come across large floating deposits of a crystalline substance known as aetheryte. The one before us here is a fine example.
Sundhimal: It is said that aetheryte is the solid manifestation of the planet's lifeblood, aether, and that by touching it, the aether which makes up our bodies resonates with that contained in the crystal. This is called “attunement.”
Sundhimal: Normally, when one's body is reduced to aether, it will naturally gravitate to the location with which it resonates the greatest─or one's “home point.” This is why upon losing consciousness in battle, many wake to find themselves back at an aetheryte.
Sundhimal: In other words, aetherytes act as lodestones, assuring that the body, in its aetherial form, is not lost to the pull of the greater flow.
Sundhimal: And, because signatures of past attunements are maintained within our bodies, it is possible (with some spiritual training, of course) to ignore the pull back to the strongest resonation, and travel to another beacon. Many refer to this as “Teleportation.”
Sundhimal: What is even more amazing is that when teleporting, we can “carry” those with whom we have created a bond, such as an adventuring party─assuming they have previously attuned with the destination aetheryte.

What is the difference between Return and Teleport?

Sundhimal: As Return merely involves allowing the body to be drawn back to the strongest aetherial beacon─one's home point─it is fairly easy to execute and requires very little spiritual exertion.
Sundhimal: Usually, a few moments of rest is all that is needed before it is safe to attempt another jump.
Sundhimal: Teleportation, on the other hand, comes with a greater price. A great deal of spiritual energy known as “anima” is required to fight the natural flow of the Lifestream and guide one's body and soul to a comparatively weak aetherial beacon.
Sundhimal: If one's body lacks sufficient anima, teleporting to a location may prove impossible. Luckily for most of us, anima is restored quickly and should not prohibit regular travel.
Sundhimal: Then why, you ask, must we pay gil when using Teleport? Well, after the Calamity, many of the existing aetheryte camps were destroyed. To relocate and rebuild them required a large sum of money, much of which was lent by certain men of business from Ul'dah.
Sundhimal: The gil you pay when either leaving from or arriving at an aetheryte goes to paying off that debt.

[dragonflie]

The way Return and Teleport work sounds a lot like Flow

the spell Y'shtola used to escaped Ul'dah

just minus the aetheryte for guides.

[dragoelete]

The way Return and Teleport work sounds a lot like Flow

the spell Y'shtola used to escaped Ul'dah

just minus the aetheryte for guides.

they explained later on that that was a ancient form of what they used to make the aetheryte system.