Quote Originally Posted by Alleluia View Post
Livingway says Zodiark could be summoned without us feeling more than a "tug" on our aether. She never says that we'd be tempered by something of his scale. And I'd think she would have, if that were so; given the context of that conversation.

And yet, Emet outright says in Shadowbringers that Zodiark tempered "us". By "us", I assume he means the people who summoned him ie the convocation members and their underlings who were present (if any). But that is technically an assumption, so the writers could come back and claim he tempered the whole city when he was summoned if they want since they've never specified.

(Side note, if Fandaniel is any indication, we at least now have confirmation that tempering definitely does not stick with a soul once they get put thru the reincarnation rinse cycle. Which is cool.)


Hydaelyn definitely doesn't seem to temper people, which we now know is apparently perfectly within bounds of how primal summoning can work. Before EW, that was up for debate.
Tbh I think there are two affects that can happen by tempering. Often when we discuss it, we talk of the mind alterng affect that tempering has on its summoners and those that come into contact with it.

If we consider what tempering actually is, in a base form, it is merely the atuning of Aether to a specific Element or Polarity. I think the mind altering aspect of primals is injecting that Aether polarity with the command to think of the primal, worship the primal and find more worshipers.

When Emet says that he is tempered. I do think hes telling the truth, but the tempering is merely Zodiark attuning his aether to Darkness polarity, making it a bit more active rather than the primal version.

I think this would also explain why the Ascians despite being around Elidibus, a primal, for thousands of years was not tempered to following Elidibus' every desire.
We could also argue that hydealyn's blessing of light is similiar in this regard. It tempers the Aether to be more static, thus providing protection from being influenced by other primals / aetherical polarity.

This also fits in with the meaning of the word.

Tempering:

1. improve the hardness and elasticity of (steel or other metal) by reheating and then cooling it.
"the way a smith would temper a sword"

2. act as a neutralizing or counterbalancing force to (something).
"their idealism is tempered with realism"