Tempering? (Spoilers)

[TheMightyMollusk]

Even the most peaceable primals, like Ramuh, can temper people just by their presence, or by a flawed summoning.

On the other hand, some primals, like Susano, are never shown to actively try to temper anyone. Alisae and Lyse are even present for his summoning, literally only ten feet away or so, and aren't tempered.

So we're left with two possibilities. Either Hydaelyn can simply choose not to temper people; or she can by her presence, whether she wants to or not, which is why she sits in the background handing out Blessings instead.

[Lyth]

Eikonic Corruption: An Overview (Owen's Report)
This report seeks to provide an overview of the mechanism by which eikons corrupt and bind men to their will. The phenomenon we call “corruption” refers to the alteration of the aether of the soul. Said aether ordinarily exists in equilibrium; no one element being more prominent than another.

But when a subject is exposed to the aether of an eikon, this changes, their soul taking on the properties of the entity in question. By way of an example, exposure to the aether of the Fiend, Sephirot, would cause a subject's aether to become aligned with the element of earth. As a consequence, the subject would attain heightened affinity with earth-aspected magicks, as well as preternatural levels of endurance. Repeated exposure would further enhance these traits, ultimately altering the subject's very flesh.

The changes undergone by the subject are not solely attributable to elemental alignment, however. Further testing has determined that the subject's soul becomes umbrally charged, or stagnant during the process. This stagnation of the soul has the effect of diluting the sense of self, rendering the subject vulnerable to the will of the eikon, the thoughts of whom come to consume their entire existence. In this manner do the corrupted become worshipers of the eikon, their prayers serving to further empower the entity.

Having discerned the mechanism of eikonic corruption, my colleagues and I set out to develop a material capable of shielding one from its effects. An endeavor in which we were successful, albeit it at great cost... In the course of testing, many of my assistants ─ good men and women all ─ fell victim to corruption. And in accordance with protocol, they were summarily put to death.

I subsequently submitted a proposal to investigate potential cures for corruption, but it was rejected ─ deemed “nonessential” by Lord Amon. Though I knew it would be fruitless, I protested the decision. And for my impertinence, I have been stripped of rank and title, and will shortly be expelled from this facility. In all likelihood, this report will be expunged from the archives. Nonetheless, I record it in the hope that one day, someone will undertake to do that which I could not, and find a cure for the victims of eikonic corruption. End recording.

---

More generally, exposure to large doses of aspected aether aligns your soul with that element, which can erode your sense of self (I wonder if this is what happened with Elidibus as well when he became Zodiark's Heart). It also can cause physical changes in your body, ultimately resulting in transformation. You don't need to actually have a primal present at all for any of this to happen, as we've seen in Mitron's case with the Flood of Light.

Any primal is capable of doing this deliberately if they choose to, so long as they are able to channel enough aspected aether into their followers. If you're summoning a primal capable of manipulating aetheric currents on a global scale, however, then it's going to tip the aetheric balance of the entire planet in that direction even passively. That's likely why the Ascians are all darkness-aspected, and why we're able to channel a sizeable dose of the First's umbrally-aspected aether through Emet's soul to come out with a net balanced result.

[EaraGrace]

The changes undergone by the subject are not solely attributable to elemental alignment, however. Further testing has determined that the subject's soul becomes umbrally charged, or stagnant during the process. This stagnation of the soul has the effect of diluting the sense of self, rendering the subject vulnerable to the will of the eikon, the thoughts of whom come to consume their entire existence. In this manner do the corrupted become worshipers of the eikon, their prayers serving to further empower the entity

I wonder if the opposite is true for those whose aether is tempered by a being that is astrally inclined. It wouldn’t even need to be nefarious, just a side effect of being tempered. Their motivations and feelings would remain their own, but the level of dedication and need would increase. Sort of like how the Sin Eaters became “Forgiven” versions of their already existing personalities, buttttt instead of losing that personality in service to the primal, it’s instead emboldend while remaining tied to the primals will. For example, Emets love for the Ancient world would become a never ending obsession with its resurrection, Elidibus’ duty as the savior becomes a self destructive and righteous crusade, and Lahabreas devotion becomes fanaticism and religious devotion. All of which helps Zodiark in the end.

[CrownySuccubus]

I wonder if the opposite is true for those whose aether is tempered by a being that is astrally inclined. It wouldn’t even need to be nefarious, just a side effect of being tempered. Their motivations and feelings would remain their own, but the level of dedication and need would increase. Sort of like how the Sin Eaters became “Forgiven” versions of their already existing personalities, buttttt instead of losing that personality in service to the primal, it’s instead emboldend while remaining tied to the primals will. For example, Emets love for the Ancient world would become a never ending obsession with its resurrection, Elidibus’ duty as the savior becomes a self destructive and righteous crusade, and Lahabreas devotion becomes fanaticism and religious devotion. All of which helps Zodiark in the end.

I think it's stated that Allagans were wrong about which aspect is "stagnation" and which is "stimulation". That misunderstanding is one of the core reasons that nobody made any further progress on curing tempering: they were doing the opposite of what they should have, due to the Allagans' error.

I think Hesperos is crazy for other reasons. Some related to the fact he's a vampire, others just motivating his decision to become a vampire. I don't think he needs us to invent more reasons he's crazy.

Fitting, considering that Hesperos is Lucifer.

No, really. In real life mythology, Hesperos is one of the original names for the entity known in the modern day as "Lucifer".

[EaraGrace]

I think it's stated that Allagans were wrong about which aspect is "stagnation" and which is "stimulation". That misunderstanding is one of the core reasons that nobody made any further progress on curing tempering: they were doing the opposite of what they should have, due to the Allagans' error.

Right, my point was more speculating on a solution to the apparent contradiction of having an astral being temper someone by shifting their aether towards umbral. I couldn’t help but wonder if it was possible to go the other way and still temper someone.

[ICountFrom0]

Even the most peaceable primals, like Ramuh, can temper people just by their presence, or by a flawed summoning.

On the other hand, some primals, like Susano, are never shown to actively try to temper anyone. Alisae and Lyse are even present for his summoning, literally only ten feet away or so, and aren't tempered.

So we're left with two possibilities. Either Hydaelyn can simply choose not to temper people; or she can by her presence, whether she wants to or not, which is why she sits in the background handing out Blessings instead.

Notice the mechanic of Susano's summoning. If he is a primal, he was not summoned with the intentionally flawed ascian methid, this lets him be not unto a hole in the world consuming everything, and also not leaking in such a way as to temper those around him.

If we allow this as a possibility, then the 4 lords (5?) who gained power slowly and transformed into primals after such a very very long time are not tempering for the same reasons. They say they are not primals, but as the very definition of primal includes tempering and an endless hunger for aether, can we really blame them for having this small mistake?

For a third example, I give you Enkidu.

[TheMightyMollusk]

Notice the mechanic of Susano's summoning. If he is a primal, he was not summoned with the intentionally flawed ascian methid, this lets him be not unto a hole in the world consuming everything, and also not leaking in such a way as to temper those around him.

If we allow this as a possibility, then the 4 lords (5?) who gained power slowly and transformed into primals after such a very very long time are not tempering for the same reasons. They say they are not primals, but as the very definition of primal includes tempering and an endless hunger for aether, can we really blame them for having this small mistake?

For a third example, I give you Enkidu.

Susano appears in Endwalker alongside all of the other primals to help power the Ragnarok, even being one of the only two (alongside Garuda) to get any lines. So, although he may not be summoned through the Ascian method, he IS a primal.

The Four Lords are not considered primals. Nothing summoned them, and they have distinct physical bodies, rather than an aether construct mimicking a body.

Enkidu doesn't stick around long enough to have a chance to temper anyone but Gilgamesh. And since Greg's from another world across the Rift, he may not even be vulnerable to tempering in the first place. It's vague and (due to being a comedic side quest) will probably never be explained.