Modern vs Medieval, what time is it?

[LineageRazor]

and, given that we now know that it was the Ancients who originally invented aetheryte technology

Hang on a minute - when was this confirmed? I don't doubt that it was, but I don't remember reading anything to this effect.

I figured the Ancients just bamfed around like the Ascians do when they want to get someplace in a hurry.

It would explain, though, why Emet included an Aetherite in his recreation of Amaraut...

[LineageRazor]

Yeah, there's no indication that there are "machines behind the scenes" that are responsible for magic, as was the case in Scrapped Princess. This is just a different universe that works with different natural laws, and the effects of some of those laws (having to do with Aether manipulation) are magic-like and perceived by the natives as being magic.

I mean, it's POSSIBLE that the Ancients set up some kind of hyper-high-tech system to allow people to manipulate Aether (nanomachines suffusing the atmosphere, for example), and did so so long ago that they themselves forgot the origins of their Creation magic, but there's been no hint of that in the lore.

There's a science behind Aether manipulation, to be sure; it's a phenomenon with plenty of study devoted to it, with testable and consistent effects. But there's no current evidence that it is the result of advanced technology, forgotten or not.

[Fenral]

And that's what I get for editing my post down so only the jokes remained... Door's that way, right?

[Iscah]

Although that is correct, it's not just the incantation time required by normal teleportation spells that seperate it from Flow [...]

That's what I meant though. The danger and unpredictability of Flow is why an instant-cast spell is, as I said, an urgent last resort and not the more convenient option.

And that's what I get for editing my post down so only the jokes remained... Door's that way, right?

My sarcasm detection tends to be faulty, especially when distracted by lore-nerdery.