So I actually had a dream featuring them last night (I won't bore you with details) but it's got me thinking about them
What made Aether become a hermit? Did they just get tired of the constant attention or did something happen that caused them to retire? And how different personality wise were they during their exploits versus now?
I have my guesses but I'd love to hear what you have to say (and maybe I'll tell you about that dream later) - Gremlin
Okay so I cannot lie, Gremlin, I had something really great written up for this and then I went to bed and when I went to finish it my computer had restarted and I just haven't had the energy to try writing this again.
That said, I'm so sorry if this feels like a tl;dr it kinda is one ;w;
SO: Aether nowadays is pretty mellow compared to who they were before. Pre-hermitization Aether was... not insufferable, but they were very egotistical due to them being old, experienced, and powerful. Though, of course, they were also far more willing to help people back then, because mage academies do kinda drill it into your head that, if you're going to learn to control immense power, you should use it as a servant of the people.
Aether would work in groups at times, but eventually found that their prowess with magic usually meant they could handle problems without aid. Plus, mortals were cumbersome and died easily and had bad tempers when told to "shut up you petulant child, I've been around for hundreds of years and never in my life have I heard someone utter words as idiotic as yours."
They did, of course, have a few people they cared about, but their unnaturally long life meant that the only people they really felt comfortable truly being close to were other immortal beings such as their brother, Shaudrey.
(Shaudrey, of course, did not share this particular sentiment, nor did he share their bad attitude, but this is NOT a Shaudrey post so I'll leave it at that)
Ultimately, Aether would become weary of miracle working. It wasn't from a lack of caring, necessarily. Tending to the sick, mending the broken, speaking with the departed... It was all well and good. However, Aether's cynicism toward mortality and its built-in time limit left them feeling hollow from their works. It's hard to repair something when you know it will only to break again in the blink of an eye. Even monster hunting- which they mostly took up as a secondary activity when absolutely necessary- grew tiring as it was functionally sweeping up a mess that would grow back in a short time.
So, Aether decided to become a hermit and tell everyone to FUCK OFF (/lh)
They had planned to live alone, of course, but... By chance, after one of their final outings as a 'real adventurer', they came across a harpy in a cave during a storm. The harpy fell head over heels in love with Aether, and Aether found themselves attached to the harpy as well. And the rest is history!
Now, in part because of the harpy and in part because they don't get pestered nearly as often, Aether is quite a bit more laid back (despite what their attitude might imply). Though they have their moments of being... unpleasant, it mostly comes now from a lack of manners and social etiquette, rather than ego or cruelty.
Hopefully that explained some things for ya- and of course if you've got any follow-up questions, I'm happy to hear 'em!
