Editing Ether

'''Ether''' is a compound once native to [[Riis]] prior to the [[Whirlwind]] that the [[Fallen]] use for growth and survival,<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]''</ref> and which only [[Servitor]]s produce to create it from the [[Long Drift]] onwards.<ref name="Servitor">'''Bungie (2014-9-9)''', ''Destiny, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen#Servitor|Servitor]]''</ref> [[Ether Seeds]] may be processed Ether for later usage or storage, and Ether Drops are ether remnants.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], "The Queen wishes to know all she can about the Fallen. Collect samples of Fallen Ether from the enemy dead", [http://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/relic-harvest---fallen Relic Harvest - Fallen]''</ref>

Ether is a cold<ref>'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''',''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2015/9/15)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Taken King]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Allies/Legends & Mysteries#Rezyl Azzir - War Without End|Rezyl Azzir - War Without End]]''</ref><ref>'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen Leadership#Kaliks Reborn|Kaliks Reborn]]''</ref>, gaseous compound created by Servitors from matter and energy (organic compounds, in one known case) through an unknown process.<ref name="Servitor"/><ref>'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen Hunted#WANTED: Beltrik, the Veiled|WANTED: Beltrik, the Veiled]]''</ref> It is absorbed through breathing <ref name="Fallen 3">'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen#Ghost Fragment: Fallen 3|Ghost Fragment: Fallen 3]]''</ref>, and appears to run through Fallen bodies like blood.<ref>'''Bungie (2014-9-9)''', ''Destiny, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Guardian/Classes#Ghost Fragment: Hunter|Ghost Fragment: Hunter]]''</ref> It can be consumed by other beings as well.<ref>[https://www.ishtar-collective.net/entries/fanatic-part-i#book-the-forsaken-prince]</ref> When there is enough in quality it fills a Fallen with strength that will allow them to achieve their final form, the [[Captain]]s.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen Leadership#Skolas: Captured|Skolas: Captured]]''</ref> <ref>''[[Grimoire:Allies/Legends & Mysteries#Mystery: The Fate of Skolas|Mystery: The Fate of Skolas]]''</ref>  

Ether was once freely available on the Fallen home world of [[Riis]]<ref name="Fallen 3"/>, made abundant thanks to the Traveler's influence <ref>'''Bungie (2024/06/04)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[The Final Shape]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Chirality#Transformations of Matter|Transformations of Matter]]''</ref>, but is now strictly rationed according to rank and the post-Whirlwind Fallen are forced rely on rebreathers.<ref>'''Bungie (2014-9-9)''', ''Destiny, [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen#Captain|Captain]]''</ref> Kells hold a device called [[The Elder Cipher]], which controls how much Ether is distributed from Servitors; Archons and Barons get an exceedingly large portion while Dregs get only enough to stay alive. This rationing stunts the potential strength and size of contemporary Fallen, particularly the lower ranks.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]], "Kell uses Ciphers to control the Ether flow. Archons and Barons take deep draughts, grow tall. Dregs with tiny sips stay small", [http://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/the-elder-cipher-3 The Elder Cipher]''</ref>  

Beyond merely providing nourishment, Ether was sometimes considered a Fallen's soul. In their "old faith", the emission of Ether from a dead Eliksni was believed to be their soul escaping the body.<ref>'''Bungie (2021/5/11)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Splicer]] - [[Lore]]: [[Lore:Achilles Weaves a Cocoon#VII: Time Is a Fabric|Achilles Weaves a Cocoon - VII: Time Is a Fabric]]''</ref> While Ether is hypothesized to be an "ethereal lifeblood" for the Fallen, but not a "soul" as is assumed, though it can be used to restore the souls of other Fallen.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/12/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[The Dark Below]], "The gas is no soul. An ethereal lifeblood, maybe, but a soul? I think not", [http://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/kellbreakers-gloves Kellbreaker's Gloves]''</ref><ref> [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/cards/winters-run?highlight=soul Winter's Run]</ref>  When a Fallen is killed in combat, a momentary after-image of their body composed of Ether may briefly be seen. The significance of this remains unclear. It is even capable of healing Eliksni when taken into them.

Certain Servitors are specialized in the distribution of Ether among Fallen houses and crews, <ref>'''Bungie (2014/5/19)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[House of Wolves (expansion)|House of Wolves]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen Hunted#WANTED: Ether Runner|WANTED: Ether Runner]]''</ref> and glow when producing it.<ref>'''Bungie (2016/20/9)''', ''[[Destiny]]: [[Rise of Iron]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen#Ghost Fragment: Fallen 5|Ghost Fragment: Fallen 5]]''</ref> They may be revered as gods to the Fallen.<ref>'''Bungie (2014/9/9)''', ''[[Destiny]], [[Grimoire]]: [[Grimoire:Enemies/Fallen Leadership#Sepiks Prime|Sepiks Prime]]''</ref>

Ether is poisonous to the [[Hive]]<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]],, [[Broodhold]]''</ref>, although it is possible for them to grow tolerant of Ether through breeding processes, as a Knight possessed Ether inside him due to experimentation by [[Hiraks, the Mindbender|Hiraks]].

In humans, Ether appears to have properties similar to that of a recreational drug,<ref>'''Bungie (2018/9/4)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Forsaken]], [[Lore:The Forsaken Prince#Fanatic {{!}} Part I|The Forsaken Prince]]''</ref> though it can lead to an unpleasant experience according to the [[Drifter]],<ref>'''Bungie (2020/6/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of Arrivals]], Item Description: [https://www.ishtar-collective.net/items/ether-ventilation Ether Ventilation]''</ref> or possibly even poisoning, though no permanent damage can occur according to [[Failsafe]].<ref>'''Bungie (2017/9/8)''', ''[[Destiny 2]], [[Failsafe]]: [[Failsafe#Quotes|Did you know Ether exposure causes no permanent damage? Congratulations!]]''</ref> The [[Awoken]] [[Guardian]] [[Trihn]] was a noted user, who took Ether by injecting it (diluted with fluid siphoned from [[Pike]]s) into her veins. In her case, it acted as a powerful hallucinogen and performance enhancer, temporarily swelling her muscles to the point of tearing her body apart if she didn't take precautions against it.<ref>'''Bungie (2020/11/10)''', ''[[Destiny 2]]: [[Season of the Hunt]] - [[Armor|Armor lore]]: [[Wild Hunt Armor (Warlock)#Wild Hunt Boots|Wild Hunt Boots]]''</ref>

During the [[Red War]], the Fallen [[House of Dusk]] was able to utilize stolen [[Cabal]] technology and the Servitor [[Serkuleks, the Fount]] to create a modified, more effective form of Ether known as "Enhanced Ether".<ref>'''Bungie (2017/8/9)''', ''[[Destiny 2]],[[World Quests#European Dead Zone|World Quest: Enhance!]]''</ref> Those who took this Ether substance would become Empyrean Fallen, exhibiting several effects including increased strength and health, and the side effect of glowing like Servitors. [[Raksil, Archon Priest]] would head this operation before being killed. The project would later be put to a complete end following the destruction of Serkuleks at the Guardian's hands.

The [[Scorn]] thrive off of [[Dark Ether]], a disturbing, corrupted form of Ether derived from remnants of the [[Darkness]] afflicted within [[Uldren Sov]] from his experience during the [[Battle of Saturn]]. After wishing to save a dying [[Fikrul, the Fanatic|Fikrul]], which is fulfilled by the [[Ahamkara]] [[Riven]], some of the Darkness within Uldren was transferred into Fikrul's lingering Ether, bringing the disgraced Baron back from death and creating Dark Ether.

Dark Ether is capable of resurrecting dead Fallen at the cost of severely mutating them, such as how the [[Screeb]] units of the Scorn have been warped into hexapod [[Thrall]]-like monstrosities. It lingers instead of dissipating like normal Ether and is described by [[Variks, the Loyal|Variks]] as a fog-like gas that you move through like water, heavy and opaque.

*In ''[[Destiny]]'' killing Fallen units with headshots causes a torrent of Ether to erupt from their heads. In ''[[Destiny 2]]'' this takes the form of a momentary, ghostly silhouette of the dead Fallen.

*Poetically, ether can mean the clear sky or the upper regions of air beyond the clouds.

*During Destiny 1, Servitors were able to heal and buff [[Shank]]s like any normal Fallen, even being able to heal other nearby Servitors as well. It is unknown if it was intentional or not.