Ethos
Ethos, also referred to as "the key to interdimensional fusion" or simply "the key", is an artifact retrieved in Dawntrail. It is a key component in opening portals to other reflections.
About
The Key is held within a goblet-like construct, with Ethos being contained within. The goblet-like construct made out of Electrope was added by Preservation. They used it to open portals to other worlds for invasion, though not every attempt was successful. Robor and Alayla of Oblivion used the key's power to send it, and their infant daughter Krile, to the Source[1].
Once Ethos is activated, the symbol of Azem appears on it, indicating that both are connected. Any portal opened with the key is only visible to those that opened it; none others can pass through.
Behold—the gift of Ethos.
Yours is a journey without end, conceived and guided by principle.
Hold fast to what you must, and meet your fate without fear.
Go forth. Discover. Unite the stars unto one.
Let none bar your path.
— Ancient voice in A Grave Presentiment
Abilities
Together with Azem's crystal, it can open paths to other shards. Since Azem's Crystal was created by Emet-Selch, it is imbued with one of Azem'S incantation to summon allies. It is assumed that when Ethos and Azem's crystal are imbued together, a portal to the person pictured in the bearer'S mind will open[2].
History
The key was first used during the Fifth Umbral Calamity, in which the Lalafell of the South Sea Isles prayed to the key to save them. By doing so, it opened a portal to the Ninth through which they escaped, surviving the calamity and later coming to be known as the Milalla.
Many years later when the Ninth was facing the Storm Surge and new sources of aether needed to be found to sustain the Endless, Preservation hired two Milalla scientists - Robor and Alayla. Alayla was the current "Speaker" of the Milalla and the keeper of the key. Together, they researched interdimensional fusion and studied the key, leading to the creation of an electrope gate in Living Memory which connected to the Skydeep Cenote in Yak T'el on the Source. When the two learned that Preservation intended to steal aether from the Source, they stole the key and opened the gate. On the other side, they met Gulool Ja Ja, Ketenramm and Galuf Baldesion. Robor handed the key to Ketenramm, while Alayla handed their daughter to Galuf before the two crossed the gate again, sealing it shut. Gulool Ja Ja took the key for safekeeping.
Dawntrail
Twenty years later, The Rite of Succession took place, and Wuk Lamat, Koana and Zoraal Ja as well as Bakool Ja Ja were tasked to find the "city of gold". Zoraal Ja was disqualified from the rite, and conspired together with the palace seer Sareel Ja to become ruler. Sareel Ja stole the key from the Dawnservant's vault and they opened the gate[3]. Zoraal Ja made a covenant with Sphene and induced an interdimensional fusion between Everkeep on the Ninth and the Yyasulani region on the Source. After Zoraal Ja was defeated, Sphene took the key to continue harvesting aether for the Endless in Living Memory.
Just before the Warrior of Light's battle with Queen Eternal, the key reacted to Azem's magic[4]. After her defeat, the key was left in their possession.
Etymology
The word comes from the Ancient Greek ἦθος, êthos, for "character", "custom", or "habit".
Gallery
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Promo Image with Ethos extracted -
The portal as it appears in the rift -
The portal on the Thirteenth's moon
References
- ↑ The Unending Codex - Oblivion, "... the researcher couple seized the key to interdimensional fusion and used it to deliver both the artifact and their child to the Source to keep them safe from the enemy"
- ↑ A Winter's Dream, G'raha Tia, after discussing Ethos and the portal: "'Twas Emet-Selch who created Azem's crystal. It is imbued with an incantation of Azem's invention─a magick to summon forth allies. And though the origins of Ethos remain unclear, we know for a fact that it has the power to open paths to other places. In the instant before you vanished, both crystal and key shone brightly, as if resonating with each other. This interaction strongly suggests that, when invoked together, the relics allow the bearer to travel to the person in their mind's eye.".
- ↑ Ever Greater, Ever Brighter, during the first cutscene in the Skydeep Cenote.
- ↑ Dawntrail, in the cutscene before The Interphos is accessible.
