Dark Ether

Overview

Dark Ether is a Darkness-corrupted form of Ether. Unlike ordinary Ether, it lingers instead of dissipating, forming a heavy, opaque fog that can be moved through like water. It first appears in Forsaken, and it is the source of the powers of the Scorn.

Origin

Riven granted the wish of Uldren Sov to resurrect Fikrul, the Fanatic. She did this by infusing Fikrul's Ether with Uldren's own Darkness, which produced Dark Ether. Later, The Witness used it to resurrect Praksis and Phyris as Scorn, though how far its control extends is unknown.

Effects

Fikrul uses Dark Ether to resurrect dead Fallen and Scorn, himself included. Scorn can turn into clouds of it to slip past enemies, and can open rifts in reality to teleport into battle. Dark Ether damages machinery: Variks's servitors exploded during his experiments with it. Fynch says it wears pinholes in reality, which the Scorn can widen. Scorn captured by the Loyalists of Emperor Calus were drowned in it aboard the Glykon Volatus, which enlarged them.

Screebs

Repeated resurrection takes a physical and mental toll, causing tumor-like growths and growing derangement. Eliksni resurrected many times eventually become Screebs, mindless creatures that self-destruct in a burst of Dark Ether.