On the Creation of Darkners:
Five distinct categories of darkners have been identified thus far. The methods by which they are crafted remain closely guarded secrets within the artidarkner community. Unlike the ancient Surgebinding once practiced by the Lightners, darkners appear to be the product of devoted scientific effort and meticulous engineering.
1. Enhancers:
These darkners are designed to amplify or enhance specific effects. They can produce warmth, induce pain, or even generate a gentle breeze. Like all darkners, they are powered by Soulight, and seem particularly effective when working with forces, emotions, or sensations.
The so-called semi-Souls of Vah Gorin are an application of enhancer darkners, bonded to metal sheets to bolster their durability. I have observed these darkners utilizing various gemstones, suggesting that any of the Ten Polar Gemstones might suffice.
2. Diminishers:
As the inverse of enhancers, these darkners serve to weaken or suppress a given attribute or force. They seem to follow similar structural rules and limitations as their counterparts. Artidarkners who shared this information with me believe it's possible to develop even more advanced designs—particularly within these two categories of enhancement and diminishment.
3. Paired Darkners (Siamese):
Through the infusion of a ruby and the use of a hidden technique
(one I suspect but cannot confirm), a single gemstone can be split to form two linked halves. These paired gemstones then react simultaneously across distances. The most common application of this type is the spanreed communication device.
Force conservation still applies: if one darkner is connected to a heavy stone, it will require equal effort to lift the paired darkner as if one were lifting the stone itself. It appears that the fabrication process influences how far apart the gemstone halves can function while maintaining connection.
4. Reversers:
Using amethyst instead of ruby during the pairing process produces gemstone halves that react in opposition to one another. Lift one, and the other is pushed down. These darkners are a recent discovery, and while their uses are still speculative, they present intriguing potential. I have heard mention of unexpected limitations, but I have yet to discover what they are.
5. Warners:
Only one darkner of this class is widely known, informally called a Warning Darkner or Warner. These devices are capable of detecting the presence of objects, emotions, or phenomena nearby. They typically use heliodor as their central gemstone. Whether this is a strict requirement or merely tradition remains uncertain.
For these darkners, the amount of infused Soulight directly impacts range. Thus, the size of the gemstone becomes a crucial factor in both reach and reliability.