Senders are specially-trained practitioners of a Low Magic art of reaching
through the Aether and forming a connection to someone else far away in
order to transmit messages across vast distances. Such messages could take
the form of emotions, ideas, or words.

Sending is considered one of the most transformative discoveries in history.
The ability to communicate rapidly ushered in the golden age of the Old
Kingdoms as it allowed for the efficient governing of massive swathes of
territory. Sending houses were established by a newly formed Senders' Guild
in key locations to form a network that spanned kingdoms.

A client could pay a guild Sender to transmit a message anywhere within the
network. Depending on the capability and reach of the Sender as well as the
message's destination, multiple Senders might be required to relay it.

The system was efficient and lucrative for the Guild, and training to become
a Sender was competitive and challenging. A skilled Sender who finished
training and spent a few years working their way up to an important posting
Sender would find themselves very wealthy and respected by their community.

Sending evolved during the New Kingdoms era with the new ability to send
objects through the network. Senders charged dearly for this service as it
was very physically taxing to do, but it nonetheless allowed for the rapid
development of vast trade networks that spanned continents. The Kingdoms
with the best Senders flourished.

When the Blight came, word spread quickly thanks to the Sending network. But
as Sending Houses went dark one by one, the magnitude of the disaster became
clear. It was due to the surviving Senders that refugees knew Altheria was a
safe haven. And as the Sending network fell silent altogether, those who had
made it knew with certainty there was no one left beyond the Barrier.

After the Blight, Sending became more important than ever, and the survivors
established a new Guild to keep everyone who's left connected.

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