Post by Puck on Aug 7, 2015 6:13:35 GMT
SPIRIT INTRODUCTION
A complicated matter even amongst all the bizarre breeds of Mystic Kind and the matters of human magic, psychic abilities, and Ki arts; spirits are a matter beyond mortal comprehension, as their name would imply. However, that’s hardly been enough to dissuade the scientific community from trying to puzzle out how they exist and what they could mean to the supernatural revolution that has staggered the world. While they have been split into three categories, there are few similarities between spirits beyond the fact that they are not physical entities, but they are capable of interacting with physical entities. It is impossible to interact with spirits without specialised equipment – even communication requires particular scrying devices; unless the spirit is able to manifest in a manner that allows them to communicate.
The first type of spirit is the most well-known one – ghosts, yūrei, and other manifestations of the dead; those whom have passed on from the mortal plane yet manage to manifest in it in some manner. Generally this is based on their ‘unfinished business’; as they continue to exist due to intense emotion or intense drive making them unable to pass on. In all cases, however, they are tied to something physical from their lives or their place of deaths. Typically this will be their clothing, an heirloom, their home or workplace; but it varies greatly between ghosts. Similarly, their manner of interacting with the world varies greatly too – it can be invisible, inhuman force like that of poltergeists or a spectral human presence like that of traditional ghosts; or some connection to particular elements or substances.
Due to this link to the physical world, these spirits can be exorcised from the object and allowed to pass on; or they can manage to move on from the world by satisfying their own ‘unfinished business’. However, contrary to popular belief, this ‘unfinished business’ does not restrain them to antagonistic intents – it may be something like a butler’s desire to ‘serve his master’, or a parent’s wish to ‘see their child grow up’; a wish that will allow them to be of aid even in their passing, making not all examples of this type of spirits strictly in need of exorcism.
The second kind of spirit is those tied to nature; manifestations of the natural world’s intent as a conglomerate. These spirits are usually tied to icons of nature such as rock formations or trees that have aged for so long that they have built up a supernatural existence of their own from the histories surrounding them, or been born from major events that have superimposed a ‘memory’ into them. Although typically completely passive, these spirits will manifest by altering the environment around them by manipulating the landscape and its flora and on rare occasion fauna to show its intent – usually in a defensive maneuvers. Despite being spirits similar to the other types, nature spirits rarely show much in the way of sentience unless they have been particularly sculpted by human interaction in the past. Like other spirits, they can be exorcised from where they rest; or the natural structure can simply be removed or destroyed in order to expel them.
The third kind of spirit are stories and rumours that have garnered so much belief that they manifest as something ‘real’ from sentient sentiment alone – they differ from the mythological beasts that encompass Mystic Kind as they are not a race; they are instead singular instances of supernatural beings. Although they vary greatly because of this nature, they are similarly tied to a particular physical place like ghosts – however, this often extends to being linked to a particular set of circumstances rather than just a physical object or place due to the manner of the belief. In turn, their weaknesses are similarly built from the belief that they are born from; but they are still vulnerable to exorcism once their spiritual nature is discovered. Nowadays this type is quite rare as it is hard to believe in things as being ‘impossible’ or ‘due to something spiritual’ given the supernatural is now… well, natural. But some myths still live on, and some stories still grow from the revitalised fears the supernatural have forged.
DEIFICATION AND BELIEFS
Gods and Goddesses have been put upon high pedestals in human society since the earliest times in history. Humans and even Mystic Kind have venerated them through rituals and called upon them for their assistance in worldly and even spiritual matters. Through many of these meetings, it has always been these deities that have the higher ground of all discussions and arguments. No mere creature on Earth could ever hope to match these powerful beings. Even the oldest of vampires and werewolves are considered like "children" to many of these deities. The power of these deities are completely boundless, if not nearly. It takes the might of godly demons of foreign dimensions and even True Dragons to surpass or even match the powers of some of the mightiest gods around.
Nevertheless, the powers of these deities comes from a collective belief that is associated with them. All of these deities were simple spirits from a mere ghost, a manifestation of nature, or even the manifestation of rumors and stories. Pure belief allows these spirits to become deities and even gain much more power as one. Not all spirits may become deities, but it is clear that belief allows them power than they normally would have. At the same time, belief also grants abilities and perhaps even skills that many spirits never had to begin with. Nature spirits are the only kind of spirits that could reach power comparable to gods as they rely on their connection with the Earth's leylines. Ghosts and other manifestations of the dead could arguably gain in strength in consuming other souls. However, spirits that have manifested from solely belief must rely on belief to sustain and even strengthen themselves.
Nevertheless, the powers of these deities comes from a collective belief that is associated with them. All of these deities were simple spirits from a mere ghost, a manifestation of nature, or even the manifestation of rumors and stories. Pure belief allows these spirits to become deities and even gain much more power as one. Not all spirits may become deities, but it is clear that belief allows them power than they normally would have. At the same time, belief also grants abilities and perhaps even skills that many spirits never had to begin with. Nature spirits are the only kind of spirits that could reach power comparable to gods as they rely on their connection with the Earth's leylines. Ghosts and other manifestations of the dead could arguably gain in strength in consuming other souls. However, spirits that have manifested from solely belief must rely on belief to sustain and even strengthen themselves.
HEROES AND VILLAINS
Continuing on from deification and beliefs, people in antiquity and even in modern times have lauded heroes in myths and legends while they have also derided and looked down upon villains. Such characters are able to receive beliefs and at some level be deified and possess the power to match or rival deities. Most of them are of the first and third types of spirits as they are reflected by the world's need for heroes and even villains to emulate or learn from. It is from this collected belief that they are capable of not only gaining such power, but that they are able to "manifest" on the Physical Realm. Special relics, Phantasmal Artifacts, that they have once used or associated with tend to be the medium in which they can come back or at some times they are able to be reincarnated in a new body for unknown reasons.
The former requires someone to wield such relics. Most times the hero/villain possesses them and is able to maneuver around in their new environment and use their previous skills and abilities in this new body. But at times, they share the body with their host and that depends on the relationship between them. However, this does not mean that they would be able to be back at full power since a single host body may not be able to take on such power easily and may need time to acclimate to it.
The latter, reincarnated heroes, would never begin knowing who they were in their previous lives nor would they possess their skills and abilities from the start. It is only coming across a Phantasmal Artifact that allows them to experience all their previous memories and grants them their former power. In most cases, they need time for their new body to get used to this. However, there are cases in which they immediately get back everything. Though this is only the case when their current body has been conditioned enough to again receive such powers.
The former requires someone to wield such relics. Most times the hero/villain possesses them and is able to maneuver around in their new environment and use their previous skills and abilities in this new body. But at times, they share the body with their host and that depends on the relationship between them. However, this does not mean that they would be able to be back at full power since a single host body may not be able to take on such power easily and may need time to acclimate to it.
The latter, reincarnated heroes, would never begin knowing who they were in their previous lives nor would they possess their skills and abilities from the start. It is only coming across a Phantasmal Artifact that allows them to experience all their previous memories and grants them their former power. In most cases, they need time for their new body to get used to this. However, there are cases in which they immediately get back everything. Though this is only the case when their current body has been conditioned enough to again receive such powers.
Credit to Tulf