Spirits

Types

Spirits

Template:!Species Infobox "Order", for the lack of a better word, is objectively impossible when peering into the Lux Aeterna. A realm with sights and sounds beyond greater Cosmoria, it was thought the birthplace of Thaumaturgy was but a hovel filled with mayhem. As research of Cosmoria progressed, the perspective of the Aeterna changed. Ironically, science and archaeology uncovered discoveries so exotic that they might as well be real mythology. One such discovery was the Spirits, beings of legend who thrive to spite their home environment.

Known for their Thaumic potential, Spirits are beings of unbridled capability. They may be weavers of Thaumaturgy and conquerors of the Aeterna's mystic winds. Most Spirits are actually fledglings however, Cores at the brink of life and death. Only the greatest, most exclusive Spirits are truly capable of harnessing their power. These are the individuals who shape Cosmoria as it is known.

History - Abridged
Spirits are not a new phenomena. The High Warlock, a creature far beyond all future Spirits, erupted from the Pylon of a hapless Magi some 2.1 billion years ago. It is by far the most impactful in all history, holding the might to devour Cosmoria's primordial satellites. For millions of years it prowled, sucking the life of dozens of stars before nestling itself in Sinister, the final satellite.

Millions upon millions of years slipped by, with not a single Spirits rising from the clouds of chaos. It was only until an outside force, Father Zaphenim, woke from his slumber did the Aeterna see activity. Upon merging his domain, Zaphenim became one with the realm of magic. As such, he harnessed a portion of the Aeterna's full potential, gaining the power to manipulate it as he saw fit. His most major contribution was creating the "Cores", the staple for today's Spirits.

From there, Spirits became infinitely more common. Many Cores gravitated to one another and merged, acting like bundles of neurons within a brain. Some formed alive and aware entities, Core Spirits. These phantoms phased out of the Aeterna, wandering Cosmoria. Others were forcefully combined by Zaphenim, spinning and magnificent storms as hyper-intelligent beasts of nature formed from his hand. These would become the future Angels.

And so began the age of the Spirits. A once nonexistent species sprung up from the Aeterna's white hot inferno, clawing its way into Cosmoria at large. Cores naturally spat themselves out from the Aeterna, longing for a taste of calm reality. Pylons, being used by plenty of more people, mutated far more often than in the pre-Angel days. Angels made their own children, designed to protect their worlds and empires in general.

For many thousands of years, Spirits became a peculiarity of Cosmoria. Not only had they shaped history, but they permeated throughout the universe. Mostly concentrated in Aylathiya, Spirits rose and fell in numbers with every passing Angel. Inevitably, they settled at a background rate of population. As of the current day, Spirits are not particularly bizarre, and a seasoned traveler may expect to see several in their journeys. If one knows what they are looking for, they may have great success with tracking one down.

Risks & Types

Spirits are placed into three types, namely "Cores" and "Mutated Pylons". Cores are by far the most common, while Mutated Pylons are far rarer. Instrumental to Harmonic Thaumaturgy, Spirits can connect to a host Magi and become a "patron". Patrons essentially provide a higher "limiter", allowing a host to perform greater feats at less cost. They also provide access to Aeternal Energy to those without a Pylon. A Magi can also coax or force a connection if needed, and can be host to as many patron Borne as they can wrangle.

Connecting to an Spirits provides benefits and drawbacks for all three types. For Cores, most lack higher function, and therefore can't provide much power or coordinate with the host. However, their commonality and simple minds make them easy to control. Mutated Pylons are notoriously hard to manage, as their high intelligence yet savage behavior can make encounters lethal. If subdued however, a Mutated Pylon can work hand in hand with a Magi, and can even help them force open their "limiter".