Animaegi

There is a storm brewing deep within my core. An unbridled rage. A divine craving to rip out from within my skin and tear down all the walls that make up your fortress. For every moment of my boiling blood, I feel this burning will within me scream for retribution.
Do you feel it, Raz’akira. Can you hear how this world screams for your final penance? When I let go my control to this angel of vengeance within. You will understand why I rather serve in heaven than rule in hell.
-Nyoka van der Mbaya

Dark Casters of Arzawak

Found within the grand amphitheater of Arzawak, the Animaegi can be seen pitting their visitor souls against one another in brutal duels. The incarnations of whatever spirits they bargained with show their true might through battling with claw, fang, blade and spells to the bitter death. A momentary death, as they remain immortal with their souls held within the casters.
It is this symbiosis between man and spirit which makes the Animaegi different to the average warlock and voodoo practitioner. Through ritual bargains, they breach the veil between realms to commune with whatever spirit is on the other side.
Be they that of mortal soul, beast, loa or any other type of spirit, there is no true limit to how powerful a possession an Animaegi might house within.
The crux comes with the consent part, as the mortal caster is technically no more in control of the spirit than what a company owner would be for their employees. There are no demonic contracts that bind the soul to one will, which ensures the spirit has full autonomy of their own actions and decisions, where they can leave their host if they so wish.
This makes Animaegi dangerously unpredictable, as the bond between man and spirit could both be their undoing, or make them far more powerful than any diabolist, if the two souls dance together.
Because of the appeasement factor, most Animaegi host spirits of beasts or nature, as they are trusting and easy to satisfy. Especially so, as the souls of animals are often tamed to become loving companions.

Writing by Tonarus
Art AI generated with Midjourney
Animaegi

Spirit

Type

Religious, Military

Abilities

Spirit

Beyond the average bright and dark voodoo magic that an animaegi naturally wields, they also possess gifts from their hosted spirits. Often through protective, restoring and mitigating arts such as casting a shadow-shield of snakeskin around themselves or turning their flesh hard as bark and blood thick as sap.

Caster

These skills are inherited to the spirit through channeling from the animaegi themselves. Granting their accompanying soul the same arcane knowledge as the caster possesses. Allowing even the most simpleminded of beasts to cast spells such as scorching flames and howling gales.

Souldancing

The phenomena known as souldancing is a type of evolution that takes place when the bond of man and spirit burns so bright that their auras meld together.
When this takes place, both parties will find themselves breaching through the limits of what was previously possible. Such as the snake scale shield bursting with shadowy spikes or a spirit being able to wield their claws through whirling slashes of flame.
This empowerment blends both the aspects of spirit and caster to give both parties access to each other's full arsenals, without having to further bargain for it.