Trifecta (trī-fektə)

Sakalli traces her fingers through the air, thin tendrils of light shaping into three distinct shapes: a humanoid silhouette, a swirling clouded mass, and beating heart, all perfectly spaced in the vague shape of a triangle. She waves her hand and the three merge together, the clouded mass filling the silhouette's mind, and the beating heart taking its place in the humanoid chest. When the 3 connect, the silhouette springs to life, doing a small dance and waving to Sakalli, you eagerly returns it.
"This. This is the Trifecta."

- Sakalli Cilith, Magiphysiologist

First theorized in 1495 by Ashijani researchers Sakalli Cilith and Grysthel Ynkori, the Trifecta is the unification of the Flesh Self, Conscious Self, and Astral Self (colloquially referred to as the "Body", "Mind", and "Soul", respectively). While there are some who still debate the validity of Sakalli's theory, as it has not been definitively "proven" to them, most modern researchers and Magiphysiologists treat the theory as fact and have yet to be met with the flawed results one would expect if the Trifecta did not actually exist.

Trifecta Theory

Sakallli developed the Trifecta Theory as a means of explaining how individuals and creatures exist within the world and its many planes, and providing a solid foundation for futher research into magic and its effects under various circumstances. The theory itself remains simple on the surface-- that the vast majority of people in Chardovil are comprised of a Flesh Self, Conscious Self, and Astral Self-- and magic affects each corner of the Trifecta differently.

Differing Opinions
It is important to note that Ashijani Magiphysiologists put particular emphasis on studying, understanding and protecting the Conscious Self and Astral Selves, while Altraxian Magiphysiologists stand with Cilith, believing all three corners of the Trifecta equally important to one's identity, personality, and perception of the world. Cilith has strongly criticized Ashijani interpretation of the Trifecta, though her co-author Grysthel Ynkori did not release a public statement on the matter before his death in 1507, during an attempt on Cilith's life.

Flesh Self

The first part of the Trifecta, broadly considered to be the least important, is the Flesh Self. It is, to put it simply, an individual's physical form that exists within and interacts with the world as a whole. It is typically viewed as strictly the "vehicle" to carry the Conscious Self and Astral Self, though Cilith's original theory stipulates that it is an important part of one's identity and personality. Sakalli, meanwhile, puts equal emphasis on the Flesh Self (and its decoration) as she does the other two Selves.

"Decoration of the Flesh Self is a critical part of self-expression. To take that choice away is to create Broken Trifectas."

— Sakalli Cilith, A Defense of the Flesh Self

Conscious Self

The second part of the Trifecta is the Conscious Self. The Conscious Self is the most widely accepted corner of the Trifecta, despite lacking any physical form of evidence, due to the observation that each individual has thoughts and ideas of their own. This observation formed the basis for Sakalli's theory of the Conscious Self, and various means of "decorating" it such as mindfulness exercises or engaging in intellectually stimulating debates.

Astral Self

The final part of the Trifecta is the Astral Self, and carries a significant weight among Chardovil's varying faiths. Cilith and Ynkori outline the Astral Self as the most durable corner of the Trifecta, and the only Self capable of persisting completely independent of the others.

The Astral Self is the least understood corner of the Trifecta, despite the observable, physical evidence of its existence (according to Cilith), and where precisely the line between the Conscious Self and Astral Self lies has been subject to furious debate among scholars since the release of Cilith and Ynkori's initial paper. Cilith's follow-up paper, An Expression of Selves: The Broken Trifecta, has not served to settle the infighting either.

Complete Trifecta by Ynix

Reviving The Field
Magiphysiology is the study of how magic interacts with different people in different ways, and saw a significant surge of interest following publication of Sakalli Cilith and Grysthel Ynkori's paper The Theory of the Flesh, Conscious, and Astral Selves in 1503.

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A Defense of the Flesh Self
Shortly following the release of The Theory of the Flesh, Conscious, and Astral Selves (Cilith, Ynkori), Sakalli released a short, but public memo titled A Defense of the Flesh Self in which she harshly criticized many of her colleagues interpretations of her and Ynkori's initial paper.

Physical Evidence of the Conscious Self
Note that Chardovilian Magiphysiologists have yet to connect the "consciousness" and the "brain", and as such, they consider the "brain" to be part of the Flesh Self, rather than the Conscious Self. Sakalli Cilith's follow-up paper alongside anatomist Ihmal Diadz unfortunately remained unfinished following Diadz's death in 1508 during the Cataclysm.

Conflicting Secrets
While the original publication of The Theory of the Flesh, Conscious, and Astral Selves admitted that they had limited evidence of the Astral Self, Cilith has since amended the paper to remove this concession.

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Ashijani Public Statement
While Cilith places an emphasis on maintaining a Balanced Trifecta through what she calls "Decoration", the Ashijani government has publicly distanced itself from this concept, simply stating that Cilith's statements on health and wellness are her own and do not reflect the Ashijan Empire or its government's public policy.

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Further Reading