Temporary Ikshai Possession

A temporary ikshai possession is a brief and intense condition that exclusively affects Shapeshifters. By all account, nearly all of them goes through this event at least once in their life, and is considered to be a natural part of growing up. It is also a prerequisite for the much more serious and dangerous Permanent Ikshai Possession.

Causes

The possession itself is caused by the mage's loss of control over their Ikshai. This leaves the Ikshai free to possess the body of the Shapeshifter and surplant their human mind with its own. However, it is somewhat rare for a shifter to lose control this way, especialy as an adult, and is usualy caused by one of two trigger, listed bellow. 

Cause 1: Extreme Physical Pain/Injury

By far the most common way a shapeshifter loses control of their Ikshai is in the midst of a losing battle. There have been many such cases of this happening throughout the years, and it most likely is the circumstance for upwards of 90% of such possessions.

Cause 2: Uncontroled Strong Emotions

This trigger is especialy common amonst children and teenagers, but it can happen at all ages, especialy when paired up with either the presence of Veos or the resurfacing memory of a traumatic events.

Aggravating factor:

Factor 1: Veos's Light

The presence of Veos's light on or in the vicinity of the shapeshifter may cause them to be more suceptible to the previously mentioned triggers. This is because it makes both their etherial link and their Ikshai stronger, meaning that it has both an easier time entering the mage's body, and also taking control of it.

Factor 2: A Weak Mind and/or Body

Whenever the mind of a shapeshifter is in a state of weakeness, either during sleep, or by being knocked out, the Ikshai will encounters little to no resistance as it takes over controls. Similarly, being sick, poisoned or injured in some way for some period of time weakens a Shapeshifter's hold on their Ikshai, making a possession more likely.

Symptoms

During a temporary Ikshai possession numerous things happen to the Shapeshifter's body and mind, all of which are done against their will and outside of their control. Thankfully, these changes are all short lived, meaning that within 15-30 seconds, the shapeshifter is able to regain control.

Mental symptoms

Loss of conscious thought

Thanks to the ikshai's mind overriding their own mind, the shapeshifter loses consciousness as well as control over their body. Their mind, being control by the ikshai, will only run on instincts and deep core memories. However, functionaly, the Ikshai has total control over them.

Temporary memory loss

Because of the loss of conscious though, the shapeshifter's mind doesn't remember what happened in the moments following the possession, and while some fragments of memories can resurface after the possession ends, most of what occured remains unknown to them.

Ikshai speech/communication

In rare occasions, the ikshai will be capable of speech through the shapeshifter, most often in very short sentences or even just singular words. Notably, when adressing itself, it uses plural pronouns, indicating that it considers itself and the shapeshifter it is possessing to be separate. Their use of speech as animal spirits also is notable, and many scholars have concluded that this is proof that Ikshais and their bonded humans share memories. Another proof is that during a possession, the ikshai will recognise the faces and voice of the shapeshifter's friends, family or other aquaintance.

Physical Symptoms

Partial or complete transformation

Unlike during a normal transformation, where the Ikshai is subconsciously allowed by the shapeshifter to transform their body, and the level of transformation is controled tightly, this transformation is forced upon the shifter's body and because of the lack of imposed restrictions by the human mind, will usualy go to its end point within just a few seconds. However, a few factors may prevent this from happening, such as the nature of the Ikshai. Some, like Dragonkins, can never acheive a full dragon form, as transforming into such a large beast exceeds the capability of a human body. Another factor may simply be a lack of time, an inheretly weak Ikshai, or a stronger than usual human soul.

Eye colour shift

Normaly, when a shapeshifter, or any type of Soulbound Mages actively uses their abilities, their eyes, specificaly the iris, would take on a blue colour, and glow slightly. However, during a temporary Ikshai possession, the entire eye of a shapeshifter, including the normaly white cornea and the black pupil, turn a bright blue and glow intensely. Reportedly, the glow can be so intense that it is able to illuminates an entire room

Quasi-Immortality

During a temporary Ikshai possession, the shapeshifter's connection to the Ether is reenforced, allowing large amounts of Wild Mana to enter their bodies. This supercharges their already potent natural regenetive abilities, which includes the ablility to regenerate stamina, heal mortal wounds and flush out poison almost instantly. Numerous cases are reported throught the ages of shapeshifters on the brink of death being saved by the phenonenon. However, their cores, this organ that stores all that mana, remains vulnurable to damage, particualy from silver metal, hence the "Quasi" qualifier in their temporary immortality.

Spiritual Symptoms

A Weaker Human soul

The Ikshai's forceful takeover of the shapeshifter's body means that their Human soul loses the battle for control over their body, usualy within a few seconds. This, and the fight between them to regain control which can take up to half a minute, cause some damage to the human's soul. The Ikshai spirit is damaged as well, but it is able to mend its wounds by retreating to The Ether, while the human soul cannot do so, as it remains in the physical realm, inside the shifter's body. Overtime, this damage leads to TIP being more common and in some rare cases, animal features, such as fur, claws or scales to linger on their body even after shifting back in their human form. This is a much more common occurance after a Permanent Ikshai Possession.

A Stronger Etherial Link

On the flipside, this also causes the link between the Shapeshifter's body and the Ether, the dimension where the Ikshai normaly resides, to become stronger with each successive TIP. This strenghtening process is much faster than when shifters call upon their Ikshai normaly. This is great in regards to the speed at which one can transform, but it also makes accidental transformations more likely. It also makes them more sensitive to Veos's influence. Thankfully, both of these things can be easily managed through training and by using Talismans.

Treatment

There is no treatement against TIP once it happens and the best course of action when witnessing it happen is to remain calm and move away from the afflicted Shapeshifter until it passes, usualy within 15-30 seconds. An easy, but impractical way to prevent tip from happening is for the shapeshifter to wear a strong enough silver Talisman, the presence of which repeals ikshais. However, this doesn't work if the Ikshai is already possessing the shifter, and will instead only damage the mage's etherial link, which can lead to an instance of Permanent Ikshai Possession if the damage is severe enough. Moreover, if the ikshai can communicate with other humans, they can ask him to relinquish control, which they can consent to for the benefit of their host.

Prevention

An easy, but impractical way to prevent tip from happening is for the shapeshifter to wear a strong enough silver Talismans, the presence of which repeals ikshai. However, in case of emergency where a TIP would be desired, the talisman must be easy to remove. Moreover, if the ikshai is able to communicate with nearby humans, they can ask him to relinquish control, which they usualy do as they do not want to harm their host.

Type

Magical

Children

• Permanent Ikshai Possession

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Common

Affected Groups:
Only Shapeshifters are affected with this condition, as they are the only humans possessing a bond with an Ikshai.

Mechanism of Possession

To possess and take control of a Shapeshifter, the The Ikshai must first be called by them. This is done subconsciously by the Shifter during moments of distress. Once called upon, it will come from The Ether and travel down the etherial link that connects it to the shifter. Alternatively, the Ikshai spirit may already be in the Physical realm if it was previously called down, at which point it takes control the same way. Once inside the shifter's body, it will attempt to take control to protect their host. This takeover is challenged by the Human soul, and so it cannot last for long as the Ikshai will be kicked out before long. Eventualy, after about half a minute, the human soul wins back control and the ikshai is expulsed out of the body, where it then travels back into the Ether via that same link. There is a delay of about half a day before the Ikshai can be called upon again. If the etherial link is somehow broken while a TIP is happening, then the ikshai spirit will remain stuck inside the shifter's body, resulting in a Permanent Ikshai Possession or PIP, which is a much more dangerous condition.

Perception

By Shapeshifters:

Amongst Shapeshifter communities, the perception of such an event heavely depends on age. For a child or teenager, the first few occurence will be viewed with empathy and even celebration, as it is considered a sign of their Ikshai's strenght. As an adult however, it is viewed more negatively, and percieved as a sign of weak will. Other shifters may dismiss them as not being able to control their ikshai proprely.

By Non-Shapeshifters:

Outside of shapeshifter communites, the condition is generaly viewed with suspicion and worry. However, it is the mere possiblity of the condition happening as well as much shared and that has fueled endless suspition and xenophobia towards shapeshifters historicaly, and contributed to their marginalisation and exclusion of most human cultures in most areas of the world historicaly.