Eidolons

"A curious thing, thoughtforms. We discovered them, you know, and since then the bards of the colleges have found all kinds of purposes for them. Eidolons though, those are our true achievement. Do you see how it moves? It seems almost cheerful. It's completely independent but completely under my control. A piece of me resides within it. Now pay close attention. Eidolons are alive and they must be treated with care. They experience pain and sadness, or at least a shadow of it. How you treat it will matter just like Familiars. They can be friend or foe. I've seen eidolons strike at their creators with violent fury simply because, in their eyes, enough was enough. Don't make that mistake."

— Lady Valentina, Poet Laureate of Estalia

Eidolons are a strange combination of thoughtform and spirit that embed themselves into a material that serves as their body. When cultivated they can manifest and often befriend young mages and bards assisting them in their work. The steps in making one are a closely guarded secret of the bards, who discovered them. Many colleges make use of them and it wasn't until a demonstration by the poet lariat lady Valentina to the mages tower at rouxsgate that the concept was even considered useful. The first enchanter was absolutely beside himself, giddy at the idea that such a playful thing could exist as an inherent part of reality, could be created without advanced magic, and that such a playful thing could be useful.
Before eidolons were discovered, most assumed spirits who have been destroyed go to the shafts of outer heaven to be rebuilt and released. This is not the case. Spirits are never destroyed. Instead, they often fragment and embed themselves into the surrounding area. The area begins to exhibit qualities of that spirits domain. A fire spirit may embed itself into rocks, grass, and trees causing an endless inferno that never burns or spreads but fades as the spirits fragments go dormant or are gathered. If left in the dormant state, each fragment will grow and new spirits will emerge or the fragments will combine with others to reform the spirit that was destroyed. These fragments can be harvested, reshaped and become something very different by using the principles of thoughtforms. The fragment will reshape itself based on the thoughts of the shaper or on previous memories of the fragment. This process creates an eidolon but these eidolons are artificial when made by someone else and they need to be taught what actions they are supposed to perform as they no longer have drives and domains. Examples of eidolons exist in nature. Usually, a very powerful beings death will cause eidolons to rise using the body of the being to create their new forms in its image and whatever memories remain to create their drives. The most common way to describe eidolon would be to say that they are a combination of a spirit and a golem.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Eidolons last as long as their shaper does, often dying if their shaper does. In nature, however, this is not the case. They come in many sizes and shapes and composition.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Eidolons are often used as arcane batteries as they have self-sustaining energy within them. They are also given tasks that support a shapers needs such as cleaning, or assisting in expiriements.

Average Intelligence

While natural eidolons share the intelligence of the being they were made from, artificial eidolons are very basic creatures and the shaper must give then their intelligence.

Scientific Name

Celestial, spirit

Origin/Ancestry

Celestial

Eidolons do not need food or rest but they do need to be given some form of arcane energy if they overexert themselves. Eidolons very widely based in material, spirit the fragments came from and the shapers needs if a shaper is present.
Eidolons often have abilities bestowed to them or gained. These abilities are based on material composition of the body, will of a shaper if the shaper is present and the actions an Eidolon needs to perform.

Their habits depend on how they were formed. Eidolons made by young mages and bards tend to be playful and kind. If the greater treats it well these habits tend to grow but a mistreated eidolon is beyond help and is often violent.