Pseudo-Spirits
It is possible for a person to be subjected to a procedure that forces the energy of a spirit to corrupt their body. While it allows the person to access a portion of that spirit's mana, mortal bodies were never meant to contain such large amounts of energy.
Research by a cult looking to ascend mortal life to that of spirits has crafted a magical procedure allowing mortals to emulate the immortal and ephemeral nature of spirits. Though ambitious, examples of this procedure have produced people whose souls are at risk of literally destroying themselves. Mortal shells were never meant to contain the amount of mana beings of pure energy like spirits emanate. This horrifying creation results in a contest of the soul, which the mortal may have no chance of overcoming. There are typically two results of undergoing this process. The worst outcome is a drawn-out and agonizing death, and the best outcome is that one becomes a Pseudo-Spirit. This means they are partially a spirit. This affords them a new affinity or overwrites one affinity should someone already have two. This can come with new abilities related to the spirit and/or new affinity; however, generally weaker than the spirit as the mortal body can only handle so much strain from such potent mana and must expel most of the spirit’s power not to be destroyed. Unlike spirits, Pseudo-Spirits cannot travel between realms or reconstitute their bodies after destruction. They also become weak to spirit varnish like normal spirits but gain higher resistance to the affinity they have achieved. Sometimes, a spirit can initiate Solanesse, willingly giving part of their soul up for some reason. This is very uncommon as there is often no reason for a spirit to give up power in such a way, especially given the harrowing nature of the process, regardless of mortal or spirit.
When becoming a Pseudo-Spirit, there is also the possibility to receive what is called Soul Scarring. This is where the merging of the two souls does not go smoothly, resulting in permanent damage to the soul. This can result in various negative effects, but most commonly, a feeling of losing something integral to who or what a person is. The two partial souls inside of someone remain in conflict for control, leaving a person hollow. This can be seen in appearance changes, such as sunken or darkened areas around the eyes, body or facial markings, eye color changes, etc. This will sometimes come with further weaknesses that can vary greatly.
It is important to distinguish this from the concept of being undead. A being cannot live without a soul; there is no such thing as sentient/conscious undead, and no being can remain sentient or alive without a soul. Those who are Soul Scarred are very much alive, but to put it in simple terms, their soul is sick, like the effect of the immune system trying to fight off foreign infections or viruses. A Pseudo-Spirit is like a symbiotic relationship between the two partial souls, whereas a Soul Scarred Pseudo-Spirit is more of a parasitic relationship.
Research by a cult looking to ascend mortal life to that of spirits has crafted a magical procedure allowing mortals to emulate the immortal and ephemeral nature of spirits. Though ambitious, examples of this procedure have produced people whose souls are at risk of literally destroying themselves. Mortal shells were never meant to contain the amount of mana beings of pure energy like spirits emanate. This horrifying creation results in a contest of the soul, which the mortal may have no chance of overcoming. There are typically two results of undergoing this process. The worst outcome is a drawn-out and agonizing death, and the best outcome is that one becomes a Pseudo-Spirit. This means they are partially a spirit. This affords them a new affinity or overwrites one affinity should someone already have two. This can come with new abilities related to the spirit and/or new affinity; however, generally weaker than the spirit as the mortal body can only handle so much strain from such potent mana and must expel most of the spirit’s power not to be destroyed. Unlike spirits, Pseudo-Spirits cannot travel between realms or reconstitute their bodies after destruction. They also become weak to spirit varnish like normal spirits but gain higher resistance to the affinity they have achieved. Sometimes, a spirit can initiate Solanesse, willingly giving part of their soul up for some reason. This is very uncommon as there is often no reason for a spirit to give up power in such a way, especially given the harrowing nature of the process, regardless of mortal or spirit.
When becoming a Pseudo-Spirit, there is also the possibility to receive what is called Soul Scarring. This is where the merging of the two souls does not go smoothly, resulting in permanent damage to the soul. This can result in various negative effects, but most commonly, a feeling of losing something integral to who or what a person is. The two partial souls inside of someone remain in conflict for control, leaving a person hollow. This can be seen in appearance changes, such as sunken or darkened areas around the eyes, body or facial markings, eye color changes, etc. This will sometimes come with further weaknesses that can vary greatly.
It is important to distinguish this from the concept of being undead. A being cannot live without a soul; there is no such thing as sentient/conscious undead, and no being can remain sentient or alive without a soul. Those who are Soul Scarred are very much alive, but to put it in simple terms, their soul is sick, like the effect of the immune system trying to fight off foreign infections or viruses. A Pseudo-Spirit is like a symbiotic relationship between the two partial souls, whereas a Soul Scarred Pseudo-Spirit is more of a parasitic relationship.
