Ideogenic Species
Ideogenic species are species that originate from the idea magic of one or more Edeia. Typically, ideogenic species are transformed beings or beings that otherwise use existing souls, rather than creating new ones.
While the designations of species can be somewhat ambiguous, here are a few points of consideration:
They should have distinct, consistent characteristics. Broader categories, such as the blighted, are not considered species (though specific blighted are), though they may still be listed here if they consist of ideogenic species.
Most have a way of creating new members without the direct influence of the Edeia, whether through environmental exposure, infection, propagation, or other means. However, it is unusual for them to be able to reproduce via direct creation of new life.
If you have finished Development Prompts and a Conceptualization (peer-reviewed or reviewed by Auspice) for your Edeia, you can propose an ideogenic species or category of ideogenic species originating from your own Edeia to be listed officially here. You may also submit if Auspice allows it directly. Please use this form and/or consult with Auspice if you are interested.
Terminology
Click to expand.
Genesis Type
Direct: new members are created through the direct influence of the original Edeia.
Environmental: new members are created through exposure to a certain environment.
Conditional: new members are created when they meet certain conditions.
Infection: new members are created through infection by other members or other infectious agents.
Separate genesis routes are separated by commas, while combined genesis routes (all elements must be achieved) are separated by dashes.
Form Type
Embodiment: a manifestation of magical characteristics including abilities, behavior, and appearance (included shifted forms) that do not permanently change biology but are distinct enough to be classified as a species.
Transmutation: transformation of physical and/or biological characteristics.
Reconstitution: complete reconstitution of the physical form and/or metaphysical characteristics of existence. The original body may be left behind or not.
Permissions
Open: Anyone can create members of the ideogenic species.
Ask: You must ask the creator of the ideogenic species to create one.
Table of Contents
Sanctial
plural: Sanctials
Those that die near or within the physical space a Sanctuary occupies, or those whose bodies are brought to a Sanctuary not long after their death, may be given a chance to return as a spirit creature referred to as a Sanctial.
Genesis
Sanctials can only form from individuals who die in or near a Sanctuary, or have their remains and lingering soul brought to one. For the latter case, the conditions for whether or not a soul lingers vary—typically, the more unexpected the death, and the more unfinished business they feel they have, the longer the soul lingers. If the soul has departed, Sanctification (the process of becoming a Sanctial) cannot occur.
The Sanctification may occur immediately after death or after a delay. When it does, a pale energy will emerge from the remains and take the form of a spirit. The remains will be left behind, and are often buried in the Sanctuary.
Characteristics
Sanctials will typically take the appearance of animals, though not necessarily a specific species. Different characteristics may be combined—for example, a wolf with antlers.
They have the colors of Sanctuary. They generally are a pale bluish to yellowish color with eyes like a night sky, sometimes with markings and/or shifting patterns of night blue. They may have tree branch-like horns or antlers that have the appearance of pale gold, and a small floating orb of white light, usually near their head.
Abilities
Conditional Immortality: Sanctials can live forever within a Sanctuary, but have limited time outside of one. Some live out their days in peace, and some go on a last journey through the world for one purpose or another.
Minor Shapeshifting: enough to disguise as a mundane version of their spirit form.
Telepathy and Linguistic Acquisition: Sanctials can communicate telepathically, including conveyance of language, images, and meaning. Through communication of "meaning," they can interact with any sentient being even if they do not speak the same language. Some are able to learn languages from those they connect to even if they were animals before death.
Spirit Presence: As spirits, they can alter their visibility, tangibility, and whether or not they levitate or interact with gravity.
Malum
plural: Malum
The Malum are those who achieve strong synchronization with and mastery over a Malicious Manifestation granted by Malice.
Genesis
Any conscious individual is capable of becoming a Malum. They must first receive a Malicious Manifestation from Malice. Then, they must increase their synchronization to it, generally by becoming more in tune with and expressive of their emotions. Generally, they need to use the Manifestation's abilities and push it further, leading to the Manifestation manifesting abilities and forms that are more integrated with the body rather than separate tools or weapons.
At some point, generally via a strong emotional trigger (usually malice or other intense negative emotions that are associated with some desire to act, such as to harm another, protect someone, protect oneself, etc.), the individual will draw out all the power in the Manifestation and fuse with it, shifting into their Malum form. After the first time, fusing again becomes easy and instinctive.
Characteristics
The Malum are able to fuse with the Manifestation to take a demonic appearance—a shadowy body of pure black with highlights of one particular color, usually the color of their soul. They typically have a more abstract appearance, along with horns, claws, thin markings that give the appearance of segments, and solid colored eyes with no iris or pupil.
When in their Malum form, they tend to be extremely honest with their emotions, with malicious emotions sometimes being amplified. When they are not fused with their Manifestation, they retain their original appearance and are less influenced in terms of their behavior.
Abilities
When in Malum form:
Magic Form: They can no longer be injured through physical means, only magic (which disrupts their energy). They can manipulate their form to create shadowy constructs, including tools and weapons.
Sustainment: They do not need sustenance or sleep.
Physical Force: They can exert a great deal of strength without any fatigue.
Minor Telekinesis: Can levitate and manipulate moderately light objects near them.
Empathic Projection: Can project their emotions to others, making them understand and/or feel the emotions.
When in regular form or in general:
Reduced Sustainment: They need less sustenance and sleep then what is typical for their original species.
Manifestation Mastery: Due to their genesis process, Malum inherently have high mastery and synchronization with their Manifestation and its associated general abilities as well.
Sylve
plural: Sylves
Sylves are beings that have undergone renewal by Sylnae's power. All Sylves are connected to Sylnae; Sylnae can sense when they die and renew.
Genesis
Sylves begin as a Sylve tree or plant that has grown from where a creature has died. The creature does not need to be biological, but it needs to have a soul and be able to "die."
A Sylve tree has a similar appearance to Sylnae's body, having glowing teal markings and leaves on the wood. The time it takes for a Sylve tree to bear fruit can range from days to centuries, depending on their will to return to life. If they no longer wish to undergo renewal, then when they become a tree/plant, they will not bear fruit. The fruits may have different forms—soft exterior, hard exterior, smooth, rough, and so on. Regardless, they will eventually fall from the tree, and the fruit will split open to reveal the Sylve in the form of a young child covered in sap, capable of walking, talking, and various basic skills, but without any episodic memories.
Sylves grow rapidly until adulthood, after which they age very slowly—their lifespan tends to double or triple from their original, and after they die, they will turn into another Sylve tree that bears them once more.
With each renewal, a Sylve may or may not remember their past life. Generally, as they age, they remember the memories they had at that age. They can meditate to accelerate this process. If, at their core, they wished to cast off their old memories and life while they were a Sylve tree/plant, then they will be born without the capability of remembering their old memories. Instead, the Sylve tree/plant will bear smaller fruit in addition to the primary one that rebirths them; the smaller fruits, if consumed by that individual, will return the ability to regain their old memories. If consumed by anyone else, they will either pass out and dream glimpses of the individual's memories, or experience waking hallucinations that offer glimpses into the past life (or lives). If the original Sylve consumes their fruit, the rest will wither and fade. A Sylve can instinctively recognize their Sylve tree/plant(s).
Generally, a Sylve's soul is their original soul, taken out of the normal cycle through the ethereal plane. Sylnae's renewal has the capability of pulling back the souls of the dead, though it is most effective for the recently dead. If the original soul has dispersed or reincarnated, the metaphysical echo of memory is used as a "frame" and ethereal essence is gathered over time. These renewals take the longest, potentially centuries.
Characteristics
The body of a Sylve will resemble their original species, though they tend to gain characteristics such as glowing teal eyes, markings, and growths of branches on their body. They tend to, but not always, have a graceful appearance in a way that might make others refer to them as elves. They have a minor ability to shapeshift, which includes the ability to disguise themselves in a mundane form. They can live off water and photosynthesis, but are still capable of eating.
A majority of Sylves live in the Arbor of Renewal, the forest that Sylnae made at the site of a disastrous final battle in a war.
Abilities
Cyclical Immortality: They can die, but will always be able to be reborn if they wish it.
Regeneration: They are able to regenerate injuries and loss of limbs in seconds to minutes.
Sustainment: They do not need any sustenance to live, but need water and either sunlight or sugar to maintain energy. Sleep is not needed, but pleasant.
Minor Revitalization: A passive aura that induces improved health, energy, and vitality.
Category: Blighted
The blighted refer to all of the ideogenic species created through Blight's blights. All blights created by Blight require direct or nearly direct transmission from existing species members. Some of the blighted that exist in the present Age of Reunion are listed below.
Altervein
plural: Alterveins
plural: Alterveins
Alterveins were the original strain of vampire-like entities made by Blight — the first transformative blight that Blight made. They infect others by sharing blood, and they have considerable a craving to both drink blood and a minor compulsion to infect others. They develop sharper teeth and pupils that become slits while they are excited or experiencing cravings. They have minor sensitivity to sunlight.
Alterveins have a minor degree of shapeshifting, able to transform into certain animals or creatures. They gain minor powers to manipulate blood.
Lunarwild
plural: Lunarwilds
plural: Lunarwilds
Lunarwilds are strain of "were-beings," including werewolves, that have lasted to present day. In their base state they look human and are not infectious, but they can transform by will or under the moonlight into a different form (not necessarily a wolf, but usually an animal) that is much more animalistic and infectious, with any bitten creature also becoming infected with the Lunarwild blight. Lunarwilds have severe reactions to silver.
Sporavenous
AKA: Ravenous; plural: Sporavenous
AKA: Ravenous; plural: Sporavenous
The Sporavenous are a species of "cognizant zombies" created through the infection of a biological host by the Sporavas fungus. The "Ravenous" broadly refers to all "zombies" created by Blight, though since the Sporavenous are the only extant Ravenous in the Age of Reunion, they are typically simply referred to as the Ravenous.
When an individual is infected, the fungus integrates with the host's brain and spinal cord, leaving personality and will intact but causing the development of intense urges to consume raw flesh of uninfected individuals. The infection spreads by both body fluids and inhalation of airborne spores. These Ravenous usually do not emit spores, but every month their aggressive urges decrease and they sprout mushrooms, usually out of their back or the sides of their head, that release a large amount of spores. They are compelled to protect the mushrooms until they are done releasing spores, after which the mushrooms fall off. These are actually safe to eat, and are considered a rare delicacy by certain crowds.
Most of the Ravenous of Sporavas exist in a quarantined area consisting of a Sanctuary and a limited area of "hunting grounds." They are immortal, not aging and regenerating from most injuries, so long as they somewhat regularly consume raw flesh of any creature. Manufactured "meat" developed in united society can sustain them, but they tend to feel weak or ill in the long term.