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On the Nature of Spirits
To define a spirit is no easy thing, for one may as easily define "life" or "god". What is known is that spirits of all shades exist across the Many Realms, often given different names and traits by those cultures who observe them.
We can observe that in their base state, a spirit is a mindless incarnation of energy- no more sentient than a blade of grass or a gust of wind. It is in this formless state that most spirits exist, drifting through the ether between worlds. Many dissipate without ever taking form.
Others, however, come into contact with earthly beings of flesh, and it is here that a transformation takes place. A spirit absorbs the emotional and magical energies of its surroundings, its "mind" developing as a direct response to that input. Spirits that incarnate in the presence of positive emotions- love, joy, camaraderie -take on positive attributes. Spirits that incarnate in areas of death, despair and destruction, however, take on negative qualities. These malevolent, corrupted spirits are commonly known as "demons".
Once a spirit has incarnated in a mortal realm and taken on attributes, it is almost impossible for that spirit to change those attributes, regardless of further input from its surroundings. A demon of hatred, for example, will always seek to create and spread hatred at all times. Unlike mortal beings, it is incapable of changing its nature; to do so would be to deny its very existence.
Some have speculated that spirits may not be entirely separate entities from mortal beings- that the mortal soul, in fact, is a spirit encased in flesh from birth. If true, this raises an interesting question: what would happen if a spirit that was not BORN into a mortal body somehow acquired one? Would such a spirit be able to change its nature, and become truly "alive"?
Such philosophical ponderings, while admittedly fascinating, are simply beyond our ability to prove in this age.
-Tetrabiblos, Scholar of the 8th Realm
We can observe that in their base state, a spirit is a mindless incarnation of energy- no more sentient than a blade of grass or a gust of wind. It is in this formless state that most spirits exist, drifting through the ether between worlds. Many dissipate without ever taking form.
Others, however, come into contact with earthly beings of flesh, and it is here that a transformation takes place. A spirit absorbs the emotional and magical energies of its surroundings, its "mind" developing as a direct response to that input. Spirits that incarnate in the presence of positive emotions- love, joy, camaraderie -take on positive attributes. Spirits that incarnate in areas of death, despair and destruction, however, take on negative qualities. These malevolent, corrupted spirits are commonly known as "demons".
Once a spirit has incarnated in a mortal realm and taken on attributes, it is almost impossible for that spirit to change those attributes, regardless of further input from its surroundings. A demon of hatred, for example, will always seek to create and spread hatred at all times. Unlike mortal beings, it is incapable of changing its nature; to do so would be to deny its very existence.
Some have speculated that spirits may not be entirely separate entities from mortal beings- that the mortal soul, in fact, is a spirit encased in flesh from birth. If true, this raises an interesting question: what would happen if a spirit that was not BORN into a mortal body somehow acquired one? Would such a spirit be able to change its nature, and become truly "alive"?
Such philosophical ponderings, while admittedly fascinating, are simply beyond our ability to prove in this age.
-Tetrabiblos, Scholar of the 8th Realm