#Spirit of Compassion

[thefadecodex]

One of the primary goals of The Fade Codex—at least to its creator—is to move beyond the rigid structure imposed by the Chantry and develop a flexible and nuanced classification system for spirits. Thus, the 'Spirit Alignment' classification system was created.

Spirit Alignment System:

Spirits are categorized based on their core ideals, emotions, or drives, rather than narrow, static definitions.

This approach provides a more adaptable and insightful exploration of their identities, behaviors, and transformations.

Spirit Evolution:

The Spirit Alignment system aims to address the evolution of spirits, showing how they grow from simpler forms into more complex, emotionally driven entities.

Example: Docktown's Spirit of Compassion evolving into Eulogy from In Memoriam in DATV

Now that we understand the goals of The Fade Codex, let’s explore its classification system and see how Spirit Alignment offers a different perspective on these enigmatic entities we call spirits!

Why Classifying Spirits is Helpful

Classifying spirits into 'Spirit Alignment' categories such as learning-based, hope-based, and others provides a structured framework for understanding their nature, purpose, and behavior within both the Fade and Thedas. Spirits are complex entities shaped by emotion, thought, and intention, making them inherently difficult to define. By organizing them into these thematic groups, scholars, mages, and Fade researchers can:

Identify Motivations: Each category highlights the primary drive behind a spirit's actions, whether it's the pursuit of knowledge, the will to survive, or the need to instill hope.

Predict Behavior: Spirits within a category often share behavioral patterns, making it easier to anticipate how they might interact with mortals or other spirits.

Assess Risk and Corruption: Different spirit types have unique vulnerabilities to corruption, and classification helps identify the potential demonic forms they might take.

Guide Interactions: Mages and mortals who deal with spirits can tailor their approaches based on a spirit's category, improving the chances of peaceful or productive interaction.

Preserve Knowledge: Organizing spirits into defined groups helps pass down knowledge more effectively, preventing misunderstandings or misclassifications that could lead to dangerous consequences.

How Spirits are Classified

Spirits are categorized based on their core essence and purpose, which reflects the emotions, ideals, or drives they embody. Each classification represents a fundamental aspect of mortal existence, as spirits themselves are shaped by mortal emotions and thoughts.

These categories are not rigid but serve as a flexible guide, acknowledging that spirits often overlap across multiple classifications depending on the circumstances. For example:

A Spirit of Passion, which is classified in the Spirit Alignment system as a survival-based spirit, it might also overlap with other alignments depending on what fuels its 'passion.'

The Fluid Nature of Spirit Alignment: A Case Study of Spite

Spite as a Spirit of Passion:

In datamined notes from DATV, Spite was originally described as a Spirit of Passion before being later redefined as a Spirit of Determination.

Spite was drawn to Lucanis because of his unwavering will to live.

Over time, Spite evolved into a Spirit of Obsession.

Spirit Alignment Classification:

This connection led the creator of The Fade Codex to classify Spirits of Passion under survival-based spirits.

Fluid Alignment of Passion Spirits:

The alignment of a Spirit of Passion can vary depending on what fuels their passion.

They might align with chaos, love, or strength, depending on their purpose and connection to the mortal they are drawn to.

Case Study: The Evolution of a Spirit – From Compassion to Eulogy

Stage 1: Spirit of Compassion

Purpose: A Spirit of Compassion manifests in Dock Town during a series of demonic murders, offering comfort to the fallen.

Awareness: It senses a connection between the victims, but lacks the knowledge to fully understand it.

Stage 2: Transformation into Eulogy

Catalyst: The repeated loss and a growing awareness of manipulation behind the deaths drive the spirit to evolve into Eulogy.

Purpose: Eulogy vows to remember the dead and protect others from demonic threats, gaining a clearer sense of purpose and identity.

Stage 3: Eulogy’s Role in Dock Town

Action: Eulogy actively protects Dock Town’s residents and seeks to prevent further manipulation.

Analysis of Spirit Evolution

Emotional Catalyst: Exposure to suffering and injustice pushed the Spirit of Compassion to evolve.

Outcome: Eulogy combines its original compassion with a clear mission of protection and remembrance.

Significance: This evolution highlights how spirits can grow from simple embodiments of emotion into complex entities with distinct goals.

Eulogy serves as an example of spirit evolution shaped by emotional resonance and purpose, showing how a spirit can adapt to meet the needs of those it watches over.

[aves-rook-laidir]

So turns out Spirits of Compassion are just…like that? They read your mind and have no filter

[mist-the-wannabe-linguist]

Y'know how the human brain has the tendency to forget what the pain from a severe injury/childbirth etc felt like just to preserve your sanity? Like you know you've experienced it and that it sucked but can't remember what it was actually like. What if in DA it's the work of Compassion spirits taking away your memory of the pain

[tavtiers]

A hypothetical god tier for a Spirit of Compassion from Dragon Age: the Rogue of Life.

A Rogue of Life is among those who use energy to influence. They are motivated by others to steal growth. (x) The Rogue of Life lacks self control and keeps trying even if they fail. (x) They are the Free Spirit Child, defined by reckless growth. (x) Their opposite is the Thief of Doom. Their inverse is the Knight of Doom. They share their personality with the Heir of Heart. The Rogue of Life would quest on a planet similar to the Land of Cubes and Life, reigned over by Hebe (Goddess of Youth) or Asclepius (God of Medicine). They would rise to ascension on the wings of butterflies. (x)(x)(x)

[nateeseart]

that's what happens when you draw really sick 

[lastregris]

I'm melting, I think.

Confession: I like to think Leliana sees every time Cole feeds her black birds. It makes her smile and she appreciates him doing it for them. She always wants to thank him when he and the inquisitor come back from an outing, but he’s just so shy! She wishes he would let her see him more instead of hiding away. She also noticed him slipping honey into her wine, and reading the letter about her pet nugs. She smiled at him, but he poofed away as soon as he realized she had returned to her room.

[perplexingly]

Spirit companions

[jaynasti69]

Rise Again Music Video

[cheriboms]

everybody was very nice on my last post(s) so !!! more cole and manfred be upon you :D

[twin-azure-dragon-wave]

[reineydraws]

local demon so dependent on smart phone, he forgot about his demon powers 💀

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[thefadecodex]

In DATV, our understanding of spirits deepens through two pivotal quests: In Memoriam and Spirits of the Dalish. These quests portray spirits as deeply empathetic entities shaped by emotions, capable of growth, distress, and healing.

The basic 'formula' can be used to figure out if a Spirit is going to become corrupted or return to the Fade: Purpose Disrupted → Emotional Distress → Catalyst Event → Mortal Intervention → Outcome (Corruption or Return).

In In Memoriam:

A Spirit of Compassion transforms into Eulogy through an act of remembrance.

This transformation highlights that spirits can evolve when guided by mortal intention.

In Spirits of the Dalish:

An 'Anxious Spirit', burdened by grief over the deaths of the Dalish, risks corruption.

Bellara observes that spirits overwhelmed by negative emotions are at risk of turning into something darker.

Spite identifies the Anxious Spirit as a Spirit of Comfort.

For the Spirit of Comfort to return to the Fade, it requires action, including: 1. Gathering mementos and 2. Holding a vigil.

This concept is briefly explored in DAI, but the encounter is so fleeting that it didn’t leave a strong impression on the creator, even after multiple playthroughs. However, it seems likely that this quest was laying the groundwork for a deeper exploration of the idea in DATV

In Burdens of Command (DAI):

A Spirit of Command struggles with the physical world’s refusal to obey its directives, unlike the fluid responsiveness of the Fade.

The spirit expresses frustration at its inability to exert control in the physical realm.

The Inquisitor aids the spirit by slaying the Rage Demon.

After receiving assistance, the spirit returns to the Fade with ease.

So, what does this tell us? Spirits are not static entities—they are deeply influenced by mortal intention, emotional states, and symbolic acts. Their stability hinges on fulfilling their purpose or finding resolution, without which they risk corruption or transformation.

1. Spirits Have a 'Threshold' for Emotional Distress

Implication: Spirits can endure negative emotions or experiences for only a limited time before risking corruption or transformation.

Significance: This suggests spirits have an internal tether to their purpose. When that tether is strained or broken, their identity unravels, leaving them vulnerable to corruption or transformation into darker forms (e.g., Comfort becoming Fear or Despair).

2. Spirits Require Resolution Through Action

Implication: The Anxious Spirit needed an act of closure (the vigil) to find peace, showing that spirits cannot simply "will" themselves back to their purpose—they require external, symbolic actions aligned with their nature.

Significance: Spirits rely on harmony between their emotional state and purpose, often needing external intervention to restore balance. This suggests they are not entirely self-sufficient and may depend on mortals or other spirits for stability.

3. Spirits Are Deeply Affected by Mortal Emotions and Experiences

Implication: The Anxious Spirit's distress stemmed from the violent, unresolved deaths of the Dalish, showing that spirits are deeply empathetic and can become trapped in emotional feedback loops tied to mortal events.

Significance: Spirits' emotional states are reactive and tethered to their surroundings, suggesting they can "absorb" ambient emotional energy, especially when it clashes with their purpose.

4. Corruption May Not Be Instantaneous, But a Process

Implication: Spirits do not immediately become corrupted when they encounter negative emotions. There is a window of opportunity to intervene, as seen with the Anxious Spirit.

Significance: This challenges the assumption that spirits are instantly corrupted by negative emotions.*

*Note: This is not including events where a spirit is bound against it's will and forced against it's purpose.

5. Action is Needed for Spirits

Implication: The vigil was not just a symbolic act for the Anxious Spirit—it was an anchor, grounding the spirit back to its original purpose.

Significance: Spirits often need ritual or symbolic acts to realign with their purpose after prolonged distress, highlighting their intrinsic connection to intention, symbolism, and the constructs of the Fade..

6. Time Is a Factor in Spirit Corruption

Implication: The longer a spirit exists in emotional distress, the closer they come to losing their purpose and becoming corrupted.

Significance: There seems to be an unspoken "time limit" during which intervention must occur. This "time limit" may different depending on the spirit as well--a more "simple" spirit, such as a Spirit of Comfort may have less time for an intervention vs a more "complex" spirit, such as a Spirit of Compassion.

[damthosefandoms]

darry taking extra shifts after thanksgiving to be able to afford christmas presents for his brothers and the gang vs soda taking extra shifts after thanksgiving to justify putting up christmas lights to bring some holiday cheer to their neighborhood even though it would blow their electric bill through the roof

[mist-the-wannabe-linguist]

So it's already pretty clear that Despair is the demonic counterpart to Compassion, given despair is stated to be Cole's greatest fear, and there is also Solas saying that spirits of Compassion are very rare these days while Despair demons, stated to be a newly recognized demon type, are among the most common in DAI

But it has just occured to me that the ability to reach into a person's deepest hurts and unravel them with the right choice of words that all spirits of Compassion seem to possess would be the perfect way to send a person into a depressive spiral

[tavtiers]

i would like an order of rogue of life analysis with a side of planet pleas :3

The Rogue of Life [symbols: domino mask, vines]

The Rogue class is based on Robin Hood.

The Life aspect’s main theme is growth. You can find its official description here.

A Rogue of Life is among those who use energy to influence. This is the “classpect group” they belong to. Members include: the Knight, Page, Thief, and Rogue of Life/Doom. These classes are all opposites or inverses of each other that use the Life/Doom dichotomy (energy to influence). A description of classpect groupings can be found here.

The Rogue of Life passively steals the Life aspect. Passive classes are guided by others or act for the benefit of others. They are more likely to be kind, but less likely to stand up for themselves. Thieves and Rogues steal their aspect and everything it symbolizes to grant it to someone else. Simplified, the Rogue of Life is motivated by others to steal growth.

In personality, the Rogue of Life lacks self control and keeps trying even if they fail. Personality descriptions can be found here.

Their archetype is the Free Spirit Child, defined by reckless growth. Archetypes are explained here.

Their opposite is the Thief of Doom, who actively steals caution.

Their inverse is the Knight of Doom, who actively utilizes caution.

A classpect or “god tier” is an individual’s best self. All classpects go through a journey from unrealized, to struggle, to realized. When a character is unrealized, they neutrally exist as their inverse. On their struggle, they will wildly flip back and forth between their inverse and true classpect. In their worst moments they will act as their inverse, in their best their true classpect. When realized, they will stabilize as their true classpect. They will still have room to grow, but will become happier, more successful people.

This means that the Rogue of Life begins life motivated by themselves to utilize caution. When their struggle arrives and they are at their worst, they will continue this behavior in negative extremes. However, when at their best, they will find purpose in instead stealing growth for others. When realized, they will stabilize and continue to steal the Life aspect passively, in a positive way.

They share their archetype with the Heir of Heart, the Child Free Spirit.

The Rogue of Life would quest on a planet similar to the Land of Cubes [Rogue] and Life [Aspect]. An example would be the Land of Topiaries and Spores. An explanation of planet naming conventions can be found here.

Two possible gods, or denizens, to reign over their planet would be Hebe (Goddess of Youth) or Asclepius (God of Medicine). Other Life aspect denizens can be found here.

When the Rogue of Life completes their planet quests and dies on their quest bed, they would rise to ascension on the wings of butterflies (symbols of pollination). A list of soul animals can be found here.

The characters that I have currently classpected as Rogues of Life are: Robin Hood from English Folklore, Poison Ivy from Batman, Arwen from Lord of the Rings, Rogue from X-Men, Norma Jennings from Twin Peaks, and a Spirit of Compassion from Dragon Age.

If any of the links not connected to my blog break, the content can be found on my Google Drive.

Official Aspect Descriptions Personality Descriptions Aspect Denizens

Please specify in a separate ask whether you would like planet naming ideas or a description of a planet quest! We serve most everything here, except beetroot.

[dungeons-and-dragon-age]

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