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gravescore-records · 21 days ago

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NeoEarth Bestiary Log 2: Soulshifters

Commonly described as monstrosities, Soulshifters are a complex, sapient and extremely rare species, possessing divine powers derived from their connections to a collective celestial body(aka, a constellation).

Although not entirely exclusive to Neo-Earth, Soulshifters have confirmed responsibility in reshaping the planet, terraforming it to their liking and ultimately turning it into their home. In spite of their pursuit of a semi-nomadic lifestyle, they consider Neo-Earth to be their safe haven and will always return to it upon completion of their journey. Because of this active choice on their part, this earns them classification as a Neo-Earth species.

There are only two known Soulshifters in existence due to their birth being under a unique set of circumstances impossible to replicate unless the qualifications are not met exactly or extremely closely, making them extremely elusive. Not only that, but that makes this document just as rare, as it may be one of the few that goes into detail regarding this species. Anyone going over this document would do well to do so very carefully. (OOC: Soulshifters are a closed species for this reason. Unless the qualifications for a Soulshifter to be born are met or very closely met it is impossible to recreate the steps needed for another pair to canonically be born.)

The two Soulshifters are said to have initially been one entity created by two celestial bodies that previously governed the primordial space-time continuum with the intent of mass dethronement and destruction of several powerful races including their own kind. This entity's powers are described to be tied and made through a large amount of stars spanning across the Cosmic Expanse to form a superconstellation said to only be visible at the end of the universe, able to harness the powers of chaos and order in a bid to dethrone the King of Everything. In past theory the existence of such an entity was considered a impossibility, yet this entity debunked this theory with its birth and thrived only to be ostracized as an abomination too powerful to claim its right to live.

This was before the entity eventually discovered its deicidal existence and fled from its creators before understandably beginning a rampage through Universe 333 via child-like tantrum, ravaging several planets over the course of many eons until it was eventually cornered and presumably defeated. In an act of pity for the unfortunate entity the King of Everything salvaged its soul before splitting it into two separate halves and letting the magic that filled the entity's being take on new form. With the two entities born anew from the physical embodiment of divinity, magic, and soul, they were returned to their original creators for a second chance. Having no true form or identity would allow these two entities to pave their own individual paths, thus creating the Red and Blue Soulshifters.

As the name implies, Soulshifters are a type of shapeshifter. They are monoped, with a look and feel similar to a cool slime on a surface level. However, taking in anything for a prolonged time period will actually cause the object or part to take on a lot of heat, as if it were dipped into magma. When their form is not being held properly, it can be reflected in the way that puddles formed of their physical essence bubble similarly to hot tar.

In the core of their chests is an object called a Soul Heart that acts as a Soulshifter's life source. Sitting on the surface of the "skin" makes the Soul Heart the most vulnerable part of its optionally amorphous body, as it takes effort to withdraw it temporarily under the surface for protection. The outside texture of the Soul Heart is comparable to that of the smooth but firm cookie of a macaron, while the interior remains unknown. In between the cracks on a Soul Heart offers an alternative textile experience in the form of a thick, protective rubbery membrane similar to what can be found in a chicken egg, but naturally much less fragile by comparison. It can be assumed that the inside of the Soul Heart is liquideous in nature, as it can bleed out a glowing magic substance described as "liquid sun", similar to plasma. During shifting the Soul Heart takes no change, remaining the same in appearance and only shrinking or growing in proportion to the form taken. When separated from the more goopy body, the Soul Heart seems to possess four thin tendrils on each corner. The implication here is that these tendrils keep the Soul Heart attached to the body in normal circumstances.

In several aspects such as personality, palette, and even powers, the two halves of the original entity directly oppose one another while simultaneously presenting the grounds for them to get along as they cover each other's weaknesses, increasing their odds of survival. Whether the cause is trauma bonding or something else entirely is unknown, but our studies have observed significant distress, mood swings, and drastic changes in behavior and health whenever the two are separated for too long.

Their powers also seem to contrast from their natures and elements, making them incredibly contradictory to even themselves. Suffering appears to have been a key part in both their initial creation and in their way of life, only numbed upon the onset of madness. Trauma can cause cracking in the Soul Hearts of either or both entities, granting an increased output in power at the cost of greater vulnerability.

They possess a unique shapeshifting ability that only seems to work when they have come into contact with any species with a biological genetic code(with some exceptions), allowing them to use that code as a template map for taking on a different form. Further limitations observed include the inability to change their preset color palettes(cold patterns for Blue, warm for red) and occasional inability to alter size. When changing into a new form for the first time multiple factors can subconsciously determine the appearance such as preferences, familiarity, desires…even stress factors could play a part in this, and make the resulting form bigger for protection as a result. The appearance is set in stone after the first shift and cannot be changed unless the form taken is detached from and recycled. It is worth mentioning that on their own, Soulshifters do not originally possess their own unique genetic codes until it is created when they take on a new form where it is applicable.

Studies show that Soulshifters have a drawback to their shifting in which they cannot do so within water, as their bodies begin to melt away from their Soul Hearts, leaving that to sink while the essence that made up their bodies stays afloat on the surface similarly to oil.

While it is impossible to separate their magic and divinity from them as they are the living embodiments of said magic and divinity, it has been proven that their forms can be separated from them. The bodies left behind will feel hollow, distant, and soulless as a result of the separation process. The form will eventually die if not reunited with its Soul Heart or given a new soul of its own. If a Soulshifter doesn't like a particular form it can forcefully separate and consume the form in question to recycle it, create a new form, and start anew. Their Soul Hearts can also be attached to another individual, slowly eating it alive and taking over their body in a similar fashion to a parasite, ultimately claiming the body as their own if desired once all traces of the previous soul are consumed. It is possible for them to live within the soul of another person without causing harm, though this is usually for safety reasons (Overseer Note: We were not given clarification as to whose safety would be secured in this scenario, but based on what little context clues we were given, we can assume that its the Soulshifter).

It is possible to create a false soul by transferring the consciousness and fragment of a Soul Heart into a premade form with no soul of its own, but should the consciousness is removed from the form and returned to the main Soul Heart, it can (not always) create something known as a Faux Soulshifter. Alternatively, increased exposure to or ingestion of the magic substances generated by a Soulshifter also have the chance of creating a Faux Soulshifter (Overseer Note: consider the creation of a seperate document discussing Faux Soulshifters for further clarification).

If a Soulshifter dies they can reconsistute within varying periods of time depending on the severity and speed of their death. This period of time can range anywhere from as little as a few minutes to as long as a few years. During this time their consciousness and spirit returns to the astral bodies they are tied to in order to recover, resting until they regain the energy to reform. The only way to ensure permadeath in the Soulshifters is if both are killed at the same time with no desire to continue living. This is said to have dire consequences as this will trigger universal heat death throughout the Cosmic Expanse, with time and space ripping itself apart as the constellations that make up the original entity burn up and explode simultaneously until nothing remains. Because of this their survival must be guaranteed.

Thankfully there is a surprisingly simple way to ensure this through feeding them material objects with high energy output. Materials such as uranium and plutonium, as well as substances rich in minerals and/or magic, make excellent fuel to keep the flame from their stars burning for much longer. A theory suggests that locating the individual stars and using our solar absorption generators to drain them of energy has a chance of stopping the heat death, but it's not advised we actually try to test this. Nonetheless, they would still live on as gods dying only if they lose worship or be forgotten to time. Thankfully, their efforts have ensured no shortage of it due to their categorization as primordial mad gods.

Unlike their other forms their default appearances were created through a special method, forming giant cocoons from an unidentified substance over their Soul Hearts and attaching themselves to a wall for support before undergoing a form of metamorphosis using a combination of DNA to create a body of their liking. The outcome tends to be random and time consuming as it not only takes several tries to form a suitable body, but the Soulshifters must work from the ground up instead of working off a preexisting biological code. Any bodies deemed failures are shortly detached from and either consumed or salvaged for future use. Theoretically, this cocoon method could be used to give birth to entirely new and unique creatures assuming a soul is implemented. Because Soulshifters do not possess a unique genetic code by default, these new creatures could not be considered offspring by blood relation and thus a mutual agreement for a parent-child relationship must be made instead.

Under normal circumstance, certain injuries and bodily modifications made to specific forms and their default are temporary. However it is still possible for those injuries and modifications to become permanent if neither are handled accordingly or they do not shift after a certain period of time. It is found that permanent injuries and modifications made to some forms do not carry over to the others.

While they mostly tend to differ in powersets, there are abilities that are either shared or function similarly such as a form of teleportation and a vocal attack charged by radiant energy.

Soulshifter Blue

Soulshifter Blue responds best to the name Geragera Guffaw and is classified as a god of chaos, often considered the more malevolent of the two in spite of a celestial nature and more passive abilities such as illusions, charms and healing. His true body is pitch black in color with small, light blue spots dappled throughout that glimmer against the dark of his skin not unlike stars. He sports a serpentine face shape with symmetrical light blue and white triangular teeth. His Soul Heart appears to be a pale off white, almost slate color with a radiant white interior, with his magic reflecting accordingly.

Alongside his other passive abilities previously described, Geragera is able to displace time around him, appearing to move faster. This is because he simply slows down time as opposed to just stopping it outright. Using this same ability he can self-duplicate by displacing himself within the created time shift to effectively create false versions of himself. He despises being kept in one place and doesn't do well with sitting still, which makes sense for his somatic casting method that incorporates movement and even dance for spellcasting.

Geragera enjoys taking forms that are small and unassuming in appearance as they make him easy to underestimate, equating him to an eldritch horror in the form of an endearing creature. His forms also follow a cool color palette, primarily but not limited to greens, cyans and blues as well as falling towards darker greyscale colors. His most identifying features throughout most of his forms are his glaringly bright blue eyes and speckles. Geragera's possesses the unique capability to take on mechanoid forms due to an inclination towards technology and machines.

Observations from creatures that do not consume stars as part of their regular diet have found that the essence from Geragera's true Soulshifter form has a poor flavor akin to the common glowstick, with a burning chemical mouth sensation to match. Thanks to Geragera, we have discovered that Soulshifters are able to produce a type of roaring sound, and that his is a rather horrid mix of screeching metal and nauseating static.

Soulshifter Red

Soulshifter Red responds to Ruckis Kingstarr and is classified specifically as a Goddess of Control. She is often described as the more benevolent of the two despite an Infernal nature, a greater affinity for fire and destructive terraforming powers. Her body is a stark white color with faint splotches of tiny red dots all over her body that makes it look as red tinged as her teeth, which are cartoonishly straight and blackened. Her head shape appears canid or equine in nature, with hair reaching far down her back like a fur mane. An internal glowing red magic core under a black outer exterior gives the impression of red hot magma glowing beneath the dark cooling lava thanks to the cracks on the surface of Ruckis' Soul Heart.

In spite of her destructive powers, Ruckis can create new life with just as much ease and bend molecules to her will, from changing the molecular structure of an object and turning it into something different by bending light, sound and even force to generate highly convincing illusions within any given space. True to her name, Ruckis is loud and proud and hates to be silenced, fitting for her preference to use verbal casting. In some, if not most cases, singing is used to as her casting method.

Her true form possesses ear-like appendages that simultaneously look a little like horns, with the left having a permanent nick that follows her throughout her forms one way or another. It's likely that this is an incurable magic scar leftover from a physical altercation with her mother many eons ago. Her forms tend to be larger for safety in strength, making her a damage sponge. Her palette tends to color warm colors primarily but not limited to reds, oranges and yellows paired with lighter greyscale colors. Her red piercing eyes follow most other forms. Her default is a curious exception to the rule, with blue and green heterochromia in the eyes intended to hide her true identity. She is able to take on plush or toon forms because of an extensive love and knowledge of artwork and music.

#gravescore records #neo earth #soulshifter #original species #writblr #writing #species lore #fantasy #scifi fantasy #creature design #order of the stars #nonfandom #edited and revised by lead archiver clawdy #written by lead archiver ruckis #shapeshifter

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gravescore-records · 7 months ago

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NeoEarth Bestiary Log 1: Star Spirits

Star Spirits are cosmic beings mysteriously tied to stars, their bodies being astral projections made corporeal to act as a vessel for the star's insurmountable energy. Because of how these physical forms are created, they are naturally attuned to magic. While the magic circles of Star Spirits can be tied to a specific element, all are naturally bound to the element of fire. This binding, alongside regular consumption and bathing in flame to restore energy, grants them immunity to damage from fire.

It's common for Star Spirits to be found in clans that we see as "Constellations". The name correlation between a Star Spirit clan and a sapien's concept of a cluster of stars that form an image is no mere coincidence. Much like most celestial bodies or creatures of divine nature, the birth of new stars, and by proxy, their spirits and clans, are highly codependent on beliefs held by sapient life.

However, while more uncommon, it is possible for a Star Spirit to exist without a clan through several means, such as sapient views on a given constellation changing to exclude a star while the star in question is still bright and burning, or perhaps a singular star had enough of the prerequisites to give birth to its own Star Spirit. We were refer to such oddities as Lone Stars due to these circumstances, but these are but a few examples of endless possibilities.

Within Star Spirit Clans, it is common for Star Spirits to be named after objects or concepts, such as "Thimble, Dawn, Dusk, Alley, River, Thyme" and so on. Usually Star Spirits pick their names themselves, with the exception to this being the clan leaders, who name themselves after titles of nobility.

The first leader of a clan tends to be the oldest when a constellation is first formed. Every leader that may join them after that is determined by the strength of the protostar they're tied to. The more mass that collects during a Star formation and the brighter a newborn star burns, the chances of them becoming a new leader increases greatly. Star Spirits have to be exceptional to be considered for leadership. Often times there will be one to two leaders, but three to four is not uncommon.

Because of their origins of being starbound, they need a lot of sleep, exactly twelve hours of it. Their sleep schedule is determined by their elemental alignment, which will be explained later below. Once these twelve hours are up and its time for a Star Spirit to sleep, their internal clocks will enforce that need and they will instinctively seek out somewhere suitable for their slumber. If a hospitable environment is not found fast enough, they will be forced to sleep regardless of where they are*.

This, however, is if a Star Spirit should choose to regular wake up and engage with others. It's common practice to sleep for long periods of time to prolong their life spans. Rest is one of many factors that determine how long a Star Spirit lives, which also ties into how much energy they cause their stars to burn. Staying awake, prolonged use of magic that needs concentration, and even having their bodies damaged can burn away that energy. If a Star Spirit dies they will reconstitute at their place of death after so many days depending on the damage done. However, if a Star Spirit dies and their star burns out as a result, they will not reconstitute.

As mentioned before, sapient belief is a huge part of a Star Spirit's existence. Typically Star Spirits help keep these beliefs alive by granting wishes, but if for whatever reason a Star Spirit is prevented from doing this or the belief in them dwindles, the star is also affected. Without purpose, a Star Spirit will die faster.

However, it is entirely possible to preserve and even prolong the longevity of a Star Spirit. If it can consume more materia with a high enough energy resource than it can burn energy, it can potentially add several eons more onto its lifespan.

Two types of Star Spirits have been recorded, namely Dark Star Spirits and Light Star Spirits. There are a plethora of things that differentiate them from one another, factors such as appearance, means of construction, and primary elemental alignment. Their alignment can also affect certain attributes of their magic...

Dark Star Spirits:

Dark Star Spirits are born during night hours, with forms created by subconscious minds. Attributes used in their appearances come from concepts and ideas formulated by sapient minds, resulting in Dark Star Spirits typically sharing the appearances of anthropomorphic "fairytale creatures", such as dragons, unicorns, imps, goblins, pheonixes, and the like. Because they are born of traditional dreams, they possess the natural ability to traverse them and even alter them if they so desire.

They commonly act as overseers, using this natural dream-travelling ability to better determine wishes one might have. It's also a great way for them to actually live their lives while staying asleep at the same time, but it makes for poor conversation if there's no one there to talk to**.

A Dark Star's natural alignment is infernal or fiendish in nature, typically having colors that are darker in tone, capable of travelling through dark spaces. Anywhere a shadow grows, a Dark Star Spirit can lurk and warp, and in certain instances, they can even influence the darkness around them. Certain effects can cause their bodies to become as dark as a silhouette or make the darkness of a room creep into a light hallway, creating that nauseous and uneasy feeling as you stare into a space that seems a lot deeper than it actually is.

Their sleep schedules start at 7AM and lasts until 7PM exactly.

Light Star Spirit:

Light Star Spirits are born of daydreams during the light hours of day, taking forms made from traits created by the conscious mind. This can result in much more unique and strange physical visages, but can also result in more inconspicuous appearances taking inspiration from everyday objects and creatures as well. Their pallets are also typically brighter and more vibrant in color to match.

They're often great mind readers, traversing the folds of one's mind for their deepest desires, allowing them to inherently know what one wants. Should they choose to do this in secrecy as to not be detected, the person they have chosen to probe the minds of may seem spacey, as if in a daydream-like state***.

They have much in common with their dark counterparts, yet they stand in direct opposition. They can teleport and hide themselves wherever light shines, they're more celestial in alignment and have a natural resistance to radiant light. Their sleeping schedules are 7PM to 7AM sharp, but they can traverse dreams all the same just like their Dark Star cousins. This is, however, moreso for their own entertainment rather than necessity. After all, they're required to sleep 12 hours a day, and someone has to be asleep on the other side of the world, right? Have to live your slumbering life somehow.

NOTES FROM LEAD ARCHIVER CLAWDY:

* In the event that this happens in the middle of our hallways or other areas of Gravescore, denizens are encouraged to bring the unconscious Star Spirit to a safe place on the property to avoid them getting trampled on.

** Consider the possibility of lucid dreaming training to allow for increased chances of interaction with the Dark Star Spirits.

*** Keep an eye on any denizens that start spacing out at random so that we can catch these Light Star Spirits in the act, they can't keep doing this forever!

In regards to the statement directly above: They don't have much of a choice... unless there's a sudden and noticeable increase in this behavior en masse, in which they may be messing with you because they know its getting a rise out of you - 🐾

#gravescore records #neo earth #dark star spirit #original species #writblr #writing #species lore #fantasy #fantasy creature #creature design #order of the stars #non fandom #edited and revised by lead archiver clawdy #written by lead archiver ruckis

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