Interlude A2.II
From the Archives of the Explorers Guild
Excerpt from “Yggdrasil: A System of Power” by Scholar Arvian Melchor, Senior Fellow of the Explorers Guild, Chair of Aetheric Studies, Brightwash Military Academy.
Access Granted: The Ignition of the Soul
The path to becoming a Soulsinger, and thereby gaining access to the System Yggdrasil, begins with the soul itself. It is well understood within our academic circles that not every mortal possesses the inherent capacity to access Yggdrasil. The populations of Iardyss, while diverse in many respects, can be divided into two broad categories in terms of their potential relationship with Yggdrasil: (i) those with singing souls, and (ii) those with quiet souls.
The term “Soulsinger” is derived from early studies of the phenomenon. The original study involved measurements taken with aethereum crystals during the process of individuals interacting with a Reverse Mana Orb. Aethereum crystals have a naturally occurring aetheric field. When interacting with a Reverse Mana Orb, it was discovered that individuals with the potential for magic have souls that generate a similar aetheric field. The field produced by individuals triggered by the Reverse Mana Orb would resonate with the crystal’s field, as though singing in harmony with the crystal. There was no such reaction with the souls of those individuals who lacked the potential.
Thus, at a fundamental level, Soulsinging is possible where a person’s soul is aligned with the frequency produced by Yggdrasil. This innate quality exists in approximately half of the population of Iardyss, though this potential is rarely Awakened.
Scholars in the field of Aetheric Studies have classified souls into four primary categories, each correlating with a person’s natural potential for Soulsinging.
1. Glistening Soul. By far the most common among those with singing Individuals with Glistening Souls can access only the most rudimentary aspects of Soulsinging. Their capacity for manipulating aether is limited, and while they may use their powers to engage in basic aetheric enhancements—such as heightened senses or improved physical performance—higher magics are generally out of reach. Most Awakened practitioners with Glistening Souls are best suited for menial tasks such as Artificery or minor aetheric enchantments.
2. Resonate Soul. The next tier encompasses those whose souls resonate more profoundly with Yggdrasil. A Resonate Soul grants its possessor access to Yggdrasil’s Roots, and thus the flowing powers of the Aethereal Sea. These Users are granted a Class by which they operate within the System of Yggdrasil, allowing for higher levels of manipulation. At this level, practitioners can perform feats considered magical by Iardyss’ lay population—casting Spells and developing Talents unique to their Class and Sub-Type. Resonate Souls are the backbone of the Soulsinger population, comprising the majority of magi in Guilds and Companies.
3. Diamond Soul. Rare and coveted among the Guilds and Companies of Iardyss. The Diamond Soul is an extraordinary phenomenon. Individuals with this designation of soul are distinguished by their enhanced mana output, efficient conversion of aether, and ability to channel aura with remarkable purity and strength. It is said that the Diamond Soul is free of the “mundane impurities” that impede lesser Soulsingers. Individuals with Diamond Souls are capable of forming bonds with the Shedim—sentient entities from the Aethereal Sea. These bonds, taking the form of Contracts, result in significant augmentation of power and often grant rare Gifts to the Soulsinger. Diamond Souls are suspected to be genetically passed down, often coupled with a Bloodline Contract with a particular Sheyd. For further discussion of the Shedim, Contracts, and Bloodline Contracts, please see my other treatises on those topics.
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3. Ascendant Soul. The rarest and most powerful of soul designations, the Ascendant Soul is considered a prodigious gift from Fate itself. Those with Ascendant Souls are demigods among their kin and should be treated as forces of nature.
It is important to note, however, that while the quality of a person’s soul offers a general indication of potential, it does not rigidly dictate the ultimate power or utility of a Soulsinger. Indeed, there are many documented cases of those with Resonate or Diamond Souls possessing rare combinations of Roots or unique Talents that allow them to rise to levels many would associate with an Ascendant Soul within particular contexts.
image [https://i.imgur.com/TCePWcL.png]
Excerpt from “Yggdrasil: A Comprehensive Study” by Scholar Vessarion Rothier, Professor Emeritus of Aetheric Theory, Rajeka Military Academy.
Latent Soulsingers and the Ignition of the Soul
Before a soul can access Yggdrasil, it must first undergo what is commonly referred to as ignition. Individuals born with singing souls—latent Soulsingers, not yet Awakened—are typically indiscernible from the general populace prior to the occurrence of this event. Ignition often manifests as a sudden Awakening, wherein the soul is set ablaze with aetheric energy. Their soul “ignites” opening a temporary floodgate of power that is viewed by many as “priming the pump” for more frequent and ordinary usages of power.
For many, this ignition process happens naturally in early adolescence, typically catalyzed by a stressful event or exposure to high concentration of aether in the environment. However, there are documented instances of delayed ignition, as well as premature Awakening prior to any potential ignition event. Additionally, those with higher designations of souls often ignite at an unusually young age, sometimes as early as infancy. This has of course only been documented in an insignificant minority of cases.
The Roots of Yggdrasil
Many Scholars in this field are focused on Yggdrasil as a System of power. We should not overlook that Yggdrasil is a metaphysical plane that bisects both our material plane and the otherworldly plane often referred to as the Aethereal Sea. Yggdrasil’s Roots extend into the Aethereal Sea and it is through these Roots that Soulsingers draw their power. Each Root represents a distinct aspect of the natural world, and Soulsingers, depending on their Class and innate abilities, can channel one or more Roots.
There is a degree of variation and debate on the classification of the Roots, but based on decades of studies conducted on Soulsingers and Yggdrasil, as a System, the most commonly accepted classification is as follows:
image [https://i.imgur.com/jeVRzdL.png]
image [https://i.imgur.com/iv2db6F.png]
Each Root provides a framework for the practitioner’s magic, though the specific manifestations of power are deeply personal and often influenced by the unique relationship between the practitioner and the Aethereal Sea (a number of factors influence with relationship, and thus the manifestation of a Soulsinger’s power, including, without limitation, any Shedim to which they may be bonded). For instance, while two Soulsingers may channel the Root of Fire, one may manifest the ability to control existing flames, while the other may be able to radiate heat from their body.