Spirits

*Spirits are a race of spiritual beings invisible to non-mages, incarnated from the magical energy that leaks out over time due to extreme emotions, typically negative. Spirits often haunt and bring harm to people, and are consequently the primary targets of magi and their exorcist work.
*The origin of spirits and magic is largely unknown. However, it can be surmised that because magical energy is tied to emotion, spirits have always existed alongside humanity. Unexplainable phenomena or anomalies are a direct result of the influences of spirits have on normal society.
==Description==
===Creation Process===
*Spirits are created when magical energy leaks from humans (non-mages) as a result of their harboring of intense emotions, usually negative. Magical energy thus gathers in one spot, building up like sediment until a spirit takes form.
**Populated locations are hotspots for bearing spirits because many emotions are associated with memories of those places.
*Longstanding negative feelings, such as humanity's collective relationship with plagues, natural disasters, and monsters, result in a collection of magical energy so massive the spirits manifested from them have a consciousness related to those feelings.
===Characteristics===
*A spirit's body is entirely made up of magical energy. Their metaphysical existence makes it impossible for non-mages to perceive or touch them. Living humans who have been haunted can only tell they have strange symptoms without realizing a spirit is behind it. Non-mages whose lives are put in danger by a spirit may gain the ability to see it in that life or death situation.
**Spirits come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. They tend to linger around their point of origin and instinctively haunt humans. Other than that, a spirit's habits vary a great deal from spirit to spirit.
*Spirits with high intelligence tend to be bipedal creatures with shapes comparable to humans. They are capable of holding a normal conversation and working together as an organized group.
*Certain spirits, such as summoned spirits, obey humans after they're forced into submission by their master. Others have the ability to mark a human and haunt them, making them capable of attacking a human even if they're located away from their point of origin.
===Exorcism===
*With bodies composed of magical energy, spirits cannot be harmed by conventional means. They can be hit by a physical attack, but it will deal no damage regardless of how powerful it is. The general rule of magic is that a spirit must be exorcised using magic. This means spirits can only be exorcised using magical energy. A fatal attack using magical energy will cause the spirit to disappear completely. Spirits that are too powerful to be destroyed must be sealed away using a constraint, such as a talisman.
==Classifications of Dangerous Spirits==
*Vengeful Spirits: individuals whose deaths are violent or unjust have the possibility of having their spirit corrupted and transformed into a vengeful spirit. These spirits are driven by intense feelings of anger, sorrow, and a need for justice. Their appearance often includes the wounds or conditions they suffered during their demise. These spirits are relentless and often single-minded. They often haunt their murderers, haunt the scene of their death, or attack anyone who resembles or reminds them of their killers. Their actions are driven by a desire for retribution, and they typically won't stop until their killer is punished.
*Imaginary Spirits: A spirit manifested from the cumulative fear of the masses. When many people share an image of fear, such as famous folklore or ghost stories, an Imaginary Spirit can form. These spirits typically inhabit places where their stories originated or are frequently told, such as graveyards, old houses, or remote areas. They follow the narrative of their stories. For example, if a spirit is born from a story about a ghost that appears in mirrors, it will manifest in reflective surfaces to attack individuals.
*Monster Spirits: These spirits represent humanity's fear of animals or monsters. They are formed from deeply rooted primal fears and often prey on humans. They act like the monsters or animals they represent, typically aggressive and dangerous.
*Haunted objects: Spirits tied to objects that have witnessed or been part of significant emotional events. The stronger the emotion, the more powerful the spirit. They are typically bound to the objects and cannot leave them. They are driven by the emotions tied to the object.
*Disaster spirits: Are embodiments of humanity's fear of uncontrollable natural events. They are powerful and typically have a broad range of influence, capable of affecting large areas with their presence. These spirits typically induce the symptoms of the disasters they represent. A storm spirit might cause sudden and severe weather changes, while a plague spirit could spread illness.
==Abilities and Behaviors==
*As magic is essentially the manipulation of the energy, which spirits embody, it's only natural for them to be able to use it. Like mages, they are capable of using techniques, most of which are techniques unique to the specific spirit.
*Weaker spirits use their presence to haunt humans or attack them like animals (i.e., with teeth, claws, etc.). They often act on animalistic instinct to attack in packs but can be frightened by superior magical energy. Phasing through solid surfaces is an ability that can only be used by low-grade spirits.
*Stronger spirits possess massive levels of magical energy and powerful techniques. In the current era, spirits far outweigh mages in terms of strength.
*Powerful spirits, all of whom possess immense levels of magical energy, can manipulate their magical energy much more naturally than a mage. Unlike magi, strong spirits can reinforce their bodies to heal wounds.
Category:Cherry Lore