Magic and souls explained

Magic and souls are a fairly big part of Kingdoms, this page explains most of these things and a few others.

**Souls:**

Souls are the being and consiousness of a living creature, it leaves the body when the creature dies and it is unknown what happens next, although it has been touched on by many religions and beliefs.

**Soul matter:**

There are a total of six different states of soul matter categorized into two, the lower states and the higher states. The lower states are:

**Soulwind**, usually a single soul that is completely free.

**Soulfire**, multiple souls that are usually stuck to an object and trying to escape, creating heat and force.

**Soulsap**, a liquid form of souls, Soulsap is always burning with soulfire and is hot to the touch.

Then there are the higher forms, which can and have been used as Golem cores, these are called soul crystals.

**Spongy Crystal**, whilst partially crystalized, there is still goop and fire radiating and falling off. This (if used as a core) can make the golem unstable and weaker.

**Stable Crystal**, a very good form for golem cores, there are sometimes small blowholes which can from time to time erupt, but this can be easily fixed by filling it with clay or something.

**Unstable Crystal**, constantly erupting and even producing some kind of electric bolts that are able to melt flesh. With the right precautions and containments, this can be a very powerful golem core, making the golem stronger, more durable and even allows it to regenerate damage.

**Impure/ natural Crystals:**

Believe it or not, soul crystal can be produced naturally, though only in the Nether, and in an impure form. When something dies in the nether, its soul is unable to go anywhere, trapping it in the soil and sand. Through geological activity, which is common in the ever-moving chasms of the Nether, this soil can be crushed into a crystaline state, making impure crystals. These cant be used for golem cores unless purified, but do look cool.

**Magic:**

If physics are the rules of existence, then magic would be a new set of rules that overlap those of physics. It allows for enchantment, destruction and creation if used in the right, or wrong way.

**Essence:**

Whilst the soul is the consiousness of a being, essence is the form of someones spirit and the Energy to keep it running, its never released from a body unless forced to by another using by for example draining. Nothing happens when a person loses up to 50% of their essence, though after which their phantom form is disembodied, becoming an Apparition, and can only exist when near a strong source of magic or when bound to a talisman, though when crossing the line of about 75% a person will not be able to live any more.

Further explanation

**Skeletons, Phantoms, Apparitions and other forms of life:**

Skeletons:

Skeletons are summonable minions, created with dark magic.

To be able to summon them you'd need a dead body, which already has to be skeletal, through a ritual, you can bind them to an item, preferably a lantern, key or something else that can symbolize things. And congrats, you have yourself a skeleton servant.

These skeleton servants usually survive only 2 days and upmost one and a half weeks.

Phantoms:

Link

Apparitions:

See the part on Essence.