Souls

**Souls** are a reoccurring topic and plot point in the CloverCraft SMP, with heavy implications during Season Two: EXILE.

## Description

Souls are the spiritual manifestation of an individual mortal person or creature, and as such, they are deeply connected to each individual. Souls can be manipulated, corrupted, altered or even removed from their host body by any number of means. Doing so can sometimes alter the mind and body of the host individual, but it is not always the case.

As they are the spiritual manifestation of an individual, most mortal beings are naturally in possession of a soul. A soul is such intrinsic to an individual, that, given enough time, a being lacking a soul can eventually form one. This is because a soul contains spiritual imprints of the host, such as their memory, personality or other identifying traits. Removing the soul from an individual will normally not remove these traits, but if the individual goes sometime without the original soul, they may develop a new one with alternative traits, especially if they are manipulated in some way.

A soul can be damaged or other wise fractured, but is completely capable of repairing itself over time. The amount of time this takes tends to depend on the damage done, as well as the mental fortitude of the individual.

Minecraft Mobs are thought to be created by the natural accumulation of soul energy in a space. This is thought to be the source of their appearances in otherwise sealed locations, as well as to why they drop soul energy (EXP) when they perish.

## Soul Manipulation

Manipulation of Souls is a rare skill, due to the lack of ability for most individuals to directly access souls, as well as the lack of knowledge of the subject. Soul manipulation can come in various forms, such as manipulating the body of the host, cloning, contracting, reforging and even fusing/separation.

Notably, Souls seem to be able to be sealed into bottles easily, as the Riddler and both Jester and Jessie's souls were sealed into a bottle. B-3-11's soul was similarly sealed in an Soul lantern.

Manipulation of a soul in a non-consensual manner is considered taboo and particularly evil due to the amount of control an individual has.

### Soul Manipulation Abilities

* **Long Distance Body Control**: While in the possession of a soul, an individual can control the host body against the hosts' will. While they cannot speak through the body, they can move and act unimpaired, even without physical limitations such as pain factoring in. Bill Wibbly was a known user of this manipulation technique, controlling the Jester's body without their consent over a vast distance.
* **Soul Contracting**: An individual can utilize souls as currency or collateral when making business deals. This is normally done when two individuals make a deal in written form and the party signing away their soul getting something in return. Bill Wibbly, Conrad H. J. Salesman, and Poppy Piper are all individuals who are skilled in this form of manipulation.
* **Soul Fracturing**: An individual can fracture a soul into smaller fragments for ease of use. These fragments can be used as materials. Clark is a known user of this manipulation technique, giving the weapons he forges with extraordinary abilities.
* **Soul Removal**: An individual can be without a soul, and in order to extract it, it takes a considerable about of skill, though it can be automated. Bill Wibbly is known to do this via contracting, and the Riddler able to make a machine to remove a soul from a body.
* **Soul Insertion**: An individual can have a soul put inside of their body as well, taking an equal amount of skill. Poppy was able to give NULL his own soul, and Clark was able to put the Jester's soul back in Jessie's body via possession.
* **Cloning**: A unique aspect of the soul is that it seems to be able to be cloned. Even with advanced technologies and skill, however, it does prove to be extremely difficult. Poppy was shown trying to clone the souls of The Creature and Gregory Entertainment Cheese, but was unable to do so fully.
* **Soul Forging**: An individual can use souls as material for crafting, such as reforging an piece of an individual's soul into a weapon or machine. Clark is known for this manipulation, crafting his weapons via this method.

## Soul-Based Technology

As souls are both a commodity and a power source, various technologies have the created around them.

### The Nemo Barrier

The Nemo Barrier seems to completely stop Souls from leaving from the inside, Souls seem to have no issue entering the Barrier. It seems to also keep anyone who is "Alive" inside too, since characters with no Soul, such as NULL, Jester, and B-3-1-1, cannot cross it. The Barrier seems to let any building blocks, fluids, and air pass through it with no issue.

### Holiday Island

The Holiday Island Shops trades in "experience points" in exchange for large quantity of building materials. In the case of Bill Wibbly's store, it was used to purchase merchandise from Wibbly.

Since the stores utilize experience points, and these are dropped by the creatures that spawn in the dark, it is highly theorized that experience points are related to souls, if not miniscule fragments of souls themselves.

### The Thoginator

The 'Thoginator', named by Clark, is a machine built by the Riddler via subconscious instructions by Thog. This machine was used to separate the soul of the Riddler from Thog's body, utilizing the brain waves of Horacio (wearing the Mind Melter), Clark and Conrad. The machine was vandalized by Bemery and rendered inoperable. The remnants of the machine sit below the Riddler's base.

A second, similar machine was built by the OWLs under the OWL Church. Originally it was used to swap the souls of Jessie and Jester, but was later used again to fuse the souls of Jessie and Jester thanks to the possession by Clark.

## Trivia

* Souls have very divergent lore due to the multitude of characters dealing with souls. This can lead to outright contradictions or plot holes from character to character. For the sake of story telling, Soul mechanics are left to individual player's interpretations, but certain mechanics and functions of souls are more widely accepted than others.