Chimera

Chimera are spirits native to the Chimer, the region of the Ether formed of thoughts, dreams, and imagination. Most Chimera are in some way brought into existence by humans, whether it be through their dreams, their emotions, or their prayer. Due to their origins, Chimera, of all the spirits of the Ether, are the most vulnerable to human influence. Many have their behaviors altered by human beliefs, or are empowered by human emotions.

## Types

### Chimerlings

Chimerlings are the most simple form of Chimera, transient, fleeting entities without any real semblance of consciousness. They are, however, what all forms of advanced Chimera begin as. Chimerlings exist all across the Chimer, taking the forms of characters of mortal dreams in the Dreamscape, or as transmutative representations of emotion in the Passionlands. Generally speaking, however, Chimerlings are near totally lacking of wills of their own, and can be shaped by other beings with ease, constantly shifting to suit the consciousnesses that come near them, whether that consciousness alters them deliberately or not.

The transition from Chimerling to some other form of Chimera simply entails gaining a static form or identity, becoming a consistent entity that does not completely alter itself in the presence of any sentient being. Not all full Chimera are sapient, but they do maintain a singular form and nature.

### Daimons

Main Article: Daimons

Daimons are Chimera which are given shape by powerful manifestations of human emotion. Spawned within the Passionlands by humanity's collective feelings, most daimons tend to be primitive entities, who act out on impulses born from the passions which birthed them. Most of them never leave the Passionlands, but can be attracted to the Tellurian by powerful manifestations of emotions that resonate with them, either targeting individuals or venturing to regions where a large number of people are experiencing an enticing mental state.

On their own, daimons are little more than symbiotic or parasitic organisms, incapable of higher thought. However, when they venture to the Tellurian and possess a mortal host, they are capable of bestowing their vessel notable power, at the slow and gradual cost of the victim's original personality.

### Eidolons

Main Article: Eidolons

Eidolons are Chimera that are given form through the power of mortal belief. When a sufficiently large number of mortals comes to believe in some sort of entity, such as a mischievous gremlin, or a widely worshipped deity, Chimerlings are transformed into entities which behave and appear in accordance to the beliefs that spawned them. Eidolons primarily reside in the Unrealms, fantastical lands believed in by mortals which are usually associated with the creatures who reside there, such as Mount Olympus or Asgard. While Eidolons who are attributed with sapience do possess it, and others do not, all Eidolons are extremely vulnerable to having their powers, vulnerabilities, and behaviors altered as mortal beliefs on them change.

### Faeries

Main Article: Faeries

Faeries, also called the Fair Folk or the Fae, are one of the most common forms of Chimera, and the most likely to be active on Earth. Faeries are born from human dreams, beginning as Chimerlings who take the shape of characters within said dreams. While their forms vary, Chimerlings who become faeries always begin as characters capable of intellect and conversation, and are sufficiently impressed upon with a personality by a dreaming mortal that they become distinct entities and transcend their Chimerling state. As a result, all faeries are sapient, capable of emotion and speech, unlike other forms of Chimera, and after their initial birth from the dream that made them, are more independent from mortal contact, making them less vulnerable to being altered by human beliefs and perceptions. Faeries, therefore, are the dominant Chimeric beings, spend the most time on the Tellurian, and have even been known to spawn half mortal offspring with humans.

## Material Existence

All Chimeric beings, as entities of pure oneiros, are unable to ordinarily interact directly with the Tellurian. When they wish to do so, Chimera must first journey to the Arboreal plane, as it is the Etheric realm nearest to the Tellurian that they can access without assistance. In order to successfully materialize, they require either the aid of a numinous spirit, a Tellurian being, or a tear in the Veil that will allow enough Etheric power to trickle through to the Tellurian that they may materialize. Elsewise, Chimera must resort to possession of a mortal host, be they human, beast, or otherwise. Chimera are unable to inhabit inanimate objects, and can only possess living beings.

The specific functions of their possession varies depending on the form of Chimera.