Ideogenic species are species that originate from the idea magic of one or more Edeia. Typically, ideogenic species are transformed beings or beings that otherwise use existing souls, rather than creating new ones. 

While the designations of species can be somewhat ambiguous, here are a few points of consideration: 

• They should have distinct, consistent characteristics. Broader categories, such as the blighted, are not considered species (though specific blighted are), though they may still be listed here if they consist of ideogenic species. 

• Most have a way of creating new members without the direct influence of the Edeia, whether through environmental exposure, infection, propagation, or other means. However, it is unusual for them to be able to reproduce via direct creation of new life. 

If you have finished a Conceptualization (peer-reviewed or reviewed by Auspice) for your Edeia, you can propose an ideogenic species or category of ideogenic species originating from your own Edeia to be listed in the Community Ideogenic Species sheet (see the bottom of this page). You may also submit if Auspice allows it directly. Please use this form and/or consult with Auspice if you are interested.  

Ideogenic Development Guidelines

You can see some guidelines for developing ideogenic species here.

Those that die near or within the physical space a Sanctuary occupies, or those whose bodies are brought to a Sanctuary not long after their death, may be given a chance to return as a spirit creature referred to as a Sanctial. 

Genesis

Sanctials can only form from individuals who die in or near a Sanctuary, or have their remains and lingering soul brought to one. For the latter case, the conditions for whether or not a soul lingers vary—typically, the more unexpected the death, and the more unfinished business they feel they have, the longer the soul lingers. If the soul has departed, Sanctification (the process of becoming a Sanctial) cannot occur.

Sanctification is not guaranteed for those who die within a Sanctuary. If they pass peacefully with no lingering desires or unfinished business, they can move on without issue. 

The Sanctification may occur immediately after death or after a delay. When it does, a pale energy will emerge from the remains and take the form of a spirit. The remains will be left behind, and are often buried in the Sanctuary. 

Characteristics

Sanctials will typically take the appearance of animals, though not necessarily a specific species. Different characteristics may be combined—for example, a wolf with antlers. They must have the following design elements: 

• Light: a pale glowing color, typically yellowish or bluish but any pale hue is possible.

• Negative space: a dark color with a gradient of a slightly lighter color at the bottom, speckled with stars. This negative space does not have any shading, appearing like a window to a night sky. 

• Branches: branches made of pale gold. The gold can vary slightly in hue and shade. The branches have veins of the negative space color. 

• Orb: a small floating orb of white light, usually near their head. 

Their eyes do not have irises or pupils, but can be their light color or negative space color, whichever contrasts with their face. 

They might have other characteristics such as glowing vines and flowers made of their light color and/or negative space color. 

Abilities

• Conditional Immortality: Sanctials can live forever within a Sanctuary, but have limited time outside of one. Some live out their days in peace, and some go on a last journey through the world for one purpose or another.

• Minor Shapeshifting: they can alter their form to some extent, and they can disguise as a mundane version of their spirit form.

• Telepathy and Linguistic Acquisition: Sanctials can communicate telepathically, including conveyance of language, images, and meaning. Through communication of "meaning," they can interact with any sentient being even if they do not speak the same language. Some are able to learn languages from those they connect to even if they were animals before death. 

• Sanctuary Traversal: Sanctials can easily travel from one Sanctuary to another and freely teleport to any location within one. The first time visiting a new Sanctuary, they must traverse through magical paths similar to ley lines (which might involve walking to a certain area of a Sanctuary and entering the magical flow), but after a visit, they can freely teleport to any Sanctuary they have visited. 

• Spirit Presence: As spirits, they can alter their visibility, tangibility, and whether or not they levitate or interact with gravity. They do not require any sustenance. 

Behaviors

Many Sanctials remain indefinitely in the Sanctuary they were Sanctified in. Some find a new purpose, such as providing counseling and support to those who come to the Sanctuary or bringing those nearby into the Sanctuary. Some might choose to act as messengers or diplomats between societies that reside in Sanctuaries, with their ability to easily travel to other Sanctuaries. 

Some Sanctials eventually chose to embark on their final journeys, giving up their immortal life as a spirit to fulfill some purpose before fading from existence. Or, perhaps they were ready to let go of their current life and enter the reincarnation cycle to start anew. 

Malums are those who achieve strong synchronization with and mastery over a Malicious Manifestation granted by Malice. 

An individual given a Malicious Manifestation can be referred to as a host. Those who achieve the Malum transformation are referred to as Malums, whether they are transformed or not. When they are not fused, Malums are in their base form; when fused, Malums are in their Malum form. 

Different subspecies arise when Malice's magic combines with those of other Edeia. 

See the Malum category page for details.  

Sylves are beings that have undergone renewal by Sylnae's power, and henceforth exist in a state of cyclical immortality—living, dying, and being reborn once more from the fruit of a tree or other plant that grows where they died. 

For their history, see the History section of the Arbor of Renewal. 

Genesis

Sylves begin as a Sylve tree or plant that has grown from where a creature has died. The creature does not need to be biological, but it needs to have a soul and be able to "die." 

A Sylve tree has a similar appearance to Sylnae's body, having glowing teal markings and leaves on the wood. The time it takes for a Sylve tree to bear fruit can range from days to centuries, depending on their will to return to life. If they no longer wish to undergo renewal, then when they become a tree/plant, they will not bear fruit. The fruits may have different forms—soft exterior, hard exterior, smooth, rough, and so on. Regardless, they will eventually fall from the tree, and the fruit will split open to reveal the Sylve in the form of a young child covered in sap, capable of walking, talking, and various basic skills, but without any episodic memories. 

Sylves grow rapidly until adulthood, after which they age very slowly—their lifespan tends to double or triple from their original, and after they die, they will turn into another Sylve tree that bears them once more. 

With each renewal, a Sylve may or may not remember their past life. Generally, as they age, they remember the memories they had at that age. They can meditate to accelerate this process. If, at their core, they wished to cast off their old memories and life while they were a Sylve tree/plant, then they will be born without the capability of remembering their old memories. Instead, the Sylve tree/plant will bear smaller fruit in addition to the primary one that rebirths them; the smaller fruits, if consumed by that individual, will return the ability to regain their old memories. If consumed by anyone else, they will either pass out and dream glimpses of the individual's memories, or experience waking hallucinations that offer glimpses into the past life (or lives). If the original Sylve consumes their fruit, the rest will wither and fade. A Sylve can instinctively recognize their Sylve tree/plant(s).  

Generally, a Sylve's soul is their original soul, taken out of the normal cycle through the ethereal plane. Sylnae's renewal has the capability of pulling back the souls of the dead, though it is most effective for the recently dead. If the original soul has dispersed or reincarnated, the metaphysical echo of memory is used as a "frame" and ethereal essence is gathered over time. These renewals take the longest, potentially centuries. 

Characteristics

The body of a Sylve will resemble their original species, though they tend to gain characteristics such as glowing teal eyes, markings, and growths of branches on their body. They tend to, but not always, have a graceful appearance in a way that might make others refer to them as elves. They have a minor ability to shapeshift, which includes the ability to disguise themselves in a mundane form. They can live off water and photosynthesis, but are still capable of eating. 

A majority of Sylves live in the Arbor of Renewal, the forest that Sylnae made at the site of a disastrous final battle in a war.

All Sylves are connected to Sylnae; Sylnae can sense when they die and renew. 

Abilities

• Cyclical Immortality: They can die, but will always be able to be reborn if they wish it. 

• Regeneration: They are able to regenerate injuries and loss of limbs in seconds to minutes.

• Sustainment: They do not need any sustenance to live, but need water and either sunlight or sugar to maintain energy. Sleep is not needed, but pleasant. 

• Minor Revitalization: A passive aura that induces improved health, energy, and vitality.

Cryols are beings who have progressed through all major stages of Algis's cryosis, their bodies having transformed into magical ice that does not melt. Many exist in indefinite stasis in the Alcove, a domain in the far North merged with Algis's Abstraction.  

Genesis

Any who seek  the peaceful stillness of a place eternally frozen are welcomed to the Alcove. They may seek out the Alcove on their own or be offered an invitation by Algis or any who once dwelled there, including other Cryols. Once one enters the Alcove, they begin to experience a phenomenon referred to as cryosis through exposure to Algis's magic. This proceeds through a few stages: 

• Freezing of physiology — after ~1 year. Those Algis accepts as residents no longer age, have no need to eat or sleep, and do not produce any waste. They do not tire, even if they stand unmoving for days. 

• Freezing of form — over 2-10 years. Their body temperatures slowly dip, eventually reaching freezing temperatures. Their complexions become pale, and their eyes often have pale slivers of ice that shimmer in the light. 

• Glaciation of experience — dependent on the individual. If they become comfortable with that stillness, and their thoughts and concerns start to glaciate, then time will start to slip away from them. They stop moving for minutes, then hours, then days, then weeks at a time and more. 

• Stasis — 5-10+ years after glaciation begins. The final stage of cryosis. The individual stops moving indefinitely, their thoughts stilling to timeless eternity and their body becoming magical ice. Their eyes may be open or closed, and they still are able to experience senses, but it is almost like a state of deep meditation—all concerns fall away in the face of the absolute peace of stasis. Reaching this state may take a year for some, and decades for others; some do not reach this state at all. 

• Some may experience thawing, where they may choose to retreat from stasis or perhaps form a connection with a visitor or another resident who has not reached the stage of stasis. 

Those who reach the stasis stage, including those who thaw, are referred to as Cryols.

Characteristics

Cryol bodies are permanently composed of magical ice that does not melt, even if they thaw and leave the Alcove.  The ice may appear glassy, frosted, or any other appearance ice can take. They may be opaque, transparent, or translucent; some may have parts or all of their internal skeleton visible, while others can appear completely like glass as if nothing were within them. Their colors often range in whites and blues, though some other colors could be included. Some form icy clothes out of their magic, while others may wear actual clothes. 

Many Cryols develop claws, horns, spikes, and other similar structures made of ice. These can be consistent or dynamic, and tend to manifest more prominently for older Cryols. 

Though many Cryols tend to retain the structure of their internal anatomy to a fair extent, their organs are non-functional. Instead, their life force has crystallized and condensed into an ice core, which is typically where their heart is. The ice core is significantly more resilient compared to their body, and so long as it remains intact, they are immortal and can regenerate from it. The ice core often glows with the color of their soul at will or at moments of intense emotion, though they can hide the glow if they prefer. The same color can also shine from their eyes; if their eyes aren't shining, they take on desaturated, icy colors. 

Due to the freezing of their biological characteristics, they cannot biologically reproduce. 

Abilities

• Freezing Magic: Cryols have a degree of freezing magic, which can be powerful but is limited compared to Algis. This includes but is not limited to: 

  • Physical matter, allowing them to induce any real-life phenomenon related to ice and freezing. 

  • Aging, allowing for temporarily stopping the passage of time on living beings.

  • Memories, potentially creating ice crystals that preserve specific memories for preservation or remembrance.

  • Emotions, crystallizing feelings that can be experienced by touching the crystal.

  • Time, though in limited areas and limited effects.

• Regeneration: They are able to regenerate injuries and loss of limbs through regrowth of their ice body. With active effort, they can recover in seconds, though they will also regenerate naturally over a few days. 

• Sustainment: They do not age, have no need to eat or sleep (but can if they wish), and do not produce any waste. They do not tire, even if they stand unmoving for days. 

• Shapeshifting: They can shapeshift in minor and permanent ways (such as changing their height, body type, gender presentation, etc.) or major and temporary ways (such as manifesting wings, extra limbs, transforming into a creature-like or abstract form, etc.). 

• Levitation: Some older Cryols are able to levitate. 

The blighted refer to all of the ideogenic species created through Blight's blights. All blights created by Blight require direct or nearly direct transmission from existing species members. 

See the blighted category page for details.  

Elegies are spirits woven from lost souls by the Edeia Rieve, who represents the Idea of Loss. They are fragments of those who have died, shaped by Rieve's magic into beings with purpose: to help both themselves and those who grieve for them work through loss—to understand, to feel, to grieve fully, and, when the time comes, to let go. They are not a reversal of death. They are not a second chance at life. They are a path through the grief that death leaves behind, for the dead and the living alike.

Elegies are the original, "base" species, and other subspecies have been created through collaborations with other Edeia. 

See the Elegy category page for details.  

These are species created by members of the Ideation community. See the Community Species sheet for details! You may also view this on the sheet itself. It is up to the creator how to manage their ideogenic species; this is only a listing with links and basic information.

See the section below for details on submitting.