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. 

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. 

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. 

• 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. 

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. 

 may freely create Sanctials as you wish. Please update the Sanctial tab on the Ideogenic Species spreadsheet or send a request to do so in the #questions-suggestions-feedback channel of the Discord.

If you like, Auspice can design a Sanctial for you as a notion-type design. 

• 25 USD base price: notion design in Inka style

• 35 USD base price: notion design in Flint style

Please use this form:

For custom designs, refer to Auspice's general design commissions.