Intent with Amendment:
The purpose behind writing this is to fix what I believe has been a glaring issue with the Eidola CA; it is too easy and inconsequential to make, and the room for character development as one seems incredibly limited–and currently encourages for too much “murder hobo” RP, and the only real progress or development one can really achieve is only getting more powerful mechanically.
This amendment will seek to alter the creation process of an Eidola, while also offering changes for the mindsets and purpose of an Eidola’s existence for a story’s narrative. This isn’t intended to disrupt any currently existing character niches, but to only open up more opportunities for Eidola characters to explore with if they wished.
Creation Process:
In order for a soul to become imbued with stone and be made into an Eidola, a Vessel is required for the ritual to commence; which shall serve as a container for the soul. The Vessel, otherwise known as the stone body, is carefully carved out by the hands of two mystics and treated with their ectoplasm; it is considered a sacred and delicate process–requiring years of dedication in order to form a suit for one soul. [2 OOC Weeks] The art of sculpting and stone carving becomes a valued practice among Mystics.
Once a stone body has been created, it must be submerged within water with a menhir made by the same two mystics nearby. The two mystics must work together then; one imbues their ectoplasm into the Vessel while the other transfers a soul into it. A soul is only suitable to be transferred into a Vessel should it be a long-standing Anchored Ghost–with its phylactery on hand.
The spirit may be guided into the Vessel, where it will undergo a stasis period of slumber [until its CA application is accepted]. Its phylactery is merged with the menhir by imbuing it with ectoplasm and binding it to the ethereal stone; once such a rite is finished, the item that once served as the phylactery looks as if its been fossilized into the menhir.
Requires OOC and IRP consent of the Anchored Ghost.
A Mystic may make one Eidola at a time, two Mystics are required for the creation of one Eidola.
Anchored Ghosts must exist for 6 OOC weeks before they can be made into an Eidola
While a Vessel is being created, it must be represented in game with a build and ST Approved sign.
Once the ST Approved sign is placed, an Eidola CA may be posted on the forums exactly 2 OOC weeks later.
The Eidola CA must include a screenshot of the approved build and sign.
The two Mystics involved in the creation must comment with proof of at least five emotes showing their characters actively worked on the Vessel; both carving the stone and imbuing it with their ectoplasm.
Should a Vessel be destroyed in the creation process, the two Mystics would need to start over.
A Vessel in progress has the same durability as any stone statue, requiring approximately three emotes of heavy blunt force to crack it.
Cannot create an Eidola while in combat.
Should an Eidola perish following its creation–it may reform after one OOC day [given its phylactery is unharmed], though only as a spirit. Vessels are not infinite, and must be remade when destroyed, in order to house the soul again. Spares may be created by the hand of the Eidola, through the carving of stone and submerging of waters. It is a one year process (1 OOC Week) and is concluded when an Eidola imbues the spare Vessel with 3 liturgies of their ectoplasm. An ethereal link is formed between the spare Vessel and the phylactery-menhir through the imbuing of essence. Unused Vessels must remain within five meters of their bound menhir, lest the link be disrupted and 3 more liturgies would be required to establish it again. A phylactery-menhir can only withstand so many Vessels being bound to it, limiting it to just two.
Spare Vessels must be represented with a ST sign and an in-game build.
Spare Vessels must be either damp with trickling water, or submerged entirely, while stored near the menhir [5 blocks].
An active Vessel counts as a link to a menhir, meaning only one spare can exist at a time.
If an Eidola dies and is without a spare Vessel, they are returned to the state of an Anchored Ghost with their menhir still serving as their phylactery. 1 OOC day to reform upon death.
If an Eidola dies and has a spare Vessel available, the soul may return to it. 1 OOC day to reform upon death.
If the Eidola stands before their Menhir while inhabiting a Vessel, it may be able to alter its shape and appearance in three emotes–while following guidelines and redlines of Eidola limitations and aesthetics.
Augments are lost on an Eidola, should its Vessel be destroyed–and must be applied again.
New Mental Effects:
While as an Eidola, the soul has weathered through a burdensome journey of trauma and alteration; they are greatly changed and bear many scars upon their mind. They may suffer through bouts of extreme depression, struggle to maintain optimism, be gripped with anxiety, paranoia. Generally, they shall have a dreary and gloomy disposition but are not prone to complete despair. The strongest and most prevalent emotion an Eidola shall be gripped with, more than anything else, is fear.
The fear an Eidola has is the fear of stagnancy, of lacking any purpose and having their transformative and grueling journeys be all for nothing. It is a desperate feeling and a concept that grips their reality, and shall affect their paths moving forward.
Comfort can be found anywhere an Eidola may find themselves of use in; be it through an ideology or religion, or other forms of servitude. They may first look to their creators for guidance, but will branch out and roam if they are given no direction; no matter where they go, however, an Eidola shall always be impressionable by those who formed them and feel inclined to be around other undead.
The inclination to be around undead, primarily spectral undead, is quite strong for an Eidola. While they may feel alienated from the living, there is still an echo of themselves seen within the lingering spirits of undeath. The second most strongest urge an Eidola shall feel is the desire to guard and shield fellow spirits, utilizing their imposing and durable bodies of stone for such things.
Should an Eidola be destroyed and go without a Vessel, they may suffer from increased paranoia and feel as if they are vulnerable and spiraling without the container of stone to keep them grounded. Mental ailments are to increase in this period, until a new Vessel may be provided.
Current redlines in lore still apply.
Reversion Rite:
As anything that is created, it can be undone. Whether an Eidola has served its purpose, has made the wrong enemies, or simply requests such an act. . . Their former phylacteries may be extracted from their menhirs and their binds to their Vessels of stone can be undone.
Two Mystics are required for the feat, and are not required to be the ones to initially form that specific Eidola. The Rite of Scrubbing is to be conducted for four consecutive emotes to weaken the phylactery-menhir, and permit for the Mystics to chip the old phylactery item of the Anchored Ghost out from the stone.
Once this is concluded, the Eidola will be reverted to an Anchored Ghost and no longer be able to bind themselves to a Vessel. The soul of the Eidola has endured much at this rate, and has grown to be more fragile–capable of transforming into an Eidola one last time before this process of uncreation would permanently kill them.
Two Mystics are required in reverting an Eidola back to an Anchored Ghost.
Should an Eidola be reverted, their CA is to be denied and they must have an accepted Ghost CA in place for the character.
Does not require OOC consent.
If reverted, an Anchored Ghost may transform into an Eidola only one more time before the reversion process would shatter their phylactery and permanently kill them.
Comment of Palelords:
They are to be left as is, save for the mental changes being applied. The concept of Vessels and reversion are beyond Palelords for the extreme efforts and sacrifices paid to get them where they are now. Personally, I'd prefer to see them shelved given how massive they are.
Edit Log:
Edit 6/28/23 - I've changed it so that Eidola can make their own spare Vessels, without the need to get a Mystic to aid them. A point was made that an Eidola would already need to get into contact with a Mystic in order to get new augments for their new body, so RP is already encouraged there. This is just to make it less tedious.