Akashic

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Akashic
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Racial statistics
Type: Spirit
Origin: Unknown
Size: Medium
Height: 1,8m
Average lifespan: N/A
Climate: Any
Innate abilities: TBD
Worlds: the Aether

Akashics are a group of mysterious, ethereal entities who hail from the Aether. When encountering mortal races, they take upon a form that looks like floating armor filled with an unearthly light of indescribable color. Some have taken to wrapping themselves with bandages or cloth to give themselves an even more humanoid appearance. In their natural form, they're simply "indescribable", as all witnesses report seeing only a multitude of unearthly colors that stretches across time and space. They describe themselves as ascended beings, suggesting a mortal origin, but no potential world has been believably proposed to be their original homeworld.

Origins[edit | edit source]

Self-described as ascended beings, akashics are believed to have once been a mortal, humanoid race that found out something fundamental about the nature of the universe which let them transcend its bounds. No planet or race has ever been reliably posited as their point of origin, and akashics themselves refuse to give meaningful answers. Asked if they were once Titans, they only answer "we're not, usually". Remains of akashic influence can be seen across the Galaxy even before the Titan arrival, suggesting they are extremely ancient, although some akashic descriptions of the nature of their current existence may suggest they have the ability to travel in time to a point before their original ascendance, or may have ceased to exist on a conventional timescale.

Nature[edit | edit source]

For the purpose of spell effects, akashics are spirits, although they do not fit the traditional definitions of the word. Akashics are not dead, although they inhabit the Aether and transcend many traditional notions of our existence. In their natural form, they are incorporeal entities which have to bind a portion of themselves into a vaguely humanoid form. They describe this binding as unpleasant because they must confine themselves once again to a limited, mortal existence, albeit briefly. Numerous times, akashics expressed confusion at terms related to time, claiming to be aware of their entire timeline at once, all events in the universe "stacked on top of another".

Akashics possess hyper-advanced knowledge of magic and technology, effortlessly creating devices and spells beyond our capabilities. They can easily replicate even lost Titan technologies, such as refining astral diamonds. Their personal magical power is seemingly only limited by the forms they take. Sometimes called gods, they refuse such titles, claiming even gods are bound to the material plane and limited by it, although they have been known to occasionally pose as gods for experimentation.

Despite their temporal and magical properties, akashics are not omniscient or omnipotent. Their mortal avatars can be destroyed and their spiritual energies banished from the material plane, although it's unknown if one can truly be slain. They claim the greatest punishment an akashic could endure is being limited by the material plane again, i.e. being forced into a permanent ephemeral form, which is something akashics on occasion do to their outcasts. Such a "reincarnated akashic" loses most of its knowledge and abilities and allegedly cannot ascend again. Who issues the punishment is unknown as well, as akashic forms of governance are cryptically said to be "beyond mortal ken".

Relations[edit | edit source]

Akashics usually keep away from mortal, ephemeral races, claiming "nothing can be gained from contact". However, they have on occasion taken the above mentioned humanoid-like forms which let them interact with their chosen mortals. Akashics are known for buying or stealing magical artifacts, and are hard to keep away due to their powerful magic. Occasionally, they pose as gods to some undeveloped races or manipulate the histories of entire planets, seemingly for their own amusement. Often called irresponsible and infantile, yet at the same time impossibly wise, they are beings about as alien to us as Elder Things. However, akashics are considered enemies of the Elder Things. While hardly benevolent, their ultimate goal is often to preserve the stability of our universe.

A small faction of akashics, called the Time Keepers has taken to protecting the stability of time from those who would manipulate it for their own gain. Akashics call our perception of time extremely limited, "like a single needle going down a straight line, despite a sea of possibilities around it", but they admit the future (or the past) isn't fixed, and choices made by conscious creatures can affect time despite its usual immutability. For that reason, they search for time-sensitive individuals and recruit them to the Time Keepers, to help in policing time from different perspectives.

Another akashic faction, sometimes called derisively by other akashics the Crutch, or the Helping Hands by their own terminology, aims to help other mortals ascend and join the akashics. The Crutch is frowned upon by other akashics who do not want new minds to "pollute" the pre-existing akashic collective.

Occasionally, an akashic longs for its mortal existence. Other akashics would claim it's due to too much time spent among other mortals. Like those punished for whatever transgressions, such akashics are banished into an ephemeral form. Lacking many inhibitions most mortals have, these reincarnated akashics usually do not last long and pass on as a normal mortal spirit would.

Races
Common races Human - Elf - Dwarf - Gnome - Halfling - Orc - Goblin - Goliath - Giff - Dohwar - Mercane - Oni - Reigar - Sphinx - Dracon
Other races Aboussaur - Ajazy - Android - Aperusa - Aureal - Baku - Blemmye - Boggard - Bugbear - Cactusfolk - Catfolk - Cecaelia - Centaur - Cerebromorph - Corallite - Craner - Crion - Cynosurine - Darfellan - Dragonid - Ereleshku - Ettin - Finchkin - Gargoyle - Ghilani - Giant - Girallon - Gnoll - Grav - Grippli - Gullard - Hadozee - Harpy - Hobgoblin - Hamsterling - Hopslet - Hothak - Hurwaeti - Hydross - Kappa - Kenku - Khorak - Kobold - Korraw - Kyton - Lektin - Lizardfolk - Locathah - Ma'yee - Medusa - Merfolk - Minotaur - Molekin - Myconid - Myrmidon - Nephilim - Naga - Nerugi - Nsing - Oortling - Osh'wari - Paprot - Plumkin - Polarid - Raptoran - Ratling - Salamander - Saturnite - Satyr - Scorpid - Sea Devil - Sealkin - Shivan - Siyokoy - Syrinx - Tanukki - Telchin - Thorak - Tiefling - Treant - Triton - Troll - Trox - Ursine - Vagash - Vannara - Vegepygmy - Velocix - Venerean - Vespene - Vroomn - Vyrhuo - Wayang - Wurm - Xantid - Xill - Xiwangmin - Xixchil - Yaksha - Yapper - Yeti
Spiritual races Akashic - Angel - Demon - Ghost - God - Worldmother - Wraith
Undead races Draugr - Death knight - Écorché - Ghoul - Jiangshi - Larva - Lich - Mummy - Natural undead - Vampire - Zombie
Extinct races Bond'wari - Titan - Xa'tac - Yellowstone Progenitors