Great Spirit

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Great Spirits of Nature are sentient beings who mystically embody a part of the natural world, such as a landscape feature or living thing. Most, if not all, were brought about by the work and play of Elder Gods.

Nomenclature

Great Spirits of Nature are typically classified into two groups:

Thus, the Sixth Circle and the Seventh Circle shared jointly the manifestation of the two types of Great Spirits - the Awakeners guiding the ephemeral spirits to sentience and the Creators creating the animals who formed collective spirits.

-Book of Trillillial

Awakened Spirits

Awakened spirits arise when the Elder Gods rouse a sleeping consciousness Dynara imbued into the world. The fae count as lesser awakened spirits. Sixth Circle is heavily associated with awakened spirits and there is often a deep bond between the spirit and the primary Elder involved in an awakening.

The manifestations of the Greater Awakened Spirits looked very similar to us, generally taking on a form similar to their primary awakener. Though it took almost the full of the Sixth Circle to awaken a greater spirit, there usually was one primary coordinator who focused the energies that coalesced the spiritual energies and raised them to consciousness.

-Book of Clangorum

Collective Spirits

Collective spirits, sometimes called "hive souls", coalesce to sentience as a population of the same living thing meets conditions which are vaguely understood. The Seventh Circle nurture the flora and fauna they shape and often feel parental attachment when a species of theirs manifests a collective spirit.

Titles

Out of reverence and to distinguish the spirit from the general noun they are spirit of, Great Spirits are often given a titular prefix: such as Sister Snake, Old Man Rock or Great Spirit Sea. Once a distinction has been established, many texts will omit the title for brevity but continue to capitalize the name.

History

  • Elder Gods knew of ways to rouse a Great Spirit, but awakenings seem to have been accomplished typically over long periods and often took the work of many Awakeners.
  • After the destruction of Sakarich Forest, Aslarn and Shairim decided during the Elder Wars that the forests should each be protected by a Great Animal Spirit and a Great Awakened Spirit. This tradition continues in many places.
  • After Zenos mortally wounded Sun, the spirit was regenerated with Fain's Elixir and promptly assaulted Night. For the first time, the Elder Gods reversed an awakening, putting Sun to sleep for 1000 years. (Book of Clangorum)
  • Li-varili attempted to use the Eye of Dynara to awaken Sea by herself.

Spirit Table