The Ikshai (IK SHY)

Very mysterious in nature , ikshais are animal spirits that exist in the The Ether. They enable Shapeshifters, with whom they are believed to form an unique bond with at birth, to transform into whichever animal the Ikshai is. They do this by being invited to or forcibly entering the body of the former, by using the strong link that connects all Shapeshifters, as well as all other types of Soulmages, to the Ether.

Limited knowledge

Not much is known about Ikshai, both because their owners/partners, Shapeshifters are rare and isolated from most societies, but also because Shapeshifters themselves dont know much about them. However, some things are known to be true, or at least make good fuctioning theories.

• During its life, a Shapeshifter will only ever be bonded to one single Ikshai.

• Ikshais are fuctionaly immortal, at least while they are in the Physical plane, but it make extend to the Etherial plane too.

• Ikshai have one weakness, which is silver. While it wont kill them, they will avoid it, even if that means leaving a Shapeshifter's body.

A life-long bond

Shapeshifter are intrinsicaly linked with their Ikshai, to the point that most consider it to be a part of them and their identity. However, some scholars go even further, saying that shapeshifters and their Ikshai cannot be physicaly or spiritualy completely separated from one another, even by silver, and that although it seems as if they fuction as two different entities, they may actualy be only one, wih the human soul and animal spirit fusing together at birth.
Whatever the case may be, shapeshifters are known to become depressive when they can't use their abilities, even more so than other mages do and it is part of why they tend not to live with regular humans, but prefers living with their peers, where they dont have to worry about stigmitization or restrictive laws.

Immortal

Ikshai seem to be immortal whilst they are in the physical plain. It is unknown if they are able to die at all, though some scholars theorise that they die in the Ether, which would provide the abundant energy that this plane of existance is known for, but this is only specualtive. Nevertheless, while they may be incapable of being killed, they, and the shapeshifter they are bonded with, can certainly get hurt. Still, most physical wounds suffered by a shapeshifter will not affect their Ikshai, with one exception. Silver.

Aversion to Silver

For reason that are still unknown to this day, soulmages, and by extention, any soulbound magic, does not perform well in the presence of silver. Any penetrative wound inflicted to the shapeshifter using silver will also affect the Ikshai, which is said to at least double the amount of pain that a shapeshifter would normaly feel if another, non silver, weapon was used.
However, the most important thing about silver is that if silver metal stays in the body for too long, it will also begin to directly harm the etherial link of the shapeshifter, which also provides additional pain. This particular pain has been constantly described as absolute agony. This can not only affect shapeshifters, but also all Soulmages,
That pain is the result of the Etherial link being damaged and slowly burning or disolving away thanks to the presence of silver within the body. If the silver is extracted or otherwise removed, the link will continue burning away, until it is no longer strong enough to allow for the Ikshai to get out of the body. This is called an Ikshai Possession.

Types of Ikshai

Most known Ikshai are of terestial animals, like mammals and reptiles, but some are also avian, which allows some shapeshifter to fly on their own, rather than use a Winged ships. Curiosly, if the shapeshifter doesn't have a shapeshifting parent which would determine what ikshai they end up with, an ikshai of an animal typic of the region they currently are will bond with them. For example, if they are born in the frigid regions of Rumalia, they are more likely to be a Wolf or lyxn shapeshifter. if they are born in the jungles of Mahador, then they may become an Occomor Shapeshifter.