Exani

Exani share one thing in common, that is, they originate from and exist outside local reality, that reality containing Ashar and everything else in the physically transversable universe. They occupy their own, separate realities, which operate by different rules. Some of these realities may be vast worlds or even small universes, while others are no larger than the being themselves.

Those exani that make themselves known to mortals share something else in common, that is the desire to observe or communicate with beings of local reality and often to exert influence and establish some sort of presence in the world.

These beings include deities, demons and an endless variety of other beings and minds, most utterly alien. Some, like those considered deities are worshipped and bestow their power on those spiritualists such as priests, that adhere to their wills. Others enter into pacts or exchanges with mortals such as shamans or sorcerers.

Spiritual Communion Across the Void

Exani are able to connect to local reality through the mind of a native spirit of that local reality, usually an elan, but occasionally a telluran. For this connection to be established, there has to exist some element of similarity or affinity between the two minds. This can be as little as the fleeting thought or emotion of a local being that attracts the attention of the exan. Once a connection has been made, it is then much easier to reestablish that connection.

These sorts of connections are believed to happen constantly and continuously, since within Mind, there loom infinite dormant beings with which to connect. Most of the time, there is little awareness of the connection by either party, or if awareness, no interest in continuing or reestablishing a connection. Occasionally though, certain exani take an interest and form a relationship with a mortal. If the mortal communicates with others about this connection, it then plants the seeds to establish connections with those minds as well, and in time a web of connections can be formed that create a persistent conduit between the spirit and local reality, allowing its power to flow through that conduit. This is the origin of many powerful exani worshipped as gods, such as the Devas, Gottir and the Teteo.

Most exani though are not worshipped as gods. They are usually no more than quiet observers, voyeurs into what is to them a strange but intriguing realm. Still others form more personal, often egalitarian relationship with mortals. These may take the form of mutually beneficial alliances, contractual bargains, master-servant relationships or even simple friendship. They can very often be parasitical or predatory relationships. And it is not always the exani who is the aggressor. Powerful shamans and wizards have been known to find and bind vulnerable exani to their will, though sometimes getting more than they bargained for.

Regardless of this connection and the ability to communicate, it should not be assumed that exani are similar to native spirits. In fact, the realms they reside within and their minds are almost always utterlly alien to mortal experience. However powerful exani are able to mask this strangeness, creating a false personality as a conscious mask through which they interact with mortals in familiar, comprehensible thoughts.

Physical Manifestation

Most exani have a presence in local reality that extends no farther than the minds of mortals to whom they whisper. However some are able to come bodily into local reality by occupying a prepared vessel. This takes an enormous amount of energy and a path must be opened by a native being, usually one highly skilled in the creation of such portals. Many priests and shamans have traditions that teach techniques to perform such feats, given the required spiritual energy.

This energy can be gathered gently over time and conditions can be arranged to make the transition less difficult. But to perform quicker summonings or those of especially powerful beings, a sacrifice must be made dedicated to the task. This sacrifice can be the lifeforce of a creature or the destruction of a potent semiotic artifact suffused with Will.

Most entities are brought over to perform specific tasks. Some are brought as physical witnesses to ritual occasions. Not all the exani summoned are individual beings. Some are pieces or aspects of greater beings much to spiritually massive to be summoned in their totality, such as gods.

Normally, a summoned exani can remain for no more than minutes to a day, but some find ways to stay longer by binding themselves and merging into a native being. One method is through transferring their being into a chosen mortal embryo, embedding themselves before a native spirit is able to be naturally generated in the embryo. Among the Eshtem, such beings are known as avatars. They are very powerful, but their connection to their home realm or complete self is limited by the embodiment.

Many avatars are recorded to have forgotten their true nature altogether through their childhood and even well into adulthood. Some exani, more experienced in this practice, assign trusted followers with the task of watching for their presence in the world are are told to look for signs and say and do certain things that will remind the deva's avatar of their true nature. Avatars and similiar beings are still mortal and eventually will succumb to old age. But most depart sooner, after their purpose in the local reality has been fulfilled.

Profane Spirits

Some cultures utterly shun exani. Exani are seen as dangerous interlopers, infectious intruders into the realm of native beings. The are liars with no true love for or connection to the world or its true inhabitants, merely pretending out of a desire to gain power and obedient slaves. Such cultures tend to be those that revere telluri, such as native nature spirits or elani, such as ancestors. The most powerful example of this kind of culture in Torvalen are the Kahala'i hakanu.

Banishment of Exani

Generally speaking, exani are the easiest spirit to banish, even more so than incorporeal spirits of the dead, who are at least native to the world. Similarly, warding such a being from a location or repelling it is capable by anyone with the slightest knowledge, as long as their Will is sufficient to face the being with courage.

Exani cannot enter uninvited into holy places not dedicated to them, or into the homes or private places continuously occupied by those who are not their followers. Powerful, trained banishers, especially the priests of adversarial spirits, are able to destroy even embodied exani, such as avatars.

Divine Classification

Spirit