Gameplay
Eidolon is the term for a variety of different spiritual entities which draw their power from belief, sacrifice, and the arcane and work in and through the world.
Origins:
Eidolons have multiple possible origins, some are created by Fae, Gods or even powerful magical users to serve them or their interests. Sometimes Eidolons are created by accident when a large magical working is undertaken. Some are born from local belief and dreams and some used to be people who have transformed themselves into an Eidolon, usually as part of a quest to eventually ascend into godhood or a similar level of power.
Powers:
Eidolons have limited direct power but have significant ability to work through other agents. They can generally control animals, weather and machinery but their main strength is working through human agents. Eidolons have significant powers to influence and manipulate people as well as the ability to grant them great powers and boons to enhance them. They can also often possess people, even frequently against their will and this is their only real way of experiencing the physical world. It is common for Eidolons to possess people and then encourage or manipulate them into doing exciting or interesting things for the Eidolon to experience. This often includes extremely dangerous activities and even often fatal ones so the Eidilon can enjoy the sensation of death before moving on.
Eidolons can create and/or control more minor spirits and ghosts and often use them as their agents to spread their goals and progress their interests.
Eidolons do not have their own source of power, they need to draw on supernatural power from other sources. Sacrifices, either of life or blood help them gain power, so does power channeled through belief, worship and other sacrifice but the most reliable source of power is arcane objects. The valuable resources that supernatural societies hold in their vaults often serve as some of the best sources of power for Eidolons.
Ascension:
If an Eidolon gains enough power and has a a catalyst they can use that power to transform themselves into something else. This usually requires rare and very powerful items as well and/or complex rituals with exacting requirements. There is no specific limitation on what an Eidolon can transform themselves into given enough power but the two most typical forms of ascension are either to become physical, becoming an entity such as a god or true-fae or demon lord. Or to entirely transcend the mortal plane and become a kind of latent supernatural force in the world. Generally not even being really conscious anymore but rather existing in a sort of eternal dream state.
Destruction:
The exact same things that empower Eidolons can be used to drain power from them with similar sorts of sacrifices, powerful objects and rituals. A powerful enough catalyst can even be used to destroy an Eidolon entirely by reducing its power below that which is required to sustain itself and causing the Eidolon to disperse away into nothingness.
Types:
There are no specific rules on what an Eidolon can be, but there are several broad types into which they tend to fall.
Fae:
Common origins for Fae Eidolons is that they begin as some sort of spirit of mischief that achieves a higher level of sentience and power or that they are created by a true Fae to serve their interests or goals and grow from there.
Fae Eidolons almost always seek to ascend into becoming true Fae and are frequently categorized by a focus on enjoyment and experience, they spend a lot of time possessing their followers and having them engage in more and more extreme hedonistic and thrill seeking behaviour.
Divine:
Divine Eidolons are usually created by a God to be some sort of servant or further their interests. They usually are aspected in a way very similar to the God that created them, such that Eidolons created by a war god are often heavily focused on war and warlike activities. Some gods support their Eidolons ascending and even want them to become a lower ranked god in their divine court but often the Eidolon resents their divine master and are trying to ascend behind their back and/or as a way to break away from their court and control. These can often be particularly complex entities since they both resent a particular god while still being made in their image.
Divine Eidolons almost always seek to ascend into becoming a god themselves and their focuses are as varied as the gods who created them.
Demonic:
Demonic Eidolons are almost always created by demons as a way to influence Earth in a way they generally cannot do while being locked in hell. Its also common for demonic Eidolons to be humans who have been transformed as part of some deal or pact, either done to them or something they have sought out themselves in a quest for power and immortality. Demonic Eidolons almost always have the same innate desire for suffering as other demons do.
Demonic Eidolons ascension goals are highly varied, its common for them to seek ascension into a demon lord but also common for them to seek ascension into a malicious force to more effectively promote suffering throughout the world.
The behaviour of demonic Eidolons is usually typified by the demonic interest in suffering, they tend to use their followers to try and create and promote suffering and rarely can help themselves from also forcing suffering upon their followers. This is often their greatest weakness as they try and walk the line between maximizing the suffering and not driving people away.
Ghost:
Ghostly Eidolons are ghosts who have been able to obtain enough followers or power after their death to ascend into something more powerful. They are as varied as the humans who died to become them but often are fixated on the circumstances of their death and any injustices they suffered or other grudges they had while alive.
Their ascension goals are varied but its common for them to seek to ascend into a non-sentient force as a way of seeking peace after death.
They often try to use their followers to carry on any missions or grudges they had in life, wanting them to attack the descendants of their enemies or embody the lifestyle or culture they used to have.
Cthulian:
Cthulian Eidolons come from the void and almost nothing is known about their origin. It is suspected that at least some of them used to be human however. Cthulian Eidolons often ascend into either powerful monstrous forms or ethereal entities but either way they always seem to disappear from the world shortly afterwards, presumably returning to the void for unknown reasons.
Cthulian Eidolons goals are quite alien and difficult for people to understand, they are often unspeakably cruel but do not seem to enjoy it in the same way as demons and often have their followers do things which make no sense at all to the members of the cult. Hunger is the only common theme among Cthulian Eidolons and they often will possess a human while they are feasting or become fixating on people consuming unusual things such as drinking blood or engaging in cannibalism.
Primal:
Primal Eidolons are usually formed from the worship of Nature or when a particularly remarkable and unusual animal dies but some are also human shamans or nature worshippers who are using it as a way to ascend.
Primal Eidolons almost always ascend into non-corporeal spirits of natural force although rarely some will ascend into some sort of animalistic god.
Their interests vary depending on the origin of the spirit, those which are evolved natural spirits are often deeply focused on preserving and growing the natural world, fighting against industrialization and civilization. Those who come from animal origins have goals which are heavily influenced by the type of animal they are, predators encourage their followers to engage in more predation and may enjoy possessing people while hunting. Pack animals have cults which are more communal while other animals might be more contemplative or playful.
Eidolon Lore
Eidolon is the term for a variety of different spiritual entities which draw their power from belief, sacrifice, and the arcane and work in and through the world.
Origins:
Eidolons have multiple possible origins, some are created by Fae, Gods or even powerful magical users to serve them or their interests. Sometimes Eidolons are created by accident when a large magical working is undertaken. Some are born from local belief and dreams and some used to be people who have transformed themselves into an Eidolon, usually as part of a quest to eventually ascend into godhood or a similar level of power.
Powers:
Eidolons have limited direct power but have significant ability to work through other agents. They can generally control animals, weather and machinery but their main strength is working through human agents. Eidolons have significant powers to influence and manipulate people as well as the ability to grant them great powers and boons to enhance them. They can also often possess people, even frequently against their will and this is their only real way of experiencing the physical world. It is common for Eidolons to possess people and then encourage or manipulate them into doing exciting or interesting things for the Eidolon to experience. This often includes extremely dangerous activities and even often fatal ones so the Eidilon can enjoy the sensation of death before moving on.
Eidolons can create and/or control more minor spirits and ghosts and often use them as their agents to spread their goals and progress their interests.
Eidolons do not have their own source of power, they need to draw on supernatural power from other sources. Sacrifices, either of life or blood help them gain power, so does power channeled through belief, worship and other sacrifice but the most reliable source of power is arcane objects. The valuable resources that supernatural societies hold in their vaults often serve as some of the best sources of power for Eidolons.
Ascension:
If an Eidolon gains enough power and has a a catalyst they can use that power to transform themselves into something else. This usually requires rare and very powerful items as well and/or complex rituals with exacting requirements. There is no specific limitation on what an Eidolon can transform themselves into given enough power but the two most typical forms of ascension are either to become physical, becoming an entity such as a god or true-fae or demon lord. Or to entirely transcend the mortal plane and become a kind of latent supernatural force in the world. Generally not even being really conscious anymore but rather existing in a sort of eternal dream state.
Destruction:
The exact same things that empower Eidolons can be used to drain power from them with similar sorts of sacrifices, powerful objects and rituals. A powerful enough catalyst can even be used to destroy an Eidolon entirely by reducing its power below that which is required to sustain itself and causing the Eidolon to disperse away into nothingness.
Types:
There are no specific rules on what an Eidolon can be, but there are several broad types into which they tend to fall.
Fae:
Common origins for Fae Eidolons is that they begin as some sort of spirit of mischief that achieves a higher level of sentience and power or that they are created by a true Fae to serve their interests or goals and grow from there.
Fae Eidolons almost always seek to ascend into becoming true Fae and are frequently categorized by a focus on enjoyment and experience, they spend a lot of time possessing their followers and having them engage in more and more extreme hedonistic and thrill seeking behaviour.
Divine:
Divine Eidolons are usually created by a God to be some sort of servant or further their interests. They usually are aspected in a way very similar to the God that created them, such that Eidolons created by a war god are often heavily focused on war and warlike activities. Some gods support their Eidolons ascending and even want them to become a lower ranked god in their divine court but often the Eidolon resents their divine master and are trying to ascend behind their back and/or as a way to break away from their court and control. These can often be particularly complex entities since they both resent a particular god while still being made in their image.
Divine Eidolons almost always seek to ascend into becoming a god themselves and their focuses are as varied as the gods who created them.
Demonic:
Demonic Eidolons are almost always created by demons as a way to influence Earth in a way they generally cannot do while being locked in hell. Its also common for demonic Eidolons to be humans who have been transformed as part of some deal or pact, either done to them or something they have sought out themselves in a quest for power and immortality. Demonic Eidolons almost always have the same innate desire for suffering as other demons do.
Demonic Eidolons ascension goals are highly varied, its common for them to seek ascension into a demon lord but also common for them to seek ascension into a malicious force to more effectively promote suffering throughout the world.
The behaviour of demonic Eidolons is usually typified by the demonic interest in suffering, they tend to use their followers to try and create and promote suffering and rarely can help themselves from also forcing suffering upon their followers. This is often their greatest weakness as they try and walk the line between maximizing the suffering and not driving people away.
Ghost:
Ghostly Eidolons are ghosts who have been able to obtain enough followers or power after their death to ascend into something more powerful. They are as varied as the humans who died to become them but often are fixated on the circumstances of their death and any injustices they suffered or other grudges they had while alive.
Their ascension goals are varied but its common for them to seek to ascend into a non-sentient force as a way of seeking peace after death.
They often try to use their followers to carry on any missions or grudges they had in life, wanting them to attack the descendants of their enemies or embody the lifestyle or culture they used to have.
Cthulian:
Cthulian Eidolons come from the void and almost nothing is known about their origin. It is suspected that at least some of them used to be human however. Cthulian Eidolons often ascend into either powerful monstrous forms or ethereal entities but either way they always seem to disappear from the world shortly afterwards, presumably returning to the void for unknown reasons.
Cthulian Eidolons goals are quite alien and difficult for people to understand, they are often unspeakably cruel but do not seem to enjoy it in the same way as demons and often have their followers do things which make no sense at all to the members of the cult. Hunger is the only common theme among Cthulian Eidolons and they often will possess a human while they are feasting or become fixating on people consuming unusual things such as drinking blood or engaging in cannibalism.
Primal:
Primal Eidolons are usually formed from the worship of Nature or when a particularly remarkable and unusual animal dies but some are also human shamans or nature worshippers who are using it as a way to ascend.
Primal Eidolons almost always ascend into non-corporeal spirits of natural force although rarely some will ascend into some sort of animalistic god.
Their interests vary depending on the origin of the spirit, those which are evolved natural spirits are often deeply focused on preserving and growing the natural world, fighting against industrialization and civilization. Those who come from animal origins have goals which are heavily influenced by the type of animal they are, predators encourage their followers to engage in more predation and may enjoy possessing people while hunting. Pack animals have cults which are more communal while other animals might be more contemplative or playful.