Deepsoul Theurgy
From Divinity
| Deepsoul Theurgy | |||
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| Alternate Name(s): | Xerithid Arts, Savariian Witchcraft, Soul-Eating, Necromancy | ||
| Progenitor Deity: | |||
| Discovery Date: |
Nachtober 9th, Y17 |
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Deepsoul Theurgy was first founded by the Xerithid Queen, Savarii. The young Goddess was part of a small group of four disciples invited by Soldr to tie themselves to The Throne, home demiplane of all magic. Alongside Sinrael, TSU and Tipota, she would connect herself to the thrones magic.
It is the primary magic used by the Xerithid and Tlācatl warlocks in the Taltuhim Hivelands, although it has also found some usage in certain covens, witch circles and unscrupulous students of magic across the realms, especially those dedicated to the profane arts. Spells of Deepsoul Theurgy often rely on forcing the price of casting magic onto somebody else, or siphoning their strength, knowledge, talent or magical ability for oneself. As such, it is often one of the few options for species or individuals who otherwise have a natural magic restriction.
Overview
Deepsoul Theurgy is the harnessing and channelling of a metaphysical power known as Deepsoul. Most cultures would describe it as black magic, but despite one of its alternate names being “necromancy”, it does not necessarily function the way one would expect.
Deepsoul Magic is almost akin to breathing, every exhale requires an inhale. There are two components of Deepsoul magic made to work in tandem. The most basic component is “reaping”, which surrounds spells that syphon power, hinder, hex and separate souls from their shells to be absorbed by the caster. Then there are spells which actually use the absorbed power, whose effects can greatly vary based on the souls that have been absorbed and their powers in life.
Designed by the Goddess of Outcasts, Deepsoul Theurgy is often suitable for those less gifted in casting standard magic schools, as it often uses other people as mediums for casting and often uses their souls, body, identity or magic ability as fuel for further spells. While other magical schools require a direct trade in some way, Deepsoul Theurgy is built on making somebody else pay the price of casting that magic. In some cases, entire spells are built around the victim paying a steep price for the invocation of magic. As such, certain races who suffer natural blockages at harnessing magic, such as the xerithids, often find it easier to cast Deepsoul Theurgy, if they can stand the steep moral price.
The Deepsoul
The Deepsoul is a cultural concept originating from the Xerithids that combines a being’s identity, soul, will, knowledge, magical ability, societal role and body all into one single entity. As such, the effects can greatly range based on which creature they’ve taken the “Deepsoul” energy from. It also is strongly influenced by one’s own perception of themselves, often ensuring that those with an inflated ego about their own feats often may have more valuable Deepsoul.
The Deepsoul, notably, seems to lack the full extent of the “soul” of certain creatures. Often times, aspects such as their humanity are not considered and ultimately foreign to the xerithid race. Some of the essence from the world tree that otherwise makes up a “soul”, does not make a Deepsoul. As such, many mortal souls are split and terribly damaged when a Deepsoul is siphoned out from them. Part of the ritual of extraction often has these remaining pieces of damaged soul being offered to Savarii, who quickly snatches the tattered entity back to the Infestation Nexus, where it either becomes part of her own rituals or is repurposed into a demon or a shadow of its former self. Certain souls, if they were lucky enough, may be rebuilt by Savarii at a later date, as she often spent time bargaining with Deepsoul Theurges and Necromancers for the spirits and Deepsoul they collected, offering blessings, booms or further knowledge of more secret Deepsoul rituals in exchange.
Origins
The story of Deepsoul Theurgy’s creation traces its origins back to Soldr, the God of Creation and Destruction. Soldr mistrusted Majesty, the creator and owner of The Throne, where all magic was localized. The God suspected that, should any younger gods seek to create magic, that the Archfiend would leverage unfair bargains to the younger gods in return. In an attempt to get ahead of the Archfiend, Soldr invited four disciples to meet him and to tie themselves to The Throne. He had hoped that, by spreading magic to more gods, he would make it more accessible to all other gods. His efforts would not only dissuade the young, ambitious gods from turning to Majesty for help, but he would create a new generation of gods that would be equipped to teach the process to their peers, ideally without demanding such steep prices as the Archfiend.
Among these four disciples, was a young Savarii. Alongside Sinrael, TSU and Tipota, she would connect herself to The Throne’s magic. The process was exhilarating for the young goddess, who felt a rush of euphoric zealotry rush through her body as she was exposed to the power and magic of The Throne. Perhaps inspired by her own innate gluttony, The Lord of the Flies dug as far as she could into the fabric of The Throne, seizing as much magical essence as she could for herself. The greedy obsessiveness would not go unnoticed, and would put off some of the participants.
With her connection to The Throne established, Savarii would go to work to create her magical school for the next year. She intended to create a gift for her mortal race, her “children”. Xerithids could not cast magic naturally, and instead had to feed on it from other mages, artifacts or fonts of power. They were a race which was constantly craving to devour new power for themselves, and their body burned through any energy at a rapid pace. The xerithids, beyond any other food source, sought out magic, and would drain it for themselves and their foul rituals.
As such, Savarii decided to instead use the power of their souls and gluttony as the basis for their magic. Her magic was instead designed to aid the xerithid race in their endless feast, allowing them to more easily siphon magic and power from their victims. Instead of creating a new magic school to give powers to mortals, Savarii had used her connection to Throne to create something much more selfish.
She sought to create a magic school that put her on top of the natural order. Beyond just designing it to equalize the playing field between her mortals and other, more naturally magical creatures, she gave the xerithids an advantage. She turned the religious concept of their “Deepsoul” into a tangible concept. The Deepsoul was not only something her xerithids were intimately familiar with, but it was also conveniently designed in such a way that it did not fully define a full “soul” based on how mortals born of Gaia’s gods entirely worked. Some of the essence from Gaia that deity’s used to create their mortals’ souls would still be left behind, where it couldn’t be used by Deepsoul Theurgists. Savarii knowingly created a magic that only ripped certain parts away from soul as fuel, leaving behind a few tattered scraps that she could collect for her own purposes.
The Goddess’ foul magic allowed the xerithid race to not only easily feed on magic of other species, but also harness their spirit and their minds for their own nefarious gain. Alongside her most prestigious scholars and religious leaders, she designed a piece of magic that the xerithids could wield to forcibly rip the intelligence and souls from the body of their victims and bend to the will of the swarm, allowing them to forcibly add new experiences and knowledge to the Hivemind.