The stasis object as an anchor for the immortal soul

A key distinction in my campaigns is that Nephilim are symbiotic hybrids of human and elemental, not elemental spirits possessing hapless human hosts, nor awakened humans with a connection to the magic fields. The human half provides a physical body and a soul (Sol, Solar-Ka), allowing the Nephilim to interact, travel and to have awareness, identity, and will. The elemental half provides the Ka-elements, allowing the Nephilim to exist in symbiosis with the magic fields and to practice the occult sciences. There is also a third portion, the stasis object, which anchors the soul and the Ka-elements so that the Nephilim can be immortal.

Without a stasis object, the Nephilim's Solar-Ka and Ka-elements will dissolve into the magic fields upon death. With a stasis object, his Ka-elements are able to remain on the earthly plane as a spirit known as a daimonian or paredrus. Without Solar-Ka it is bestial and driven entirely by its passions, but as an insubstantial spirit it can do nothing more than seek out its Logos until it succeeds or becomes trapped in Narcosis. Ironically, the Paredrus can only ever demonstrate its true nature when the Nephilim is in the throes of Khaiba.

Meanwhile, his Solar-Ka evaporates from his corpse and separates into two components: the terrestrial anima (or karma) and the subtle logos (or animus or atman). The Anima remains in the corpse and evaporates as it decays until nothing remains, but the Stasis object retains a permanent connection nevertheless: these are past life memories and personas. The Logos vanishes immediately after death and enters the solar fields, what mortals would consider the afterlife. The stasis object acts an anchor for the Logos, allowing it to find its way back to Earth and within a reasonable timeframe. 

Thus, when a Nephilim dies, his Stasis object is what allows him to reincarnate. This often happens periodically between historical eras, but some are lucky enough to reincarnate shortly after death. Rather than reincarnating as an infant, the Nephilim usually reincarnates as an adult who is already alive at that time. How can this be? Well, Solar-Ka isn't bound by linear time. Although none of the five elements cover the concept of time itself, it is a facet of the solar fields. Thus, the Logos may already be incarnated as multiple people during the same timeframe. 

Without the Stasis object serving as a beacon, the Logos cannot easily find its way back to the proper time and space where it can reunite with the Paredrus. It may take centuries or millennia for a Nephilim to reincarnate without a Stasis object, if such is even possible at all. Nobody is genuinely sure whether the Stasis object merely speeds up reincarnation or is necessary for it to happen at all, making Nephilim quite protective of the items.

Furthermore, the Stasis object is the only anchor to the past lives. While it can be replaced if the enchantment is broken, no spell known to the Major Arcana can restore the link to severed past lives. Thus, Nephilim are doubly protective.

Of course, a Nephilim shouldn't let it get to his head. Even if the Stasis object remains unharmed, there are ways to destroy a Nephilim anyway. Being slain by Orichalc severs the link between the Ka-elements and the Stasis object, resulting in the soul being lost forever. If the Ka-elements are too weak to reintegrate, such as due to extensive magical wounds or the trauma of repeated deaths, then they dissolve into the magic fields regardless of the Stasis object's bond.

In any event, death is never something to be taken lightly. Even if the soul is eternal, every death and reincarnation is a traumatic event. Even if he retains awareness of his past lives, the Nephilim becomes a different person with a different life every time he reincarnates. While each life typically pursues a profession that echoes his dominant Ka, the details of each life are still quite random. A prince might find himself a pauper, or vice versa. He still fears death, as he should.

That's all for now. 

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