Potestas

Creatures

There are two major groups of creatures: arcane creatures and mortal creatures. While alive, creatures have tangible physical bodies in the world of Arda; while dead, creatures have intangible spirit bodies in the World of Spirits.

Arcane Creatures: There are three types of living arcane creatures, namely dragons, fey, and giants. They are immortal creatures who do not die of natural causes, do not forget their past lives when they return through the Cycle of Arda, and cannot leave the Cycle of Arda through belief in the True Faith. All living arcane creature know their True Names. The other type of arcane creatures are the undead. They are animated corpses who have risen up because of their untimely deaths, unfinished business, or because of arcane necromancy. Sometimes the dead person's soul remains, sometimes not: if the soul remains, it does not pass though the Cycle of Arda until they are destroyed or until the issue binding them to this life is resolved.

Mortal Creatures: There are three types of living mortal creatures, namely animals, elementals and humanoids. All die of natural causes, forget their past lives when they return through the Cycle of Arda, and can leave the Cycle of Arda through belief in the True Faith. While they have True Names, very few know them. Some are descended from arcane creatures, but lack the immortality and arcane power of their forebears. The other type of mortal creatures are objects animated by power. Although they are not alive, they are like all mortal creatures subject to the passage of time, gradually breaking down and wearing away.

World of Spirits: In addition to the physical world, there is also the World of Spirits. The World of Spirits is invisible and overlaps the physical world: creatures in the World of Spirits can see the physical world, but everything looks gray and ephemeral. The souls of the dead enter the World of Spirits as part of the Cycle of Arda, and usually return to the physical world only when born into a new body. Some souls that cannot or will not to give up their past life can enter the physical world, taking on limited physical existance with an insubstantial and translucent body of mist. Some abilities allow the living to see into or travel through the World of Spirits.

Animals

Animals are living non-humanoid mortal creatures of flesh and blood. They are usually not very intelligent, and only speak the language of their own kind: however, the more intelligent animals often speak the languages of other creatures.

Dragons

Dragons are living non-humanoid arcane creatures of flesh and blood. They fall into two broad categories: the land dragons who live underground, breathe fire and can summon earthquakes, and the sea dragons who live underwater, breathe lightning and can summon thunderstorms. Most can fly on mighty bat-like wings. Almost all the land-dragons have been killed by the gods or the giants or (occasionally) the mortal races. Most of the water-dragons dwell in the west, where they acknowledge the sovereignty of the Jade Emperor of Heaven and serve in the Ministry of Rain or the Ministry of the Sea.

Elementals

Elementals are living non-humanoid mortal creatures composed of one of the five elements: air, earth, fire, plant, or water.

Fey

Fey are living humanoid arcane creatures of flesh and blood. They all have a connection to the natural world, but are not an intrinsic part of Arda.

Giants

Giants are living humanoid arcane creatures of flesh and blood. They are all larger than the mortal humanoids, and the largest among them live on cloud castles and the highest mountains.

Humanoids

Humanoids are living humanoid mortal creatures of flesh and blood. They are widespread throughout Arda.

Undead

Undead are non-living creatures of flesh and blood. Some are mindless husks animated by necromancy, while others have free will and the personality they had before death and have free will. Intelligent undead are created either by powerful magic or by the individual's determination not to succumb to death. The bodies of most undead deteriorate over time: if they do not consume fresh meat or blood, they eventually become emaciated and skeletal.

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