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Ipsivivere (Ipsi), they/she/he, Edeia of Ipsivival: the process or result of rediscovering life and being saved from oneself, whether alone or with the help of others.

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Warnings: Ipsi's character deals in topics of suicide, depression, and other aspects of mental health. Their story also involves human trafficking, abuse, and sexual assault/abuse.

Ipsivivere

"I am Ipsivivere, Edeia of Ipsivival. You can call me Ipsi if you want. My Idea entails the process of someone being saved from themself, whether on their own or with help — of overcoming what might seem to be an indomitable depression or self-destruction and coming to appreciate their existence. Still, it can be hard for those in the most terrible places to overcome their personal hells, so I do what I can to help them. I do not always succeed… but for those who I can see ipsivive, it is worth it. After all, I, too, was once in that place."

Ipsi is a deeply emotional and empathetic individual. They have a great amount of love and affection to share with others, though it can take time for them to develop deep personal attachments. Their kindness and wish to soothe others' hurts will often act as the transitioning elements for the deep bonds they (and their Eidolons) form with others.

They are deeply moved to see others ipsivive, and they mourn and shed tears for those who could not escape their self-destruction. Ipsi can exhaust themself by giving so much of themself to others, leading to them spending long spans of time napping or otherwise resting in their main body. They also attend "therapy" sessions with Edeia such as Mu and Pacific, who help them process their experiences.

Ipsi's Eidolons share Ipsi's core personality, though some may diverge over time.

Ipsivivere's Eidolons

Ipsi is able to make fragments of themself, which are referred to as their Eidolons, with the intention of helping others ipsivive. The Eidolons begin as shimmering specks of dust shed from Ipsi's wings as they wander. These specks are drawn to those who are in terrible, depressive, self-destructive states; the specks resonate with those individuals and take a form crafted for the sake of helping these individuals. The Eidolons could appear to be humans, animals, other species, imaginary friends — whatever Ipsi's instinct deems is most suitable. Their bodies may seem biological and can grow and be injured, but they are functionally immortal — they will not die of age, and they can heal from all injuries with time. Most of Ipsi's Eidolons exist at the same time as them, though there are occasions where the specks are drawn to someone in the past and manage to slip through time to form an Eidolon in the past. Those who Ipsi's Eidolons are crafted for can be referred to as Ipsi's ipsivivors.

Ipsi's Eidolons operate mostly independently, with varying levels of connection to Ipsi's main body and their other Eidolons. They only gain awareness after taking form, and many do not quite remember that they originate from Ipsi. For the Eidolons that do not remember their origin, the longer they exist, the more their awareness blends with the whole of Ipsi, allowing them to share subconscious memories — that is, they might not be aware of what the other Eidolons and main body are doing, but if they think about it, they can "recall" what the others are doing. The consciousnesses of Ipsi's Eidolons are in general very much distant and easy for Ipsi to ignore, but Ipsi can focus on particular Eidolons to access their memories and experiences.

The goal of the Eidolons is usually to get the ipsivivor to be able to stand on their own, though they do not always succeed. Sometimes, despite the efforts of Ipsi and their Eidolons, their ipsivivor becomes dependent on them, can't bear to let them go, or can never fully heal and overcome themself. In these cases, Ipsi's Eidolon will stay beside them and try to support them so they can be high-functioning together, if not apart.

Usually, once the ipsivivor has been able to ipsivive and live for themself, the Eidolon will become fully connected to the whole existence of Ipsi. Some Eidolons who have developed their own rich lives may try to deny the connection; they would not be able to deny it entirely, but they can choose to live fairly independently from Ispi. The Eidolon will usually try to explain the situation to their ipsivivor and offer to stay longer if needed, but if the ipsivivor is truly ready to let go of the Eidolon, then the Eidolon will return to Ipsi and integrate into Ipsi's subconscious memory.

If the Eidolon fails to help their ipsivivor, then the Eidolon is generally very distraught. They might linger for a while, but they eventually fade and return to Ipsi as a subconscious memory. Sometimes, Ipsi takes time to go through them and mourn those they couldn't help ipsivive.

Other Abilities

Resilience

Ipsi can improve the mental resilience of others, bolstering their will to keep moving forward, to work towards improving themselves and their circumstances, to not give up. Those affected by this ability will have improved mental stability and tolerance towards difficulties in their life, and see a reduction in negative and maladaptive thoughts. Ipsi can focus the ability at a high intensity, but the effect would only be temporary. Their Eidolons exude a weak aura of this effect that allows for gradual but lasting improvements in the subject's resilience alongside their personal self-improvement.

Weaving Wounds

Ipsi can heal others' physical wounds and soothe their mental and emotional pains.

Their Eidolons have a much weaker form of this power; they can induce minor healing or transfer injuries to themselves. Though it can be painful, the Eidolons will heal from any injury with time.

Life Link

This ability is generally only used by Ipsi's Eidolons. An Eidolon can establish a life link to their ipsivivor. This causes the Eidolon and the ipsivivor to share all pain and injuries, and it makes them both functionally immortal — no matter how severe the injury, both the Eidolon and the ipsivivor will heal with enough time.

Not all Eidolons form a life link with their ipsivivors. Some do so as a mark of closeness, while others do so out of worry, wanting to monitor their ipsivivor's health and keep them from death. The link can be rejected by the ipsivivor if they learn how to feel the metaphysical nature of the bond, which can take some practice.

Gaze into the Abyss

Ipsi (and to a weaker extent, their Eidolons) can sense the hardships of others. They can understand the pain others experience and gather at least a vague sense of the nature of their struggles. They are most aware of active pains, with those who are currently struggling greatly being quite prominent in their senses, but they can also focus on individuals and gain a sense of what struggles they've had in the past, whether they were buried or overcome.

Abstraction

Ipsi's Abstraction consists of a temple made of marble with subtle gold veins, with light like sunlight pouring from past the pillars. There is a central hallway with a ceiling open to a light blue sky with gold celestial patterns—circles, lines, and arcs. A staircase leads to a gazebo-like room with cascading silk ribbons surrounding a pool that reflects the celestial firmament above, where Ipsi might stay to hibernate for longer periods of time in a cocoon-like form. When Ipsi is not resting in the pool, gazing into it can reveal glimpses of the perspectives of Ipsi's Eidolons.

When one approaches the sides of the central hallway, the sunny light becomes less intense to reveal a portal like a surface of water. These portals lead to various locations, including a grassy meadow, an underwater reef, an endless mirror lake, and more.

Ipsi welcomes visitors to their Abstraction, but only by invitation—they prefer not to have unexpected visits. Some Eidolon-ipsivivor pairs also live within Ipsi's Abstraction, though not many.

Story

As a reminder, Ipsi's story involves themes of human trafficking, suicide, depression, abuse, and sexual assault/abuse.

Synopsis

Ipsi, born as Ilya in 1998, manifested magic at age 10 during a time when magic was becoming more than just a rumor but not confirmed by any authorities. Their parents often argued, though they didn't understand what they were arguing about; after their parents discovered their magic, Ilya was betrayed and sold to a human trafficking ring specializing in magical individuals. Purchased by a wealthy corporation owner, Ilya was soon given to the owner's son, Verin, after the owner lost interest. The two escaped together in 2018, starting a new life in a changing world. However, their relationship became abusive, with Verin growing controlling and forceful. Ilya's mental health deteriorated and they became more isolated, leading to several suicide attempts.

After Verin's accidental death in 2025, Eien, Edeia of the Lost, took the deeply depressed Ilya to a Sanctuary for the Lost. There, Ilya slowly began to heal by helping others. They developed the ability to manifest in others' dreams and assist those struggling with self-destruction. By 2031, Ilya had recovered enough to return to society, continuing their education and refining their purpose. Upon meeting someone they had helped in a dream, Ilya realized their true calling was to aid others in self-revival and healing, Actualizing into Ipsivivere, Edeia of Ipsivival.

Full Story

Part 1: Taken 1998-2018

Ipsi was a human known as Ilya born in 1998, growing up with the transition from the Age of Secrecy to the Age of Reunion. Their home life was fairly normal, as far as they knew—though they were vaguely aware that their financial situation wasn't ideal and their parents would often be in conflict. Ilya would often hide to wait for the metaphorical storm to pass. However, things changed when they manifested magic when they were ten years old. Though they didn't quite understand what was happening, they felt a sense of safety from their magic; things were better for some time until their parents discovered their magic.

Ilya's parents were surprised at the discovery, though after exchanging a look with each other, were quick to assure Ilya that there was some discussion going on about how magic actually exists in this world—there were various sightings and rumors, far too many to be a coincidence these days. Still, they told Ilya to try to keep it hidden in public while they asked details about what they could do.

After the discovery, Ilya's parents didn't argue for a while, though they were often found discussing things together. After several months, however, there was an explosive argument that had Ilya hiding away again. Once it had quieted down, Ilya's mother came to hug and soothe Ilya, apologizing that they were like this.

The next day, Ilya woke up with a terrible grogginess in an unfamiliar place. They later discovered that their parents had sold them. They were in the hands of a relatively new human trafficking ring that formed after its members confirmed the existence of magical individuals. Their methods were rather messy and they did not fully understand the nature of magic, but they did understand that some of the exorbitantly wealthy would be willing to pay exorbitant sums of money to have a piece of magic for themselves.

The ring would collapse before long, due to their ignorance of magic and Edeiology—even before the authorities got to them. Still, it lasted long enough to sell Ilya to some filthy rich owner of a corporation.

Ilya's abilities were weak and not very dramatic, and their "owner" quickly grew bored of them, though they would still torment them psychologically and physically every now and then. Instead, they told Ilya to be the plaything of their son Verin, who was only a few years older than Ilya. Verin was quite nice to Ilya, treating them as a human being… though still one of much lower status than him. The two spent great amounts of time together, and Ilya found comfort in his presence despite the circumstances. Verin, too, grew greatly attached to Ilya. As they grew older, Verin understood that Ilya's situation was truly horrible and asked if Ilya wanted to run away with him. Ilya was unsure at first, but eventually agreed.

Part 2: Limerence 2018-2025

Verin thus rebelled from his family, taking Ilya and whatever he could to escape to one of the cities at the heart of the transition to the Age of Reunion. With everything in flux, it was easy for them to join the chaos. Verin and Ilya were able to acquire some affordable housing, resources for living, and access to jobs and schooling. Verin took on various jobs to help with the transition efforts while Ilya attended school, though they faced difficulties due to being much older than their academic peers.

Their life seemed to be going as well as it could be, though things began to shift as they became proper adults. Verin professed his love for Ilya and took them to bed; the whole experience was confusing and painful for Ilya, but Verin was the one who was warm to them amidst the worst cold—he had left behind his family and privilege for their sake, and they didn't know how they could refuse him. Years passed, with Verin becoming more insistent, more forceful, more entitled. He faced his own struggles adjusting to a life different from that of the upper crust, and he often took out his frustration on Ilya before apologizing and soothing them.

When Ilya tried to resist him and suggested that things might be better if they went their separate ways, Verin became much worse. He took them to bed even when they were unwilling, making them exhausted and in pain almost every day. Ilya's younger peers didn't quite understand what was wrong, and though their instructors expressed some concerns, Ilya was reluctant to confide in them due to their experiences with authority figures.

Eventually, Ilya became so exhausted that they couldn't muster the energy to leave. Verin suggested that they change to taking courses online, and, resigned, Ilya agreed. Things only grew worse from there, now that Ilya was isolated from others. They became entrenched in a depression that had been growing in them for a long time; their online courses were neglected in favor of sleeping their days away.

Something shifted one day, and Ilya reached a breaking point. They swallowed all the medications in their home and slit their wrists, trying to end their life—only to fail when Verin returned home to find them and send them to the hospital. When Ilya recovered, Verin expressed immense regret. He tried to comfort them and told them that he would do better. However, everything was meaningless at that point—Ilya couldn't feel any more of that attempted comfort. They just felt hollow.

Ilya made a few more half-hearted attempts, but Verin started hiding all the dangerous items and kept them from leaving alone. Ilya was confined in a soft prison of their home. Ilya lived as a shell of themself like that for some time. Then, at one point, Verin disappeared. Several days passed, and then Ilya received a call—Verin had passed away, caught up in some accident. Ilya didn't know what they felt, then. Sadness? Relief? Maybe it was just a hollow exhaustion, after seven years of their cohabitation. They ended up curled in bed for days, drifting in and out of consciousness, not eating anything.

Part 3: Sanctuary of the Lost 2025-2034

Then, Eien appeared. He arrived in Ilya's untidy home, sensing that they were lost. He offered to take them away to a place where the lost could heal in peace—a Sanctuary that overlapped with his domain. However, Ilya was not particularly responsive. They simply stared at him, and did not agree or disagree. Eien felt sorrow for Ilya and lifted them into his arms, enveloping them in a comforting presence. It was a strange feeling, for Ilya had not truly felt comfort for a long time.

Ilya fell asleep like that, waking up in the Sanctuary with Eien by their side, patiently waiting for them to awaken. He explained more about the Sanctuary and himself; he had brought Ilya to a Sanctuary for the Lost, where those lost to themselves could recover, or perhaps to find themselves along the way. Other people and Edeia might come by for company as well. Ilya simply listened without saying anything.

Eien lingered for longer before letting Ilya know that he would be leaving. Then, Ilya was alone. They spent several months wandering and familiarizing themself with the space, observing the settlements where people lived from afar. They were never cold and never hungry, and they could not hurt themself if they tried. It was peaceful, but Ilya still felt lost and empty, and still slept the days away. Perhaps it was another sort of cage.

Then, Ilya saw the arrival of another lost individual—a fairly young one. They watched for a while before deciding to approach, offering a little information and assistance. Unexpectedly, that child grew attached to them. Ilya was reluctant to be relied on and tried to distance themself, though around that time Eien came to visit and the two spoke. Eien seemed pleased that they were doing better, and suggested that sometimes those who are lost are the ones who can help each other be found. Ilya thought about it for some time, and decided that they wanted to be gentle, at least, in this world of terrible things.

Over time, they saw with their own eyes that child slowly learning to live again. They found themself struck with a strange emotion at seeing them heal. How wonderful, that someone can rise from the depths of their own personal hells and embrace the world. The mere thought brought Ilya to tears.

Something shifted in Ilya, then. From then on, Ilya began to dream in the long naps they would take. Though they did not know it, they were entering the dreams of those caught in their own cycles of self-destruction, offering what little guidance, reassurance, or whatever they could give in those dreams. More often than not, they woke with tears in their eyes, and only hazy recollections of what occurred. There were times they would cry for hours, mourning the loss of someone they couldn't quite remember, and yet... there was something cathartic about it all.

Over time, the dreams became more vivid, and Ilya began remembering them more clearly in their waking hours. They became aware that they were not just sharing dreams with others, but sometimes even manifesting as ghostly forms accompanying other individuals. They felt a bit worried about their power, and awkwardly approached Thaene, who was visiting at the time. Thaene helped talk through their experiences and offered advice about their powers; he even offered to monitor them for some time. They grew closer as Ilya accepted Thaene's comforting gestures after some more difficult situations.

Ilya soon realized that they were, in fact, doing better. By helping others save themselves, they, too, were saved in some ways. They spent more time awake and were willing—eager, even, sometimes—to interact with others. The next time Eien came by, they told him that they wanted to return to society. Some of the people in the Sanctuary helped Ilya with the process of moving and acclimating to life in reunited society; it was in the 2031 by then, and much had changed.

Ilya still had their share of struggles, but was able to live independently and do fairly well in society while continuing to help others in their dreams. They continued their education, attending Ideation Academy to finally complete their basic education and learn various other skills and languages. During this time, they mused over their Idea, contemplating making a new word for it. Though they did not settle on ipsivival yet, it was an option they were considering.

One day, they encountered someone that they'd only met in a dream so far. The two talk, with that person thanking Ilya for offering the hand they needed to pull themself out of their own abyss. Ilya was struck by a tangle of emotions, then. Joy, satisfaction, realization. This is what they wanted the meaning of their existence to be: the process of self-revival, of healing from terrible places within one's self, over overcoming a pain so profound that it becomes self-inflicted.

At that moment, they became Ipsivivere, Edeia of Ipsivival.

Part 4: Ipsivival 2038-present

After their Actualization, Ipsi retained most of their memories. Despite the pain of their past, they felt that it was an important part of who they had become. They spent some time familiarizing themself with their new, more powerful abilities. Though they had Actualized, they did not want to abandon those they were helping in their dreams before; they soon manifested the ability to create Eidolons, and they created one for each of those they were helping before. They realized, too, that as an Edeia, their power was much more vast than before. There was so much more they could do, so many people they could try to help, whether they succeed or not. From then on, they began wandering the world, scattering flecks of their power that could become Eidolons in time.

It was not all easy, but it was worth it. Ipsi expressed their existence as Ipsivival to the fullest.

#creature #my species #original species #art #my art #procreate #edeia #spirit #ideation #character profile

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ausp-ice · 1 month ago

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Rhome's humanlike form as well!

Rhome (they/he/she), an Edeia representing the Idea of Melancholy. They were once a human who died and returned to life as a Sanctial, eventually setting off on his final journey before Actualizing right before they thought they would fade away.

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Rhome

"There is a certain beauty in things that cannot last. The final notes of a song. The warmth of a cup of tea as it gradually cools. The memory of someone you loved. Your tears are proof you experienced something meaningful enough to mourn. Let me sit with you a while, in this gentle ache that reminds us both how deeply you've lived."

Rhome is a quiet, contemplative presence. They are patient and attentive, preferring to listen rather than speak. They find something profound in sitting with others during moments of transition and loss, drawing out their melancholic emotions and helping them recognize the beauty within them. Rhome believes that melancholy is not something to cure but to honor, as it represents the lingering echo of experiences precious enough to be missed.

When Rhome speaks, their voice carries a gentle, soothing quality. They find particular beauty in impermanence and the bittersweet nature of loss.

Abilities

Melancholic Resonance: Rhome can perceive and interact with the emotional imprints left behind by significant moments of transition, loss, and other events that leave lingering feelings of melancholy. They can induce vivid recollections of memories or even enter a manifestation of those memories, with or without the person in question, and control the scenes like a movie—playing, pausing, rewinding, fast-forwarding. The scenes often take on a monochrome, blue-tinted appearance, with certain colors becoming more vivid based on the emotions felt by the subject and other members of the scene.

Melancholy: Rhome can draw out and amplify feelings of melancholy, often in a gentle way. They can use this ability to create physical spaces that induce this effect on others as well.

Crystallized Memory: Rhome can transform melancholic emotions into tangible objects that capture the essence of what those feelings represent. These "Mementos" can take all sorts of shapes, but typically have the appearance of pale, bluish crystals with pale gold ornamentation. Touching the object transfers the emotions gradually, and holding it for a long time can allow for the associated memories to manifest in the mind's eye.

Abstraction

Rhome's Abstraction is a realm of pale blue tones, always raining. Sometimes the rain is heavier, and the sky is darker; sometimes the rain is a light drizzle, and the sky is more of a pale, white color. A city of stone and gold sprawls across the Abstraction, with the waters of a lake present in the gaps between sections of buildings. In a central area is a castle with windows of glass, pale light emanating from within.

When in their Abstraction, Rhome spends most of their time in the castle, often gazing out the windows at the lake. The halls are quiet, filled with a melancholic, solitary energy. There are various crystallized Mementos decorating the space; when Rhome wanders the halls, they might brush their hands across them and let the emotions of those moments run through them once more.

Though the city is vast, there are not many residents. On occasion, Rhome might offer a place to stay for those who cannot bear to live with their melancholic emotions. These people are told to take as long as they need to mourn what they've lost and what they've missed. Here, there is no need for sustenance—only the gentle weight of melancholy, eternally pouring from the sky.

Story Synopsis

Born into a wealthy but emotionally distant family, Rhome learned early to suppress their desires and emotions, existing primarily as an extension of their mother's ambitions. A brief connection with their pet snake, Rasa, ended when their mother secretly poisoned it. Rhome did not understand the emotions they felt, simply asking their father to handle the remains.

In their mid-20s, Rhome was caught in a fatal accident and brought to a Sanctuary where they received a second chance by being revived as a Sanctial. During their years in the Sanctuary, Rhome developed connections with other Sanctials, especially one with a snake-like appearance. As Rhome learned to feel emotions they had suppressed in life, they discovered a particular affinity for helping others process their losses before departing on their final journeys. When the snake Sanctial eventually left, also revealing its identity as Rasa, Rhome began looking inwards. After a meeting with Anim, they began their own final journey, expecting to fade from existence as they ventured beyond the Sanctuary's protection to experience the world's varied melancholies.

In their travels during the early Age of Reunion, Rhome encountered Janus—the reincarnation of their snake, now human with no conscious memory of their connection. Something shifted in Rhome, then, and they accepted both the beauty and sorrow of their journey. They felt themself unraveling and parted ways ready to fade away, but at their final moment of finding peace, they Actualized.

Inspiration Notes

The Abstraction is somewhat inspired by the City of Tears from Hollow Knight.

I was sparked by the emotions I felt when reading Monochrome Rumor, a story that's become something of a comfort to be due to a certain feeling of soft sadness present throughout the story.

#creature #my species #original species #art #my art #procreate #edeia #spirit #ideation

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