Art by u/JosephMallozzi

"Where anima flows, life flows. The silent architects of reality, shaping what is unseen into what is."

Arcane Leech

Arcane Leeches ('Soulworms' in Valkia and 'Baku' in Ko'ram), are ethereal beings of pure, living energy that inhabit the Void, invisible to the mortal eye. When found in the Void, they can be seen 'swimming', appearing as faintly glowing, jelly-like eels made of pure magic. They are harmless, skittish, and make noises similar to whale sounds. The information here is what has been propagated by reputable arcane institutions, though many theorize that there is much more to discover about these curious creatures.

Whilst they cannot feed upon raw magic found anywhere, they survive by leeching negligible amounts of anima from a mortal soul. It is believed they have 'evolved' to achieve this, since time immemorial, due to the rise of magedom in ancient times. When a mage advances in their craft, there is a small window of time within which an arcane leech can latch onto their soul. To the leech, this is a beacon of energy within the Ether, akin to a sun, which attracts them. Once attached, the leech saps a bit of energy from them each day, and though this is an entirely indiscernible phenomenon, the consequence is a side-effect unique to the mage’s primary discipline (see Hindrances). Where the leech “attaches,” whether it’s on a mage’s shoulder, upon their chest, or even inside their brain, is unique to the individual.

The arcane leech lacks higher sentience, and its lifecycle is largely unknown. Leeches are capable of reproducing by sacrificing their consumed anima, splitting into two separate identical beings. This process can only transpire in the Void and never when attached to a soul. Additionally, it’s near impossible to remove a leech once it has latched onto a mage's soul, as it fuses to their very being. When the leech senses a fresher or even more powerful mage through the void, it may leave of its own volition, seeking out that more sustaining source of anima. Whilst connected to a soul, the mage may not always be aware of the parasite - it can be revealed by the following spells or circumstances:

• Resonance: The presence of an arcane leech is detected on the mage, though it remains invisible. 
• Greater Resonance: The leech is seen attached to the mage in Etheric shades, clearly visible to the caster. 
• Abilities or Items: If such a thing is capable of detecting or revealing magic, it may reveal the leech to some extent.
• The Ether: While in the Void, the leech will be visible.
• The Nocturne: While in the Nocturne, a ghostly outline of the leech is visible.

Due to its lower sentience, the leech has limited interaction with mortals, only capable of "looking" at spellcasters when it has been detected. It will never respond to communication. When two mages are near one another with both their souls infested, the leeches may emit unheard sounds to communicate with one another. Only mages and cats can hear this in the mortal Realm.

In the rare instance that an arcane leech is killed, it evaporates, leaving nothing behind.

Written by Wake and Electric