Time for a bit of adoptable lore! When I began the Shisa adoptables, the physical ornament and its marble were meant to be significant to the lore of the creature. Actually having the ornament was intended to be meaningful, but I had a hard time expressing how. As I work on the upcoming adoptable, it’s important that I find a way to express why the physical ornament is meaningful to the stories of these creatures and to you! In this first step, I would like to answer questions about those little glass marbles which the adoptables sit on, according to the adopt’s lore:

What are the orbs which these creatures sit upon?
-The orbs (marbles) which the creatures sit on are called the “Anima”. It is each creature’s spark of life.
-These terms can be swapped: Anima=Orb=Soul=Life Spark.
-The word comes from the Latin “animating principle”, “breath”, or “life.” Think of it as the inner workings of the creature.
-In the orb are contained the name(s), abilities, and life purpose of the creature.
-Think of it like DNA, but instead of being the blueprint to the physical body, it is the blueprint to the etheric side of an entity.

How do they appear within the stories/visual depictions?
-In design, think of them as seeds or eggs. Each one is a different shape, color, and size, hinting at the more complex creature. (Visual design to come, after release of next adopt!)
-Each species general shape and size look similar, and individuals vary in color.
-More or less it is visually seen as separate from the creature, although creatures can appear as the orb. Appearing as the orb happens in creatures which are heavy users of magic or tricksters. Creatures such as the Shisa are straight forward with their appearance, therefore their orbs are hidden from outside viewers the majority of time. Fully physical creatures are unable to take alternate forms such as their orbs. This does not mean they do not have an orb, it is simply hidden from physical eyes. Non-physical creatures might be seen carrying around their orb, or wearing it as jewelry. These creatures may choose to keep it hidden.
-Appearing as the orb or carrying it around leaves creatures vulnerable to attack/capture. The plus side of appearing in that form or keeping the orb on the surface is that any physical appearance does not hinder the powers of the Anima.

What does it mean to possess the Anima Orb?
-Possession of the Anima holds power over that particular creature.
-Being in possession of the Anima orb does not mean that the creature is owned. No one can truly own anther entity’s soul, but it is a piece of the being which holds control over the entity.
-If you possess the orb and know the name, the creature will do your bidding. Back in the day, to be blunt, this was outright slavery (by definition, as often nothing would be given in return). These days a friendlier approach is encouraged by people who work with these creatures. Doing things out of friendship and reciprocity yields much better results!
-Possession of the orb doesn’t mean that its contents are “readable.” Powerful magicians can more easily decipher an orb and obtain the name and knowledge of the creature’s ability, but for most, a relationship must be developed. The most powerful creatures can have hundreds of nicknames and defenses built into their Anima, so contact with their orb will likely just grant you a single conference with them, (if you’re lucky, they may even let you live!).
-Even if someone possesses the orb, the creature can still be feisty and unruly. It will be a struggle if they are a creature who does not want to be in relationship, or who is generally a trickster. If they are friendly and desire to work with someone, they may give their name. Be aware of tricksters, however!

How can someone come into possession of an Anima Orb?
-The Anima Orbs can be given to people, animals, and places for safe keeping. This is an act of deep trust. There is no jewel, no bit of knowledge, no “thing” which is as valuable as a spark of life.
-The orbs may also be taken by force. As described above, this is not an ideal way to get an orb.
-It is not necessary to possess the Anima for a relationship to form. In fact, this practice is uncommon, and generally only done by serious magicians or by people who have been gifted the orb by the entity. It does help to contact the entity from anywhere, and ensures loyalty, but most people in modern times develop a relationship fluidly.

To sum up, yes, these orbs do have a significance to the individual character, and if you would for a moment imagine yourself in their world, by owning the physical ornament, you have a special connection to your character!

More info is coming down the road! I know things have been quiet lately, but that's because I'm working behind the scenes to bring in new work. In the meantime, **do you have questions to add? Ask below! **

(SHISA OWNERS! Important - I sent everyone an email with this bit of info, along with some info which you might find useful in developing your characters. If you somehow missed that email, please do bug me, this is a chunk of writing that I have been wanting to share with you all for a while now).

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