CREATOR
Let's get back to basics.
This project focuses on the pursuit of immortality, but what is it exactly and why is there a tiered system for immortality if by definition it refers to deathlessness? Well, in the context of Eastern tradition, even if you're an immortal, you're not necessarily free from death. At first. What happens is that you're reducing the number of happenstances that can cause your death. The major one that cultivators strive for is to be free of disease and aging.
Those in the Monk class can achieve this by naturally progressing through their levels, but they're still capable of dying. In fact, they can maintain that state of being without needing to refuel or sustain it, except they will still die when it's their appointed time. If it wasn't for that last bit, they'd be pretty close to immortality already. To explain what I mean, here are some very basic explainers of some tiers:
Guixian
These are immortals who must sustain their everlasting life by parisitizing others, something cultivators consider obscene and grotesque. These are your average undead who can continue living while in a state of decay, needing to feast off of others to persist. They're not freed from their drive to survive as they could be cut off from their energy source at any time, also maintaining all sense of pain, fear, and hunger. Not necessarily a false type of immortality, but you're simply shifting around factors that can destroy you, not necessarily ridding yourself of them.
Dixian
These are what most people imagine immortality to be: ageless, inoculated from disease, and they don't require food, water, or shelter to survive. Without stealing from others, this state of being is something that, like the monk, must be achieved through either sheer will and discipline or through the assistance of magical elixirs. Unfortunately, the body is still capable of being destroyed and the soul, without a body, will be considered "dead" as far as the Jeoseung Saja are concerned.
This is perfect agelessness. If you wish to survive enough to experience good food and learn new things, this is about where you'd be satisfied.
Shenxian
The next level after becoming a Dixian is to be able to survive with absolute control over your faculties and form as a spirit or even fey. Pathfinder 2e has a number of spirits that aren't also necessarily undead. This falls neatly into that concept: despite being an incorporeal being, able to change your shape and free from the normal pains, aches, and disadvantages of decay, you exist by your own capability to continue producing vital energies. If disturbed, like a ghost, you can regenerate given time and the reapers can't lay a hand on you!
Unfortunately, this is where the gods start to become concerned about your attitudes and ambitions. Even if you're an eternal being, you're still bound by the laws and regulations of the gods and they will wish to confirm that you're a team player, or else restrict your freedom. You must still conform to the laws of nature and divinity even if you have largely transcended all mortal limitations.
Tianxian
Now this is where you achieve the level of gods. Through the power and authority that you've learned to wield, you are among the level of the gods as an ascendant being. At this point, your only form of death becomes eradication of your individual consciousness. If you lose sight of yourself, then all you are is a mass of invisible power spreading across the cosmos. By this point, you've probably already either joined the ranks of a pantheon, voluntarily accepting limitations for how you can use your power. However! You have more than enough power to share with Clerics or Warlocks who have more flexibility to affect the world of mortals than you might.
There are other categories and states of being than the four that are listed here. This is mainly to give you an idea on how and why immortality is classified. Even deathless beings can technically be banished, or restricted in many ways. Those restrictions and remaining conditions for dying determine your status as an immortal.
I hope this helps give you an idea of both concepts from Eastern mythology and our worldbuilding!
This project focuses on the pursuit of immortality, but what is it exactly and why is there a tiered system for immortality if by definition it refers to deathlessness? Well, in the context of Eastern tradition, even if you're an immortal, you're not necessarily free from death. At first. What happens is that you're reducing the number of happenstances that can cause your death. The major one that cultivators strive for is to be free of disease and aging.
Those in the Monk class can achieve this by naturally progressing through their levels, but they're still capable of dying. In fact, they can maintain that state of being without needing to refuel or sustain it, except they will still die when it's their appointed time. If it wasn't for that last bit, they'd be pretty close to immortality already. To explain what I mean, here are some very basic explainers of some tiers:
Guixian
These are immortals who must sustain their everlasting life by parisitizing others, something cultivators consider obscene and grotesque. These are your average undead who can continue living while in a state of decay, needing to feast off of others to persist. They're not freed from their drive to survive as they could be cut off from their energy source at any time, also maintaining all sense of pain, fear, and hunger. Not necessarily a false type of immortality, but you're simply shifting around factors that can destroy you, not necessarily ridding yourself of them.
Dixian
These are what most people imagine immortality to be: ageless, inoculated from disease, and they don't require food, water, or shelter to survive. Without stealing from others, this state of being is something that, like the monk, must be achieved through either sheer will and discipline or through the assistance of magical elixirs. Unfortunately, the body is still capable of being destroyed and the soul, without a body, will be considered "dead" as far as the Jeoseung Saja are concerned.
This is perfect agelessness. If you wish to survive enough to experience good food and learn new things, this is about where you'd be satisfied.
Shenxian
The next level after becoming a Dixian is to be able to survive with absolute control over your faculties and form as a spirit or even fey. Pathfinder 2e has a number of spirits that aren't also necessarily undead. This falls neatly into that concept: despite being an incorporeal being, able to change your shape and free from the normal pains, aches, and disadvantages of decay, you exist by your own capability to continue producing vital energies. If disturbed, like a ghost, you can regenerate given time and the reapers can't lay a hand on you!
Unfortunately, this is where the gods start to become concerned about your attitudes and ambitions. Even if you're an eternal being, you're still bound by the laws and regulations of the gods and they will wish to confirm that you're a team player, or else restrict your freedom. You must still conform to the laws of nature and divinity even if you have largely transcended all mortal limitations.
Tianxian
Now this is where you achieve the level of gods. Through the power and authority that you've learned to wield, you are among the level of the gods as an ascendant being. At this point, your only form of death becomes eradication of your individual consciousness. If you lose sight of yourself, then all you are is a mass of invisible power spreading across the cosmos. By this point, you've probably already either joined the ranks of a pantheon, voluntarily accepting limitations for how you can use your power. However! You have more than enough power to share with Clerics or Warlocks who have more flexibility to affect the world of mortals than you might.
There are other categories and states of being than the four that are listed here. This is mainly to give you an idea on how and why immortality is classified. Even deathless beings can technically be banished, or restricted in many ways. Those restrictions and remaining conditions for dying determine your status as an immortal.
I hope this helps give you an idea of both concepts from Eastern mythology and our worldbuilding!
Comments
1