Masters of the Self

The Ursuar society is based on understanding one's self, and those mystically inclined Ursuar naturally take that impulse to the next level and mystically delve into their own physicality and essences, focusing all of themselves and their energies to bending reality to their will.

The Ursuar believe that their physical bodies, and all matter in reality, is generated by luminous energies of a higher nature. Crude matter, in all its varied forms, represents the merest, most base echo of the action and flow of this energy. This energy is intrinsic to all things and, with meditation and will, it can be controlled and reformed.

Through regimes of aesthetic meditation, physical discipline, and spiritual awareness, the Ursuar are able to tap the energies of their own bodies and, where it connects to their environment, to the energies around them, enhancing them and transmuting them to their will.

Inner, Outer, and Between

Animists of the Ursuar learn their arts in a very personal manner, and while they pass on wisdom to one another, they all acknowledge the need for every Animist to find his or her own path tot he same goal. Animist can come in many different "flavors" based on this practice, but most fall into the following philosophies:

Old One of the Woods: The Old One of the Woods, whether male of female, are masters of knowing themselves and impart their skills to assist others to know themselves. Philosophically, they view it as their responsibility to pass on their knowledge and thus, often act as guardians and mentors to youth seeking knowledge. Their abilities are focused on the mental and spiritual aspects of themselves and others.
Shapemasters: Shapemasters have learned to attune their esoteric energies to such as a degree that, by changing the shape of it, they are able to affect their gross physical shape. Most Shapemasters gravitate toward animalistic forms, mixing and matching animal qualities, as the esoteric energies of animals act as convenient "templates" for their own changes.
Transmuters: In contrast to the Shapemasters, transmuters are able to change their substance, if not their shape. Much as Shapemaster use the esoteric energies of animals to guide their moldings, transmuters use the esoteric energies of elemental energies, mimicing them to the point their flesh becomes something else. Through the principles of contagion, they are able to affect substances outside themselves by merging their essences with external materials.

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