Legacy Tiers & the Nature of Awakening
(House Veridan, A Research Study on Essence-Based Evolution, Isle B1, 646 A.O.)
The phenomenon of Awakening, colloquially known as The Scarring, has been observed for centuries, yet many aspects remain unexplained. At the core of this transformation lies a hierarchical classification of Legacies, commonly referred to as Legacy Tiers. These tiers determine an individual's potential for advancement within the known stages of essence evolution.
Legacy Tiers (Classification of Essence Potential)
1. First-Order Legacy – Capable of naturally achieving the Scarbound stage.
2. Second-Order Legacy – Capable of naturally achieving the Scarforged stage.
3. Third-Order Legacy – Capable of naturally achieving the Scarwarden stage.
4. Fourth-Order Legacy – Capable of naturally achieving the Scarlord stage.
5. Fifth-Order Legacy – Potential unknown, theoretical upper limit yet to be documented.
The mechanisms governing these limitations remain a topic of extensive study. While there is evidence to suggest that higher-order Legacies exhibit superior essence affinity, conversion efficiency, and Legacy integration, no external manipulation has successfully elevated a lower-tier Legacy beyond its natural cap.
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**The Essence Core: Structure & Function**
At the heart of every Awakened individual lies the **Essence Core**, an organ-like structure responsible for energy storage and manipulation. It is divided into three primary components:
1. The Pool – A reservoir where unprocessed essence remains in a dormant state.
2. The Converter – The mechanism through which essence is refined and attributed (e.g., fire, water, void).
3. Micro-Converters (Body-type Legacies only) – Dispersed throughout the body, these specialized converters transform essence into a permanent biological enhancement. This process fortifies muscles, bones, and organs over time, allowing sustained and irreversible physical augmentation.
Notably, research into artificial stimulation of the Micro-Converters has yielded limited results, reinforcing the theory that essence integration follows an intrinsic and genetically bound pathway.
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The Scarring: A Mark of Evolution
Upon advancing to a higher stage, an Awakened individual develops a unique scar, representative of their Legacy and essence signature. The appearance of these scars is spontaneous and has been extensively documented across generations, yet their precise function remains unclear.
Over time, these Scars have become a cultural and aesthetic standard, particularly within the Lunarian Union, where falsifying such markings is considered a criminal offense.
Attempts to artificially replicate these scars through external means—be it through essence infusion, biological grafting, or illusion-based techniques— have failed to mimic the intrinsic energy signature found in naturally evolved markings.
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Stages of Awakening (A Study of Essence Evolution)
I. Scarlings (First Convergence – Initial Awakening)
The first stage of Awakening, occurring immediately after an individual undergoes Convergence, the process by which their latent essence is activated.
The individual's body begins to absorb and channel essence at a slow rate. The process is directly influenced by physical stress, muscle breakdown, and genetic factors that predispose individuals to have a higher capacity for essence absorption. This phase is akin to the early stages of physical training, where muscle fibers tear and rebuild, gradually increasing capacity.
Notably, at this stage, the subject cannot yet manipulate essence directly—all enhancements are purely passive adaptations.
Additionally, all Awakened individuals manifest a Gift—a unique, innate ability unrelated to their Legacy. The origin of these Gifts remains unclear, though prevailing theories suggest they stem from gradual mutations within the human genome, influenced by generations of essence exposure. Unlike Legacies, which follow a structured evolution, Gifts develop organically and unpredictably, with no two individuals possessing an identical manifestation.
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II. Scarbound (Legacy Activation & Essence Manipulation)
The Scarbound stage marks the point at which an individual becomes linked to a Legacy—an ancient power originating from an external artifact, or other external forces. The process of selection is semi-random but can be influenced by factors such as family lineage, artifacts, or previous ancestral connections.
Control at this stage is rudimentary, requiring extensive training to refine. However, Scarbound individuals with superior Legacies may contest those of higher potential through experience and skill alone.
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III. Scarforged (Matured Control & Legacy Expansion)
By this stage, the individual has achieved firm control over their essence, demonstrating efficient energy conversion and strategic application of their Legacy. The Essence Pool expands significantly, allowing for sustained high-intensity combat and manipulation.
Reconfiguration Process:
This process involves the reshaping of the individual's entire essence network, including their Essence Pool, essence pathways, and even their physical body. It is a high-risk phase that comes with a high mortality rate, as failure to successfully complete the transformation results in death.
Legacy evolution at this stage introduces additional abilities, often resulting in two or more distinct manifestations. Scarforged individuals are respected as powerful combatants and may establish third-rate factions or small independent forces.
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IV. Scarwardens (Essence Mastery & City-Level Influence)
Individuals at this stage exhibit complete mastery of their essence, their capabilities often exceeding human comprehension. The power wielded by a Scarwarden can threaten city blocks, given appropriate circumstances and energy reserves.
Legacies at this stage become highly specialized and significantly more potent, with users often assuming roles as city governors or leaders of second-rate factions.
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V. Scarlords (The Apex of Public Power – National Figures of Strength)
Scarlords are the publicly recognized pinnacle of strength, regarded with both fear and reverence. Their abilities are catastrophic in scale, with even a single Scarlord capable of altering the course of war.
The Scarlord stage represents the ultimate fusion between the individual and their Legacy. At this level, the individual has transcended the limitations of being a mere wielder of their Legacy—they have fully integrated with it, becoming one with the ancient power.
At this level, individuals are capable of founding and leading first-rate factions, possessing the influence and authority to govern entire territories.
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VI. ??? (Theoretical Stage – Unverified Speculation)
While Scarlords are widely considered the ultimate expression of Awakening, there exist unsubstantiated claims of an additional stage beyond recorded limits.
Various fringe scholars, conspiracy theorists, and unsanctioned researchers have suggested that an unknown ruling class—existing entirely in secrecy—manipulates the highest levels of power from the shadows.
The evidence supporting this theory is tenuous at best, consisting largely of inconsistent eyewitness reports, redacted historical documents, and fragmented mythologies. No confirmed public sightings or official records exist of individuals surpassing Scarlord-class capabilities.
While some dismiss this as mere superstition, others speculate that if such beings do exist, they may hold influence over entire nations, shaping history without revealing themselves.
Until definitive proof emerges, this alleged final stage of Awakening remains firmly within the realm of speculation—a whispered myth rather than an accepted scientific truth.