The Collective

An Ancient Unified collective of the Mana, currently residing in the Astral Plane. Its exact name is unknown; "The Collective" is simply a simple way to refer to this being. This unification was self inflicted, as they rejected their mortality and attempted to ascend to godhood. It is known that it has sent fragments of itself; individual Arcanians, back to the physical planes for many years (both intentionally and otherwise).

Excerpt from Kayde's Notes:
Logan's story of meeting with the collective doesn't line up with what Castor and Arcturus told me. The collective told Logan that they joined together and forewent their physical forms to survive a calamitous event, but Castor and Arcturus said it was spurred on by the progenitor's ambition... Did they simply lie to Logan to convince him into the task he accepted? I must ask those two about this next time we return to Ostia.

Excerpt from Mira's Journal:
Myson mentioned that the other "Mana" went and joined one another in, his words, the "worlds biggest mistake". I am still unsure of what he meant by that. In time, I am sure he will tell me!

"Originally I wanted to find a way to bring the Mana back, but I'm not sure anymore. I understand desperation in wanting to get your form back, but resorting to lying and manipulation? What does that say about who those who lead the Mana. All I can say is that they don't deserve their current state, and they don't deserve to be ended."-Jackson

Excerpt from Kayde’s Notes:
In particular, I finally have a name for them: the Mana. Apparently they were Astaroth's true first creations, not the Arathans. Not made in Astaroth's image at all, but rather a whole new image created by Astaroth from whole cloth. I'm certain that fact would be more than a thorn in the side of whatever's left of Arathar's clergy - but that's beside the point. I learned more than just that. I finally know more about why they're up there, in the stars.

The story they told Logan was completely fabricated. There was no calamity. It was instead as Castor and Arcturus said. Some major figures in their society got big headed about their nature and roped the entirety of their kind into these ambitions. Their justification was something about resenting their own mortality and desiring more. I can only assume they tried to become equals to Astaroth in some way. But in doing so, they completely gave up their mortal lives and forms.

It was this that Icarus and Marcus and their group seemed to take such umbrage with. I cannot say I blame them. For the Mana to have the gift of life, of power, of agency and choose to throw it all away in search of something "greater". Such a careless, complete waste.

In this light, the irony of my own choices are not lost on me.

-

Though I know my own tied origins to them, I've trouble settling on how to feel about it all.

The sacrifice of others for their goals is unforgivable in its scale, same as it would be for anybody. Even if my heart tears to think of all those pulled and dragged along in the ambitions of those on top. History repeats itself in troubling ways.

With how tangled together it'll all be up there, I can't invest any faith in ideas of redemption or resurrection, they need peace or they need to help us in the present day.

-Avenue, on the Collective and the Mana