Post by Igor on May 10, 2017 21:36:31 GMT -6
shadows
The Shadows are creatures born from the hearts of human beings, and carry with them the repressed negative emotions that dwell within all people. They exist seemingly to feed off of this energy and proliferate themselves ad infinitum. Nothing else is known about the Shadows as far as the reason behind their sudden emergence in New York City is concerned.
Shadows are made solely out of thought and energy, and lack physical bodies in the truest sense of the phrase; ergo, they are only able to manifest themselves within the confines of the Blind World, as they cannot interact with the material world from which their human "creators" occupy.
But because of the Blind World's otherworldly nature as a mirror reflection of humanity's darkest thoughts and feelings, Shadows are able to directly siphon their strength from this place in order to manipulate the fabric of space-time in ways that defy logical explanation, making them as unpredictable as they are predatory.
Being manifestations of intense negative emotion, Shadows are innately violent and will attack intruders without provocation, drawn to whatever fears, doubts, or insecurities they keep hidden from the public. A special vehemence is reserved for those with the power to summon a Persona, but it is this same power that provokes instinctive fear from them as things ruled by their lesser emotions — thus, only those with the ability to call forth a Persona can effectively fight the Shadow menace.
Certain instances will come about when an exceptionally powerful and deadly Shadow manifests in the guise of a human being with glowing yellow eyes and a sinister black aura that seems to burn the very air around their bodies. This is the Shadow Self: the realization of the darkest facets of a person's own character, visible for all the world to bear witness.
Each Shadow Self fashions its physical likeness after the person from which they were created, but this is where the similarities cease. Their appearance and mannerisms are greatly exaggerated representations of the original person's negative attributes and qualities, the parts of themselves they have either attempted to conceal from others or suppress within their own psyche; the greater one struggles to hide these aspects, the greater the Shadow Self exaggerates these traits in its own appearance and behavior.
There are even some cases where a Shadow Self's projection of itself to others is influenced not by the repressed feelings of its original host, but by those the host personally knows or values. Of course, these perceptions may also be a corrupted byproduct of the Shadow Self's existence.
Confronting the darkness that rests in one's heart is, quite understandably, a jarring experience for anyone involved, especially if there are witnesses present for the encounter. It requires individuals to expose themselves to the darkest facets of their being — their own inner demons, to put it aptly — and learn the importance of admitting and accepting their faults.
But we feel that it is necessary to remind you of the consequences that await you in the event one wishes to awaken their Persona through direct confrontation with their inner Shadow. One must even be prepared for the possibility that their other half may turn violent if its existence is denied.
However, should a person demonstrated aggressive or repeated denial of their repressed Shadow Self, or correspond with its behavior so seamlessly that the two become practically indistinguishable from each other, then it will simply disappear back into the fog of obscurity, unfulfilled, but wholly at peace with its host's crumbling psychological state. It is at this point where obtaining a Persona becomes an impossibility.
We do not wish to dishearten you on your journey of self-discovery, for that would be counterproductive to our purpose for assisting you in your endeavors. We simply aim to expand your understanding of what will be required of you in order to achieve unrestricted access to your full potential.
general details
Shadows are made solely out of thought and energy, and lack physical bodies in the truest sense of the phrase; ergo, they are only able to manifest themselves within the confines of the Blind World, as they cannot interact with the material world from which their human "creators" occupy.
But because of the Blind World's otherworldly nature as a mirror reflection of humanity's darkest thoughts and feelings, Shadows are able to directly siphon their strength from this place in order to manipulate the fabric of space-time in ways that defy logical explanation, making them as unpredictable as they are predatory.
Being manifestations of intense negative emotion, Shadows are innately violent and will attack intruders without provocation, drawn to whatever fears, doubts, or insecurities they keep hidden from the public. A special vehemence is reserved for those with the power to summon a Persona, but it is this same power that provokes instinctive fear from them as things ruled by their lesser emotions — thus, only those with the ability to call forth a Persona can effectively fight the Shadow menace.
shadow selves
Certain instances will come about when an exceptionally powerful and deadly Shadow manifests in the guise of a human being with glowing yellow eyes and a sinister black aura that seems to burn the very air around their bodies. This is the Shadow Self: the realization of the darkest facets of a person's own character, visible for all the world to bear witness.
Each Shadow Self fashions its physical likeness after the person from which they were created, but this is where the similarities cease. Their appearance and mannerisms are greatly exaggerated representations of the original person's negative attributes and qualities, the parts of themselves they have either attempted to conceal from others or suppress within their own psyche; the greater one struggles to hide these aspects, the greater the Shadow Self exaggerates these traits in its own appearance and behavior.
There are even some cases where a Shadow Self's projection of itself to others is influenced not by the repressed feelings of its original host, but by those the host personally knows or values. Of course, these perceptions may also be a corrupted byproduct of the Shadow Self's existence.
facing your worst fears
Confronting the darkness that rests in one's heart is, quite understandably, a jarring experience for anyone involved, especially if there are witnesses present for the encounter. It requires individuals to expose themselves to the darkest facets of their being — their own inner demons, to put it aptly — and learn the importance of admitting and accepting their faults.
But we feel that it is necessary to remind you of the consequences that await you in the event one wishes to awaken their Persona through direct confrontation with their inner Shadow. One must even be prepared for the possibility that their other half may turn violent if its existence is denied.
However, should a person demonstrated aggressive or repeated denial of their repressed Shadow Self, or correspond with its behavior so seamlessly that the two become practically indistinguishable from each other, then it will simply disappear back into the fog of obscurity, unfulfilled, but wholly at peace with its host's crumbling psychological state. It is at this point where obtaining a Persona becomes an impossibility.
We do not wish to dishearten you on your journey of self-discovery, for that would be counterproductive to our purpose for assisting you in your endeavors. We simply aim to expand your understanding of what will be required of you in order to achieve unrestricted access to your full potential.
