Of Aciens and .... soul gems? (3.0 spoilers)

[myahele]

After re-watching cutscenes I noticed that Igeyorm manifested something that looks like a soul gem .... or Atma stone when it looked like she planned on teleporting back into the Chrysalis/ Ascien HQ

This, so far, is the only time we see an Ascien manifest this type of crystal besides crystals of darkness used to possess individuals. I wonder if that's where an Asciens "true" form is held? Maybe it's just merely a key to enter their domain?

Not sure what to make of it, but would like you're insights.

[Anonymoose]

Igeyorm manifested something that looks like a soul gem .... or Atma stone when it looked like she planned on teleporting back into the Chrysalis/ Ascien HQ. <...> This, so far, is the only time we see an Ascien manifest this type of crystal besides crystals of darkness used to possess individuals.

When crystals of darkness are mentioned, their use as a gateway often is, as well.

That trespass may be intrinsically linked to the possession in the first place.

If mortal death entails a return to the aetherial realm, it seems doubtful that the soul of an immortal would venture there. Nay, it merely withdraweth a distance. Unto the shore of the aetherial sea, perchance, but no further. Yes, it exists in neither this realm nor the next, abiding instead in the space that lies between them. The Ascians took control of Thancred by means of a Crystal of Darkness─an artifact which, if our theories are correct, serves as a gateway to the place I have just described.

Admittedly, your victory proved ephemeral, as Lahabrea was able to use a Crystal of Darkness to flee into the space that lies between our world and the void.

The crystal Igeyorhm is manifesting seems to be of the exact make that possessed Thancred, sans the jewelery. All speculation is on the table, however. Perhaps they have them every time they teleport and we just rarely see them. Perhaps they're only needed when traveling to Ascian Hall in the interdimensional rift. Perhaps the host body plays into it (Nabriales revealed the Ascian-host relationship is a little fuzzy in the when are /aren't they physically manifest department). Even whether or not that's their true form is worthy of speculation. The "Shadowless, Fleshless, Formless..." line by Elidibus, in German, says that they "even sometimes appear as compressed purple crystals."

[treuhavik]

Not much more to say here. Judging by it's uses, it's clear these dark shards are some manner of bridge, allowing Ascian beings to pass through them and into something else, be it a person or place. I'd draw some parallels to linkpearls and aetheryte, but things get messy there with so little information to work with.

I wonder if that's where an Asciens "true" form is held?

Reminds me of that "Primal Core/Prime Heart" theory from a while back. I'm disinclined to agree with that right now, but (edit: Could be that that is their true form: "Shards of Zodiark") I'll definitely be watching more closely for these shards from now on.

[JepMZ]

From my understanding, when someone dies, their souls no longer keep their state of being when becoming one with the life stream. Ascians avoid that by retreating into dark crystals after they get killed which acts as a life stream boat so that they can jump back to the living realm and not drown into the life stream.

Since Ascians avoid the powerful currents of the life stream with a boat, you'll have to deliver a similar powerful current directly to their souls to truly destroy them