Ardashir's Journal

[Remus]

I thought due to the fact that not many people have obtained the anima weapon this may shed some light on anima overall they only allow you to see it once you finish the quests. I found this as a interesting read and i hope others do as well. They are in order

The Study of Anima

The Creation of artificial life, such as that seen in arcane golems, has always been a fascinating subject. Yet there is a something missing from these crude automata a soul. while the soul is perhaps inimitable, my master and I were working on a way to improve these mindless drones.

The Soul houses the psyche and makes us who we are. Practitioners of the arcane are able to channel aether from within themselves into soulstones, creating a quasi-soul that can animate golems. The residual imprint of the channeler's psyche, however, robs these beings of individuality.

Unable to manipulate our own bodily aether, an infusion of pure aether was logical choice. The ramifications of this could, in fact, revolutionize automate. Without a residual psyche to hinder their self-awareness, they could think, they could learn-- the possibilities are endless!

Our goal was to harness the power of anima--the force used to traverse the Lifestream via aetherytes. Yet try as me might, our experiments bore no fruit. Master deemed the project a failure, and turned to other endeavors. But we were so close, I could not simply give up.

My Last Hope lay with the Sharlayans and their knowledge of arcane sentries, which led me to Eorzea. I came to speak with Mistress Rowena, but also encountered both the realm's most surly drunk and its finest blacksmith. Sadly, they were one and the same.

After needlessly berating my plan to base new trials on Sharlayan theory, this Gerolt fellow proposed an ingenious idea: binding the aether-infused soulstone with a weapon in order to preserve the anima. This could not only stop the anima from deteriorating, but give it practical applications as well.

This assumes his idea works, of course, but it is too intriguing to dismiss. In a stroke of good fortune, Robas, a reputable adventurer of this land, has agreed to assist with testing.

Enthused by the prospects of this anima weapon, Rowena has arranged to have us work in Azys Lla, the fabled seat of Allagan technology. I wonder how one wields such clout as to make these plans on a whim, but i suppose it does not matter. At long last my master's dream will be a reality.

The Anima Weapon

Gerolt's plan actually worked! The anima now resides in the weapon and its aetheric energies remain stable. It is almost baffling that such a drunkard of a blacksmith achieved what my master and I together could not.

Now its is up to Robas to foster its development. Gerolt believes the best way is through battle, considering the anima's current form, I am inclined to agree.

Guided by his courage and resolve, I imagine it will absorb a great deal of aether from him in combat. They key to its growth, however, will be lack of initial imprint from another psyche. With no such overbearing influence, the anime's growth should be more organic.

The anima is free to interpret its wielder's will much like a child would its parent's. In the end, it will be a reflection of Robas' soul, and yet still unique unto itself. I look forward to seeing the results of our testing.

Awakening the Anima

Robas set out to journey across Eorzea, revisiting the battlefields of his past to show the anima what it means to be an adventurer.

Of course it was only natural that I would accompany him. Having finally succeeded after so many failed attempts, what sort of researcher would i be to let this test go unsupervised?

The scenery of each location was more breathtaking that the last. If not for the pens and papers I would have forgotten the purpose of this journey was research. But the lack of activity in the anima is disheartening. I was beginning to think we would need to create another and start anew.

That is, however, until we returned to Ishgard and Robas relayed to me startling news: the anima had taken on a physical form!

To put it simply, the anima drew on aether in the surrounding environment to create a body separate from the weapon housing the soulstone.

It went so far as to emit sounds, as if trying to communicate, according to Robas' recounting.

The noises were unintelligible, but I believe it is safe to assume the anima has quickened and is gaining a sense of self-awareness.

The rate of growth is much faster than i anticipated. There is no telling what the anima will be capable of next.

Reforging the Anima Weapon

The anima has developed quite nicely thus far, exuding an aura that practically bursts from within the weapon. However, i feared at its current pace this would be more than a mere manner of expression.

The soulstone serving as its vessel, and the weapon in which was encased, were not without their limits. Something had to be done to ensure the anima's longevity.

Bolstering the soulstone's capacity for aether was not difficult, but the weapon Robas wielded then would not bide the strain.

This is why i asked Gerolt to forge a new weapon. though i sometimes loathe the company of this ale-washed jolthead, his prowess with a blacksmith's hammer is undeniable.

His brusqueness was made slightly more tolerable by the look of exasperation that swept across his face upon request. I took some pleasure in the fact that he could not deny me even if he had wanted. My only regret was the burden this placed on Robas.

Gerolt insisted he set out and gather several unusual materials for his work. I know not how he obtained them, but the look of utter exhaustion on his face upon returning spoke volumes.

I was tempted to ask, but soon thought better of it. It did not seem fitting to have him recount such obviously taxing journey so soon after returning.

Thankfully his efforts were not wasted in the slightest. Gerolt's new work was a true masterpiece. even from a glance it exuded a certain air of majesty you would not expect of something made for battle.

I suspect even the anima, with its newly found self-awareness, could appreciate such an elegant form.

In the end the anima's rapid growth, and the precautions taken to preserve it were for the best. And if not for Robas and Gerolt, I would likely sill be in a deary, dusty study poring over Sharlayan tomes.

[Belhi]

This Anima stuff makes me wonder about Mammots. How exactly do they function psudo soul wise? Gigi, for example knows a huge amount, and while they might not be able to evolve as a personality they do have self awareness enough to feel emotions.

[LystAP]

This Anima stuff makes me wonder about Mammots. How exactly do they function psudo soul wise? Gigi, for example knows a huge amount, and while they might not be able to evolve as a personality they do have self awareness enough to feel emotions.

I don't know about that, Gigi has quite a personality, although he still lacks independence to an extent. The Magitek Reaper we get also shows signs of sentience; the Mammot heart at it's core was made without any specific intent in mind similar to the Anima weapon, but we haven't seen anything else from it after it rescues us from the Praetorium.