General Theory of Perfect World

NOTE PRIOR TO READING: This is more of a in-game thinking, me as character, not as a player. Opened to suggestions. In brackets are some... RL comments XD. Hope you like it. b:thanks


Being a traveller and obsessed with history of our world, I took upon myself a little theorizing and, possibly, alternative intrepretation of historical events. As basis of this... hypothesis, I will use available information on historical records solely (aka "PWI webpage" XD) and experiences which I have been through my travels (aka "solved quests"). I found my inspiration in fact that elementally oriented creatures, such as Earth-element Torgrin Warriors, leave behind very interesting stuff, such as Element Stones that are said to be "compound of five elements". So, my question was: "How can that be?"

Answer sounds simple, though doesn't explain much. Elements depend on each other when they have to create a living being. For example, Wood element could have a shape to a plant, Earth element is needed for soil, Water element to bring in the minerals from Metal element and Fire which could be considered as sort of internal energy of a plant.

You must consider elements in more general way, then their names are. Fire element is not just campfire or Pyroshell, but also a sunlight and etc., Water isn't just rain, and so on (sounds a bit Aristothelic, I know). I believe that in this dependeces, somehow weakness on each/for each element can be found.

Still it does not explain why is one of elements dominating over others, marking before mentioned weaknesses for particular creature in such way. And why some creatures are non-elemental at all? Why do same species have different element weaknesses/powers? One possibiltiy is that elemental mark comes to creatures when they are possessed by Wraiths.

It is said in historical texts that Pan Gu decomposed his body into five elements and shaped the world by mixing them all around, and from his shadow he created first sentinent beings. It is possible that these beings consumed elements in first place and thus became elementally oriented. (However, this assumption cannot be supported, because it is said that Genies are actually elements themselves, in sort of way.)

Pan Gu cleansed them from face of the world and then gave birth to Humans, Untamed and Elves.

Like it or not, we and Wraiths share, more or less, a common ancestory (when I say "we", I mean players - second denizens of Perfect World). By analogy, if Earth elemented Torgrin Warriors (who use Earth elemented spell, similar to wizard Stone Rain) leave behind Element Stones, Human Wizards manipulate Earth, Fire and Water element spell, Untamed Venomancers Wood, and Elven Clerics Metal spells, then are they all made from all of elements partially, along with Pan Gu's special blessings:

"The Human race was born of Pan Gu's spirit, and demonstrated morality, honor, and an unlimited imagination. The race of the Untamed, born of Pan Gu's body, embodied freedom and peace, and possessed a unique connection with the natural order of the world. And the third race, the Winged Elves, were born of Pan Gu's own blood, and exemplified beauty, grace, and purity."

If so, we are figthing against our ancestral bretheren, which be could quite demoralizing. Lucky for us, there is a slight difference.

"The world now cleansed, Pan Gu set about creating a new world, one filled with beings who were capable of Spiritual Cultivation."

And that's what Wraiths are after for. Our Spiritual Power. They can consume our bodies and even souls (some NPC's mention that our consumed bretheren still have memories of earlier lives), but Spiritual Power... not for now. There have been few attempts of consuming indirectly, such as Quillhog Blades in Dragon Wilderness which use special swords to hold on souls of fallen warriors, or Ladywraith outside The Orchid Temple, or Qingzi (actually, most of creatures from Spiritual Cultivation quests), but all of them were unsuccessful... for now.