EI - Ectogenesis Interconnection

Ectogenesis Interconnection, or EI for short, refers to when a soul splits from a body and physically manifests itself as an infant attached to the physical body via an umbilical cord where both belly buttons are typically located. The umbilical cord connects to a hollow space inside the body where the soul is believed to have previously resided - this is called a cradle. The physical body is also part of the EI, as it houses the consciousness; the EI form merely shows the distinction between the soul and consciousness. The subsequently created physical body is quite alien, having the same tonal range as a Kiparan soel (warm greys), it is bipedal with four arms (one upper set and one on either side of the soel's umbilical cord), a long, thin tail, and short, pointed ears. Though, their face is mostly humanoid, their eyes are startling, consisting of multi-coloured rings instead of white sclera, and being slightly larger than the average humanoids. They are completely hairless, though they retain the same body shape of their previous body. Any physical ailments do not carry over (an autoimmune person has an avatar with a healthy immune system). The soel physically manifests the same way it will look in Kipara when it passes over, retaining all the original features the individual possesses in its plane of origin.

This occurs during planar travel due to the barriers between different planes and realms having different densities, which separate the soul from the body, with the soul manifesting externally from the body in a fleshy form. The EI can survive outside of the body as long as the umbilical cord remains attached, though it is as vulnerable to the physical world as an infant. If the umbilical cord is severed, the EI will die, and the physical body becomes a soulless husk. EIs do not require food or water as they do not possess a digestive system; instead, they get all the nutrients they need from the physical body to which they are attached. Though EIs still experience temperatures, breathing, and distress, equipment is often brought along to accommodate them, such as specialty suits designed to carry EIs.

Not all realms or planes have barriers thick enough to create EIs. The Edge Sea and Terra realms have very thin barriers.

If left alone, the individual will return to their eventually return to their plane of origin; however, if the EI is placed inside the body (effectively returning the soul to the body) in a process called Bindings, the current plane will become the individual's new plane of origin. An EI outside the body is reactive to its surroundings and can detect other EIS, but an EI that's been returned to its body cannot. If an individual dies as a whole EI, they return to their plane of origin still alive (it is only the EI body that dies).