Soular Elements (/ˈsəʊlɑːr/) are the fundamental building blocks of all soular matter. Unlike chemical elements, soular elements are not composed of atoms. Despite this, they appear to all interact just fine with electromagnetic matter.
At present, only thirteen elements have been discovered by the peoples of Earth in universe UnTR-13. Seven were discovered by Wing, the other four discovered by Calibri. Only the seven elements Wing defined appear naturally within a SOUL indefinitely. These seven elements are more commonly called "SOUL TRAITs".
Just like with chemical elements, soular elements have their own isotopes (for lack of a better term). To specify, only six of the eleven elements feature isotopes, being the SOUL TRAITs, minus DETERMINATION. These isotopes are called "PURIFIED TRAITs", "CORRUPTED TRAITs", and "INVERTED TRAITs". CORRUPTED TRAITs are like basic TRAITs, but taken to such an extreme that their positive is turned negative. PURIFIED TRAITs are similar to CORRUPTED TRAITs, but taken to an extreme and maintained in their positive aspect. Unlike the other isotopes, however, only five PURIFIED TRAITs are known. INVERTED TRAITs are TRAITs that have been reversed, and now generate the opposite of what it should.
Soular elements are ordered from least massive to most massive. Since the SOUL TRAITs, aside from DETERMINATION, host the exact same mass, they are instead ordered alphabetically by their English names.
History
The following information goes in-depth about the history of the discovery of the soular elements on Earth in universe UnTR-13, and is not needed for general knowledge. Click here to skip.
Ambiguously Canon ContentThe following section has content which has never appeared within an official publication.
The first element known about by the peoples of Earth was the element that was called "SUMMONED" by Calibri. Yet as Humans knew of dirt for thousands of years, it took an incredibly long time before it was finally chemically defined. Same for SUMMONED. Despite knowing of it, it wasn't truly defined until the late-20th century. Just as SOULs were known about for a long time, it wasn't until the mid-20th century that the SOUL TRAITs that made up SOULs were discovered and defined.
The leading event that led to the discovery of the various elements in soular matter was the death of the Vengeance Human near the end of the Monster Civil War. Half a century later, Wing finally investigated the fragmented SOUL of the Vengeance Human and found the seven TRAITs bleeding from it, then quickly being re-absorbed. After collecting small samples of this strange liquid, Wing formed the hypothesis that these liquids are what the SOUL was made of. He then used this knowledge to create the Fission Beam; a spell that would directly target these liquids and separate them from one another. In the following test, the Vengeance Human's SOUL was completely obliterated.
A little more than ten years later, after a laboratory mishap that almost resulted in a fatality, Wing began total research on the TRAITs, eventually determining that the element he later called "DETERMINATION" was the one that could possibly bypass an aspect of the Curse and free the Monsters from the Underground. After no fruit bore from that experiment, Wing ended the NECROTIC SOUL PERSISTENCE PROJECT and moved on to something else.
Sometime later, Calibri started up his own research into SOULs. During his experiments, he discovered SOUL ESSENSE, and link its existence to the source of consciousness in sentients. It was during these experiments that Calibri also truly discovered SUMMONED, and began properly defining it. Later on, while observing Sans preform his judicial duties, he found some things within a few guilty that he later went on to define as an entirely new element, LOV.[1]
Soon after the start of the 21st century, Alphys entered the scene and discovered fragments of Wing's research documented during the NECROTIC SOUL PERSISTENCE PROJECT. Using what little documentation she had, she went on and continued this research, picking up where she thought Wing left off. In restarting this experiment, she inadvertently created the Amalgamates and roused the awakening of Flowey.
Normal Elements
SUMMONED
SUMMONED, the soular element with the symbol SM, is the least massive element. SUMMONED, as its name suggests, is the element manifested in spells that have soul magic as a part of its construction, specifically summons. Put another way, SUMMONED is the element that red soular energy can be converted into. Unless color is added to a summon during conversion, the SUMMONED will be completely white.
SUMMONED is a highly programmable element, meaning that it can replicate any physical object almost perfectly. SUMMONED can take on any physical characteristic that the summoning Magician needs it to, whether that be to be weak, strong, dry, wet, firm, malleable, light, heavy, etc.
Since SUMMONED always radiates minute amounts of soular energy, it must constantly be fed more energy on a regular basis (called "summon maintenance cost" by Magicians), generally 1% of the energy required for the original summon per day (if something took 100 MP to summon, it consumes 1 MP for every day it still exists). If this energy flow ever stops, and what little energy is generally stored within SUMMONED be consumed, the object composed of SUMMONED will lose its form and self-pulverize into a white or dull-grey powder (called SOUL DUST, dust, ash, or Tephra), which has a comparable stickiness with resin. Damage to a SUMMONED object temporarily increases the maintenance cost until the damage is repaired. Taking advantage of this, an attacker can force a Magician to burn through their entire soular energy stockpile very quickly by attacking their summons.
Like fully-composed SUMMONED constructs, SOUL DUST also radiates soular energy. In the case of SOUL DUST, however, it instead decays back into soular energy. The half-life of SOUL DUST is roughly thirteen years.
Amalgaderma
A unique property of SUMMONED is that, when it combines 1:1 with any of the SOUL TRAITs (see below), it breaks down into a white sludge-like material called amalgaderma. While white by default, the color of amalgaderma is dependent upon the most abundant SOUL TRAIT absorbed. For instance, amalgaderma saturated with DETERMINATION will have a golden color, while amalgaderma saturated with KINDNESS will host a vibrant green color. As amalgaderma runs out of SOUL TRAITs, it slowly pales, returning to its white color.
When SUMMONED gets saturated with a SOUL TRAIT, it no longer requires (or accepts) soular energy, as it is powered by the SOUL TRAIT(s) it has absorbed. Like regular SUMMONED, the amalgaderma keeps its form (in its own way) from the energy it gains from the SOUL TRAIT(s), consuming them as it progresses. When this energy runs out, the amalgaderma will begin to starve or "dry out", hardening into a super hard material known as SOULSTONE.
In order for SUMMONED to break down into amalgaderma, it must come in direct contact with a SOUL TRAIT.
SOULSTONE
SOULSTONE is a dark-grey stone-like material that amalgaderma hardens into when it runs out of energy. It is incredibly hard, having comparable hardness to that of corundum, though is still susceptible to weathering. SOULSTONE massing in at anything less than 2,268 grams will crumble away into SOUL DUST, which will eventually radiate away into soular energy.
Some cultures within the greater Rhoverse have a great number of uses for SOULSTONE, such as architecture, decoration, tools, or other such things. The shaping of amalgaderma into works of art before hardening it into SOULSTONE is exceedingly similar to the art of pottery, and the shaping of SOULSTONE is exceedingly similar to stonemasonry.
BRAVERY
BRAVERY is the soular element with the symbol BV. It is one of the seven SOUL TRAITs. BRAVERY instills a feeling of invincibility and steadfastness within those who possess it, allowing them to face whatever comes their way, despite any fear they may feel.
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY is the soular element with the symbol IT. It is one of the seven SOUL TRAITs. INTEGRITY instills a feeling of reliability and honesty within those who possess it. Those with high concentrations are among the most trustworthy individuals. Despite wishing to be honest and hold promises, those with INTEGRITY will not actively seek to offend with the truth, instead opting to try and ease even the most harsh of truths into easier-to-accept forms.
JUSTICE
JUSTICE is the soular element with the symbol JT. It is one of the seven SOUL TRAITs. JUSTICE instills a feeling of right and wrong, and a powerful desire to see the right thing come to pass within those who possess it. While it is not entirely understood what quantifies "right" or "wrong", it has been found that an objective purview exists within the TRAIT, as a continued action could result in JUSTICE developing into its PURIFIED form, or into its CORRUPTED form.
KINDNESS
KINDNESS is the soular element with the symbol KN. It is one of the seven SOUL TRAITs. KINDNESS instills a feeling of gentleness and sympathy within those who possess it.
PATIENCE
PATIENCE is the soular element with the symbol PT. It is one of the seven SOUL TRAITs. PATIENCE instills an unwavering sense of long-suffering within those who possess it.
PERSEVERANCE
PERSEVERANCE is the soular element with the symbol PV. It is one of the seven SOUL TRAITs. PERSEVERANCE instills a drive to persist despite difficulties, failures, or opposition within those who possess it.
DETERMINATION
DETERMINATION is the soular element with the symbol DT. It is the most massive of the SOUL TRAITs, and is perhaps simultaneously the least and most important TRAIT in the SOUL. Despite the TRAIT itself being gold, a SOUL which has DETERMINATION as its dominant TRAIT is red. In fact, only pure DETERMINATION is gold. When it mixes with other SOUL TRAITs, the resulting color is red until another TRAIT overtakes DETERMINATION in abundance.
The function of DETERMINATION within a SOUL is to act as a sort of radiation shield, protecting the SOUL from evaporating while it is not possessing a body. The more DETERMINATION within a SOUL, the longer the SOUL can persist outside of a body or protective shell ("the limbo state" or "in limbo", as it is frequently called).
Despite having no further function beyond protecting the SOUL from evaporation, rumors exist of individuals with DT-dominant SOULs preforming seemingly impossible feats. Feats that, at first glance, seem to violate key universal laws. These feats have never been able to be confirmed to exist (let alone studied) within a controlled environment, however, and have generally been written off as tall tales by the more "educated people" of the Rhoverse.
Light Matter
Light Matter is the soular element with the symbol LM. Light matter is a lot like SUMMONED, in that it is an element manifested in spells, though in this case with light magic. Put another way, light matter is the element that silver soular energy can be converted into. Light matter can appear as any color, and frequently shifts between multiple shades in a single second, though it's far more common for light matter to only emit one constant shade, generally white.
Light matter is exceedingly reminiscent of solid light, though it is not exactly like it. The easiest example of differences to give is that light matter isn't even electromagnetic in nature, much unlike photons.
Unlike SUMMONED, light matter is self-contained in its energy, and does not radiate away minute amounts of soular energy, meaning that light matter can last for an indefinite period of time. Much like SUMMONED, light matter is highly programmable. However, it can only exist in a solid form, making it somewhat less versatile than SUMMONED.
The direct opposite of light matter is dark matter (similar in nature to matter and antimatter). Contact between light matter and dark matter destroys both, releasing heat-energy.
Dark Matter
Dark Matter is the soular element with the symbol DM. Dark matter is a lot like SUMMONED, in that it is an element manifested in spells, though in this case with darkness magic. Put another way, dark matter is the element that ebony soular energy can be converted into. Unlike SUMMONED, dark matter can only appear black, as it destroys light that comes in contact with it, not allowing any to reflect away.
Dark matter is not to be confused with what physicists generally call dark matter, despite neither being electromagnetic in nature.
Unlike SUMMONED, dark matter is self-contained in its energy, and does not radiate away minute amounts of soular energy, meaning that dark matter can last for an indefinite period of time. Much like SUMMONED, dark matter is highly programmable, though most commonly exists in a gaseous form. At will from the summoning Magician, dark matter can deposit into a solid, or sublimate back into a gas.
The direct opposite of dark matter is light matter (similar in nature to antimatter and matter). Contact between dark matter and light matter, or any light in general, destroys both, releasing heat-energy.
EUPHORA
EUPHORA is the soular element with the symbol SX. Little is known of it, as it doesn't naturally occur within SOULs for extended periods, appearing from amalgamated SOUL TRAITs (roughly 20% of the SOUL's total mass) when an individual hits sexual climax or enters some other form of powerful euphoric state, dissolving back into the seven basic SOUL TRAITs within roughly 10–30 seconds of forming. Calibri has theorized that this element may be the SOUL's reward system for attempting to persist the host's species, but given its difficult nature to study, little else has been discovered.
ESSENSE
ESSENSE is the soular element with the symbol ES. Precious little is known of this element; only that it is the source of consciousness, or is in someway connected to the consciousness. ESSENSE is rended if hit by death magic.
LOV
LOV is the soular element with the symbol LV. It is the most massive element currently discovered. The only thing this element appears in is the biological structure of the parasite LOV. If touched by karma magic, LOV will immediately begin to dissolve into ANIMOSITY and evaporate into soular energy.
PURIFIED TRAITs
MEEKNESS
MEEKNESS is the PURIFIED isotope of the BRAVERY SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol BVP.
EQUITY
EQUITY is the PURIFIED isotope of the JUSTICE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol JTP.
CHARITY
CHARITY is the PURIFIED isotope of the KINDNESS SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol KNP.
ETERNITY
ETERNITY is the PURIFIED isotope of the PATIENCE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol PTP.
STEADFASTNESS
STEADFASTNESS is the PURIFIED isotope of the PERSEVERANCE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol PVP.
CORRUPTED TRAITs
RECKLESSNESS
RECKLESSNESS is the CORRUPTED isotope of the BRAVERY SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol BVC. RECKLESSNESS instills the same feelings as BRAVERY, but those who have CORRUPTED BRAVERY have taken their feelings of invincibility to their head, and will tend to preform the stupidest, most suicidal acts because they are "so brave".
INDIFFERENCE
INDIFFERENCE is the CORRUPTED isotope of the INTEGRITY SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol ITC.
VENGEANCE
VENGEANCE is the CORRUPTED isotope of the JUSTICE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol JTC.
SACRIFICE
SACRIFICE is the CORRUPTED isotope of the KINDNESS SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol KNC.
INACTION
INACTION is the CORRUPTED isotope of the PATIENCE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol PTC.
STUBBORNNESS
STUBBORNNESS is the CORRUPTED isotope of the PERSEVERANCE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol PVC.
INVERTED TRAITs
COWARDICE
COWARDICE is the INVERTED isotope of the BRAVERY SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol BVI.
DECEIT
DECEIT is the INVERTED isotope of the INTEGRITY SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol ITI.
PREJUDICE
PREJUDICE is the INVERTED isotope of the JUSTICE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol JTI.
ANIMOSITY
ANIMOSITY is the INVERTED isotope of the KINDNESS SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol KNI.
AGITATION
AGITATION is the INVERTED isotope of the PATIENCE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol PTI.
RELUCTANCE
RELUCTANCE is the INVERTED isotope of the PERSEVERANCE SOUL TRAIT. It is marked with the symbol PVI.