Spirits, Remnants Sacred Beasts, Sacred Plants, and Dreadbeasts

Spirits

On Cradle, humans, animals, and plants can engage in the mystical practice of sacred arts. All humans are born with a spirit and pure madra, and thus they typically catch on naturally in childhood, at least at a simple foundational or Copper level, if there is even just a little vital aura in the environment.
However, animals and plants first need to develop a spirit, and therefore leave behind a Remnant when they die. That takes years. Animals and plants do not develop a spirit until they are old. Very old. Centuries. Most die young. So only some beasts, and even fewer plants, become spirited, and thus sacred.
If an animal or a plant lives long enough in an area rich in a specific vital aura -- earth, stone, water, life, lightning, blood, shadow, fire, force, etc. -- they can absorb enough of the stuff to develop a spirit and cycle madra. Then they might begin to experience the magical sacred arts, albeit in their own way.

Spirit-beings seem to spring up naturally on Cradle, wherever vital aura is plentiful. They can even occasionally become more sentient, more alive, a character. There are all kinds of spirits. They can be formed of multiple aspects of madra. There are pure nature spirits, Shadow spirits, Grave spirits. Plague-spirits, and even Dream spirits.

Remnants

Every sacred artist with a viable spirit leaves behind a Remnant upon death. A Remnant is somewhat like a spirit, or ghost, made of madra. Remnants are powerful — the more advanced in life, the more powerful — but not as powerful as when alive, and corporeal. Remnants are used in Soulsmithing work, and when sacred artists advance to Lowgold, adopting a Remnant and its Goldsign. Sacred animals, Sacred plants, and humans leave behind a Remnant after death. Some do not leave behind remnanats when they die: those who do not yet have a spirit, have been too corrupted (like dreadbeasts), or had too much spiritual damage prior to death.

Sacred Beasts

Sacred Beasts are animals who live at least a century or more in an environment rich in a specific aura and develop a spirit -- thus a Remnant. Then they can cycle madra. Lord-level sacred beasts can change shape, some even taking the for of a human. Some sacred beasts can even gain enough power to become Monarchs. When sacred beasts die, they leave behind a valuable and powerful Remnant, especially if they are advanced in the sacred arts.

Sacred Plants

Plants, especially long-living trees, can do the same, but for them a spirit take at least twice as long to form, compared to animals. Eventually they do develop a spirit. Some live long enough and suck up enough aura that they develop a spirit, with possibly sight, speech, and mobility. Some can walk, or even fly.

Dreadbeasts

Dreadbeasts are corrupted sacred beasts, whose spirits are mangled up with their bodies, unlike the distinct spirit found in humans and in sacred beasts. They love hunger aura, but it corrupts them.
They inhabit the Desolate Wilds and the surrounding areas.

Hunger Aura

Hunger aura is a major problem, because it’s unnatural and corruptive and free-ranging. It corrupts anything and anyone it touches. And hunger aura, itself, is the unnatural by-product of corruption in humans — the bottomless need, greed, and endless ambition shown by self-interested Monarchs. Hunger aura does not exist naturally.