I’ve been rereading the grimoire and hoping you guys can help me figure out something that’s bothered me every time I read the books of sorrow. That being: What’s the point of Oversouls when Ascendant realms exist? I know gameplay wise they make for a good wiping mechanic but in terms of lore it doesn’t seem to mesh well with how we know ascendant realms work.
So Oversouls are supposed to house an Ascendant hive’s soul after death right? Allowing them to come back as often as they want, effectively becoming immortal? And one of the many aspects of Ascendant realms are that they also house an Ascendant hive’s soul after death? Allowing them to come back as often as they want, effectively becoming immortal? If these are both true then clearly there’s no purpose to having an Oversoul, as Ascendant hive will be able to die and come back whether they have an Oversoul or not, only being permanently dead after dying in their Ascendant realms.
The only reason I can think of to explain the purpose of Oversouls is that maybe only Oryx and his sisters are able to die and come back without needing Oversouls due to being Hive Gods? And all other ascendant hive still need an Oversoul or they will permanently die even if they are outside their Ascendant Realm? That would mean we’d be able to kill Crota in the material plane if he didn’t have an Oversoul. But if that’s true then why does Oryx have an Oversoul? That being the Dreadnaught. Although that point may be up for debate as some see the Dreadnaught as his Oversoul and some don’t, I don’t know if it’s ever been definitively proven one way or the other.
Can anyone help clarify these points for me?