You are a Old Litch, explain what a soul is to a curious mortal. I.E. Are souls ever present, is it a particle, are souls immortal, or do they decay?

[Jemini]

Why am I about to give a serious answer when everyone else is clearly being ridiculous?

Living beings are comprised of a body, a soul, and a spirit. The body is like a giant robot from a mecha anime. The soul is like the pilot of the robot, and the spirit is like the software program that makes the robot respond properly to the pilot's commands.

A soul, once separated from the body, can board a different robot. However, as it remains outside the body it's memories will begin to decay. This is why most people are born without memories of their past lives. Normally it takes a long time for a lost soul to find a new body. This is a result of the afterlife, in which a soul tends to spend a lot of time and does not wish to leave as it's memories continue to decay.

(This is the literal model I use in my own writing. I think it is a fairly easy to visualize explanation that fits most tropes involving the soul in writing.)

 

[Cipiteca396]

The Soul? No, it's the Spirit you need to be concerned with, when speaking of the Undead.

All things have Souls, even rocks and plants. When a Soul leaves its Vessel, it immediately seeks out another unless contained. In most cases, they leave our perception when doing so. This... Translocation is instant and leaves no trace. I've theorized that they travel into a plane of existence we are yet unaware of.

A Soul is immaterial, indestructible, and never ages or otherwise degrades. No amount of power can change or damage it. The most we can do is contain it using a Phylactery, Soul Jar or convenient meat sack.

The Soul is a record, like a Write-Only Disk... Mostly. The memories engraved on a Soul by the Vessel it supports usually cannot be recovered by it. The exceptions are... Intriguing. Not to be discussed with the likes of you, however.

The Soul does, in some way, affect its Vessel. Certain emotions seem to come from somewhere deeper than the obvious. Curiosity, being my favorite. Perhaps, in some way, the Soul is driven to seek new experiences to sate its curiosity.

Now then, as to your original question... Undead like myself rely on our Spirits to do most of the heavy lifting that living creatures associate with the Body. I can show you, if you'll only step into the circle?

Make a WIS saving throw, DC 24

 

[ElijahRyne]

The Soul is a record, like a Write-Only Disk...

 

[gaylolis]

Soul is a way to regain your humanity from a hollow form, but you need a bonfire first.

 

[LilTV1155]

“Huhuhuhu, listen up and listen well, curious mortal. If you want to know about the soul, just look into their eyes. Yes, really, look at them. What do you see? Pupils? Irises? Or the reflection of yourself? If that’s what you saw then, you’re not looking deep enough, and it’s yet time for you to know. It’s a shame, but this technique will take a lot of time and effort to cultivate. Think of it as a test of your determination. If your curiosity has that little power that you give up just by a little bit of challenge then, you’re not ready. But if the fire in your heart still has yet to distinguished and still burned fiercely inside of you then, that’s very good. Just remember this one thing, young mortal. The eyes is the window to the soul~“

Too long. You just got done in b Goblin Slayer's dagger throw. lol

Edit: Source of Saying: Goblin Slayer: Brand New Day Chapter 6.5 (Mangadex.tv)
Correction: Could be Chapter 6.5 or 7, depending where you read it from.

 

[Akivien]

Ok ok
If the bofy is the vessal that intracts with the outer world meaning everything we expérience wether it's emotions thoughts etc...
Then the soul itself contains our understanding of the world in a more primitive way, it does have it's own form.
Take ut like your world view, which is prone to changes and instability, corruption etc...
Then as they are both connected instability would spread from one's soul to the rest(mind body)

 

[SakeVision]

It's like a brain except invisible.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

If I'm a lich and someone asks me about souls, the answer would be something along these lines. "Souls don't exist, so stop yapping and keep your hands away from that phylactery! It's empty! I said, E-M-P-T-Y! Put it down, PUT IT DOWN!"

 

[ElijahRyne]

If I'm a lich and someone asks me about souls, the answer would be something along these lines. "Souls don't exist, so stop yapping and keep your hands away from that phylactery! It's empty! I said, E-M-P-T-Y! Put it down, PUT IT DOWN!"

Souls what are those, look at that squirrel over there.