"My teacher says the voices are only echoes. I asked her whose. She said one of them was mine." — a kalashtar novice of Sanctara
When most souls die, they return to the Aetherial Sea, dissolve into raw aether, and are reborn with no memory of who they were. A kalashtar's soul never fully dissolved. Part of it is still bound to the Aetherial Sea, so they hear echoes of their past lives and of other souls drifting there. Those echoes are the source of their psychic gifts and of the deep calm they're known for.
Kalashtar first appeared in Sanctara, likely among monks who meditated at Aether Fonts, where the Lifestream touches the surface. Other lands believe they speak with the dead, and many have driven them out.
Names
Kalashtar carry the names of the land that raised them. Examples:
- Seraphel Auren
- Ismera Vale
- Coriel Ashwind
Kalashtar by Homeland
Sanctara
In Sanctara, kalashtar serve as psychic monks and spiritual advisors, making up about 2 to 4% of the people. Port Solace is one of the most welcoming places for them.
The Rest of Nova
Elsewhere, kalashtar are often exiled or shunned, feared as people who speak with the dead.