QUOTE (Dr. Funkenstein @ Nov 13 2009, 07:51 PM)
They're not made of matter when they materialize, they're made of ectoplasm that can look like pretty much anything you can imagine. It's mentioned in Street Magic in the beginning of the Spirits chapter. I think the subsection is labeled "Spirit Forms" or something similar. Considering also the Realistic Form power or descriptions of forms such as a fire elemental appearing as a pillar of flame (which I'm pretty is pure energy rather than matter)... yeah. Definitely not made of matter, though they can simulate it if they wish.
[ Spoiler ]
[rant]
Again, I agree with you on most points. Energy is simply another form of matter, and I can best explain this with the following:
E=MC^2 - Energy is equal to Matter times the Speed of Light squared.
C=<root of>E/<root of>M - The Speed of Light (or rather, Light itself) is equal to the root of Energy divided by the root of Matter.
M=<root of>E/C - Matter equal to the root of Energy divided by the Speed of Light (or rather, Light itself).
So really, Energy is simply matter that is moving really quickly, which is why burning materials (as seen best in Sol, our sun) are gasses that produce free-flying molecules, which we recognize as energy, as either proton, electron, or neutron emissions. And conversely, matter is simply energy in a state that is slow-moving, and movement is directly tied to energy and mass by velocity.
I may be a little confusing, but I'm tired, so cut me some slack. I really need to write a paper on this - I think it's pretty close to a Unifying Theory.
In any event, my basic differing point was that:
A) Spirits are not made out of Ectoplasm, since they are not stated as being such, although that is a useful tool to help our minds cope with this concept, and
B) There is no such a thing as pure energy being separated from matter, as energy is simply a form of matter at high speed/velocity. But again, a useful tool for trying to cope with this concept.
I would prefer to describe spirits as a Consciousness or Intelligence that is outside the realm of matter, but can descend to our physical plane, making a temporary physical materialized form in order to interact. This method of explaining it does a few things: namely, it comes closer to reality (not neccessarily the reality of spirits), as it moves spirits from the material plane and places them onto a different plane with different mechanics. If you notice, all creatures and people have matter, and some creatures and most people have intelligence. There's a definite difference, but this difference and the explanations thereof lie outside the realm of science (things that you can test, observe, repeat, ect.) and in the realm of philosophy.
[/rant]
All spirits, even those materialized, even those materialized without wings and possibly made of heavy materials, follow a different set of rules. They are not in fact made of strange materials like iron and metal, and all of them can fly, though some are trained in this ability.
And my explanation..? MAGIC!