Sending

Sending is an act that psychopomps may perform to help guide spirits of the dead to The Lifestream. Sending may be done in a number of ways, though the most common method is a dance ritual that has draconic roots and is traditionally practiced and taught in Sokoku. Dragons refer to this act of sending as "asobi".

Sending only effects the Ether of perished sentient lifeforms; as far as anyone can tell, lifeforms without sentience such as plants and animals do not require sending, as they cannot resist the call of The Lifestream upon their demise. On the other hand, sentient beings who die without accepting their death, or otherwise resist the call of The Lifestream, result in their Ether lingering on Sharum Mal'kari and thus must be Sent to find their way back into the Cycle of Regeneration. If the person has a strong enough conviction to remain in the world of the living, they may even take the form of an Unsent. Unsent or not, any spirit that remains in the world beyond their death is likely to end up envying the living, with that envy turning to hate and resentment, which eventually turns them into a Darkspawn.

A spirit doesn't necessarily need to be Sent to find its way to The Lifestream; in fact, it is likely that most people do not need a Sending. Sending is usually only required when a person dies in a violent or otherwise unusual circumstances, as their spirit still has "unfinished business" back in the world of the living. Once an individual has accepted death, they will return to The Lifestream without the need of sending; even individuals who go on to become Unsent possess this capacity.