As a Polyfragmented system our splits are so drastically different than what we've seen as other System's splits. Our splits work like this: traumatic/distressing/or otherwise upsetting event takes place. We start splitting, our splits do not "finish" per say until 3-5 days later (this is the healthy amount, however some headmates like to try to hold splits off in order to prevent them which is unhealthy and causes issues insys and out) our body and brain experience more and more pain the closer the split is to happening. The split is let go, and the new person (or people if it's a multi split) are locked in front everyone else is kicked out. And the new splits have to figure out how to survive basically and tru to mask as much as possible with absolutely no information (usually they look for calendars, or listen in conversations more than talk to get the feel for things) until either we can get the door to unlock, or the new splits disapate (they fade away and no one remembers they even existed) the latter only happens if there is an actively stressful situation happening on top of showing up in a system and not knowing what a system is.
We now have a designated Shepard, which is a headmate in our PPS that will explain what is going on and help the new split before they disapate. Often that means explaining what a system is and then trying to ID the new splits. Like getting their name. We are very fictive heavy so this isn't that hard. However, when new splits show up then don't remember their name. Sometimes but very rarely do they remember other people's names. So our Shepard has to work based on clues, like how old they are, where they lived before, what their family is like, what they were doing before showing up in a system etc etc.
Also, almost everyone in our system besides some of those that showed up before our syscovery have exo memories. And we are firm believers of the multi verse, so we believe all those memories are real and valid, but taht also means it is borderline impossible to source separate some of our Introjects because they very much in the most literal sense are their source. And not many people talk about that or believe that (that we've seen).
Hmm, occasionally a few alters of mine have held off splitting or they try to pull the fragment split off from them inwards as an attempt to fuse again. Splitting doesn't occur that often with us unless the alter has developed a relatively complex identity in which could be chipped off by stress, trauma, some other factor...
As a blurian type of system, our shared memory and low amnesia barriers is enough to reorient a new headmate. I feel as if that's a key difference between us since this means we don't need a guide for new members.
And as for exo-memories... I'll be honest, I'm not so sure if my own fictive sysmates can vividly connect to such memories (exo-memories often come out as blurry in our head), but since our source can still influence our personalities then we can definitely relate to being unable to source separate. The multiverse is a shared belief among my collective too, anyways.
I think I might tag this as an ask that my system couldn't relate to (not in full), but I'm pretty sure other plurals might connect with this better than I did!
-Daimon (Obanai Fictive /@enberneutral)
