I'm confused as to how Source relates to everything in universe

[Quadsword]

For gameplay, source is just a resource mechanic used for high level skills. That's fine, but the more I read up on the game's lore, the more confused I get about how source relates to everything in universe.

In the encyclopedia for geomancy and pyrokinesis, the text specifically mentions sourcerers who can manipulate the earth / control fire. Yet my party was doing both of those things even when they were collared and source-muted. So... what exactly does the collar do? Just limit the amount of source you can channel so you can't use the really powerful spells?

If you're not a sourcerer, are you just incapable of using any kind of magic?

What about purging? Purging the source from a sourcerer essentially turns them into a husk that can be manipulated. Yet the magisters purged Meistr Siva after Alexandar's death, but she clearly isn't a silent monk. So... I guess a sourcerer only becomes a silent monk if they're completely purged of all source or something?

That's another thing. If source is in literally everything, wouldn't the purge ending have some pretty serious consequences for the future of the world, even if the void is no longer a threat?

[jack_of_tears]

Source and Magic are two different things. Magic is the conjurings of man, Source is like the fabric of reality bent to serve your will. The use of Source weakens reality and allows demons to slip through, which are the servants of chaos and desire to unmake all of creation as you know it. The use of Source, because of its inherent danger and ability to manifest in people otherwise untrained in magic, is highly illegal.

Few beings can use Source and its users have been hunted for centuries, making for even fewer people who can use it now. Those who can are being rounded up for the 'safety of everyone' and experimented upon in order to make them less dangerous.

You and your companions were all found to be, or are suspected of being, Source users and are therefore transferred to this island rather than being executed where you were captured. Of the possible fates, yours could be worse.

[Valrynn the Dragoness]

I like to view source as some sort of life energy, considering everything seemingly requires it. Most of the ways that the "instructors" in act 2 teach you how to use more source require you to take the source out of something to the extent that it kills them.

HUGE SPOILER actually you find out at near the end of the game that sourcerers are not actually responsible for the voidwoken...

[rasmasyean]

The way I got it was Source is similar to "life force". Chi is the closest equivalent to real life I guess, where some traditional Asian martial arts try to channel it to have stronger attacks and defense. It's also played upon by George Lucas of Star Wars where The Force is an equivalent where some people have talent with it and it allows them to do outrageous things.

This is why only a Sourcerer can see spirits (life force of those who left their husk). When you purge all Source from an individual, I think the living thing becomes completely inanimate, but they made up some way to take away "most" of it so they become imbeciles instead. But if you can take it for yourself, you pretty much have that person's life force in your vessel (or "mana bar") and use that to make your spells more powerful. In other words, you're doing the magic work of 2 people by yourself. Some will require 3 or 4 people as well.