Unlike the other magics of the World, the magic of elementalism comes from the
earth upon which we stand, the air which we breath, the water that gives us
life, the fire that consumes it and the nature which binds us all together.
Whereas other magics call for aid from the heavens or the unknown, the magic of
elementalist looks within ourselves and to the world around us for answers.
Whilst new world sciences, such as alchemy, are able to distinguish between many
hundereds of material types, the essential properties of the world are divisible
into just five elements. Moreover, it is apparent that these elements arrange
themselves into what is commonly termed a 'pentagon of opposition'.
FIRE
/ \
/ \
EARTH AIR
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| |
NATURE---WATER
The result of this formation is that the world is not, as is commonly perceived, in harmony, but rather the world is in a balanced struggle, with each element eternally struggling for superiority over its opposites.
Normally the elements appear passive to us. They struggle, of course, in their own elemental ways: the fire that sweeps through the forest, the crashing of waves on the shoreline. Their constant struggle makes up the world in which we try to survive. It wasn't until about 500 years ago, however, that it was discovered that it was possible to form a symbiosis between an element and a sentient being. Thus elementalism was brought into the world.
Of the five elements, the element of fire is the shortest lived and the rarest
in its raw form. Because of this, when the element is manifest in the world it
tries desperately to cling to its existence by burning and consuming all that it
touches with its flames. Fire is thus the most malevolent and destructive of the
five elements.
In contrast to the element of fire, the element of air is one of the most abundant elements in its raw form. This, combined with its intrinsic importance in the world, tends to make the element of air haughty and arrogant. As a reflection of this, the powers granted by the element of air tend to revolve around the assertion of power. However, due to its great quantity and insubstantiality it is particularly hard to exert control over the element of air.
The element of earth is the most sturdy and unchanging of the elements. As earth moves so slowly it tends to be very modest in its power, but still very mighty due to its sheer bulk. Earth powers therefore tend to be clumsy and slow, but powerful and long-lasting.
The element of water is the element of life-giving. Water is the only element to strike the medium between solid strength and insubstantiality. Its fluid nature allows it to build a bridge between the solid and the insubstantial to give life. As a consequence of this, few of the powers of water are based on destruction, but most are on the renewal and increased vigour of the living. Water, then, is also known as the healing element and is therefore often associated with goodly beings.
The fifth element, and one about which there is much confusion, is the element of nature. The element of nature is not one concerned with the birds and trees, but more with the feral, survival instinct and inborn parental nurturing that is displayed by such animals. For this reason, it is occasionally referred to as the element of forest to reflect the struggle of life and death that is the continuation of a forest. Others have called it the spirit element as it deals with spiritual instinct. Different forms of this element have been idolized throughout the history of the world. The 'Druids' are people often associated with the more physical component of the element, whereas it is the 'Shaman' that are often able to tap into the more spiritualistic part. The term 'nature', however, most accurately encompasses both the physical and spiritual aspects of the element.
By forming a symbiosis with an element, an elementalist becomes more like that
element and begins to reflect its strengths and weaknesses. Also, through this
elemental part of him and a greater affinity to his element, an elementalist is
able to bring that element to bear in some manner. This requires great strength
and concentration on the part of the elementalist as he exchanges a little of
his energy in order to vitalize the element within. Attempts to perform such an
action by an elementalist are termed 'foci'.
Through foci, elementalists are able to mold, manipulate and control their element, and if powerful enough, the elements closest to it. The ability of an elementalist to effect a focus depends on his affinity with the element in question and thus an elementalist grows more influential in an element the more he attunes to it.
One way in which an elementalist is able to attune to his element is by giving
it some of his life so that it may have a life of its own. An element that has
been vitalized in this way is termed an 'elemental'.
Elementals come in many shapes and sizes, depending on both the element and the manner in which they were vitalized. An elemental is primarily made from the element from which it was formed, however its exact form is dependant on which part of the elementalist's character is prominent at the time of vitalization. It is usually advantageous for an elementalist to ensure that he is thinking peaceful thoughts when vitalizing because an elemental does not start under the elementalists command, but must be controlled after summoning. Thus, an elementalist thinking malevolent or evil thoughts is more often than not consumed by his elemental before he has a chance to control it.
Common forms of elementals that can be vitalized are Salamander and Drake for fire, Ifrit and Sylph for air, Golem and Statue for earth, Nagi and Nymph for water, and Treant and Dryad for nature. Other forms exist, of course, but these forms are the common result of a responsible vitalization.
It is an interesting phenomenon with elementals to note that their size is independent of their form. You can get extremely large as well as miniscule salamanders, for example. When a large salamander becomes weakened, through combat or contact with an opposite element, the damage to it will be reflected in a corresponding loss in size. It is also interesting to note that elementals are capable of sacrificing part of themselves in order to effect an elemental power: the greater their size, the large the power they are able to effect. Doing this almost always causes the elemental to become reduced in size, however.
Should control of an elemental not be established, or if it becomes negated, an elemental will usually wander around briefly before returning to its inanimate state. Some elementals, particularly those which were vitalized with malicious life, will remain at large in the world and may even seek to destroy their summoner.
With the vitalization and control of elementals and all other enduring foci, the
mere attuning of the elements is not sufficient to maintain the effect as
desired. Ongoing foci are a continual drain on the elementalist's strength, and
should the elementalist run out of mental strength, the drain will start to
affect his physical strength. Should this be allowed to continue, the
elementalist will lose consciousness and any foci that were left running will be
terminated.
The wise elementalist, then, would not risk his health by trying to maintain a number of high maintenance elemental powers without being ready to cancel them the moment the drain became too much.
The strain placed on an elementalist in focusing can often be greatly reduced by the utilization of focal aids. Some materials have been found to be particularly useful as amplifiers of the elementalist's attunement with an element. The proper employment of such devices can make all the difference in the long term utilization of foci.
A rogue elven band, 'the verdant fringe', were the ones to first uncover the
knowledge of elementalism. A controversial movement at the time, the fringe was
made up of elves from all the elven clans of the era. Membership to the fringe
was granted to those elves that were dedicated towards the ideals of the elves
as a pure race that should move away from the conflict with orcs and withdraw
back into the forest. The opinion of the fringe, however, was a minority and so
when it became apparent that the clans would not be persuaded of their cause,
the fringe renounced their brethren and took to the woods.
Whilst the Elf-Orc wars raged to their conclusion, the verdant fringe set up an encampment deep in the forest where they would not be disturbed by the trivialities of orckind. Through their continual intimacy with the forest about them, the elves of the verdant fringe began to gain a deeper understanding of its elemental nature. One of their newborn children, Alfar Oakleaf, was the first to show signs of true elementalism. Alfar showed an uncanny affinity with the forest around him from a young age. The first recorded public demonstration of his power was the growth of an acorn into a fully fledged tree in less than five minutes. This is taken as the first true act of elementalism and it occurred on Nethory 16, 317 Sylvandor.
Alfar Oakleaf taught the use of elemental magic to the people of the verdant
fringe with careless abandon. It was not long after its inception that the
misuse of elementalism sealed the fate of giant race.
A new orc settlement was the first in a long chain of events that resulted in the decline of the giantkind. Taking an immense dislike to the nearby presence of orcs, fourteen members of the fringe arranged a séance in order to animate a small group of trees so that they might destroy them. Instead of working with the element of nature to which they were attuned, they tried to command it. The result was catastrophic.
Instead of being in control of their element, the elves arose the feral ferocity that lied dormant in the forest, and it took control of them. Howling with rage, these elementals enacted terrible revenge on the elven band. Only a few of the verdant fringe members managed to escape the slaughter that day. Too ashamed to ask their elven brethren for help, they ran to the other nations of the world requesting aid.
Not seeing it as their problem, the other races, the dwarves and the giants, refused to help the elves. It was not until the feral elementals, no longer satisfied with the blood of elves, started to feed upon all sentient beings that any action was taken against them.
It was the goodly giants that took up the fight against the elementals, or 'Sihklas' as they called them in their own tongue. Mighty as they were, the noble giants were hard pressed against the Sihklas and it was only due to a great sacrifice of life that the giants were able to trap the Sihklas in twelve pits about the world. The battle marked the end of the ascendancy of the giants and the dawning of a new era which saw the uprise of the humans.
The remaining few members of the verdant fringe exiled themselves from the elven homeland and sought a new home in the south of the land where, to this day, they could set up a shrine and dedicate themselves to the proper understanding of elementalism and the elements.
I have written this book and donated it to the library of Tantallon so that the
people of the land can learn of the elements and not repeat the mistakes of
history. Perhaps one day the knowledge of how to use elemental foci will be
passed on to the populace. Perhaps I shall be the person to do it. Until then I
beseech you to learn to respect the elements of the world. Work with them, and
they will work with you.