Appearance

All elementals have their true form, which is the form they were created in and the one they will always revert back to should their energy stores be depleted. This form is the purest form of their element, usually seen a swirling orb of whatever their element may be, such as a floating ball of fire. Spirit elementals are a swirling orb of what seems to be powerful aura, the color of which is reflected in their eyes in their solid forms. These pure forms of elementals have always been seen as a peculiarity or mystery, for the elementals are able to move around in this form as they may in any other, and many other creatures are unable to link such a sight to an elemental's true form.

An elemental's chosen other form may be anything other than a pure element. This form always hints at the true nature of the creature, such as scales that seem to flicker with firelight on a dragon, or a horse whose mane and tail are blowing in the breeze that only it seems to feel. Most regular elementals are limited to only one or two forms, but spirit elementals are able to take any form they wish, their true nature given away only by the strange, glowing colors of their eyes that reflect their pure form. For all elementals, any markings that appear on one form remain the same in all forms save for the elemental's pure state.

An elemental's ability to change form does not mean elementals are able to change characteristics of a single form. They have a set appearance to each form, and are unable to only change certain features of their appearance; they may only shift fully, or not at all.

Abilities

As their name hints, elementals have absolute control of whatever element they possess, and they are able to bring it forth at will or control whatever already exists. For example Fire elementals may be able to shape fire to their will, or make it burn brighter and hotter or cool it down until the flames are barely flickering. Air elementals may be able to create a tornado or halt all movement of air. Spirit elementals, as the lone exception, are adept at any magic, though they are better at magics that involve elements and are easily able to maintain control of all elements.

An elemental's ability to control their element depends on their power, which increases as they grow older. Larger feats such as stopping a tornado or creating a tsunami require enormous amounts of energy, and once an elemental reaches its limit, it will disappear from existence. Only the oldest of the elementals are able to do such large things without dying, and often they are severely reduced in power for a long time after such a feat.

Elementals are created only through a gathering of many members of a certain type of element. They each donate a part of their own pure being to the formation of a few new elementals, who are then sent to survive in the world without aid. Newborn elementals are very weak and can be destroyed easily or even by accident, and it is not uncommon that new elementals are extinguished shortly after birth. As the elemental ages, their presence grows larger and their power grows, allowing them to overcome challenges that would easily have killed them in their earlier days of existence.

History

Elementals were formed by the combined efforts of three goddesses, Feaya, Malina, and Jiasna. These goddesses joined together with a grasp on each of the elements- fire, water, air, earth, light, and dark to create sentient beings from each.

Each element was given the ability to take a form that they wished, though such a form would hold the characteristics of the original element itself. The creation was beautiful at first, and the gods stood back to admire their creatures, the dragons whose scales flickered with a thousand flames, the elves with grained skin smoother than sanded wood... but all could not remain well.

Jiasna, as the goddess of chaos, wished for something other than simple beings, and thus she slipped behind the backs of the other two to create another elemental, one she dubbed a spirit elemental. This creature was more powerful than the others, made of the fabric of the magical aura itself rather than a single element, able to take any form it wished and perform whatever magic it fancied.

Quickly it became obvious that these spirit elementals were the most powerful of the elementals, for with their ability to manipulate the forces that held them together they were as strong as any of the royals of the other species, for these beings were made of sheer magic.

Sensing destruction would ensue should these spirit elementals grow in number, the gods limited these creatures to a very, very few, so that other species would remain safe. Even today, the spirit elementals remain very uncommon, and sightings of them are rarer still.

Elementals were first created in the depths of the forest in Katakarthia, and they remained hidden for a long time, living in the shadows of the trees until a few of the strongest and bravest ventured away from their sheltered life to explore the rest of Antarsia. Now, though the highest numbers of elementals will always be in the depths of the Katakarthian woodland, many more elementals wander the rest of the world, never staying in one place too long, flitting about as they please.