This magic branch focuses on the manifestation of raw elemental magic. This includes a both a simple mageflame and an instant tsunami. Regional weather manipulation is at its most extreme end as both difficult and dangerous, requiring the combined effort of multiple mages to cast and keep going against the world's own natural weather patterns.
This branch is limited to elemental manipulation upon the current realm only. Drawing energy from other planes or even summoning elemental creatures is covered under the branch of Planar Summoning.
Areas of Study[]
The Four Classical Elements[]
Most mages have an innate draw and talent towards at least one specific element, and often struggle with the opposing element, though is not always the case. Fire and Water are directly opposed, and Air and Earth are directly opposed, though some rare mages can specialize in these polar opposites at the same time!
Fire[]
The magic of combustion: mageflames, warmth, torchlight, fireballs, fire whips, embers and sparks, fireworks, flaming explosions! The ingredients for a fire are heat, fuel, and oxygen. Fire is considered Hot and Dry, and often associated with energy, creativity, the act of learning, transformation, inspiration, and assertiveness. Fire is strongest at noon on hot summer days, in deserts and volcanoes, in ovens and forges, and even in hot springs. There is some evidence that daytime comets further increase fire's power, though it is weakened immensely at night and during solar eclipses.
Lightning and electricity is often viewed as Fire born of Air, and Solar Radiant sunlight is considered to be the highest spiritual form of fire.
Water[]
The magic of liquid H20, the universal solvent: dew, waves, refreshment, streams, oceans, rain, fog, water whips, water blasts, tsunamis! Water is considered Cold and Wet, and is often associated with emotions, feelings, intuition, wisdom, and imagination. Water is strongest on a full moon on a winter's night, in lakes and rivers and oceans, and even during rainy days. It is weakened on hot, dry days and waterless locations.
Ice is a subset of Water with a tie to Earth, and Lunar Radiant moonlight and reflections are considered to be the highest spiritual form of water.
Air[]
The magic of winds and breath: breezes, cyclones, misty mornings,pressurized air, of lift and flight, hurricanes and tornadoes! Air is considered Warm and Wet, and is often associated with logic and freedom, communication, secrets, ideas and theories, knowledge, lore, and research. Air is strongest on a breezy spring day, in storms and on high mountaintops, and in the windy eddies between buildings as well as, of course, in the open sky! It is weakened underground or in thick forests, or in enclosed spaces.
Sound magics are often studied as a subset of air. Acoustics are vibrations that can be controlled with alterations of air pressure, though earth and water can also be used to alter sound within a space as well. Air magics can also often replicate Kinetics spells depending upon their use through the manipulation of air pressure and wind blasts, rather than the Kinetics manipulation of physics and gravity.
Earth[]
The magic of sand and stone and solid form: dust, sand-screens, rock-hurling, reshaping rock to create a wall or shield, toughened armor, sturdy foundations, quicksand, rockslides! Earth is considered Cold and Dry, and is often associated with stability and tradition, maternal love (Mother Earth), security, enrichment, home, and ancestors, as well as sensing vibrations. Earth is strongest on a cool autumn day as the leaves return to the soil, in caverns and canyons, in the rich soil of gardens and among sandy dunes. It is weakened the further you go from solid ground.
Metal and Crystal are subset specializations of earth, and earth magics are extremely important in architecture for a strong foundation and sturdy walls.
Mixed Elements[]
The four classic elements do not stand by themselves. They are part of a whole, and interactions between each have their own properties. Mages that specialize in two classic elements often find themselves skilled in these mixed forms.
- Water + Earth: mud, quicksand, clay, silt, ice
- Water + Air: clouds, fog, rain, frost, snow, storms
- Water + Fire: RARE, steam, rainbows, hot springs,
- Fire + Air: smoke, clouds, saunas, lightning, sparks
- Fire + Earth: volcanic, embers, ash, metal, obsidian
- Air + Earth: RARE, crystal, vacuum, dust
Mastery Talent[]
Mages who gain complete mastery in Evocation are often able to "shapeshift" into an elemental version of themselves. Air masters often find it easy to manipulate the winds to fly, fire masters often find themselves immune to burns, water masters might gain waterbreathing, and earth masters can be extremely difficult to knock down, ensnare, or deter with quicksand. They tend to gain resistance to their element of preference, as well!
Known Academy Professors[]
- to be added as they are discovered!