The Okûn

The Okûn (elder root Ochar, to protect) is an area of influence acting as a sort of shield that is emitted by a passive Element.

A “passive Element” refers to an Element not presently under the direct control of its host, the mage.

The Okûn’s shielding effects protect the mage from a very specific attack- incorporeal Elemental forces. These refer to non-physical, invisible influences. For example, a mage of Mayena may try to burst someone’s heart from a distance, or a Reth mage may try to compress a foe’s lungs.

A gust of wind or, indeed, a fireball are physical forces and the Okûn provides no protection against them.

This defence is not incredibly effective, however, as the Element is only passively emitting this aura. It can be best analogised as a membrane surrounding a mage. Any incorporeal influences directed toward the mage apply pressure on this membrane, alerting the defending mage as to where an attack is coming from. This membrane cannot withstand the pressure indefinitely, and is most effective as a warning system, delaying any possible damage for long enough for the mage to act on any incorporeal forces he or she would not have sensed. The Okûn is only a passive defence, and is not emitted when the Element is being used.

These incorporeal Elemental attacks can be averted in one other way: full harmonization. When a mage is fully harmonised with his/her Element, they can often sense others using that Element within a sizeable radius. In fact, a weaker semblance of the Okûn is emitted by the Element when harmonization is achieved, allowing the mage to experience passive defence while still actively using their Element.