Category:Elements

The most common form of magic on Amriak is that of the Elements.

The Parasite Analogy
The relationship between a mage and his Element can be analogised as a sort of parasite, where the mage acts as a host body and the Element is residing inside. However, there are major differences between this analogy and reality.

Firstly is that the Element is not a physical object/creature, instead existing in a metaphysical manner.

It is also intrinsically tied to emotion, and there is often seen to be a type of mindset suited to mages of different Elements (i.e. the patient and calm stonemage). This has sparked much debate over whether an Element chooses its host, or whether the host simply follows the Element's emotional state (an idea which has frightened more than a few people).

There is, however, always a duality involved in the Elements, and they can reflect two polar emotional states (like warmth and fury for fire).

Modes of Elemental Magic
The Elements are also capable of being used by those who carry them. This is seen in three basic methods: Another difference between a parasite is that the Element seems to take nothing away from the mage. At times, however, the mage may "attune" with his/her Element to achieve similar emotional states, greater control, and eventual "harmonization." The act is not without its risks, however.
 * Manipulation- the simplest feat of Elemental magic, whereby the mage wields their Element to exert control over the physical world. This control only extends to like substances (i.e. an embermage may use Fryth to douse a torch, but cannot directly influence a substance like water).
 * Manifestation- the mage creates a physical manifestation of their Element from thin air, transmogrifying energy to matter. This feat is very simple for Fryth (fire) and Dostrom (lightning) but is a massive challenge for the heavy Elements like Rothen (stone) and Orem (metal). Following the secondary form of the theory of Energy Dispersion, a manifested Element will disperse and disappear without the mage's influence. A manifested Element is also weaker than a manipulated one.
 * Transformation- the transmogrification of matter to Energy in the form of an Element. This is the hardest task for Elemental mages, especially reverting the effect. The practice of Full Transformation, where the mage converts their own body into their Element, is the sign of true mastery. It is an incredible challenge for the mage to learn their Element's emotional nuances to the point where they can transpose their consciousness within it.

Notably, Lethos seem to have great trouble with the Elements. This includes the minuscule percentage of Lethos carriers (smaller than the human percentage) and difficulty with cultivating, controlling, and attuning with the Element.