...Elementals...
Elementals are men and women who are linked and attuned to a certain
elemental force of nature. Nobody really knows how they come to be, and
in fact it seems there may be many different way in which they do. What
is certain is that all share a spiritual reverence of, sometimes even
an obsession with, the force to which they are bound.
Most of the time, an elemental appears to be an ordinary human. Oftentimes some specific physical or behavioral trait links them to their element- an Earth elemental might be built like a mountainside and move with slow deliberation, while a Fire elemental might have a shock of red hair and a mercurial temperament. However, (for the most part!) you wouldn't think them inhuman unless you knew precisely what to look for.
That can change in the blink of an eye, though, when the elemental in question chooses to show his true colors and take on elemental form. The elemental form is always strongly evocative of the element to which the individual is linked. In some cases the elemental may even come to be entirely composed of that element. For instance, the above-mentioned Fire elemental's skin may turn red as his hair becomes a corona of flames. The Earth, meanwhile, may become a living statue composed entirely of some type of rock.
All elementals derive some strength from their element. Most can also exercise some amount of control over it. However, in return many show a dependence upon their element or weaknesses to forces opposing their element. Most grow greatly more powerful in their elemental forms, though the degree to which this is true varies greatly from elemental to elemental.
The elements, it is said, are the fundamental forces of which all other things are created. While modern science has shown that this is not literally true, many still know the spiritual truth of this. It is interesting to note that each culture which has spawned the tradition of the elements has chosen a slightly different interpretation of what these are. Elementals are always aligned to one of the elements of the culture into which they are born.
Western Traditional Elements
Water
Fire
Wind
Earth
Japanese Traditional Elements
Fire
Ice
Lightning
Chinese Traditional Elements
Wood
Fire
Earth
Metal
Water
Para-elements
Flora
Light
Dark
How Elementals Are Conceived:
Elementals are capable of being conceieved by two normal human parents, for some reason developing genetic strands that may not have been apparent in the family for many, many years. Alternatively, an elemental may inherit their powers from having one elemental parent and one human parent - typically their element will be the same as their parent's element, or at the very least a compatible one (eg. a fire elemental will not give birth to a water elemental under any circumstances). Please note that having two elemental parents of the same type does not increase the child's abilities with that element.
Two-type elementals are concieved in a very different manner, and may only come to be the result of an elemental marriage/relationship. This means that both parents must have been elementals, and the child will inherit the element of both parents, though in a very weakened form (only one weak power for each, and an average not strong, power of the two elements combined). However, for two elementals to successfully concieve a child together, their intercourse must come in their elemental forms. To this extent, two elementals in their human forms will not create a child from intercourse. Therefore, only compatible elemental types may produce offspring together. An example is that there could be no fire/water combination elemental - their fire parent would have died in intercourse preventing the creation of the child. A list of compatible elements will be put up soon.
Elemental Attributes:
Water
Powers:
Manipulation of water around them, creation of water by bonding hydrogen and oxygen, etc.
Weaknesses:
Require twice as much daily water intake, dehydrate extremely quickly, always anxious to get in the water, etc.
Personality:
Typically shy and slightly introverted, can have moodswings (can be calm and soothing, or fierce and stormy), etc.
Fire
Powers:
Manipulation of fire, capable of setting things ablaze with a thought, etc.
Weaknesses:
Reliance on sunlight and warmth, claustrophobic when in water, dislike extremely cold temperatures, etc.
Personality:
Typically carefree and outgoing, can be extremely quick to anger, etc.
Wind
Powers:
Flight, manipulation of air currents, etc.
Weaknesses:
Can be extremely claustrophobic in even a slightly small space, etc.
Personality:
Keep to themselves, drifters, etc.
Earth
Powers:
Capable of shifting earth and dirt with their minds, also capable of melding into soil, etc.
Weaknesses:
Dislike flying and travelling across/through water, require frequent contact with the earth, etc.
Personality:
Females tend to be motherly and nurturing, whereas males can be stubborn on their views and unwilling to show emotion, etc.
(more information forthcoming)
© Kia Waring
