Mana Elementalist Magic

Mana Elementalist Magic, often simply called Mana Magic to avoid confusion with the Elementalism (Mana) religion, is a spellcasting tradition based on invoking spirits believed to embody the forces of nature. Spellcasters in this tradition invoke a manifestation of a spirit of one of the twelve elementals to perform a task within that elementals’ sphere; what is and is not possible is a function of the power of the magic user and his current relationship with that Elemental. The Elementals need to be honored and well-treated to continue to provide the boon of spellcasting. Often, this means contributing money to a favored cause or throwing a huge party in honor of the Elemental. Certain Elementals will balk at tasks they find offensive; for example, the Amazing Rando can no longer invoke the powers of Undine after using her to clean up his toilet. Also, gaining favor with one Elemental usually means antagonizing its opposite; this is why most practitioners choose to specialize.

It is possible to summon multiple manifestations of the Elemental for a spell, a feat which can have a geometric effect on the power of spellcasting. Powerful and experienced mages and priests can summon two manifestations; summoning three spirits is a legendary task and has not been done since the Great War. When the gods practice this form of magic, they can summon four.

This spellcasting tradition is strongly linked with the religion of Elementalism, although followers of Rainere or Chrystalis are sometimes able to practice it; Thanatos has a version of the school known as Twisted Elementalism. However, even followers of other religions should observe the major holiday of their chosen Elemental, lest they find themselves unable to invoke its powers.

The Elementals and their Spheres

The spheres of the Elementals have a degree of overlap; both Lumina and Gnome, for example, can invoke defensive barriers, and every elemental has some kind of simple offensive spell. This overlap allows those who focus on one elemental to still have access to certain useful spells. For example, a Salamando specialist would not be able to call upon the healing abilities of Undine—but they would be able to call upon Althenar. Also, the properties similar spells cast with different Elementals have subtle differences. What follows is just a short list; what the Elementals can and cannot do is much of the study of the magical tradition.

• Salamando (Fire) – Controls Fire. Most people who follow Salamando find this good enough.
• Gnome (Earth) – In addition to control over earth, Gnome also has a repertoire of somatic and body control spells; some followers of Gnome can turn their skin into stone to heighten their defenses, or increase the speed at which they move.
• Lumina (Light) – Besides powerful lucent beams, Lumina also has many protection spells and barriers.
• Shade (Darkness) – One of the most powerful Elementals offensively (though devotees of Salamando dispute this). Very powerful versus other magic users, capable of dispelling and silencing magic. Those who follow shade are also often capable of enormous stealth. Many shadow priests were used by the Grand Army to hunt Banelings during the Great War. Shadow priests are also renowned for their ability to melt faces.
• Sylphid (Air) – In addition to air, also lightning and storms. This is the Elemental associated with spells of detection and illusion.
• Luna (Moon) – Luna is crazy, literally “loonie”; her spells are associated with randomness and chance; Luna can, for example, make a blow hit in ‘just the right place’. Along with shade, Luna is one of the most powerful Elementals for manipulation of mana. Can also polymorph enemies. Luna has a sense of humor, it seems.
• Undine (Water) – Also spells of healing and cleansing toxin. Also ice spells. (Because ice is made from water. Duh!)
• Dryad (Tree) – Dryad provides not only control over plants, but influence and bonds with non-sentient animals, as well.
• Ofanite (Man) – Spells dealing with movement and motion; also spells dealing with technology.
• Sola (Sun) – Sola elementalists can manipulate physical forces like sound and gravity, similar to practitioners of time magic. (Though not time itself, time is something not no mana elementalist can manipulate).
• Kethalis (Death) – Much-maligned practitioners of curses and poison magic.
• Althenar (Life) – In addition to healing magic and lifting defensive barriers, Althenar is particularly potent against undead.

Each Elemental has an "opposite". Mages who invoke one Elemental with great frequency tend to have greater difficulty with that Elemental's opposite. Additional rituals, magical foci, and geasa can somewhat compensate for this. This is one reason most mages specialize at least somewhat.

• Salamando (Fire) and Undine (Water)
• Gnome (Earth) and Sylphid (Air)
• Lumina (Light) and Shade (Darkness)
• Luna (Moon) and Sola (Sun)
• Dryad (Tree) and Ofanite (Man)
• Kethalis (Death) and Althenar (Life)

In practicing Elementalist magic, there are three approaches: Mana Mages, Mana Priests, and Mana Summoners.

Mana Mages

Mana Mages take a scientific approach to magic; there are a great many texts on this subject, like “The Idiot’s Guide to Somatic Components of Spellcasting” and “The Proper Care and Feeding of Elementals.” Mana mages generally learn spells through study, and perform the desired spell by invoking the correct elemental in a certain way. A handful of Mana Mages have even taken up a spot of Tane-style magic, and there are a few Mana Mages teaching at GIM. Mana Mages most closely approach "general practitioners" in the school, and although the vast majority do end up specializing in a few elementals, they have a broad base of knowledge and are capable of using almost all of them, though not with the same power or flexibility as the Elementals in their areas of expertise. This particular branch of the school traces its roots back to Ajax the Scholar, a Kracian philosopher who claimed that magic, like all things, could be explained my man's reason and scientific principles. Most followers of Elementalist Mana Magic are Mana Mages.

Mana Priests

It should be noted that all Mana Priests are Elementalists Priests, but not all Elementalist Priests are Mana Priests. Mana Priests actively worship a particular Elemental, but lose the ability to perform any magic with that Elemental’s opposite. As priests, their relationship with the Elementals is much more instinctive and spiritual than those of Mages or Summoners, however the Elementals expect a higher standard of behavior from them, as well, often making strange requests. The most powerful technique available to Mana Priests is channeling, whereby they become fused with a spirit of their chosen elemental for a brief period of time. Their physical form changes to match the Elemental; a Salamando Priest, for example, would appear to be on fire. Their face is covered with a magical apparition of the Elemental. In this state, they wield the strands of magic directly, and have heightened spellcasting abilities for all magic within their elementals’ sphere. However, casting spells with other elementals can only be done with great difficulty, if at all. Some have likened channeling to the “spectral mode” used by certain very powerful Arythian spellcasters.

Mana Summoners

Mana Summoners are able to summon Elementals directly to their aid. When a mana mage casts a spell, the Elemental appears, casts the spell, and leaves. A Mana Summoner is able to summon an elemental spirit for an extended period of time, opening up new capabilities on the physical plane. They are in many ways similar to the Callers of Crystal and Merge. Mana Summoners tread a fine line, however, for if they use or abuse their summoned Elementals they may begin to turn on him.

Mana Knight

See Mana Sword for a description of the interesting innate form of this magic used by Fara Somers.

List of Mana Magic Users

• The Amazing Rando, a Mana Mage specializing in Luna who works for the Kuat Consortium

• Eleod Vrinnicus, a dwarf Shadow Priest and veteran of the Great War, and Roxanne’s new neighbor

• Grilka Vrinnicus, a dwarf Althenar priest and Eleod’s wife.

• Nopen Feanthas, a Mana Summoner who works for Earthblade Mercenaries and primarily aligned with Dryad

• Naraya Pandora, the late Queen of Guardia, was both a Mana Mage and Summoner devoted to Undine