Elementarism (Eodea)

Elementarism is a school of eodean magic dealing with the perception and manipulation of matter. Fire, light, heat and cold are also counted in this.

This article focuses on elementarism as practised by mages, but there are other schools, usually limited to a small set of elements, or domains, including magical healers, waterseekers, illusionists and others.

1.1. Working Magic

There are no spells as they are in Shade magic. The word can be used to refer to any working, but is usually limited to one the particular mage can perform with some routine.

Essential for a mage is a trance state in which their perception of the world changes. The common ground of that "second sight" (sometimes it works over other senses) is that it enables a mage to perceive matter as concentration of elements. If they focus on something specific, they can analyse matter in detail, and find the points in the structure where to apply force for manipulations.

It is possible to cast an effect just by normal sight (or other senses), provided it is a simple one. The "cost", energy wise, is considerably higher than a properly prepared working.

It is very common for mages to use keywords, chants or mantras as memory hooks for certain classes of working. It is even more common that they need to use at least simple gestures.

1.2. Domains

The number and classification of elements, or domains, is under constant dispute, and there are many areas of overlap. A studied mage will have rudimentary familiarity with all, or nearly all, elements, although they will concentrate on a small number, sometimes only one.

• Air
  • Apart from the obvious wind, this also includes sound manipulation.
• Fire
  • It is disputed if heat and light are aspects of fire, or fire is a combination of the domains heat and light.
• Flesh
  • Manipulations of living animals require knowledge of the domain water and air; if it concerns bones, knowledge of the domain stone is helpful. (Living bone is sometimes considered a third domain halfway between flesh and stone, sometimes a mixture of both.)
  • Basis for magical healing.
  • Dead animal matter (including leather, wool etc) is somewhat different, so they are sometimes considered different domains.
• Ice
  • It is disputed if a combination of water and cold, or its own domain, with cold being an aspect of it
• Light
  • Some consider this an aspect of fire, others consider fire a combination of light and heat. It is occasionally suggested that darkness is a separate domain.
  • Includes visual illusions
• Metal
• Plant
  • Manipulation of living plants requires some knowledge of the domain water; knowledge of the domains air, soil and light are helpful.
  • Manipulating dead plant matter (wood, plant fibres, paper...) is somewhat different from manipulating live plants, so they are sometimes considered different domains.
• Stone
  • It is disputed if crystal is a subsection or its own domain.
• Water
  • With knowledge of wind this can be used to manipulate clouds/fog.