The Elemental Covenant
The world of Embers is a tapestry woven from five primal forces: Spirit, Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. These core elements do not merely exist; they breathe, react, and shape the very destiny of the frontier. This gateway serves as your initiation into the profound lore that governs our existence, outlining the delicate balance between the physical and the supernatural.
Elemental Casters
Those who wield the power of the Elements within The Wilds are known as Casters, magical beings that have harnessed the very nature around them and found ways to shape and bend it to their will. The elements must exist in balance with one another or else risk catastrophe. The moment you are pulled into this realm, you will be tasked immediately with exploring and forming a connection with one of the five elements in order to help keep this balance. Most will heed the call of The Wilds and take this journey, however, some may not and choose to live their lives free of magic.
Once you have explored each Element and finally communed with your selected element, you will obtain a Grimoire, the means by which you are to harness your elemental power and bring forth your magic into reality. Be mindful though, practicing magic comes at a price, whether it be time, effort, material, or risk of danger. In the shadows there lurks something sinister, it seeks out powerful individuals, those that wield the elements are at the top of its list, so be mindful of where and when you practice or else you may just end up with a mark on your back.
History:
Over a hundred years ago, the Ember Covenant was destroyed, a power unlike anything before tore through and shattered the balance the First Witches worked so hard to keep. During this tragic event, the Final Rite was enacted, and with it, their powers seeped into the very land, igniting a rapid growth of magical fauna, plants, and weather. Now the very realm itself has begun drawing in newcomers fitting to keep the balance once held by the coven.
Not much is known from the time of The First Witches, just that many of their practices and teachings have been passed down within the very walls they once called home. Each Elemental Hub serves as a reminder of what once was and what can be for The Wilds. Through practice, exploration, and the efforts of everyone within this realm, maybe more will be discovered, unlocked, and potentially shared amongst its inhabitants. The Wilds is a chaotic place full of teeming magical energy, some places may be more dense in energy than others, causing all sorts of new things to sprout up, grow, harden, or form with innate elemental properties.
Weaknesses:
There is not one Element that stands above the rest, each exist in their own respective place, the natural balance of the world. If one Element grows too powerful, it is out of necessity for the others that the balance be restored, or else The Wilds may grow destabilized and a calamity befall the realm. You will not find a Water Caster overpowering a Fire Caster from pure elemental might, there is no inherent weakness between the Elements. Through one's studies, training, and understanding of their Element, will they be able to overcome the challenges of others if need be.
Practices:
Elemental Casters harness the very nature around them through different material mediums, plants, minerals, gems, etc in order to shape their magic into something more. By using a Grimoire, a Caster will be able to craft Sigils and Runes that create their intent into physical magic. Additionally, all walks of life within the realm can harness some innate magical traits through Alchemy, combining mundane and magical ingredients in order to produce Potions that temporarily create magical effects.
Grimoire:
Upon attuning with an Element, a Caster will manifest a Grimoire that holds hidden knowledge about their magic, their craft, and their potential. Through trial and error, an Elemental Caster will be able to decipher their Grimoire and find ways to utilize the different magical properties around The Wilds in order to cast their magic. Be warned though, losing one's Grimoire is like losing a part of them, it is their connection between the mundane and the magical. They are priceless artifacts that should not be taken from any Caster.
Sigils/Runes:
The knowledge locked away in one's Grimoire is that of creating Sigils and Runes, ancient recipes to combine the multitude of magical ingredients throughout The Wilds in order to create magical spells. There is a vast array of Sigils and Runes, some being used offensively, others defensively, or even to enhance one's mobility. Each Element reflects unique traits within its magical craft, some may bolster the body, while others manipulate the world around them. For all Elemental Casters, they have found a means to both immobilize their enemy and also manipulate the magic within the realm to slip through reality itself.
