INTRO/ 0: The Elemental Realm.

Prelude.

(Written By Doctor Paracelsus, 1493-1541)

"Elementals...

You assume you know about them because you have read about it in a book, or seen it in paintings, or sculptures, or plays in the amphitheatre...

But, you truly do not.

How would I know, you may ask... Well, I know, very much in fact.

Why?...

Because I was there...

I have come up with hypotheses and philosophies, but this... This is a story I have not told to a single soul...yet

It is a story unlike any you have ever heard - because it happened, because it was real. It is a story to describe the creatures that are outside of the light of nature, how they are to be understood, what marvelous work God has created. A tale about beings between creatures and spirits, generally being invisible to mankind but having physical and commonly humaniod bodies, as well as eating, sleeping, and wearing clothes like humans. Beings that their very existence counters every law and rule of science and nature.

The Undines are similar to human in size, while Sylvestris are coarser, rougher, longer. Gnomus are short, while Vulcanus are long, slender and lean. They are able to move through their own elements as human beings move through air. Gnomus, for example, can move through rocks, walls and soil. Sylvestris are the closest to humans in this conception because they move through air like we do, while in fire they burn, in water they drown, and in earth they get stuck. They stay particular healthy in their own 'chaos', but hardly survives in the others.

We human beings are known to be composed of three parts: an elemental body, a surreal spirit, and an immortal divine soul. Elementals lacked this last part, the immortal soul. However, by marriage with a human being, the elemental and it's offspring could gain a soul.

I dismissed the conventional Christian view of elemental beings as devils, instead I argued that they are significant parts of God's creation, and I study them like I'll study the rest of the natural world...

Perhaps, this was why I was included in the prophecy... The Prophecy of the Union; The Flaming Snow.

-Theophastus von Hohenheim

1512

Einsiedeln, Schwyz."

________________________________________________

Note; This text was translated from German in 1566 and the year after in a collection of the author's philosophical writings.

________________________________________________

0:- The Elemental Realm.

"Let's start from the beginning... Through the thickest of forests and oldest of trees, where the lay-lines meet, there be a veil between this world and another; the Elemental Realm. A world of magic and powers, witches and monsters, populated by creatures in the likeness of men, but not men, for they are invisible to mankind. They are supernatural beings, best referred to as 'Elementals'.

"This Elemental Realm exists in the chaos (the void state preceding the creation of the universe or cosmos in the Greek creation myths, or to the initial "gap" created by the original separation of heaven and earth), with hazardous terrains and habitats peculiar to each element, and quite inhospitable for mortal men. Each elemental, on its on elemental habitat, has its own appearance, characteristics, behaviors, abilities, culture, customs, importance to the human race, and even tribes with their own fashion taste.

"In ascending hierarchy:

Right at the center lies; The Psychic Tribe of Dwarch; Espritia, which lays on a great terrain with the combination of all other elemental habitats. Espritia is the smallest and least populated tribe of elementals which will appear as Dwarfs to thy eyes. At most four feet and a few inches tall, different body shapes and sizes, some resemblance to other elemental's appearance. They are ghostly eyed as if they were blind, some bearing rune tattoos on their skin. Espritian dwarfs are silent and quiet creatures, not easily provoked and can avoid conflicts, and they mind their business. They are also fearless and feared for their unique wisdom and power. Espritians, being psychic, commune telepathically withholding opening their mouth except to eat and drink, they could read and control the minds of others, manipulate memories and dreams and energy, and their ghostly eyes have the ability to see into the past and future. Espritians are also blessed with unlimited wisdom and knowledge on everything in the universe. The Espritian dwarfs existence birthed the sleeping subconsciousness of us humans, and so they control the Dreamworld. Espritian magick include enlightenment, findng your life path, spiritual knowledge, seeing and understanding karmic paths of life. In Espritian culture, the Owl, amongst other critters, is a sacred creature, an emblem and symbol of their God-given wisdom. The dwarfs are seen as non-violent, only because they choose to appear so, therefore, they are frequently underestimated, but an Espritian can be very, very deadly if provoked, even to the extent of self-destruction.

"Flying up the Sky Pillers in the East, you shall arrive at; The Wind Tribe of Sylvestris, Aria, which has it's foundations deep in huge puffy clouds hovering the ever blue skies where the winds are strong. Elementals of Aria, the Sylphs, resemble tall, lithe humans- with exceptions; sprouting from their backs are a pair of huge feathery wings (birthing the myth of angels), or fringe wings (birthing the myth of fairies), these wings are almost two body-lengths long, but fold in the spine of the Sylphs when not in use. They also have large hawk-like eyes, long ears, sharp and angular faces. Sylphs are blue skinned with lighter or darker tattoo markings depending on the skin contrast, most of them possess white coloured hair and some gray or even blue. Arian sylphs are mirthful, changeable and eccentric, they love freedom and harmony is their passion as they are artistic and festive. Sylphs fly with their wings, but hover about without, as they own walking, they are about to control and manipulate their element, that is wind. They can also control the weather, can sense the slightest shift in wind, humidity, temperature and air pressure. Arian magick using air energies include divination, concentration, visualization, wind magick, feather magick, prophecy, and karma work. Arian related rituals include playing a flute or wind instrument, tossing objects in the wind, burning incense & aromatherapy, hanging objects in trees/high places. The Arian sylph community is tagged as the weakest tribe because they care little for machinations and politics of 'ground folks' and rarely interfere with the society. By customs, they are non-violent and always neutral with no interest in warfare. The sylphs are tasked with the brewing of the spring season. Arians bear the emblem of the Eagle, therefore, Eagles are sacred creatures of the wind people, often kept as pets.

"Jumping down to a great canyon in the earth's crust, towards the North, lies; The Earth Tribe of Gnomus, Terrai, whose city was built inside the walls of the canyon, deep in the earth, and on the rocky hills around. The Terrain elementals, Gnomes, and their tribe was the most populated in the realm. Terrain gnomes were just one foot taller than the dwarfs, but they were stronger, solid and stable, some bear short pointy ear, besides that, the rest of their appearance looks human. The gnomes can be stubborn, even dirty (which is like health to them), and can easily throw a fist, but they unite thougts (air), feelings (water), and will (fire) into productive activities, analogous to consciousness, one might even say they are down to the earth. Like an elemental should, Terrains gnomes can manipulate and control the earth, some females posses special ability to control plants and vegetation as well. Types of Terrian magick using earth energies include gardening, grounding, working with stone/crystals, knots, binding, money spells, and runes. Rituals include burying objects in the earth, herbalism, planting trees/plants, and making images out of wood or stone. They are not really cultured like other elementals, they live life as it comes and goes, or as they'll say 'You live only once, no soul, no afterlife. So enjoy the lasting days as they go by'. Despite their rugged nature, d gnomes help with the beautifying of the earth in every season, in between seasons as the seasons change. The Stag serves as the Terrain emblem and sacred creature of the element.

"Diving deep down in the Great Waters that covers the West; The Water Tribe of Undina, Oceania, resides. A city more beautiful than the Lost City of Atlantis under the Atlantic, or any other kingdoms in the Realm. Oceania was the only tribe with advanced machinations and developed weaponeries, popular in the Realm. Oceanides have been called many names; sprites, nymphs, mermaids, potamides, naiades, oreades, nereides... But one crowns them all- Undines. They resemble humans in size and appearance, but some have webbed fingers and toes, gills at the sides of their ribs to respire underwater and still have noses to breath on land, some have the ability to grow a fish-like tail while are just born with it. Oceanides Undines are embodiment of fluidity, nurturing, soothing, receptivity, and beauty of water in nature. They very forgiving, easy going, sensitive, gracious, compassionate, wise, relatively benign, but like any other elemental, they have got a temper when crossed. They can sometimes be overly emotional, weepy and lazy too. Male undines are less and rare, leaving the power and popularity to the love-lorn female water people. An undine can sense what another undine is feeling, so as other sea-animal, including humans. They talk underwater as well as they can control and manipulate their element. Types of magick using water include mirror divinations, magnet work, love magick, lucid dreaming, cleansing, or protection spells. Water related rituals include ritual bathing, dilution, washing, sprinkling, brewing, or tossing objects into water. Due to the lack of available males, the females can copulate with each other, some in polyandry. And they are most eager to get a soul, so they usually slip into the human world to mate, acquiring souls in the process. The Oceanide undines are responsible for the autumn season. Dolphins are selected sacred in Oceanide culture and are treated with much respect amongst other sea-creature.

"Shifting far South from the Great Waters and into the mountain ranges, lies; The Fire Tribe of Vulcanus, Incendia, a city built into the vents of active volcanoes and the lava flooded plains and valleys around them, a place of never dying heat. The Incendian elementals were the humaniod form of Salamanders, above six feet tall, and slender, with black, red or gold calloused skin, or combination of any two, their skins were thick even to the point of bearing scales to shield them from the excessive heat. They also had golden-red eyes, long tails, and tongues, some even bearing short horns, but entirely beautiful all together, you could say they were hot. Incendian salamanders represent change, energy, inspiration, love, sexuality, passion, will, leadership, faith and trust, elusiveness, innocence, physical and personal vulnerability, relationships with others and self, renewal, self-healing, stress, courage, strength, and protection. They can also be energetic, daring, passionate, enthusiastic and intelligent as they can be resentful, angry, jealous, stubborn, greedy, arrogant. In Incendia's case, its the females that are rare, and highly precious and powerful. The Incendian salamanders possess the ability to generate, manipulate and control their natural element, some able to manipulate molten lava and they are very good combaters. Types of magick using fire include healing and destroying, purification, love spells, and energy work. Fire related rituals include burning objects, lighting candles and fires, cauldron work, and baking. The Incendians are tasked with the caretaking of the summer season. Both the Phoenix and Salamander are sacred creatures in Incendian culture but the Salamander serve as their emblem.

"Ruling above all elemental tribes, and just a few miles from the shores of the Great Waters to the Southwest, lies huge and tall mountains, reaching for the clouds, covered with snow, ice and cold resides; The Ice Tribe of the Abominable, Glacilia, a city of ice growing on the cold mountain ridges like standing crystalline icicles that sparkle in sunlight. Glacilians would be what we know as Yeti, or Abominable Snowmen (but not the ape like ones in the Himalayas...that creature was as a result of a sexual accident). Glacilian yeti were tall, reaching up to ten feet, fully grown, they had pale white skin where their furs do not cover, yes, fur. From their elbows to their fingertips and from their knees down to their feet is covered in snow white fur to aid warm them from the cold, some fur extend to pubic areas granting mild coverage aided by clothing. They are also white haired, blue eyed, with a long, thin tail, and also horn extensions on their heads. The Glacilian yeti are cool, calm and collected, one might think them shy because they talk less, only when spoken to and when necessary. The yeti possess the power to manipulate, generate and control ice and snow, and they are the best swordsmen and archers. Glacilian yeti represent coolness, rigidity, stillness, unexplored and clarity. They can also symbolize the absence of love, in some rare cases anger, and some characteristics gotten from their parent elements. The Ice Tribe, been exhaulted above all other tribes, rules over the Elemental Realm, it was their sacred duty to see to the balance in the realm and tending to the winter season. The Snow-Leopards, Lynxes are seen as sacred in the tribe's culture and serve as their emblem as well as other uses. Glacilia and Incendia has been on each other's necks since the birthing of the Ice elemental, an abomination of Water and Wind whose creation lead to the Ice Age and they hence earned the name Abominable Snowmen. The Incendian salamanders, therefore, wanted to curb them under their command, saying the abomination Abominables should not rise up to power. But the yeti turned out to be more powerful than expected and they have tussled ever since... But it is not them Glacilians should worry about...

"Extremely far away from all other elemental tribes and habitat, isolated and discarded was; The Dark Tribe of Shadower, Oscuria, a pleasant name for a dreadful place of darkness and death. Oscuria was a okace where the sunlight refused to reach, it was always dark, gloomy and horrid, full of dreadful dead and dying things, it was forest, a wasteland of withered and dried black lifeless trees, with a thick a fog to company the fright it gives. Oscurian elementals are what we see as monsters, or demons, or beast, but only a few may have manlike features but with disabilities and alterations. They are wild, ruthless, voided of life, feelings or emotions, living only to destroy. These Oscurians possess variety of dark abilities like manipulating and controling darkness and shadow, black magick, control of demonic spiritual entities, fear inducement, torture and all other dark arts you can imagine. They were nightmares. Oscuria as always been an enemy of the Realm, even to the human world and beyond. Their only aim and ambition is to acquire power and dominate the Realm and worlds existing by any means possible. But through the past centuries, their armies has been annihilated by the past rulers of the Realm, and their plans put to naught. In Oscurian culture, it's kill, or be killed, eat, or be eaten, only the darkest of the dark can survive. Bats are the only beast immune to this barbaric culture as they serve as their sigil and emblem if darkness.

"Now, every elemental has a language peculiar to them, but they are also multilingual. Each tribe as its own Royal family which breeds the rulers called 'Sovereigns' to rule over the tribe, but in the case of Glacilia, the whole Realm. Each elemental tribe also possess a House of Shamans with elemental magick powers peculiar to the tribe and they serve as the root of their cultures and costoms. They also have a military force, except Espritia and Aria who don't possess a formal military because of their nature and culture.

"On this present day, in Oscuria, there are no Sovereigns, no rulers. They had just been killed by an evil young shaman, a demon succubus, a witch that also slew the rest of her shaman bloodline and gained their dark spirits, enhancing her dark magick prowess. She, unlike other Oscurians, was ineffably beautiful, so she believed she was made special, made to rule. Possessed by legions of demonic entities, she presently overseas Oscuria, and with the assistance of her able minions, she plots to accomplish what her predecessors could not- taking over and controling all existing realms. She had waited patiently for years since infancy, searching for a way to fulfill her diabolical plans and supposed destiny. And after years of tirelessly researching where her ancestry did not, she stumbled upon a way to bring all tribes to their knees... She should be the one *everyone* should worry about...

"But yet... Unknown to her, ages before her birth, a prophecy was declared by an old Espritian shamaness: An heir and an heiress would be birthed of opposite tribes, and the union of both would be the union of all, and would then vanquish the darkness for all eternities..."

________________________________________________

To Be Continued in the next Episode 🔥

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***