Soshijutsu

Soshijutsu (素子術) is the collective term, of Genjin origin, for the martial arts techniques that make use of the ability to telekinetically manipulate the five elements: Wind, Water Earth, Fire and Energy.
People who can telekinetically manipulate the elements are collectively known as "soshijin (素子人), (masc. soshidansei (素子男性), fem. soshijosei (素子女性))," regardless of whether or not they are actual practitioners. Soshijin who use a specific element are often also termed with the corresponding prefix. People who can use the sub-techniques are often termed similarly. The action terms use the word "osu (圧す)" as a suffix with the element as a prefix. Regardless, while different cultures have different styles and/or techniques, the terminology has since become loanwords in many languages, save for some cultures whose mother tongues aren't compatible with the pronunciations, thus requiring them to coin their own terms for the practice; some languages, Albinese included, actually added past tense suffixes for ease of use.
The ability to telekinetically manipulate the elements is largely hereditary but the gift can pop up randomly in a member of a family every once in a while; that said, just having the abilities can imply potential, yet distant, Soshijin ancestry distantly. Either way, most lucky enough to have these gifts can usually only manipulate one or two elements; only a few handfuls of others are able to manipulate three, and those who can use all four are extremely rare.
Soshijin normally discover their abilities between the ages of five and eight, but they can potentially lie dormant for most of their lives, sometimes until as late as forty.
Soshijin are most common throughout Fuso and Marlakcor, but are is also seen in parts of Geminos (Soligaia and Aquilonis), Nekcroz, Tarak and Maritymir; but, actual practitioners are rare in west of Fuso or east of Marlakcor. Tirnanog, where magic reigns across the continent, is the sole known place where soshijin are nonexistent.
==Kazejutsu==
Kazejutsu (風術) is the art of manipulating air and wind.
The key to Kazejutsu is flexibility and finding and following the path of least resistance. Kazejutsu is notable for being almost purely defensive, as well as the most dynamic of the four main Elemental Arts. Kazejin can overwhelm many opponents at once with large and powerful attacks that could prove fatal.
Air movements can also be used as a levitation aid. Kazejin are able to jump high and far by riding on strong gusts of wind and can also slow or deflect falls by creating cushions of air. The constant movement required by this art makes Kazejin naturally flexible and agile, making masters of the art difficult to hit. Even without the use of the art they can easily maneuver around an opponent by ducking, jumping, and side stepping, appearing to flow around their opponents without expending any energy at all, letting the opponent tire themselves out and thus creating exploitable openings.
Kazejin can also enhance their movement in battle; they can run swiftly by decreasing air resistance around them and even sprint across or run up vertical surfaces by generating a wind current behind themselves to propel them forward. When used by a skilled Kazejin, this technique can enable the Kazejin using it to travel at a speed almost too swift for the naked eye to be able to see properly. A master Kazejin can use this technique to briefly run across water as well
===Hishojutsu===
Hishojutsu (飛翔術), the art of Flight, is a complex and extremely rare skill that has been demonstrated by very, very few Kazejin. It was such a unique ability, that it was believed to only exist in legends. It is presumably achievable through a complete denouncement of all earthly desires, which results in true freedom. The principle behind Hishojutsu is to become one with the wind, mimicking its freedom from limitations and inhibitions, in both the physical and mental sense. Once a Kazejin has embraced these principles, they can fly and hover. However, the Kazejin is still at the mercy of the surrounding environment.
==Mizujutsu==
The Mizujutsu (水術) are the art of manipulating water.
The styles of Mizujutsu are mostly fluid and graceful, acting in concert with the environment. Mizujin deal with the flow of energy; they let their defense become their offense, turning their opponents' own forces against them. Even when Mizujin do take an attack stance, their moves always appear to flow from one to the other.
Mizujin draw power from the moons, and their power is at its zenith on nights when both moons are full.
Mizujutsu's strength is its great versatility. Rather than supporting a separate set of offensive methods, Mizujutsu employ defensive techniques that can be transformed into attacks and counters - defense into offense. Instead of simply deflecting an attack, Mizujutsu's defensive maneuvers typically focus on control, achieved through turning an opponent's own strength against them, rather than directly harming the opponent.
Mizujin also possess the ability to alter the physical state of the water they manipulate, between liquid, solid and gas, at will. Changing the phase of water allows for multiple techniques in the course of a battle, from encasing an opponent in ice to hiding behind a wall of mist. Ice and steam/fog can also be molded in a diverse range of shapes. Ice provides a degree of hard lethality since it can be molded into spikes or blades to pin down or impale opponents. Steam or mist can obscure a battlefield and mask movement. Mizujin also possess the ability to breathe an icy mist that freezes water and other substances.
Almost all forms of Mizujutsu involve moving and shaping a body of water to the Mizujin's desire. By simply levitating a large mass of water, Mizujin can move water anywhere they wish, even parting it under the surface of a lake or sea, allowing them to walk along the bottom of a basin without the need to swim. These large bodies of water can also be used as weapons, either by shaping them into gigantic whips, swung repeatedly at a target as a snake-like body, formed momentarily into a razor-sharp edge that can cut through even metal, or simply dropped onto an opponent to smother them or put out a fire. On the sea or ocean, a Mizujin can create giant maelstroms.
Mizujin are also able to manipulate water pressure, allowing them to use water to grasp other objects or cut through without simply parting around them. Water can be used as a semi-solid while being able to move and flow like a liquid. Water can be pressurized to such a level where it can slice through metal. Mizujin can also use this to avoid sinking in water, effectively allowing them to walk on water.
===Chishiojutsu===
Chishiojutsu (血潮術) is a sub-skill within Mizujutsu, recognized as the darkest and deadliest of all specialized sub-techniques. The practice of Chishiojutsu essentially allows a user to manipulate the water inside another body, or their blood, allowing control over a victim's individual movements.
However, it is not entirely without a helpful use. Chishiojutsu can be used medically. Having a Chishiojin use it on a patient can be used to restrict blood-flow and make it easier for surgeons to operate without the mess of blood. Chishiojutsu can also be used to remove clots and restore blood-flow or even restart a heart, so long as it hasn't been too long since the heart stopped beating.
Due to being such a dark art, most Qirsyllvian societies outlaw the practice outside of medical use.
===Naosujutsu===
Naosujutsu (治す術), the art of Healing, is a special ability possessed by many Mizujin that enables them to heal those who have been wounded, including themselves. This is accomplished by drawing upon the life-giving properties of water, which are used to heal numerous types of physical wounds and illnesses. Healing can also alleviate certain types of stress caused by mental strain. Though the technique is effective in many contexts, it is limited in scope. For example, healing is ineffective in treating birth defects, such as blindness or random complications associated with birth. In most instances, healing is also ineffectual when treating scars or fatal injuries.
==Tsuchijutsu==
Tsuchijutsu (土術) is the art of manipulating earth.
Tsuchijutsu differs from the other Elemental Arts arts in that it maintains a distinct balance between offensive and defensive capabilities (though Mizujutsu involves a more refined version by channeling defense into offense). Tsuchijutsu uses a balance of strength and defense to overwhelm opponents. It is also worth noting that solid stances are preferred by Tsuchijin.
Tsuchijutsu is not limited to rock or soil alone. An Tsuchijin can also manipulate coal, gems, crystals, and other earth-based materials like meteorites or other things.
Tsuchijin can use the earth to form protective barriers like walls or wear earthen armors, and can even smash through solid rock with single punches or kicks.
===Shinjutsu===
Shinjutsu (震術) is the ability to for Tsuchijin perceive an environment by feeling acute vibrations through the ground. Similar to sonar and echolocation, Shinjutsu enables the practitioner to detect earthen objects and objects in contact with earth when out of sight. The technique provides a specific mental-map of the user's surroundings, detailed enough so a blind person can navigate effortlessly. It can also be used to detect when someone is lying by feeling their heart and breathing rates through the earth.
Though it's possible to sense vibrations through shoes or gloves, the technique is best used barefoot or barehanded, as bare skin senses vibrations more directly.
===Kinjutsu===
Kinjutsu (金術) are the manipulation of metal, which is made of earth. Kinjutsu relies on manipulating the residue earth particles inside the metal. When the metal is highly purified, however, such as platinum, there are no, or not enough, particles left to use, rendering the material impervious to the technique. Zedylrian Steel is also impervious to Kinjutsu, but since it's not exactly the purest metal on Qirsyllviar, no one is sure why.
=== Sunajutsu ===
Sunajutsu (砂術) is the manipulation of loose sand rather than large rocks. Since the sand is loose, it requires some form of Kazejutsu techniques to perform properly.
===Yojutsu===
Yojutsu (溶岩術) is rare ability allows an Tsuchijin to phase-change earth into lava, or lava into earth, and otherwise manipulate existing lava with great dexterity. Since the earth is liquid instead of solid, it requires some form of Mizujutsu techniques to perform properly.
==Kajijutsu ==
Kajijutsu (火事術) are the art of manipulating fire.
Kajijin use their chi/mana, combined with their breath, as a source for their efforts. This facet of Kajijutsu is a sharp contrast to the other Elemental Arts, which manipulate already present sources of their element, though Kajijin can also control or enhance flames nearby. Kajijin also draw power from the sun, and their strength is at its zenith on the summer solstice. Obversely, Kajijin lose their abilities during a total solar eclipse.
Kajijutsu are known for its intense and aggressive attacking style and general lack of adequate defensive moves, although Kajijin can modify offensive maneuvers to function as a defense, such as creating large walls of fire or shooting down incoming attacks with fire jabs.
Kajijutsu use concentrated barrages of fire to overwhelm opponents before striking a fatal blow. Swift, whirling kicks and punches generate diverse shapes for offensive attacks.
Circular motion is also a crucial element to the skill as it seems to "power up" and enhance the Kajijin's flames. Kajijin often use whirling kicks or punches to power their attacks.
Kajijin can also control the size and intensity of any nearby flames and can draw them in to manipulate them at will.
==Seijutsu==
Seijutsu (精術) is the manipulation of energy, such as naturally occurring electricity in the air or from within the body, that allows a Seijin to produce and guide a bolt of lightning from their fingertips. Sometimes referred to as quintessence in the Albinese-speaking world, generating lightning involves a circular motion with the arms. Mentally, it involves a complete peace of mind, thus allowing an individual to separate the energies of yin and yang, also interpreted as positive and negative electrical potential, respectively. When the forces collide, the Seijin guides rather than controls the lightning's direction. Not only can an Seijin generate lightning for a direct attack but they can also control the voltage to create a stun effect, even sending out an electrical pulse to cause the same effect. However, the pulse is sent in all directions and thus can affect allies if the Seijin is too close.
If drawn from within the body rather than from nature, as is most common, this process is quite taxing on a Seijin's qi/mana reserves due to its complexity. Lightning attacks usually take much longer time to initiate than standard attacks of the other elements, but a well trained Seijin can generate the lightning at a much quicker pace than a novice.
== Terms in Other Languages==
The pronunciation in certain other languages are incompatible with Genjingo – the language from where the original terminology originates – making it impossible to incorporate them as loanwords; thus some cultures/societies have coined their own terms for the practice.
Language/Culture	Practitioner affix;	Practitioner affix;	Soshijutsu	Kazejutsu 	Mizujutsu 	Tsuchijutsu	Kajijutsu 	Seijutsu
Language/Culture	Male 	Female 	Soshijutsu	Kazejutsu 	Mizujutsu 	Tsuchijutsu	Kajijutsu 	Seijutsu
Wanzu 	-nan-男 	-nu-女 	Zhishu質術 	Fengshu風術 	Shuishu水術 	Tushu土術 	Huoshu火術 	Jingshu精術
==Known Practitioners==
*Nadeshiko Suguha
*Nintoku-Tenno (Tatsuhiko) of Yamatai
*Osaragi Shigekazu
*Many in the Yamato Imperial Army & Navy
==Notes & Trivia==
*Soshijutsu is primarily inspired and based on the Bending Arts of the Avatar universe.
*Mastering the sub-techniques of an art presumably makes it more difficult, or near-impossible, to master sub-techniques of other arts. This presumption has been tested and challenged countless times throughout history, with mostly indiscernible results.
*The terms used for the disciplines vary widely by language and culture, yet they all have similar meanings.
Qirsyllvians
Category:Martial Arts
Category:Techniques
Category:Qirsyllviar