Elemental

Elemental powers allow their user to spontaneously create a designated element and manipulate it according to their will. The element is generated by breaking down nearby particles and realigning them on a quantum scale, literally summoning it out of the air itself. This process has been studied by the IPTO for years, but while a few breakthroughs have been made, its true nature remains a mystery.

In addition to this, Elementals can partially shift their body into their element, have a resistance to being damaged by that element, and can use it to heal themselves when injured. They can instinctively draw on up to two specific Manifestations (specialized forms, such as an Earth Elemental making pillars or spikes), and may also have a unique Trait that changes the basic properties of their element or power.

See also Hybrid Elemental and Alien Elemental.

## **Elemental Features**

**Creation and kinesis:**
Elementals can generate their element within a range of twenty feet, and can manipulate it as far out as fifty feet. This manipulation is typically no stronger than their own lifting strength, meaning an Earth elemental can't simply chuck around giant boulders as they like. Malleable elements such as water or air may be freely molded with the mind alone, but harder ones such as metal or stone require additional means (such as a Manifestation or Trait) to reshape.

**Manifestations:**
By default, when an Elemental generates their element, it emerges as a lumpy and shapeless mass. The exceptions to this are Manifestations, specialized forms they can create on instinct and without extra effort. These forms differ between Elementals, with each individual having access to one or two of them. Examples would be a Metal elemental being able to manifest swords, or a Plasma elemental manifesting a concentrated long-range beam attack.

**Active healing:**
An Elemental can directly repair their own body by converting their created element into extra biomass. Though useful, this process requires the Elemental's conscious attention to perform, and can take them up to half a minute when repairing a serious injury.

**Partial shifting**
An Elemental can transform up to 50% of their body into their element (ex: a Fire Elemental turning their arms into living flames). The shifted parts may be immune to some forms of damage, but can still be destroyed with the right means (such as a fire arm being extinguished or blown away).

**Passive resistances:**
All Elementals gain a partial resistance to being harmed by their own element. Resistance to an element does not grant absolute physical protection, but does mitigate most damage to a survivable extent (ex: a Metal Elemental can still be hurt by bullets, but won't die from a single shot).

**Elemental Traits:**
Elementals each have a unique Trait that changes how their power works. This can be a change to their base element, such as summoning solid flames or corrosive water, or an addition to their power, such as having four Manifestations rather than two. The Trait is often the most powerful part of an Elemental's ability, the part that makes them truly stand out from their peers. Most Traits cease to take effect outside the Elemental's 50 foot manipulation range, but those that specifically allow creation of an element with altered basic properties, or that are used to enhance projectile-type manifestations, can persist beyond this range.

**Limits and Decay:**
Elemental powers come at a great cost: overuse of the user's abilities will cause permanent and irreparable damage to their body, which manifests as the gradual degeneration of their cells into their element. A Fire Elemental might have their blood replaced by smoke, and a Water Elemental might find themselves growing physically weak and losing color in their skin. An Elemental can avoid Decay by using their powers sparingly and for short periods only, but prolonged use of large-scale abilities will gradually wear them away. Excessive decay will eventually lead to death, or in extremely rare cases to the birth of a **Broken**.

## **Elemental Terminology**

* **Decay:** The decline of health resulting from overuse of Elemental powers.

* **Manifestation:** The shape or application of their element, ranging from blades to projectiles or anything else.

* **Trait:** Their unique ability exclusive to themselves.

* **Bucket:** The amount of power an elemental can use before they start to decay.

## **Example Power**

**Element:** Fire Elemental

**Manifestation 1:** A five-inch-wide jet of flames that fires from the palms of the user's hands, extending 50ft long at most. These flames can reach up to 2,500 degrees Fahrenheit.

**Manifestation 2:** Jets of flame that blast from the feet and allow the user to fly up to 100mph.

**Trait:** Being burned by this elemental's flames will cause solid objects to melt at 1/5th of their usual melting point.