Bits and Pieces

Foreword

WARNING: This is the longest chapter to this day and it has no plot. If you came for the fun parts skip it. If you came for worldbuilding start here.

The world that this collection of moments comes from has a very peculiar setup. The magic works differently in this world from everything else I've read about or heard about. Part of this was to prevent the possibility of overpowered characters and to help create some character development in the places it is needed most. Since most of these stories may be spurred by incidents relating to this system or may reference it frequently, I thought a guide to the magic of Caldera might be useful to my readers.

Let's start with the different types of magic, known as elements. It's not my most creative name, but it describes how this magical classification works pretty well.

Blood: The element of blood has a lot to do with anger, rage, battle, and sacrifice. Most of the magic based on this element is pretty messy and can involve using your own blood or the blood of others to perform certain tasks or to create certain weapons. Most people with this element find themselves drawn to the military or to hunting. Those born with this element are the most likely to become Vampires.

Stone: Stone refers to all things the ground can be made of. This element has a lot to do with shielding, architecture, and landscaping. These people make good warriors, but they will probably have to be drafted before they consider being a soldier even remotely ok. They have naturally tougher skin than most people, both emotionally and physically. However, under that stony emotional shell is a heart of gold. They can also call upon the molten core of the planet and split the planets crust. They crush and bludgeon their opponents or drive them through with slivers of stone.

Water: This element is one of the transformative elements. It's all about the two warmer forms of H2O. Most species and people with this element have the ability to fully shapeshift. They are very finicky and indecisive. In times of war, they tend to side with whoever is solidly winning at the moment. Even though they are pretty weird and don't seem to care about much, they will give their lives and souls for someone they love. They can control the moisture in the air and use water to move things that are out of their reach. They can also use it to reduce the impact or increase the damage of impact. They have the potential to become as dangerous as a raging sea, drowning some and dashing others into the rocks.

Fire: The element of theatrical grace and burning flames. These people are often quick to use their abilities, even when it may seem obvious that violence of barbecuing everything in sight is not the solution. They have an air of grace and a spontaneous spirit. They are hard to discourage and will never give up on their team. They can call on the fire of the stars in their most desperate moments. This allows them to become a nearly invincible creature of vengeance and fury for the last seven minutes of their life if they so desire. This has been the reason many battles have ended in ash and smoke.

Ice: The element of never-ending winter and musical talent. These people tend to keep to themselves, but if you catch them alone with any sort of instrument you'll wonder why they hide their talents. They also have impeccable balance and have a knack for staying upright on the slipperiest of surfaces. They act kind of cold towards their team, but they aren't trying to. They can use the moisture in the air to create ice whenever they need it. Ice is a physical element that can be used to create weapons and shields as well as being used to build temporary structures and bridges. on the battlefield, ice users can coat their skin in extremely hard layers of ice that constantly reform, making them nearly impossible to injure.

Lightning: Most of these people are extremely energetic and shockingly fast. They talk faster and tend to jump from subject to subject in conversation. Their magic is powerful and can work slightly different depending on the person. Some use electromagnetic waves and others just call down vengeance from the skies. It all depends on their personality. They can also use the nerves of their opponents against them if they have enough skill and precision. The messages sent between nerves are sparks of electricity. By using their element to control this they can paralyze people completely or cause them to do things against their will.