Elementals

Elementals are embodiments of one of the elements of air, earth, fire or water. They can be summoned into existence by a mage or created from naturally occuring magic. As elementals do not exist prior to their summoning they have no record or experience of previous life. They are however relatively intelligent but their newfound existence often incurs upon them a childlike persona which resembles the properties of the element that forms them.

Elementals are not duty-bound servants but capable to do as they want. As their personality reflects their element some elementals are easily controlled while other requires the use of commands to have them obey the will of their summoner.

Elementals are categorized by how much magical energy they contain. This stands in direct relation to how difficult they are to summon forth. Elementals are graded as lesser, common, greater and grand. An elemental is roughly the same height in meters as its level.

The only way to destroy an elemental is to inflict enough damage to disperse it. However elementals are highly resistant to many forms of damage and damaging a specific part of their body has no particular effect. As they do not have internal organs elementals are highly resistant to thrusting attacks and indeed most physical attacks do little damage. They are also immune to energy damage from their own element but vulnerable against other types. Should an elemental be killed it will dissolve back into its natural state, usually rather violently causing potentially harm to anyone close.

There are one type of elemental for each element: earth elementals, fire elementals, water elementals and wind elementals. A special kind of elementals are the golems.

Summoning
To summon an elemental one need to use the appropriate summoning spell from one of the elemental schools of aeromancy, geomancy, hydromancy or pyromancy. Also the summoning requires the presence of the element to be used in the quantity required for the elemental to manifest. The caster is also required to be protected by a magic shield from the appropriate school.

Once an elemental has been summoned the caster is required to stabilize it using his or her will.

Being manifested in the Mortal Realm requires a lot of magical energies which drains the elementals magical energies. When the elemental has no power left it will be unsummoned and return to its element.