Earth Elementalism

Earth elementalism is the form of Elementalism practiced by the Brech'mar, due to their spiritual bond with the elemental earth spirit, Gnome. This ability allows for the manipulation of aspects of the earth element, such as soil, rock, and metal.

The ability to manipulate earth comes naturally to the Brech'mar and all individuals are capable of it, to varying degrees. Half-Brech'mar born to a Brech'mar mother inherit the ability from her, though their potential may be limited if mixed with human blood or an opposing element (Air or Light). True mastery of earth elementalism requires time and devotion, including meditative practices. With the broad range of aspects associated with earth, most Brech'mar train toward specialties relevant to their job or tastes. Manipulation of the components of the soil is the easiest, while learning to manipulate less pliable materials is a greater challenge.

Minerals and metals fall under the Earth element. Basic skills include shifting soil and loose rocks, cracking rocks, and bending malleable metals. Brech'mar who specialize in mining, crafting, or building learn specific techniques relevant to their skills and find it hard to shift skill focuses after they've become accustomed to them. More advanced skills can manipulate the composition of rocks and soil.

However, Earth elementalism is one of the most challenging forms of elementalism to master because of vast number of chemical elements that fall under the philosophical Earth element. Air Elementalists have mastery over a rather limited amount of atmospheric gases in comparison, Water Elementalists only control water and liquids that contain water, and Fire Elementalists control heat, but Earth Elementalists can control minerals and metals on the minute and massive scale.

Elementalism and Classes

Traditional Brech'mar society has a hierarchy of classes that is centered around a hereditary career path and social status. The elementalism learned in these classes is specifically honed toward the lifepath one is expected to take.

Soil Class

In the Soil Class, elementalism is geared toward agricultural purposes, with some other supportive skills. As members of the Soil tend to live a more isolated rural life outside of the subterranean city, they are mostly self-sufficient, so they have a wide array of elementalism skills to support themselves.

Elementalism makes clearing fields, digging, plowing, and other essential tasks remarkably easier than for other races. More advanced skills in the soil include altering the composition by separating rocks from dirt, from removing gravel and pebbles to clearing away boulders. They can adjust the levels of sand, gravel, clay, loam, and other composites for soil drainage, nutritional requirements for plants, and changing the acidity of the soil. They can break down rocks into smaller ones or all the way down to sand and incorporate it into the soil as needed.

Brech'mar do not have control over the organic components of soil--such as composting plant or animal matter--but once it breaks down to more essential elemental components (such as carbon, potassium, magnesium, calcium, etc.) it enters into their realm of control. When working in compost to enrich the soil, the Brech'mar manipulate the non-organic components of soil to spread or bury it.

Construction of homes, walls, and other structures on the surface are also typically the responsibility of those of the Soil, rather than turning to the Granite Class. Soil homes are partially buried with rooms shaped from the surrounding rock and earth, covered by a domed roof. At least one part of the home generally has windows that face the sun in the front, alongside the entrance. Additional buildings for livestock or storage are sometimes on the surface, or depressed into the ground and sealed. Surface structures are often created by either pulling sold stone sheets up from the bedrock, or cobbled together with loose rocks and boulders drawn from the fields.

Basalt Class

The Basalt Class are primarily miners, but it also includes basic laborers. Miners are the backbone of the class, however, and have specific uses for their elementalism. In most Brech'mar society, men are the ones who primarily do the delving and mining, while women find less dangerous roles related to mining, find work in other capacities to serve the higher classes, or do domestic tasks for their own family. These individuals typically have a basic education of elementalism, if not job-specific skills.

Miners, however, firstly learn how to tunnel with elementalism, both in the process of breaking through the earth and in understanding the supporting structures of the mountain. As they advance, Basalt miners gradually learn to seek out and sift through earth and rock to find specific minerals or metals. Basalt miners also participate in construction by building tunnels and constructing foundations for the Granite architects to sculpt.

Very few Basalt homes are the finally sculpted abodes created by the Granite, but simple, basic structures built from the surrounding rock. Some older cities have beautification and improved infrastructure in their Basalt districts, however.