Welcome to Gaia! ::

I feel like stretching my not to large Ego to compensate for the small amounts of ego room left between the stellar giants which are Cade, Vel, and Caiyo by dropping tidbits of my Roleplay know how into the guild. At some point, I'll likely make a sister thread to this post to record major points or conversation in a [quick and easier to use fashion.

Feel free to ask me RPing questions, or open up a discussion about another topic. I just ask that you re frame from doing so in the middle of a currently spicy conversation/argument topic as to not clutter the corner.

Thank you.

The Elements

Alright, this Next post is to enlighten some of you about the elements and why, in many cases, the average conception about them and how they are all, while in their own right different, all the same.

Air
In retrospect, probably the second most powerful of the classic four. Control over air gives you you the ability to basically tear anything asunder or even crush anything to bit as long as you are within a place with an atmosphere. Or does it really stop there? In space, nebula are masses of gases and particles. Wouldn't those gases count as air?

Earth
The most powerful of all the elements. Why? Because in retrospect, aside from living matter, wouldn't all things found in a natural solid state be considered earth? And going deeper than that, wouldn't that also give them control over objects such as dark matter and star cores, both of which are made of highly condensed solid material? What's worse, liquid metal and molten rock is still earth. And thus, even liquid objects can be manipulated by earth elemental.

Water
Of the classic four, Water is the weakest element because it is so restricting and plays into the powers of all other elements. Ice can be considered earth. However, even ice can be made of objects that aren't water or have water dilutes in them. Mud is considered waterlogged dirt, where as murky water is simply dirty water. Thus, even mud isn't a water based. Water vapor is often used as a means of attacking via the air, but against an air user, the vapors would be part of his element more, no?
However, for all of water short comings, it has many pluses. Like air and earth, water can be used to crush. But also, water CAN move through permeable surfaces like dirt and when pressurized has more cutting power than an air blade. More than any naturally forged blade actually. And there is a little secret to liquid water. Water can stay in water worm if the concentration remains absolute, whether in the presence of heat or cold. There is liquid water in the arctic where the waters, which are mostly fresh water, remain in liquid form. Inversely, when you boil water, the water does change into a gas, but at the same time, not all the water turns to gas form instantaneously even though the water at the top is likely beyond the boiling point. Food for thought.

Fire
There is a big controversy bout how fire users make fire out of nothing. Fire traditionally needs fuel, oxygen and heat. In Avatar, the latter are supplied, but we see a lack of the first requirement and shrug the act off as impossible and not theoretical and what not(as if the rest of the bending wasn't either). However, what makes the sun burn? Controlled fusion. At that point, the traditional requirements aren't necessary. We simply need fuel and heat. The fuel is what Iroh, in Avatar described as the Breath. In other words, the very particles in the air give root to Fire bending. But then, why does the cold negate this? Well, if you think about it, it's quiet simple. You are suppressing two of the requirements. Cold air is much denser and there for takes more heat to activate. Heavier fuel, harder to lite. It's like putting Diesel engine in an F1 racer. You might get it going eventually, but you aren't gonna get rolling real fast with that kind of fuel.

Now, if you want to talk about magical fire, then you're all basically bitching over nothing. Magical fire is feed magical energy and thus has it's support. In the same manner that a Mage could likely make water from magic in a dessert, a fire can be made from solely magic as well. Don't get magic fire and fire bending confused, because they work on two separate principles altogether.

(Before anyone says anything, yes I can do this)
Abnormal and Other Elements

Black Fire and Dark Fire

There is a distinct difference between the element of dark fire and the element of black fire. Dark fire, while in itself being purely fictional like Black Fire, is in the spectrum of what would be considered "normal fire" like white, red and blue fire. Dark Fire is just a simple hotter burning fire, being similar to that of white fire, but harder to control, which is why it is in another category.

Black Fire on the other hand is completely different as it doesn't even necessarily run on the same principals of "normal" fire. Black Fire consumes energy and that's it. It doesn't need oxygen or heat to "burn". Black Fire is started by the users energy and fueled by outside energies, all of them. You may think, but there's energy everywhere, how will it go out? To Black Fire, most pre-existing ambient energies would be like negative calories, the fire would burn straight through them and die out. Now, Black Fire can be maintained as long as the user wills it, using their own energy as an ignition, meaning it drains the user as well, more severely the further away from it the user is. That being said, black Fire consumes and spreads quickly, so if someone were to shoot a massive beam of energy and the person were to use an ember of Black Fire on that beam, the Black Fire would react by expanding and consuming the beam until it reached the source and NO LONGER require the energy of the user as it would be feeding off of the energy of the beam and consequently, the person who fired it.

Once the fire is attached to a person, it begins to feed off of all energy that person produces. This means that once it reaches a person, their energy based attacks will only fuel the fire. Since energy must be focused before it is released, the fire will travel toward that area of the body and almost effectively null any energy based attacks, the more energy a person has, the faster it spreads and consumes. This effect goes right down to bodily functions such as the heart pumping. Once the fire has started the is no way to put it out except to knock the user out and it won't jump off from person through physical contact like a normal fire.

The catch being that if a person has good enough control over their energy, they can slow the spread of the fire. Also, if they are able to focus enough, they could expel the fire from their body by getting it to feed on a certain area while basically lowering the energy in the rest of the body to be so low that the fire would have no interest, then force it out. This however will not restore any energy lost by the fire. Once Black Fire has consumed energy, it is gone (from the user as energy can't be destroyed, it is just fed to the fire) and the victim won't suddenly be restored to full strength upon the fire's removal. Again, as stated, the more energy you have naturally, the more the fire will spread and consume at a faster rate, meaning even if you do have enough control to get it from your body, it is going to consume a healthy amount of energy whether you expel it quickly or not.

*Lost my train of thought. More Elements Later*

Well thank you for that little memo on myself, Revan. XD
Do you thin it would be smart to include a list of Chemical reactions? For instance the one I used in our fight, Potassium, Water, and Helium to create an explosion?

○Magical Techniques vs Psionics vs Direct Manipulation vs Dominion○

Today I'm going to talk about the different degrees of magic users, psionic users and users with Dominion over an element. First off let's start with the Magic Users.

Magic
Magic should not be considered it's own energy entirely, as it is often if not always linked into the users own spiritual energies. Even in the case of where manipulation of spirit energy is documented as a separate technique as to using "magic", such techniques are still considered to fall under the use of sprite magic. Therefore, Spirit manipulation should be, and for the purpose of this explanation will be included in the terms and bound of magic.

Now to explain the different types of magics-
(Note: These types are not sub-groups or sub-types and any and all types often have properties that make them fall under the other types as well. They are more like specific aspects.)

Elemental:
As is obvious, Elemental magic refers to the use of magic to manipulate elements that are already present. So earth, fire, water, and wind and energy (which extends to lightning and light) through means of tomes, the use of applying one's own mana (magical/spiritual energy) into the element, or the manipulation of the natural mana of one's surroundings.

Conjuring and Ninjutsu:
These are exactly the same damn thing. Bring upon manipulation through the use of phrases or hand signs. If you have to say your attack, or it needs to have a special technique that requires a sign in order to complete it, it's conjuring. Because the act of saying or performing the signs means that you are drawing in the mana needed to perform the magic. There are no exceptions, even if said technique is a manipulation of force. Magic is still backing it. That said, the use of Tomes and objects also counts as conjuring. Also, the act of creating objects not present before hand, such as fire, water, light, lightning, or even concussive force is considered conjuring.

Ninjutsu is a specific type of conjuring that involves all hand signs that prepare the body and spirit for the act of controlling a very specific part of the mind and body. In a sense, it is more illusion based than physical and steps in the bounds of psionics. However, magic(chakra, chi, w/e) is still the initial energy that makes the manipulation possible.

Illusion magic is what it sounds like. By use of magical influence, you disrupt the natural perception of another individual. Unlike the related psionic, this power is magical base and falters when there is a disconnect in the users flow of magical energy, not simply when their concentration falters.

Spirit Magic is where we get into dragon ball type powers. Pure spiritual energy translates to pure physical energy. As previously stated, in my book, energy is energy, and in it's physical form, all energies are basically and fundamentally the same.

((List subject to expand. If you have a magic you would like for me to go into a little more specific details on, contact me and I'll try and fit it in if I think it falls under the category of magic. Who know, it might be something else))

Psionics
Psionics are the ability to manipulate objects with the use of ones mind. As they have been explained to me by some heavy users of the skill, psionics are mental abilities that are granted on a physical scale and have only the requirement of the understanding and connection to a specific wavelength(s) in a manner in which a though can manipulate sad wavelengths of others.

I took this as being in sync with a certain domain of an element or elements. The grain has it's own wavelength, and it is scientifically proven that we can bring about change, if only on a small scale at the moment, to our surroundings by simply concentrating. Telekinesis is usually the broadest of said abilities, and is fine tuned to more specifics. That being said, psionics have a firmer grip on manipulation than magic users as magic bends material to it's will through indirect means, the mind and mana. Psionics takes mana out of the picture. However, psionics are still bound by the expanse of their minds and the physical capabilities that are granted to their object.

For example, a psionics user makes a beam of light. They can bend said beam of light, but not against the pull of a black hole.

Manipulation
Manipulation is a step above Psionics. Where Psionics takes concentration, Manipulation is more tied to a distinct connection to that being changed. For example. Tye, Caiyo's character, is a phoenix. He is, by birthright, not simply chance, mutation, or training, able to control fire and heat. You could even say fire has a kinship with him. A psionics user of fire, a pyrokentic, would not have more control over the fire as Tye could simply make the fire go out because his connection with it goes further than the pyrokenetics focus will ever.

Kaio Musashi's character, Argus, would also fall under this category as he can force light to bind to his will. His power, however, is neither magic based nor based upon being gifted with psionics.

To refer back to the light example in psionics, Argus would be, if hard pressed to, be able to pull light from entering into a black hole, though he would be hard pressed to.

Dominion
Dominon takes manipulation to a whole other level. Basically the same thing, dominion basically serves as the right of Gods. Using Ky, my own character, has Dominion over light. Any and every object made up of light can be forced to submit to his will. This includes creatures because they would fall under his dominion.

Again, continuing from light example, Ky would be able to control Argus, as he is a being made of Light, as well as be able to turn a beam of light away from a black hole with even more ease than Argus.

(It should be noted that Tye belongs in this category however was simply used as a reference in explaining the previous one)

Recape
To put the terms of control in more relative perspective:
Magic Users use a whip(figuratively mana) to manipulate elements.

Psionic users grab (used slightly figuratively as their psionic powers but at the same time true because their manipulation is a physical bond)

Manipulators basically ask the element to do what they want, In the case of those made from their element, they can try and control them, but will have to fight against the physical conscious.

And those with dominion order their element with and iron fist, taking the aspect of nature wishing to remain in it's more proper state out of the equation.

Indeed. However, in every structure, you have those who transcend above others. This is simply a natural structure to ease any qualm over who has more control over a single aspect such as fire.

Now, there will be mages out there with seemingly God Like Control over a plethora of things, as well as psionic users with very little control.

Exactly. Sadly though, this type of division has become so uncommon because of the recent development of what I like to call Master Syndrome, where character and their mothers and children is a master of martial arts or a prodigy at a skill by the age of 21.

Last time I checked, in both Western and Eastern cultures, a person didn't obtain the title of Master ANYTHING until they were in there mid thirties an skill kickin tail. Now we have 18 year olds claiming to be transcendent masters of Chaos who can't possibly make mistakes in battle because it is beneath them and whom claim that when someone 100 time there age acts like they know what to do in a situation such as their usually unique giant pillar of fire technique should be unavoidable. Everyone wants to be the best without work.

It's actually the worst part about being someone who comes from a single story mindset. Development doesn't need to happen. A wise man once told me, "Roleplaying and Roleplay Fighting are two different things and should be treated as such." While I wish I could contest, he's right.

I don't find being top gun too much of a responsibility *picks nose* i don't know maybe i am just too relaxed about it all