Earth Magic

One of the four Elemental Magics that spills forth from the Realm Tear in the South Western continent into Erina, altering the natural laws of the area it collects in. The natural area that Earth Magic gathers in is the North East continent, with its range being expanded or reduced based on where its corresponding Elementals inhabit. When visible, Earth magic appears as a gentle aura, though its colour is variable. Its most common state is a black aura, but most would associate it with the colours it takes on when being wielded by its Elementals, green and purple. In its black state, its aura shows the forming and dissolving of dark stones. Its green state shows growing plant matter, vines, branches, leaves, and its purple state shows gems and crystals. Earth magic is stable, meaning that without further input it remains largely innate, and depending on the level of what one is trying to accomplish with it, it may require vast amounts of energy. This is not to say that input requires an Elemental, as large concentrations of Earth magic are capable of causing large, and often destructive events. However, these are relatively rare, and require a period of time to build up between events. It also makes these events very predictable, if the right equipment is available. The majority of the time, Earth magic has a passive and undirected effect on the world around it. Plants grow faster, mountains and ores tend to appear in regions effected. But occasionally, the conditions will be just right, and it will trigger earthquakes, split tectonic plates, or cause them to re-fuse.

On living creatures, Earth magic on its own is incredibly passive, instilling a sense of peace, calm, and trust. It influences those around it to slow down and to look back. Overall, Earth magics reputation is that of the magic of the past, order, and peace.

Effects on the Physical World

Earth magic causes two largely antithesis alterations to physical geography. The first is the increase in foliage, and the second would be the increase in rock formations, such as mountains, rocky deserts, and rocky tundra. The early effects of the presence of this magic is plants growing quickly, even in areas where they should struggle, or the sudden finding of rare ores and gems. In other universes, this is the extent that Earth magic can affect the physical world due to the ward combating the other major effects.

In Erina, mountains suddenly rise from the ground from areas where the magic collects, and earthquakes become more common as the tectonic plates themselves are altered. Entire forests appear in the blink of an eye in some areas, and others become rocky deserts. Buried in the ground, rare ores form, and once empty mines replenish. In some areas, plants grow fast enough to strangle anything built. As the magic moves through the areas, so does the areas effected most seriously by disturbances of earthquakes and mud slides. Minerals and ore seem to trickle into the rivers constantly.

Effects on living creatures

In higher concentrations (though not as high as is required for its strongest effects), Earth magic alters the living creatures in the areas it effects. Compared to some other Elemental magics, many of these mutative effects are considered significantly less severe, and it may not even be obvious that the creature has been effected, as some may reflect seemingly natural mutations like the development of venom. Obvious effects range from body parts with gems or stones growing out of tissue, incredible strength, the ability to survive without oxygen for long periods (though not infinitely). Plants are often altered to produce much more product, and growing in odd places, without soil. Some even have fruits or parts that have special effects, like causing drowsiness to the creatures that eat them, or occasionally causing chemical dependence alongside a need to worship and protect the plant. The most dangerous mutative effects often belong to species that find themselves burrowing, often within areas with the highest concentrations of Earth magic, around mountains and earthquake sites. These species have a large amount of Earth magic that has integrated within them. Not only surviving the various deadly gases found by miners, but often producing these gases themselves (CO, CH₄, CO₂, H₂S). For the non-Earth magic altered species that may encounter them, these creatures become incredibly dangerous.

Alongside the more harmful abilities of these altered species also seems to come with a calmness, which often means that one needs to truly try to anger the creatures. This provides plenty of time to escape, unless one is particularly unaware of their surroundings, slow, or currently effected by mind-altering substances (and may feel that the obviously disturbed stone-hog just needs a few hugs to feel better).

Another curious effect of Earth magic integration is the ability for plants to naturally grow on top of an effected species. This has led to several species where the plants that grow on them become natural camouflage, and plants develop seeds that grip to fur so that they may grow there (rather than just being transported).

Use by non-sapient creatures

Due to its stable nature, sentient but not sapient creatures would struggle to use Earth magic to accomplish anything significant. It mostly tends to be the abilities provided by their mutations that these creatures use, or passive effects like locating minerals and ores (which some mutated creatures consume). This generally means that the incredible strength that the bull has been provided would be its main weapon, rather than it being able to create and throw rocks.

Some sentient species have specialized to be able to use some components of Earth magic, though this is quite limited. Like a bird creating a tool to gather bugs from hard to reach spaces, this use of magic is very food focused. Still, it generally means these species are much more of a threat than they may be normally, as they summon rocks to drop on their food, or creating crevasse to get to the 'tasty' ores deep below. If one hasn't been altered by Earth magic to survive cave ins, they may want to be cautious of appearing from above like food, least a bird decide their life ends there.

Use by Elementals and Ravagers

Both Earth Elementals and Earth Ravagers are species with extreme integration of Earth magic, with the Earth magic within them being considered 'the person', rather than any organic organ. Ravagers specifically contain corrupted Earth magic, which has been permanently changed by the effects of Devastation Syndrome. For the original victims of this disease, the person is destroyed alongside this corruption.

For Elementals, Earth magic leans mostly towards a use of creation and growth, as it is easier to influence in this regard. However, with skill and a focused mind, it can be wielded to devastating effect. Most would be familiar with the growing of plants almost instantly, or using magic to have strength far beyond ones own. Earth Elementals find ores and minerals by scanning the world around them, feeling them out by their aura. Skilled workers can use the magic to build walls out with nothing aside from magic, working stone and metal together to create structures, or to dig through the ground with ease. Destruction includes causing small earthquakes and crevasses within the ground. Creation can include creating stone spikes, a stone they hurl at their enemies. Though in combat, the most common use of Earth magic is for the strength, allowing its Elementals to carry and use weapons normally impossible without supernatural strength.

As well as the physical uses of Earth magic, Elementals commonly use the mental effects to their advantage. Bringing a sense of calm to those around them, and even being able to touch another person to take them mentally to a place they felt safe. This ability is considered to be higher level, and can be used both for good and horrible purposes, as the Elemental can speak to the other with words they feel are trustworthy.

Ravagers struggle to create with Earth magic, and even with what they can create, it is usually used violently. Creating toxic gasses, or mentally manipulating their victims into a false-sense of security. However, compared to Elementals, Ravagers find it easier to summon this destructive traits of Earth magic, which can provide them an upper hand in combat.

Phase and Areas of Strength

Like all Elemental magics, Earth magic has phases of strength throughout the year, as well as conditions that increase its strength. Earth magic is the strongest during the Autumn months. This strength peaks during the equinox, and continues slightly less after until the end of the season. Then the strength fades until the Spring Equinox, where Earth magic is at its weakest. During Spring, this often leads to the massing of violent large storms across the continent, which are normally kept at bay the remainder of the year. It is also the calmest season for earthquakes.   Areas that are calm and stable strength Earth magic, hence why it becomes so important to be calm to use the magic for its stronger effects. Places with strong laws, order, and peace generally have the strongest Earth magic. While it is certainly not impossible to be used in Chaotic environments, it becomes a struggle, especially if its user starts to fall victim to the chaos. Meditation, and practising using the magic within non-optimum environments is generally used to counter this weakness in times of need. Aside from chaos, Earth magic is particularly weak to Lightning magic. Moving quickly and striking the ground, Lightning magic is capable of scorching and making the earth brittle.