Folyot

Folyots are tiny creatures formed from raw elemental energy, fragmentary scraps of their respective elements. On their home plane, folyots form barely-discernible pieces of the formless energies there, but magic can draw them out and give them shape on other planes.  

Origins

On the planes where they originate, a folyot is formless, like any elemental. However, unlike larger elementals, their parent element's wild nature does not manifest so strongly in a folyot. This, combined with the folyot's simple-minded, almost childlike personality, makes them much easier to summon and control than their larger kin.  

Products and Byproducts

There are numerous spells and artifacts that allow the wielder to draw elemental energy from its home plane and shape it into the diminutive form of a folyot. This activity is often used as a training exercise, being inherently less dangerous than summoning full elementals, which assert their wild nature more strongly and are prone to violently resisting the summons. At times, however, folyots are created by other means. It does not take much magic to form a folyot, and some mages have found that the repeated use of the same source for the summoning of elementals will result in the formation of folyots from stray magical residue. Experienced summoners will therefore know that it is prudent to never call too many fire elementals from the same bonfire, or water elementals from the same wellspring, without occasionally pausing to allow the accumulated elemental energies to dissipate.  

Folyot Familiars

Given their small size and relative ease of summoning, folyots are often employed as familiars by elementalists and mages. Whilst more troublesome than conventional familiars, the elemental nature of a folyot grants them particular abilities that some find extremely useful.    

Bone Folyot

Bone folyots are rarely seen and rarely spoken of. These macabre spirits are projections of pure necrotic energy, drawn from the nether realms into the material world where they form into a material uncannily like bone, animated by a faintly-glowing mist. Bone folyots are occasionally seen in service to necromancers, and have been known to form on the site of terrible magical battles, or in desecrated mausoleums. Bone folyots are fascinated by death, and are occasionally puzzled by mortals' insistence on avoiding it.  

Caustic Folyot

Caustic folyots are best summoned by the more experienced, as they can be particularly sly and deceitful. At rest, a caustic folyot resembles a small pool of a greenish liquid that continually streams with tiny bubbles, and when active, the liquid rises as the faint fumes above it thicken to form the outline of a face and hands. Summoners of caustic folyots should be careful never to leave one unattended, as they are prone to sneaking off in search of small plants and creatures to devour.  

Droplet Folyot

A droplet folyot takes the form of water, enough to fill a small bucket. When resting, the folyot behaves as normal water, albeit with a strange tendency to somehow replenish itself should it be splashed or poured. When active, the folyot rises up like a small fountain, forming the rough shape of a face from the ripples on its surface. A droplet folyot is perhaps the most playful of its kind, often quite happy to sit and babble to itself in rapid Aquan.  

Ember Folyot

An ember folyot resembles a cluster of burning coals wreathed in flames that form the shape of a face and hands, slumping to resemble a small campfire when resting. Capricious and unpredictable, an ember folyot may be dozing contentedly one moment and clamoring for excitement the next - an impulse which should be curbed, as an ember folyot's idea of excitement tends to revolve around wanton pyromania.  

Flare Folyot

Perhaps the rarest variety of folyot is the flare folyot. Creatures of pure light, flare folyots form in places steeped in magic, where light shines consistently. At rest, they are often seen as rays of light, streaming through trees or windows - and in general, they are content to remain that way. Occasionally, however, they will show themselves, tiny motes of light appearing in the air to form a rough outline, hands, and a face. Flare folyots love music, and will often hover discreetly in places where they can listen for hours on end.  

Grass Folyot

Grass folyots are among the most likely varieties to form spontaneously - those who travel the wild places of the world will occasionally swap stories of the time they saw a small plant or clump of grass suddenly uproot itself and scold them furiously for treading on it. When at rest, a grass folyot resembles a natural plant or small grassy tussock, but when active they will shape a flower or clump of earth into a face, and bend grasses to form hands. Grass folyots can make difficult helpers, owing to their tendency to take root and refuse to move when they find a spot they like.  

Gust Folyot

A gust folyot at rest appears to be a small cloud or wisp of vapor, but when active, vague features of the folyot's true form can be seen - when the folyot remains still, which is rare. A gust folyot revels in freedom, exploiting the tiniest of cracks in any vessel used to contain it, and will rush about as a tiny dust devil, gathering dust and grit to hurl at those who threaten it.  

Shade Folyot

While somewhat sinister in appearance, the much-maligned shade folyot is mostly undeserving of its notoriety. It is easy to see why so many assume them to be evil - they appear as a dark black shadow when at rest, and the sight of such a shadow gaining smoky hands and a face and beginning to move can be quite unsettling. In fact, shade folyots are quiet, shy creatures, preferring quiet places where they are unlikely to be disturbed.  

Stone Folyot

A stone folyot could easily be mistaken for a small rock pile or cairn, but when active, a small face and arms can be seen in the shapes of the stones. A stone folyot moves like a miniature rock slide, and can meld into - and pass through - rock, stone, and earth. Stone folyots are slow to rouse and notoriously stubborn, but will also demonstrate dogged perseverance when they set themselves to a task.