Investigation into Elementals: Elementary School

In the old library of the Red Wizards of Thay you have conducted an investigation into elementals and found the following information:

Most of the information details how to summon and bind elementals using magic. However various errata are added that in recent times, these ways have grown unstable to the point of being unusable. Aside from that, the general increase in power of the elementals ensures most spells can no longer bind them. Eventually you find pieces of information that interest you:

Elementals are the purest “living” forms of the four basic elements—air, earth, fire, and water—as well as several other, less common elements. They are intelligent, self-aware entities that are made up of the matter of their home plane. They could be summoned to any plane of existence, except the plane of concordance to their element. For example, summoning a fire elemental to the Elemental Plane of Water takes more magical power than mortals can conceivably wield. Elementals cannot be harmed by non-magical objects.

Air elementals typically appear as an amorphous, ever-shifting cloud. Whenever they make the rare attempt to speak, it resembles either the high-pitched shriek of a tornado or the low rumbling moan of a thunderstorm. Air elementals are capable of altering their bodies in the form of a small whirlwind. Over the ages, the height and diameters of these whirlwinds varied significantly, especially depending upon how powerful an air elemental was. Some were reported to be as small as 8‒16 ft (2.4‒4.9 m) tall, while others were reported being as tall as 40‒80 ft (12‒24 m) tall. Due to being composed of air, these elementals can effortlessly move through spaces as small as 0.2 inches (0.005 meters). Lightning, thunder, as well as bludgeoning and piercing weaponry, is ineffective against air elementals.

Earth elementals have a vaguely humanoid shape, with club-like arms made of jagged stone and a head made of both dirt and stone. Occasionally chunks of minerals, gems, or metals are set within their stony bodies. Their bodies typically moved at a slow, trodding pace. Earth elementals are not especially intelligent. Earth elementals are capable of gliding through stone and dirt as though it were liquid, but only if they are non-magical. They are also capable of precisely pinpointing the location of nearby opponents, but only if they are standing on solid ground, a type of vision that is known as tremorsense. Earth elementals use their brute strength when fighting an opponent, slamming against them. They are also considered to be living siege weapons, doing severe damage to objects and structures, but especially those made of stone or earth. Bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing weaponry are all ineffective against earth elementals.

Water elementals typically resemble a cresting wave of water. They can easily disappear within a body of water, becoming indistinguishable from all other liquid. They are the most intelligent of the elementals and many are easily the intellectual equal of mortals (not that the common folk set that bar particularly high). Due to being composed of water, these elementals can effortlessly move through spaces as small as 1 inch (0.025 meters). However, cold-based spells considerably restrain their movement. Acid, as well as bludgeoning and piercing weaponry, is ineffective against water elementals.

Fire elementals take the form of living flame, they are fast and agile creatures whose touch could set objects aflame. Owing to their fiery nature, they are unable to enter water. They are capable of speaking Ignan although they rarely speak. Fire elementals usually choose to burn opponents with their touch. They attack ferociously and enjoy burning things in the material plane to cinders. The fire elemental might also slam an opponent, possibly causing them to catch fire. Fire, as well as slashing and piercing weaponry, is ineffective against fire elementals.

Summoning and binding an elemental requires much in the way of personal power. An elemental that sensed binding of this manner would fight the caster mentally. If the caster lost this battle of wills, the elemental was free to wreak havoc on the plane it was summoned to. In most cases, the elemental would slay the caster and return to its home plane. This method longer works, the Zulkir of Conjuration and his wizards are working on new methods!

You find sections describing elementals and how to battle them. The entries seem very recent and in a style that greatly differs from previous works.

The elementals have greatly increased in power during recent years. We do not have any information about what caused this or what the exact effects are. But for the good of all Red Wizards we have collected some information (to be properly published when more information is available). All information here has been reported by multiple witnesses, some speculation is included (but always clearly denoted).

We have been barraged by elemental assaults in recent years, they leave nothing standing and seemingly attack at random. The attacks mostly consist of Air, Earth and Water elementals destroying settlements (both large and small). We have also seen smaller attacks carried out by the para-elementals (ice, ooze, magma and ash) and some by fire elementals. It should be noted that fire is the only full elemental type that has not been seen doing any large-scale assaults. Perhaps the fire elementals harbour a love for the material plane, are busy elsewhere or simply never left any living witnesses?

The elementals come in different sizes, generally speaking, the larger they are, the more dangerous they are. If you come into contact with an elemental, it is best to cast the spell Banishment on them and then run for your life, since in very recent times (the past few months) the elementals seem to no longer be permanently banished and thus will shortly return after you banish them. It is advised to use this brief time to get as much distance in as possible.

Should you be among those mad few the council convinced to find these ‘’artifacts’’ and you actually intend to do so (or you need to go on an errand outside the city) you would do well to keep this in mind:

Earth elementals are sluggish brutes, some new variants of them have ‘’spell-like abilities’’ but they should be no serious threat to any self-respecting spellcaster (especially one accepted into the Academy of Thay!). They are impervious to physical attacks and they shrug off most elemental attacks. It seems that thunder-based spells are the most effective at disrupting their outer shell. After shattering their outer shell they become more vulnerable to other elemental attacks too. Prepare your spell book accordingly and think it through like any self-respecting Red Wizard should.

Water elementals are cunning creatures and new variants of them have access to spellcasting. With the limited information I have I would surmise their spellcasting is most similar to that of clerics, must for all we know they could just be a strange variant of sorcerer or warlocks? Or perhaps they’re something else all together? Either way, the front lines of the water elementals bear no real threat to a self-respecting spellcaster, those spellcasters behind them are. Trying to fly over water? Might be hard when a Dispel Magic could strike you and make you fall into the cold waters below. Prepare your spell book accordingly and think it through like any self-respecting Red Wizard should.

Air elementals seem to fall in between, they have a mix of powerful attackers and spellcasters. They pose the biggest threat to us spellcasters as they are incredibly fast and relentless. They do lack quite a bit in the durability department and they seem to be harmed by most elemental magic. Do not bother the druids in town to cast Wind Walk on you, such elemental magic is highly likely to attract the Air Elementals attention, and you do not want to become the surprise guest of their welcome party. Prepare your spell book accordingly and think it through like any self-respecting Red Wizard should.

We have limited information on the Fire elementals, but I would surmise that they are the most ‘’all-rounded’’ of the bunch. We have had a single witness claim to see a Fire elemental cast a spell but it has to be noted that the witness was a cleric, not a wizard. Of course, should you face Fire elementals, stay alive and take notes after the fact and bring that information here! Prepare your spell book accordingly and think it through like any self-respecting Red Wizard should.

The general information on elementals still seems to apply, it’s just that there are new variants who seem to have even more abilities than we previously thought. Prepare your spell book accordingly and think it through like any self-respecting Red Wizard should.

And as a final message, I would like to give the best advice you will ever hear in your miserable life: Prepare your spell book accordingly and think it through like any self-respecting Red Wizard should!

-Head Scribe Martin Moontaker

P.S. Full study credit will be given to those who complete such a council request (despite my protests), in accordance with the Zulkirs wills.

P.P.S. Students who die fail their curriculum and are expelled from the Academy of Thay on death.