On the Character of the Planar Beings of Earth

On the Character of the Planar Beings of Earth:

As is well known, the scholars of earth have used servants from that elemental plane since the dawning of their art. According to myth, elementals were even used in the construction of parts of the old city, helping to build the city's walls when labor grew scarce.

Little has been written about the nature of the common elemental, however, and I have written this text to make a general study of the subject.

Now, unlike those who dabble in the void, we do not call our elemental servants unwillingly into the prime material, nor do we threaten or bribe them. Rather, most elementals of earth actually crave the unfamiliar taste of matter in the prime material, and enjoy helping scholars create new structures of matter, or rearrange existing structures.

This taste for exotic matter is possible because elementals as such do not transfer their physical matter from the plane of earth -- to do so would require opening a stable gateway to that plane, which would require far more concentration and mana expenditure.

Rather, when an elemental is summoned, the animus, or animating spirit of an elemental is conjured, and they inhabit a shell of matter in the prime material. Of course, the power and versatility of the spirit called will depend on the proximity of the caster to the plane of earth. It is well known that elementals conjured in caves or fissures have greater strength, resulting in this property.

The rest of the text concerns technical matters, including various tests of hardness and magical strength.