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The Devastating Power of Earth Magic in Fantasy
Sunfire
CONTENTS
The Premise
There’s nothing quite like making a large, jagged rock appear out of nowhere and sending it flying in midair to your opponent. Rocks comprise part of the branch of elemental magic known simply as earth magic. This branch uses the power of the earth in battle.
Other important components of this branch are dirt and sand. Basically any natural-made material you find can be used here. This also includes ores and gems, though gems have their own elemental affinity. Molten rock is considered a fusion of earth and fire magic since it contains differing elemental properties.
As one of nine branches of elemental magic, earth has its own advantages and disadvantages. For instance, it’s strong against fire, ice, and wind and it has an immunity to lightning. Forest and water are the two elements earth is weak to.
Unlike its fellow elements, earth has a wide diversity of spells due to the abundant types of materials found in nature. Spells such as sandstorms and rock avalanches are just two examples of those found within this element. That wide diversity makes earth magic strong both on the offensive and the defensive, both of which will be expanded further down this article. You might wonder just who would want to learn earth magic? That question will be answered.
This is the sixth in a series focusing on elemental magic. If you’d like to read about the ones we’ve already covered, they’re available on our blog page.
Let’s dive in and learn about what spells of earth magic you can use against your opponent on the battlefield!
Spells for the Offensive
Earth magic has a deep bench of spells to use on the offensive. Their effects range from inflicting massive damage to clouding a foe’s vision.
One popular spell earth wizards like is to send a bunch of rocks against their opponent. The rocks vary in size though some wizards prefer using large rocks to make their foe panic. Others use pebbles just to irritate their adversary. Molten rock can be used as well.
Sandstorms are another great spell, for they lower the foe’s view of the battlefield. As he scrambles to find a way to break it, the wizard can move effortlessly within the sandstorm to deliver the knockout blow. They also inflict marginal damage, though that damage can add up over time the longer the storm rages.
One deadly spell is the earthquake. This causes a great upheaval on the battlefield, as the ground cracks wide open and devours anything that happens to fall within the cracks. If an opponent isn’t fast enough to find safety, he just might slip into a crack and he’s never seen again.
Manipulating the ground is a key component of earth magic. An example of this is the earthquake, which we looked at in the previous paragraph. Other spells include raising a mountain from underneath the adversary’s feet. This causes him to lose his footing, leading to his tumbling down the mountainside.
Quicksand is another spell that manipulates the ground. Turning solid ground into soft, loose ground, it can ensnare the hapless soul who didn’t get out of the way in time in a deathtrap. He vainly struggles to free himself but exerting his strength only makes matters worse, for he’s being sucked down and before long, it’s too late to save him.
Spells for Defending
While earth magic excels as an attacking powerhouse, it’s no slouch on the defending side of things. It boasts a wide assortment of spells wizards use to guard against strikes. Each spell has its own set of effects.
Should a warlock find himself squaring off against a tough adversary, he can summon a large rock and put it in-between himself and his rival. As his opponent tries to either destroy it outright or move around it, the warlock has time to find the right spell to end the battle on his terms.
Another spell the warlock could use would be to send some sand flying into his foe’s face. The sand would severely hamper his sight, allowing the warlock a quick means of escape. When the enemy clears the last of the sand out of his eyes, he sees that there’s nobody there.
Sandstorms are a great defensive spell, for they impair the opponent’s vision. The amount of sand violently flapping around in the air makes it difficult for him to find and attack the warlock. His inability to locate him gives the warlock another way to either turn things around or live to fight another day.
Rock slides can be used to derail a foe. A series of rocks barrel down a slope, whether it be a hill or mountain or an invisible one, hurtling towards its target. By forcing him to jump out of the way, the foe loses whatever momentum he had in battle. This can prove pivotal in a fight to the death as it offers the earth wizard an opportunity to turn what was a losing fight into one he can win.
The Character of Earth Wizards
Since earth stands besides its fellow brethren of elemental magic, it attracts its share of people who want to master it. A common characteristic of earth wizards is that they’re grounded people, meaning they don’t harbor illusions about themselves or the world. They see the world as it is rather than how it should be.
Nature is a large part of earth, a trait it has in common with its forest sibling. There’s a natural order of things which should be preserved for future generations. Earth is part of the life cycle, as that’s where people go when their souls move on and their bodies are returned to the ground.
They’re diametrically opposed to change, especially when said change will harm the earth. They’ll fight with everything they have to stop it from ever taking place. If it’s a change for the better, well they still wouldn’t like it but they would recognize that it’s pointless to resist.
Earth wizards are spiritual people. They dislike materialism, instead preferring to live a simple, content life. You’ll find them not in cities or busy towns but out in the countryside and mountainous areas where they can commune with the deities of the world, seeking counsel and guidance. They always keep their eyes and ears open for a response from the deities.
Putting it all Together
From earthquakes to rock slides, earth magic has a deep reservoir of spells that can be used in battle, both on the offensive and the defensive. That alone makes it one of the most versatile versions of elemental magic which helps it stand out from the others. Those who master it are simply content to live their lives out in the rural countryside in peace.
Bringing earth magic to your world is a no-brainer. While you’re encouraged to create your own spells and characters, you should also remember that just as in nature, there’s a balance in magic. Earth magic cannot exist without the others which means you should have them tag along and develop spells that counter it as well as ones it’s strong against.
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Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
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