svensson Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 A thought occurred to me in a discussion of Spirits of Reprisal that I'd like some Collective Wisdom on. I had suggested that a spirit of reprisal might consist of an elemental associated with a given deity entering spirit combat with the offender. But are elementals spirits [that is, beings without bodies and present on the Spirit Plane] or corporeal beings [in that they have bodies, have most statistics, and are extensions of Gata]. Now, I realize that elementals interacting within their elemental environment will always be hard to spot... a calm air elemental would be hard to perceive as anything more than a refreshing breeze and good luck spotting an earth elemental at all underground and so forth. So my specific question is this: In a Glorantha magical context, are elementals spirits that take the form of an element [a fire spirit taking form as a bonfire, for example] or are they as ubiquitous but hard to spot like grass in a hay field? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard S. Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 As I see it, elementals are spirits that have the ability to "possess" their element in the material world. Encountered on the spirit plane, they're just another spirit with only POW and CHA and a particularly strong elemental rune affinity, but if a nearby part of the material world has a high concentration of their element they can use it to make themselves a body, gaining STR. I don't think they often do so on their own though, most elementals in the material will probably have been summoned by someone. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svensson Posted January 28, 2022 Author Share Posted January 28, 2022 1 hour ago, Richard S. said: As I see it, elementals are spirits that have the ability to "possess" their element in the material world. Encountered on the spirit plane, they're just another spirit with only POW and CHA and a particularly strong elemental rune affinity, but if a nearby part of the material world has a high concentration of their element they can use it to make themselves a body, gaining STR. I don't think they often do so on their own though, most elementals in the material will probably have been summoned by someone. That's the impression I've always had, but other viewpoints are good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akhôrahil Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 3 hours ago, Richard S. said: As I see it, elementals are spirits that have the ability to "possess" their element in the material world. Encountered on the spirit plane, they're just another spirit with only POW and CHA and a particularly strong elemental rune affinity, but if a nearby part of the material world has a high concentration of their element they can use it to make themselves a body, gaining STR. I don't think they often do so on their own though, most elementals in the material will probably have been summoned by someone. I agree with this. Note that the Bestiary calls them "embodied", which seems to point in the same direction. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svensson Posted January 29, 2022 Author Share Posted January 29, 2022 32 minutes ago, Akhôrahil said: I agree with this. Note that the Bestiary calls them "embodied", which seems to point in the same direction. That was my inference too, but I wrong about the definition of 'undead' and @Jeff had to be very specific about what that meant. With that in mind, I thought to ask the question about elementals too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soltakss Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 14 hours ago, svensson said: In a Glorantha magical context, are elementals spirits that take the form of an element [a fire spirit taking form as a bonfire, for example] or are they as ubiquitous but hard to spot like grass in a hay field? They are spirits that manifest in a physical form. 14 hours ago, svensson said: corporeal beings [in that they have bodies, have most statistics, and are extensions of Gata Only earth elementals are manifestations of Gata, other elementals are manifestations of the Elemental Members of the Celestial Court. Lunes, Selenes are manifestations of the Red and Blue Moons. 1 Quote Simon Phipp - Caldmore Chameleon - Wallowing in my elitism since 1982. Many Systems, One Family. Just a fanboy. www.soltakss.com/index.html Jonstown Compendium author. Find my contributions here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
French Desperate WindChild Posted January 29, 2022 Share Posted January 29, 2022 You can summon elementals but you need physical material So if you want a salamander you need enough fire without the fire you may succeed to invoke the salamander but only a Spirit without any ability, and except if it has int, without any interest to stay in mundane world so yes an elemental is a spirit from my perspective 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svensson Posted January 29, 2022 Author Share Posted January 29, 2022 (edited) 5 hours ago, soltakss said: They are spirits that manifest in a physical form. Only earth elementals are manifestations of Gata, other elementals are manifestations of the Elemental Members of the Celestial Court. Lunes, Selenes are manifestations of the Red and Blue Moons. I was using 'Gata' as a metaphor for a permanent Middle World physical body, but I do see what you're saying. Edited January 29, 2022 by svensson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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