Theory of the Elements

[Sagwort 833]

An excerpt from the Encyclopedia Arcana, Metaphysichae.

 

Elemental Theory

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Element  

noun | [el-uh-men-nt]

Primordial substances regarded as constituting the material universe.

Word Origin from: flexio, common, auvergnian

 

When the material realm was shaped from the Voidal Plane, form was impressed upon the primordial chaos.  These first forms came to be the primal elements of earth, air, water, fire, and debatably electricity.  Genesis from the Creator was the result of mingling these “simple bodies” together in correct proportions to produce the infinite varieties of matter found in the mortal realm.

The physical and philosophical qualities of the elements can be listed as fluid, dry, hot and cold.  Each of the elements possesses two of these primary qualities; however, fluid and dry, and hot and cold naturally oppose each other and, thus, cannot be combined.  To visually construct the relationship between the simple bodies, I have illustrated what is known as the Square of Opposition (Figure 1).

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Figure 1 - the Square of Opposition

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The elemental qualities on either side of the element define the nature of said element.  If one were to view the square clockwise, the elemental quality stated before each element is said element’s predominating quality.  Thus, dry dominates Earth, cold dominates water, wet (or fluid) dominates air, and hot dominates fire.

 

Do note that the Square of Opposition functions when there exist only four primal elements, the exact nature of electricity remains a grand debate.

What is defined as Transmutation is the inevitable consequence of the above theory: an element may transform into another element through the quality they share.  As a result, fire can be transformed into air through a medium of heat, air can be transformed into water through a medium of fluidity, etcetera and vice versa.  Furthermore, two elements can be joined together to become a third by omitting one quality from each.  By purging dry and cold from fire and water they might become air, and by purging heat and fluidity they might become earth.  This can be seen through various natural processes.  When one boils water, vapor is produced, or when magma cools it becomes solid stone.  Granted, this concept is used more abstractly by magi as they do far more than simply boil water.  The theory of the four elements is the crux of the Arcane sub-school of transfiguration and elemental evocation as well as the venerable science of alchemy.

[Man of Respect 5471]

"You forgot the most important element. It's supposed to stand at the center" says Eath'Lur with his ignorance in relation to all voidal matters.

[Ballentine 218]

"Intriguing, this old fart has some sense after all" says Eldunir from his desk, again.

[Daisy 9732]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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