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Air Evocation Combat Guide
by Arlyn Athri'onn
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Preface:
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Defense:
An air evocationist’s most important tool is not their ability to push someone off of their feet, but their ability to control the battlefield in a team setting while simultaneously protecting their allies.
The ability to redirect an incoming projectile is a necessary tool for a voidal mage, as any loss of concentration on dodging an incoming attack will sever their voidal connection. This can be used to redirect an incoming arrow or a thrown projectile like a knife or a potion.
The benefits of redirecting a projectile are extended when utilizing a conjured shield of air. In my experience, this ability is more effective in defending against multiple projectiles moving at faster speeds. Additionally, conjuring the air into the shape of a dome allows you to protect an ally; this could be someone loading a crossbow or a mage preparing to cast a spell.
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Offense
Now that we have discussed how to use conjured air defensively, it is time to discuss its offensive capabilities.
First, conjuring a gust of wind to push away your opponents is single-handedly the most used spell a skilled aeromancer will utilize when on the offense. There is a common misconception that air is the non-lethal option for magi and, although this does hold for a majority of its capabilities, it still has the ability to completely maim your opponent. This could be in the form of pushing someone into a hard surface or flinging a piece of furniture at them. In the case of a fight involving multiple opponents, however, this can be utilized to knock them into each other.
In order to be successful in combat, every skilled aeromancer should seek to first stun their opponent with a loud blast of air, leaving them temporarily deafened and susceptible to attack; whether that be from the mage themselves, or an ally. This spell is also notably effective when dealing with a voidal mage, as the shrieking sound will disconnect them.
Lastly, compression is a spell only able to be utilized by a true master aeromancer, and I have seen it be used first-hand to completely crush a man’s legs, leaving him unable to walk for the rest of his life. This is a spell that requires an immense amount of concentration, lack thereof leading to dangerous results on the caster. This is a spell best utilized when you are being defended. A lesser form of this spell exists and is something more akin to a punch in its power. I’ve found this to be especially useful when dueling other magi, as it allowed me to prevent them from connecting to the void.
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This was written in order to be used as a very basic guide for future students looking to pursue the art of air evocation and who wonder of its capabilities. This was also written as a tribute to Midas Von Athri’onn Acal’Turrii and Renae Athri’onn, who both taught me everything I know.
