And just a quick note for all of the people who have suggested using 'actual elements,' this takes place in a pre-industrialization setting with limited scientific knowlege. So that wouldn't exactly got with the setting.
In our country, the heroes are often wind, water, or earth-elemental, the bad guys are usually fire, ice, or lightning-elemental, though it is not uncommon to see lightning-elemental heroes as well.
The thing with the red gold crown.
The elements of Life, Knowledge, Foresight, Moral.
It comes. The corrupter comes. Don't let it touch the tower lest all reality crumble.
That's actually a quite interesting idea, Philosopher. But exactly how would you have them 'use' the powers...? Unless you were going for an 'Elements of Harmony' type thing...
I might suggest that wielders of Life be able to heal and harm — and, at their most powerful, kill or return to life, or even create the undead.
Wielders of Knowledge might be telepaths, rising to gain psychometry and the ability to understand how a thing works and/or how to use it after "communing" with it for a time. An extremely powerful wielder of Knowledge might be able to replicate the effects of some of the powers of the other wielders but understanding and replicating how they work.
Wielders of Foresight might begin with the ability to see the choices that a person will have in the immediate future: their next few steps while walking, for example. More powerful wielders might be oracles, with their clarity, scope and range increasing with their power.
Finally, those who wield Morality might be able at their weakest to divine the moral philosophies of another; the most powerful, disturbingly, might be able to manipulate the morals of another, twisting their minds as desired...
My Games & Writing
The thing with the red gold crown.
Those of knowledge can understand everything, but become addicted to it as they progress even through they know that eventually they will only be left with a shadow of their personality.
Life can steal life and give it, but gradually they turn more and more feral the process is akin to someone with dementia that doesn't realize what is happening to them.
Those of foresight can see into the future and past, but are prone to depression and to become disconnected with the present; though higher users can use future drugs to combat the depression.
Finally those of the moral stance manipulate peoples morals and values. Those of knowledge and life are immune to morals since knowledge does not have morals and life does whatever it deems necessary. Those with foresight can simply avoid those of the moral disciple.
When combined the elements can create a soul, though that soul still needs a vessel. Thankfully those of life can raise a vessel from one of the fallen for the soul.
edited 6th Mar '13 11:28:52 AM by Philosopher
It comes. The corrupter comes. Don't let it touch the tower lest all reality crumble.
Wow, that's actually a really fanscinating idea. Unfortunately, it isn't compatable with the magic system I have now. Are you planning on writing it into a story of your own? I would definitely read it.
The thing with the red gold crown.
I actually posted an idea for this in post your concept.
It comes. The corrupter comes. Don't let it touch the tower lest all reality crumble.
Cool, I'll have to check it out
Crazy Kiwi
I agree with The Muse, that "elemental" concept, with its strengths and weaknesses, is fascinating and I'd certainly love to read a story based on it.
Could be an interesting idea, but I think at some point it's not really considered Elemental Powers any more... not all divisions in magic are elements.
(There's no reason to try to stick to elemental powers, of course, but. some amount of relevance.)
You will not go to space today.
Telekinesis could be verbal, so you literally TELL a rock to rise five feet into the air and move forward ten feet - of course, you have to speak the language of the earth.
Psychometry might be the root of telepathy, precognition, recognition, and remote viewing, so you have to be touching something to "listen" to it - and you have to understand the language of the subject, of course.
Basically, its elemental psychic powers augmented by language of magic.
BTW: I also love the "elements are part of you" idea - I've actually used that, including animals as elements.
Level 3 Social Justice Necromancer. Chaotic Good.
It's fine using completely different sets of "elements" just as long as they all fit with each other. Earth/Water/Air/Fire, Body/Mind/Spirit, or Space/Time/Matter/Force all make more sense than Earth/Mind/Space/Hydrogen, for instance.