A Journey into the Depths of the Magic of the Earth.
By Field Researcher, Scholar Kruk of Boldragoth University.

The libraries of Boldragoth University are filled with observations and recordings of the happenings on the continent, Deisach, including wars, history, and of course, magic. In appreciation and respect of my recent classifications of the magics of other regions, I have been asked to sort through the many volumes of magical history and mechanics which haunt our library and bring them to a similarly compact and useful description.

Earth magic is, of the physical magics, the most subtle. Earth in nature sits for millenia at a time, trees grow at slow and steady rates, vines take hold of entire cities, slowly, but strongly. That is Earth magic, used properly it should take much time to cast any one spell, however the effects of this spell should be very strong, and to a degree unstoppable. This is not to say that it isn't possible to use Earth magic quickly, anybody could throw a rock in under ten seconds. However the form of Earth magic is considered to be the tortoise approach.

The writings of Earth magic say that the power of the Earth is more constant than any other magic, while Fire is susceptible to clouds, and Water susceptible to Fire, as Air flies around without any guidance or stability, Earth sits, a rock of magic, always able to be drawn from. The source of this magic is in the ground, the trees, anything physical around, so far as to even count the rocks that houses have been made from. The only exception to this lies on top of the water, where the earth is so far below that an Earth mage is left only to his inner reserves. It is for this reason, that Earth magi tend to avoid travel on boats, or especially airships.

Offensive Magic

Earth magic's offensive capabilities are awesome in potential. Where a Fire mage may make what is only a giant fireball, an Earth mage may warp the very surroundings to fit his needs. The magic of Earth is usually divided into two schools of thought. The living and the not.

Unliving magic revolves around the stones, rocks, and dirt which surrounds us. The ability to divide the ground under a house, or to create giant pillars to shoot up in an enemy city. An Earth mage can literally convince the rocks in a wall to come apart, and crumble into useless debris. This magic can be used to create rocks to throw, or make them simply drop from the sky, cause spikes of stone and steel to shoot from the ground and impale those they meet, a multi-use talent indeed.

Living magic lies in the plants and weeds which make up Fou Lu. Typically a living Earth mage will have little ability in the realm of the unliving, and vice versa, making the two almost elements on their own. A favorite technique in living magic is to grow vines, which seem to have a sentience all on their own, though typically have just been created to seek out living things and suck the life out of them. Some Earth magi can create tiny teeth on these fines, however others simply resort to choking vines, occasionally found in places such as the Pordras Jungle. Another aspect of living magic lie in the poison and antidotes many plants provide. With a simple spell, and an unassuming flower, a person may unleash toxic spores over a good distance, killing many of the people around.

Defensive Magic

Of all things imagined Earth is probably best thought of for the defensive abilities it holds. When a person imagines a rock impenetrable is, afterall, one of the words that comes to mind, and this holds true through Earth magic.

Unliving Earth magic then is probably the most useful magic, world-wide, for out and out defense. To create a wall between you and your enemies in seconds, and not a penetratable wall such as fire, or one which disolves like ice. Across all of Deisach there are relics and proofs of Earth mages creating makeshift defenses that stand to this day. Rocks can be summoned from the ground to block off arrows, spikes shot up to cage in opponents, great chasms spawned to allow a person to get away from charging enemies. Only imagine the ways earth could be tweaked to throw off horses or embasaurs. In addition to this Earth magic revolves partially around the elements of the ground, the steels and the golds, and whatever else. A mage could easily enchant the metal of plate armor, or the steel in a sword to be stronger than before, able to deflect arrows and shatter other swords. On the alternate side of the same ability an Earth mage could cause steel bars around him to rust and weaken, or enemy weaponry to do the same, the wood on a door to rot to the point of it falling apart, though that example falls more to living magic.

Living Earth magic, on the other hand, holds few defensive abilities. Plants are neutral in general, and have never been as strong as rocks are. The few defensive tactics living magic holds are simply alterings of the same offensive spells, as the city of Tergata has been known to do, placing poisoness flowers along the edges of your home, growing more hostile plants where enemies may find them. Growing trees in the middle of a path to confuse followers and have them wander, lost, through the woods. It is for reasons of proficiency in offense that living magic should be favored, and defense for unliving magic, leaving a middle path best desired.

Practical Magic

Earth magi easily make the best gardeners. Many have been seen in populated cities, owning botany shops, others similarly have sold high grade poisons and antidotes at heavy prices to those who want them. A famous Earth magician became so rich off the poisons of a plant which he invented, that he built a solid gold statue in the middle of his home, without summoning any of the gold from the earth himself.

On the unliving portion of Earth magic there is a similar ability. When close to the ground an Earth mage can summon raw materials to him, they seem to just appear in the mage's hand. And with these raw materials, can be formed into anything. A sword, a shield, an attractive broach. Obviously it will not be of the best condition without proper forging, condensing and the like. But many Earth magi have lived comfortably in towns where they merely summoned and formed items, at the hefty prices of those around them. This versatility of creation makes Earth magi some of the most practical magi in the world. Something Dio would be very proud of, having much appreciation in the personal efforts of his people.