The Elementalist Temples in Allanak
 The Elementalist Temples in Allanak
were built by the city as a way to deal with the elementalist population
of Allanak. They were not built by the elementalists, or for the elementalists,
or to attract elementalists to the city (although this has been an undesirable
side effect).
By building the temples the city
has created a place where elementalists can go and cast safely. This is
in the belief that they're going to cast no matter what you do, so it might
as well be somewhere safe, where you can keep an eye on them -- not to
mention removed from the rest of the city into a quarter all their own.
The mentality of living in a
city-state is that this is where you were born, this is where you will
die, and spending your life anywhere else is almost unthinkable. Doubly
so for elementalists, many of whom have probably never been away from the
city far enough to lose sight of the gates. Life outside of the city, for
them, is an almost unthinkably dangerous and barbaric fate.
The Elementalists of Allanak
Just because an elementalist
in Allanak is treated poorly does not mean they have an overwhelming desire
to leave the city. Even slaves in a city-state setting will not leave the
city-state when given the opportunity, instead fleeing to the slums or
possibly trying to pose as an artisan if they have the skills to do so.
One reason for doing this is
a lack of knowledge on the conditions of life outside of the city walls.
There are gaj, anakore, gith, and worse out in the desert, and what do
they know of such things? The land is covered with people that don't even
speak a civilized language like sirihish, how would they communicate with
them? And what about good wine, music, and comfortable clothing? There
are people who will endure the prejudice of a city-state in return for
having access to the lifestyle and culture it makes available to them.
Another reason is the exact opposite,
knowing exactly what life is like outside of the city walls. Possibly
they've traveled, or are from another land, or have gone shadow walking
if they're a drovian. They have seen life outside of the city state and
don't care for the lawless nature of that life. Within the city-state at
least the rules are known, and if observed with a great deal of humility,
one can expect to live by them.
There are also undoubtably elementalists
who are patriots of the city-state. For whatever reason they hold little
or no animosity towards the social structure that brands them as nearly
sub-human, and actually use their powers to aid it. These people might
be somewhat rare, but they do exist and you will find them in any group of persecuted
people.
Elementalists in General
A thought to keep in mind when working
with elementalists is that they're not priests. Or philosophers. Or druids.
Or seers. Or Wizards. They do not get their powers by prayer, worship,
communing with a greater power, or studying ancient texts. Many of them
make no effort whatsoever to nurture their power and never sought it out
to begin with. They were born this way and that's that. Some elementalists
doubtless view their powers as a curse, but have taken up the life of an
elementalist because there's no escaping what they are.
Despite their powers elementalists
are mortal, and have the same motivations as others of their race. A dwarven
Whiran has a focus like any other dwarf, a Suk-Krathi elf is still sly,
and a gypsy Vivaduan still tries to steal babies when she thinks no one
is looking. These things don't change just because they can use magick.
There is no philosophical bent that comes along with, or is a requirement
of, having access to the elemental planes.
A Whiran may have no greater
aspiration than to get drunk as often as possible, and only keeps up attendance
at his temple because it gives him a community to rely on when times are
hard. There are slackers, moochers, and freeloaders in every society, even
one made up of elementalists, and they rarely stick around when times get
hard.
Submitted by Nessalin
© 2003 Armageddon MUD. All rights reserved.
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